One of the best parts of working for a yarn store are the store projects. I get a chance to work with yarns and patterns I've been curious about but might not make for myself or for friends. I also get a chance to push my skills a little too.
Store projects can be a little nerve wracking. The finished object is put in the store, with your name on it, for lots and lots of discerning knitters to look at and try on. The item needs to have the right gauge, be knit beautifully, and the pattern has to be right. That's a lot of pressure for a knitter!
My first project was a hat. I knit the whole thing and put it together, there were lots of stripes and ends to sew in. It was enormous, a hat for a giant! I had to take the whole thing apart, soak the yarn and re-knit. I swore I would never knit another store project. Needless to say, I've knit more. Like this one...
Classic Elite "Lucky Cap" from Serendipity 9194. Knit with Kumara. I had enough left over to knit just the band too.
I look awful in hats so I prefer just the band.
And this one...
(Windsor Warmer, by Cecily Glowik MacDonald from New England Knits. Made in MadelineTosh, Tosh DK, color, Magnolia Leaf)
There was the baby sweater.
I thought I was used to the pressure, until this one.
This is a three skein, cabled, 55" long scarf that had to be knit, wet blocked, dried and buttons sewn on in three days! The yarn is Fibre Co. Tundra, knit in their "Tallin" pattern. This one almost did me in. I'm realizing, as I look at the pattern more closely, that I may have completely messed up the cables. Maybe no one will notice. Remember that pressure I was talking about? This is the last time I'm doing a store project! I sort of mean it.
I seriously could have a store out here for you!
Posted by: Maren Peterson | October 12, 2012 at 08:43 AM
We might have to try that! It seems like you are pretty busy though.
Posted by: Ms. Ellaneous | October 14, 2012 at 10:14 AM