Ah, Monday....

Today's mission was to research knitting classes other retail shops are teaching. I have a lot of ideas of my own, but why reinvent the swift? So I sat down at this lovely computer and began. Sort of. The @$#^$#);$ thing was moving at 386 speed, and then froze like a polar bear's tush entirely.; So I turned it off, defragged it, cleaned up the drive, re-booted it, and STILL it moved like me the morning after the first full day of yardwork in the spring. Then I find out I have 98 tabs open in Firefox (mostly about knitting), and that MIGHT just be the cause of the problem. OK - so I'm not a techie.

But the classes I propose to offer include (but are not limited to):
two-handed color knitting, intarsia, magic loop method, shadow knitting, Entrelac, socks, short rows, mitres and other modules, various ways to cast on and cast off, basic socks, Aran knitting, lace), an “oops, now what do I do?” class, making your first sweater, steeks without sedatives, using the stash, substituting yarns, mittens, gloves, cuff-to-cuff sweaters, top-down sweaters, Kitchner stitch. If anyone has any suggestions, or would like to teach a class (I know - you kind of need to know where the shop will be, don'cha? Soon, soon....) I'm wide open.

If I didn't mention it before, I will be offering luxury and basic yarns that are otherwise not available locally. The internet is great if you already know the yarn you want. I know I am very reluctant to buy a $30 skein I have not touched and fondled. In fact, virtually every time I have purchased unfamiliar yarn on-line I have been disappointed, either with the weight not quite being as advertised, or the color not quite being what I expected, or the hand being not what I wanted. And isn't touching and petting the yarn part of the whole knitting experience?

Also - please tell me what colors you like; I tend to favor bright jewel tones, turquoises, purples, lime greens, fuschia (sic?)....but the shop is intended to suit my customers' tastes, so speak to me! What gadgets do you like? I firmly believe in the right tool for the job, even if I have been known to use twist ties for markers.

Is there anyone out there who has done this and can give me some words to the (not always so) wise?

Well, I'm off to the business plan wars. Pray for me.....