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.

 

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.

 

My old friend, June came in earlier this winter wanting to knit a sweater for her son. He is very tall and she had quite a project ahead of her. There is never a better day than the day someone (and it doesn’t need to be a childhood friend, but is so much better when it is) walks in to announce that they finished a sweater and they just happen to have it with them. Wow! The sweater is beautiful and perfect for her very tall son.

What a lucky guy. He’ll love this when the snow flies.