It's 9am and I have sewn 3 buttons on my latest knit of the Last Minute Baby Vest in Cotton Tweed worsted,

and if you know my feelings about sewing on buttons you know this is last minute (ha, ha) and urgent. Yup. Tomorrow we leave to go to the Kitchener-Waterloo Knitter's Fair in Kitchener, ON. It's shades of Christmas Eve around here, last minute sewing and knitting and wrapping up.

10:30am.  I sewed in the ends on a new pair of Ergonomic Mittens called Striped Mitten (I have to work on  garment naming, obviously) in Northern Lights chunky, soaked the mittens and set them out to dry (I don't think all my crossing of fingers is going to help my knitting dry in this humidity). All the time drinking very cold coffee since I forgot about it while sewing buttons on, a task that seems to take my undivided attention so there is no bloodshed.

11:30am Then I edited new patterns: 1920's Stripes (hat) which match the Striped Mittens. Phew, can't believe I have this much done already. Best to get everything done before the temperature soars. Load patterns up on Ravelry. Done. Check.

Afternoon: Now I'm trying to finish that last knitted garment. Doesn't this bring back December 24th and not in a particularly good way? One more Swirl Cowl in a new variegated Cottage Colours worsted wool. I really like watching the swirl cut across the colour but I'd enjoy it more if it went just a teensy weensy bit faster.

It might be a late night! If you're going to the K-W show come by and say Hi. We're having a SHOW SPECIAL. Come and check it out.

-Deb

A-Line Cardigans

When Deb wrote "Morgan's Cardigan" for our Teens & Tweens book, we had no idea how popular that cardigan was going to be! Morgan (Deb's daughter) was more than pleased with her cropped sleeve version and I loved wearing the largest size to shows. However, at every show I wore it I kept on hearing "oh, love that cardigan but I'd need it in a larger size".

"Morgan's Cardigan" (largest size)
and the "A-Line" Cardigan (small).

So, after me repeating this to Deb several times, she re-wrote the cardigan in adult sizes - and it's lovely! It's called the A-Line Cardigan #624 and here it is on the left. It's in worsted weight yarn so a fairly quick knit and very versatile.
I can tell you, from personal wear, that this is a terrific cardigan and I wear it a lot! You can wear it with jeans, with nice pants or a skirt for a dressier look and it looks great over a dress as well.
I'm just starting a second one for me in a lime green merino from Abuelita Yarns (I like this yarn so much we're going to be carrying it ourselves).
The three-quarter length sleeves, as shown, work perfectly for me but you can have it as a cap sleeve or a long sleeve - whichever you prefer! The lengths are written as petite, average or tall but, again, you can knit whichever length suits.
It's on Patternfish for download.
But that is not the end! Deb got quite a number of emails asking about re-sizing the cardigan to Plus sizes.

Here is our friend Jennifer, in her cardigan
 that Deb knit for her.

After doing some research and talking to a number of interested knitters in the plus size range, she's re-written the cardigan to Plus sizes from 1X to 5X. The A-Line PLUS Cardigan #625 has the same sleeve and length options along with additional fitting options for the fuller figure.
You can download the pattern from Patternfish here.
I believe there's a KAL (Knit-A-Long) being organised for the A-Line PLUS but I'll let Deb fill you in on that.
Deb's been doing (as you know if you've been keeping up with the blog) a lot of research on plus sizing and has been getting a lot of input from Julie. It's been really interesting to hear her work through the fitting options and design challenges. Look out for the results next year in book form!
-Lyn

Back from TNNA and after a couple days of rest and relaxation I'm ready to get going again. We came home with some goodies.
Briggs and Little have taken their Softspun one step further and hand painted it. It looks terrific. They were giving away 2oz. skeins, enough to tease the curious so of course we picked up a couple.

I picked up some wool from a small mill in Michigan, Stonehedge Fiber Mill, which was recommended to me. Shepherd's Wool is springy and the colours I chose are slightly heathered which I really like.

Over the weekend I was working on a top down using Hempwol from Hemp for Knitting . It's a lovely worsted weight, easy to knit and feels great. There's also a DK weight which I have yet to try but it's on my list.

I have to string a second circular needle through my knitting before I get a photo since I'm at the bottom of the yoke and it looks like a large blob. I will do that tomorrow since I'm interested in seeing how it looks too.

-Deb

We're off to TNNA!

Deb and I are off to the TNNA show today with our new book: NEED A BABY CARDIGAN?

Super cute baby in a pretty cardigan! This new book is the third in the "Need A ... " series of books. The first two were Need A Hat? and Need A Sock? This series is a "multi-gauge" approach to each topic. So, for example, the new Need A Baby Cardigan? provides you with a range of cardigans (with colour, textures & lace) in 4 sizes (newborn to 18 months) in NINE (yes, 9!) gauges from sock yarn right up to chunky weight.
We'll be providing support and taking orders with Barb from Up North Fiber Arts Supply, our U.S. Distributor. Here's another shot of the cutie from the book:

-Lyn

A Snug Shrug!

Now that I'm back from the NENA (New England Needle Work Trade Show) in Sturbridge, MA, and Deb's back from doing the Knitters Frolic in Toronto, I thought I'd better get caught up on posting Deb's new pattern!
It's called #626 The Snug Shrug and it's a super cute little shrug just perfect for the evening over a summer dress or top or to cover up in cool air conditioning. You can download it from Patternfish and we also have it available on our site as a pattern or kit. There are two versions:

The version on the left is worked with two strands of superwash yarn. One strand is a hand-dyed fingering weight yarn in light and dark blues and the 2nd strand is Sterling (63% superwash, 20% silk, 15% merino & 2% silver) in a solid black (the silver adds a lovely, subtle, sparkle!). Kits are available in blue with black as shown and a lovely, rich, brown with black. 

The version on the right in white is a soft, fluffy merino superwash boucle which is worked on a larger needle than the ball band calls for to make it very soft and light (this kit is available in winter white as shown, grape heather & blue heather).  

-Lyn

I went to the Knitters Frolic on Saturday. A great day and good work by the Downtown Knit Collective. The Frolic is a show put on by one of the Toronto knitting guilds. It has a market on Saturday and lots of classes which run for two days. It's a real accomplishment and run expertly by Joan. Thanks Joan.

I had help, yay! Brenda and Dana both came to help out in the booth. Thanks to both. It is so much fun to have company. I could write a blog about it but Brenda wrote an excellent one with pictures too. Go Brenda.
-Deb

Stitches West

Karen and I arrived in sunny San Francisco yesterday afternoon ... and the sun lasted for about 30 minutes then clouded over. Lots of rain since. However, much, much warmer than what we left! We'll be heading off to the warehouse this morning to pick up our boxes then off to the airport to pick up Don & Buffy of Shelridge Farm and then the conference centre to unload and begin setting up our booths.

Cabin Fever is, if I remember correctly, in Booths 617-619. Right next door to our friend Lana of Hemp for Knitting. We only see Lana at the shows as we live at opposite sides of the country.

If you're coming to the show, do stop by and say "hi". I got a couple of emails asking if I would be bringing some more Silk and Silver (yes) and SweaterKits mulberry silk (also yes). I have Deb's new shrug and a "shrawl" that Karen and I have done (just finished the black/silver sample as I was leaving for the airport). I'm still knitting one more Fern Kerchief in a lovely blue I just dyed so must finish that up tonight.

Karen's Mom, Diane, turns 70 this year and our Mom, Edith, turns 80 so we're both going to keep our eyes open to see if we see anything they might like. Being as they're both terrific knitters and we're at the biggest knitting show going ... we're hopeful :)   Mind you, that means we have to be able to get out of the booth to find something - not always an easy task as the show is very busy.

-Lynda

Need A Sock?

Did you think our sock book had gone away? Nope! Here's the front cover as it stands today.

Deb and I are up at the cottage (camp) and we'll be working on edits and pictures this weekend. Still lots to do!

Want to see more pictures? 

Don't these look totally comfy?

Mmmm, don't you just want a pair?
The pumpkin pair are in our Cabin Fever Silk & Silver hand-dyed.

How about a manly pair?

OK, back to work on the pictures!

-Lynda

We've been busy on Ravelry. We now have patterns for sale there. We also have a Cabin Fever group going  http://www.ravelry.com/groups/cabin-fever .  And I realized that I haven't mentioned the KnitTrade show on the blog yet. Yes, I've been keeping secrets from you. Lynda and I have been working behind the scenes on a new knitting trade show.

This show came about because every time Lynda and I went to a trade show in the U.S. we left saying 'too bad there isn't a show like this at home in Ontario'. Since no one else seemed to be picking up on this great idea, we decided that maybe we ought to.

The new KnitTrade Show, what is it and who can go?

I'm assuming most of the readers here are knitters and not in the biz. But if you are, in the biz that is, this show is for you.
A trade show is for the trade, as in anyone who is involved in the knitting business. The big word to note there is Business. It's a place for people who work in the knitting industry to get together and see what's new, where the trends are going and who's doing what. It's a place where wholesalers can put all their product out in a booth and shop owners can take a look and buy or order. It's a place where designers can check out yarn and see if the yarn supplier would like some designs done. It's a place where teachers can talk to store owners. It's a place where wholesale vendors can talk to other wholesale vendors and make a deal.

Sorry but The KnitTrade show is NOT open to the public. Sorry, sorry. BUT if you have a vendors permit, dye yarn and sell it, work as a pattern writer, designer, teacher, test knitter, custom knitter, own a shop, work in a shop, etc. you can register and come on out. We'd love to see you there. You can come as a wholesale vendor or as a buyer. Everyone must register and get a name badge. It's the rules.

As a customer of your local yarn shop you will see the results of this show. You might see a new yarn, classes by a new teacher, new books or new patterns showing up in the store. Your local store owner is there on your behalf checking out what you might like.

This tooting of our horn is rather uncomfortable so no more plugs. I have done a mailing to everyone I know who is in the knitting business and lives within driving distance of the show. If I've missed anyone, please email us at info@knittrade.com  or go to The Knittrade Show and check it out.

We're going to be there, we've taken the plunge. The KnitTrade show is on September 19, 2010. Yep, that's in a few weeks, yikes!
Next time I'll be back to my usual blog business: Socks yet, ha, ha. I'm not finished with them yet.
-Deb

Cute T Shirts

Jennifer just left a message, on the blog that I posted after the Stitches West show last year, asking where she could buy the T-shirts we were selling at the show. That's me & Karen with them on:

The t-shirts have K2, P2 across in columns, and the writing says "Ribbed for your pleasure". Cute, eh? This year we have both fitted (tight) and regular men's style shirts. We will have them for sale at the Stitches West show this weekend (Santa Clara, CA) and will be bringing any left home with us for the next show. So, if anyone wants one (besides Jennifer), put in an order, including a size, and I'll put one aside for you.
-Lyn
NOTE:  If you include your email address on the blog comment, we can get back to you directly.

Lace Shawls

Thought I'd drop in a photograph of the shawls I'll be taking to Stitches West in 11 days. (Wow! That show snuck up fast!) I've really enjoyed knitting these shawls and it's so interesting to see the different effects with different yarns and colours.

The shawl on the right is knit in our Cabin Fever Silk & Silver fingering weight (superwash merino/silk/sterling silver) which I dyed in shades of black/blue and hints of purple. You can't see it in the photograph, but the silver gives it a lovely, subtle, glitter. Very pleased with that. The pattern is leaves surrounded with ripples and the border has little clear beads with silver in their centre.

The shawl in the middle was the first one I did and it's in the Fibre Isle bison light sock weight yarn in it's natural colour. Very light and delicate and lovely to work with. The pattern is leaves and medallions and the beads on the border are clear glass.

The shawl on the left, which I just completed, is knit in Shelridge Farm's superwash merino in DK weight. The colour is "celery" but it said leaves to me! I'm taking these to the show as kits as we stock or dye all these yarns.

All of the shawls are knit from the top-down beginning at the garter stitch centre. And all the shawls are done using the "Knitting Lace Triangles" by Evelyn A. Clark. I am a big fan of hers! 

I've been writing up, and test knitting, the accessories for the teen book over the last few days so knitting up the samples, in hopefully their final format, is my plan for the long weekend while watching the Olympics. First off is the scarf to match Deb's Waffle Jacket. The mittlet looks lovely and I think the scarf will be terrific.

- Lyn

Getting Ready for Stitches West

February is creeping ever closer and I'm trying to get ready for the Stitches West show. Karen, from SheepStrings Yarn Art Studio and I are again sharing a booth. We have to ship our goods early in February so time is getting short! I'm madly knitting away on some samples and doing a bit of shopping. I like to have some new items at each show, either our own or some cool things I've seen. So this year I'll have our new patterns (Last Minute Baby and Delicious Diamonds), some kits of the the terrific JJ Jacket and new Beaded Mittlets plus some new yarn I've dyed and am knitting the shawl right now, pictures to come. And I'll also have some new pretties, see below:

Adrianne, who does these, works with pewter and these are shaped like spools of yarn. Very beautiful and have matching earrings as well (I don't have quite the swan neck to wear the earrings myself, but am having trouble picking out only one of the necklaces to wear).

The "dog tags" are very funky.

And these ae sweater sticks/shawl pins. The top ones are coloured, wooden beads, pretty, simple and light. The stick on the right is absolutely stunning on a heavier stole or sweater that needs a closure. Very celtic looking as is the round pin below.

If anyone is going to the show and wants me to bring anything in particular - please let me know soon! 

-Lyn

I love Wednesday's

On Monday, Deb and I drove up to Shelridge Farm to visit with Buffy & Don, to stock up with more yarn for the shop and to have further development talks with Buffy. We're working with Buffy to come up with a dye technique which she'll do just for us. It's great fun, sometimes frustrating and a very, very interesting exercise. While we were working with Buffy, Don was working in the kitchen and sent each of us home with an amazing, home-baked baguette. Al and I had ours with supper and I had the tiny leftover bit as toast the next morning. Wow, can Don bake bread!

I'm just testing knitting Shirl the Purl's new Beaded Mittlet in Shelridge Farm's W4 (worsted weight) in Cranberry. It's lookin' good!

If you're wondering why the title of this post is "I love Wednesday's" is because that's my day for working at home. Deb goes into the office and I get to sit quietly at home and work. It's hard to work (as in testing patterns or developing new patterns) in the office with customers coming in, the phone ringing, discussions with Sophy as she's packing up orders ... it's not really ideal. Naturally some days, like yesterday, I had to do work on the web site and answer emails but I also did get some work done (see above and below).

This is my progress on the lace shawl I'm doing in the Fibre-Isle's Lovit Cashmere (60% fine merino superwash, 30% Lyocell cellulose & 10% premium cashmere). It's lovely to work with.

I started the shawl with a leaf pattern (lower part) which is terrific to knit and easy to keep in your head. I used the first 50g ball doing the leaf, but I wanted to "open up" the pattern for the lower part of the shawl. So when I changed balls (and spliced the yarn so hopefully you won't see the join) I changed to the medallion pattern. Now this was just as I was going to bed, so I did the very clever transition pattern from Evelyn Clark and went to bed. This morning I had to get up at 6:00am just to sit and start the actual pattern. I am VERY pleased at how lovely it looks. Evelyn's transition means that one pattern actually flows into the next quite seamlessly. I am very impressed. I am going to get some of her books "Knitting Lace Triangles" for the shop as I think this is easily the best book I've seen for getting started.

OK, time to actually shower and get to work!

-Lynda

Happy (Canadian) Thanksgiving

Home from our long weekend at camp. This was a fairly typical, and enjoyable, Thanksgiving weekend for me (Lynda). It's the last weekend at camp which means we "close up" for the year. This means bringing in all the outdoor furniture and ... burrrr ... bringing in the water (and draining the water from the cottage, and pouring anti-freeze in, etc etc). Luckily I don't have to do the actual getting in the lake part myself. It's a "manly" job so a job for Al, with assistance from Dad (supervision) and brother-in-law Mark (laughing his head off). Lake Huron is pretty darn cool at this time of year. Happily the weather was brisk but dry, the sun was out during the day.

Saturday was the Gemmell dinner at our place (spaghetti) and I continue to be amazed at how much young men (early 20's) can eat!! Sunday was the BIG DINNER at Aunt Fran's cottage. Mom (now younger sister Heather) & Aunt Fran (now her kids) prepare two full turkey dinners and then set them out together for the family. We had 20 sitting down this year with the age range from 10 (ish) to 80 (ish). It was loud and crowded and great fun!

Al and I also did some last work on the kitchen and more insulation but I did get some knitting done. I'm the "helper" so I can sit and knit between helping measure and lift things or hold something while screws are being applied ...

I knit up a pair of Shirl's Mittlet's as a sample for the show I'm doing this coming weekend in Woodstock. They are, surprise! exactly my size. The colour is off a bit in my photograph I think, but they're a rich gold and the yarn is a lovely silk/wool blend. Perfect for keeping my hands warm while working on the computer.

The shrivelled little item on the right is the start of a shawl that I was knitting on the drive home. I've got Evelyn A. Clark's extremely excellent book Knitting Lace Triangles. Well worth adding to your collection. I'm using a soft bison, cashmere, fine merino blend from FibreIsles and it is going to make a wonderful shawl. I will have some of this beautiful yarn at Stitches East show in CT that I'm doing in two weeks (ie not this weekend coming, but the following weekend).

We won't be at the Creative Festival in Toronto this weekend (I'll be at the Fibre Festival in Woodstock) but Jennifer & Miko, owners of The Purple Purl in Toronto will be there, featuring our Northern Lights wool. Please stop by and say "hi" to them if you're there (the show is this weekend at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre).

Here's the cupboards back up again, freshly painted, against the new panelling (the cutie in the background is Al). The cupboards were built by my Dad and his uncle over 50 years ago. They used to be in Grandma's cottage kitchen but when it was pulled down (before it fell down) some items were rescued and now reside in our place.

-Lynda

Kitchener - Waterloo Knitting Show

Back from the annual Kitchener Waterloo Knitting show which was terrific as it always is. This is a show that is completely run by the members of the KW Knitting Guild. We've been going for years - way back when, when the show was held at the highest level of bleechers in a hockey arena. We sold yarn, while the kids played hockey on the ice below us. Very appropriate we thought.

We see lots of old friends and meet many new ones too. I wanted to thank my two amazing helpers, Judith and Dana, who did a sterling job of helping me set up (and even more importantly, break down after the show!!) and worked hard during the day, along side Deb, answering questions and picking yarn colours. Yea! What a team!

Lynn stopped by to show off her beautiful Sarah, from our "Button Up Your Top Down" book, designed by Bernice Vollick. Here's the front view:

And the back view: (sorry I was a bit wobbly there)

Lynn knit this in Buffy's yarn (Shelridge Farm) and here's Buffy in her booth:

Lot's of old friends like Evie, in Karen's booth (SheepStrings)

Caroline of SweaterKits with her daughter Laura:

A great time was had by all and I've booked us to do it all again next year! See you then.

-Lynda

Double Cross

The Double Cross socks are coming along nicely. I'm at the heel now and, well, that means it's almost done, right?Plain sailing from here on in.

I cast on one more project, a sample knit of the Ripples top www.cabinfever.ca/P252.html in a new Cotton Tweed colour, Lilac. It's going in my knitting bag for the weekend. I'm a vendor at the Simcoe County Quilt and Rug Fair http://www.scaca.ca/about-scaca.html held this Friday to Sunday at the Simcoe County Museum. I haven't been to this show for a couple of years but I remember lots of terrific things for sale there and that the church ladies made the most excellent pie. If they are still the caterers for this event I will be having a piece every single day. Yummy.The ripples are beginning to show already.

-Deb

More patterns on Patternfish

Yes, we're back from our shows and so happy to be home. To getting caught up before going on holiday I've added all the new patterns to our web site and have added #255 Lyrical Lace, by Karen Lawrence, to the Patternfish site as well.

And the following Neck Cozies (aka "the new scarf") should be posted very shortly. These are quick, fun, projects and make excellent gifts. The cozies are shorter than regular scarves, have a button (or two) closing and fit cozily into the lapels of your jacket or coat.

This one is #087 - Ribbed Neck Cozies:

And #088 - Cabled Neck Cozy:

Another way of wearing the Cabled Neck Cozy:

And this is #089 - Fancy Neck Cozy:

We will be closed for our annual holiday from Monday, June 29th, through to Monday July 13th. Happy Canada Day (July 1) and Happy Independence Day (July 4)!

-Lynda

Ooops

I just uploaded some new patterns to Patternfish and forgot to let you know! Julia usually takes a few days to post new patterns but she was right on it this week. So, my apologies and here's the current status.

I uploaded a new photograph for Deb's Point to Point Shawl:

I posted my Jane Austen Shawls:

Bernice's new preemie to 18 months, 3 in one cardigans called Sam, Sadira & Katie was posted and I expect it to be available in the next day or two:

And I also loaded up Shirl the Purl's "Shirl's Mittlets" so you should be up be up in a day or two as well:

I will be uploading several more (7 more? no, must be 5 as the socks are already on Patternfish) over the coming days and week so I'll keep you posted. My deadline is to have everything posted before we leave for the TNNA show ... will I make it? Now back to updating the catalogue.

-Lynda

Need A Hat?

Yes, it's here! Hot Off the Press!!

After a fair bit of technical hair-pulling the booklets arrived Thursday afternoon and Sophy and I immediately packed them up and shipped them to Sturbridge, MA, for me to sell at the trade show next week (and hopefully for Deb to show and sell when she does her classes at Reba's store The Fiber Loft in Harvard, MA). On Friday we sent off our first store shipment to Diane of Georgetown Knitting & Crafts. Karen, of SheepStrings in Dwight ON, stopped to pick up copies to take to the Knitters Frolic Show in Toronto and for Miko and Jennifer at The Purple Purl.

As an interesting aside, Karen stopped by my house on the way home from doing the show (mainly to get fed I think) and told me that people had trouble believing that they could use ANY yarn for ANY hat in the booklet as much as Karen assured them they could (Karen is one of the designers in the book, see page 45, hat #10 so she knew this was true, lol). They bought the booklet on faith ... and hope. I think they'll be pleased.

I've put more detail and bigger pictures on the Cabin Fever web site if you want to go have a look!

-Lynda

Just wanted to update with an email comment from Diane:

Hi Lynda and Debbie,
Seeing I am the first store to receive your new hat book - I will be the first to comment - What a great book!!! I think there is a hat there for everyone!! Good job!! I bet you do not ever want to knit another hat for a long time!!
Diane
Diane & Bob CrawfordGeorgetown Yarn & Crafts

170 Guelph St.Georgetown,

ON L7G 4A7Phone: 905-877-1521

Fax: 905-877-3614

knitting@cogeco.ca

http://www.canknit.com/members/dcrawford.html