I love my husband.
I love my family.
I love my inlaws.

No matter how much love there is, it can be hard to spend extented periods of time at the homes of relatives, whether related by birth or marriage. It's just hard to relax at someone elses home.

This Summer I came armed with knitting - plenty of knitting. Knitting is part of my daily life, whether I am at home,or on the road, or at someone elses home. It just helps calm my body and my brain. Of course, I always travel with various projects, you just never know what kind of mood you are going to be in.

What do I look for in a 'family' knitting project? I has to be portable, either a small project or part of a bigger project; with only one free suitcase on most airlines today, you can't pack a second bag with only knit projects. Before you ask, yes I have taken a suitcase full of knitting with me on more than one trip, but I am not willing to pay extra to bring a suitcase of knitting projects. And yes, you can bring knitting needles on the plane in the US (skip the sharp scissors though). It has to require the right amount of brain/body power. You need to be available to be part of the 'right' amount of conversation - enough that you are involved, but not so much that you're running your mouth and getting yourself in trouble. I also like to have something that you can get done while you're away. It's a great feeling of accomplishment to finish a project, but it's also nice to share that feeling with the folks that have to live through the process.

What are bad 'family' knitting projects? Well, this time around I knocked lace off the list.

Maybe it works for others but not for me. I just can't fix my mistakes with other people chit chatting around me. Also, knowing exactly what row you are on can be hard to keep track of if you are trying to carry on/listen to a conversation. For these reason, Fair Isle knitting if off the list as well (update coming soon on my foray into Fair Isle sweaters). I did bring a Fair Isle hat to try working on, but I brought the wrong needles. (Travel knitting involves proper planning - make sure you have everything you need.)

I think I may have found the perfect project in Leigh Radford's AlterKnits. It's a faux ruffle tank top.

I saw it knit up during the yarn crawl and fell in love with it. I went with pink Brown Sheep cotton fleece and added a Louisa harding ribbon to make the faux ruffles. This is a $30+ sweater - wooohoooo!

The pattern is simple, involving very little shaping and a minor staggered rib pattern in the front (you sew the faux ruffle on after it's all knit up). Don't get me wrong, I made lots of mistakes trying to knit and be part of the conversation, but for whatever reason I even enjoyed 'tink'ing this one.

It just fed my need to be doing something ... quieting my busy brain to handle two instead of twenty things. I think I had to re-knit something everyday, and I was okay with that. I have to admit I was knitting in the house, the car and even when we were out to dinner.

I think this pattern is worth keeping handy for future travel. It looked good even before I added the ribbon (it's the most expensive yarn in the sweater.) I might even thin about working in some shaping in the next time around.

Have needles, will travel!

A New Yarn

It's a yarn store on a mission that goes way beyond knitting and crochet. North Seattle's 'A New Yarn' sells new and donated yarn, knitting accessories, books and bags. They host knitting circles and offer knitting classes. And 100% of their profits benefit victims of domestic violence through free, ongoing educational, advocacy and support groups offered by Northwest Family Life.

The organizations founder Nancy Murphy was looking for more than just a way to make money to help run the non-profit, she wanted to start something in the community to help women of all kinds. A survivor of domestic abuse herself, Murphy knew that knitting could give a woman something to focus on that went beyond her problems, helping to heal one stitch at a time. She hoped that for battered women in particular, that a knitting community could help break the isolation, and create a safe place for women to go.

A New Yarn opened its doors on Roosevelt Way NE about 2 years ago – they keep the doors open and the needles clicking through generous donations from knitters across the city, state and country. So what can you do to help - donate, shop and knit.

The store gets a lot of its yarn through donations. Store manager Claudia Davidson says they'll take it all. Consider cleaning out your yarn stash – full and partial balls of any kind of yarn that are just taking up room in your yarn bin could be making a difference in the lives of others. Donating knitting books, needles and other accessories is a great way to recycle things you're not using any more. Don't forget crochet and spinning accessories too. Right now she is in particular need of a yarn scale. Monetary donations are also appreciated.

If your stash is low and your pockets a little empty, you might want to consider donating your time. Davidson is looking for people to knit samples for the store - she will provide the yarn and the pattern while you provide the knitting expertise. She can always use help stocking he shelves. And if you're looking to share what you love with others, she's looking for knitting teachers.

Everyone is welcome at the store. They have a variety of yarns and accessories available including Cascade, Skacel, Dark Horse, Kertzer, Queensland, Mirasol needles, Clover needles and accessories and Empress needles. Those donated partial balls are a great deal – you can fill up a bag of acrylic yarn, assorted wools, cotton and novelty yarns for only $3.50, a bag of natural fiber yarns is just $7.50. Wednesday night is the store's free knitting circle (spinners and crochet-ers are welcome too). On their free Friday knitting circle patrons knit shawls for those in needs, as well as items for Project Linus and the Cancer Care Alliance.

A New Yarn
12345 Roosevelt Way NE
Seattle, WA 98125
206.367.1112
yarn@nwfamilylife.org

My husband's reaction to the Erin's Bears charity - 'I didn't know the need to clothes poor teddy bears was so great!" I told him bears don't 'need' the clothes (but I am sure they like clothes as much as the next bear). The people who really need the help are the kids that will receive the bears at Camp Erin.

Camp Erin is a bereavement camp for kids who have lost a parent, sibling or friend run by Hospice of Snohomish County. For the 6th year now, kids will be greeted at Camp Erin this September with a well-dressed bear on their bed to help them deal with their loss. The beautifully knit clothes come courtesy of local knitters.

Last year over 35 knitters, age 5 to 90, made ponchos, vests, jackets, hats, scarves and other accoutrements to dress 130 bears. This year the group is hoping to put clothes on the backs of even more bears. This is a good project for knitters who just want to get their toes wet in the charity knitting pool – a small quick project, where you can follow a pattern or be as creative as you want, with small amounts of leftover yarn.

Patterns are available at Great Yarns at 4023 Rucker Ave. in Everett (or just email Fontelle@greatyarns.com for patterns). Don't have extra yarn to whip up bear clothes, then head in to Great Yarns and they'll take you to the Erin's Bear yarn stash … all you need to do is supply the needles and the time. Most Wednesday's evenings this summer, knitters will gather at Great Yarns to work on bear-wear (as well as their own projects). The bears will get their new clothes on August 27th where they will be dressed and readied for their mission to fill the holes in the hearts of kids dealing with grief. For more information, call Fontelle at (425)252.8155.

Camp Erin and Erin's bears is named for a real girl - Erin Metcalf of Woodinville developed liver cancer at the age of 15. During her hospitalization, Erin's was often expressed concern for the other children and their siblings, who often received little attention. Her compassion made a big impression on everyone she met, including Seattle Mariner Jamie Moyer and his wife Karen. After her death in 2,000, the Moyer's foundation helped found the camp bereavement camp in 2003 - the well dressed teddy bears have been there since the beginning.

... this article also ran in the Seattle Knitters Guild June Newsletter. The SKG meets the third Wednesday of every month - that's tonight. All knitters welcome!

Wow - "Destination:Yarn" shop hop was a test of endurance with lots, and lots of perks and I did it!

Okay, so finishing the yarn tour for the second year in a row shouldn't get me a medal, but it did grow my stash a little and add 24-plus patterns to my file library.

Basically, if you do the numbers - I spent about an hour and half of time per store, spending about $2.50-$3.00 a store (when you add in gas and ferry and most of the nibbles along the way.)

I am not crazy, so I am not going to add up how much money I spent on yarn - my husband may read this!

But here are a few of the things I bought on my journey -

*Keep an eye out for the video I will be adding to each of the store blogs and watch for later this Summer I plan to recreate the South Sound Yarn Store Tour - all new stores for me.

3pm Sunday - Seattle Yarn Gallery

After hour days of hard (well, maybe challenging is a better word ....), I have visted all 24 yarn store on this year's tour - whew!

The Seattle Yarn Gallery is in West Seattle.

This jam packed store has lots of yarn - like this wall of Brown Sheep wool and lots and lots of paterns and notions. They are also hosting a Louisa Harding trunk show right now. I have to admit being a little overwhelmed by the time I finished the tour (I even ran out of video tape - but that just gives me an excuse to go back and visit again).

Their one skein project are more like half skein of less projects - good ideas for those partial balls left after a big project.

Take me out to ball game - I don't know how far you could hit one of these balls, but the one think you can be sure of is they won't hurt if they hit someone. The crochet project is this swirly pair of earring - I have to say I didn't expect to get an earring pattern on the tour.

2pm Sunday - Hilltop Yarn

Hilltop Yarn is a charming little knit house on the top of Queen Anne Hill. They gear to younger, hipper knitters - not your mother's knitting shop. The staff and the store knit patterns all fit the image. I like the vibe, but sometimes it can seem a little click-ish ... just go ahead and ask for help and you will feel at home in no time.
I got a great tour from clerk and fellow blogger Kat Chapman. They have a little bit of everything here. And if you were looking for choice for your one-skein pattern - this was the place to be. I went for the fingerless gloves, but the ear-flap hat was very tempting. If you were feeling fishy - there was this soap cozy or even your very own knit fish.
They also have sock yarn that was specially dyed for their anniversary. It's called Sundae.

You may have heard they suffered an electrical fire earlier this year - no fear, all the smokey, stinky yarn has been removed (I hear the sale was amazing) and it's business as usual.

1pm Sunday- Full Circle Yarn

I had forgotten I had been to Full Circle Yarn once before - looking for a local store that stocked crewel threads and fabric (seems no one in town does, but they helped me find a good make-do).
The one-skein project was a cute clutch that could either be felted or not. Intead of being seamed or even knit in the round - it was designed as a double-knit pattern. Before you go getting all freaked out about double-knitting, store owner Patricia showed me exactly what to do. It was so much easier that I had imagined (my last contact with double knitting was Sister Purl learning how do double knit with three colors - I see now that maybe it was all those colors that was making it so hard to understand).

Video to come.

As for my missing mileage - my friend Nicole is driving today. I will try to work out the per store driving average when the dust settles.

9:35 Sunday – Churchmouse Yarns and Teas

I think Sunday is the best day to head to Churchmouse. You can park your car downtown for free and then walk on the Bainbridge Ferry for just $6.70. You can knit the whole way over (or for a fee, you can even get online and blog) – only a 35 minute ride. And the trip back is free. Not to mention the beautiful scenery and the chance to spend time on a boat. It's a short walk into town …. But if it's raining or you've got health problems that slow you down you might want to go for a super quick taxi ride into Winslow.

Kit and her husband run this delightful island yarn and tea shop.

Old English charm is abundant here. The store is full of samples … delightful kids hats and sweaters and quite a few of the skirts I have been so taken by here (the skirt design class I have been dreaming of is here – taught by Carol Lansinger … I got to meet her and she promised that the class would help you deal with designing for your butt). Besides the yarns and teas, they also have an array of needle point goodies.
I loved the one skein project, made with Manos silk blend (it comes in solid and hand painted in these amazingly rich colors.) They are fingerless gloves (with a thumb hole). One skein makes three gloves … so of course I had to by two skeins so I would end up with two pairs of gloves (I blame my lighter wallet on the woman in front of me in line that clued me in on that little trick – I am stealing her plan: I got a complimentary color of hand painted and solid yarn, I will do the cuff and bind off in one color on the first pair and switch it out for the second pair.) It's always an enjoyable to see what they are knitting up out on Bainbridge Island.
I would suggest a quick trip over to Esther's fabric shop just across the street if you are looking to for lining fabric for any of your projects. They stock a wide array of cottons as well as some more lush material. You're sure to fund something funky and unique at Esther's.

230p Saturday – So Much Yarn

So Much Yarn is located in the downtown Belltown neighborhood on First Street. It's a cozy shop with lots to offer – everything from affordable wools and cottons to sparkly novelty yarns. They have a good selection of patterns and a comfy couch area along with a classroom table in the back. Owner Lauren explains that they organize their yarn by gauge – separating the wools on the north wall, the cottons on the south wall and the novelty sparkles in the middle.
Lauren had two one-skein projects available for this year's crawl: moss stitch sock that made me want to try knitting socks again and a simple triangle scarf with some fun novelty yarn.
And you can't miss the store's other attraction – Lauren's do and store mascot Fiona. You can usually find her longing behind the desk or maybe soaking up some sun (and laying in a yarn box) at the front of the store.

1:45p Saturday – Tricoter Knitting Specialists.

I finally got out to a few yarn stores after fighting with the internet company all morning long. Luckily all I have left is 6 stores, all pretty close to home.

Tricoter Knitting Specialists is in the East Madison Park neighborhood. The store is filled with lush fine-quality yarns – I didn't see many of the yarn world's workhorses on the shelves. So this probably isn't the place to buy washcloth yarn. Their stash is organized by color – which makes for a visual treat. New yarns fill the counter tops. The center of the shop reserved for knitting tables. The owners have written a few knitting books – including a new skirt book. Lindy said they have patterns available for all the samples in the store. I like that they have a steaming table available for their customers to block their projects and get a great finished look.
The one-skein project is a beautiful lace scarf – with lots of interest. And the yarn is available in a bunch of colors, and is definitely lush! Not that men can't knit and design beautiful things – you might be surprised to find out that this beautiful scarf was designed by one of the store male patrons.