HRYC

There really is nothing like a Malabrigo yarn cuddle. It is a feast - of both colour and softness.

As Ellie so eloquently put it:

And our shelves are groaning with the weight of Malabrigo in sock, sport (arroyo) and worsted (rios) weights. Here's a peek....

Sunset & Solis in Rios ($23/100g skein)

Arroyo in l-r Candombe, Vaa and Glitter ($32/100g skein)

Arroyo in l-r Prussia Blue, Indiecita, Plomo ($32/100g skein)

We don't have Malabrigo in often and it never lasts long - some colours are almost sold out already. If you haven't had a 'Malabrigo experience' - come by for a cuddle. It will change your life!

xx tash

It is a bit odd to compose a blog post on a Thursday night between the hours of 7 and 9. Usually, I'd be perched on a chair, chatting and knitting.

But, tonight.

I had an email during the week letting me know a car load of knitters would be heading out from town. A couple other emails and a phone call had me bringing cushions from home so that people wouldn't be uncomfortable....

As you can see, it's a bit busy. And there's more people *behind* me in this photo

And as I hate to turn anyone away, from next week we'll also have a lounge upstairs to cater for anyone and everyone that would like to hang out, meet new people, knit, chat, drink tea and eat LOTS of cake.

The best part of Holland Road is far and away all the people - it's an absolute pleasure to meet you all - to get excited over your projects, squish your yarn, and puzzle over problems. And, of course, share all sorts of knitting and life-related gossip.

There's going to be a new blog post series that features you, the customer. So if I smile at you oddly, and ask sweetly, please say yes - to answer some questions and take some photos. That way everyone can get to know everyone, and it will be wonderful.

xx Tash

GAH.

It all started last night, when I finished this pair of socks:

(YES. A PAIR! Who would have thought.)

There is a ball of Malabrigo Persia that has been burning a hole in my stash for, oh, FOREVER. Immediately after finishing the crazy stripy socks (started at least 6 months ago), I want to knit it into a pair of beautiful, lacy socks. So I pull out a couple of the sock books I have at home, and have a leisurely browse. Not finding quite the right pattern, I open up Ravelry.

MISTAKE.

So many beautiful things to knit, not enough time. This year is all about making my life easier, more organised, less stressful. Deciding at a whim to start a new project - well, having lots of WIPs all over the shop isn't exactly a life of simplicity and harmony. The fewer decisions I have to make about what to knit, the better.

Which leads me to the point. The magical, splendid idea that is the Ravelry queue.

Here is my queue. Look at it, please. Because I am going to knit each and every item on the queue as it stands this year. With you as witness.

The rules:

1. I can have one garment and one accessory on the needles at a time.

2. There can be no more than 2 WIPs (work in progress) at any one time

3. The 2012 dress project is the exception - it will be going all year so doesn't count.

Totally manageable, right?

RIGHT.

First project is Manu. The yarn is Cascade 220 sport, which has been sitting in the stash for freaking ages a long time.

Manu by Kate Davies (click on the image to go to the pattern)

This shall be cast on today (hooray!). There's a sock design that must be finished before Interlocking Leaves is cast on, but it shouldn't take long to finish.

I'm excited! Would you like to join me in the Queue Project? There's a thread on Ravelry to keep me honest. I may need cheerleaders.

Hello!

I am so crazy excited for 2012. Is that silly? There are so many exciting things on the horizon. Including a MEGA shipment of Malabrigo...mmmm Malabrigo.

In the meantime, the shop is open again on Thursday - hooray! I'm so looking forward to hanging in the shop again. It's been wonderful to have some time away to refocus - but now my hands are itching to get back in there and hang out with lots of great people.

And what better way to start the year than with a sale? Yep, that's right - a SALE! I'll pop details up tomorrow.

So, tell me: what have you been up to over Christmas/New Year? Do you see 2012 in with a pop of fizz?

x tash