Favorite Yarn Shops Bay Area

So Happy to say that Sonoma has a new yarn shop!!!!!!

 

Noma Knits is fulfilling our dreams of having a local shop back in town.  https://nomaknits.com

Our local knitters are very happy to see Marie's smiling face and the beautiful shop she has created.   

Wouldn't you love to shop here???  There is a coffee shop right next door and the library across the street.   Oh and did I tell you...it's located 3 blocks from my home....Love it.   

In addition to yarns by Berroco, MadTosh, Manos de Uruguay you will find locally sourced yarns and of course all the other needles and notions you will need to complete your project.  

There is an On-line shop and you can find Noma Knits on Facebook and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/nomaknits/.   

The shop is located at 

730 W Napa St., Sonoma California 

Hope to see you there.....

Knitting for Food- April 11, 2021

Happy Earth Day

On April 11th, I spend the entire day crocheting hats and it was all for a great cause.    "Knit for Food" 12 hour knit-athon was created by Laura Nelkin. With the input, assistance and work of an amazing group of people, over $270,000 was raised to be donated to the following organizations:

World Central Kitchen

Meals on Wheels

Team No Kid Hungry

Feeding America 

It was a great day and I know that so much work went into organizing and running the day.   Thank you everyone for all you did.    There was a Zoom meeting for most of the day, great presentations and togetherness.   I know that the plan is to hold this event again next year (maybe March) and I'm ready to sign up.   

I  Zoomed with my donors during the day.. and everyone asked how I was holding up..fatigue?  Hand pain?   The thing is I felt great...no pain, loads of energy..  that's what doing for others does for you!!!

Perhaps you want to join in next year to knit or make a donation.   This was so gratifying and up lifting and I will share info about 2022 when it comes available.    

What I finished:  

A special treat 

  

Favorite Yarn shops Cape Cod

Summers in Cape Cod-I've been going there for many years, to visit a great friend.  Vacationed with my daughter 20 yrs ago, or to meet a group of friends from high school or just hung out with my friend for a while.  The Cape is Beautiful.    In addition to the quaint towns, fantastic lobster rolls and cod, a beautiful seashore and lighthouse, there is yarn.   I've been to a few shops around the Cape but these are 2 of my favorites (and you can shop online.)

Adventures in Knitting-This is a shop I visit every time I'm in Chatham.  Even attending a weekend retreat that they sponsored in Provincetown over 12 years ago.   It was lovely and the featured instructor was Vivian Hoxbo..my introduction to Domino Knitting.  Loved it.

Now when I visit, it to see Claire (a wonderful and talented instructor) and to sit and knit with the girls.   This shop is fantastic; big, roomy, a huge selection of yarns, books and other knit/crochet essentials and an  instructional and meeting area with a table that fits at least 20 people.  I know that for now with Covid that if they do meet it's outside in the parking lot socially distanced and with masks.   https://www.adventuresinknitting.com

A Great Yarn. So sad to say that this wonderful little used book and new yarn shop is closing by the end of the year.  All items are 15% off in September and each month that percentage will go up.  They carry beautiful yarns, kits and knitting notions. My friends and I would spend some time in Chatham in August at a local hotel/motel just a few steps from this shop.   I will miss going there...wouldn't it be nice if someone bought it and continued offering this wonderful service to the community

.http://agreatyarn.com

Knitting in Scotland May 2018

Scotland- May 30, 2018

As we traveled the Irish Sea toward Scotland we attended great classes. JC Briar is a wonderful, creative and super smart instructor.   We had classes in reading lace patterns,  cables, Brioche and shawl design.   So many things to think about and skills to learn or improve.   If you ever get the opportunity to take one (or more) of her classes, I would highly recommend it..she is brilliant in so many ways.   I know she does Stitches Events https://www.knittinguniverse.com/stitches/ and teaches at Black Sheep in Oregon.

In Scotland - North and South Lanarkshire

The New Lanark Mill

http://www.newlanark.org/visitorcentre/

New Lanark quickly became known under the enlightened management of social pioneer, Robert Owen. He provided decent homes, fair wages, free health care, a new education system for villagers and the first workplace nursery school in the world! Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, New Lanark has been beautifully restored as a living community,

Edinburgh next-til next time..

Knitting and Cruising (The Way Late Update)

Hard to Believe this was a year ago.  

Craft Cruise to Scotland, Ireland, Denmark and Norway. May-June 2018

We started in Copenhagen and spent the day touring through the City and visiting a few yarn shops along the way.

Knit Shop in Copenhagen 

Kindred Knitting on board the ship
Romi's High Sierra Shawl (Craftsy Class)

Our first stop was Isle of Skye, a very remote island in the Hebrides.  

Isle of Skye

Spinning with raw wool

Town of Portree -just some window dressing--gorgeous

Wonder trip- til next time and the next port. 

The Dude in a Dude

From this :

The Dude

 To This:  Our Dude in The Dude Cardigan

Notice the colors!!!

OHIO STATE

Pattern "The Dude" by Andrea Rangel on Ravelry 

Body knit in the round and sleeves knit flat.   The front band and collar joined to the sweater as each row of the band was knit from right bottom, around neck with some short row shaping and down the left side.   I crocheted around the band to add button holes.  

Knitting at Facebook--yes that Facebook

 I was fortunate to spend some time touring Facebook headquarters with a group of high school students (Sonoma Mentoring) a few months ago.  The Campus is amazing, but it was the people who spoke to the kids and what they had to say that was most effective and impressive to me.  These people are managers, designers, some in the highest level of their departments, taking the time to spend time with the students. 

Their message was clear: 

Work hard, be present.
Look for your passion.
Be part of a team, communicate.
Do not fear mistakes--own up to them, learn how to solve the problem and perhaps that mistake will lead to a better outcome. 

So this applies to everything in life...even a little knitting.  

Carrie and I always have our knitting. #knittingbuddies

#facebook

Mitered Square Poncho

My Challenge- love the mitered square technique.  this is just one side of a poncho from Knitter's Magazine.  I've had my eyes on this piece for a long long time, finally purchased the yarn at Stitches and few years ago and love knitting it.  I had to make some adjustments because I ran out of a color and the dye lot don't match...so it's more mitered squares for me... ...more pics to follow

Memories of Spain

So the plan was to make a chevron tube scarf, 

but after knitting 40 or so rows, it just didn't work for me.

The colors represent the beauty of Spain.  The yarn was purchased along my travels in Spain and Portugal during April 2016. All 100% fine cotton, fine gauge. 

Knitting is in Vogue

At one time knitting was considered out of touch, old fashioned and passé.   That didn't stop me from knitting..but it wasn't easy to find yarns of interest and I guess I did knit a little less.   The knitting world has changed over the years, and there is a renewed energy.    Blogs, podcasts, on-line videos and classes, knitting groups, conventions and world wide travel excursions, have brought thousands of knitters together.   The variety of  yarns only slightly surpasses the variety of knitters representing all ages, backgrounds, lifestyles, origins and personalities.....knitting,crochet,spinning and weaving is for everyone..   I had a wonderful time at #vogue knitting live Chicago.   Sharing time with friends and family.

 What do you do with a whole lot of Silk Garden?

You know how it is when you are a knitter.   You go to a knitting event and there are just so many beautiful, colorful, delicious and touchable yarns.  

And then you go ahead against your better judgement and buy that bag of yarn, cuss the price is just too good to let go.

So then years later you find bags of the stuff in your stash..Multiple colors and also weights.

So I said to myself "Why Not an afghan in Entrelac?"

And so it begins........more to follow

beginning the entrelac

 

The Tomato Heel

Cat Bordhi's tomato heel, have you tried it yet?   I have been meaning to for quite a while and finally took the plunge...so happy I did.   Love the ease of constructing it and the way it looks.

Chunky yarn

Although I knit all my socks toe up, I find once I get to the heel I will knit one at a time and use one circular.   You can always revert back to the two circulars once you complete both heels.  

Go Ohio State!!!

 I really like a thicker sock...... using a worsted weight makes the project go much faster.  

Cascade 220- one Skein does it

Craving a Creamsicle

My most recent project -- A top down, square neck pullover.   Using Creme de la Creme (coats and clark)  Double strand and size 11 needle.  Other then a few too many knots in one skein and some stains on another, I am pleased with the yarn.   The only real problem is I'm craving a Creamsicle!!!

sleeve to be long

Swirling again

I began another swirl a few months ago and believe it or not this is my easy knitting project.  You know the kind of project you can knit in front of the TV or at a knit gathering.   The stitches are basically knit, purl and decrease.  Of course you must count rounds/rows but that is what those stitch counters are all about.  And the wonderful thing about this project is that when you are finished, all the seams sewn and   ends woven in…you have the most impressive, best fitting and flattering sweater ever.    Although I'm using a variety of yarns, the Sheffield is my favorite.  It has Angora and feels so, so cozy.   Unfortunately it is not available any longer.