On the Sea Again

European additions to my stash

My husband Bob, sister-in-law Nancy, and I recently returned from a fantastic "trip of a lifetime."  We crossed the Atlantic from Fort Lauderdale to Cobh, County Cork, Ireland.  From there we had stops in England, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, and Russia, finally flying home from Vienna, Austria.

Nancy and I decided to give the "Knitters and Natters" group on board ship a try and were the first to show up at the appointed spot, 30 minutes early.  Though they were an interesting group of women, Nancy and I both agreed the amount of "nattering" wasn't conducive to too much knitting.  In fact, we both ended up frogging our work from that meeting.  Several of us were a little horrified when one woman told us she hadn't brought her knitting because the yarn would take up too much space in her luggage!  We were ten days at sea before our first stop - I can think of any number of items that would be ditched before my yarn and needles!

Of course, my search for local yarn shops and locally produced yarn continued on this trip.  We made a return visit to Vivi's Trading Company in Kinsale, Ireland and picked up a couple of skeins of "Soft Donegal" and had the chance to see how Vivi's has grown in its first year and as you can see, it's doing well!

Inside Vivi's Trading Co.

My favorite stop on the cruise was in Tallinn, Estonia.  Right on the dock are a set of shops that give a taste of what a tourist may want to bring home.  At my first stop, I met and chatted with the owner and knitter, Mary Ann, a delightful woman.

Mary Ann in her shop at the Tallinn Dock

Most of the knitted goods available in Tallinn are machine knitted and extremely well done. At the end of the day, I returned to Mary Ann's shop to purchase one of her beautiful sweaters for myself and a couple of Christmas gifts.  From the dock, we headed to Lower Old Town where, in the shade of the town wall, knitters set up stands to sell the products of their hands and machines.

Such a treat to be able to meet the women who have created such lovely items.  They know the worth of their products, set a very fair price, and don't bargain!  My kind of women!

While in Tallinn, I was able to find the colorful ball of yarn on top of the pile in the picture at the top of this post.  It apparently is a popular colorway as it can be seen in most of the shops.

From inside Kalliver, a "linen" shop in Lower Old Town Tallinn 

Next up - Den Gamle By, Aarhus, Denmark!

Two Years Later

Anniversary roses from my brother, Austin.  Every woman should be so lucky as to have a brother like him!

Just after I'd set out lemonade and cookies as a little opening celebration (grand doesn't really apply here) on June 1, 2011, I opened the door to The Quilted Purl.  Then I stood around somewhat nervously, waiting.  For those of you who've never been in the shop, you enter a small vestibule then climb 20 stairs, when you are already at an elevation of 8519 ft.  For the first few weeks it was a bit unsettling to me when I could hear people before I saw them, or worse yet, when I didn't hear them and they just quietly appeared upstairs in the shop.

Vestibule and 16 of the 20 steps 

My first customer that day was a woman who'd just flown in from Chicago that morning and suffered from COPD.  By the time she made it up the stairs, her breathing was so labored I thought I'd be greeting the Clear Creek Rescue folks any minute.  Fortunately, I'd placed a rocking chair at the top of the stairs and quickly had her sit and catch her breath while enjoying the lemonade and some water.  She recovered, and made the first purchase at The Quilted Purl.  There are now two rocking chairs there, emergency water, and a bowl of chocolates.  I call it my "recovery station" and it gets a great deal of use.

The Quilted Purl Recovery Station

Over the past two years, I've had the opportunity to meet people from all seven continents and from all walks of life.  Many of those who make it up the stairs have a story to tell.  The two antique sewing machines I have (thank you Linda and Karen) seem to evoke the past for most visitors to the shop.  As a former history teacher, this delights me.  So many folks have fond memories of a mother, grandmother, aunt, great-grandmother, or some other loved one knitting or quilting.  That they want, or even need, to tell me their memory honors me.   It never fails to amaze me how wonderful most people are and how fortunate I am to meet them.

So, year three for The Quilted Purl begins.  Many thanks to all who have supported and encouraged me over the past two years, especially my husband, Bob.

What's new at The Quilted Purl?  How about these beautiful skeins of Mountain Colors Twizzle in their 5 new colorways!  Come by, climb the 20 stairs, rest for a few minutes, have a chocolate, and then tell me your story!

The Open Road

I love my work!  What fun to be able to knit, quilt, listen to music, watch the happenings at Library Park, and meet the delightful and interesting folks who add an extra 20 steps to our already high elevation of 8519 feet and make it up to The Quilted Purl.  Pamela and Kirk Rasch are two such people.  

It was a quiet morning on Wednesday when Pamela and Kirk came by hoping to repair a broken chaps belt.  My sewing machines aren't industrial strength, but with a little thread, needle, and thimble, all was well in no time.  In our short visit, I learned that Kirk and Pamela were taking a break from Kirk's work on the plains of Colorado for a little anniversary trip on their motorcycles.  

Happy Anniversary Pamela and Kirk!  Hope to see you at The Quilted Purl again sometime and safe travels!

From East to West...

I'm pleased to announce that The Quilted Purl now carries six lines of yarn from Green Mountain Spinnery, the only shop in Colorado to do so, I believe.  The Green Mountain Spinnery story is as interesting as their yarn is beautiful.  Click on the link to read about their cooperative and be sure to take the virtual tour of their operation.  As a former history teacher, I'm especially impressed with the fact that they're still using a machine built in 1896!  Fantastic!

I'm very excited to be able to support American producers of wool and manufacturers of yarn and to offer it to my customers.  Check out the new yarns here or better yet, come by to see and touch them in person!

Alpaca Elegance
50% New England Alpaca 50% Fine Wool DK weight

Sylvan Spirit
50% Fine Wool/50% TENCEL Lyocell combine to make a soft yarn with a satiny sheen. DK weight

New Mexico Organic
100% Fine Wool grown in New Mexico & Certified Organic by the NM Organic Commondity Commission. Processing Certified Organic by Vermont Organic Farmers  DK weight

Mountain Mohair
30% Yearling Mohair and 70% Wool Worsted Weight

Cotton Comfort
80% Fine Wool/20% Organic Cotton combines the pure softness of organic cotton with the
elasticity and delicacy of fine wool.      DK weight


And Finally...Yarn Over

Yarn Over Red
Carded wool & mohair left from a range of Spinnery dye lots is blended to create "once only" muted colors.
Heavy worsted weight

Pre-"Sockupied"

On January 1, 2013, I didn't know how to knit socks and if you've been following this blog, you know that I didn't much care.  However, I'd decided to expand my knitting horizons and socks were at the top of the list.

Mountain Colors Crazyfoot

As of April 1st, I'm working on my ninth pair of socks, making my way through the yarns in the shop to determine which work well for sock knitting.  Since it's important for me to be able to make recommendations, 8 of the 9 pairs of socks have been for me so I can judge the comfort, fit, and washability.  I really do have the perfect job, don't I?  The 9th pair went to my son for his birthday with washing instructions and the warning that failure to follow them will result in socks for his wife!

Lonesome Stone Alpaca Tracks

So, the results... haven't found a yarn in the shop yet that I don't love for socks!  An unexpected result: sock knitting can be fattening!  I didn't really think of quilting as an athletic activity, but there is a fair amount of jumping up and down from the sewing machine to the cutting table or ironing board.  Sitting for eight hours a day knitting socks doesn't burn calories, so I'm back to quilting during the day and knitting at night.  Be forewarned ~ your fingers moving as you knit do not burn many calories!

Universal Yarns Instant Print

Mountain Colors Bearfoot

Mountain Colors 4/8s Wool

Mountain Colors Twizzle

I'd like to take credit for the "Sockupied," but I'm not that clever.  Interested in some knitting patterns for socks?  Follow this link: "Sockupied".

Lonesome Stone Mountain Feat

Quilting from 6 to 96

 A couple of weeks ago while having lunch with my brother John, he told me about a project that parishioners in his church worked on a few years ago.  Folks from 6 to 96 years of age gathered to create quilts to donate to a children's hospital as part of their Lenten program.

As one parishioner wrote, "Lots of people had donated fabric, and many had donated funds to help us buy other needed materials.  It really felt like it brought us all together, young and old, those who sew, and those who don't, all to provide for babies in need. "

The completed quilts made one stop on the way to the hospital, adorning St. Rose Parish Church in northern New Hampshire for Easter Sunday, where the loving work of so many hands and hearts became part of the Easter joy and celebration.

A Blessed and Happy Easter

and a

Happy Passover for my Jewish readers!

Some Knitting Tips

http://www.knittingdaily.com/blogs/daily/archive/2013/03/20/becoming-a-better-knitter.aspx

I saw this post this morning and wanted to pass it along.  The tip on knitting stripes especially caught my attention as I have never been thrilled with my results when ribbing stripes, to the extent that I avoid it.  Now I don't have to limit myself!

Check it out here: http://www.knittingdaily.com/blogs/daily/archive/2013/03/20/becoming-a-better-knitter.aspx