Whether planning a luxurious gala or putting together an intimate surprise dinner party, it’s usually those special people around us that make the impossible possible. Taking the plunge and opening our own business this past year required not only a serious commitment from us, but we find that we rely on our family and friends on a weekly, if not daily, basis. We’ve been lucky to have the unending support of an amazing extended network at every turn. Right now we feel especially grateful to our support system as we are working (about twenty-five hours a day) to get our new shop open in San Francisco!
Our situation is not unique: all the small business owners we’ve spoken with lately, many for this column, all cite their friends and extended family as being an important part of their ability to make things work day-to-day. Lucky for us we have lots of talented people close by who have not only given us unending moral and real support, but who also have nurtured our skills and talents.
Like so many of us, Alethea’s knitting skills were inherited from the ladies in her life. One of her favorite childhood memories is of visiting her grandmother in Australia and being slightly amazed that two little plastic sticks and some colored yarn could make such fantastic things. Her grandmother’s hands moved lightning fast, delicately holding the needles as the yarn passed through her fingers. For Alethea’s 10th birthday she got the treat of picking out a pattern for a sweater that her mum and grandmother would knit together (a really hip one- gray wool background with 3 large turquoise blue diamonds across the front). Years later when she broke her ankle and was stuck in bed for six months, Alethea decided it was finally time to become a knitter too. Her mum came over with some metal needles and a large ball of practice yarn and she began to learn.
Thanks to the teachings of her mum Kay and Aunt Libby, Alethea’s knits have become a part of Studio Choo arrangements. The ladies got together on a recent afternoon to sip tea, swap skeins and make cozy knitted sleeves for some simple vases. Little wooly sleeves would do us all a bit of good through January and February as the storms kick up and the sun is scarce. Here’s a pattern for those wintery months when even the flowers need a Snuggie. These sleeves require elementary knitting skills are perfect for adding some texture and warmth to winter arrangements.
CLICK HERE for the stitch pattern (and more pictures!) after the jump!
Basketweave Stitch:
Multiple of 10
Row 1: Knit
Rows 2, 4 & 6: K6, P4
Rows 3 & 5: K4, P6
Row 7: Knit
Rows 8, 10 & 12: P4, K6
Rows 9 & 11: P6, K4
Repeat Rows 1-12.
