Our third annual Stitch N Pitch at the baseball game was great fun. Even though the game began an hour late, most knitters stayed put and enjoyed the beautiful evening. After all, when you have a project in hand time passes very quickly.

Erin and her fiance attended.

Dee and hubby were great fun.

Linda, mom Barb and Diane were knitting away.

Kelly and her gang came all the way from Columbus.

We snapped a quick pic of Becky before she could get away.

 

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.

 

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.

 

This past weekend the Montana Association of Weavers and Spinners held a series of classes, workshops and events at MSU-B. Linda blogged about the event on May 27 and it is wrapping up today.
Here at Wild Purls, we had Nancy Bush visit us on Wednesday. Yes, THE Nancy Bush of teaching and knitting fame. There she is looking at Montana yarns

and visiting with Suzanne.

It was great to see many familiar faces in her Estonian sock class on Thursday. While they were reluctant to have their photos taken, I think they look radiant. It must be from the knitting.

We learned about Estonia and the knitting history of the country. Nancy has visited multiple times and truly loves the people and culture.

The conference was filled with classes, a fabulous vendor area and Wild Purls had a booth.

Linda was hard at work.

We all enjoyed the weekend and I hope to get a sock completed soon.