Buh-bye 2025, Hello 2026!

Good Morning Everyone!

What better way to end the year but with a new sweater!! I finished my Halibut sweater, I absolutely love everything about it. She's still rolled up like a burrito waiting to be gently laid out to dry. If I haven't already shared one of my best blocking tips, it's this: Leave the garment rolled up in a towel or even two for 24 hours. When you unroll it, it will be the perfect amount of damp so you can easily shape it without over stretching it, I PROMISE!! It also expedites the drying time considerably, having a fan blowing on it doesn't hurt either. Of course, I wasted no time casting on the next sweater, this time, something for Spring which seems crazy considering how cold it's been and continues to be. I've been excited to work with Berroco's Remix Wool dk and to do a little cabling, the Brookline sweater is on the needles! It's an interesting construction, which I love, and a bit of a mental exercise, oh joy...I shared a picture of my "method" with Claudine last night, it makes sense to me and oddly is working. I felt extra pressure to persevere, I talked my friend Donna into doing the same sweater. Someone has to know what's going on, that someone is ME!

Lurking in the project bag next to it is my Harvest Flower sweater, it's getting cast on today...

We had a nice group for KAL this past Saturday. We've made almost no progress selecting the next KAL other than a vest. There's been a bit of discussion about doing a pullover or a buttoned version. I will do some more research and find something fun and interesting to do, I have a few ideas already. I am open to suggestion, we did take a look at several patterns on Saturday, it definitely helped me see what you're interested in working on. The loose guidelines are, a new technique and/or new yarn to knit with. I am in no way trying to discriminate against my Crochet friends, Kay has already started her vest and will likely be finished before we start. I am making progress, I have finally restocked a fantastic assortment of crochet hooks, guess what? THEY ARE SELLING! I realize it's completely myopic to own a yarn shop and not stock crochet hooks. I apologize to those of you I have forced into entering Walmart in search of the elusive crochet hooks only to discover, they don't have them. I am here for you too!!

I hope you have enjoyed this holiday season with those you love, I certainly have. I will be open on Friday, January 2 and Saturday January 3rd. I was thinking, by then, you will want to venture out to start 2026 off with a new project, especially since we will not be meeting tomorrow evening, for Stitch and Bitch. Have a very Happy New Year, and I look forward to seeing you in 2026!! Make it a great day and I'll see you soon!

Katy