The Last Shawl of 2011 ... kind of

One of my goals for 2011 was to make 11 shawls.  I was sad that I didn't complete the challenge but am so happy that I made it to 10!  This was my 10th shawl of 2011 ... kind of.  And by kind of, I mean that I started it in 2011 and ended it in 2012.  That counts, right?

The deets:  the fibertopia 2-ply fingering in Deep Coral (not very coral-y, though.  i named this a l-o-o-ng time ago), US 5 circ. needles

I'm pretty happy with it, but the cast-on edging is a little wonky.  I wear all my shawls like scarves, so it won't really matter.  Working on this challenge was fun, but I'm all shawled-out.  I'm ready for my new knitting goals (a post to come about that!).

Have you knit any spectacular shawls lately?

The First Update

The first update was listed in the shop last night!  I hope you'll take a peek.

Sneak Peeks

Here are a few sneak peeks for the opening of my shop.  Please keep in mind that I haven't edited these at all.  There is only one picture that I don't feel is accurate, and that's Raisins.  It looks more brown than purple in person.

Also, I'm finding that red is so very hard to photograph.  I have two beautiful skeins of red yarn that I've named Vesuvius.  When I popped those bad boys out of the dyepot, I said 'volcano.  YES.. LAVAAA.'  But you can't name something ... just ... lava?  Or lavaaa, for that matter.  Vesuvius sounds a tad more sophisticated.

So, long story short, I tried a couple times to photograph them and they come out looking ... orange-y.  Instead of lava red.  I'll try again this weekend before I start googling 'how the heck do I photograph red yarn???'

Wooly Worsted -- Blue Lagoon

Wooly Sport -- Raisins

Wooly Sock -- Oh, Glorious Summer

Wooly Sock -- Dead Leaves on the Ground

Wooly Sock -- Deep Waters

Wooly Sock -- In the Middle of the Night

Wooly Sock -- Leaf Week

Wooly Sock -- Put a Lime in It

Like I said, I have two more skeins of red to try to photograph and one more skein of worsted that I'm going to overdye because it just didn't turn out the way I had hoped.

I'm hoping to have everything ready for a grand-ish opening on October 23!

A beginning

Well, I've finally decided to do it.  Last year, I tried dying some yarn with every intention of opening a yarn shop (if I liked it, of course).  Long story short, I loved it and ... just ... procrastinated on opening a shop. 

A couple of weeks ago, I decided to just do it.  Why not?  I don't have anything to lose, except the cost of the supplies.  And, let's be honest, I wouldn't really be losing anything because I am always knitting something.  So, win-win, right?

Last week, I worked on the 'business' aspect of opening the shop -- all those necessary things that you don't really think about until you're in the thick of starting up a business... at least, that's the way it was for me.  'Oh, right... I should probably have my own bank account.'  'Paypal, oh em gee, I need that, too.' 

But, this week, I feel like I've been in a dye factory!  Or... would that be yarn factory?  At any rate, the kids think I'm cooking yarn.

To quote Liam, after I told him that there was yarn in the pot on the stove, "Oh.  Hot yarn."

Darn right, it's hot.  Maybe it'll sell like hot cakes!

Ahh, anyways.  Hopefully all this yarn will be dried soon so I can re-skein, tag, list, sell, and send it on its merry way to someone who will love it and knit/crochet it.

Wish me luck!