Yarn friendly knitting totes, bags, and needle cases.
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Man about Town
Jul 4th
While in Atlanta Hank had several encounters with lovely people and saw many differnt and diverse places.
Hank and I visited Knitch. There we meet lovely women who have some very, very rad tattoos. They were also super impressed with all of the Erin.Lane products that I showed them. And, since I didn’t see a knitting tote or needle case in the store, I am hoping they are in the market for a bag company. That would be me, please. Them maybe Hank can have some more playmates.
Next, Hank wanted to ride a scooter. However, his legs wouldn’t reach. He was upset, so I consoled him with lunch.
Next we went to Bloomingdales to return a dress my sister had purchased. It was a lovely dress, but it just did nothing for her figure. So sadly we had to take it back. It was there that Hank met a lovely Furla bag. I think she was totally into him and wanted to go out, but Hank already has a lady friend–Harriet.
Finally, we had to stop by Sam Flax for a few art supplies for the studio and for some retailers. It was a nice place and Hank had a good time looking at all the pretty colors. He even met some of his kin, in the Jacquard Acid Dyes section. We waved and chatted for a little bit, but we had to head on to the task at hand.
After the long day we went home to Tracy’s and waited for the A/C repair man. Hank was very warm and therefore refused to have his picture taken. He didn’t want anyone to see him “un-done.”
Worked to Death…
Jun 22nd
As if it’s not hot as the hinges of hell, Lindsey has been cracking the whip on my back all day. I first stepped into the studio at 9:00 this morning and what time is it now? 9:00 PM!! Yes PM. That’ s 12 hours thank you. Just finished another Ultimate (she’s on an Ultimate tear here) and now she’s got me blogging. Yes, this is my very first, ever blog. My family is so proud. It’s only a year or less ago that I had to ask what a blog was. Now here I am. Lindsey’s off to Atlanta with her hubby tomorrow. Maybe I’ll play hooky — but NOOOOOOO. She’ll catch me for sure. Here I will stay; cutting , sewing and ribboning for the knitters of the world.
Free at Last, Free at Last…
Jun 11th
The school year is officially over, and I have had several days to sleep in and recuperate from the hectic and stressful year. Though I will miss many of my students as they go on to high school, I know that they will come back to see me on open house nights, so not all is lost.
After all the field trips, assemblies, play performances, and movie parties, I survived and have all my hair! It’s a miracle.
To celebrate the end of the school year and the beginning of summer, I have decided to have a little Etsy sale. Starting today and going until the 1st of July, everything in the shop will be 10% off the listed price.
This would be a great opportunity to stop shoving your knitting needles in a drawer and start getting them organized.
This will help you stop spending money on needles and allow you to put that 18 dollars for that pair of Addi’s into your next project!
Check the shop regularly. Since I am out of school the sewing machine never gets a day off. There will be a lot of new things listed everyday! I hope there is something for everyone, and like always, if you have a specific request, let us know. We will do what we can to make it a reality…
The May Day Flood in Nashville
May 5th
For the first time in a long time, I was glad I didn’t live in the Nashville basin area. The flooding hit hard and fast and many people lost everything.
We weathered the flood with little incident. I was at my mom’s house and while we were watching the weather for a tornado warning, I noticed the following and took a picture.
Those would be my mom’s neighbor’s taking a boat ride in the river that formed during the flood in my mom’s back yard.
Other than that we survived with little incident. And since it rained so hard, I got 2 days off of school since roads were not safe for buses. During that time, mom and I were able to design and produce the newest product for Erin.Lane. We finally have something for DPNs or crochet hooks. It rolls up quite nicely. Check out our store for pictures.
However, the thing that I think gets me is that Nashville didn’t make any national news. None. Not one mention of the people evacuated by boat, the contaminated water supply, nothing. I know why. Its quite simple. I am a proud member of the volunteer state. We see a problem and everyone does just that, we volunteer.
No one whined, no one complained. We just pitched in, cooked, cleaned out closets, offered guest rooms. It is sad to me that in all the horrible things going on in our world, no one stopped to say, “Look, here are people who help those who need it. Here is the American spirit alive and well. This is why this is a great nation.” God knows we could use that little boost, but I guess that doesn’t get ratings.
Here is a picture from the Boston Globe Big Picture. I use this at school, and thought it was really cool, that Nashville made the news even if it was just one place other than home.
A Challenged Proposed and Defeated
Mar 8th
We have finished the Ulitmate. The only KnitPack you will ever need. Having done a little market research, thanks to the friends at Bliss Yarns who are always willing to give a helpful opinion, and my dear friend in Chattanooga who was willing to see what others (her knitting groups, yes plural) had to say, we have learned a lot about the Ultimate and fret not we are listening. That being said you would probably be pleased to know that since March is National Craft Month, we are going to be having a sale in the Etsy store. However, that is another blogpost for another time….check back soon.
While at the fabulous Bliss Yarns, we were asked, nay, challenged to compete with a big wig in the knitting organization industry. I won’t mention any names, but this company, in my opinion is our only competion, and we have her beat HANDS DOWN! We have listened to what others have to say about the problems in those products and have fixed them. But I digress,
The challenge, create a bag that is ideal for small project storage and organization, say for a pair of socks. The catch was that, get this it wasn’t lined. There were raw edges everywhere. For those of you out there who don’t sew, you need to know that that is not ideal by any stretch of the imagination. I start thinking and talking to mom and low and behold we decide that raw edges are just so NOT erin.lane.
After a Sunday, by the way, coupon commotion is going on pretty much all month at JoAnn’s, spent shopping at our favorite craft store, see previous, we have to track down an essential to our sewing party. For this item, we have to drive into Franklin from Murfreesboro which takes at least 30 minutes. We start talking about the possibilities about how to make said Challenge Bag. We are sure we have it down, we know the dimensions, and we are thrilled to get home and get started.
When we arrive home, we make dinner, and get started. It was a little slow going, but we did come up with something totally and completely GENIUS! Our new little drawstring project bag solves all the problems generally “dealt with” from other project bags. Not to mention it is totally and completely ADORABLE!
This is the answer to the challenge. It is a roomy 12 inches X 12 inches. It is perfect for shawls or socks, or hats. Things you wouldn’t want to get picked or tossed about. However, the best part is that this bag is completely lined in 100% unbleached cotton fabric. It is neat and tidy inside to make sure that your yarn or project doesn’t pick up any extra threads from fraying raw edges. It also means that you can wash this bag if need be, other bags, where you see the raw edges, I would be careful as the agitation of your washing machine could make it fray. Icky.
Also, as with all erin.lane products, because we are knitters we think like knitters. I can say with a good deal of certitude that I would not want my sock needle to poke through a drawstring bag possibly pushing my patterned sock off the needles and throwing off my row count and making my life a living nightmare. Because of this, we actually tested to see if you can push a sock needle though out bag as apposed to the people we were challenged to “give a run for her money.” It is extremely hard to poke a sock needle though our bag, not so much with the unlined bag that we are challenged to create.
Also, because we LOVE, LOVE, LOVE grosgrain ribbon, we looked at the problem with the drawstring coming open.
Solution: grosgrain ribbon. We couldn’t just let the grosgrain be all black with nothing else to jazz up the fabric, so we also added the colored grosgrain ribbon on exterior. With that epiphany we wanted to sew one up immediately. I have to say, I think it was a total success. I have to say I am happy with the way it has worked out.
I think the part I like best is the fact that it is completely lined. It really helps you see your project no matter what color it is. I have to say it was definitely a success. Not to mention I think it is a way better designed bag than the competition. Also, I have to say that I would be lieing if I said I would be happy carrying the other bag as apposed to this one. It really comes down to the fact that I don’t want to make a bag or needle case that I wouldn’t carry or buy myself. 
Friends, Fiber, and Fabric
Feb 21st
Today was a wonderful day. I was able to hang out with two of the most amazing people I have had the pleasure to meet. Here is the rundown in no specific order. I love both of these people they are amazing.
Person 1: She is so giving with her talent and her heart I am blessed to have met her though person 2. She dyes BEAUTIFUL yarn that makes me want to knit so much it is painful. (especially since I have an Olympic knitting sweater) She has recently gotten a job after a long stint of unemployment and it is in a yarn store, (color me SUPER jealous.) This soon to be yarn store owner has really caught one great worker. She got the job and immediately started promoting my little sewing shop that you all know and love. Since she was in town and we got to hang out, I sent her back home to Chattanooga with samples of our products to show her boss. She is confident that it will be a big hit. Not only that, she loves what I made her as a thank you for getting me the connection. It was easy to make and was a joy to put together for someone so amazing.
While she was here in town, she got excited about the possibility of us doing what can only be refered to as a Marvel Teamup. She dyes yarn, I know I am repeating myself, and she love my project bags, so because she is amazing, she has not only given me several ideas for new products, but she wants to sell my bags with her yarn in both of our Etsy shops. She is getting in new base, and with her newly purchased green bucket which was a total steal, and after she fills an order for our lovely little local yarn store, she wants to join forces for the ultimate fiber fanatic’s dream. She wants to dye yarn based on the fabrics I use in the bags and KnitPacks. I can’t wait to get started.
As if that wasn’t enough, she also has connections EVERYWHERE and is getting Erin.Lane into several stores she knows the owners of. I mean, hello, this woman has been knitting for 4 and a half years. Clearly she is passionate about fiber.
Person 2: Is one of my best friends. She is the reason I know person 1 whom she meet through Ravelry. Proof that the internet is all about bringing together people in good ways for good reasons. She was not only introduced me to person one, she helped her get into contact with me so that we could get together on the Etsy-marvel team up. Also, she is one of the most amazing knitters I have ever met. She is one of the most intrepid people I know. She sees a knitting pattern, whether she knows how to do it or not, she tries it and always always succeeds. She knits all the time and everything she makes is beautiful.
Not only that, I like what she knits so much, I stalk her ravelry queue, and generally copy her projects. I know I am lame, but she is, for lack of a better term, my muse.
What makes this day so awesome, was not only did I get to spend time with literally 2 of my favorite people, but I was able to knit on my Olympic Knitting Project. They helped me stay on task on it and encouraged me to keep going. Also, we ate a delicious meal and enjoyed the time with friends. We all also knit in public. It was one of the best lunches I have had in a long time.
I have to say, with all of the things that have been going on in my life, sewing, knitting, teaching, grading, blogging, and a million other things. It was the first time in a long time that I got to have a real day “off”. Generally I spend all of my weekend time knitting for someone, sewing for the shop, or even just blogging.
It was so nice to finish sewing several FABULOUS samples for a friend who is doing so much for me, and then have lunch with them, and go knitting at our local yarn store, then spend time just enjoying knitting and chatting with friends.
So ladies, you know who you are, just know that I am so thankful to know you both and be able to be a part of your lives. Thank you for being there for me when I break down, and always being there for me when I need a ever common opinion on something I am sewing. Also, thank you for helping me take a little time off today I needed it.
Visit our Etsy store!
Dec 22nd
We’re rebuilding our website on Wordpress. Until we have more here to share with you, please visit our Etsy store.