Thursdays are for What the Hell is This?

When the Weezer Cruise announced an Ugly Sweater theme night I thought to myself, "I have been studying for this moment for years." I pulled out a giant crochet hook (N) and collected an even larger bag of every novelty yarn I could find. And I began. Sleeves two different sizes? No problem. Ends not woven in? Who cares. One sleeve sewn on inside-out. You got it. The result. The ugliest sweater I could conceive.



Pretty awful, right?

Just wait.



So long, good taste!

What My Last Few Days Have Been Like

This isn't my video. I was too busy screaming and jumping up and down to film anything. This was the first number of the first show just after we sailed from Miami. More on the cruise soon.

Abrupt Change of Plans

We were supposed to leave on a red eye flight on Wednesday night to head to Miami for our Weezer cruise. We have snow in the forecast. Lots of snow. And Seattle doesn't do snow very well. We were starting to freak out so we are leaving a day early. I won't have a Thursday post this week but I promise I will have a really amazing and truly unique one for you next week. Have a great week and I'll see you when I get back!

Moving a Yarn Shop

The shop move is done and went very well. The new space at 8212 Greenwood Ave N is open and light. Our customers really seem to love it and we're already finding lots of new customers.

Here's what the old location looked like before the movers arrived.



That's right. We bagged up the yarn in garbage bags. It doesn't seem very dignified but it worked well, was cheap and easy.

The movers were also able to move some small fixtures with the yarn still on the shelves. This was a huge time-saver.



Here's the new space before we finished moving in.



We had a lot of wire bins to build. We had a consultant help us a little in figuring out how to layout the new shop. The biggest issue is that our storage, though large, is in the basement and we have to walk alllllll the way around the building and go through the basement to get to it. We don't want to have to run down there a lot during the day or make customers wait while we do that so our consultant suggested we construct some double-deep bin areas. This meant a lot of building but has so far been working out very well. We can display the yarn nicely and stash all the full and partial bags behind it.



We've got a bit of yarn stashed in other hiding places too.



As we were moving in our new exterior sign arrived.



We also had lettering added to our window so that folks passing by would know what we do.



Here we are all moved in.





We still have lots of small details to work out and polish but we are thrilled with our new space!

So long, 7000 Greenwood, we had seven and a half great years together.

Another Scrap Hat

Pattern: Improvised
Needles: Addi Turbo US5 and 7
Yarn: You name it! Eco Duo, Kureyon, Cash Laine, Malabrigo Worsted, Dream in Color Classy, Araucania Naturewool, Cascade 220
Notes: These hats are so much fun to knit. Plus I can use even the smallest length of yarn. I gave this one to talkingcrow who sent me this photo.

Red Socks

Pattern: Based on Men's Grey Socks from Lion Brand
Yarn: Cascade 220 in 893 (less than a skein)
Needles: Addi Turbos US2.75mm and US3
Notes: Younger son wanted warm winter socks in his signature color. These are knit very densely so they will hopefully hold up well.

Thursdays are for What the Hell Is This?

I don't know why anyone would make a hat for a cat. And I especially don't know why they would make them look so undignified. But I do know that if you put this on your cat you had better sleep with one eye open. Thanks to reader Marcia for showing this to me.

Our New Home

The reason I've been so quiet lately is that the Fiber Gallery has moved. After weeks of planning, sifting, packing, lugging and toting, we are now in our new location, 8212 Greenwood Ave N. Today is our opening day at the new spot. Things are still a bit rough but we think our customers are going to love the new space. If you're in the Seattle area please come by and check out the new digs. Also tonight is our drop-in spinning group so bring your wheel or spindle and join us from 6:30 to 9.

Thursdays are for What the Hell is This?

I am having a crazy busy week. So thank goodness for Michelle M! She sent me links to the most amazing stuffed animals.



No, your eyes are not deceiving you. That skunk is, in fact, carpeted in the tabs from a zillion soda cans.



See?





Ms. Porcupine and Mr. Lion didn't want to be left out. I mean, who doesn't want a stuffed animal that is covered in jagged metal? And incorporating refuse is also high on my toy-making wish list. Well done!

Scrap Hat

Pattern: Improvised 

Yarn: Noro Kureyon (two colorways), Kid Classic (three colors), Cascade 220 (two colors), Classic Elite Renaissance, Malabrigo Worsted 

Needles: US5 and 7 Addi Turbos 

Notes: I cast on 88 stitches and knit the ribbing in stripes of Kureyon and Malabrigo then I started to knit just a striped scrap hat. I quickly realized it would look blocky and awkward so I switched to the spiral stripe method like in the Stashbuster Spirals pattern. Basically knit partway round in one color, drop it then knit the next third in a second color, drop it and knit the rest of the way in a third color until you reached the first color strand you dropped. Keep knitting up to the next dropped color. As I ran out of a color I threw another one in. This let me me use even really short lengths of yarn as I just spit-spliced them in. This was a very fun hat to knit. I meant to make it slouchy but I stopped too soon so it's a little tall but not tall enough to wilt over.

Thursdays are for What the Hell is This?

We say it a lot but it's true. Sometimes the look on the model's face is all the commentary a design needs.


"Moooooooommmmm, can I go back inside now?"


"When you are not looking I will eat your favorite shoes."


"I want a divorce."

198 Yds. of Heaven

Pattern: 198 Yds. of Heaven by Christy Verity
Yarn: Cascade Eco Duo, 1 skein
Needles: US8 Addi Turbos
Notes: Knit as written. It's quite petite but can be worn as a neckerchief when pinned. The yarn is delicious but a bear to rip out.