Three of my good friends and I left last Saturday for a 6 day trip to the Coastal Condo.  We were ready for six days of fun and friendship.  

Of course, we stopped at Tamarac in West Virginia.  See the "RA" in the sign?  That's proof.  Who could resist the West Virginia art in this gorgeous facility!?!?! After walking the entire circle and critiquing each artist's exhibit, we ended up with no purchases!  We could have a Free Press column critiquing local galleries though. That's me on the far left just peaking into the picture, then Sally, Barb and Kay.  Kay was the driver and a driver extraordinaire she was.  You can tell by this picture, we were ready for fun.  

Our schedule was bridge, knitting, book club, eating out, shopping and exploring.  I brought a surprise for everyone of the Bandito Scarf pattern and a cake of Twisted Fiber Art Catnip in five different colorways.  Kay introduced me to Twisted Fiber Art many years ago.  Since then this fabulous company, the brainchild of Meg, has changed in many ways.  Many more gorgeous colorways and yummy fibers have blossomed for all of us Twisted Addicts.  

Just a reminder of where we ladies spent our time.  The table for bridge and the wicker furniture for knitting, reading, talking, book club.  I love this room as did my guests.  

This is another reminder about what the fabulous Bandito Scarf looks like.  It is a creation of Annie, mother of Meg, grandmother of Hazel and knitter extraordinaire of Twisted Fiber Art.  It is a free pattern on Ravelry.  You really need to get the pattern then buy your favorite Catnip. I don't even know how many of these treasures I've made.  I've kept them and given them away, but they are always knit using Catnip.  The merino and silk just caress your hands in the most seductive way.   

Barb was the first to choose her cake in Gypsy.  It is so yummy one of my favorites.  I happened to have many cakes of Evolution Catnip just in case the urge to knit a Bandito Scarf grips me.  

Kay was the next to choose her cake, an amazing Evolution of shades of teal.  

Sally and I never did choose a cake.  I had a Kauni EQ scarf to work on and Sally was reading the new C.J. Box book so we both were very happy.  

The 4 Seasons Room was the perfect place to knit.  It is always light and breezy and perfect.

We all came away relaxed and smiling.  Extended periods of time with friends build caring and commitment.  

We didn't even visit Knit 'N Purl but some how I feel that is fine.  Kay and Barb had their yarn and I really didn't need more.  We are already planning for our second annual visit to the Coastal Condo to restore and renew.  

​All of you who knit for special people for Christmas, your time is running out.  You have less than 60 days.  Oh, my!  Maybe a Bandito Scarf is in your immediate future.

I am experiencing an amazing joyride with the Dovetail Shawl and Kauni EQ.  When I finished my first Dovetail. . .

made with Kauni EQ and Kauni Navy, I just didn't feel like I was finished.  I had more Dovetail to knit and more Kauni EQ to bring to life.  I decided I would use two balls of EQ starting each ball at a different color.  I loved the first Dovetail and it is beautiful, but there were some places where the EQ and the navy were so much alike it was difficult to see the pattern.  Besides I just need to knit with EQ.  I feel compulsive and addicted.  I think I have 15 patterns in the queue to knit using EQ.  Well, here is Dovetail Revisited.

This is what it looked when I started with one ball on green and one on orange.  It was so interesting watching the colors from each ball change.  As the colors changed, the pattern popped.  One pair was more exciting than the last.  Then came the next which was even better.  This seemed to move much faster. Now it is finished.

Once the steaming was done and colors were snap, crackle and popping, I was overcome with its beauty.  The first was was spectacular, but I felt this was in another universe.  An interesting thing was the color fade in each ball was different.  Sometimes one had a longer color and sometimes the other.  The color combinations were beautiful and unexpected.  

Beautiful!

Amazing!

Spectacular!  I need to do some fixing of the bottom edge.  I don't like the wavy look.  I think I'll take the bind off out and do a few rows of garter to smooth it out.  I couldn't wait to show you, so that will just have to wait.

​Three friends and I are going to the condo Saturday for a few days.  We will have three days of knitting, bridge, book club and eating out.  Doesn't that sound fun.  I will be working on another scarf in EQ.  I wonder when I'll hit the EQ wall!?!?!?! If we have time, I will be able to visit Knit 'N Purl and check out the shop with the new owner.  I also will get to see the amazing Miss Molly.  In the mean time, if you haven't checked out Kauni EQ, please do.  You will love it.

I'm back! Once I crawled out of my hole and looked around, I realized I had many exciting things to write about.  Where was my head!?! How did I not see all of the marvelous stories I had to tell!?! How did I overlook the exciting projects and opportunities that were floating around in my brain!?!  In addition to opening my eyes and heart to possibilities, I digitally bumped into a fabulous person from an online shop who pushed my excitement over the moon.  

OK! No more whining.  Let's get on with the show

I think I've mentioned Thea and I are planning a "3 Things You Can Knit Before Christmas" class.  We did one last year and had a ball.  I think all the participants had a ball, too.  I had been struggling with what I wanted to do.  Nothing floated my boat.  Everything I thought about was boring.  My parameters were:  1) Takes less than 2 weeks to make; 2) Takes only one skein of yarn; 3) Is very unusual and cute; and 4) When I'm finished I'll hold it at arms length, take a good look and say, "Ahhh!"  I was looking for something that made me smile, something I couldn't wait to start.  I started searching Pinterest but no luck.  The more I looked and found nothing, the sadder I became.  That may have contributed to my inability to write last week.  I was just too preoccupied with discovering that perfect pattern that I was totally distracted.  

I get A LOT OF emails from online yarn shops.  I've shared how they greatly contribute to my yarn stash.  One day I went to my email and there was a newsletter from Morehouse Farm.  Morehouse Farm is located in the Hudson River Valley and known for there yummy Merino wool.  Knitting with it is like petting a kitten.  I always loved the company and would love to take a field trip one day to New York State to visit the sheep, the yarn and Erin, the wonderful person who helped me with my problem.  I found a kit that lit me up like a Christmas Tree.  As soon as I saw it I knew it was what I wanted to make for "3 Things You Can Knit Before Christmas."  And here it is. . .

Shark Mitts!  Aren't they adorable!  I knew this was it.  I wanted this for my Christmas treasure and I knew others would want it, too.  Because it was part of a kit, I emailed Morehouse Farm to inquire if I could purchase patterns separately from the kit to use in "3 Things You Can Knit Before Christmas."  Erin was wonderful.  She responded quickly giving me the go ahead and expressing excitement over the "3 Things You Can Knit Before Christmas" idea.   

Aren't they adorable.  The seed stitch mades it complex but easy.  It will take less than 2 weeks.  It uses less than 1 skein of worsted weight yarn.  Those little felt teeth make them irresistible. I do say "Ahhh!" every time I look at the picture.  

Believe it or not, in the next couple of days I received another newsletter from Morehouse Farm.  Right there, looking me in the eye was my second treasure for "3 Things You Can Knit Before Christmas."  I struggled with "I want to do this one.  No, I want to do that one. No, I want to do this one" until I decided, "What the heck, I'll do both!"  Here it is!!!!!!

Isn't it fabulous!  It uses less than one skein of worsted weight, and I can't weight to make the sample.  I'm going to use Cascade's brand new yarn Luminosa, a baby alpaca, merino and Viscose pretty.  I think it will be beautiful.  This is the color I chose.

In case you can't tell, it is a yummy black alpaca/merino with a spectacular teal viscose.  I think it will be perfect.  Best of all, I have my enthusiasm back.  I can't wait to roll up my sleeves and dive in.  

If you want to see adorable knitting patterns you won't find any place else, visit Morehouse Farm and take a peak.  Their critter patterns all make you say, "Ahhh!"  I love to point readers in the direction of special sellers whether LYS or online.  It is my pleasure to point you toward Morehouse Farm and Erin. 

If I could put a frowny face here I would.  Things are too hectic to settle on something to write about.  My Mom isn't doing well.  Her dementia is progressing rapidly which makes me very sad.  Being very sad makes it difficult to concentrate on knitting.  Not concentrating on knitting gives me nothing to write about.  This is the first time since "Knitting: A Love Story" began that I have been stumped.  Nothing seems exciting.  Nothing seems worthy of writing about.  I am finishing my second Dovetail Shawl and I am trying to decide what to knit for "3 Things You Can Knit Before Christmas."  I will be back next week once again in the knitting groove.  Until then, happy knitting!