Post the CWA Kandos Gardens Fair, it’s time to put those needles hard to work. Over the last few weeks the temperatures have started to drop (although not by much most of the time as it remains usually sunny and very dry). But it’s been enough to cause a run on our hand knits and see yarn sales start to pick up.

I’ve had a few “projects” on the go that won’t see their way into the shop. I’ve knitted thank you warmers for Costa (and his Dad) for being such a great sport during our Gardens Fair. It would be hard to think what more he could have done whilst he was here – he covered so much territory with great enthusiasm with good spirits. So scarves, mitts and beanies are heading his way. All in Aussie wool – one set uses Alpaca from the very black ‘Tuxedo’ from Adagio Mills. There are very few mills left for processing wool in Australia, however Adagio have bucked the trend and opened a new mill in Orange last year. This yarn is my reward for participating in their highly successful Kickstarter campaign.

We always try to add to our house patterns at Convent and Chapel Wool Shop – these are patterns that highlight the yarn, stitch techniques or textures. Simple patterns that maximise effect and are great for a small project or gift – perfect holiday knitting. I’ve just finished a few trial ‘Jacob’s Ladder’ scarves in a simple ribbed lace of just four stitches repeat. It seems to work well with different blends of yarn and weights and will be a good addition to the shop.

It’s so tempting to want to knit everything- different brands, fibres and colours – I’m constantly dismayed by what I can’t fit into my days, although I can’t complain about a life filled with knitting, gardening, living in the country and working in a yarn store. The problem is there’s little I’d want to stop doing and everyone needs some sleep!

Next on the list are some baby clothes that Mum  requested as a gift. Whilst I won’t get to keep these in the shop, at least it will be good to try out some yarns and have a go at a few new baby patterns for the shop. We’re loving White Gum Wool for baby clothes and any of our sock yarns are so much more interesting that the old baby wool.

In the meantime, we’ve taken the desperate steps of removing some price tags from knits in the shop just so we have plenty of samples available for the knitters who prefer to make their own!

For now – back to the needles!