Yarn, Ho!

One of my friends (hi, Mary Sue!) has an art place (originally a frame shop; now, so much more) downtown, and since there's no yarn shop here, I'm going to take over a wee portion of her shop and set up a little yarn corner.

I got the idea from one of my favorite hang-outs in Colorado: The Stone Cup. Just around the inside doorframe from the main counter is a three-tiered wire veggie hanger containing a few skeins of yarn and a handful of other knitting notions. Nothing big or fancy, but I get excited every time I visit and have to see if there's anything new I might need want.

That's what I want to create here ... a little spot of yarn-heaven where folks can find something that makes them smile. Whenever I hit a yarn shop (which is pretty much any time I'm near one -g-), I'll pick something up to add to the mix. Taking it a step further, I'd really love for this to evolve into a "yarn co-op" where I go yarn shopping for others .. and the "leftovers" go in the corner stash. :^)

My friend is hosting her first Art Party tonight, where she provides canvas, paint, brushes, etc, and her students provide enthusiasm and merriment and go home with a masterpiece. While we're all painting (hopefully mostly on the canvases), I'll also be pondering where to set up the yarn spot!

~ ~ ~

Okay, I have to share. Yesterday, I made not just my first wrist cuff but my first-ever bit of knitted lace! It's not as perfect as in the photos, but I did it! And I learned so much. Before, I had no idea what "k1 tbl" or "ssskp" meant, much less what they did to the yarn; now, I know, I've done, and I remember! I even learned how to "work 5 together", and let me tell you, that is an accomplishment.

Next time, it'll come out better ... and the correct size for my wrist. But this one is going in my Proud Firsts stash. :^D

Knit on!

St Patty's Coaster GIP

(In case you don't know, "GIP" stands for "Gratuitous Icon Post".)

My current icon is a little ditty I finished yesterday. Yes, that's supposed to be a shamrock ... pretend the caterpillars got to it. (Hey, it's just turned Spring here, with temps supposed to be in the 70's for the next week or so. Those little caterpillars are hungry!)

I'm teaching a Knit It Super Simple (KISS) class later this week, and the star of the show will be a green mug coaster (not good for a hot pan or casserole dish and not good for keeping moisture away from the surface it's protecting but great for keeping a mug from scuffing up wood or whacking glass too hard). Since this will be the first in a series of classes for beginners, we'll be knitting up garter-stitch coasters in solid or variegated green cotton yarn, but I just had to make a shamrock one to show students how much fun coasters can be.

And yes, if I finish the set, I'll try to keep the caterpillars away from the other three. LOL!

Testing, Testing, knit1, purl2, drop3

Obligatory first post: Howdy Ya'll!

As it says at the top, this is the blog side of my soon-to-be-produced-and-shared podcast of the same name. Why "Big Fat Happy Knitting"? It makes me smile! (And it's made everyone else I've said it to smile. -g-) Plus, I love chunky yarn and knitting with multiple strands of yarn, whether all the same or a mix of sizes/colors. And it's memorable.

Thanks for checking me out. Come back often and watch the evolution!