Well, we are in Hawaii and I am going to try and post WITHOUT my MacBook. I am trying to do this from my iPad so it may not be pretty. All of my other posts from Hawaii were started at home on MacBook and were finished here. I am afraid, very afraid!

This is one of the most unique LYS I've ever been in. It is Yarn & Needlecraft/Strictly Christmas in Kailua, HI. It obviously is a combination yarn and Christmas store. It is a tiny, adorable shop owned by Sylvia Kruse.

Look at this! I love this place. It houses two of my great loves: yarn and Santas. I was dying to find out what kind of yarn was sold in Hawaii. It's not like they can really wear wool or other warm animal fibers but to me there is no other yarn like those that contain hairs of animals. I asked Sylvia after I had strolled around if they carried wool. They had a little washable wool was the reply. But I will tell you, they have some wonderful, scrumptious yarn. They do carry my very favorite Noro and I had to buy some. I bought some beautiful Silk Garden Sock Yarn. My plan is to make the shawl I discovered on Ravelry knitted by the talented woman from Belgium for Evie. I usually don't plan to make a specific thing for a specific person, but this seems perfect; using yarn purchased in Hawaii for my dear friend who we're in Hawaii with. (I know you're not supposed to end a sentence with a preposition but I'm too tired to struggle with it.)

Now I must tell you Sylvia's story. She loved to do needlework but had difficulty finding materials in Hawaii. She had to get them from California. So, she decided to open a shop. Then one day the Christmas shop was closing and she was asked to take it on. That's how Yarn & Needlecraft/Strictly Christmas came to be. Forty years later, she's going strong. Isn't that a great story.

i just love this shop. I think I'll take you on a little tour.

There is my beautiful Silk Garden on the third shelf from the bottom. It's that scrumptious rust and brown and turquoise. Don't you think a shawl like that will be a show stopper?

Well, I learned a lot about posting from the iPad. I almost got it right. I tried to go to another LYS yesterday but it was closed. If I find any more, I will share it with you

(We are in Hawaii. My next few posts are ones I started at home and finish and post from here. My goal is to post one about Hawaiian LYS. I can't wait to see the yarn here. Do they have wool even though they probably can't wear it? Do they only have cotton and linen? I did bring my computer so will be posting from my phone. Awkward!)

I have been reintroduced to my infatuation with the exquisite Madelintosh over the past few weeks. I was in Sunset Beach when I received an email from Little Knits in Seattle. Little Knits is one of my favorite online yarn shops. Oh, by the way I will be in Seattle this Tuesday night spending the night on our way to Hawaii. That is another story that I hope to tell WHILE we are in Hawaii. Unfortunately, we won't be there at the right time or long enough to visit Little Knits. It will have to go on my "Things I Want To Do" list. I really don't like the phrase Bucket List. Back to my email from Little Knits. They had Madelinetosh on sale

I bought these fabulous colors (from top to bottom; Moonglow, Worn Demin, Nassau Blue, Fir Wreath, Grasshopper) for some ridiculously low price. 😚 I just couldn't resist. You know me and a yarn sale; I never met one I didn't love!

These are Madelintosh I already had from top to bottom; two unknown but beautiful colors, Steam Age, Venetian and unknown spectacular turquoise. I made an Olga Jazzy pleated scarf out of that beautiful turquoise for Andi. Some day I will make something exquisite out of the Venetian.

While we were in Sunset Beach I ordered this great kit to make the Sev(en) Circle necklace in Madelintosh Unicorn skeins. I couldn't resist. It was so intriguing.

This Is Lydia wearing this fabulous necklace. Isn't it great? I do love my Madelintosh! Even though the whole picture didn't come through! Take my word, it is yummy. Be patient with me as I try to post from Hawaii.

We are watching a surfing contest on our iPad and looking at a double rainbow out our deck. Hawaii is beautiful but it is a challenge to edit Knitting: A Love Story from my iPhone and iPad. I'm going to post this and see how it goes.

When we were in Sunset Beach in January, we had an opportunity to spend time with long time friends Ray and Clara Holmes of Greensboro, North Carolina.  We have been friends for a very long time.  Dick and I used to go to Myrtle Beach for a week in the summer every year for many years.  We stopped going about 7 years ago when things in Myrtle Beach just became so crowded and chaotic.  Going out to eat became a stressful event and getting tee times became difficult.  If you can't go out to eat or golf without feeling stress and anxiety, it's time to change your plans!

One year early in our visits, I was struggling with golf and Dick went on his own while I spent the day on the beach.  When he came home he told me we had dinner plans with a nice couple he met at Waterway Hills.  For those of you who have been there, they met riding on the gondola from the parking lot to the golf course.  That was the beginning of a wonderful friendship.  We watched their kids graduate from high school and college, get married and have children.  We watched their grandchildren grow up and go to college.  They are a wonderful couple who welcomed us into their life.  

Since we don't go to Myrtle Beach in the summer any more, we have been getting together when we go to Sunset Beach.  Dick and Ray golf, Clara and I visit and shop, and we all go out to dinner.  Clara had back surgery last spring which didn't work out well.  She had a very difficult time getting around and was going to have a new procedure on February 15.  

One day I dropped Dick off at the golf course with Ray and I headed to Ray and Clara's condo to spend time with Clara.  Of course, I had some knitting with me.  Clara had a Christmas sock pattern she'd had for years and made for each of her children, their spouses, and her grandchildren.  The pattern was badly beat up.  I am not a sock person, so I told her she needed to go to Molly at Knit 'N Purl and ask for help.  Clara went and came away with yarn and a pattern for a "Ruffled Neckwrap."

The next time we went out to dinner she gave me pattern, yarn and needles and said it was mine.  I started knitting it with Clara on my mind.

First of all I had to get those pesky 360 stitches cast on.  Remember my tip?  If you cast on 50 stitches then place a marker, cast on 50 stitches and place another, etc. until you have your stitches it's not such an onerous task.  You only have to count each stitch once and you only have to count up to 50.  This is one of the most helpful things I teach my knitting classes.  I got the 360 stitches cast on and I was on my way.

Just like when I knit the scarf for my friend Sally, as I knit the Neckwrap I thought about Clara feeling better.  I pictured her walking without help, getting out of the car on her own, driving herself to shopping destinations.  I even pictured Clara playing her beloved tennis.  I thought, pictured, and visualized.  Finally, I was done.

The beautiful yarn is Mountain Colors in Berry or Blueberry.  Isn't it yummy?  I love this yarn and this pattern AND this button.  I found this beauty in my button collection.  It is so much fun to need a button and find something in my collection that exceeds my expectations.  I was feeling lazy and didn't want to go all of the way to the Stash Studio to take a picture of the Ruffled Neckwrap  with Lydia, so I tried this. . . 

It just wasn't the same!  Lydia is a perfect model for all of my treasures.

We will pop this in the mail along with "Still Knitting A Love Story" which chronicles year 2 of my beloved blog so my Mom can read it.  She just doesn't feel comfortable reading from a computer or iPad.  Clara read my first year (Ray read it, too!) and loved it. I have many, many copies.  I can just see Clara wearing this.  She will look so beautiful.

I belong to many clubs; bridge clubs, reading clubs, knitting clubs but none suits me to a "T" quite like the Twisted Fiber Arts Yarn Club.  I joined for the first time in the fall.  The name of the club was 2015 Fall In Doors and Out Clubs.  You could join the In Doors Club or the Out Doors Club.  Guess what I did?  I joined both.  During the months of December, January and February, a cake of the fabulous Twisted Fiber Art yarn was sent with the colorways inspired by In Doors or Out Doors.  These are the beautiful cakes of yummy yarn I received as a club member (remember, membership has it privileges!)

One month the club selection was in Muse that fabulous fingering weight yarn of silk and merino; one month in Tasty that scrumptious merino, cashmere and nylon; and one month in the yummy Arial in superwash merino.  They are so beautiful and what a great surprise!  Once a month getting a package from the Twisted Ladies with 2 cakes of yummy yarn.  I think Twisted Fiber Art should have an aka The Yummy Yarn Company.  

These are the In Door Club choices (from top to bottom) Knock Knock, Welcome and Hello.  I remember when the Knock Knock came first and I immediately fell in love.  Once again my photography doesn't do the beautiful colors justice.  It is deep purple moving to brown.  I can't wait to figure out what I'm going to knit with it.  

These are the Out Door colorways (from top to bottom) Fjord, Cavern and Glacier.  Fjord knocked my socks off!  Cavern tickled my fancy.  They are all beautiful!  How can you have a favorite when they are all beautiful?

In addition, these two gorgeous cakes were tucked in my last club shipment with the following note, "Thank you for always talking up our little company.  Here are 2 cakes of yarn and a Twisted Tasting for you to enjoy.  The cakes are our exclusive show colorway called Lumberjack.  It is usually only available at shows and events.  Happy Knitting.  Beth" The one cake is in Muse and the other is in Catnip Aran weight silk and merino.  Needless to say, I put aside what I was currently knitting (how many times have I done this and never gotten back to the project?  It won't happen with this one because I am almost finish and want to write about it) and search for a pattern for the stunning Catnip.  I found one.  It is called Bandito and it was designed by. . . 

Anne Campbell, Hazel's grandma.  Remember Anne also designed the fabulous hat. . . 

You can find Bandito on Ravelry.  It is a free pattern.  Now let me show you the progression of Bandito.

This to. . .

this to . . .

this.  It was a two night project and I wore it to work at Ann's By Design on Friday.  It is so beautiful.  I got many compliments both of the yarn and the pattern.  I think  Bandito would make a perfect class for students who can knit, purl, cast on and bind off and want to learn kfb and practice reading a pattern.   

​Once again the Twisted Ladies at Twisted Fiber Art have overwhelmed me.

I got an email from TFA this week with this amazing invitation for Fall 2015 In Doors and Out members.  Members will  be able to purchase any of the six club colorways on any roving or yarn base Friday February 12 through Friday February 26.  Then, the colorways disappear for at least a year. . . perhaps to be re-introduced, perhaps not.  Once again, membership has its privilege. Needless to say, I immediately got on line and ordered Knock Knock, Welcome and Hello in Catnip (my new favorite yarn) and Fjord in Muse. Is there any doubt what my very, favorite yarn company is?

​For those of who who are interested, a new Club will open in April.  Maybe we will become Club members together.

After having the month of January off, my 1st Saturday of the month Block Of The Month class met Saturday February 6.  It was great to see everybody.  Dawn, Sandra and Patience were on time and raring to go.  I was too because I was going to talk about one of my favorite things; steaming hand knitted treasures.  Many things have changed my knitting life but there are two at the top of the list; the swifter with ball winder and the professional grade steamer.  They have made my knitting life simpler, easier and more fun.  

Let me introduce you to Marilyn so named because she is a hot mama just like Marilyn Monroe.  I just felt if Lydia the mannequin had a name, so should my beloved steamer.  Marilyn must be close to 20 years old.  I learned the importance of a steamer from Crafty Lady in Macomb before it was Crafty Lady Trio.  I learned it from the fabulous Jan who used to own the shop.  I used to hate blocking knits.  I had this great blocking cloth that had inch squares printed all over it.  But I had to spread it out on the floor and get on my hands and knees with a steam iron to block.  Hard on the back! Not a fun process!

I have talked to you before about the importance of blocking and steaming, but I think it is so important I am going to talk about it again in the context of Block Of The Month.

Let me share with you what I prepared for Dawn, Sandra and Patience. 

Most knitters have heard about blocking and steaming but many don't do.  I was shocked when Knitting Daily did a pole on "Do you or don't you steam?"  I was shocked to learn the vast number of people who don't.  Why would you spend all of that money on yarn, all of that time on knitting and not do the one thing which takes knitting from homemade to handmade, from amateur to professional?!?!?!?!  I just don't get it.  Blocking will smooth out the imperfections in your knitting.  It will make your stitches look nicer because they are more even.  

One of the things steaming will do for Block Of The Month class is help each block approximate each other.  We steamed one of Sandra's blocks and when I was done she said, "Oh, my! It looks perfect."  And it did.  This is my steaming board.  It is huge and I put it on my ironing board so I don't have to get down on my hands and knees.  This is so much better for my back.  

There are basically 3 types of blocking: Wet Blocking, Steaming and Spraying.  With Wet Blocking, you wet your treasure.  Do not wring it out.  It is much better to wrap it in a towel and press some of the moisture out.  then you pin it on your board and let it dry.  With Steaming, you pin your treasure to your board, use your steam iron, put a cloth over and let the steam go through the cloth. NEVER TOUCH YOUR IRON TO THE CLOTH OR YOUR KNITTED TREASURES.  That is one sure way to ruin knits.  With spraying you just use a spray bottle.  Pin your knitted treasure on to a board, spray it then let it dry.  What we do in our class is kind of a combination of steaming and spraying.  There is no hot surface with Marilyn just steam.  You don't have to worry about a hot surface touching your treasures.  

It is great to be back to Ann's By Design.  It is great to be back with my class and my Friday Social Knitting. I do admit that responsibility and commitments are cutting in on my knitting time.  It was great to be with Ann again.  We had a planning session on Monday morning to put some structure to our knitting offerings.  We are preparing for a Yarn Tasting event and International Knit In Public Day.  I have only been home a week and things are heating up.  If you are in Michigan you really need to make a trip to Adrian and visit Ann's By Design.  If you come in on most Fridays, I will be there.  Jan's back!

I AM HOME!  Home is wonderful and I will talk about that soon, but first I must talk about something very exciting.

One day in Sunset Beach, I was succumbing to one of my addictions.  I was trying to discover wonderful knitting ideas on Pinterest.  If you haven't discovered the wonders of Pinterest, you must.  I have found the most intoxicating knitting searching the pins.  Just look at the 3 pictures above.  For those, I plugged in "swing knitting" and got the most fabulous ideas.  The only problem is, all of a sudden an hour or two has past.  Another problem is I buy a lot of yarn, patterns and kits because of these searches.  I discovered MANY exquisite gradient yarns which I bought;  MANY unusual pattern, which I bought; and several (not many) interesting kits which I bought.  I am not sure if finding Pinterest was a good thing or a bad thing.  I went from one pin to another, then was sent to Ravelry.  When I got to Ravelry, one thing led to another until I found this. . . 

Isn't it fabulous! I saw it and reacted much the same way I did when I saw Valentina Devine's mitered knitting for the first time  I was stunned.  It was so exotic and unusual.  You know I am a sucker for unusual.  I wrote to the knitter to asked about the pattern.  She wrote back, I wrote back.  I told her about Knitting: A Love Story and she visited.  She is from Belgium and loves KALS.  I asked her if she would share us with her Belgium knitting friends. I am so excited.  Excited isn't the word, I am geeked.  

​But look at this stunning creation.  Isn't it just out of sight.  I can't wait to start it, but then again I have about 47 things I can't wait to start.  I asked my new friend for pointers.  She said she had used Noro Silk Garden Lite (right up my alley) but she thought Noro Silk Garden Sock Yarn might work better. You know what came next.

I bought this. . . 

and this because I couldn't make up my mind which one I liked better.  You know my favorite "project in waiting" is the most recent one I have found.  Just when I think there isn't anything new or exciting in today's knitting, I discover something like this.  

Tomorrow I go to work at Ann's and Saturday I have my Block Of The Month class.  I am so glad to be back with my Adrian knitting friends.  I am also so glad to have made my new Ravelry friend.  I only wish we could get together to knit, visit and share ideas.  I guess Belgium might be a little far.