Year of Projects, Year 2: Ravellenics and Unveiling the Motif
This week I made progress towards two of my most challenging YOP goals.
My sister and I were able to decide on a motif for my mom’s milestone birthday blanket.
(Ignore the fold. It got a bit rumpled in my bag.)
We both had a really hard time choosing a motif, so I made a hybrid. My hybrid pattern uses the center and final row from Afghan #9 by Valerie Vandergriff with the cluster-y inner border from Crown Jewels by Melinda Miller.
You can see how the first Afghan #9 and Crown Jewels motif patterns relate to the final motif.
I picked the yarn, Cascade 220 Superwash, and my sister picked the color, Banana Cream.
Photo from Cascade Yarns website.
I special ordered a whole bunch of it from my LYS, Knitty City. I know that the top of the bedspread will be in this color and with this pattern, but I’m still deciding on whether the side drops will be in the same color and pattern. I’m going to wait until the 42 squares I need are finished and joined before even thinking about borders 
.
And now we interrupt this blog post with a customer service rant. You may remember that Knitty City is my favorite NYC yarn shop. I have five stories from this week to demonstrate why! My week started out on a high note – I was able to easily put in my special yarn order to Knitty City via email, and I received all responses via email in a timely fashion. This shows that the folks at Knitty City are not only responsive but also that they understand that if you send an email, you would likely prefer an email (not phone) response.
I spent most of the week in training for the Ravellenic Games, and I wanted to get a set of size 1 40″ circular needles in case I wasn’t able to get gauge with the needles I had at home. I had four bad customer service experiences at four different Manhattan yarn shops while trying to get a set of needles!
With size 2 needles, I was at 7.5 stitches per inch, and I was hoping for 8.
- I stopped at a new-to-me LYS after work on Tuesday. I arrived in the store to see three women knitting away feverishly in complete, perhaps tension-filled, silence. One looked up and said to let her know if I needed any help. The shelves were a mess and only partially full, and with all three women sitting on the same side of the table, it wasn’t easy to get access to the patterns located behind them. (I wasn’t looking for patterns, but you get my point.) There were very few notions in stock, but I decided to pick up some needle point protectors anyway. (Side note: I come from a family of entrepreneurs and run a small business myself, so I really try to support small businesses when possible.) It was only at this point that I realized that all three women actually worked there. When I mentioned I was looking for a specific needle size, no one offered to order it for me.
- After work on Wednesday, I decided to stop by a different LYS that usually has a broad selection of needle sizes. I didn’t see any 40″ circulars in the display, so I asked if they had size 1 in stock. After being asked about what type of needle I wanted (wood, metal, etc.), they realized they didn’t have any size 1 needles anyway. Again, no one asked if I would like them to order it for me and by now I was getting really down.
- I called a third LYS in another neighborhood and they told me they did have size 1 needles in stock. Unfortunately, due to commuting times, I wasn’t able to get there before closing. I decided to stop by the next day (Thursday), and went by about 25 minutes before their listed closing time. The shop was closed with the gate pulled down. And, of course, there was no sign indicating they had closed early.
- On Thursday morning, I had also emailed a fourth shop to see if they had size 1 needles in stock. After receiving no response by Friday morning, I stopped by this shop after running errands. The clerk asked, “Didn’t you call yesterday?” to which I responded that I had sent an email. Even though she knew someone was looking for this particular size, the woman didn’t know if the needles were in stock. So I waited while she looked through several disorganized piles of needles before determining there weren’t any in stock. Again, no one asked if I would like to order this size. And, about two hours after I got home, they left a voice mail in response to my email saying the needles weren’t in stock.
After all of this, I figured size 1 needles must be extremely rare. With only the slightest of hope, I dropped by Knitty City on the way home. Not only was I treated warmly, but there were FOUR different brands of size 1 40″ needles for me to choose from. I guess the moral of the story is just go to Knitty City every time and don’t even bother with the other places!
And now back to my YOP post . I did end up needing the size 1 needles to get gauge. I finally chose the Graphic pattern from Toe-Up 2-at-a-Time Socks
Unfortunately, my first several attempts at making this sock were disastrous. Let’s just say the combination of poor lighting in my apartment, the small needle size, and my lack of familiarity with knitting socks led to a few issues. Yesterday I restarted and things seem to be going much better now (perhaps because I have knit this very same section four times already?).
Not much to show for several hours of knitting...
...but at least it looks like a toe!
I’m not too confident that I’ll finish this pair before the end of the Ravellenic Games, but I really hope I do. Because I have the feeling that if I don’t, these will sit as a WIP until the 2014 Ravellenic Games.
I also forgot to declare how many motifs I wanted to make for the Games, so I couldn’t participate in the Modular Relay 
. Instead, I dug out stash wool that is over 1 year old, and decided to make more squares for the felted wool blanket I’m making for myself as part of the stashbusting event. I finished these three yesterday.
For more Year of Projects posts, visit Come Blog-a-long on Ravelry.
Yay for toes! And yay for Knitty City! I can’t say that I’ve been to every LYS in NYC but the non-KC ones have tended to make me feel unwelcome. It’s like they could smell that I was from across the River and therefore not wanted. I don’t like the layout of Knitty City (mostly because I’ve been there when it’s super crowded) but I love their customer service. I haven’t found an LYS here that I love as much, sadly.
That’s a bummer, Vanessa. Yes, Knitty City definitely gets cramped but I’ll take that over rudeness any day! (And people at those shops are rude to everyone!)
Love the socks and hope you get them complete in time. Love the choice of square and how you combined parts from different squares and the colour is wonderful. As regards the LYS stores, that would really grate on my nerves, customer service is a lacking point in a lot of stores and you would go out of your way to go to a store who had it, well thats imo, I think stick with Knitty City is the lesson learned here lol.
Haha, I definitely learned my lesson, Ruth! Thanks so much for your compliments.
I remember those Manhattan weeks! Happy you found your needles, sorry it was an unpleasant journey. Your toes look good
I would recommend the LYS I used to frequent, but as I’ve been gone for eight years at this point, I’m not sure it’s still open…
Quite a few shops have closed in the last few years, cleancup, so I wouldn’t at all be surprised if it was gone.
Your square is gorgeous! Love how you combined two to make what you wanted. Thanks for the review on Knitty City, I’ll be speniding a few days in Manhattan in the fall and was looking for another yarn shop to visit. I’ve added that to my “NYC Wish List” along with a stop at Purl Soho (right around the corner from my brother so very convenient
)
Definitely stop by Knitty City, Jen. Purl Soho is a nice shop but it is definitely pricey so save your pennies
.
I feel your pain about the wool shops, ggggrrrrr! Having been a shop manager, I know how hard I worked, and my staff worked to be attentive, it so annoys me when people don’t make the effort.
Your square choice is perfect, I’m so looking forward to seeing it in the making!
Go you! I must buy that book….but if i’m honest, I’m a little scared!
I agree, Faith. As my colleague at work always says, I shouldn’t be trying harder to buy something from you than you are to sell it to me! Thanks for your kind words on my square!
Rubbish, looks like my comment has been eaten!
In a nutshell
Bad customer service -ggggrrrrr!
Square choice-fab!
Socks-very impressed (feeling scared at the thought of attempting mine!)
Ha, ha….not been eaten….just hiding!
Your LYS-stories make me want to open up my own yarn shop! I would ALWAYS special order something if a customer came to me for it.
Yes, I will do it. Le Sweet Yarn Shoppe.
xo,
wink
They make me want to open my own yarn shop, too, wink!
I would think in these challenging times businesses would be bending over backwards in the customer service area…even if they couldn’t supply your needs..just trying to establish a relationship is terribly important to encourage the consumer to return!
The square and yarn choice is perfect..Mom is gonna be happy..it will be great to follow along as this happens..
That’s what I would think, too, mary. But it really seems that a lot of small businesses still haven’t figured out that customer service is key.
YAY for socks! I’m still skeert of 2 at a time despite years of sock knitting so I am in awe! The great size one needle hunt would have driven me mad, too, and is why I am a very very loyal customer at one LYS near me- great service every time!
That’s what I learned from it all, Suzy – just stick with the nearby place that has always been helpful!
Good grief, sounds like you had a really bad week for shopping :S It’s so frustrating, because lots of people will ONLY experience the bad LYS, assume that they’re much worse than the big box stores and not shop there in future. Like you, I shop consistently at independents that give good service but wow, it sounds like you’ve had a hunt to find one!
Love the motif you’ve designed – it definitely combines the best elements of your favourites, and looks like it should give you a light and warm bedspread. Look forward to seeing progress photos!
Thanks, Laura! I love my combo motif, too. LYSs in NYC are definitely… interesting. There is really a mixed bag in terms of customer service.
Great choice for the motif, it’s really nice! Complex enough to be special, but not so detailed that a whole blanket would be overpowering.
Your socks are looking great too, I hope you get them finished in time!
Thanks so much, Mnz!
I love the plans you have for your Mom’s bedspread. Beautiful patterns in those motifs. I am knitting my first pair of socks using the magic loop but cuff down and one sock at a time. It will take a long time as I tend to start over and over again! LOL! I love the yarn you’re using! Good luck!
I like to frequent local businesses too but the LYS and quilt shop here is so rude I shop online. It just amazes me that some of these places stay in business. They must be using them as tax shelters. LOL!
Glad you found a good one!
Hahaha, Sandra, the idea of using yarn shops as tax shelters made me smile.
Wow I am still amazed by your crochet square, they are gorgeous!
Just one notice, nobody told you it was useless to make square gauge if you knit in round after. You needed to do your swatch in round too. But good luck for the sock and do not give up you can finish it during the ravellenic, just look on the web, you have a lot of information…
I followed her instructions for my first pair, they are great
http://www.cometosilver.com/socks/2mlsocks_start.htm
Good Luck
Thanks, Ptinutz. I generally do my gauge swatch for circular knitting in the round, and you are right, the book didn’t mention that. I debated back and forth but went with a straight swatch since it is neater and I am aware that my knit stitches are smaller than my purl stitches. Thanks for the tip.
You must be excited to finally have a plan for you mom’s big blanket project! I think it’s great that you merged two to get your ideal. Excellent creativity there! I am shocked by your needle adventure. I can’t imagine treating customers that way. If we don’t have a book that someone wants we will always offer to order it for them – and then call or email them when it arrives. It’s something that they stay in business! Maybe that’s the reason for the sour faces in the store with the 3 ladies knitting!!
Good luck with your socks. Although I don’t knit I’ve been told that 2 at a time is tricky!
Thanks, Robin. Unfortunately, in New York, a lot of shops with poor customer service continue to thrive (or just survive) due to location.
I love the block you have decided on for your Mum and the colour is gorgeous too.
I am also doing socks for the Ravellenic games and had to cast on 3 times before I got there! You are brave doing two at a time – looks very scary!
Thanks, Lucie! I don’t feel that brave – I just feel slow!
My mum visited Knitty City when she was in New York, to get me a gift. She’s not a knitter, and she raved about how helpful they were and how awesome the shop is when she came home. Id love to visit. And the squares look great. Also, it took me three tries the first time I tried toe up socks, so I know how you feel!
They are a really wonderful shop, Emma. I was a fool to try shopping elsewhere lol.