Holli Yeoh Knits

With the end of a school year and a new one around the corner, it’s a time for growth. I always feel the anticipation of new beginnings at this time of year - especially after a lazy, hazy summer. This summer I am not so lazy, but working hard towards those new beginnings.

I’m changing my business name from Bee’s Knees Knits to Holli Yeoh. For the past couple of months I’ve been working hard on design briefs, interviewing graphic artists and web designers and more recently collaborating with them. It’s really starting to come together.

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the preliminary logo sketches and a little snippet of the final logo.

My deadline is not the start of the school year but earlier - the plan is to coincide the relaunch of my website with when the Fall Vogue Knitting hits the newsstands in August. I was interviewed last Spring and will be featured in the “Made in Canada” column of the upcoming issue. I want to be wearing my Sunday best when people come calling to check out my website.

The last week of school went by in a blur. There were lots of school activities in the last week or so. Devan’s school had a crazy hair day and you know, I’ve always wanted to give him a mohawk, so I pulled out the clippers and buzzed the sides of his head.

His mohawk was still standing when I picked him up at the end of the day. (Devan’s striking his Guitar Hero pose here.) The next day, the kids kept asking him why he still had a mohawk. They didn’t seem to understand that his hair was cut that way. We’ve since been to the barber for Devan’s very short summer haircut.

I went into D’s class one afternoon in the last week of school to show the kids how to felt wool. We had fun making little felted balls. I was really pleased with how interested and eager they were. Mind you, it could have been because they had fun making a very soapy mess in one corner of the classroom. At least the desks and floor were quite clean by the time we mopped it all up. I’ll definitely talk to the teacher next year about doing more fibre related projects in the classroom.

The last day D’s school had a B-B-Q scheduled and it was freezing! “This is June people - time for some summer weather,” is what I was thinking. Well, by the weekend it was lovely - beach weather, in fact. We are so lucky to have a number of beaches right in the centre of the city.

Yesterday I went to Granville Island for a visit with my good friend Carmen who was one of the artisans in the Public Market that day. Our visiting was sporadic which was good for Carmen - that means there were lots of interested customers …

… like devilish Danny in his new Devil hat.  How cute is he?!

While I was waiting for Carmen I managed to finish off a pair of socks. Project specs later when I get a picture of them on my feet - and yes, they’re for me!

I love the walk to Granville Island. There’s a community garden along the old railway tracks and at this time of year it’s just beautiful with all sorts of flowers.

Carmen wrote a list of her favourite things about Granville Island in a recent blog post. Let’s see if I can come up with 10 things too, in no particular order:

• the inspiration I derive from all the great artisans selling in the Public Market and on the island

• gloriously fresh produce - especially all my summer favourites (berries, cherries, peaches, nectarines, …)
• Maiwa now carries yarn! (although it doesn’t appear to be available on their website yet)
• creative and thoughtful fine craft at Crafthouse (where I used to sell my jewellery when I was a jeweller) run by the Crafts Association of British Columbia
• the ball machine commissioned by Ocean Concrete

• watching Devan play at the waterpark (this photo was taken when he was two)
• the great programming at the False Creek Community Centre
• the Indian food at Curry 2 U in the Public Market

• meeting friends (especially Beth and Lucy) for a visit and play
• the Granville Island ferry rides

Upon rereading Carmen’s list, I see we enjoy many of the same things. What do you enjoy about Granville Island?

I was so busy assembling kits, dealing with last minute details (like buying a second-hand tent) and knitting furiously before the Victoria Knit-Out that I didn’t have a chance to share with you the final specs on some of the samples I finished (and didn’t finish ;-)) for the weekend. As they appear from top to bottom of the pile …

I started this Avery pullover ages ago and managed to finish up the corrugated ribbing for the neckline and shoulder placket. The blues in this colourway will look wonderful with a pair of jeans.

Project Stats
Pattern: Avery by me - pattern available from Holli Yeoh or ask at your LYS.
Yarn: Opal Petticoat (1293) and Opal Uni Dark Blue (1269)

I showed this sweater to you earlier. Chloë is a sweet little cardigan with interesting visual texture in the reverse stocking stitch ridges. In this design, I let the yarn dictate what stitch pattern to use next. It’s fun to swatch with a new self-patterning yarn and see what you come up with.

Kieran is one of my favourite sweaters I designed for my son. I loved seeing him wear this design when he was younger. I just might have to upsize it for this coming winter. Maybe I’ll even make it in this colourway - I love the golden highlights and the hint of mauve in some of the striping.

Project Stats
Pattern: Kieran by me and available for purchase at Holli Yeoh or ask for it at your LYS.
Yarn: Opal Elements 1073 and Opal Uni Mocha (1416)

I cheated a bit with this Lucy cardigan. My Mum knit it for me. (Thanks Mum!) It looks just great in these bright orange colours and received a lot of attention at the Knit-Out. I first chose this colourway to knit a pair of the Guess Who? gloves for Devan. Once I saw it knit up, I knew it would look great as a sweater too.

Project Stats
Pattern: Lucy by me and available for purchase at Holli Yeoh or ask for it at your LYS.
Yarn: Opal Hundertwasser (1430) with Opal Uni Orange (6) and Red (10).

Even though I didn’t get a chance to finish this JoJo cardigan, the colourway is so wonderful that it helped me sell it anyways. I had my work in progress sitting out on the table and it received more attention than many of the finished samples. I just love the strong jewel tones paired with black. Someone said it was like a stained glass window.

All of these are available as kits. Email or leave a comment if you’re interested. They will make their way to the website sooner or later if I don’t sell them first.