Today is the big day!

Today I am going to the fair to see my scarf! and many other things.

I am excited to see the fair in full swing. My anticipation has been growing since I saw things in prep mode when I dropped off my scarf.

First I had to get past security...

Ok, that was easy.

Next I saw this sight!! Notice some of the swing chairs are missing!! I guess we can feel safe knowing they really do resecure the chairs each year.

And the saddest sight of all was this...NOT OPEN!

But today all will be well...

The Scarf has been delivered!!

Wow! getting 5 kids ready for school has proved to be more time consuming that I remember! In the past 2 weeks we have had 4 hair cuts, one done by me, 5 dentist visits with no cavities, 2 ortho visits, one annual check up at the doctor with 2 shots, 3 trips to Target for school supplies, 2 trips for new shoes, and I am sure there is more!

So, here is my scarf story which was woven into all the flurry here at my house!

I finished knitting the scarf! It was a fun pattern, changing every row. Once in a while my marker on my pattern telling what row to do next would get moved...a kid, the cat, me? Thus, I have perfected the art of ripping many rows after discovering an error, and redoing them neatly!

Next I added the fring.

Then I blocked it. I had to dig out the ironing board in the basement! My 6 year old said, "Mom, what is that thing!"

And now here it is ready to take to the Creative Arts building. More on that tomorrow!

"Shshshshshsh I'm Counting!"

As a kid my mom did a lot of knitting, in fact, she still does.

Last week I did something to Kid #1 that brought back a memory of my mother knitting. I was alone in the living room counting out stitches as I knit across a row. Kid #1 came into the room asking a question as she entered. I gently shshsh'd her and gave her a gentle "please come forward, but don't talk until I finish the row" look. I felt a bit rude for shshsing her, and yet if I stopped counting I would have spent a very long time reorienting myself in my pattern.

As I shshsh'd her memories of me entering a room where my mother was knitting and gently being shshsh'd as she finished her row came flowing back. It is a gentle art to be able to tell your child PLEASE, PLEASE DON'T TALK TO ME RIGHT NOW, I want to hear you, but can it wait until I finish the row? My mother was a master, and I now understand the great model she was to teach me to gently SHSHSHSH my children while knitting.

Yarn Garage

Wow!

I found my favorite knitting store in the Twin Cities so far.

The Yarn Garage in Rosemount, MN.

http://www.yarngarage.com/

As someone who enjoys knitting, but is not yet very sophisticated in the craft, I sometimes feel overwhelmed and intimidated by walking into a yarn shop. I feel like everyone else there knows WAY more than I do!

When I walked into the Yarn Garage, I was met by a splash of colorful yarns flowing out of their floor to ceiling bins.

The yarn called out comfort, fun, and creativity. There was no overwhelmed, in the sense of "I don't belong here, I don't know enough about knitting to be comfortable even asking a question ."

Then as I proceeded into the store Steven, the store owner was trying on a vest that will be created at a future knitting class. He was modeling it for several friends and shoppers for their opinion. He asked for my opinion and included me in the group as

I made my way to the back of the store for the 50% off section.

In my quest to get my State Fair scarf started I wanted to find the ultimate yarn, and it was waiting for me on the sale shelves. I got this beautiful yarn for $2.00 a skein!

Steven expertly answered my questions and posed for a picture in his Rosemont shop. You can get more info at http://www.yargarage.com/.

Went Crazy With the Hats

Here are some of the hats I made on the trip, and by the pool!!

Some for the kids and some for the dolls...

Knitting by the Pool

I still seem to be in vacation mode. Moving slowly and not getting back my sense of direction very quickly.

On our trip I made many many hats with the purple Lopi yarn I got for such a bargain at Herrschners.

Ahh, the pool! Thanks R&B&J&K&TJ for being such great hosts!

Time to Get Serious

OK, we are back from vacation. Now it is time to get serious.

First, finish the prototype of the black horse. I know it is hard to see, but oh how I can learn from my mistakes.

Second, buy fun yarn for the real thing. My kid #5, who will be sporting the scarf once the fair is over wants purple. I, however, am hoping for something a bit closer to a REAL horse color.

Third, get started! August 16th will come fast.