I have been very open and honest about my addictions to knitting and buying yarn.  While my knitting addiction is healthy (I believe that knitting every day calms me down, mellows me out and makes me a nicer person), I am becoming concerned about buying yarn.  Since Christmas, I have bought yarn at Knit 'N Purl in Myrtle Beach, Twisted Fiber Art in Mason, Knitting On The Fringe in Commerce Township and several online purchases including Knit Purl in Portland.  I really am spreading it around.  All of the yarn on its own is beautiful and understandable, but taken together as a whole, well, it might have been, shall I say "EXCESSIVE."  I have just been buying and putting it in the Stash Studio, buying and putting it in the Stash Studio, buying and putting in the Stash Studio.  Yesterday I went up to begin organizing the Stash Studio (one of my very favorite tasks), and quite literally scared myself.  

I am a sucker for a yarn sale.  Many of the balls of yarn have been on sale.  That means I didn't spend quite as much money, but it is still the same over whelming amount of yarn.  I love every skein, every ball.  I am just overwhelmed by the shear amount I have acquired since Christmas.  If I laid every piece out for you, you would love them, too. Well, I think I will lay some of them out so you can appreciate their beauty.

This is all on sale yarn from my favorite online store Knit Purl from Portland, Oregon.  I can't wait until September when Dick and I will do our Pacific Coast Highway trip and I will get to visit the wonderful women from Knit Purl.  Aren't these beautiful?  Not the usual colors I buy, but maybe my taste is changing a bit.  The balls in the middle are silk and I can't wait to find the perfect pattern to make a striped summer top.  

This is also yarn from Knit Purl, unfortunately not on sale.  The colors are more me but I don't have a clue what I want to do with it.  It's a New Zealand Super-wash.  I guess I know what I won't do with it, make a felted project.  I tried to felt a hot pad that I didn't realize was super-wash. It was Cascade; 220 some was regular and some was super-wash.  STRANGE!

When I was  in Knit 'n Purl in Myrtle Beach I saw this beautiful color of Kureyon.  I had never seen this color before.  I bought one skein then came home and bought 30 more from Webs.  I see this in a Jan Bag and as part of my next Lizzard Ridge afghan.  

I  got both of these Tonalita on sale.  They are beautiful but do reinforce the addiction diagnosis.  They are absolutely UDY (undesignated yarn.)  

These are my last two cakes of yarn from the yarn tasting at Twisted Fiber Arts.  The top is called Dazzel.  I bought it at the yarn tasting but it needed to be dyed.  I  love this yarn.  Then I got an email saying Dazzel could no longer be made because they couldn't get the dye they needed.  I picked Phantom out (below) to replace it  When Beth was getting ready to ship my order Meg found one final, last, no more cake of Dazzel.  Of course I wanted it.  It is a collector's item.  It is now extinct.  I know I will never be able to knit with it.  It will make be sad to no know I am using something that is irreplaceable.  

Now what do you think is an intervention in order because I am an addict?  Or am I just a collector?  I have a friend Carolyn who asks the question, "If I buy this will it effect my life style?"  I love that question because few purchases will ever effect our life style.  In the case of yarn purchases, I would have to say, "Yes!" it does effect my life style, but only in a positive way.  It makes my life richer and more beautiful.  How can something that makes my life richer and more beautiful be a bad thing?

"Did you ever read about a frog
Who dreamed of bein' a king
And then became one?
Well, except for the names
And a few other changes
If you talk about me,
The story's the same one."

That's exactly how I feel right now.  I feel like the frog who dreamed about being a king and became one.  I dreamed about sharing my  love of knitting, and I did it.  One year ago today, I made my first post to Knitting: A Love Story. The first day I had one visitor (which was probably me) and the second day I had ten.  As of today, Knitting: A Love Story has had 12,718. I'd like to celebrate by reminiscing about my favorite things this year. First of all, this is the first picture I posted.  Now remember, I am not a photographer, I am not a writer, I am just a knitter and a story teller.  "Let start at the very beginning.  That's a very good place to start. . ."

MY first post explained why the blog is called "Knitting: A Love Story." "My heart races with excitement at the thought of it.  I catch myself thinking about it through out the day.  When I think about it I smile.  Even when it's boring, even when it's hard, I can't imagine not having knitting in my life.  If that's not love I don't know what is."  My explanation is even stronger today.  Writing about my love of knitting has only intensified my love of knitting.  

My favorite knitting of all time is shown in this pictures.  Surviver Shawls (March 21 and 27) brought joy and meaning to my life.  I loved planning, buying pink yarn, putting different yarns together, making Magic Balls and knitting these pieces of wonder fabric.  I loved the letters Survivors sent talking about how much the shawls meant to them.  I get a little teary when I think of this wonder period in my life.   I was ecstatic to share the pattern with Jocelynn Brown's readers in HomeStyle.   

Another of my favorite posts talked about criteria for the perfect travel project. (April 1).  This is not the picture which goes which that post "The Perfect Project For Traveling" but I can't find the picture.  I had to change from posting from my iPad to MacBook when the IOS update wouldn't let me access Weebly from my iPad.  Then I got a new iPad.  So, the picture is some where.  This is another excellent travel project though. I am just about finished with it so will do a post soon.  It meets the criteria of: 1) It has to be something not so complicated that you have to keep referring to the pattern.  2) It has to be something small so that it doesn't take over your seat. 3)  It has to interesting so that you find yourself working on it making the miles fly away.  4) It has to have great yarn (of course, I think that is a must for every project.  5)  It has to be something you can knit on then talk to the driver then knit on then listen to a tune then knit on then day dream.  I am going to do a post soon on all of my favorite travel projects.  

OMG!  Look what I just found on my MacBook.  Isn't it beautiful.  I have such wonderful memories of knitting this on trips to Lexington and Traverse City. This is my favorite travel project.

This is my favorite post (June 1, Knitting Transports Me To Another Time And Place).  Not only do I love the Big Bang Wrap, I get all sentimental thinking about knitting it with my Mom.  When I read this, I can't help it but I tear up.  

I've met so many wonderful people through and because of Knitting: A Love Story.  Like Meg, Beth, Hazel and Anne at Twisted Fiber art; Kelly from Knitting On The Fringe; Jocelynn Brown from the Detroit News; Molly from Knit 'n Purl; Oleya from Knit Purl, Kathie who comments and provides feedback on my blogs (I love that); Mary from Yarn Quest; Lori from Little Traverse Bay; Jan Roys a friend from high school who provides feedback; and many, many more.  I think meeting people f2f or online has been an unanticipated treasure from Knitting: A Love Story.

I love field trips taken to my favorite LYSs and discovering new LYSs to share with you.  I can't wait to see where 2015 takes me.  

I loved introducing you to Mary Helen Growt, the wonderful woman she taught me to knit continental and changed my life.  

As I started reminiscing, I realized I needed to stop, otherwise I would just be talking about everything.  I realized I loved everything about Knitting: A Love Story and the journey on which it has taken me.  I never thought I had a year's worth of things to talk about but here I am with no end in sight.

Here's to another year of knitting, sharing and telling stories. Thank you to all the readers of Knitting: A Love Story for helping to make this the best year ever.

I have been knitting every day since we returned from Sunset Beach.  I have indulged my addiction.  I have studied patterns and yarn, but most importantly I have knit, knit. knit.  Remember on February 8 when I posted "Anticipation" and talked about two new knitting books "Sock-Yarn Shawls II" and "Noro Lace"?  I had decided that I would start with the beautiful scarf made from Twisted Fiber Art Evolution in "Sock-Yarn Shawls II".  I was very excited.  I think my exact words were, "This is right in so many way."  I started the scarf and really enjoyed it.  It was challenging.  I needed to read a chart.  I even started it in two different colorways to see which one I liked best.  Then just for fun, I decided to look through the Noro book again.

I decided that this would be the scarf I would make when I finished the TFA scarf.  Isn't it beautiful!  It is called "Tilting Blocks" from "Noro Lace."  I made a trip to my Stash Studio just to see what Noro Kureyon I might use when I got around to knitting it.  I picked out two, one in reds and one in grays.  One thing led to another until. . .

The next thing I knew it was done.  I really cannot resist the exquisite beauty of Noro Kureyon.  The pattern is a perfect travel pattern.  Once you get started, you never have to refer to the pattern.  It goes fast.  And, it is beautiful.  I just love it.

It is heavy and cuddly and snuggly.  I could have used this in February.  It even looks great on Lydia.  I forgot how much I love Kureyon.  Once I started, I was a goner.  I just couldn't put it down.  I even carried it in my purse so I could knit in meetings or in the car or wherever.  After a while, it did out grow my purse.  

This is Tilting Blocks #2.  Please notice my new Dreamz Marble knitting needles.  They are my new favorite needles.  To me, the sign of a great pattern is when you're done with your project you start another with absolutely no boredom only anticipation.  This will become a "go to" pattern for me.  I really can feel a post coming on that deals with my favorite "go to," travel patterns.  

I just got home from a library meeting where, of course, I pulled out my knitting.  It got so many comments.  One woman even said, "Jan, I have a coat that would look great with!"  Sounds like I have a home for Tilting Blocks II.

Saturday I spent the day with the wonderful women of Twisted Fiber Arts, but Friday I spent the morning with the fabulous Kelly of Knitting On The Fringe.  My Friday trip was an exploratory gathering information for Ann Hughes and Ann's By Design.  Kelly has done such a tremendous job building Knitting On The Fringe making it a LYS extraordinaire.  I thought Ann's By Design could learn from Kelly.  Ann told me I could take the lead in yarn, what brands, what kinds, etc.  It didn't take me long to realize that I might not be the right person to pick out yarn to successfully sell in a store,  I'm not called a Yarn Snob for nothing.  I pick out yarn I think is beautiful, that I can't possibly live without without even considering cost.  I realize that is not the way for Ann's By Design to be successful, so I went to pick Kelly's brain.

This is just one row of the jam packed, beautiful yarns at Knitting On The Fringe.  There are two more rows equally as packed.  In the back there, of course, was a class going on.  Classes are the back bone of a LYS.  It is what makes them up close and personal, social and totally different different than an online store.  As you can see, samples of possible project made out of the difference yarns are all over.  There truly is something for everybody at Knitting On The Fringe.  There are plain things and fancy things.  There are things made out of moderate priced yarn and things made out of very expensive yarn.  There are easy things and challenging things.  It's all there for you to see, feel and admire.  No need to wonder how a certain yarn will look when knit.  Kelly has taken the guess work out.  I always see something knit up that I wouldn't have thought to buy from just a skein of yarn and a pattern.  And I always do buy.

Knitting On The Fringe has a fabulous selection of buttons.  You know my secondary button addiction.  Nothing completes a knitting project like meticulous finishing and the perfect button.  

This is one of the many unique projects just waiting to be replicated.  I may have to go back and get the pattern (I bet I have the necessary yarn) to knit this beauty.  

Kelly was so generous with her time and knowledge.  The success of Knitting On The Fringe says she does it right. Not only is she a creative knitter, she is a wise business woman.  I love talking with Kelly.  Knitting On The Fringe will be in an upcoming Jocelynn Brown Homestyle article in the Free Press and News which by the way is where I first learned about Knitting On The Fringe.  Jocelynn has given countless new fiber businesses a boost by featuring them in her column.  

Of course, I didn't come away without buying.  These were all on sale yarns which are definitely UDY (Undesignated Yarn) but I loved them and knew that some day I would have the perfect pattern for them.  The Sonata yarns have a silver thread running through which will make something exquisite some day.  

Thank you so much, Kelly.  You are generous, kind and wise.  I value knowing you.

Ann is very busy getting the shop in shape.  I know that the information gained from Kelly will be invaluable.  Adrian is very lucky to have such a brave woman to make the downtown even better.

This must be the place; the place where fiber dreams come true!  The place where knitting is an  honored skill, where everyone is family and family matters.  The place with one brand of yarn and a million possibilities.  This is Twisted Fiber Arts.  Linda and I once again went to the Twisted Fiber Art Yarn Tasting event.  If you have never done this, watch for the next one.  It is worth the time and drive and expense of buying all of that yarn.  The first Yarn Tasting was in May 2014 and we loved that but Saturday's was even better.

The Academy Awards goody bags and the infamous Oprah goody bags have nothing on the TFA goody bags.  In the fabulous goody bags were samples of all of the different TFA yarns, a cute little note pad, a set of ChoiaGoo circular needles (which by chance are made in Michigan), some adorable copper stitch markers, made in Michigan chocolate and this knitter's wine glass. Knitting and drinking wine can be a dangerous proposition.  All of that beautiful yarn with all of that excitement, some one talking with their hands and before you know it, BOOM!  Red wine all over pastel baby clothes.  If you are lucky it will be white wine, but this wonderful wine glass solves all of those problems.  Linda and I can't wait to use them.

These are the nine different weights and compositions of yarn created by TFA.  Starting in the upper left hand corner and reading like a book, they are arranged from fingering to heavy worsted. Yarn comes in striping or evolution.  Arial (colorway Le Cirque) is 100% merino and lite fingering weight. It is great for socks,  doll clothes and shawls. Muse (colorway Vintage) is 50% silk and 50% merino and fingering weight.  The silk makes the colors more muted than with pure merino and they're beautiful. Tasty (colorway Rooster) is 80% merino, 10% cashmere, 10 % nylon and a heavier weight than Muse with a wonderful feel.   Kabam (colorway Juicy) is 60% merino, 30% bamboo and 10% nylon.  It is strong and perfect for socks.  The colors are heathered and subtle.  Yummy (colorway Pixie) is 80% merino, 10% cashmere and 10% nylon.  It is less than worsted but meaty.  As its name says, it is YUMMY.  Playful (colorway Nymph) is 100% merino.  It is a heavy sport and is sturdy.  Lotus is 40% silk and 60% wool and is a layered color.  This sample is purple but definitely not monochromatic.  It is beautiful.  Catnip (colorway Wilderness) is Linda's very favorite.  It is 50% silk and 50% merino and shimmers.  It feels scrumptious.  Finally, Queen (colorway Manitou) is 100% merino and is a heavy worsted.  WOW!!  Each weight of yarn comes in striping, evolution or companion solid in every colorway.  

Now let me introduce you to Meg, the owner, inventor, brains of TFA; Anne, Meg's mother, Hazel's grandma and knitter extraordinaire; and the adorable Hazel.    

Meet Hazel who I saw at the Fall Fiber Festival with that fabulous stocking cap in Evolution.

This is Anne, Hazel's grandma and Meg's Mom.  Anne knit that gorgeous scarf she has on which of course is made from Twisted Fiber Art yarn.  Anne is Knitterly Anne on Ravelry.  She really designs lovely patterns.  

This is Meg, the brains behind Twisted Fiber Art.  Long ago she wanted Anne to knit a hat for her that evolved one color into another, but  there wasn't such a yarn.  So Meg invented Evolution the yarn that does exactly that.  We were lucky to get a tour of the dyeing process for Evolution but sworn to secrecy.  We even had to sign a document which said, "Our lips are sealed!"  Each cake of yarn takes about an hour and when an order comes in, the yarn is dyed for that order.   

This is the end product of all of this creativeness.  Twisted Fiber Art only sells their own fabulous yarn.  There are patterns galore which showcase both the Evolution and the Striping yarn.  You really hear yourself saying, "I want that and that and that and that and that. . ."  

I wanted to give you an idea of a store full of women lovingly viewing, touching and buying yarn.  We were shoulder to shoulder, hoping the person ahead of us didn't pick that cake of yarn we had our eye on.  This shows you what Evolution looks like in a blue top.  Isn't it beautiful?!?!?!  

These are my Evolution purchases.  Upper left hand corner is Gypsy in Kabam.  It is even more beautiful in person than in the picture.  I can just see it in a lacey scarf starting in pink and evolving into purple.  To its left is Pixie in Tasty.  This is an UDY (Undesignated Yarn).  I don't know what I want to do with it, I just love the lively beauty.  Lower left is February's colorway Passion in Arial which is once again and UDY.  Finally, Lumberjack in Tasty.  I also bought a couple of striping yarns to make that fabulous Brioche scarf that Anne has on in her picture.  

Well, you can see that Linda and I had a great time.  We love Twisted Fiber Art and its wonderful history.  It is a family success story which started with a woman wanting a hat and has become an international company.  I wish I lived closer to Mason so I could work in the shop.  On second thought, maybe my Stash Studio isn't large enough to accommodate all of the yarn that would follow.  I wonder if any one who works there ever takes a paycheck home or if they just get paid in yarn.