Behold the Amherst Sweater

Hi all, this is Rob. I am blogging for Torey today. How has everyone been? I hope well. I have missed knitting with all of you! However, in addition to my son Jackson, my husband and I have just recently adopted a new baby girl. Her name is Charlotte Marie. She was born on January 10, 2008. She is a very sweet baby, and I am happy to report that she willingly wears whatever I knit for her! Of course, I am enjoying this fact now since I am completely aware that by the time she's a teenager anything I knit for her, she probably would not be caught dead in! However, I was able to be in the shop for a few days in February. Poor Diane was out sick, so I came to keep Torey company. Thankfully, Diane is back and better than ever!

While I was in the shop, Torey was nice enough to "let me" knit up part of the sample sweater for the "Amherst Sweater" class. If you have yet to tackle the challenge of knitting a whole sweater, then this is the project for you. Let me just say this, if I was able to manage knitting this sweater while taking care of an overly active 18 month old and a newborn, at the same time - then what are you waiting for? I knit the sample out of a Rowan yarn called "cotton tape". I chose a beautiful shade of aqua { our signature color :) } and now can't wait to see it completed. This yarn was a great choice, as it knits up on the lightweight side, but has a really interesting texture. The yarn appears like a ball of shoe string unknitted, but gives the simple garter stitch a little something extra in this pattern. Luckily, I just happened to knit the sample up in my size. Coincidence? Probably not.

By the way, if you refer to our latest newsletter for the dates and times of this sweater class, do not be dismayed. You have not missed your chance. Due to an unfortunate error on the part of our printer's, our newsletter was delivered late this time around. So, we actually didn't get started on this project until tonight, the 11th. With that being the case, there is still plenty of time to get started and catch up with everyone else. You can also choose this one for any of the "Pick a Project" nights. The next one scheduled is March 19th.

The other class affected by the newsletter debacle was the Felted Easter Basket project. This class was scheduled for the 8th of this month. We introduced this project a few years ago for the shops first Easter. I have made at least one of these each year since then. It seems it's always somebody's "first easter egg hunt" in my family! These little babies are perfect for that. They are soft and easy for small children to carry, yet due to the fact that they are felted, they can handle quite a few eggs. The addition of the novelty yarn makes this one unique egg carrier. You never have to worry about the kids forgetting which is theirs. I actually have one on the needles right now for Miss Charlotte. I know she's gonna be a little young to carry it, but Daddy is going to "help" her find her eggs this year.

By the way, who moved up Easter this year??!!! Why is it suddenly around the corner? I don't know about you, but I am feeling a little pressured. Of course, that could be because I knit just about as many Easter gifts, as I do for Christmas. In addition to the felted baskets, I now find myself planning out personalized crocheted easter eggs! Torey was telling me how Diane crocheted these adorable easter eggs. If you get a chance, stop into the shop and check them out. She personalized them each with a name. One for Tore, one for Gil, she even made one for Jack - Torey's soon to arrive new grandson. Well, of course my mind is racing. How cute would that be in everyone's basket? Your very own egg? Like your very own Christmas stocking! I am thinking of embroidering the year on each, and then making it a little Easter tradition. By the time the kids are grown, they will have all of the eggs of their childhood to display in a basket each year. Would I not just be the total supermom if I could manage it? I mean, what better way to remind them how much they were loved and adored as children? That I would have taken the time, each and every year, to painstakingly crochet them an egg!!???!! Yikes! I'd better go knit.

It was good to catch up with you all. Don't be stranger's. Drop me a comment or two. I am going to be checking back in with updates and pictures of the sweater. I am hoping I can convince those of you taking the class to e-mail me photos of you modeling your completed master piece. I want to post them on the website for everyone to appreciate.

If you get a chance, come see me in the shop this coming Thursday. I have a babysitter and I am going to spend the day knitting! I encourage you all to play hooky and come join me :)

Meet you by the wool,

Rob