Knitted gifts are the best

Debra has been very busy knitting her gifts!!

Big things going on at Serendipity

 Who out there wants to win a prize???  You can win this kit to knit a beautiful wrap out of Rowan Yarn.  The candy canes are all ready for the "Wall of Shawls"  next Friday and Saturday.  We will be staying open until 7pm both days.  Pick a candy cane and enjoy the savings-yep there is even a few 50% off canes in that bunch.

The Knitters Choice Event

One of the prizes

A few of the other prizes

Here are a few of the prizes for the Knitters Choice Event.  For now the number one thing you need to do is become a group member of Serendipity Yarn and Gifts on Ravlery.  There will be more information to follow in a few days.  I wish I could enter with you all, I will knit a project to be a part of your group and that will be fun.   I have been looking at the yarn, I am thinking color work mittens for me, what would you like to knit????  If you are not a knitter don't worry, your turn is coming :)  We are having FB February so there will be fun things for you to enter also.

Get it on the needles



My Recess for Grownups Mittens

  I tell my students you can't learn to knit until you get it on the needles and give it a try.  I have taken my own advice and started the color work mittens that Annie designed.  Check out her new group on Ravelry.
 After ripping out twice,( I tried double points, that didn't work for me and the second time I ripped I forgot how to count to 68) I managed to get started.  Now it is after 10 at night and I could stay us till midnight knitting on these.  I can't wait to get to the color work part.  I am hoping some of the knitters at Serendipity will want to join me in this project.  We have some very talented knitters that come on Saturday mornings and they know way more about color work than I do.  My first problem is I don't really know how to read the pattern but I am willing to try and figure it out as I go.  All those colored blocks in the shape of a mitten, how do I know where to change from the palm to the back.  I am in hopes magic loop is going to help with that.  I will be getting out a few Ann Budd books tonight for my bed time stories.  Any way I am excited to learn something new in 2012.  I have been wanting to become comfortable with color work for 3 years now, it is high time I get started.  More pictures to come and progress reports.

I have one of these done--they are out of my hand spun.  We are doing lots more spinning at Serendipity and  have some wonderful new colors of roving in.  I hope some of you will come spin with us when you can.  I better get to bed, there will lots of people coming in for the Buena Vista Chocolate Walk all day tomorrow.  It is fun day in our little town plus we have some delicious fudge awaiting any one who comes in the store.  Hope to see some of you for knitting and fudge.

Amazing Annie

Annie wearing her mittens

 Annie came in last summer looking for yarn to design some mittens, little did I know while I helped her I was standing next to such an amazing talent.  I hope some of her awesomeness  rubbed off as I attempt to knit these mittens.  The pattern is FREE, yes did I say free.  Who wants to join me??  Go to Annie's blog   and click on her free pattern.  She used the Jamieson's Shetland Spindrift and we have loads of colors to choose from.  http://wattsolak.com  I know lots of my family who would be so happy if their Aunt Mikki would crack out a pair for them. 

Word of the day--GREAT

What a great day --no knitting today.  Addi's baby blanket has out grown all my project bags.  I just had to make another and I love these winter scenes.  I dug into my grandby's button box and added a couple.  I often forget how much I like to sew.  Now Addi's blanket has a new home and I am off to watch  foot ball with Mike and maybe get it done this weekend.



Addi's blanket, I love these colors



What do you say???

Madeline Tosh Sock yarn!!  How do you knit your socks, toe up of top down??

I really like this color way



If you don't want to knit socks with me you can choose some other wonderful Malabrigo yarn.  Le Anne was the first person to pick up two of these skeins.  It is my favorite also. 



Mounds of M & M's

There are mounds of MadTosh and Malabrigo squirting out of boxes everywhere at Serendipity

Oh, I have not picked one skein out as of yet, tomorrow may be a different story.

Has it almost been one year???

My project for now is a blanket for Addison Mae.  It is hard for me to believe how quickly this first year of her life has gone by.  Tami now has her granddaughter Georgia Grace and Joan has a new grandson Asher.  Natalie and Bud asked if I would make her a blanket so I did some deep stash diving for sock yarn.  Lots of progress was made on her blanket because I hobbled around most of the day.  Big toes and log furniture=pain involved at some point.

Proud Papa's

She was so tiny!!

Addi will be a year old Jan. 6th.  I am looking forward to this holiday season because we will be together as a family here in Colorado.  I never knew how much fun it is to be a Nana and Papa.  If you live here in BV you get so see Joan and Bill and Tami with their grandchildren.  This season that approaches is a time of enjoying family and friends.  I never want to take any of that for granted..  One of my great pleasures it so make gifts for Addi & Keenan.  Keenan will be getting some knitted animal.  (He can't wear wool)  Photo's to come of that for sure.

This is some of the yarn in Addi's blanket.  It was for the Stephen West mystery KAL and the colors did not work together at all.  I am loving them in her blanket.  Any one getting the itch to knit some socks??  Give me a call at the shop, I think we should have a KAL with a sock pattern. 

Deb and Liz

 Just a few photos of our weekend.  There was lots of fiber flying around  :) 

Liz doing a little spinning on the Lady Bug

Deb is such a wealth of knowledge--I learned so much

Who knew you could have this much fun!!

 Here is Kathy's Malabrigo shawl.  She wouldn't stand still for me to have her in the photo--her love for purple has rubbed off on me.  I have even knitted some purple items.  Don't leave this laying around Kathy or you might see me wearing it.  The Buena Vista Art Walk will be December 17th,  be sure and come in the shop to see shawls our talented  knitters will have on display.

 These to young ladies were in the shop today having way to much fun,  I just had to get a photo.

 For those of you who regularly follow my blog-I had to put the hat a week project to rest.  I made 10 of the 16.  Those last 6 will have to wait while I practice my crochet.  (I have to make Addi a crochet blanket before Christmas also)  I want of offer a free workshop to people who want to perfect their crocheting skills.  On November 22nd from 1:00 to 2:00 in the afternoon I will be providing  the opportunity to do just that.  This Be-Sweet yarn works up into a dish cloth that will make want to do the dishes.  Give us a call at the shop and we can get you signed up.

Knitting on the River

Robin--knitting on her Day Break while on the river.  We are happy to have her home--she has promised more photos and great stories of her 3 week trip on the Grand Canyon

 Val's first hat-she used Spud and Chloe sweater yarn-also being creative like she is the use of a stitch marker for the top made it really cute.  Way to go Val, there will be more hats to come for this knitter



Our Addie in her pumpkin hat her Nana knit for her. 



Oh, to knit like Bobbie

Bobbie was in picking up a few more skeins of yarns to work on her Christmas knitting one morning. She had not mailed her sweater yet. :)  I am very fortunate to see this in person.  My photos don't even begin to do it justice.  Her daughter is going to love it.

Bobbie has been knitting the Ishbel for her Christmas gifts.  This one is out of Noro.  It is a quick knit and must be very fun for Bobbie.  She's picked up yarn for a number of them.  I wish I could get photos of them all.  Does any one out there want to cast on and Ishbel with me???  I will knit another for sure, just let me know.

 Fleece and Fiber day is fast approaching!!  I am very excited for Deb and Liz to spend part of the day with our customers.  Bring your book and Deb will be happy to sign it for you.  There will be lots of talk about fiber and spinning demonstration on November 5th from 1 to 4 in the afternoon.  See you then.

Quaken Aspen finished

 I removed the Quaking Aspen KAL (designed by Courtney Kelley, Kelbourne Woolens) project off the blocking wires tonight.  Now I am wearing it as I knit a bit and work on some blogging.  I love it, oh yes, this Acacia fiber is so great to work with.  Come in the store and just carry a skein around.  I even have enough left to work a hat up. 

 Fun, fun knit.  I might not wrap this one up for holiday giving.  It just might be a gift to myself.

You can't make just one

 Saturday Jody held her second workshop with these lovely ladies.  They are all planning another one of these fun quick knits.  There was lots of chatter about making them as gifts for others.  You can knit one in about 2 hours I bet. 

We have bees in our bonnets

 Last night just before closing a gal came in wanting to knit something quick for her grandchildren.  Needless to say Joan and I got caught up in the frenzy!  We said  "Let's knit some hat for our grandchildren too."  Joan got the short end of the stick as she has a few more grandchildren than I.  One of mine can't wear wool or other fibers.  Don't worry he will get his goodies in a package--it is orange also but in the shape of a Hot Wheel car.

Joan can knock out hats quicker than anyone I know.  She has her new grandson's finished and I am sure will have the other boys done by the am.  They are so much fun to knit we think we will do our next workshop on a snowman hat.  Keep that in mind.  I will kit it up so you will have all the supplies,  be looking for dates and your kits.  This was so much fun.  Addi will look cute as ever,  I think I even want one.

 Here is another quick knit.  It's she just the cutest little hippo.  Sue also knit her up in one night and maybe part of another day.  Sue is a very fast knitter, this little lady makes me want to cast on a animal.  Hmmmmm, that might be a good way to use up some ends of skeins.  Any one want to join me in knitting a little animal a month.  It could be fun.