Holli Yeoh Knits

The summer has flown by and school has already started. It’s time to write my summer vacation report. Besides working on the new website design and logo I actually had some time to have a little fun too.

In July we drove down the Oregon coast for our summer vacation. I had grand plans to do a lot of knitting and brought a lot of yarn with me. But, for the most part, the roads were too twisty for me to knit in the car, our days were filled with fun and my evenings were spent with my computer in my lap working on the website. I did complete one project and it was mostly out of necessity! You can see me knitting in the background while Devan plays bingo.

While we had sunny skies most of the time on the coast, the weather was decidedly chilly and very windy. I was cold and I needed a scarf! I knit up a Handmaiden scarf kit using two strands held together. One is a silk boucle and the other is a laceweight kid mohair. Nice flash of colour at the neck and it did the job keeping me warm.

I also started a toe-up knee-high sock design I’ve been playing with. Most of the knitting occurred on the last day in the car because we were on a nice straight road. I knit well into the night until I dropped a stitch and couldn’t see to fix it.

We visited many beaches, looked in tidal pools, saw whales and many other sites.

The Oregon Coast Aquarium in Newport was a real treat. The brochure featured a knitting crab working on her sixth toe-up sock. I searched high and low for her at the aquarium, but no luck. We did see jelly fish and other amazing creatures.

In August Devan and I went to visit my parents in Edmonton. We had glorious sunny days. We went rented paddle boats in Hawrelak Park and I managed to get in a bit of knitting while Devan and his GranDad chased ducks.

The Fringe Theatre Festival was going on while we were in Edmonton and we saw some fabulous plays. I managed to knit quite a bit on my knee-sock in the dark. The street performers provided great entertainment and Devan was thrilled with his balloon sword.

All in all, we had a great summer! 

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?

Saturday was World Wide Knit in Public day. Devan (with is knitting spool), Nigel and I ventured out to the grassy area adjacent to Kits beach to participate. I was surprised at how few knitters I knew at the event. I’m the president of the West Coast Knitters’ Guild and we have quite a large membership - over 90 knitters. There were just a handful of as at this event. The wonderful thing was to see the non-guild knitters out at this event and touch base with them.

Now time for a little name dropping … attending the event were:

Kim Werker, editor of Interweave Crochet and who has more links than one person needs! Find her here, here, here, here, here, here, and here!   

Rachel who you can see here and here - thanks Rachel for sponsoring the event! It was a great turnout.

Chrissy who’s started a new knitting podcast.

Talented Miss Ripley who was a pleasure to talk to.

I met Barbara who works at my closest LYS and I didn’t even know it!

Knit Knigel, step-father extraordinaire and great guy to pal around with. He’s just changed his blog name and I must update the link in the side bar.

Paulette, past president of the Guild who has an amazing wealth of knitting knowledge and contacts. She was working on two socks using Opal Zebra.

Marjorie, another Guild member who ran off to the driving range - it was such a beautiful day.

Heather was wearing a stunning Clapotis. You know, I don’t think I have ever seen one in person!

There were many more people there, but I didn’t catch their names.

I hadn’t really realised it, but I’ve been knitting with circular needles almost exclusively for a few years now. I love my Addi Turbos. That’s all fine and dandy until I can’t find the right sized circular needle in my stash. I swear I have a 2 ¾ mm circular needle - or do I? At any rate, I pulled out a pair of straights and boy, do I find them cumbersome. I can’t throw the project easily into my bag when I’m on the go. The needles keep hitting the arms of the plastic chairs at the swimming pool when Devan has his lessons. I just don’t like them. I realised that while I was knitting in public, I actually felt somewhat embarrassed for using the straight needles! When did that happen? I guess the circs just seem so much more streamlined and refined now.

Finally last night I finished the last piece of the sweater that needs a 2 ¾ mm size. Now it’s just the blocking and finishing left to do.

I’m working feverishly on completing as many samples in the yarn that I carry as possible for the upcoming Victoria Fibre Festival and Knit-Out. Yes, it’s confirmed. I’m attending again this year and the dates are June 20 to 22nd. I’ll be teaching two workshops (scroll down to find them) on the Saturday at Boutique de Laine in Oak Bay. On the Sunday, I’ll be selling kits and patterns at the Knit-Out in Saxe Point Park in Esquimalt. I hope to see you there!

My needles have been flying lately and it’s going to be a long haul flight!  I have a merchant table at the upcoming Victoria FibreFest and Knit-Out on June 10 at Saxe Point Park in Esquimalt on Vancouver Island.  I’m taking my patterns, kits and yarn to sell at the Knit-Out.  Many of my samples are in yarns that are now discontinued or that I don’t carry.  It’s time to knit some fresh samples in colourways that I can offer people, so that means lots of knitting between now and then.

The weather in Vancouver is finally allowing me to knit outdoors, so here I am at Devan’s soccer practice last Friday.  By Friday night I had all the parts for the Aidan vest.  Just need to pull out the blocking board before finishing it up.

Saturday night I cast on for a new Kieran in a fresh green with a pretty blue, pink and green self-patterning.  I just now finished the back - 24 hours later.  I had lots of opportunity today to knit while at a Guild executive meeting, then later tonight while visiting after we had my Dad over for his birthday dinner.