One of the great joys of summer here at the shop, are the kids who come to learn to knit or to get a project.

The other day, after the Kids Can Knit class,

a young knitter named Paul wandered in with his mom and sister. He showed me a few of his recent projects - doll clothes for his sister Kate’s doll. He used mom’s bits and pieces and had an entire wardrobe in no time.

Although we didn’t have the correct size doll for modeling, we compromised with the model found lying around on the clothes line. It is amazing what Linda uses for our displays.

Paul explained each piece and told me that he found a pattern on the internet and started knitting away.

There must be something genetic to this knitting. His mother, Kim, is a local favorite and has created patterns for her company, Big Sky Yarn and Crafts. So Paul has a terrific role model in this knitting world.

What great fun to see his excitement and his sister, Kate’s smile.

We hope to see more as the long days of summer roll along. And just this morning, a darling girl came in to get a new project on the needles. The next generation of knitters are inspiring.

 

Sunday afternoon, about 4:30pm, our fair city was pummeled with rain and hail. A tornado touched down and shredded the roof off the METRA, our large, indoor stadium that has housed many sporting events, high school graduations, concerts and rodeos. The tornado struck in one particular part of the city and destroyed buildings. Luckily no one was hurt!

Many of us had wet basements and a few drips in the roof. Many more lost cars, roofs and much more. Today feels as if things are back to normal and Billings will come back stronger. Now, when the dark clouds gather in the sky, the term afternoon storm has a whole new meaning.

 

Don’t forget the Knit In Public series starts in exactly one week…next Friday, June 25 at 7pm is our annual Stitch N Pitch evening at Dehler Park. We will sit along the 3rd base line and knit and crochet and watch a little baseball. EVERYONE…all ages who would love a free night of baseball are welcome! We have plenty of tickets available at the shop, so stop by and pick up enough for friends, neighbors, and any knitter or crocheter you know.

****Please also note that we had a mistake in the newsletter for our July KIP event at the Farmer’s Market. The date should be Saturday, July 24 (NOT the 20th)at 8am. We’ll meet at Rock Creek Coffee at 124 North Broadway on the corner of 2nd Avenue North and North Broadway, under Sky Point.

Clue #2 Mystery Guest

Our mystery guest tells me that in the 60’s, while living near Canada, she asked for knitting books from inter-library loan and was sent Barbara Walker’s KNITTING FROM THE TOP, which changed her life. As Meg Swansen remarked to her once, “Everything about knitting is in that book. You just have to read it start to finish.”

Good luck!

 

I don’t know about the rest of you knitters, but it seems as if I always finish a few projects at the same time, so then I’m left with - “What now?” I end up with the knitter’s blah. Proud that I’ve finished a complicated project (the Botanica Medallion - see a couple of blogs ago) but also feeling a funk. My “funk” usually stems from while, in the evening, I’m sitting next to my DH (dear husband) listening to his snoring in front of the TV and I’m staring at my hands just laying there, in my lap, not doing anything. (see idle hands below - Can you tell what I’m watching? - Hey a little garbage TV never hurt anyone!)

So I watch a lot of reality TV. My favorite show (I mean - one of my favorites) is Project Runway. Which inspired me to run to Wild Purls (okay - I know I work there!) and purchase some very soft Plymouth Baby Alpaca Grande and knit this alpaca cowl. Mila Hermanovski (on this past season’s Project Runway) had one very similar in her final collection, but I doubt she knit hers!
I liked it so much I knit another one.

P.S. If you like this, I know where you can get the pattern.

P.P.S. While I’m typing this, I’m listening to “Cash Cab”. I love that show.

 

Every year in early June, yarn shop owners, manufacturers and designers descend on the lovely city of Columbus, Ohio. Classes are offered, fashion shows take place, and yarn (lots of yarn) is purchased for shops across the country. Most of all, it is fun, big fun.

I always enjoy seeing other shop owners such as Loopy in Missoula, MT and The Yarnery in St. Paul, MN to name just a few. It is a time to learn about trends in the market, compare notes and learn about yarn, knitting and the personalities behind all those wonderful patterns.

Yesterday, I was able to take a class from Lucy Neatby, which was something I’ve wanted to do since the first year I attended. The class was “Fringes, Folderols and Furbelows!” What fun to play with my knitting in new ways…twisting, unraveling and knitting puntas for whimsical edges. Lucy’s style matches her hair color, pure fun! And who was sitting next to me during class, Wendy Johnson of Wendy Knits. We are currently holding the Diagonal Sock class this summer for those who are adventurous in their sock knitting.

Here is Wendy Johnson…

and I couldn’t help but ask for a photo with Lucy and Wendy.