Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Mittens Accomplished




I have discovered I like blogging about knitting just about as much as I love knitting!! My first ever book on knitting was The Knitter's handy book of Patterns by Ann Budd. I just have to say that I have used this book over and over. My friend Marilyn King pointed me to it when I started designing socks. It is a must have for me--Tami just received a new supply so check them out. My mom, you may know her as Gram, just finished her first mitten using this book. I have the honor of knitting the men's mittens for my good friend Dave. (we hope he likes the Bronco's) So as you can see there are an assortment of sizes all packaged into one great book. Have a great holiday. Mikki Martin

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Baby It's Cold Outside




I am learning a new toe up sock and love the way the heel stitches have formed a perfect heel. With previous patterns using short rows our knitters have note been pleased with the rather large holes where the heel turns. I am hoping to get these knitted up before going to work at the yarn store today, we will see!! Johnnie (one of my students) and I are knitting these socks in a private class. If you are interested give the store a call and we can work on a pair together. If I don't get them off the needles today I will be wearing them drinking hot chocolate with my family this next week. Our children and our grandson will be joining us in Denver with my brothers and sister(there are 6 of us)and all their children. Maybe I can get some of them knitting socks before they leave. Keep on knitting
Mikki

Monday, December 10, 2007

Snow Storm Knitting





Hello, my name is Mikki and I work at the yarn store part time. I love teaching everyone about the art of knitting. One of the classes I teach happens to be sock or beginning knitting on Sundays and I also teach the private lessons. Be watching as we are going to knit some great fingerless gloves out of Louise Harding's Grace yarn in one of my Sunday classes. If you are in the store stop by and view them. Last time I looked they were still on the counter. I am designing patterns for the Sock of the Every other Month Club. We are having a great time knitting our socks off and would love to have new members, you can join at any time. Mike and Max were so good to dig me out so I could make it down to my favorite hang out to teach a couple great ladies this weekend. More snow is on the way--WOW

Here is our latest Sock of the Every Other Month Club. I am loving knitting them up and to all of you who are members prepare to feel like dancing when you wear these beauties.


My mom and I knitted all these hats for her Grandchildren and great grandson. There is always a wide variety of yarn and patterns to pick from at the shop. Come down some Sunday and I would love to assist you in picking out some yarn for a new project or teaching you to knit. These wonderful ladies were my latest group to become addicted to the needles.

Sorry about the placement of the photos, after 3 hours on the computer I just gave up and will ask Robin next time we are together at Serendipity.

Sunday, December 09, 2007

Hi, I’m Robin. I work a few hours a week at the store; it’s my pre-retirement peek into my next life. I’ve been a public school teacher and administrator for the last 22 years. I’m a skier (skate, cross country and telemark) and I’m loving this big dump of snow! In the fairer weather, I love to hike and ride my bike. And I’ve been a knitter since my cousin Diane taught me to knit when she was 12 and I was 7.

At any time I’m probably actively knitting three things. Something challenging- whether it be a new technique or an old one that requires concentration, it’s always something that I’m excited to knit and finish. Something that is a no-brainer. And, something that’s a request.

Right now I’m knitting the cabled vest from Louisa Harding – Bette from Winter’s Muse Classics. It’s a ten-row repeat that hasn’t yet settled completely into my brain, but I’m only halfway up the back, so there’s still hope. The yarn is Louisa Harding “Grace”, a sumptuous silk/wool blend. I chose a dark chocolate brown, but the store has a great selection of colors. I love this yarn; it’s soft and cuddly. Sometimes I just rub it against my cheek and daydream about how much I’m going to love this vest. It’s exquisite. Actually, I’m quite enamored of Louisa Harding’s style…she designs very soft, very flattering, beautifully shaped sweaters.

Then there’s the polar opposite…something that requires no thought at all. Since it’s approaching the holidays, I’m into dishrags. That’s right, delightful little squares for wiping the counters or cleaning up what’s in the sink. There is an Egyptian cotton, “Provence,” at the store that knits up beautifully and gets me 5 six-inch dishrags from each skein. My pattern of choice is to cast on 4 stitches, then K2, yo, K to end and repeat until I reach 41 stitches and a 6 inch diameter, then I begin the decreasing and K1, K2tog, yo, K2tog, K to end and I repeat that until 4 stitches remain, K a row, cast off. Sometimes I add a stripe, sometimes I just keep it plain. Besides the “Provence” there is a nice selection of other cottons perfect for sink duty.

And my final in-progress item falls in between and it’s always for someone else. I just finished making a gecko scarf for my 6-year-old friend Andy. He’s been asking me for a year to knit him a lizard and anytime he saw me knitting he’d ask if I had started his lizard. So, it’s done and it’s a hoot. The kit was from Morehouse knits; they have some adorable animal scarf kits. I bought it on-line. To go with it, I got one of the wooden Animalz lizards at Serendipity. A total lizard Christmas. So, I’ve got to start the next item, and the next requested item is from my brother-in-law Jay whose felted slippers have finally succumbed to a hole or two- he’s requested a new pair. I learned to spin this summer, thanks to Janet, Tami’s sister-in-law, and my spun mohair blend yarn will be perfect for this felting project.

Ciao!

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Looking back............










We moved the store in August!!!! With LOTS of help :)










Goodby old space - we have many great memories!







We had a tremendous party!





























We had Emily's 21st birthday party!









Bill & I went to Colorado Springs in Sept and woke up to these 2 bucks hanging out outside our window. They didn't seem to be too concerned about us.

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Today - Met with Darry from Knitting Fever - restrained myself but did totally buy into the Noro Kureyon sock yarn! So fun! We do love Noro...... I can't even get pictures yet but the colors are fun, fun, fun! It will start coming in soon & I will get the word out as soon as we get any of it in our hands. There will be new Jane Ellison & Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton books in, too.

Marsha & Carol came through from Gunnison on their way to Denver today and clued me in on some nice notes on Ravelry about Serendipity. It was sweet to read them this evening - I feel honored to have a mention in this new knit & crochet community.

Our local beautification board meets at the store the first Tues of every month and we had a full house this evening. We talked about our scarecrow fundraiser - Miss Muffet did get the most contributions, winning us a mention in our local paper! She is being purchased with a donation by our friend (and yarn fairy creator), Gae Sharp-Richardson, to cross state lines and live in a chocolate store called Temptations in Atkins, Iowa. Gae is providing chocolates for Serendipity to hand out at the Chocolate Walk being sponsored by the Buy Local campaign on Sat, Dec. 1.

I am also excited about the possibility of an unexpected visit from daughter, Chris, from Sydney, AU. The visa situation is always a challenge and it may require a visit home for a change and the ability to stay a little longer to pursue some new opportunities life is bringing her way - a restaurant she loves and a handsome young man she is beginning to love.

Wednesday, October 31, 2007





This was actually 2 weeks ago - an adventure before winter takes over. Kelly, Peaches, Sophie & I traveled over Tincup pass in the jeep and had chinese food for lunch in Crested Butte.


Joan Innes knitted this yummy neck down pullover sweater out of Brown Sheep Bulky. She is ready for winter!

The new sock Mikki has designed for our November Sock of the Every Other Month Club - we felt a bit overwhelmed by every month :). This is a nice patterned rib knitted in Lorna's Laces Shepherd's Sport with instructions for double points or one 40" circular needle.

Friday, October 19, 2007

my journey is about so many things - my faith, family, friends, business, community. Life is about balance. Always weighing the important.

Thursday, March 08, 2007

Well - I have been doing well on the resolutions to eat dark chocolate & drink more red wine. I have been knitting with silk - I am putting together my silk Alchemy pullover Connoisseur in purple. Now it is time to blog. I am going to embrace my computer & use it for fun - computers have been too frustrating lately.

I have gone crazy & put out wild specials for the next 2 months to celebrate our 2 year anniversary. I know some didn't think we would make it. Come on! We have way too much fun!
This week it is all mohair 75% off. Next week - handpainted yarns. After that any and all novelty yarns - we might even get creative as to what exactly that means. Then all single patterns.
April 1 - April Fools Day is the big party!
We are selling chances to win a Serendipity Yarn Fairy to raise money for the Chaffee County Mammography Fund and the Chaffee County Alliance Against Domestic Violence. We are all about the women in our community.
April specials are coming too - still working out the details.
Maybe I am the Fool!

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

My New Year's Resolutions!
Eat more dark Chocolate
Drink more red wine
Laugh more
Knit with cashmere & silk
Finish the Color on Color Scarf for Chris
Blog at least once a week!

All things which are worthy goals..............