Predictions

One thing I've learned about the retail end of this business is that it's impossible to predict what will sell well.  Every once in a while I have a hunch that is right on, but for the most part I've given up trying to guess what will move.  

Colorways that I love might not be bestsellers. Unsuspecting patterns catch on like wildfire.  There are always trends, but it's hard to make concrete predictions.  Some days I think it would be nice to look into a crystal ball, but in the end it always seems to balance out.

One thing I do know with certainty is my schedule for the rest of the fall.  If you're headed to Fiber Festival of New England this coming weekend, I'll be in booth 432 / 433 East.  Later in November I'm back in Vermont for the Green Mountain Fiber Festival.  The festival season is winding down, but there's still plenty of fiber fun to be had in New England.

And now I'm off to wind yarn and make some educated guesses.

Across the Border and Back

This is the third and final week for Monday travel days.  While I do love traveling, I'm ready for my normal weekly routine.  Today has to be a dual-purpose day for both Monday and Tuesday.  I'm bracing myself for a long one.

Last week I trekked across the Canadian border again.

Life is a balancing act, and the trip was a combination of work and play.  

The CN Tower.

Yes, I went up.  No, I didn't get sick.  A ride to the top was my daughter's idea.  In all fairness, it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.

Since I'm a baseball fan . . . 

The obligatory ballpark shot.

I have fond memories of growing up with Hudson's Bay point blankets. They speak of winter, cold nights and snuggling under the covers.

I see a new project in my future.

As if traveling with teens wasn't challenging enough, I ran into a bit of a knitting crisis.  Once we were settled in for our stay in Toronto, I pulled out my knitting only to discover I didn't have the needles I was sure I had packed.  I turned everything inside out and upside down. The needles I needed to start my project were nowhere to be found.

Like any good knitter, I rose to the occasion.  I went in search of needles and found some.

The new project is up and running.

Zephyr Cove.  

After I had worked a few rows of this project, I realized it's very similar in construction to another one in the works - Miss Winkle.  Both are asymmetrical, garter stitch shawls.  At least I'm consistent.

We made a quick stop at Niagara Falls on the way home.

It's easy to lose track of time when you're traveling.  Just like that, it's Tuesday . . . time to get back to work.

Percolating

All week I've let my mind wander, and ideas for new projects have been percolating.  One of them is taking shape.

This color combination has been tugging at me like a little toddler pulling on my hand, and I finally gave in.  Bertha Bee Hive and Slate, in case you're wondering.

I'm heading off for a few days on a little adventure and felt the occasion called for a new project . . . a traveling companion for Miss Winkle.  My travel includes some designated knitting time, and I intend to make the most of it.

The other day a friend pointed out that October is all but over.  I don't know how that happened, but I feel like I lost a month in the fall fiber frenzy.  Many of the trees are bare, but I'm making a conscious effort to savor the last of the colors.  This tree is still fully clothed and is my color inspiration for the week.

Blazing red.

Mindless

Since the weekend, I've been a busy worker bee - dyeing yarn, shipping orders, tackling paperwork.  But when I've had a moment to sit and knit, I've needed something simple - a project to help me recover from Rhinebeck.

Miss Winkle continues with more loops and more garter stitch.  Easy, effortless garter.  The yarn is Lillian Piglet, a colorway that hasn't been posted to the website yet.  

In the background ideas are forming for new projects, but for now mindless is perfect.

Rhinebeck Review

It's the Monday after Rhinebeck.  The trucks are unloaded, and I'm picking up the pieces . . . sifting and sorting, setting priorities.  On one hand, I'm completely exhausted.  I'm not sure I can consume enough coffee to get me through the day.  On the other hand, I'm energized after a weekend dedicated to fiber, color and inspiration.  

And friends.  Rhinebeck is an event that brings together fiber enthusiasts from far and wide.  I connected with old fiber friends and made new ones along the way.  Rhinebeck is a fiber party.  I'm sure I'll be processing the weekend for days to come.

For today, I have a few pictures to share.

Fiber events are tiring.

"What's with the crowds?"

And now, if you'll excuse me, I need more coffee.

Ready for Rhinebeck

Well, almost.  The truck is loaded, but my suitcase is empty except for a toothbrush and toothpaste.  Before I pack my clothes, I need to find several t-shirts for the mannequins.  The challenge is finding clean ones.  In the perfect world of mannequins, they don't wear shirts with coffee stains.

In the knitting department my second Rhinebeck sock is almost finished.  I'm holding on to a dim glimmer of hope that I can finish it later today.  It would help if I had a driver.

With that, I'm off for what is sure to be a whirlwind weekend.  I leave you with my color inspiration for the week.

A sign of the season.

Filling Requests

I get many requests . . . everything from colorways to fiber blends to weights of yarn.  For example, recently I've had several requests for bulky yarn.  No, I don't carry it.  Personally, I don't knit with bulky very often and can't remember the last time I did.  Maybe I should knit with it because there's nothing like bulky when you need to crank out the projects.  I'm not going to run out and invest in kilos of bulky, but I am willing to entertain the notion.

On the other hand, I didn't linger over the request for spinning fiber. I've carried it off and on in the past but haven't had it on hand at my most recent shows.  So many people asked for it that I didn't think twice about bringing it back.

Plus, I really enjoy dyeing fiber.

Just in time for Rhinebeck.