The Thrifty Life

The Thrifty Life

By Jana

I’ve made a commitment this year to only add to my wardrobe if it’s something I have made or have purchased from a thrift store (shoes and underwear excepted). Most of the clothes sold in retail stores in the US have been made in factories overseas, many of them in Export Processing Zones that are run like a cross between sweatshops and antebellum cotton plantations, and I don’t want to contribute to that if it can be avoided. Luckily, most yarn manufactories are not badly run – and many of them contribute to their local economies in healthy ways – so I have no problem purchasing yarn from my local yarn store. (Well, I may have a problem, but it runs more toward an addiction, which is a topic for another day.) When I buy from a thrift store, I’m keeping an object out of the waste stream, and I’m helping out whatever charity the thrift store supports. I confess I also enjoy the thrill of finding something unexpected – it’s always a crap shoot. With just a little sewing skill, I can refashion clothes that don’t fit me into ones that do. Over the years I have found Spode china, clothes from Giorgio Armani, Jill Sander, and Issey Miyake, and an exact replica of the Pyrex bowls my mother used but that had disappeared after her death. And this past Saturday, I scored in a big way: a vintage dress form for only $50! I’ve been contemplating getting a dress form to help with my knitting and sewing, but was daunted by the price, so I was overjoyed to find this one. I’m thinking of naming her Tabitha, after the mother in A Prayer for Owen Meany whose dress form plays an important part in that novel.

Cold with a chance of freezing by guest blogger Annie

Cold with a chance of freezing by guest blogger Annie

Call me a wimp but I’m ready for spring. We haven’t had such a bad winter so far but I seem to be much more sensitive to it this year. I’m just tired of being cold all the time or being in public buildings that are so overheated I feel as if I’ve stepped into the Sahara.  I’ve never enjoyed the first few months of the year – the holidays are over, it’s cold and dark but this year I’m determined not to let the “grim” set in. I’ve decided to celebrate every day that it gets above freezing and there is no wind and also to look for reasons to get out of the house and forget the season. I’ve started a list and shared it below. I’d love to hear your methods for staying cheery in the midst of winter!

1.      Knit night – always good for inspiration 
2.    2^nd Saturday knitting – this month at Tree House 10am-noon   on the 12th 
3.      Cirque du Soliel in Rio Rancho at the Santa Ana Star Center 
4.       Matinee movies 
5.       Going to the dog park and watching them play – they don’t mind the cold! 
6.      Hot chocolate 
7.       Spinning group

New Year, New Knits! by guest blogger Annie

New Year, New Knits! by guest blogger Annie

Happy New Year. I hope your holiday was filled with all the things you want your year to include.

I spent the first day of the year doing a little of all my favorite things. Of course I started by casting on some new knits. A pair of socks were first as I didn’t have any in my “wait in line” knitting bag, then I moved on to casting on a sweater – or more precisely casting on again for the “Essential sweater dress”. I made the dress last summer but when I was finished it could have been a tent and I could not face ripping it so I packed it away to be forgotten. I stopped myself before I got crazy and cast on anything else and moved instead to the spinning wheel. I spun up a bobbin of some lovely Mountain Colors  BFL – if you spin you should check this out in the shop it’s really nice.

I spent some time reflecting on goals for the year – many of which involve knitting so I’ll share those.

1. Use Ravelry to track projects and stash

2. 24 pair of socks this year

3. Knit holiday gifts all year

4. Continue charity knitting

5. Organize the stash room!

6. Complete the first section of the Master Knitter program

That is quite a list on paper but I think it’s good to have goals and I need a little pushing every now & then. I wonder what all of you have planned for your knitting this year.

The shop is fully restocked with lots of great yarn – Cascade Highland in colors, Cascade Duo in colors, Kid Seta, 220, Venezia, and the list goes on and on. Stop by and pick yourself up a treat to keep you warm on these cold nights!