Firefly Fibers

The Yarn Whisperer: Clara Parkes

2012-02-24T13:24:00.000-06:00

I had the pleasure of attending the February Madison Knitter’s Guild meeting where Clara Parkes was the guest speaker. You may be familiar with Clara’s blog Knitter’s Review or one of her fabulous booksin The Knitter’s Book of… series (wecarry all 3 books here at Firefly Fibers). Her most recent book is The Knitter’s Book of Socks in which she thoroughly covers the fundamentalsof creating the perfect pair of socks – elasticity, strength, and moisturemanagement. Knitter’s Review and her booksare essentials for the curious fiber enthusiast, regardless of skill level.

Clara launched Knitter’s Review in 2000 as a source for honestreviews on yarns, tools, books and more. This was before Ravelry - can you even remember a time beforeRavelry?!

With over a decade of reviews,there’s a very good chance you’ll find one on what you're looking for. I did some digging in the archives and found a review of our beloved Blue Sky Alpacas Sport Weight here from 2003. I was smiling and nodding in agreement while reading Clara's step-by-step analysis of this yarn. Blue Sky Alpacas has grown quite a bit since then and the yarn is now presented in a hank rather than the pesky center-pull skein she speaks of - other than these minor details, this review is just as relevant in 2012 asit was all those years ago.

“We are witnessingthe end of a revolution…”

Clara shared how the internet has recreated the fiber landscape - the days of print magazines and books as the main source of showcasing designers has come to an end. In the light of the digital age we are seeing changes in how people connect with each other and how we share and receive our information. Through Ravelry, Etsy, the blogosphere and other social medias, the internet has given way to a multitude of venues for yarn and pattern designers to showcase their work. It's ratherexciting!

“We each have equal responsibility for what succeeds…”

Each of us has a vote and we cast this vote when we purchasepatterns by independent designers on Ravelry or at our LYS. Clara spoke of the good professional patternsthat are available to us and how the independent designers that provide quality can riseto the top via the democracy of Ravelry. Through Ravelry and the self-publishing of patterns, these designers can be fairly compensated for their hard work and it’s wonderful to see them make a living whilefollowing their dream.

Clara was gracious enough to sign my books and have a photosnapped with me before the meeting started. Thank you Clara!

Madison Knitter’s Guild is one of the largest knitting guilds in thecountry with over 550 members varying in skill levels from beginner toexpert. MKG currently meets Septemberthrough May with a nationally recognized designers, authors, and teachersspeaking at the meetings about, what else, knitting!

Happy Knitting!

Alisa

della Q to the Rescue

2012-02-17T18:45:00.000-06:00

I use interchangeable needles, 3 sets to be exact, and I use them all regularly. I tote these needles back and forth from the store to home and back again on a daily basis. As one can guess, this doesn't leave a lot of room for yarn in the project bag and also increases the chance of misplacing or leaving a set behind.

This last fall, I was anxious for della Q's new Interchangeable Cases, yet for months after they arrived I continued to jam my 3 needle cases (seen below on the left) into my knitting bag each morning and evening. Finally, I decided enough was enough and tried a della Q Double Interchangeable Needle Case (seen below on the right) - oh, why did I wait?

The cases on the left are actually empty and the della Q case seen here has the needles from all 3 sets stored in it.

The Double Interchangeable Case is full and smaller than one case.

Yes, I know, I said I have three (3) sets and double means two (2) and this means I have one (1) set too many for this case, but I'm a creative thinker...

This case will fit 2 full sets of interchangeable needles US sizes 2-17, so I moved things around a bit. This is how it all worked out on the inside:

The Hiya Hiya small set (I love the US size 2 and 3 tips in this set) are on the top right, the Addi lace are top left, the Addi Turbos are on the bottom, the Hiya cords are in the bottom pockets in front of the Turbo tips and the Addi cables can be seen in the bottom right corner peeking out of the zippered pocked on the other side.

I also have a needle gauge, two Addi cable connectors and the Hiya needle grips safely tucked away. I now have everything I need right at my fingertips in one single compact case.

We carry both the single and double cases in several colors here at Firefly Fibers, along with a selection of other della Q needle cases and project bags.

The interchangeable cases - in either the single or double set version - offer so much in a compact size for needle organization. And, if you're as prepared as I am for ANY knitting emergency with 3 sets -- yes, I know this is foolish -- this case can provide flexibility for you, too.

You can read more about the specifics of these cases on the della Q website:

Happy Knitting!

Alisa

Kidsilk Stripe: WIP

2012-02-11T13:33:00.001-06:00

Kidsilk Haze Stripe is one of the new yarns at Firefly Fibers and we currently have all 6 colorways in stock.

This yarn has all the luxury of the light-as-air solid Kidsilk Haze, but has beautiful self-striping combinations designed by the master of color, Kaffe Fassett. The 50 gram ball (twice the size of the solids) includes a simple knitting pattern on the ball band for a scarf measuring nearly 6 feet long using just the one ball.

I've been anxious to cast on and the needles started clicking away a few days ago - I'm working on the ball band scarf pattern for our shop sample (photo in Circus colorway). Rowan suggests using the entire ball of to see the full effect of this beautiful yarn and I can guarantee that I will be knitting up every last bit!

Disclaimer: this does not mean that I finished another project or there was actually room in the project bag, it just happened. I'm not sure how, it just did...

Happy Knitting!

Alisa

Malabrigo Arroyo & Hermosa

2012-02-03T17:36:00.000-06:00

Malabrigo's new sport weight yarn, Arroyo, arrived recently and it is fabulous!

In beautiful colorways that are distinctly Malabrigo, this 100% superwash Merino wool is not only gorgeous, but a pure pleasure to knit with.

When a new yarn arrives, there's always a flurry of excitement with searching Ravelry for a pattern that highlights the yarn and inspires our knitters - with Arroyo, Hermosa by Melissa J. Goodale perfectly fits both these requirements!

Our shop sample knit in the Jupiter colorway.

Using just one skein of this lovely yarn, Hermosa is a well-written pattern that is suitable for a variety of skill levels and a quick knit using a US 8 (5.0 mm).

Both Malabrigo Arroyo and Hermosa (Ravelry PDF pattern) are available for purchase in the store.

Happy Knitting!

Alisa

Advice for Beginning Knitters

2012-01-18T16:13:00.000-06:00

Our most recent Learn to Knit class wrapped up last night (congratulations, ladies!) and there was so much enthusiasm from this group of new knitters!

I believe anyone can knit, if they really want to, but it takes someone special to successfully translate their craft and teach it others. Our instructor, Sarah, is an accomplished knitter and is very successful in translating her love of knitting to the classroom. Her patience, ability to adapt to individual learning styles, helping students see opportunities in the challenges, never taking the short-cut, and always injecting a good dose of humor, are all part of what make her so fabulous.

Sarah was recently asked for beginner knitting advice on her blog, below is her response. Not a beginner? Read on... This advice is also a good reminder for those of us that eat, sleep and breathe knitting, because we all need to be brought back to our roots every now and then.

Without further adieu...

Advice for Beginner Knitters…

I just noticed a question in my blog’s message box.

Do you have any advice for beginner knitters?

Why yes, yes I do. Here are 12 bits of advice — in no particular order — for all y’all newbie knitters.

1) Just keep knitting! Practice makes perfect. The more you practice, the better (and easier) it gets.
2) Learn to read patterns. In the beginning, it will be like trying to read a menu in Budapest, but hang in there. Ask for help, take a class if you can & master the art of pattern reading. You will never regret it.
3) Understand gauge. With the exception of the very first projects, knitting requires a firm grasp of gauge. Learn it, live it, love it because it is one of the most important keys to wide world of knitting.
4) Take a class in person at a Local Yarn Shop (LYS). I am biased here since I am a knitting instructor and I learned from an LYS knitting instructor, but hear me out. There are youtube videos and online courses, but nothing, nothing will take the place of having someone right next to you, interacting with you & walking you through techniques & projects. When I teach, I watch & listen as much as I demonstrate so as an individual you learn what will work for you. Classes at your LYS are also a great way to meet other knitters! Look for good word of mouth, small class sizes, and (as with anything in life) remember that you usually get what you pay for.
5) Join Ravelry. This isn’t a recommendation, it’s a requirement. It’ll open a world of inspiration to you. And you will never look back… in fact, an intervention may be necessary to pry you away from it.
6) Get a good reference book. My favorite is Debbie Stoller’s Stitch n’ Bitch: A Knitter’s Handbook, not because it has a racy title but because it has great illustrations and I like Stoller’s sense of humor. The Knitter’s Companion by Vicki Square is another good one.
7) Take your time. I hear a lot of newbie’s say, “I want to be able to knit really fast” or “I want to be like those old ladies who can watch TV, knit & not look down.” New knitters are always impressed by speed. When you are beginning though the focus needs to be on getting comfortable with the mechanics of correctly making stitches. If you focus on this, the speed will come in time.
8) Support your Local Yarn Shops. I have supported local yarn shops for as long as I’ve been knitting. They are invaluable to knitters for many reasons; not only do they supply you with fiber options that you can see & touch before buying, the owners & employees at good lys’ are a wealth of knowledge. They provide inspiration, intelligent recommendations, & oftentimes a place for knitters to gather through scheduled open knitting and classes. No one knows yarn & project selection like a good LYS owner.
9) Try a Knit-along. Once you master the basics of knitting, Knit-alongs (KALs) are a great way to push your comfort zone out a bit or try a new yarn. Many KALs are available online & at your LYS. If you are unsure if you have the skills to succeed with it, ask the person running it. They’ll be able to tell you if it’s a good fit for you.
10) Get good tools. When first starting out, we often don’t want to invest of ton of money in tools. Think of purchasing knitting tools like you are outfitting a toolbox. You will re-use needles for years if you care for them, so don’t be afraid to try the good ones. Good tools can make a world of difference.
11) Laugh. All knitters make mistakes from the first day they knit to the last. Approach the learning process with focus & a sense of humor and you will be A-OK.
12) Get a friend to knit with you. It is hard for non-knitters to understand the passion of a knitter. I encourage you to learn with a friend or go to events where you may make stitching friends. There is nothing as enjoyable in knitting than knitting with other knitters.

Sarah can be found blogging here and her facebook fan page is here.

Happy Knitting!

Alisa

Indie Designer Feature

2012-01-12T17:11:00.006-06:00

We love supporting indie designers at Firefly Fibers! Last fall we added Jane Richmond Designs to our shop patterns and she's fitting right in!

With a full range of designs from Hats & Toques, to Scarves & Cowls, to Pullover & Cardigans, to Shrugs & Boleros, to Gloves & Mittens, to Babies & Toddlers, and Toddlers & Children - there's sure to be something for everyone in the family!

For those of you that may be new to Jane's designs, her website sums up her designs and pattern style perfectly:
Jane's designs are classic and simple. Her minimalist approach to knitwear design is paired with a dedication to cleanly written pattern instructions. Being both a process and product knitter, Jane's goal is to create knits that are enjoyable to knit and easy to wear. Her patterns offer crisp photographs and plenty of white space.

One of our favorite patterns is Rae - Jane held a Knitalong for Rae last fall in her Ravelry group, and everyone had so much fun that we decided to kick off 2012 with Rae as our very own Knitalong! We're using either Dream in Color Smooshy or Madelinetosh tosh sock and there's still plenty of time to join.

Shannon is one of Jane's new designs and is beautiful knit up in Spud & Chloe Outer (see Sarah's project here). This pattern is simple with just enough style to give it the 'wow' factor.

And... meet Georgia - a fitted cardigan knit from the top down with a beautiful sophisticated fit.

psst... I have yarn set aside for this beauty and I can't wait to cast on!

We hope you try one of Jane Richmond's patterns - we have several of Jane's designs knit up as shop samples and we are currently clicking away with a few more.Printed patterns (gorgeous layout on 65 lb cardstock) are available in the shop and now we are also set up for in store sales with Ravelry (more to come on this). Visit us and we'll introduce you to Jane's designs, help you select a pattern, yarn for your project and you can either purchase a printed copy or a Ravelry 'pdf'. Pretty slick, eh?

Happy Knitting!
Alisa

The beauty of Shibui!

2011-08-02T15:38:00.000-05:00

As many of you know, I've been working very hard to find a beautiful yarn to compliment our new Churchmouse Yarns & Teas patterns. I am so happy to share that the hard work has paid off and the end result is the stunning Shibui Knits!

Shibui Knits is based in Portland, Oregon and they have some of the most beautiful color palettes I've ever seen!
We are currently carrying Sock and Stacatto in multi colors and we hope you fall in love just like we have!


Sock: 100% Superwash Merino

Stacatto: 65% Superwash Merino / 30% Silk / 5% Nylon

Shibui also has beautiful well-written patterns for their yarn and I am currently working on our shop sample of their Vintage Baby Cardigan!

Please join us in welcoming Shibui Knits to Firefly Fibers and visit us to see and feel this beautiful yarn in person!

You can expect to see more Shibui at Firefly Fibers over the next few months!

Happy Knitting!

Alisa

Stitch 'N Pitch

2011-07-07T16:07:00.002-05:00

We had a lovely time at the 5th Annual Milwaukee Brewers Stitch 'N Pitch on July 21st, 2011 at Miller Park. Our memento is a fabulous knitting Chorizo bobblehead. I love the ball of yarn in his sombrero!

Here's a quick rundown of the event...

We headed to Milwaukee at 2 pm. The weather and roads were typical Wisconsin with rain, sun, more rain, more sun and plenty of road construction.

This is our group (left to right: Rachael, Caleb, Mike, and Alisa).

Once in Miller park the we checked out the vendors, registered for door prizes and collected the above bobblehead.

Firefly Fibers donated a kit for Spud & Chloe's Happily Ever After Hat and Mitts set in retro Brewers colors. I hope the recipient was happy with their prize!

After that, Rachael and I spent some time knitting.

The sausages raced! Sorry for the blurry photo, they were so fast I almost missed them entirely!

And our Milwaukee Brewers won! Go Brew Crew!

If you haven't attended this event in the past and like baseball, I strongly encourage you to attend next year! It's a lot of fun!

Happy Knitting!

Alisa

A year, already?!

2011-06-02T21:56:00.000-05:00

It's hard to believe that one whole year has passed since we opened Firefly Fibers (technically it was 1 year on May 29th, but close enough, right?). The last year feels like a quick blink of an eye, but when I slow down to think about all that's happened, it's hard to believe that it really has only been one year.

I am a knitter (you probably already knew this or at least you should) and I love yarn and all things fiber related (probably knew this too). Many knitters dream of owning a shop full of beautiful yarn, this was my dream, too. From the time I was very little my folks had a locksmith shop and this inspired me to want to have my own business. They encouraged me to take this chance and after firsthand experience and a lot of hard work with little time off, I still love them both. :)

Now that I am an adult, not only do I have my parents encouragement, but I am also lucky enough to have a wonderful husband that helped make this dream come true. Mike has been so supportive since I mentioned this would be something I wanted to do. He deserves the credit for encouraging me to take the last HUGE step to actually make my dream a reality. Without him, this would not have happened, so a big thank you to Mike!

Of course I love yarn and knitting, but the people I have met over the last year are the reason I wanted to open a shop. I meet amazing people on a regular basis, I get to share my passion and I learn something new each and every day. My customers are the best! Many of you have been with us from the very beginning and have seen the shop fill up with our beautiful yarns. I appreciate you sharing with me how the shop has changed over the last year, the transition has been so gradual for me that I barely notice until you help me take a step back. Some of our customers are just discovering us and I love the excitement of the fiber enthusiasts as they explore our shop! I thank each of you for welcoming Firefly Fibers into your lives and the community!

Speaking of, our first customer made us a little something special for our 1 year anniversary, thank you Amy! A big thank you also goes to my wonderful instructor, Sarah Chy! She teaches the majority of the classes at the shop and knits many of the shop samples. She is a great instructor, gives great input on yarn and project selections, and has been very helpful in the balancing of my work and personal lives. I may actually have a personal life soon, can you believe it?

Thank you to all of my customers, instructor, friends, family, designers, and everyone else that has been along for this wild ride. I look forward to getting to know each of you better in the years to come at Firefly Fibers!

This is my dream come true, thank you!

Happy stitching! Alisa

P.S. I finally admitted today that we need more shelves :)

Vending at Madison Knitter's Guild

2011-03-16T16:50:00.006-05:00

We had a fabulous night vending at the Madison Knitter's Guild meeting on Monday, March 14th! After spending the day packing the store up (the shelves at the shop were really a very sad sight), we were off to Madison to share some of our favorites.

We brought Malabrigo, Dream in Color, Blue Sky Alpacas, and the star of the show, Spud & Chloë!

I was obviously happy about something here!
Here's Mike, he ran the register and did a wonderful job!
Sarah (our instructor) was a life-saver and came along to help out, she did a great job answering questions and keeping the tables stocked! It was a long day and night, but it was so much fun talking to all of the knitter and showing off our beautiful yarns!
A fabulous time was had by all!
A huge thank you to all of the the guild members, the guild staff, and Mike and Sarah!
It was a wonderful night!

Cheers!
Alisa

Join us to knit beautiful mittens!

2011-02-22T10:50:00.000-06:00

Dare spring to come early with the beautiful Bodhi Mittens! Our Bodhi Mitten Class starts this Saturday, Feb 26th, and we still have a few seats available!

In this class you will not only learn to make mittens, but you will also learn the basics of shaping, a decorative stitch, and how to read & follow a more complex pattern. These mittens are packed full of knitting knowledge and are sure to impress!

Saturdays: Feb 26^th (11 am – 2 pm) and March 5^th (11 am – 12 pm)

Visit us at the store to see the beautiful sample in person, get class details and register. The details can also be found on the Firefly Fibers website!

Happy Knitting!

Alisa

Sock Class Success!

2011-02-17T11:32:00.000-06:00

Our Intro to Toe-Up Socks class was fabulous! Below are the finished socks from our final class this last Tuesday. Great job ladies!

I really enjoyed teaching the class. My favorite part was the group cheering as each person completed their bind-off and tried their sock on!

If you want to learn socks from the toe-up, keep an eye on our future class schedule!

Cheers!
Alisa

Busy, Busy, Busy...

2010-10-20T17:47:00.000-05:00

Life has been a whirlwind lately, as one can see from the date of my last post.

I've been keeping busy at the store (shocking, isn't it?) with the arrival of our Fall yarns. Our most recent shipment is from Malabrigo and the beautiful yarns just went on the shelves today! We welcome Chunky to our existing lineup of Merino Worsted, Sock, and Lace. We have carried some colors over from our existing lines and added a few new/different ones. I am preparing to cast my own project in Chunky as I type. I have selected the Dolores Park Cowl by Parikha Mehta; it's just a matter of color selection right now and who knows how long that could take, lol!

The knitting projects continue to be started more frequently than the rate of completion, but a few are nearing the finish line. The Little Pumpkin hat was a quick knit from itty-bitty hats by Susan B. Anderson. I knit it up with Cascade 220 Superwash for a washable project that knit up in one evening! I do have a couple tasks that are taking my time right now, but I am sure I will find some time to knit on the UFOs.

One of the projects I am working on is for the Beaver Dam Community Library. Their 7th Annual Crochet and Knit-a-thon is Saturday, November 6th and we are providing some prizes for the event. If you are able to attend, it is from 11am - 4pm at the library. This is time to bring your supplies and work with other stitchers on a project for the community. They will be collecting handmade items in November and December so this is a great time to get started on something for those in need this Winter. As added incentive, the prizes we are providing are SO MUCH FUN! I will share the project details when they are ready and I guarantee you will want one and they will make you smile!

As if that's not enough excitement... I am bursting at the seams in anticipation of our first CSA delivery tomorrow!!! Thank you so much to Sarah C. for introducing me to her farm after my post about the Farmer's Market; my customers are the BEST! I can't wait to pick up our bounty of fresh veggies and get creative in the kitchen. Those of you that know me, know I love healthy cooking and not having as much time lately to cook has been difficult for me. Cooking is a wonderful way for me to release stress, nurture others, and enjoy some good grub in the process. I hope that the combo of a little spare time and a box full of fresh veggies staring at me will provide the jump start I need to get back to my cooking.

I will keep you posted! Until then...

Cheers!

Alisa

Fall is in the air

2010-09-26T10:52:00.000-05:00

Can you feel it? That slight chill that indicates it's time for all things knitted? I want to curl up under an afghan with a cup of tea and knit the day away. Unfortunately, I have a list a mile long of things to do, but a girl can dream.

I have been able to get some knitting time in, most of it in the wee hours of the night. My projects selections as of late are very enjoyable so I am frequently up late because I just can't put my needles down. Here are a couple projects that have made it from UFO to FO status:

One of my customers inspired me the day we opened our doors to make the Pashmina Cowl from Last Minute Knitted Gifts in Blue Sky Alpacas Sport Weight. I cast on at the end of July as my "non-thinking" project and was weaving my ends in just a couple weeks ago. I love this pattern and the warmth and softness of the yarn is spectacular!

I've also been wanting to knit up Braided by Susan B. Anderson for months now and finally found time! Now I wonder what I was waiting for because it was such a quick and easy knit; it took about 4 evenings to complete. The project is free on the Spud & Chloe website and uses 3 skeins of Outer. The yarn is great to work with and the scarf is so soft and squishy!

The final project is one of the Firefly Fibers 4th Quarter Knitalongs! I had the pleasure of meeting designer Laura Nelkin at TNNA in June and immediately fell in love with her beaded knitting designs. I selected her recent project Eventide for the shop. The project uses Audrey by Schaefer Yarn, a silk/merino blend, and incorporates the use of beads and a "cross-stitch" pattern to create this lovely scarf. This is the current shop sample in progress. I am just about done with the first half and can't wait to start on the second half so I can use some beads again!

We have Fall yarns arriving at the shop and it is so much fun to see the selections in person! So many of my customers have been very helpful with fiber and color suggestions, I really appreciate their input. Now, I just need to find more time to get the yarn on the shelves and to knit up sample projects :)

We are spending time with family today and traveling by car so this means knitting time for me! Yay! Let's see how long we can visit so the "to do" list can be put on hold.

Cheers!

Alisa

Labor Day Weekend

2010-09-04T13:59:00.000-05:00

I am finishing up the last little bit of the day here at Firefly Fibers

before having a couple days off. The Labor Day weekend isn't any longer for me since we are closed Monday anyway, but I do get to enjoy spending another day with my hubby and that makes me very happy!

The new Spud & Chloë Trunk Show arrived yesterday and is on display here at the store. Seeing the knitted items in person makes me want to cast on another project! So far I have managed to keep this urge under control since I now have 2 bulging project bags :)

The same cannot be said of my urge to play with the new beads that arrived this last week! We now have Japanese Miyuki beads and I am in the process of stringing beads on for our next store Knitalong (I will post details soon). We currently have size 8 and will be ordering size 6 soon!

I am stringing them onto one of the below colors of the amazing Audrey by Schaefer Yarn. It is a delicious blend of Merino and Silk! I love it and, again, I will share soon!

I plan to spend some time relaxing this weekend and, of course, hope to find time to get some serious knitting done and share pictures after the weekend!

Be safe and have a great weekend!

Cheers!

Alisa

3 Months and the Farmer's Market!

2010-08-30T14:50:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I realized that it was the 3-month anniversary for Firefly Fibers and I couldn't believe it! In some ways it seems much longer and in others, much shorter. I clearly remember our opening day and our first customer, Amy, rushing in to excitedly buy needles. She is proud that she's our first and I love that! I have met some amazing people since we opened and I can't wait to get to know everyone better and meet more!

After reading the title of this blog post, you may ask, "What does a 3-month anniversary have to do with the Farmer's Market?" Well, you see, with all of the work at the store in the spring and summer, we sadly had to give up our garden this year (convincing me of this was a challenge for my husband, but I eventually had to admit defeat). Don't get me wrong, the trade was well worth the loss of bountiful tomatoes, peppers, greens, and whatever else we would have found at the nursery to plant in our little garden. I love being at the store and have enjoyed every day I've been there, so do I feel it worked out to my benefit.

This being said, I still crave the fresh foods of summer and was pushed to look for another source to satisfy me this year. Luckily I had to go no further than the Beaver Dam Farmer's Market! In about 30 minutes I am there and back with a bounty that makes me drool and so excited to cook. After unpacking the bags from the trip this last Saturday, I had to take a picture:

Needless to say, my craving for fresh food has been satisfied. Oh, there was also miniature black raspberry pie but that was long gone before I took the picture :)

So there you have it... A huge thank you to everyone for helping us enjoy 3 months at the store and another thank you to the local farmers for helping me have fresh delicious food this summer! Thanks for letting me have my cake and eat it too!

On that note, I'm off to make some tomato soup and borscht and get some knitting done while they are simmering!

Cheers,

Alisa

What's in my project bag?

2010-08-05T16:51:00.000-05:00

A more appropriate question may be "What ISN'T in my project bag?"

After feeling like Mary Poppins at our open knitting session last night, I think it's only appropriate to share on a broader spectrum what I am working on. As I pulled the items out of my bag today for the photography line-up, it began to occur to me that I have a lot of work to do (and maybe a problem, but I quickly went back into denial).

Please feel free to laugh at the mess I have gotten myself into, after all, I have had a good chuckle and you should too. And with that, here we go...

The first project is Coquille from the current issue of Knitty. The project is knit in Crystal Palace's Mini Mochi and I am using the Violets Rainbow colorway.

I love the yarn and pattern! I'm over halfway done and so excited for this to be on display at our store, Firefly Fibers!

Next up is... The Clapotis! This is another Knitty pattern and the current Knit Along for our store. I am using Malabrigo Sock in Solis and modified the pattern slightly to make a thin lightweight scarf. Lots of fun!

Citron is another project in my bag (I know, this is getting sad) and another Knitty pattern. Oddly enough, I passed on creativity this time (not sure there was any left) and am using the same yarn and colorway in the pattern, Malabrigo Lace in Lettuce. The pattern is great and the yarn is spectacular!

This next one is a "do-over" because I thought I knew better than the pattern (I bet you've never thought you knew better than the instructions on something new). This is the Pashmina Cowl from Last Minute Knitted Gifts knit in Blue Sky Alpacas Sport Weight. I am using the color Denim and, again, I love the yarn and the pattern couldn't be easier!

The final work in progress is a simple cowl that I made up on the fly. This is knit with Malabrigo Merino Worsted in the color Deja Vu.

Last, but not least, are the 3 wound balls from the bottom of the bag for projects that haven't been started yet. I am pretty confident that 2 are for crochet projects and I have a couple possibilities for the 3rd. I will share more when progress is made, hopefully that is after some of the above items go from U.F.O. status to F.O.

So, I am either a fairly optimistic lady or a totally insane yarn addict. I prefer to think I am the former rather than the latter. I do have a few more projects started and yarn for new projects stashed in various places at the store and home, but we will pretend for now they don't exist because this really is enough reality for one day.

Cheers!

Alisa

Firefly Fibers: Open for Business!!!

2010-06-23T16:42:00.000-05:00

After months of getting ready to open, we finally did it!!!

Our opening day was May 29 and we had so many customers and visitors! The positive feedback that day had our heads spinning and made it worth all of the time, sweat, and energy we put into our store. Thank you all SO much!

Since then, it has been 3 weeks... I spent the week after opening finalizing orders, the following week I went to TNNA, and have spent the last week getting caught up. Whew, that was a lot of work!

Here are a few pictures of the store:

I have really missed working face-to-face with people and having the opportunity to experience so many different personalities. I enjoy meeting and talking with each and every one of our customers and visitors. I love when knitters and crocheters come in and we talk yarn, share our current projects, and I get their thoughts on the store. On the flip side, I love it when passers-by wander in (either intentionally out of curiosity or by accident, and they do wander in by accident) and disappointingly say "Oh, it's just yarn" and start to walk out when something catches their eye and they are here for another 15 minutes "ooo-ing" and "ahhh-ing".

We have had one Open Knitting (now called Sit 'n Stitch) session and it was a lot of fun! There were flowers (pending re-potting) and lots of chatting and clicking! As I type, we are getting ready for our second Sit 'n Stitch and I am sure it will be just as much fun, if not more fun.

Thank you to everyone who has come into the store to share in this experience, I look forward to seeing you again.

Cheers and Happy Knitting!
Alisa

TNNA Review

2010-06-18T18:35:00.000-05:00

Wow! I am finally taking a moment to sit down and blog. It's hard to believe that my last post was April 30th! Since then, Firefly Fibers has been open for 3 weeks and there are so many stories to tell and pictures to share, but that is for another post in the near future...

Today's post is about my first experience at the TNNA Needle Arts Market June 12-14 in Columbus, Ohio. For those of you that don't know what TNNA is, here is a quick summary: The National NeedleArts Association (TNNA) is a trade based organization with a conference (yes, a conference for yarn) providing classes and an unbelievable market with all things needle related. This means, yarn, accessories, more yarn, more accessories, and then more of everything still! A totally amazing experience!

Columbus, here I come!!!

Wednesday: I left our store in the care of my husband and was off to Columbus, Ohio. I spent the evening in Chicago to split the trip up and to visit with a friend that I haven't seen in a very long time (thank you again Nicole). Of course, I went to bed much too late and had to get up much too early Thursday morning.

Thursday: After getting up at 3 am and leaving Chicago at 4:30 am, I experienced several events, including, but not limited to: getting in the wrong toll booth lane and stopping traffic (yes, that was me and I am very sorry), having my credit card get stuck in another toll booth and having to talk to the voice in the toll booth machine (?) to get my credit card back (this was a little like ordering at McDonald's), taking 2 wrong turns, and arriving in class to disappointingly realize that Columbus, OH is on Eastern time (I was on time for Central time). After class was out, I managed to check into the hotel, finally find the parking garage and my way back to the hotel, eat, and call it quits for the day. Whew, that was a rough day! I did have a good view from my room:

Friday: I got up early to attend the TIPs sessions. These were quick 30 minute sessions on a variety of topics and they were wonderful! I attended the retail lunch and sat with some very nice yarn shop owners from Montana. I had another class in the afternoon and then squeezed in time for some supper and a little bit of time to relax. In the evening I met up with a new friend (Hi Ellie!) who is a buyer for another company here in town and we attended the 2010 Spring/Summer Fashion Show. It was fun to see the new trends and comment on them with a fellow fashion lover! The show was great and I can't wait to get a copy of the dvd!

Saturday: Got up early again to attend a couple sessions and get to the market as soon as they opened the doors at 10 am. The booths and products were amazing! There was so much to look at and touch. I somehow managed to injure my ankle and had to take it easy with the walking the rest of the weekend. Those of you that know me should not be surprised by the comedy of events over the course of the event, it could have been much worse. I sadly ended up skipping supper out with Ellie and some others because I was so tired and had an early class that I was determined to be on time for.

Sunday: More class time in the wee hours of the morning (I was on time). I took Mosaic Knitting with Melissa Leapman. This was my only technique class and it was so fun and easy that I am developing a class for here at the store to teach the technique. After class I was off to limp around at the market again and then off to bed early.

Monday: I was up early and on my way home. The drive home was, thankfully, uneventful.

Overall, it was a great weekend! I enjoyed meeting the designers, seeing the new trends, and meeting my vendors face-to-face. After being at market, we now have new colors in Misti Alpaca Chunky and Spud & Chloe (all weights) in stock. We also have several other new yarns and accessory items on the way and will update you as they arrive. Here is one of our new Misti colors, Montego Bay (not yet on the Misti website) and is stunning in person:

TNNA was a wonderful experience that I look forward to again next year, only in more comfortable shoes, with more rest, and fully knowing what to expect.

Cheers and Happy Knitting!

Alisa

This Is Progress!!!

2010-04-30T22:20:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone!

We have been making amazing progress! The painting is done other than the front sitting area and doors (thank you Mike and dad-in-law).

Here are some pictures of our hard work.

Orders are arriving (that is a lot of yarn):

Shelves are being assembled in record time (thank you Mike and Kevin):

The classroom table is ready to go and chairs will be here soon:

We have beautiful light fixtures:

And shelves are being stocked:

The above picture is our Misti Alpaca Bulky and this was a joy to unpack! I am a beauty school drop-out (twice) because of not enjoying having hair on me, but somehow being covered in a light coating of baby alpaca is amazingly tolerable.

We have several order coming in the next week and I can't wait to will fill our shelves with more fibers that are beautiful to the eye and touch!

Cheers!

Alisa

IKEA!!!

2010-04-21T12:28:00.000-05:00

It has been much too long since I blogged, and for that, I apologize. I am sure you understand that we have been very busy getting the store ready. Blogging should be easier now that we are actually seeing things happen as a result of our efforts and that means lots of pictures. Here is the beginning of what will soon become Firefly Fibers...

Yesterday, we went to IKEA with our two wonderful assistants and purchased so many wonderful things for our yarn shop.

We rented a U-Haul truck and this allowed us to get what we originally went to pick up and also a few extras that we decided on once we arrived at the store.

All the big stuff went in the moving truck:

We had 2 carts full of smaller items:

It was a long day. We left Beaver Dam at 8 am, got back about 9 pm, and it was about 10 pm by the time we unloaded everything.

This is our table for classes:

This is our couch for the sitting area (the paint color is pending):

This is our shelving:

As you can see, we have our work cut out for us with assembling everything. This is the bulk of what we needed for the store so there will be just a few odds and ends after this, hopefully.

I will post about my knitting progress soon (the socks have fallen by the wayside and been temporarily replaces), for now I wanted to share the progress of our store. I have been knitting,but mostly I have been playing with a lot of yarn so I can make the final selections for the store.

Cheers,

Alisa

Firefly Fibers

The Yarn Whisperer: Clara Parkes

della Q to the Rescue

Kidsilk Stripe: WIP

Malabrigo Arroyo & Hermosa

Advice for Beginning Knitters

Advice for Beginner Knitters…

Indie Designer Feature

The beauty of Shibui!

Stitch 'N Pitch

A year, already?!

Vending at Madison Knitter's Guild

Join us to knit beautiful mittens!

Saturdays: Feb 26th (11 am – 2 pm) and March 5th (11 am – 12 pm)

Visit us at the store to see the beautiful sample in person, get class details and register. The details can also be found on the Firefly Fibers website!

Happy Knitting!

Alisa

Sock Class Success!

Busy, Busy, Busy...

Fall is in the air

Labor Day Weekend

3 Months and the Farmer's Market!

What's in my project bag?

Firefly Fibers: Open for Business!!!

TNNA Review

This Is Progress!!!

IKEA!!!

Saturdays: Feb 26^th (11 am – 2 pm) and March 5^th (11 am – 12 pm)