Hey everyone! I had such a fun day! One of my good friends convinced me to join a knitting circle, and I’m so glad she did. Now, I’m usually not the biggest social butterfly, but I’ve been curious about this shop ever since we took our grandsons to St. Thomas (Ontario) three years ago to see that huge statue of Jumbo the circus elephant. What a memorable trip that was!

I looked across the street and saw the sweetest old house turned into a yarn shop, Little Red Mitten. It’s what I picture The Shop on Blossom Street (by Debbie Macomber) would look like. So I tucked it away to explore another day.

BTW aren’t my Grandsons ADORABLE? We had so much fun that day, touring around and enjoying new playgrounds.

I have to tell you I was not disappointed. From the moment we pulled into the ample parking lot I started to feel excited. It’s not often that I go to a yarn shop that carries all the soft, colourful yarns that you just don’t find at Len’s Mills, Micheal’s or Walmart. I could picture sitting out on the front porch on a sunny spring day working with these fabulous fibers.

So, I open the front door and there it is!! Colours and textures beautifully displayed. Honestly you just can’t control yourself, you have to TOUCH THEM! And this was just the first room. This shop is room after room of well organized rainbows of fiber. Talk about overload! I was in heaven. Walking around touching each different fiber made me feel as giddy as a small child at a petting zoo. There was Alpaca, Camel, Llama, Yak and yet no Angora?

I discovered something new today about luxury yarn. Did you know that The Little Red Mitten doesn’t carry Angora yarn due to the unethical ways it’s often harvested? I was totally unaware! In my mind, I always imagined bunnies being gently brushed, but that’s not always the case.

I have to say, I got so caught up in the experience that I completely forgot to take photos. If you’re curious, I highly recommend visiting the shop or exploring a local yarn shop near you!

The back of the shop was where the magic happened – a cozy group of ladies knitting and chatting around a table. I was a bit shy at first, but my friend introduced me and, to my surprise, I felt right at home. No cold vibes like I’ve felt in other places, just a shared love for FIBER. It was like finding my tribe!

We spent the next three hours knitting, talking, and exploring various yarns. I even learned a new casting-on technique and was amazed by the incredible talent of these ladies. Then, another surprise – I met the shop’s owner, Joan. She’s created a colorful haven for fiber enthusiasts like me. Thank you, Joan!

Little Red Mitten has classes and knitting circles several times a week, and the staff there are just as passionate and helpful as can be. If you want to know more, definitely check them out.

And for those of you on the hunt for your own little piece of Blossom Street, keep looking. It’s out there. I think I may have just found mine!

Until next time friends…

1. Fold the edges of the bandana about a quarter inch and iron them down.
2. Fold the bandana in half and give it another press, making sure the edges line up nicely.
3. Cut the batting a quarter inch smaller than the folded bandana.
4. Sandwich the batting inside the bandana and pin the edges ready for sewing.
5. Sew along all four edges, getting as close to the edge as you can.
6. Finally, add some quilting stitches – I hand sewed around the basic shapes, but feel free to get creative with circles, letters, or random patterns.

And there you have it, your very own mixer mat!

As you can tell my mat is well used. It gets tugged all over. I love it!

Tip:

I like to keep my mixer equipment together. It’s just easier and more efficient. Line the bowl with a clean tea towel so you don’t scratch it. Put your attachments and the loosely coiled cord inside the bowl and fold the towel in over it. Voila! Dust free and you know where it is.

Until next time friends…