Bartering in the Shop

I have many tales I could relate from the Knitwise shop. I am asked many unusual questions and have many strange requests. I don't usually make these public (unless you include occassionally moaning to ds and dh). However, I had a quiet day on Saturday (after a pretty busy week). At 3.15pm I was thinking of calling it a day, particularly since I was still feeling miserable with my cold. As is always the case when I consider sneaking off early a customer came in. She looked at the discounted eyelash yarn in the basket near the door and said to me she'd be back in 10 minutes. As promised she came back but her greeting to me as she walked in the door was 'Can you do this for £1.00 a ball?' I politely told her I had already discounted the yarn and was not able to offer any further reduction. At this point she emptied her purse on the table and offered me £3.05 for 3 balls which I politely declined. She was planning to make a scarf and I told her two balls of that particular yarn would be plenty for a scarf. I was starting to weaken as she started counting her coppers. It was at this point that she asked me if I accepted postage stamps. My Yorkshire heart hardened again and she left the shop with two balls paid for in full (in hard currency).

My Weekly Update

I seem to have had an allergic reaction to something and have spent most of the week with a sore face and hands. It's starting to clear up now but my face is still a bit itchy. On top of that I woke up Thursday morning with the sniffles which then developed into a full blown cold. Friday morning I went back to bed and Teebo woke me at 9.30am and gave me a ride into the shop. Feeling much better today - just a little runny nosed. I managed to get a little bit of knitting done - finished off some simple socks in self-patterning Schoeller and Stahl yarn but that's about it. Walked to the allotment Friday evening, and then walked back. Just that 20 - 30 mins took it out of me. Tidied up the garden a bit last night - it's not looking too bad as I've been trying to keep on top of it. I'm going to have something to eat now and then spend the rest of the evening at the allotment. I've got some leeks, cabbages and sprouts to go in.

Noah

At last the sweater I started for my son as a present at Easter has been completed. I finished stitching it up on Thursday evening and washed it this morning. It was a bit grubby. The yarn had been in my stash for a while so one or two of the balls were a bit dusty. I'm very pleased with the result. It's now drying on towels on the dining table. This is usually a good spot for drying as it gets the afternoon sun. However, there is no sun today just more rain and clouds.

The pattern is Noah from Rowan magazine 41, and is knitted in 100% wool peruvian aran yarn.

12428 again

Oops forgot to mention in my last post. 12428 is where I am on the Ravelry list. I'll get my invite eventually I guess but at the current invite rate that will be another 9 to 10 weeks.

12428

I had every intention, when I posted last Sunday, to keep this blog more up to date, and here I am early hours of Monday morning just getting round to posting (over a week later). I've no real excuse except my life is not very exciting, and I always seem to be busy. I've finished just one project this week- the Peapod Jacket from the Peapod Set from Knitting Daily. This is for the mum-to-be at my local SnB. It's a lovely little jacket and I'm very pleased with the results. I'll post a picture later this week.
My ds came home this week - Wednesday evening and went back to London this evening. I miss him very much as I'm sure all of us do when our children leave home. It's only been a couple of months now since he originally left home - I'm sure I'll get used to it eventually. The saying goodbye is very difficult even though I know it's best for him that he's out there experiencing everything himself.
I received my new Rowan Magazine 42 this week and have already started the Bressay Hap Shawl. This is partly because I'm quite into shawls at the moment and partly because I have a stash of Yorkshire Tweed 4 ply that I can use for this shawl. I knitted one of the edgings and started to work one of the borders but decided I really didn't like the yarn over edge on the edging. This is used for picking up stitched for the border and was very loose and holey when I did it that way. I have adapted the pattern to use a slip stitch edge. This give a much tighter and more pleasing effect when the stitches are picked up. I really had to force myself to do the edging piece a second time, as I'm always demoralised when my knitting doesn't work out right first time. Anyway I've redone the first edging and picked up the stitches again and I'm much happier with the result. Picture will come soon.
My initial reaction to the new Rowan Mag was disappointment , but on second look I do like the Highland Stockings (but I am obsessed with socks) and Iceland (knitted in Cocoon), Narvik (also in Cocoon), Fyne slipover and tunic, Rannoch dress, Doon coat, Maree sweater, Malt cardigan, Neaty cardigan, Nevis Jacket, okay lots of the designs.
Anyway I really should go back to bed. The kettle's boiled so I'm going to take a cup of tea with me (and hide the sudoku book or I'll be up all night).

Cats

I've just got back from the allotment after a morning digging and weeding to find both of the cats asleep in the garden.

Here's Viola asleep on her bench under the cherry tree. This is her favourite summer sleeping spot. We quite often catch her asleep here with her paws and tail dangling through the slats in the bench.

And here's Tigger on the shed roof - just woken up and about to start the licky, groomy thing. He's not officially ours but is allowed in the garden and house by Viola.

Knitflicks, TV and Debbie Stoller

It's been a very exciting week with news of lot's of forthcoming knitting activities. Firstly, last Tuesday, Susan (editor of knitonthenet ) joined us at our Snb meeting with news of the day with Debbie Stoller that I Knit and knitonthenet are jointly organising. A trip to London in November is on now! I'll be having a table there selling my Knitwise goodies.

Then yesterday I had a call from Granada TV asking if I could knit a scarf for Anthony Cotton, of Coronation Street fame, (I've no idea who he is - haven't watched Coronation Street for years and years). Anyway, apparently he's presenting an evening tv show during August and September and the producers are looking for interesting bits for the show. They are after an 'All Day Breakfast' scarf ie with sausages, eggs, bacon, black pudd etc... on it. Of course, they want it immediately so I'll have to see what I can do!

Finally when I checked my email last night I had a message from the marketing manager at FACT (an arts and film centre in Liverpool) to let me know that they have set a date for their first Knitflicks event. These are knitting at the cinema events and are great fun. I organised a couple of these events at FACT about 2 years ago but it was a bit costly for me to promote and finance so I am very pleased that FACT have decided to do it again within their regular program. Any Merseyside knitters out there please support this event. If it goes well it could become a regular monthly event.