Monday, September 3, 2012

Labor Day!

In honor of Labor Day, I thought I'd show you my newly-acquired skill - yarn winding!
 
I can wind yarn like a pro now!
 My ball of yarn!

We went to a new-to-me yarn store in the town of Navasota - it's called WC Mercantile, and WOW.  I was thrilled, not only with everything they carried, but with the warmth, friendliness and helpfulness of the owner!  Actually, it's a mother and daughter who own the store - the mom was off the day we went, but the daughter, Stephanie, was fantastic.  She helped me with "spit felting" some yarn and also showed me how to tink, which means to undo your knitting, on my piece.  This is something that every knitter needs to know how to do, but the actual process has escaped me...the way Stephanie demonstrated how to do it made it click, and for that, I am hugely grateful.  I can fix mistakes on my own now - well, some of the simpler ones, anyway.

The yarn I bought will be what I use to learn how to knit my first pair of socks with - I'm going to join the local knitting guild, and this fall, they are teaching sock knitting at their meetings.  This is definitely going to be a challenge for me, what with sizing and numbers and MATH and knitting in the round, but I'm so happy to have the opportunity to do this with fellow knitters that I'm willing to take it on!

In the meantime, I'm having fun knitting a throw using the luscious Malabrigo Rasta yarn that I bought when I was in California.  Here's a quick peek at my progress so far:
 I'm a quarter way into it, and love how it's turning out!

Jeff is working today, so after we run this morning, I'll be sitting and knitting (with a fan aimed at me - who knits a wool throw in the dog days of summer??), watching my future second husband on DVD, and enjoying the day.  Happy Labor Day to my fellow Americans!

7 comments:

  1. "RON BURGANDY IS DOWN PEOPLE----AND IT'S BAD!"

    have a great relaxing RONfilled day.

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  2. Happy Labor Day Shelley.

    The store looks so cool for as far as I can see. You must have felt like a kid in a candy store there :)

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  3. Oh boy!! What great news. That learning to 'tink' is so important, and something that not too many people teach. I wonder why they don't. And the 'spit felting'--that's what I was describing to you, only I didn't want to say that I wet the yarn with my own spit! How great to have such helpful people close by. It looks like a really fun shop. And you know what I was most excited about, right? YOU ARE STANDING VERY CLOSE TO A SPINNING WHEEL!! Oh yes, it will infect you sooner or later!

    The rasta yarn throw is looking gorgeous. Those colors work together like sunshine and shadows, don't you think?

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  4. I love the multi colors of that yarn. It makes such a difference to find the help you need, isn't it? We have 2 bike shops in town and I hate going to one of them because a lot of the workers are snooty there and try to make you feel inferior. I only go there if I have to. It's worth driving farther to enjoy the experience.

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  5. Customer service is almost more important to me than price nowadays. It seems to be a lost art. So glad you found a place that feeds your knitting jones and makes you happy!

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  6. You are getting so talented Shelley! I used to cross stitch like there was no tomorrow, but I haven't done it in years - maybe I should pick it up again?

    Boo to Jeff working on Labor Day!

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  7. I'm smitten with the colors of your wool. That store sure looks like a "Shelley Happy Place"!

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