New pattern!

 Yes! I have a new pattern!

No! It's not the one I've been working on for weeks!

While the sweater pattern is in time out - it knows what it did - I got curious about one of the One Shot yarns I brought in from Gathering Yarn. It is 250m (100g) of 100% 16.5 micron merino and it is aptly named Soft. Even though it is technically a dk weight yarn (#3 for those of you who follow the American numbering system), it's lofty spin works up beautifully on a 6mm needle to create an Aran weight (#4) fabric (17s x 26r = 4"/10cm). Its rich watermelon stripes told me they wanted to be a cowl or a hat so I obliged and worked a garter cowl first, then a 7" tall beanie, which was closely followed by a 9" tall toque - all from ONE CAKE of this limited edition yarn!

*n.b. the toque fits my 23" noggin. The beanie fits almost every other woman I know. After this picture was taken, I reworked it because one of the hats has to be 'Without Seeds'.

After posting the pictures of the finished pieces on Facebook, I immediately got asked for the pattern. Within 12 hours, the pattern was written and less than 8 hours after that, I sold the first pattern on Ravelry. The pattern is named With or Without Seeds and it only costs $5.00 for all three pieces. I would link the yarn to Ravelry but since I am the only store with stock, the supplier chose not to add it to the database. I can, however, link you to Soft on my website so that you can get some before I run out of stock myself.

Now, on to the pop up store.

The next two weeks are going to be a little different. I'm showcasing novelty yarns on one side of the  RV. These include furry yarns from a number of different suppliers as well as some lacey/fabric 'yarns', all of which are great for trims or as stand-alone pieces. The opposite side of the RV is catering to my chainmaille customers! I brought kits and tools that are great for beginners or for someone who left all their supplies at home and needs a new project while camping. I have also brought along more knitting tools and accessories as well as my exclusive Crafty Lady patterns.

Remember - I can't bring everything in the pop up store every week, so if you want something and it is not in the list here, order it online or request I bring it so you can buy it in person. Just don't expect same day delivery for those items at least until after 4pm.

written by Lori, happy TCL owner, who can't wait to get back to that elusive sweater pattern. It will not beat me!

Designing

 Sometimes in the pop up store, between customers, I get lost in designing. Sometimes it's a knitting or crochet pattern I'm working on. Other times, it's a newer, better way to display or store the product in the RV. Whichever it is, there are times I almost miss the sound of a vehicle pulling up outside. Almost.

One day last week, during the torrential downpour, I figured I probably wouldn't have any customers but, to paraphrase Field of Dreams - "If I park it, they will come." There is no point having a permanent parking place for people to find the store and then just randomly not show up one day. Nevertheless, I hunkered down in my spot at LPAC, set up my little table and chair in the 'showroom' and proceeded to write out the newest incarnation of the pattern I'm working on. (I am on version number three 'cos I keep tweaking it. Still haven't completed a single sweater even though I have been more than halfway through at least five times. To be honest, I've lost count.) I hadn't noticed that the rain had all but subsided, but I did hear the sound of tires on wet gravel. Did I tell you that I can tear down my workspace in 30 seconds flat? Even store it away in the shower before a customer makes it to the door!

My only customer of the day made her purchase and, before leaving, commented on the amount of storage potential I had over the cab. Now I am blessed with a mind that can visually manipulate spaces prior to actually measuring, etc. and had envisioned a number of different storage scenarios above the cab utilizing things I already had from the brick and mortar store. But she mentioned Ikea. I've also thought of Ikea products but I've also seen the prices of some of their designer storage containers. She left and I whipped out my handy dandy phone and pulled up my Ikea app. Don't judge me, I know you have it on your phone too. 😉

I immediately abandoned my pattern, grabbed the measuring tape and started searching storage solutions. I don't think I will do it any time soon, but I think I found a really inexpensive solution from Ikea to put almost ALL my product in the RV. I'm not sure the motorhome could handle that much weight but it would fit!

Thankfully my Fitbit encourages me at 10 minutes to every hour to go for however many steps it would take to make 250 steps that hour otherwise I would have been sitting designing long into the evening (or until Mom called to find out why I'm not home for supper). So I packed up and headed home.

written by Lori, TCL owner who is thankful the yarn offerings don't change until next week, so I have a little more time for designing this week.

The 'Blogmaster' Took a Day Off

I would suggest you don't believe everything you read except that I actually did take off Saturday after the Rimbey Market to take Mom to Camrose to visit her sister. Normally, that time would be used to strip the RV bare in order to fill it back up on Sunday. So, even though I worked hard Sunday in order to clear out the old and bring in the new stock, I still had plenty to do on Monday - which became my Sunday because I took Saturday off. That means I was too preoccupied to realize that I hadn't 'blessed' you with my weekly ramblings. Lucky you ;)

The theme for this week's yarn offerings is Canadian sourced yarn.

Gathering Yarns is a company out of BC and they supply me with both Canadian and Italian sourced natural fibres.

Estelle Designs calls Ontario home and they have their own brand of yarn as well as supplying other brands such as King Cole - both of which will be in the store this week.

Katia is a well-known brand that is supplied by both of these companies. Again, lucky you!

A trio of smaller, independent Canadian companies that will have a few offerings in the pop up store are Zen Yarn Gardens, Sweet Paprika and Ancient Arts. If I had more room in the RV, I would have also brought Dewedlebug Merino roving again. This particular company is as local as they can get. The owners walk to the pop up store when they need something. :)

written by Lori, happy TCL owner, who appreciates a day off more if I remember what day comes after it.

Heritage Day Monday

Just a quick reminder that this Monday is

a holiday here in Alberta and

the pop up store

will not be making an appearance at

the Lacombe Performing Arts Centre.

Little by Little

Well, it's the sixth week up and running, and the pop up store continues to undergo improvements. The front wall (behind the cab) is now capable of many different faces. The current face is an improvement upon last week's face because the pegboard has been replaced by grid wall, allowing more light to shine through.

And when it is not accommodating hanging skeins, I can create more cubbies by using my SKUBB hanging storage units (affectionately known as body bags) to house more yarn balls and donuts. (No picture of that yet but it's coming - someday.)

So what yarn is the pop up store offering this week? Because it was a short week last week, I am bringing the same yarn this week. If you missed it, there is Berroco Modern Cotton, Weekend, Vintage (all three weights), Comfort dk, Comfort Sock and Fiora. Also King Cole Big Value Chunky and dk, Estelle Worsted and Gathering Yarns Hayne's Creek, Alpaca Sport, Big Buzz and Merino Chunky. Universal Uptown Worsted and Baby Sport, Cascade Anthem, James C. Brett Amazon, Peter Pan Petite Fleur and Katia Cotton Stretch have also come along for the ride. And of course, all the knitting needles and crochet hooks in sets and individual packages.

You didn't know so much could fit into such a small space, did you?

written by Lori, TCL owner, who loves artfully cramming massive amounts of stock into tiny little spaces.

The Ongoing Saga of the Pop Up Store

I got so excited last week about being able to let everyone know that I had been granted a permanent weekday parking spot at the Lacombe Performing Arts Centre and that it was effective immediately, I neglected to (initially) remember and then let you all know that I won't be there THIS Monday, July 20, because of an appointment I had booked for the RV over a month ago. If it is an easy fix, I could be back in my spot Tuesday morning. If not, I will keep you posted, daily, on the Facebook page.

Speaking of Facebook pages, I made the Rimbey Farmer's Market Facebook page as one of their Vendors of the Week! The small blurb and the pictures were awesome! And the response to the post was tangible - people came and not only squished the yarn but purchased it too because of that post. 😊

So, this week's yarn offering is going to be solids and tonals (because hand dyed's are rarely fully solid) in a number of different fibres from cotton to wool to acrylic and blends. There will be no buttons and shawl pins this week so that I can have more hooks and needles. Woohoo! Hope to see you early in the week at LPAC and should definitely see you at Rimbey on Saturday.

written by Lori, tired TCL owner, who's in for a long week this week.

Three Posts in ONE WEEK?!

Hey everyone,

As you saw in the last blog, The Crafty Lady pop up store now has a permanent spot during the week at the Lacombe Performing Arts Centre. My first day was this past Wednesday, July 15. I was so excited to get started that I completely forgot that the RV had a checkup scheduled for this coming Monday, July 20.

If it is an easy fix, I will be back at LPAC on Tuesday. If it is not, I will post daily on Facebook until I am able to return restocked and ready to sell.

So if you had already planned your day trip to fondle the yarn, I apologize if this messes up your plans but it would have been much worse if you had driven all those miles just to think that I was punking you all this time. 😉

Remember - check FB for updates so you can be sure I'll be there when you are.

written by Lori, currently scattered TCL owner, who just needs a chance to breathe.