Progressing along

It is hard to believe it is June 30.  Many have taken this coming week off to celebrate 4th of July which falls in the middle of the week.  Our store will be closed for the 4th but open Tuesday and then again bussiness as usal Thursday through Saturday.  It is a fun time of the year, helping people pick out projects for their upcoming trips, whether a day trip on a vacation of a few days.  We are thrilled when some come in looking for that perfect hand crafted item to take to a friend or a hostess.

Last night was our hand spinning gathering.  It was nice to see what people were working on.  We also played "guess what fiber this is" with Suzanne and Tracey.  Thanks to all the ladies who ventured out.

I am progressing along nicely with Windley.  Yesterday was the first day I have not progressed at least my 4 inches a day goal, but I am ahead of schedule so I can't complain.  My new goal is to have it completed by this coming Monday evening.  With the store closed both Sunday and Monday, except for skirting a few more fleeces, and dyeing more yarn from the farm, I should meet my goal.

The piece of new equipment for stitches you see my Lago yarn on in the photo is called a Yarn Buddy (double).  We used to have one of our artisan's husband make them for us and they were called syarn peed turners.  After your yarn is wound into a ball, you place the skein on the spindle.  The buddy has ball bearings underneath and so it will turn smoothly as you knit.  These are terrific for traveling also because the two pieces do not come apart.  I am knitting both sides of the front neckline at the same time so I need two balls- thus a double yarn buddy!.  We are thrilled to be one of the first brick and mortar stores to be carrying George's Yarn buddies.  He has made our first shipment in many different types of woods.  You are welcome to order an exotic wood yarn buddy also.  He has many in stock.

Setting Goals

Life always has challenges for us.  We also create our own challenges.  Many times it is just setting goals for ourselves to achieve what we want. Summer time is a hard time to be creative for many stitchers, hand spinners of yarn and weavers because we are also creative in other ways and with great weather, vacations, gardening and children sometimes under foot it is hard to get everything done.

Two weekends ago I set a goal for myself. Being the owner of Iron Horse doesn't allow me much time to stitch for myself.  We have a great family vacation planned for the end of July and I really wanted to make some neat clothes to take to the hot climate of Florida.  I wanted to make Windley, a great pattern from Berroco out of one of their new yarns, Lago.  Lago is made of viscose and linen so I knwo it will be a cool garment and travel well.

As I casted on last Monday evening, my goal was to knit 4 inches a day until completed.  Every day I am measuring my progress.  I am thrilled to say at the moment Ihave surpassed my goal and have the back totally done and working on the front, which has a pleated end near the bust line so there are almost twice as many stitches on the front as the back.  If I keep this up, I hope to have it done in another week!  I will keep you posted. My color of choice is above and I am using one of Allie Loehlin's great yarn bowl to tame my yarn ball while knitting.