wildflowerknits

I get excited just looking at this yarn: “silken straw” from Alchemy Yarns.

silken straw from alchemy yarns

I know the picture can’t do it justice.

Let me just say that it really is silk (100%) and it really does look – but not feel- like straw. Something about the beauty of this fiber stirs me from deep within. I feel a connection when I hold it in my hands that goes deeper than I can begin to explain.

Here’s a swatch I did over the weekend.

swatching silken straw

More coming soon so stay tuned for updates. This yarn will be in the shop sometime August or September in 10 beautiful colorways. In the meantime, you can read about Alchemy Yarns of Transformation at their website. Or stop in the shop and get an “earful”. It really is hard for me to contain myself when I start talking out this yarn!

My daughter, Hazel, came home from college for a brief stay this summer before returning to move into an apartment in Lawrence.  I wrote here earlier that she worked in the shop while I was recently away. What I didn’t write is that she was also hard at work planning and making a fiber sculpture to give to her roommate, Flo, during this time while she was home.

I watched her as she planned her project over several weeks. She modeled the “creature” after a character, Uril the Miststalker, from a card game called “Magic the Gathering”. She made her yarn and color selections and diligently worked up one swatch and sketch after another until she had a plan. The day I left (and I wish now I’d taken a photo) she was just beginning to  work out the shaping on Uril’s head- it was still only swatches and drawings at that point.

Here are a few work in progress photos her dad took while I was away.

closeup of claw and body before assembling

hazel at work

I left on a Wednesday and when I returned the following Tuesday, the creature had already been borne and gifted into the happy arms of Flo. Since I had flown from Kansas City, I stopped to meet Flo and see the new apartment on my way home.

hazel and flo with uril

They look happy, yes?

Couple more pics:

Uril at home

close-up of signed Uril

and one last parting shot of the happy girls…

hazel and flo on their balcony

Tags: fiber sculpture, hazel

I promise you if you come into the shop and ask me how my trip was, I will give you an earful! My trip was sooooo great! I always look forward to the fall market BUT it’s usually equally as much stressful as fun.  Great to see the new yarns, yes, always, BUT there are so many decisions to be made and I don’t make decisions quickly. At least not yarn buying decisions. Now if it’s all about sweater design- that’s different.

I have to say that I went thinking I would come back with lots of samples to show you all. On Friday night there is an event called “sample it” where we can purchase (usually new) products to bring home. You have to know, too, that Friday night is packed with one event after another. I signed up for the “sample it” thinking I could get in quick, do my shopping, and still attend the panel discussion that AKD (association of knitwear designers) was putting on and important in my mind to attend. Overlapping with both of these and immediately following were even more goings on-the fashion show being one I always try to fit in.

I like to stay a little further from the convention center- gives me walking, thinking, clarifying time- and you need to know that I personally need a lot of down time- or time solely to myself. (that’s why I love living in the country). So – I scheduled in a lot of down time on this trip and arrived at the convention center maybe 45 minutes before sample it. There was already a crazy winding line that I figured would take me – what?- a given 45 minutes wait and then probably yet again 15 at least minutes and probably much more time to get into the door. And then what? I’d have all of 15 minutes in the most hopeful scenario to fight a claustrophobic space to purchase all the goodies and make quick decisions of what  to bring home and then sprint to the panel discussion. Well……………….. not.

So instead I went to the panel discussion which was great and took this picture to try to show you why I didn’t bring home all the samples I thought I would. Keep in mind that congested cluster of people really is a snakelike line- and off to the left it continued on. My place would have been probably 50 more people beyond the far left.

Tags: AKD, new yarns

fall 2010 colors

This is a photo of the card I’ll be bringing home showing the popular colors for fall 2010. Trends are on the flip side:

• SHEERLY BELOVED- light knits perfect for layering.
• URBAN DE-GRAY- The perfect polished shade that showed up all over the runways.
• GILTY PLEASURES- Gold, bronze and burnished metallics rock!
• ANIMAL INSTINCTS- Wild prints and textures look new.
• LAYER IT ON- Tunics, wraps, capes, and all manner of clever coverups.
• ACCESSORIZE- Long socks, big cowls and lengthy wristers.
• CUTTING LOOSE- Oversized is the new shape for comfortable style.
• RED HOT!- The key color of the season.
• ANCIENT INFLUENCES- New Navajo shapes in updated coloring.
• GOING TO NEW LENGTHS- The sleeve stops here, anywhere from cap to three-quarter.

The card was done jointly by VOGUEknitting and Tahki Stacy Charles, INC. You can check them both out, for more inspiration!

Tags: color forecast, knitting, market update, trends

This is a continuation of a previous post to let you know who’s watching the shop while I’m gone.

Saturday…

Mandy Strawn

Mandy is a hard working mother of two young children, recently moved and missing her husband who is serving in Iraq. She’s a sweetheart to be around and I know she’s been missing her knitting world these past months, too, so I’m glad she had a chance to come in. Mandy’s background is in music therapy and I believe she’s been teaching some children’s classes in Wamego. She’s just recently moved to Ft Riley. Thanks for finding the time to help out, Mandy!

Tuesday…

Kathleen Oldfather

Kathleen’s not in often, but she’s always willing to help out when I’m away- schedule permitting. She has so many interests, I don’t even know where to begin. I’ve recently learned she enjoys bird watching with her husband, Michael and she is an excellent knitter. She’s done several projects for me in the past and some may have seen her beautiful afghans in previous fashion shows.

Audrey Clowers

Audrey just has a couple hours to spare next week, since she now has a business of her own, Clower’s Flowers and Such, a booth at farmer’s market selling lots of wonderful things from sprouts and plants to doggie treats and cat toys. She’s also a very accomplished knitter, although she’ll try to make you believe otherwise…don’t let her fool you. Fairisle ladybugs, steeks?

Jordan Smith

Jordan is coming back! Jordan has been a part of our group for years and is home (for the summer?) from her first year of college in Oregon. I can’t wait to hear all the projects she’s gotten into since we last saw her. She was knitting a huge blanket from the center out when she last left. She’s interested in food, food science, many other things I’m sure and of, course, she is totally taken with knitting!

Thanks, all, for helping out and making this trip possible for me.

Back to market news tomorrow…

-Kennita

Education classes run Thursday and Friday before the market opens on Saturday and this year TNNA tried something new called TIPS. TIPS consisted of 6 thirty minute sessions presented by various exhibitors such as yarn companies, publishers, designers, etc. I thought I’d share with you some of the sessions I attended.

My first session was from the Berroco design team, Norah Gaughan and Cirilia Rose: Inside Berroco Fall 2010. I already knew before coming to the show this year that a big part of my budget would be going toward Berroco and this presentation only strengthened that decision. What a great team they make! They did a slide presentation of all the new design books for fall, much like they present on their website. You can see them all by clicking on the link above. I especially loved the Blackstone Tweed book. If you don’t already subscribe to their blog or to Berroco’s knitbits, you just might want to.

Another great presentation was Trend Spotting: Fashion and Color Trends for Fall 2010, presented by Trisha Malcolm from Soho Publishing (Vogue). Some of you that have been in the shop lately will understand when I say I was very excited to hear that “grey” is a hot color this season. For months, one of my missions for this show has been to find the perfect grey for a design rattling round in my sketch book. I’ll be bringing home a color card with the trends and colors to share in the shop so be sure to ask me about it when you stop in. Or better yet, plan to come to the market party we’ll be having in a few weeks to see even more goodies coming.

Another excellent session I attended was presented by XRX’s CEO Benjamin and Kimberly. The topic was social media and I was happy to learn I am at least working in the right direction. I’ve fallen off ravelry some, but we have a presence on facebook, twitter, and of course, wildflower has this blog. The trick is getting people to read it! I have a few new ideas as a result of this morning, but would love to hear any of your suggestions. Better yet, leave comments here!

Hi everyone,
I’m away from the shop this weekend and I thought I’d take some time to let you know who you’ll see from day to day until my return.

Thursday…

De McGlashon and Chaz.

They’ve come all the way from Kansas City this week to run the shop for me while I’m here in Columbus, Ohio at yarn market. De is one of the first women I met when I moved to Manhattan in 1991 and our friendship has only grown.  She’s been volunteering at the shop since it first opened 8 years ago. De’s a writer, editor, experienced knitter, rug hooker and iris gardener. Oh, and she loves Bostons!

And this is my daughter, Hazel.

She’s home this summer for a bit before moving into an apartment in Lawrence next week and continuing her studies at KU. She’s a jewelry major in the art department. I’ve written about her and her various knitting projects in previous posts here if you want to read further.

Friday…

Mal Hoover

Mal’s another regular in the shop, so many of you will already know her. I would have gotten a close-up but the reason for this picture was to show off those socks!

Mal’s a medical illustrator in the vet school at K-State. She’s also one of the kindest, gentlest souls I know. She helps out a lot at the shop, drops in to knit, and does all my ladder work (that’s important stuff like replacing light bulbs and hanging sweaters!) And besides all that, she’s very creative, totally hooked and a highly productive knitter.

Saturday…

Susan Berhow

Susan is another highly productive knitter. She most often knits for others (her husband keeps her pretty busy with requests) but one beautiful sweater she made for herself -and two others- can be seen here. Susan is the Assistant Director of Communications at  KSU Foundation.

I thank each and every one!

I have a few more peeps to add in the next post so check back soon- or better yet, subscribe to the rss feed, then you’ll be notified with any updates.

till then, have fun with your knitting, everyone!

-Kennita

Tags: chaz, de mcglashon, hazel tully, mal hoover, susan berhow, TNNA

I first read about excess access and matter of trust with a tweet from knitting fever. Many thanks, Knitting Fever!

And I just thought- “wow”. Since then I’ve signed on to send wool scraps, hair, nylons and/or fur to help fill booms for the oil spill. I missed the first shipping deadline, but it looks like they’ll still be collecting boxes until June 10th. If anyone has donations they’d like me to ship, please bring them by the shop before June 6th and I will pack up and mail for you.

There are a number of u-tube videos on the booms- here’s one for starters and this will lead you to many more:

hair booms

If you haven’t already clicked on any of the links above, here’s another that just might grab you!

Alpaca’s to help fight gulf spill?

Tags: alpacas, fur, hair, oil spill, wool scraps

Need some last minute Mother’s Day ideas?

Here are a few suggestions from Wildflower:

mother's day gift ideas

• serendipity needles- these are the fun needles with polymer tops; flowers, fruits, sheep, etc.
• baabs with or without cable needles and repair hooks- from Lantern Moon, baabs is the sheep in the lower left corner, holding the scissors and cable needle.
• 365 stitches a year calendar- and great calendar for every year.
• tape measures, sweater stones- shown here is a turtle, but again from Lantern Moon, there are many others available
• needle felting kits- not shown in the picture but a great idea for a gift!

All of the above are fairly inexpensive purchases ranging from $6-$25.

and lastly, here’s a recipe (that reminds me of “my” mother) you might enjoy…

CHOCOLATE OATMEAL NO-BAKE COOKIES

2 cups sugar
1/2 cup cocoa
1 stick butter
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla
3 cups quick-cooking oatmeal
1/2 cup peanut butter

Combine sugar, cocoa, butter and milk in a saucepan. On medium heat, bring to a boil for one full minute.

Remove from heat. Stir in peanut butter (optional), vanilla and oatmeal.

Drop by spoonful onto wax paper. Let cool for at least 30 minutes.

Tags: knit gift ideas, mother's day, recipes

These are the last of the show highlights. All of these designs are mine and are either available here at the shop or from various publications.

stripes and blocks, available in Creative Knitting July 2009

pehuen vest

nashua twinset

manos cardigan by Kennita, hat by Koreen Carlton

swinging vines from creative knitting january 2010

Tags: designs by Kennita Tully, fashion show, wildflower designs