Last Minute

If you're still trying to crank out gifts by next week, I have a few options.

We've discussed Laura Irwin's designs in the past.  Her work is amazing, she is a Portlander, and she is one of the sweetest people you will ever meet.  She has complied several of her newest designs in Softwaves.  Four of the five are knit with super bulky wool, so you could probably crank out one of each in the next seven days.

The book features the Textured Marbled Beret (on the cover), the Snail Twist Headband and Cowl, the Pivot Ruffle Cloche, and the Softwaves Magnum Cowl.  Sally has fresh batches of Cascade Lana Grande and Cascade Magnum in the shop this week, which will work beautifully for all but the Pivot Cloche.

If you need even easier and faster, please join the club and make the Garter Gaiter from The Purl Bee.  Ann and Jenni have each produced one, and they are both great.  The one above is made with Debbie Bliss Paloma, and Jenni used Cascade Baby Alpaca Chunky in red and grey (photos on our Facebook page).  The pattern is free, you'll need one skein of each color, and the knitting is super easy.  You could even start and finish one on the plane or in the car.  Seriously.

In other news, Jenni is collecting hearts to mail to the community of Newtown, CT as part of the Hearts Across America movement (they have a Facebook page here).  Decorate a paper heart with art or words, and drop it off at the shop.  Jenni will send them off to Connecticut with the love and support of our community.  It's hard to know how to help in the wake of such tragedy, but this can't hurt.