Week 3 | Knitting
Posted: 01/04/2010 Filed under: Craft, Design, Knitting, Uncategorized | Tags: Jacqueline Sava, Knitting Leave a commentAuthor: Jacqueline
I’m through the first skein, two to go; one third done, well on my way. I’ve used almost all the needles I bought, consulted www.knittinghelp.com once and have caught on to the seed stitch pattern so I don’t have to keep such intense notes.
My favorite comments over the past few weeks have been about the inconsistency between the complexity of the pattern and my somewhat basic hand-knitting skills. While I myself am impressed with the way this wrap is developing, it is worth noting that I do have a strong background in knitting, machine knitting.
Many moons ago I took machine knitting while in college at Rhode Island School of Design. I was in love after the first class. After graduation my passion for knitting turned into Jacq’s-Hats, an award winning knit accessories company. We designed and sold our knits to retailers (much like Soak, only on a smaller scale). We developed a local network of machine knitters for production and sourced yarn internationally. We also participated in the One of a Kind Show in Toronto, a huge craft retail event (which incidentally, is on this weekend, if you are local).
The photos are a bit circa 1999, but then again, that’s when they were taken.
Our customers often ask us how they can best take care of our wool hats, sweaters and scarves. When we started, we recommended other wool washes, or baby shampoo. They worked okay, but had overpowering fragrances that were kind of dated. Our customers have a modern take on life, so we decided to offer them a modern approach to fiber care, too. We developed a better, no-rinse wash solution that works with our stuff – and with anything else people care about enough to hand wash. That’s essentially how Soak was born. The rest, as they say, is history.
This year, we’re bringing back our knits. I’m designing again. My first group of patterns goes with our latest Soak fragrance, Unleash, inspired by Ravelry. We’ve designed (based on our original knits of course!) a set, hat, mitts and scarf, with Louet Gems yarns in custom Ravelry inspired colors.
You can purchase the patterns here. You can purchase the yarns or kits (Soak, pattern and yarn) here.
Ask for them at your local yarn shop. We’re working on our distribution. If you are a local yarn shop, contact us to place your order. They’ll be appearing in magazines and shops for fall knitting and are already all the rage on Ravelry.com.
This is the colour range, with fun Ravelry inspired names.
The knitting needles are happy to have some consistent attention. (machine or otherwise). They’ve long been overshadowed by work, life and quilting. My arms are starting to get a regular workout… my shoulders too. My hands finally remember what to do on their own (thank goodness).
Next week, knitting posture and maybe some stretches too.
Who knew? It actually looks like the picture in the pattern.
Posted: 25/03/2010 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Jacqueline Sava 1 CommentAuthor: Jacqueline
It has been a great week of knitting. My goal was to get past the pocket (photo 3 for anyone with the pattern) but alas, I only reached Photo 2 (half the pocket). I dare say, I’m very impressed that my knitting even resembles the photograph. There have been a few frogged and reknit rows, several sheets of scratched out, number counting and crossing out rows. I do believe I will never knit without my little row counter again.
Here it is, my wrap, photo 2.
Why did I not find time in my week to reach photo 3, you ask? Well, last night, rather than knitting myself, I taught a couple of dear friends to knit instead.
Zoe and her mom Dana are living at SickKids. They’re going home for a week or so, but then they’ll be back. Off I went with my shiny needles (suprisingly Zoe picked the blue over the purple) and bulky yarn (pink and orange, of course). I brought a copy of Knit Simple magazine and of course, my current knitting project. From 6pm to 8:30, Zoe and Dana learned to knit. While I’m not an expert knitter, I am an expert teacher. Zoe was quick to catch on and super excited to tell her daddy about her new found skill. Dana’s fingers slowly remembered that they had once knit and she too got right into it. I’m certain there are websites with great tutorials for kids (do send via comments) and fun interactive ways for them to keep up their knitting. Zoe wanted to make a hat… I suggested she start with a scarf.
Zoe has a fanclub on facebook. So while you’re joining the Soak fan page rock on over to Zoe’s fan page. She needs the love too. And for all you knitters out there with extra stashes of yarn, Zoe likes pink and purple bulky yarn. If you’ve got extra, send it to the Soak office and I’ll pass it along, with love.
I’ve also learned, for future reference, that while pink, purple and white verrigated yarn is lovely, squishy and fun to knit, the changing colours were distracting for the new knitter, making it confusing to keep track of where to put the needle and hard to see the repetitive stitches forming. (It’s a teaching thing, I’m always looking for the lesson to improve next time).
Dana summed up our evening quite nicely. I couldn’t say it better myself. “Big day today. My little girl dyed her hair pink and then learned how to knit!”
Notes on Knitting
Posted: 21/03/2010 Filed under: Knitting | Tags: Jacqueline Sava, Knitting 1 CommentAuthor: Jacqueline
Here are some Sunday morning thoughts from my Saturday night babysitting (I love hanging out with Ariana and family) and knitting adventures.
1. ‘a long tail’ is not an adequate word to describe yarn needed for a double cast-on for a new knitter. There must be some reference for how long a ‘tail’ should be relative to the CO stitches. If you know, do tell.
2. A row counter is a beautiful thing. Even after one row.
3. 70 stitches is considerably wider than my little cable scarf was.
4. The circular needle and I are still trying to get to know each other.
5. Thank goodness for re-run girly movies on TV, I didn’t look up from the needles once in two hours.
6. Pen and paper trumps yarn counter. They are going to have to learn to work together.
7. Shell-on pistachios are not a brilliant choice for a ‘hand-relaxing’ snack during knitting.
8. One day I hope to be able to knit and talk/ watch tv/ think/ multitask or anything else. I forsee a very antisocial knit night at my LYS this week.
It’s Friday and I’m bagged. Week 8: Lee Lee’s Valise
Posted: 19/03/2010 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: bags, Jacqueline Sava Leave a commentAuthor: Jacqueline
Grab a coffee or tea and join us each Friday, to learn how these Soak worthy bags came to be. Are you bagged? Send us your favorite bag. If we feature it here, we’ll send you a Soak gift pack, in a pretty bag, of course!
We did it. We ventured out of New York City to Brooklyn to visit Lisa, founder of Lee Lee’s Valise. Located in beautiful Carroll Gardens, Lee Lee’s is the perfect shopping experience catering to women sizes 10-28. Lisa not only stocks a nice selection of lingerie (and Soak), but also designs exceptionally stylish and well fitting dresses. We spent hours drinking coffee and trying on dresses. Brianna, LuLu, Shantung Shift, they were as lovely as their names.
I settled on a mid-length black wrap dress, knowing my 35th birthday was coming the next week and I had special plans. Every woman needs a little black dress, especially one so comfortable that can go from day to evening in a flash.
Lisa showed us her secret mini-soak stash under the front counter; she gives a treat to every customer! We also met Opera singer Claudia Waite who was in shopping for a dress for an upcoming event. How cool is that?
Lisa wrapped up my lovely new dress in a chocolate brown Lee Lee’s Valise bag (toile and all!). I like nothing more than buying myself a gift, having it wrapped to perfection and taking it home. Sure, I knot what is inside before I open it, yet the excitement of opening a present is always there. I kept the bag and not surprisingly, the toile.
We visited the local bakery for treats, strolled over the highway to Brooklyn General (a lovely yarn/ quilt/ craft shop) and worked our way to Park Slope for dinner with friends. We rounded out the evening with Lisa and her husband at their favorite local wine bar. What a great way to finish a day and get us excited for the Curve Lingerie show that followed. We spent a great day in Brooklyn and look forward to many more.
It is worth noting that Lisa, in addition to maintaining her exceptional store, sells her dresses online, and has had her shop featured on TLC’s “What not to Wear”. She was featured in InStyle magazine in 2009 under Best of the Web. Go Lisa!
Jacqueline’s latest attempt at (hand) knitting
Posted: 18/03/2010 Filed under: Knitting | Tags: Jacqueline Sava, Knitting 3 CommentsAuthor: Jacqueline
You may very well know that I am, by training, a machine knitter. If you talked to my mother, you’d be told that I haven’t fully completed a hand-knit project since I was 12 years old. Arguably, I didn’t finish the purple and green checkered sweater I started then either. Well Mom, I did it. A real cable scarf. Here it is, all finished.
Made from lush Blue Sky Alpacas Bulky yarn (acquired directly from them as a gift at TNNA circa June 2009) these skeins sat in a Carrie Basin in my office begging to be knit for well, way too long. Chris dug out this pattern as a great hand-knitting refresher project, leading up to the yarn and pattern I picked up at this most recent TNNA.
It was love at first sight, in the ShiBuiKnits booth. I picked up the lush wrap off the chair and it fit me perfectly. I’m a tall gal, so it is rare that a pattern ever fits correctly the first time. As my eyes moved through the booth, spotting the perfect shade of green yarn alongside the pattern, I knew I had found my next (I say that like I’ve done a lot!) knitting project.
The next step was clear, asking Chris (our Director of Sales and Operations and resident expert knitter) to have a look and advise on whether or not this project could become knitting reality or was better suited to the office yarn collection. Chris too was taken by the colours and pattern, probably distracted more by the smile on my face while I was wearing the show sample.
It was determined that I could do it, and I set the goal (which I’m proclaiming again now) to be done by the next TNNA, June 2010.
It is 11:34, on a sunny morning in Mississauga. I’m casting on at lunch today. I brought my yarn bag home last night, to cast on this weekend, but I’m feeling as though my first casting on to circular needles might best be done under Chris’ supervision, so back to the office it came.
As per Annie’s request, “Alright, I’m expecting a blog post from you pronto!” here it is, the beginnings of my Oscillation Wrap. I’m quite certain Pam Powers (via email) will become my new best friend as I work my way through the pattern. I’m going to track my progress weekly, using this forum as a way to accomplish not only continuity, but completion by my said goal date.
I started with a trip to The Purple Purl on knit night (Tuesdays, for those who wish to attend) to get needles, I photocopied the pattern so I could scribble and make notes and I turned the first skein into balls and filled my Lexie Barnes accessory bag with all the appropriate accoutrement.
12 weeks ’till TNNA.
It’s Friday and I’m bagged. Week 8: Kaori’s Closet
Posted: 12/03/2010 Filed under: lingerie | Tags: bags, Jacqueline Sava, Kaori's closet 1 CommentAuthor: Jacqueline
Grab a coffee or tea and join us each Friday, to learn how these Soak worthy bags came to be. Are you bagged? Send us your favorite bag. If we feature it here, we’ll send you a Soak gift pack, in a pretty bag, of course!
On the edge of Soho, in a beautiful strip on W. Houston you’ll find Kaori’s closet. This delicate boutique features stylish Japanese lingerie, and, of course, Soak.
Their romantic collections feature soft colors, ruffles and gentle details in a stunning and intimate retail environment. Yes, I love the pink bags with little black cat, who wouldn’t. Next time you are in Soho, stop by and have a visit. You’re sure to find yourself a lovely treat that is as cozy and delightful as the store is itself.
It’s Friday and I’m bagged. Week 7: Once Upon a Tart
Posted: 05/03/2010 Filed under: Food | Tags: bags, Jacqueline Sava, Once upon a tart 1 CommentAuthor: Jacqueline
Grab a coffee or tea and join us each Friday, to learn how these Soak worthy bags came to be. Are you bagged? Send us your favorite bag. If we feature it here, we’ll send you a Soak gift pack, in a pretty bag, of course!
New York. Bright lights, big city.
Last week we were in NY for the Curve trade show. (Aisles and aisles of lingerie!) We spent a day visiting friends and lovely shop owners who sell Soak. The next few weeks will trace a bag filled excursion through multiple boroughs and great shops. First on our stop, nestled in Soho was a walk on the crafty side, to Purl and Purl Patchwork. For all that we love Purl, we were a bit distracted by her neighbour, Once Upon a Tart… Before I get carried away, be sure to watch the Purlbee blog, for updates on Purls exciting move, bringing both stores into one, later this year.
It was an unusually warm winter day in New York, especially for us Canadians. We took advantage of the sunshine, stopping for a mid-morning pear and chocolate tart on the patio. Choosing which tart to have was indeed a challenge, but I always do favour finely sliced fruit, so the pear tarts immediately caught my attention. I’ve even tried to make the likes at home once or twice. If you are in the neighbourhood, grab a bag off the wall, select some delicate tarts and if you forgot your sweet tooth at home, grab some of their delicious salads and sandwiches instead. From baguettes to cupcakes everything looked scrumptious. They also have a cookbook. It was early in the day, with the walking we had ahead, I resisted temptation… but something tells me on my next trip through Soho (perhaps Purl’s grand opening?) I’m likely going to pick it up.
It’s Friday and I’m bagged. Week 5: Knit. Crochet. Create.
Posted: 19/02/2010 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: bags, Jacqueline Sava Leave a commentAuthor: Jacqueline
Grab a coffee or tea and join us each Friday, to learn how these Soak worthy bags came to be. Are you bagged? Send us your favorite bag. If we feature it here, we’ll send you a Soak gift pack, in a pretty bag, of course!
On our many trips to New York City we try to visit stores and friends alike. On a recent trip to New York, we ventured outside the city, crossed the river and into the hip town of Hoboken, New Jersey.
There, we found our friend Patricia, owner of Patricia’s Yarns. If you stroll through the shops and streets, you are sure to find delightful stores, cafes and other treats. During our last visit we were lucky enough to be there on the shop’s birthday. Many hours, tea and cupcakes later, we left to head back towards the city, with a lovely new bag filled to the brim with knit projects and yarn related treats in hand.
In Patricia’s bustling boutique you’ll find a wide range of sophisticated fibers, patterns and tools, and of course, an ample stash of Soak.
Check out her blog as well.
It’s Friday and I’m bagged. Week 4: Bag as friend. Bag as family.
Posted: 12/02/2010 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: bags, carrie, Jacqueline Sava, phil Leave a commentAuthor: Jacqueline
Grab a coffee or tea and join us each Friday, to learn how these Soak worthy bags came to be. Are you bagged? Send us your favorite bag. If we feature it here, we’ll send you a Soak gift pack, in a pretty bag, of course!
Meet Carrie and Phil. The newest members of the Soak family.
Carrie is a fun-loving multi-tasker. She is as happy carrying towels to the beach and toys to the park as she is keeping your yarn stash and other neat stuff, tidy at home.
Carrie has quickly become the favorite bag of choice for travelling knitters, companies hosting retreats and swimwear shops preparing for spring. Her bright personality and durable structure make her an immediate success on both a functional and emotional level. She has displaced baskets, soft bags and the occasional tote in many wardrobes, living rooms, playrooms and closets.
Carrie, in a smaller, daintier version, made a brief appearance at The National Needle Arts tradeshow, playing host to a limited edition Soak worthy kit inspired by everything Ravelry. The kit included one of our newest patterns, yarn and a bottle of Unleash. A limited number of these kits are still available; email us, for details if you’d like to purchase one.
Phil is bright and indispensable. Phil loves protecting hand-washables from the rest of the laundry and relieving the sink of its duties by providing a safe haven for soaking. Phil, while not the most adventurous traveler, prefers the ‘stay at home’ life, shifting from bag to wash basin to storage basin on demand. He also occasionally provides a squishy and safe home for the kitties (usually with sweaters as pillows). Phil meets hand-washing with enthusiasm, and has truly become a close member of the household. Phil is eager to meet the summer sun (we live in Canada after all) so he can migrate to the cottage, filled with ice and drinks at the beach, or keeping snacks and treats sand-free.
While Phil and Carrie slowly make their way to stores near you, you can always call or email us to order them (both for yourself or for your shop). Like all great bags, once you get your hands on them, you’ll never let them go.
101 things you can do with Soak |001 Hand-wash lingerie
Posted: 08/02/2010 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 101, Hand wash, Jacqueline Sava, lingerie, soak wash Leave a commentAuthor: Jacqueline
Soak, while designed for all fine fibers, is the perfect (and generally preferred) solution for hand-washing lingerie.
Ask lingerie expert Jennifer Klein, from Secrets from your Sister, who recently answered the age old question- how to hand wash bras, on sweetspot.ca.
On February 18th we head off to NYC to our semi-annual tradeshow, CurveNY. There, we spread the word of Soak to lingerie boutique and department store buyers world-wide. We start with our basic hand-washing techniques, move through our delicate fragrances and talk about our award-winning packaging and designs. We’re also introducing Carrie + Phil, the latest members of the Soak collection. Phil loves protecting hand-washables from the rest of the laundry and relieving the sink of its duties by providing a safe haven for Soaking. Phil or no Phil, hand-washing lingerie on a regular basis prolongs its life and keeps it looking clean and stylish longer.
This pictorial review of Soak, said to ‘explain the phenomenon that Is Soak’ does just that, so, enough from us, get SOAKing.
soakworthy.com 
