Can you tell that working in a yarn shop is affecting my craft choices? On the one hand I’m furiously trying to use up my stash so I can excuse some fine purchases, on the other, I’m making samples for the shop to show off some of our extra yummy yarns.

I started the Sweetheart Paige Cardigan from Robyn Chachula’s book, Blueprint Crochet last Wednesday. We have a new yarn from Mirasol called Nuna, a wool/bamboo/silk blend,  and we were trying to think of a nice sample to work up in the yarn. As we were thumbing through the projects I told the owner, “I can knit you a sample, but I can’t do near as complex a sample as if I were to crochet it.” As much as I like knitting, it just doesn’t come as easy to me. So then I thumbed through the crochet books and saw this sweater, and we agreed that worked up, it might inspire the closet crocheters to come out and make a garment. I know there are lots of lovely crocheters at my shop, but there is also a heavy knitting focus. I like to show the customers what is possible with crochet, and this will be the perfect project for that.

So far, it’s been totally addictive. As of day 2 I had 7 large motifs made, after the weekend- it’s all pieced together– just needs blocking, edging, etc. Yummy cardigan, here I come!