The First Organic Soap and Hemp Face Cloth Promo in the Mail!

Good Afternoon,

My morning was spent typing and revising and printing.  My first promo package went out to the mail on it's way to Massachussets. 

My brother has a salon in Bradford, Salon DKS, just in case you get out that way, and he has agreed to carry my beautiful Petal Face Cloths and Organic Soap. 

The first photo is of course, the Petal Face Cloth, which is hand knit  from hemp fiber.  It is a renewable resource, a natural exfoliate, antimicrobial and biodegradable. The second is a photo of some of the actual samples that I ordered.  These are the 1 oz bars and they are available in a 4 oz size as well.  For those who are fragrance sensitive, there is also a 4 oz bar of unscented soap, also organic.

The colors of these soaps are so vivid and the different essential oils in the bars brings back memories of the 1970s.  Here is one....walking around Woodstock, NY and browsing the shops.  They all had that wonderful aroma of essential oils.  It could have been incense, candles, or soap,  and probably a combination of all.  But just now when I had them out on the table to photograph, I took a free ride back a couple of decades.

I have a couple of more promo packages to get out, and I will definitely share with you the outcomes.  If any of you who follow my blog are interested, drop me a  comment below, or email me, dee@youandmeknit.com, or catch me on Face Book. 

Have a great rest of the afternoon and stay cool.  Hot and humid with the possibility of T Storms.

Happy Knitting!



So Much Knitting News!

Good Afternoon,

The first week of "EZ's" A-B-C-SJ, went quite well.  Still have more sign ups to accommodate.  The yarn choices were wonderful, colorful, and a host of other "ful ending words".  There were 2 students last Wednesday and 4 on Saturday. 

Now for the other exciting news!  I just came back from the Post Office and mailed off my submission to Interweave Knits Sockupied 2013.   I spent an hour or so getting together the paper work, filling out the form, and typing up the submission.  I did knit a full size sock instead of just a swatch. 

The sock design is a sport type sock (short) like you would wear with gym or running shoes.  The sock features 2 X 2 ribs, a small short row section after the ribbing that elevates the back of the heel slightly which helps prevent that "slide down into your shoe syndrome".  The heel shaping is short rows as well.  Then, down the foot to the beginning of the toe box.  I like to leave this a little wider than many socks allow for.  The reason being, there is plenty of room to wiggle those piggies inside your shoe.

The best part is the yarn.  I used Cascade "Fixation" which is 98.3% Cotton and 1.7% Elastic.  This is a wonderful material to use especially for my targeted market for Interweave.  The submission is for the Diabetic community as well as for those who have difficulty with edema in the lower extremities.  The yarn having elastic, will stretch without cutting into the circulatory system of the lower legs.  The wider toe box, as mentioned above, is roomy and will not pinch or irritate sensitive toes.  And as all you knitters know, the toes are completed with Kitchener Stitch.  No seams.  When I was wearing commercial socks, I would have to turn them inside out to put the seam on the outside and away from  my skin.  This seaming technique does away with this problem. 

I had to do a sketch.  I do not sketch....very bad.  So I did my best and then wrote all the dimensions for the finished sock.  I wish that I could draw better, but one of my daughters has that talent, not me.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it isn't an automatic disqualify. 

Sorry I didn't have a blog post yesterday, but was just to tired and  I was afraid it would be gibberish.  I only had an hour of sleep Sunday before going to work at 12:00 am Monday morning.  I beg forgiveness.

I had to watch the boys this morning, and my daughter was telling me that they had their first "slap boxing episode" recently. They stood facing each other and in little boy aggression, they were open hand slapping at each other (32 months and 15 months).  I had all I could do to not chuckle the visual in my mind's eye was so funny.  Tis only the beginning.

Have a wonderful rest of the day and Happy Knitting!

P.S.  My You And Me Knit Fan Page is up, though not completed.  Take a moment to stop by and "Like" my page.  Thanks!

The Difference Between Natural and "Natural"

Good Morning,

I am going to back pedal for today because I received a newsletter in my email today that I believe is an important read.  Not just for me, but for anyone who is looking for all natural products involving skin care.  This came to me from Botanie Soap, http://botaniesoap.com, the company that I am using for my organic soap.

Maybe it is just me that is so un-informed, but there is information here that I wasn't aware of.  I hope you find this as interesting as I do.

The problem with the term "natural" is that there are no official definitions for it. Believe it or not, the only standards for defining a product as natural are voluntary ones, and a company is free to make up its own. In other words, in the world of soap and skin care, companies can call their products "natural" regardless of what's in them. We know, it's crazy. But it's true. You can't just trust what it says on a product's packaging, and you can't assume a product is truly natural just because it is sold at a natural products store.

The highest and truest standard for "natural" is organic certification, and we'll address this concept in the next newsletter. For many soap and skin care companies, though, "natural" is a more attainable standard. Whole Foods has developed its own "Premium Body Care" standard to define "natural." Two organizations, the Natural Products Association and the Natural Ingredients Resource Council, also offer strong standards for "natural."

For example, the Whole Foods Premium Body Care standard forbids the use of synthetic fragrances in skin care products. However, the use of synthetic fragrances is common in "natural" soaps and skin care. How can you, the consumer, tell the difference? The following terms refer to synthetic fragrance: "fragrance", "fragrance oils", "perfume", "parfum". If you see any of these on a label - even on a label that says "all natural" - you know the product has synthetic fragrances in it. By contrast, pure essential oils are the only truly natural scent ingredients. Also, be sure to read the ingredients panel on so called "fragrance free" or "unscented" soaps found in grocery stores. Some products, with names like "Unscented", "Fragrance Free", or "Sensitive Skin," have fragrance listed among their ingredients. Worse, some have clever ways to hide this, such as using ingredients like "Malto" as a "fragrance mask." Whole Foods has a helpful brochure that discusses this: PREMIUM BODY CARE

Fortunately, "natural" soaps are easy to understand. In our Newsletter coming in a few months, we'll be discussing the actual chemistry behind soap formulation and the technical names for ingredients you sometimes see on soap labels. Always, the highest standard for Natural is organic certification. For all the rest, here are four basic rules of thumb for determining whether a soap is natural:

• It is made from vegetable oils (if you see "tallow" or "tallowate" in the ingredients, this refers to animal fats)
• It is scented with essential oils only, or, if unscented, is truly unscented
• It contains no synthetic pigments, dyes, or preservatives
• SUMMARY: The ingredients sound like plant names!

A soap is either truly natural or it is not...."mostly" and "sort of" don't count!


 I hope you have enjoyed this and found the information helpful.  Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Knitting!

Lesson Learned

Good Afternoon,

During knitting class yesterday, someone said there are two seasons in New York.  Winter and Construction.  Which, brings me to my topic today. 

During "Construction" season it's a good idea to keep small projects handy when traveling.  You don't even have to go far.  On my way to class yesterday, the main route into Saugerties is being prepared for paving.  As you can imagine, moving at a snails pace, and then.....stopped.  It felt like 30 minutes when in reality was only 10 minutes.

My reality is that the knitting was packed  up and unreachable.  So annoying.  I have always thought of moments such as these as free knitting time.  You don't have to budget your time, write it in your planner, wait til whenever, it's just plain and simple free knitting time.

About ten years ago, the routes that I was traveling to and from work caused me to cross the railroad tracks every day.  This line is notorious for back ups, stops and two trains, one in either direction.  and of course, on train is usually one stopped while the other continues.  I knit a 60" chenille scarf complete with fringe, in a 2 X 2 rib, on size US 1 needles.  It took me months of train stops, but the point is, any small uncomplicated project can be set aside for just those occasions.

When I go for a walk, if it isn't too hot, I will bring my knitting along.  Today was OK to do that except when the sun came out, then it was too hot and my hands started to sweat.  But living near the Hudson River, it only takes a few minutes of that incoming tidal breeze to cool off again.


I knit in the grocery store.  At some point, I have to stand in a long slow moving or non moving line.  Mittens, socks or some such small thing can be thrown in your bag to be pulled out to save the sanity.  Not only that, if you are Knit Shop owner, or Knitting Teacher, such as I, it is a great way to advertise with out paying for the ads.  It's just your regular trip to the food store, bank, or wherever.

Have a great rest of your day and take your knitting along!

P.S.  Most of those free knitting places are air conditioned too, so being hot outside doesn't count except if you are walking!

"EZ's" A-B-C-SJ Class Begins

Good Afternoon,

What a fantastic day so far today.  First I watched the boys, JT and Mason this morning.  JT had "his" knitting box, but was lamenting about how few markers he had and so in no uncertain terms, said, "Nanny, you need to give me more markers....please."  He was totally serious.  So, I gave him four more markers for his collection.

Next, JT proceeds to take my knitting, holding up the end of the CN, and begins sliding his markers on to the needle and claimed he was knitting.  Too cute!

The first class of "EZ's" A-B-C-SJ began today at The Perfect Blend Yarn Shop in Saugerties, NY., http://yarnandteashop.com.  There were two students this afternoon, and so began the task of a gauge swatch, both were doing the baby version.  Then came the explanation of How?  What?  Really?

 Photo above courtesy of Schoolhouse Press Pattern #5

It really is confusing if you don't know how this sweater goes together.  So in terms of choosing yarn and placing color, as in the above sweater, how did the lavender stripe do that?  I want a solid at the cuff.  Do I knit some stitches in solid and some stitches in the color mix?  After a few simple explanations as to how the knitting process goes, it became much clearer to them. 

Then began the casting on and the marking of the stitches, not just sliding the markers on the needle.  The next question was about slipping the first stitch, which was a new technique, and then came the decreases.  Explaining there are four decreases in one row, it was thought directional decreases on either side of the marked stitch.  However, since this is an "upright" decrease, hence, the Sl 1, K2 toge, PSSO, or slip the first stitch, knit the next two together, then pass the slipped stitch over the stitch formed by  knitting two stitches together.  Phew!

Quite a handful to chew on and execute.  I think that they were clear on what direction they were working in and how the progress looks in terms of the pattern vs. the completed garment.  Always a good thing to remind students not to panic, follow the rows along carefully, and you should be OK.

There will be another class on Saturday this week as  well, so that was a plus.   No need to wait a full week.  Also, the Perfect Blend shop owner, Mary, will coach them if they can't wait until Saturday. 

What a Perfect day at The Perfect Blend Yarn and Tea Shop.  Happy Knitting!



New Soap Descriptions and New Face Cloth Design

Good Afternoon,

I have finished the first Face Cloth with the new Hemp Yarn.  I threw it in the washer with a load of laundry, and then placed it flat and pinned it out.  I am so pleased with how it came out.  I am so

pleased with how it came out. I have a few more face clothes to design for the collection and they will be done fairly soon as they really don’t take much time to make.

The other piece of information that I would like to share is the Organic Soap Descriptions:

OATMEAL SPICE

 Gentle oatmeal, ground and whole, provides skin-healing exfoliation. Organic ground cloves give this soap a rich, spicy scent. Feel the difference in your skin with this gentle complexion bar good for the whole body.

                                                               LAVENDER

Treat yourself. This bar’s fragrance is pure lavender essential oil – a natural relaxant. We’ve added organic comfrey root to our proven base recipe for a bar that will soothe and hydrate your skin.

                                                            LEMONGRASS TEA
This bar’s fragrance is a complex blend of six essential oils, including citrus and herbs, and organic rosemary leaf. A very popular bar among both men and women.

THYME GARDEN
A gardener's and herb lover’s bar! Full of scents of thyme, rosemary, sage, and others. This bar makes any gardener or cook happy. Natural chlorophyll and organic cloves create a deep green color.

PINK GRAPEFRUIT
This soap is a true pleasure. Pink grapefruit essential oil is at once brilliant, deep, and refreshing, perfect for a shower or bath at any time of day or any season. Our favorite.

                                                                PATCHOULI

Patchouli lovers, here is your bar. We’ve scented this bar with deep, earthy patchouli essential oil while keeping the scent level mild. Organic orange peel provides a bold color and a hint of citrus fragrance. If you haven’t tried our patchouli bar, then it’s time to take the plunge.

PEPPERMINT LEAF
A blend of pure mint essential oils combines with organic peppermint leaf to create this invigorating soap. We added menthol for an extra zing of peppermint. Great for the morning shower.

BLOOD ORANGE BERGAMOT
A unique twist on citrus! Blood orange essential oil blends with the complexity of bergamot for a smooth, light, and citrusy bar.

MONTANA PRAIRIE
This soap is best described as open and fresh. A blend of sage, lemongrass, and spearmint essential oils resembles the open spaces here in Montana, and calendula petals provide homegrown beauty. This soap is popular with both men and women.

CITRUS LAVENDER
Orange essential oil, with hints of tangerine and lemon, provides a perfect citrusy blend. Lavender essential oil rounds it out. This soap will surprise you with its fragrance that is both bright and mellow.

                                                         FOREST TONIC

The elusive and slightly sweet scent of juniper berries enhances this woodsy bar, fresh as the outdoors. Ground juniper berries provide exfoliants.

SENSITIVE SKIN / UNSCENTED
Pure soap, plain and simple. This bar has no fragrance and no color. A perfect soap for people who prefer a gentle soap with a good lather in a fragrance-free alternative. Especially helpful for sensitive skin.

Gardener's Hand Soap

Gardener's Hand Soap is full of exfoliants - ground apricot kernels and coffee - to help clean the dirtiest hands. We've given this bar a bright, fresh lemon scent. We keep a bar at every sink all summer as well as in the gardening shed!

Shea Honey Oatmeal
This is a rich, moisturizing bar. We’ve loaded it with a perfect balance of shea butter, honey, and finely ground oatmeal to fit all skin types. As an unscented bar, it will sell very well with your sensitive skin customers.

I hope you enjoy reading about the new Soap and Face Clothes at http://youandmeknit.com.  As of yet, they have not been added to the website, but will be soon.  If there is interest in ordering, please contact me at:  dee@youandmeknit.com


Hope the rest of your day is wonderful, and whatever you need it to be and Happy Knitting.

Organic Soap and a Hemp Face Cloth

Good Afternoon,

I am preparing for a new adventure, Gift Baskets.  I have found a  wonderful source for organic herbal soaps and I received my sample order last Friday afternoon.  As I opened the box, I thought I had just stepped into one of those organic, herbal, essential oil, heavenly scented shops that makes you want to drop your troubles at the door before entering. You can find these wonderful soaps soon at http://youandmeknit.com, Salon DKS in Bradford MA, and at Hudson Valley Body Works in Kingston, NY, as well as Etsy, Craftsy, and Ravelry and Pinterest.

Each bar of soap that was opened was better than the last.  Now, I thought, what am I going to do to market these wonderful pieces of heaven. I had written in my 7/13 blog about my road trip to Mass to visit my brother.  I had knit a washcloth on my way in the car.  Better than cotton, I have ordered a cone of hemp knitting yarn, arriving any time now, to pair with these lovely soaps.  The hemp yarn will be knit into lovey face clothes soon as well and available at the above locations.  As soon as these are ready to go, I will post the links of the locations, but wanted to give everyone the heads up.


This past Friday evening, I began designing a face cloth to accompany the soap.  I can market the face cloth alone, paired with a soap, or a gift basket with several soaps and face clothes.  I have been searching for venues so when everything is packaged neat, tidy and beautiful, then it is a matter of hitting the pavement.

The possibilities are endless.  Collecting the names of spas, upscale hotels, salons, etc, will take some time, and then to knit for all will be another challenge to over come.  This is so exciting finally finding something so wonderful to share.  Now this can be added to the teaching, coaching, mentoring, contract knitting, etc., etc.

Time for me to get this out, but a bit of family news, my son and his girlfriend announced their engagement this afternoon.  The wedding is planned for June of 2014!  Another happy occasion to look forward to.

Have a great rest of the day and Happy Knitting