At last, on Tuesday, June 19th, we finally had a new window in place. The light is now streaming in showing off all the beautiful colors of the yarns as well as the dust and fingerprints already on the glass. Oh well, the balance of life continues; good and bad.

I am so happy to be able to see out onto the street. I have decorated the first window display with a little selection from the Ireland trip. Many of the people that took the trip have finished the Ireland souvenir scarf and have very generously allowed me to display them in the window.  Check it out the next time you are strolling by. This display is a good example of how color, yarn texture and individual knitting tension can affect the way a design looks. While we were on the trip knitting, I was surprised and amused to hear each person marvel at the other person’s knitting. Every one was eager to comment on the beauty of the other knitter’s yarn choice and I can’t tell you how many times I heard someone say that they wished they had chosen another color. And yet no one is really unhappy with their scarf when it is done. Each scarf is unique and very beautiful. I guess we just never get enough color, we always want more and more.

Also in the window is a little photo montage of some of the sights from the trip. I hope you enjoy seeing them. The word is that Jim P. is in Peru right now, working on putting together the next knitting tour for us. Keep checking the blog because as soon as he sends me information I will be posting it.

Knitters have been signing up for the summer workshops so be sure to check the class page to see if something there is of interest to you. The Magic Loop class and the hand dye your own sock yarn class have been generating a lot of interest. I can’t wait to see the creations from both of these classes.

ON THE WAY: The new “Lace” needles from Skacel are on their way. Sometime next week we will be unpacking them just in time for your next knitting project. These needles are circular, gold in color and have an even more flexible cord than the addi turbo’s. I must admit that I at first poo-poohed them; thinking how can I possibly justify another needle type in the shop. However, I was given a pair at the trade show and after knitting with them for a short time, I am hooked. I spoke with many other shop owners and everyone of them said that their knitter’s love them so much that they request certain sizes to be held for them so that they don’t have to fight off anyone else looking for that needle. So far the needles are available in various lengths, but only in sizes 0-6. We will look for larger sizes to be  made in the future.

Keep on Knitting! Linda

Have you got a bag or box of leftover novelty yarns that you probably aren’t going to knit? If you have made everyone you know several scarfs and you can’t bear to throw away the bits and pieces that are leftover then come to the store on Saturday, July 14 between 10am and 3pm and we will show you how to turn those leftovers into treasures with absolutely no knitting.

This is a technique that turns scraps into cool, mouth watering necklaces, and they are so easy to make even your grandfather could do it. (That’s not a bad idea, invite him to come along). We will have material and instructions and for $3 each you can make as many necklaces with our stuff as you can carry home. Or make just one to learn the lingo and then go home with this year’s gift giving already planned. KeriAnne and Robin took this class with Joanne Turcotte of Plymouth Yarn at the trade show and they will let you in on all the secrets to making a beautiful one of a kind, signature piece. Hope to see you there!

Here it is the middle of June and still no window. Chase glass was supposed to install on Friday and called to cancel. They are now saying Mon or Tues. Guess they don’t really care that all of Northampton is waiting to see just how long it takes them to do a simple installation.Oh well, we continue on happy to see every face that comes through the door.

Every once in a while an item comes along that is just to cute or appealing to pass up. The Itty Bitty notecards are just that kind of thing.

These cards have toothpick knitting needles with a small swatch of knitting on the cover and very clever little wishes or notes on the outside and inside. The biggest problem with these cards is that every knitter who buys one won’t want to give it away. These are the kind of cards you wish someone would send you. The entire selection is available on the big table in the big store. here is a sample of one of the many choices awaiting your perusal.

Those of you that have been downtown in the last 2 weeks know that our window is still not fixed. I must have been windowless in a past life and am having to relive some of that drama now.

Robin, KeriAnne and I set off on May 31 to attend the TNNA Fall trade show in Columbus, Ohio. The day before we left I had spoken with the glass company and was excited to learn that they were ready to install the window that Thurs or Fri. I was only sad that I wouldn’t be here to see it go in. As I sat on the plane to Columbus I dreamed of returning to the store with sunlight streaming through the clear, clean glass of a brand new window.

On Friday morning I was taking a crochet class with Dharma Raymond. I was happily and industriously creating a piece of shadow crochet, thinking about teaching this method in a workshop this summer when to my surprise my cell phone rang. My husband was calling to tell me that the glass company had just called him to say that they had broken the window when they were getting it ready for installation and that it would take another 2 weeks before they could get another piece of glass and install it.

I’m surprised the entire convention didn’t arrive to see what the yelling and wailing was all about. It took a while, but I finally calmed down and found that zen place. I can’t control this, so I must go with it. Today the glass company told me that the glass was due to arrive next Wednesday. I sure hope that by next Friday I will be once again watching the traffic on Pleasant St through a plate glass window.

In the meantime the three of us had a wonderful time at the trade show. We are excited about the new fall things, some of which will be coming before fall. I will begin to show you these things and to talk more about them in the next session. Happy Knitting and remember to watch for a new window display.

Linda