Knitaway

Wild Yarns!

2012-02-08T22:46:00.000-07:00

Please join me this Saturday, February 11th, at the charming Wild Yarns for a trunk show of the latest OM organic merino yarn to have emerged from my dye pots. Anna and Kelly, the proprietors, have a great collection of prime one of a kind OM hanks waiting for that perfect project. And with 560 yards in a hank you'll find many projects that will work with these beauties.

You won't ever see a sweeter shop, loaded with creative atmosphere and fiber-y treats from many local and indie artisans. Show hours are 10 -5 on Saturday. I'll be there most of the day to sign books or help you decide on a project for your OM.

Maybe you'd like a hank of OM (it only takes one!) for Carol's Clever Little Shawl. I'm teaching a class on this great project at Wild Yarns in March. Ask Kelly or Anna for details.

I love this shop! Feels just like home. A very hip, fiber filled home. Come on over for a visit.

KAL alert!

2012-02-06T08:17:00.000-07:00

Fundamentally Faroese Shawl #3

I've been asked to announce when Knit Alongs are happening on Ravelry. I'm happy to say we've got two KALs starting soon. In the Folk Shawls group we're starting a Fundamentally Faroese Shawl KAL on the 8th of February and the Knitted Jackets group starts an Edo Jacket KAL on the 12th. Hope you can Knit Along!

Edo Jackets from Knitted Jackets

Little Edo Jacket from Knitted Jackets

New Shawl and friends

2012-02-02T07:34:00.001-07:00

Here's a quick look at the new Mountain and Plains Shawl that will be with me at the Sew Expo market booth today. It just takes one skein of Dancing Colors yarn so it's a quick and satisfying knit. The pattern is quickly approaching readiness. Just a few polishes to do. Look for it in the Ravelry shop in the next days. I promise I will get some sleep after market before I do the final edit.

Mountain and Plains Shawl

If you get to drop in at the booth this weekend you 'll also see the Hanten Jacket and Fundamentally Faroese Shawl #3, both patterns new in the Ravelry shop this week. I'll have them all with me at Stitches West later this month, too.

Hanten Jacket

We're starting a KAL on the Fundamentally Faroese shawls on February 8th in the Folk Shawls group on Ravelry. Join us if you can. I find Faroese shawls most intriguing.

Fundamentally Faroese Shawl #3

Now off to market with me. I love a whole weekend with knitters!

Knit Faster!

2012-01-28T09:31:00.000-07:00

Just about to finish another one hank project with my hand-dyed yarn. Getting it ready for the Sew Expo next week and then Stitches West in February. With the great yardage in these hanks a knitter can do all sorts of things with just one.

Have you ever noticed that when you are getting near the end of a project with a set amount of yarn that you tend to knit faster? I do! Do I think that will make the yarn go farther? You know, I think I do! Quantum knitter in action.

The Daily Spin

2012-01-25T08:17:00.001-07:00

I've got tussah silk flowing on the wheel this week, coincidentally in celebration of Chinese New year. I'm actually involved in a spinning challenge called Spinner's Poker and my "hand" included silk, lace weight, and orange for the color. I was bit worried about the orange thing until I found this gorgeous silk at Treenway Silks. The color is one of their Salt Spring Island Series and is called Cranberry Calypso. I see lots and lots of oranges and that is making me very happy. Leave it to silk to convince me that orange is my new favorite color!

Knit Knack Trunk Show update

2012-01-22T08:32:00.002-07:00

The three days of the Knit Knack trunk show have been fabulous. Just like the shop's trademark chandeliers, Knit Knack and it's knitters just shine.

We've had such a great response that we are extending the trunk show one more day. Drop by today to try on some of the Dancing Colors garmets and see the yarns. Or come back if you've already been here this weekend. We'd love to see you again.

I'll be in the shop all day at this table teaching the Cusco Workshop and Gerri and her staff will be happy to help you with the trunk show or any of the other wonderful projects you can find here.. Sundays are great fun at Knit Knack!

Knit Knack Trunk Show

2012-01-15T20:44:00.000-07:00

Knit Knack, paddywhack! Trunk show & workshop back to back!
Trunk show January 19-21 and Workshop January 22

Come join me at Knit Knack for a trunk show this coming Thursday through Saturday. We'll have lots of hand-dyed yarn and original designs for you to try on, and I'll be there all three days, 10 am to 5 pm, to sign books, and help you get inspired.

The Cusco Jacket from Knitted Jackets might be one you especially want to try on. Then on Sunday Knit Knack is hosting my Cusco Jacket workshop. We'll be making a miniature Cusco Jacket to learn the techniques including knitted lace, sideways knitting, circular knitting and some great construction details. Knitters of all levels are welcome. you just need to know how to Cast on , knit and purl. I'll take you on from there. There are still seats open so give Gerry a call and spend Sunday knitting with us.

As many of you already know, Knit Knack is a charming and beautiful shop with lots of goodies for your knitting pleasure.

And Charlie is looking forward to meeting you there!

The Fleece Goes on

2012-01-13T20:09:00.000-07:00

Two of the five new fleeces are washed and one is being carded. I love the way the fleece changes from clean locks to teased fiber and into a carded batt. This is luscious feeling stuff.

It's clear that a good wool fleece storage system has become imperative in the Studio; carding and spinning can only proceed so quickly and I want to enjoy the process, not just push for product. The major issue with storage is how to keep the precious wool from harm and infestation by marauding, wool-consuming vermin until it can be converted into gorgeous garments. After some extensive research I decided that I like the combination of thoroughly clean and dry fleece inside a muslin bag, placed inside a clear plastic lock-top tub, with a tulle wrapped bundle of dried artemisia and lavender tucked inside. My reasoning is as follows: Clean wool is the only kind to store for any period of time; grease, dirt, etc. (especially etc.) attract bugs and are just yucky (technical term). A cotton muslin bag both contains the sparkling clean and dry wool and lets it breathe. The clear tub is a physical barrier to random intruders of the dusty, buggy, or (heaven forbid) rodent variety, it lets in light (wool eating bugs hate the light, love the darkness) and even though the top locks, it is not totally airtight, which again is good for letting the fiber breathe. Dried artemisia and lavender give off scents that repel the unwanted visitors and are not noxious to the rest of us.

     Artemisia is historically favored as a pest repellent (and as the flavoring for absinthe). I find these herbs to have very pleasant scents. Growing, collecting, bundling and drying them has become a favorite summer practice. Wrapping the completely dry herb bundles in a layer of sheer fabric keeps the fragments from adding sticks and stuff to the fiber. Pretty, too. A nice gift for spinning pals.
     Wait a minute. Back up. Muslin bags? Yes! Did I buy muslin, wash it and sew these bags? No! I found a great source of 100% cotton muslin "bags" in the form of the very reasonably priced Dvala pillow cases from IKEA®.

So here you go, clean locks all tucked in awaiting the teasing and carding. I'm ready to spin the first batt, probably during tomorrow's daily spinning. What an amazingly fulfilling experience this all is. And then I get to knit with the yarn. Can it get any better?

Shawls in Waiting

2012-01-11T11:00:00.000-07:00

We're working on new yarn photos. Here's a snap I wanted you to see.

This basket holds over 19,000 yards (I kid you not) of my Gossamer hand-dyed alpaca, just waiting to become a shawl. Or rather many shawls. Can't wait to see where knitters go with these.

Winter Blues

2012-01-08T17:21:00.000-07:00

I've got the winter blues, but in a good way. My recent knitting has tended toward the blue end of the spectrum. Here's some of what I've been up to.

On the needles is a new shawl, knit with Dancing Colors Yarn in the color Bluet. The shawl is a one skein project that will have it's premier January 19 at Knit Knack, during the 3 day trunk show. and workshop event.

And going up in the Ravelry shop this week is the Dakota Shawl Redux, one of my most popular slip stitch designs, updated and revised, also in Bluet with a black companion yarn to set it off.

I've got shawls on the brain and that's a good thing since the Shawl Study Workshop starts up for 2012 on Thursday. It's a full house (studio) for January but there are openings in the upcoming months. The workshop has an ongoing, join when you like, work on what you want, format. You can come every month (two classes a month) or just the months that suit your schedule. We've been covering some beautiful shawls and great techniques. Join us if you can.

Well back to my knitting. I have an old love tune stuck in my head... "Blue, blue , my world is blue"....

True, it's blue, but very warm and cozy.

A Good Start

2012-01-04T16:06:00.005-07:00

2012 is starting out well here at the Studio.

On January 2, I took a little drive over to see Susan Du Bois of Treenway Silks who has just recently relocated this incredible fiber source to Lakewood, Colorado, about 5 miles from me. I was lured out of my holiday bliss by the January first newsletter in which Susan talks about the once a year shipment of New Zealand fleeces that had just arrived. On the list were some Gotland fleeces, a breed I've been curious to try. It was a beautiful day, sunny and bright, and I thought I'd just go over for a look as she had some smaller fleeces listed. Just a look, you know. I was lucky to find her in house, doing inventory, and the bags of fleece innocently sitting in her open garage.

A little back story here. The last week of December, I had finally finished carding the Mystery Wool and while I thoroughly enjoyed the process of doing an entire fleece from raw to carded, I had already decided (and announced to my Dear Fellow) that I was swearing off fleece preparation for a while. My plan was to work this year with the gorgeous fiber that I already have in the Studio and just concentrate on the spinning.

Resolution number one out the window.

While I knew the fleeces would be beautiful, Ashford fleeces are highly regarded, I was not prepared for the overwhelming desire that arose in me once I saw them. I do believe that I was overcome by wool fumes when the bags were opened because I was immediately filled with a need to have this fleece. Look at it! Can you blame me? And it is soft, really shiny, crimpy, and soft.

Two little Gotland fleeces followed me home. And they were joined by a not so little English Leicester, an irresistible Perendale, and the sweetest bag full of Polworth you've ever seen. When I break a resolution, I do it really, really well.

Yesterday, I washed the first Gotland. It was quite greasy but had almost no extraneous matter, I mean hardly even a twig. And it washed up beautifully. It was dry enough this afternoon to open up a few locks and give it a quick spin on one of my Maggie Spindles.

So you can see that, fiber-wise, things are starting out here very, very well. I'm glad I love to knit, and spin, and wear what I've made because I just blew my entire 2012 clothes budget on hand-me-downs from some sheep.

Even Scottish, the Studio garden cat, couldn't believe it when she watched me bringing in the fleece. Of course she is cross-eyed so she undoubtedly saw me bring in 10 bags full. Now that would be excessive! Well, anything worth doing is worth overdoing, I always say.

Knitaway® 2012: Shawls from the Center

2011-12-30T08:45:00.000-07:00

Have you ever tried starting a knitted shawl in the center and been a bit befuddled by all those needles and just a few tiny stitches? You wouldn't be alone. But there are many ways to get a beautiful start on a shawl from the center and some of them may surprise you with their ease and beauty. The start pictured here is one I've recently "unvented" and actually needs only two needles to get going. I've put it on double-pointed needles to turn it into a square but it could become a circle or a rectangle or a spiral just the same. I could have chosen instead to use the magic loop or two circular needles and any of these methods would be perfect for the start of a new lacy beauty.

I'm intrigued, rather obsessed, with alternate methods of starting and shaping shawls and have been indulging my whims by collecting ideas and experimenting with techniques.    I recently taught a one day workshop entitled "Shawls from the Center" and while preparing the handouts I realized that I had enough material, techniques, and design ideas to fill several days, enough to fill a book. So that's exactly what I'm doing. The new book, Shawls from the Center, is rolling off the needles and for the 2012 sessions of the Knitaway® in the Studio I'm inviting you to explore the many wonderful ways to begin your shawls from the center, letting them bloom outward, from zero to lace. The design opportunities seem endless and my fingers (and those of my test knitters) are flying as we work through the ideas.
   I'd love to have you join in the excitement. What are the dates for the four sessions of the 2012 Knitaway in the Studio? April 25-29, May 2-6, October 10-14, and October 17-21. Registration opens very soon, Tuesday, January 10th, to be exact. Join me for one session or stay for two, come in the spring and return in the fall. There is a lot to learn and share. I do hope you can come along to enjoy a Knitaway this year. Can you tell I'm excited? I look forward to meeting you here in the Studio for some "centered" shawl knitting.
    And to you and yours, a very Happy New Year!

Early Winter Greetings

2011-12-23T07:54:00.000-07:00

The solstice sun rose yesterday on this winter scene, taken from the deck of the cabin. It is a beautiful world. Even better, it is a world where sweaters and shawls and all knitted things are most welcome. I love the snow.

In this season of light, I hope you get time to celebrate your own gifts, especially the ones right beside you. Wishing you and yours the very best, warmest, cheeriest and magical holiday season imaginable, and a brilliant New Year!

Ever done this?

2011-12-19T09:13:00.000-07:00

It's a busy week for many of us.
Note to Self: Slow Down, please.
You know you are moving too fast, trying to do too much, when you've just dropped your ball of yarn into your breakfast bowl of oatmeal, yogurt, and honey. Sticky yarn, fuzzy breakfast. I get the hint.

Another note to Self: Enjoy the moments, they are what life is made of.

I'm happy to share this particular moment with you all. Have a chuckle and know that I've eaten my breakfast and the slightly damp yarn is now being knit into the shawl. Slowly though, and with enjoyment.

Mystery Winding Up

2011-12-18T11:38:00.001-07:00

Just a quick post this morning to let you see the first sample hank of the Mystery Wool.

         I plyed it yesterday, using the rule of matching plying twists to crimp waves in the wool. I like it. It is soft, not wire-y (which I've heard that Romney can become when twisted/plyed too hard) and has a beautiful drape and sheen. It's a bit fuzzy (I like that too) and I'll be interested to see if it gets more fuzzy after knitting and use. Right now it is wrapped around my neck inside my turtleneck up against my bare skin. This is my personal "testing ground". It is so soft that I even forgot that it was there. The Mystery Wool is very wearable.
   I'm itching (no pun intended ) to get it on the needles and give it a test knit. First though I want to show it to my spinning friends who will meet here in the Studio today.   There are some real experts in that gang and I'll get their feedback on my technique. Then I'm ready to ply the rest of the first two bobbins.
      I seem to always think "Shawl" when I get some hand spun off the wheel. Why is that, do you suppose?

Just Dyeing

2011-12-14T15:56:00.001-07:00

It was a good week last week in the dye studio. I've been experimenting with some new techniques for dyeing roving and I like the results. I'm in what I call the "Run for the Markets", my annual dyeing marathon that occurs this time every year as I stock up for some big yarn and fiber events that will happen in January and February. Experimenting is my treat after another session of dyeing my regular favorite Dancing Colors. I keep notes like crazy just so I can understand what's happening with the colors and fibers. Endlessly fascinating.

January will start off right with Knit Knack in Arvada hosting the Dancing Colors Trunk Show, January 19-21. I'll have lots of hand-dyed yarn there and we'll be trying on garments and planning projects all three days. On Sunday, January 22nd, we'll top off this event with a one-day workshop on the Cusco Jacket from Knitted Jackets.

Cusco Jacket

Then February takes off with the annual Rocky Mountain Sew Expo. This is not just for sewing fans! I have a booth at this event each year with yarns, books, spinning fiber, Japanese textiles, and usually some surprises as well. This show is one of my favorites, the fellows that organize it really put on a good show, and it is filled with inspiration for all kinds of fiber-y craft. It's a beautiful spot of color for the early days of February.
On February 11, I'm pleased to announce, we've arranged for Wild Yarns to hold a one-day trunk show of my OM hand-dyed organic merino micro dye lots. Come take a look at these one of a kind colors in this yummy yarn. We'll have great project ideas too, including an upcoming class (in March) at the shop on Carol's Clever Little shawl.

The end of February I'm off to Stitches West with 400 pounds of goodies and new designs.
Whew. So it's back to the dye pots. Looks like another good week is in the works.

On and Off the Needles

2011-12-11T17:52:00.001-07:00

I try to have a new shawl ready to wear on Christmas each year. This year's shawl is yet another variation on the Wool Peddler's Shawl from Folk Shawls, this time with long tails and an altered application of the lace pattern. I enjoy doing variations on a theme. There seems to be endless possibilities in some ideas. It's sort of like shawls that exist in parallel universes; they are similar but each has a life of its own. This one is definitely red, Crimson to be exact, in my Dancing Colors hand-dyed yarn. Crimson is one of the Reflections colors, tonal, with highlights but with not too much color variation. I prefer this for lace patterns as I hate to see my lace work disappear into a swarm of colors. Just me.

And off the needles last night, another Goodie Bag Hat using Noro Kureyon is great earth tones.

It's a gift for my Dear Fellow who has been asking if guys can wear the Goodie Bag Hat too. A hint, I believe? I think it's pretty good in these colors. More rugged but still fun. I'll definitely take it if he's not crazy for it, though I think he'll look mighty handsome in it. I might be prejudiced, do you think?

The Mystery Spins On

2011-12-06T16:11:00.157-07:00

I've been spending time each day at the spinning wheel. It has become a daily practice and I use it as the wind down to the studio day; with the day's projects tucked in, there's time to "unwind" at the wheel. As a result, the first bobbin of Mystery Wool is resting on the lazy kate. There are about 4 ounces of fiber on this bobbin and it's destined to be a 2 ply, probably rather fuzzy, yarn. I'm already dreaming up projects for it.
It appears that there is much more to the mystery of the wool than just it's origin. The process of turning an entire fleece into spinning fiber and then into yarn, has it's own mystery. Those who work with their hands know the joy of the connection to others, past and present, who have also loved both the product and process of these crafts. I feel that connection on many levels through spinning., as I always have through knitting. It is one of my favorite experiences. It is a sweet mystery.

Sitting at the wheel towards the end of the day,

A knitted shawl keeps the dusk chill at bay.

Norwegian folk music streams on NRK.

This is time out of time,

With the others who have treadled in rhythm

To well loved music,

And spun the wheel.

What I'm describing will be very familiar to experienced spinners, and it is, for me, an amazing new journey. Beginner's Mind, you know. It's a gift to be discovering the charms that preparing and spinning a raw fleece holds for the many who would never work with anything but fleece they have prepared themselves.

I have only done a tiny bit of carding in my spinning time so far, so just thinking about carding such a huge mass of fiber, even with a drum carder, was daunting. With my favorite trick of breaking large projects down into smaller events, I've been carding one batt a day (most days) for the last two weeks. So far I've collected about a pound of lovely carded batts that spin like a dream.
I really love the multiple colors in the fleece and wanted to avoid blending them so much that those color variations were lost. With this in mind I've only run the batts through the carder once, one and a half times, if you count the teasing that was also done on the wonderful Louet drum carder. (FYI the tutorial for this teasing on the carder process is available as a pdf on the Louet site and was first published as an article by Beverly Nissen in the Winter 1994 issue of SpinOff Magazine).

You can see that the color variations are indeed intact. Huzzah!

For me, this is the perfect wool to spin away the last days of this year, the year I really came to know the love of spinning. I am having a wonderful time! And the Mystery? Well, as writer Tom Robbins said, "......it's always there, somewhere......Everything is part of it." So it is.

The Goodie Bag Hat

2011-12-01T20:02:00.002-07:00

A new hat came off the needles over the holiday weekend.

It has come to be called The Goodie Bag Hat.

The cold weather is creeping up on us here and every year I face the dilemma of finding a hat that really stays on with my wild head of hair. My hair physically and actively resists the dreaded "hat head" by simply pushing off any topper I put on. And my ears get cold! A solution came to me this week. The Goodie Bag Hat is a tube knit circularly, with yarn over eyelets through which a simple draw string creates a closure at the top. Just sitting on the table, the hat looks like a little bag of goodies, everyone's favorite thing to see this time of year. Hence the moniker, " The Goodie Bag Hat".

The deep and warm garter stitch border utilizes my recently unvented method of garter stitching in the round that I call (with a wink) Gartering Arownd. That's right..no sewing up. Some of you may have tried this, having come across it in the new version of Elizabeth Zimmerman's Tomten Jacket pattern where Meg was kind enough to include it. It's a pretty good solution I've been told, for those of us who like our garter stitch to be all knit rows, even in the round, thank you.
The adjustable top closure works really well for active sports like snowshoeing too; just open the top for more ventilation as you get warmed up while keeping the frost from tipping your ears. And if your hair wants to pop out the top, all the better! The pattern is free below, available as a download in
my Ravelry store or just click here or on the link at the top of this post to get the pdf from my website. A little "coming on winter" gift from me to you. Hope you enjoy it.

It's snowing here this morning. Think I'll knit another Goodie Bag.

Cheryl Oberle’s

The Goodie Bag Hat
© 2011

The Goodie Bag Hat is knit in the round with a garter stitch borders and stockinette stitch top. The technique for circular garter stitch, Gartering Arownd, is truly circular AND knit every rownd (these are not quite rows and not really rounds, so while knitting this technique let’s call them “rownds”); there’s no purling and no sewing! Yee ha! Near the top of hat, yarn overs create eyelets through which a drawstring is pulled to make an adjustable closure for the crown.

Materials

Yarn: Heavy Worsted weight. approximately 170 yards.

Needles:: 16” circular size 8 or size needed to obtain gauge;

Notions: Stitch Markers

Gauge: 16sts and 24 rows per 4 inches in Stockinette St.

Finished size: circumference: 20 inches (see note #1)

Notes

#1: To make a different size simply add or subtract stitches in sets of 10 sts. At the given gauge, this will alter the circumference of the hat by 2.5 inches either way and will keep the yarn over placement at the top in the correct sequence. Alternatively, use the numbers as given but change the gauge to increase or decrease the circumference; i.e. a lighter weight yarn knit at 5 sts to the inch will make a smaller hat.)

#2: While the pattern is written to utilize it, Gartering Arownd is optional. You may knit the bottom border in garter stitch flat and sew it up afterwards. In that case you will not join on the first round of the border nor will you purl one round (just knit on), BUT you will need to remember to join the stitches to knit in the round above the garter stitch border.

Abbreviations:

K = knit

P = purl

St(s) = stitch(es)

YO = yarn over

k2tog = knit two together

Gartering Arownd right side stitch detail

CO 80. Place a marker on the needle to indicate the beginning of the round, join, being sure stitches are not twisted and set up by purling one round (the only purl row around! This just makes a nice ridge on the bottom).

Gartering Arownd: All Knit Circular Garter Stitch Border

Rownd 1 (RS): Knit to the end of the rownd, (leave marker on left hand needle.) K into the rownd below the next st. on left- hand needle, pass the last knitted st of the rownd over this new st, turn.

Rownd 2 (WS): Slip the first st as if to p wyib, give the yarn a good tug to tighten it up and k to end of row, turn.

Tip #1: when “knitting into the rownd below” on rownd 1, you may choose to knit into the stitch above the “ridge” or into the stitch under the “ridge” of the last rownd (this second option is actually two rownds below). Just be consistent in your choice!

Tip # 2: Mark the RS of the fabric to easily tell which rownd you are on. Placing the marker in the fabric to the right of the beginning of the RS rownd will alert you to the upcoming knitting events!

Repeat rownds 1 and 2 fourteen more times; 15 times total. At the end of the last Rownd 2, do not turn, but continue in stockinette st around. Keep marker on the needle to indicate the beginning of the round (Now you are working in regular rounds; join your knitting if you have knit the border flat instead of using Gartering Arownd. See note below)

NOTE: the crown is knit in traditional circular stockinette st; knit every round, and do not turn at end of round.

Knit all rounds until crown (above garter st border) measures

4 1/2 inches.

Work the Yarn Over Round as follows:

*K3, k2tog, YO; repeat from * around.

Knit all rounds until the crown measures 2 inches above the Yarn Over Round.

Top Border: Work Gartering Arownd (or flat garter) for 6 more rownds, binding off in knit on the last Rownd 2 (WS).

Make a 26”drawstring cord using twisted cord, crocheting a chain, or even using ribbon (cute baby hat!). Lace the drawstring through the yarn overs, beginning on the side opposite the join.

Tie ’er up and keep warm!

Please drop by www.cheryloberle.com for more knitting ideas.

Oh and..Enjoy your Goodie Bag!

Abundance of joy

2011-11-22T07:08:00.000-07:00

This morning I can't find words to express why this photo makes me feel so good. So I won't try.

Just sending it on, hoping you might enjoy it too.

Happy harvest, happy autumn, happy Thanksgiving to you all.

Free the Bobbins!

2011-11-18T07:52:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I finally cleared some bobbins by plying the singles that had been languishing on them. Their sister skein is two years old now. It was time.

All was going well until the plying reached the lower levels of the spinning, the part that was spun a long time ago, many turns and twists before I was a consistently adequate spinner. Though the strands were precious to me, we began to drift apart; the spinning was weak, it would not hold up to the untwist of the plying.

I did get a bobbin nearly filled with solid, good yarn, yarn that nicely matches the first skein. Together they will be enough to knit something cozy. But the bobbins still held the weak, unstable singles. I need my bobbins. I'm never going to use that weak yarn. It was the product of my learning and practice and while I appreciate it for that, it has taught me all it could. It then occurred to me that learning to spin feels a lot like learning to bake, and I certainly didn't keep every burnt cookie. My bobbins were full of woolly, burnt cookies. Crumble those cookies. Free the bobbins.

With the help of my trusty, "I can cut anything with these", scissors, I managed to remove the unstable load with nary a scratch or gouge to the wood. It actually felt good, letting my old spinning go, knowing these bobbins would soon be filled with newer, stronger, and better strands.

Come spring, the robins that return each year to the studio garden will no doubt enjoy the blessing of hand-spun nesting materials. I'll be happy to share with them. It's good to find a constructive use for burnt cookies, woolly or otherwise.

Another mystery solved?

2011-11-15T07:58:00.003-07:00

Here's an addendum to yesterday's post. It turns out that the "engaging name of Ravensdown" stamped on the mystery wool sack is basically New Zealand speak for "fertiliser". Yes, my lovely wool was in an apparently recycled, albeit very clean, fertiliser bag. I admit to being a bit deflated when I learned this fact; the name Ravensdown had conjured such lyrical images in my fertile (I had to say it) mind. It makes sense though. In New Zealand, an island country and very "green", the ranchers, as ranchers everywhere do, would use what they had available. It all just adds to the reclamation aspect of this entire adventure. Back to earth we come. Recycle. Reuse. Right and good.

But it doesn't end there. My research lead me to Woolipedia and to the information that wool has historically been used for fertiliser. For decades it has been researched as a highly desirable source of slow release nitrogen and much of the research has been taking place in New Zealand, where the company, Ravensdown, is a major supplier of agricultural fertiliser. Could it be that the beautiful, colored fleece, not white enough for the textile industry, had been originally destined to be fertiliser? Was my Romney treasure in a fertilser bag for a very good reason? Maybe. But that's conjecture. I know for sure that the wool is well shorn, well skirted, as nice as many fleeces I've seen for sale, and it came to me from another spinner's stash. Beauty is in the eye of the spinner.

All this just makes me more determined to make something wonderful from the mystery wool. At the very least I could use it to grow tomatoes. It is already turning out to be a yarn spinner's gold, in more ways than one.

One Bag Full of Mystery

2011-11-14T12:21:00.003-07:00

I was recently gifted with a bag full of Mystery Fleece. Better than six pounds of mystery. On first glance I knew it was spin-able, with a long staple and lovely coloration. The bag had no markings other than the engaging name, "Ravensdown", stamped on the outside. I was told it had been stashed in an attic for unknown years but had originally come from New Zealand.
Please know that I do not recommend this method of obtaining wool. It is risky business. But I was intrigued, seduced even. Still, I kept my head enough to remember to practice safe woolery. The bag has now been a few weeks in our shed in compliance with my rule that no unknown animal fiber enters my studio until it has passed inspection and received security (from bugs) clearance.


Unwashed and lovely

        I was curious and hoping to find out about the fleece's lineage. I took a tiny sample to Maggie Casey, one of my spinning gurus, who thought that it was most likely a Romney fleece. I told her it was not very greasy so I thought it might have been washed once, but that it seemed to have slightly felted in the bag over the years. She wisely suggested I give it a good washing nonetheless.
The fleece had hardly any VM, it had been professionally skirted, but there was enough evidence for me to conclude that what I thought was felting was just old grease that had stiffened. Yikes! Enlightening information though, being more evidence that it is a Romney fleece; according to Deb Robson in The Fleece & Fiber Sourcebook, it is characteristic of Romney to have little grease. Frankly, if I had initially known that it had never been washed, I would have probably also thought it a hopelessly old mess and tossed the entire bag. Too late. Now I have bonded with this fiber. I decided to approach it as a reclamation/ experiment/ learning project.
   Being very, sometimes obsessively, concerned about wool eating critters, I was wary of this bag o'wool and before bringing it into the studio, I checked it out on the back porch with a hawk's eye. I saw no evidence at all of wee buggies so it headed for a good, and definitely needed, HOT and SOAPY (ala Alden Amos' advice on questionable fiber), five round (ala Maggie Casey's washing directions) bath. It cleaned beautifully and is drying now. It came out un-felted, even with all the hot water and soap. Well done valiant wool saver!
        I borrowed a Louet drum carder from the Handweaver's Guild of Boulder, membership does have it's privileges, so I hope to be carding by Wednesday. I'm unschooled in combing and really do like a lofty yarn, so while it may be more traditional to comb a long wool, carding alone is fine for me here. I have spinners coming on Sunday for a Spin In so that will be a good time to get rolling on the Romney.
On the back side of the bag there was one other marking. Could this have been the original price for this bag of New Zealand colored Romney?   My spinner's heart jumps with glee!

Also it's a real clue to the age of this wool that this beautiful fleece had such a small price. I've recently seen a very similar fleece priced at $7 a pound. Because of the demand in the past for exclusively white wool for the clothing industry, shepherds sometimes could not give away colored fleeces, even of this quality. I very much like the idea of making use of this beautiful fiber, elderly though it may be. It seems strong, not brittle, soft, and lustrous. The carding and spinning will prove this pudding, I'd say.
PS. I couldn't stand it any longer. I found some locks that had dried (I love living in Colorado, high and dry), teased them (well, they were teasing me...), carded a rolag and grabbed a favorite spindle.

Look at that shine!

Shawls from the Center

2011-11-11T20:00:00.000-07:00

Here's a bevy of samples for the Shawls from the Center workshop that I'm teaching tomorrow at Shuttles, Spindles and Skeins. Lots of techniques to share. Got to love a tomorrow like that.

Spinning yet to come

2011-11-09T17:50:00.000-07:00

Some gorgeous Cotswold fleece is washed and ready to spin. Just look at that lovely cloud from a few picked locks.

Life (and spinning) is good!

The Knitting was Beautiful

2011-10-27T13:02:00.001-06:00

Here's a glimpse of the beauties that appeared at session II of the 2011 Knitaway® in the Studio. Another amazing group of knitters and some very special days to remember. I'm still flying from the great energy and inspiration we've all shared over the last few weeks. Dates for the 2012 Knitaways are dates to be posted soon, with both spring and fall sessions in the plans.
Wendy's Lace The Knitting was beautiful. Hope to see you here in the Studio in the near future.

Sue's Dale (brought by daughter Leslie, also a knitter extraordinaire)

Rosie's Lily of the Valley

Where did the time go?

2011-10-17T18:17:00.002-06:00

We had the our last meeting of Session I of the October Knitaway in the Studio yesterday. The days simply flew by, filled with a yarn shop tour on Friday, daily show and tell by the talented knitters, and our Nazo vest workshop. Demos and ideas flew around the room like the little birds at the garden feeder. Four days of knitting inspiration, fabulous companions, and chocolate....did I mention chocolate?
Now the Session I knitters are wending their way homeward (I miss them already) and Session II will be starting this Wednesday (ok!).

I believe that knitting together creates a time warp, a lovely, warm, enticing, time warp... and so many warm memories.

Notes from the Knitaway. Day Two

2011-10-14T21:40:00.000-06:00


Al's Ribbon

Corridale Beauty

Award winning knitters have appeared in this Knitaway session. Just wanted to share a couple of detail shots of the gorgeous work they are sharing in show and tell.

And today another morning of knitting and then our yarn shop tour. It's looking to be a fabulous day at the Knitaway.

Carolyn's Cape

It in the details...

2011-10-11T06:58:00.000-06:00

For me as a knitter and a designer, details are what make the garment. This is one of the things we'll be playing with for the next several days in the Nazo workshop that starts tomorrow here at Session I of the Knitaway in the Studio. Lots of knitting, lots of details ...oh and fun, food and yarn frolic.

Maybe it's just the full moon, but I'm feeling pretty jazzed. See all you Knitaway knitters tomorrow!

Knitaway on the horizon....

2011-10-01T21:07:00.000-06:00

Less than two weeks until Session I of the Knitaway® in the Studio.

The knitting bowl is ready to assist in demonstrations,

and the yarns and fibers are collecting themselves.

Just a few more days.... I'm trying hard to be patient and enjoy the anticipation. Thank goodness I have knitting and spinning to keep me busy until then.

Have you Heard?

2011-09-27T08:32:00.000-06:00

I'm all ears since I heard that a new knitting shop, Wild Yarns, is opening this weekend just steps from the Studio. Now if that isn't just the best news I could be hearing, especially with the Knitaway just a couple weeks away, I don't know what would be.

Welcome to the neighborhood, lovely ladies! We'll all be visiting soon.

KnitWear Market 2011!

2011-09-22T08:02:00.000-06:00

Get your knitting off on the right foot! Please join us this Sunday, September 25, for the 2011 KnitWear vendor market in beautiful Fort Collins, Colorado. I'll have my books, hand-dyed yarns, Just Beautiful alpaca, and a few surprises as well.

International Day of Peace

2011-09-21T07:45:00.001-06:00

On this International Day of Peace I wanted to share with you this photo of the Peace roses from my garden this June.

The blossoms were spectacular and fragrant, and all from a bush I planted over 20 years ago. The tiny bush cost $1.06 and has never missed a season of blooms. In fact it has the last rose of summer on it right now. It does that for us every year. More reinforcement of the belief that Peace grows and is eternal with a little care.

Please, if you can, take a moment for yourself today to stop, take a deep breath, and just feel at Peace. It feels so good and the feeling is right there all the time, just a breath away.

I think I'll "knit a peace" today as well......and smell the roses.

Just look at those curls!

2011-09-20T11:11:00.000-06:00

This gorgeous Cotswold fleece came in the mail from Bountiful Acres Fiber Farm. My first Cotswold. Now into the bath it goes. Just wanted to share it with you first in all it's glorious, unwashed curliness. I think I'm in love.

Knitaway Countdown

2011-09-13T07:00:00.000-06:00

It's bustle time here at the Studio getting revved up for the Knitaway next month. Always something interesting to do in a 109 year old building. Plus there's yarn to be dyed, yarn to be ordered and unpacked, and books to be shelved in the library. As for my knitting, I've got a couple new things on the needles and a new pattern or two that needs polishing.

The petite garden at the Studio has, as usual, overgrown it's intended area so there's judicious pruning and tucking-in for the fall to be done. This lovely little dragonfly visits everyday to watch my progress. All will be accomplished in the next four weeks, ready for the first session of the Knitaway in the Studio. I can't wait.

Three Stop Shop Hop: Episode Three

2011-09-06T10:45:00.001-06:00

Rosy and I ended the first day of the Three Stop Shop Hop at one of my favorite shops in the world,

Shuttles, Spindles & Skeins

"Shuttles", as the regulars call it, is for me more than just another shop. Since they opened 19 years ago this month, the shop has been a fiber arts mecca on the front range. I have a special spot in my heart for Shuttles since it was here, back in 1997, that while attending my Faroese Shawl class at at Shuttles, an editor from Interweave Press suggested that I write a book on shawls. The idea was interesting, especially since at the time there were very few shawl patterns, let alone books, from which to knit or teach. The editor, Jillian Moreno, now of Knitty.com and Big Girl Knits fame (but who's dropping names?) was most convincing and the crew at Shuttles was most encouraging. Folk Shawls was the result.

I am still honored to occasionally have the opportunity to teach for Shuttles, joining their incredible list of regular and world re-known visiting instructors. In fact my next class at here is this November, Shawls from the Center. Lots of times I'm joining the students, too. I most recently learned to use my Ladybug spinning wheel in Maggie Casey's Beginning Spinning on a Wheel class.

Maggie, author of Start Spinning, is one of the owners of Shuttles, along with Judy Steinkoenig, weaver and teacher extraordinaire. Between them and their staff of teachers and coworkers the breadth of fiber knowledge is astounding.

What about the yarn? Do they have yarn! From loads of colors of our favorites to special one-of-a-kind hand-dyed skeins, it's here. And spinning fiber, and dyes, and wheels, and looms. The book section is huge and well organized and includes DVDs and lots of fiber related magazines, back issues too.

Last but not least, Shuttles has shuttles.

I brought home some lovely Polworth roving and the new

Fleece & Fiber Sourcebook by Deb Robson and Carol Ekarius

Great book, gorgeous fibers, terrific shop. What more need I say? Can you hear me purring?

And Then There Were Two

2011-08-30T09:04:00.000-06:00

A second skein of Romney is spun and plied. It took me about two weeks to fill two bobbins at my 30 minutes a day practice. Then I spent an afternoon plying. Can you tell which was the first skein and which is the second? Here's a hint: the second skein is on the bottom. If you think it looks a tad bit smaller than the first, well you are right, dear reader. More lessons were gratefully learned with this skein and they are:

There is a reason that experienced spinners emphasize filling the bobbin evenly. They are not just being fussy. Singles on an unevenly or untidily filled bobbin do not come off the bobbin as nicely when one is plying. Sometimes they even break and the end buries itself in the rest of the yarn on the bobbin. Deep in the rest of the yarn on the bobbin.
If the above occurs, do not panic. Get out all your spinning books and read everything that you can find on this situation, plus maybe a few other diverting bits of information. Stay focused. Try finding the end by the snagging method, brushing a toothbrush lightly across the fiber on the bobbin. Then try (as your charming spouse suggests) a piece of duct tape, sticky side out, on the bobbin in hopes it will grab the lost end of the singles. Both great suggestions.
If the above suggestions fail, put the bobbin down, have a glass of tea, take a walk. Then come back to the studio and take a scissors to the bobbin, the theory being that if the end is completely lost, making another will do as well. Theories sometimes work out.
Indeed this theory does work but there is a price; some of the precious yarn will be sacrificed. The key is to cut not deeply but well. Proceed to clip one strand at a time beginning at the spot which has now, after considerable study of the bobbin, been determined to be the most likely vanishing point of that pesky end. Though frustration and defeat may be gathering like dark clouds on the horizon, do not just chew through all the layers left on the bobbin. A clip here and some winding off, a tie there and then another clip if needed, and so on until finally the bobbin is once again spinning regularly and smoothly on the lazy kate. Good luck valiant spinner. Below is the refuse of my experiment/lesson in the importance of being bobbin wise.

I also learned with this skein that you can indeed take out ply after you have over plied, washed, and so set the annoying ply. I had a very wiry skein on my hands and I was not happy with it compared to skein #1. So lacking the suggested tools of something called a Woolee winder or weaving bobbins and their winder on which to rewind the skein, I simply used the ballwinder to make a center pull ball, sat said ball on the floor next to me and, pulling from the center, ran the yarn clockwise (plied originally counter clockwise) through the wheel. I counted three treadle pumps and let it wind on. Skein and wash again. It is JUST RIGHT. Not perfect mind you, but we'll save that for another skein.

Spinning in the Rockies

2011-08-24T17:30:00.000-06:00

Spent some time in the high country this last week. It is much cooler at 9100 feet than at 5000. We were at my family's cabin which is, as you can see, remote, and very rustic. I like to think of it as camping with a real bed. I took a spindle along for the first time and thoroughly enjoyed getting some high altitude spinning done. I was spinning some lovely Polworth dyed by Chris of Briar Rose Fibers. Her colors are amazing and I couldn't resist getting a picture of fiber and spindle in that glorious summer light.

This little current bush offered to be a prop for the beauty shot. I did come away with the fiber ball full of cranky ants though. So there was some shaking and brushing off and general squealing that went on for a few minutes. In the end, fiber, spinner, current bush and camera came out of it just fine. The ants? Well we can only hope for the best.

Happy Birthday, Miss Chanel

2011-08-19T17:00:00.001-06:00

Among my favorite things in the world that are Chanel is the fragrance of Chanel No. 19. Released to the public just months before her death, it is named for her birth date and I've heard rumors from inside the industry that it was Coco's own signature fragrance. I wonder.

Yet another of the Chanel mysteries.

Coco Chanel

Born 128 years ago today, August 19, 1883

I think I'll wear my faux pearls (that's French!) tonight.

Oh, and a touch of No. 19.

Three Stop Shop Hop: Episode Two

2011-08-15T09:18:00.000-06:00

Episode Two finds us in Boulder, Colorado,

at Gypsy Wools, a fiber arts gem in the heart of historic downtown. Next door to the beautiful Hotel Boulderado, the petite, sunlit shop is a welcoming spot for finding lovely hand-dyed yarn and great spinning fibers.

The spinning treats are what really brought me in. Proprietor, spinner, and dyer, Barb Day, does a great job of stocking things that you just don't find elsewhere in Colorado. Like long wool roving, extremely easy and satisfying to spin, and a varying array of beautiful natural colored fleeces and locks. If you, like me, are interested in breed specific fiber and heritage breeds, the staff here has hands on experience with the fiber and will gladly share their expertise.

Natural colored Long wools. So many breeds to try!

The vibrant, locally produced hand-dyed yarns and roving are tempting too, even to someone like me who "dyes her own". I can spot quality and I definitely saw it here.

Spinners delight

Barb tends shop while award-winning spinner, Michele, gives an assist

As frosting on the cake, Gyspy Wools also carries fine embroidery and needlepoint supplies including lovely linen fabrics and hand-painted canvases. The hand-dyed embroidery thread display is itself a work of art.

And what, pray tell, did I add to my own collection? This spindle winked at me as I walked by and then joined some long wool in my basket.

I said I came in for the spinning goods. And glad I am for it.

Amazing Glass

2011-08-12T16:40:00.002-06:00

Enjoy this view of the stained glass ceiling at the Hotel Boulderado, a favorite Knitaway® in the Rockies venue.


© Gary Oberle 2011

I think I might just feel a design coming on....

Latvian Dreams

2011-08-05T09:40:00.003-06:00

The knitting world lost a brilliant talent yesterday with the passing of Joyce Williams, author of Latvian Dreams.

Those of us who were lucky enough to have known her will miss her exhuberant life force and her contagious laughter. Schoolhouse Press in publishing Latvian Dreams has done an amazing job of capturing some of the great gifts Joyce has given to knitting.

Thank you, Joyce. We'll see you in our dreams.

Knitting Interrupted

2011-08-03T16:49:00.000-06:00

The harvest is upon us. And a goodly one it is, too. Organic green beans from a local farm just north of Denver are destined for the dehydrator to be made into one of my grandmother's favorite recipes, "shucky beans", this winter. And thirty some quarts of spicy dill, bread and butter, and curry pickles were put by last week. Unfiltered apple cider vinegar is my secret.

I only cut my fingers once so the knitting and spinning will simply slow down a bit to work around a couple of touchy fingers.

And I'll go to market again tomorrow. The Olathe sweet corn is in, I hear.

Three Stop Shop Hop: Episode One

2011-07-29T09:15:00.000-06:00

I like things in sets of three, so three knitting shops in one day is just right. I spent a lovely day recently with my friend Rosy on a three stop shop hop. First was Mew Mew's Yarn Shop.

Mew Mew's carries Blacker British Breed Specific Yarns, one of my current obsessions and rather hard to find.

Sue's got yarn

Mew Mew, my dear!

Rosy was waiting for me there, knitting at the central table used for classes and all things fiber. It felt like coming into an inviting and welcoming home to sit down at the family table. I was greeted by both Sue and the shop's namesake, Mew Mew herself, who had not yet retired to her favorite sleeping spot under one of the knitting chairs.

Mew Mew, is that you under that chair?

Mew Mew's displays a well-chosen variety of beautiful yarns. Sue mentioned she likes traditional yarns and knitting, a preference that is reflected in the yarns she stocks. Her fabulous purple walls and the latest issue of Rowan magazine on the table lend Mew Mew's an up to the minute vibe in the midst of warm tradition.

The shop's community support was displayed on the clothesline filled with beautiful knitting and crochet projects donated by some very talented crafts folk /customers. And Sue's knitting A La Carte class is a great way to expand your knitting knowledge with personalized instruction.

I must confess that I did add a wee bit to my yarn collection. Sue put it in a great recycled newspaper bag from a good cause co-op in India. Trend and tradition; the best of both knitting worlds.

Yes, that's more Blacker Yarn and some beautiful Dream in Color worsted.

Spinner's Tale

2011-07-25T16:51:00.000-06:00

My spinning wheel time the last few weeks has been spent exploring the joys of Romney, a lovely long wool fiber that nearly spins itself. Yesterday morning found the bobbin full of 2 ply ready to be turned into a skein.

Yikes!

Too little coffee and a newbie spinner's version of buck fever resulted in a niddy noddy session gone wrong. Note to self: there must be four, not three, wraps on the nid.

Three hours of nonstop de-tangling later (I am a de-tangling pro), the skein was saved with the help of some reliable tools. In the end I lost only a couple of inches of yarn and added just one join to the formerly unbroken skein. That's a small price to pay for such a very impressive lesson.

Now the twist is set and this 250 yards / 3.5 oz skein of Romney is ready to knit. There will be others. The bobbin on the wheel is already half full.

Knitted lace. A new shawl with a tale to tell. Yes, I think that's it.

"Why do they call them hanks?"

2011-07-12T17:20:00.000-06:00

Asked a young lady named Ailene as she patiently waited for her mother to by some roving at my Sew Expo booth last weekend. I am rarely at a loss for words but I didn't have an answer for that one. I think I have one now, though.

The English work hank comes from an ancient Norse word, hǫnk, that means coil. Traceable to Middle English, hank was used in those times to indicate a definite measurement of fiber; a hank of worsted weight wool was defined as having 560 yards.

And there's your interesting fiber fact for the day.

Thank you, Ailene.

Everywhere, I tell you!

2011-07-06T08:57:00.003-06:00

A happy little basket of freshly dyed, easy and gorgeous to spin, 100% wool. Raised in the Rocky Mountain region and dyed right here in the Studio. Now that's local!

To market to market....

Hope to see you at the Sew Expo

For you Breed Specific Fans and spinners who just have to know ( I'm one!) this is a versatile domestic wool blend top roving from Columbia/ Rambouillet/ black face sheepies, milled by the ever amazing Brown Sheep Company

Fiber Fiber Everywhere

2011-07-05T09:32:00.000-06:00

June has been a very fluffy month in the Studio. Getting ready for my booth this week (July 7-9) at the Rocky Mountain Sew Expo (Yes! and there's knitting too!) has kept me very close to the dye pots.

The view through one cocoon

For years I've had a love of Mawata silk hankies. Some of you might remember the Knitaway in Taos when we spent the entire session exploring the history and possibilites of this fiber source. Being silk, they dye like a dream. This week I got into my precious stash and dyed some for the booth. It amazes me that each "hanky" is actually a stack of individual silk cocoons which can be pulled off, drafted and knit directly or spun on spindle or wheel. Lots of possibilities in surface design and papermaking as well. Clever little silk worms... please accept our deep gratitude for your beautiful fiber.

I'll have a spindle going at the booth if you'd like to see for yourself. Please come by Booth #16 and say hello.

Mawata drying on the line. A different kind of prayer flag

From the Heartland

2011-05-27T08:43:00.000-06:00

While visiting family this month in central Kansas, we came upon Heartland Farm, an organic alpaca farm project of the Dominican Sisters outside of Great Bend. Sister Jane kindly gave us a tour and what a joy it was. From the charming, freshly shorn, alpacas to the wild beehive and organic veggie garden, this is a little piece of heaven on earth.

Interior of the former silo now a community space

Sister Jane and friend

Shall we Chicken Dance?

Silo exterior

Oh and I acquired a bit of their handspun alpaca yarn as well. To become...well you'll see it in another post soon .....

Notes from the 2011 MKG Yarnover

2011-05-06T16:31:00.000-06:00

Our April 30th weekend in Minnesota at the Yarnover was just too short....We had a great time! Take a look...

A Marvelous Market

Some of my wonderful (and studious) students.

Count again!

Knitting and Notation

And some Fine Faroese Mini Shawls

Think about adding the Yarnover to your knitting adventure list in the near future. You'll be glad you did.

Springtime Reminder

2011-04-19T08:52:00.000-06:00

It's definitely spring here in the Rockies so those good friends that kept us warm all winter, our sweaters and shawls, are ready to be put in the sweater pantry for the season. Before storing your knitted beauties, remember to give them a gentle hand wash and a thorough drying out.
The process is easy. Gather your sweaters a few at a time (we have a lot of sweaters around here as you can imagine!) and put them in your favorite sweater carrying box ;). Mine is a cherry box. I just love the graphic on it.

Because of the size of my drying space, I usually do batches of three sweater or two shawls. Please use common sense; don't mix light-colored garments with those that might release some dye. Follow my Handwashing Guide or use your own favorite method. Once completely dry I store them for next fall. My studio has a small linen closet that I use as the "sweater pantry", but any out-of-the-way shelf or drawer will do as well.

Nothing is nicer than pulling out a sweet fresh sweater for the first autumn breeze. Hand washing your knitted items before storage will help prevent insect damage by removing the major moth attractants, unwashed, well-worn wool. For extra insurance and if you like the smell, a bar of soap placed on the shelf close by the stored garments is said to detract the buggies. I'm not swearing by that, but it might be worth a try. Dried lavender and cedar are the more traditional choices. In my pantry the sign reads "no moth balls, please". What kills them probably isn't good for us either.

Faroese Shawls Happen

2011-04-12T21:00:00.000-06:00

Just off the needles, my newest Faroese shawl entitled Simply Faroese will debut at the 2011 Yarnover on April 30. I'll be teaching a day-long class on these beautiful traditional folk shawls. Faroese shawls are gems of design; gusseted triangles knit in one piece, they stay on your shoulders because of the unique construction and shaping details.

I am honored to have been asked to teach at the wildly popular Yarnover. If you can come, don't miss it! The roster of teachers is amazing and the market vendor lineup looks to be very tempting. I'm dyeing yarns as we speak to stock a table, too. And since I'll be teaching most of the day my dear friend, Kate, will be there to help you choose something special. I'm bringing Dancing Colors and Gossamer so if these are on your wish list, come take a look. Or join us at one of the other events happening at the Yarnover, bring your books, track me down and I'll be glad to sign them for you.

Hope to see you April 30 in beautiful Minnesota!

Got a group?

2011-04-01T20:37:00.002-06:00

We do! The Knitaway group is up on Ravelry (no fooling!).

If you haven't joined Ravelry yet, give it a try. One million knitters /crafters can't be wrong. If you are already logged in on Ravelry you can check out the Knitaway group now.

Knitaway® in the Studio 2011

2011-03-27T09:28:00.004-06:00

The dates are set for the Knitaway® in the Studio, October 12th to 16th, 2011. Registration opens the first week of May.

After seventeen years of the Knitaway® on the road, I am excited to also be opening the Studio for these events. If you are local or traveling through Denver, there are classes happening here throughout the year. The new schedule goes up ~~this week~~ in a couple of weeks. To borrow a phrase from one of my favorite wandering heroines, there really is no place like home. I do hope you'll join me!

Eyedazzlers

2011-03-11T19:59:00.003-07:00

Another museum trip this week.

The new American Indian art galleries at the Denver Art Museum opened recently with intensely colored Navajo weavings from the museum's collection hanging just inside the main entrance.

Navajo weavers tradtionally dyed their yarn with vegetal dyes which gave subtle colors. When the brightly colored yarns dyed with aniline dyes became available in the mid-1800's, the Navajo embraced the opportunity to use them to great effect. These blankets, so contemporary in design, were woven and most popular among collectors during the last 20 years of the 19th century. They came to be called Eyedazzlers. And they are dazzling, almost hypnotizing. I could scarcely pull myself away. Now I have a delicious urge to knit off-kilter geometric designs with oranges and reds next to deep blues and tawny golds.

Amazing Ammonites!

2011-03-03T13:15:00.004-07:00

For countless centuries the spiral has "inspired" artist and craftspeople. Recently in a favorite haunt, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science , a display of ammonites captured my camera's focus. Fossilized and extinct, these elegant creatures were named for the Egyptian god, Amun (also spelled Amon), who wore a helmet adorned with rams horns. Now every knitter knows that a ram's horn means wool and wool, to me, means fiber joy.

And speaking of fiber joy, recently it was my pleasure to be interviewed by the lovely Lara for the Math4Knitters podcast. Those of you who know me will be able to tell I was "thinking on my feet" even though Lara had kindly provided me with her questions ahead of time. I have always been best at improv because I can't keep to a script (or a pattern!). And just don't listen to me when I talk about taking a sabbatical (as if!) from the Knitaway® this year...see here for what's really happening. The interview for Math4Knitters was a really warm and enjoyable experience. And take a look at the bottom of Lara's featured project....do I detect yet another a spiral design? Take a listen. And thank you, Lara.

More Stars!

2011-02-24T19:06:00.003-07:00

A few more pics of some of the beautiful and talented women who graced my booth at Stitches West.

And don't they just shine?

Christine in her Cusco Jacket

Gigi of the Knitmore Girls Podcast fame, in Collared Shortly

Noel in the Folk School Shawl

Stardust and Knitting

2011-02-23T20:26:00.002-07:00

Stitches West was, as usual, an amazing event. So much energy and great inspiration coming from the knitters and vendors alike. A true festival of knitting.

A highlight this year was the presence of Ali MacGraw who was promoting Ali's Cap, a knitting kit for the charming hat she made famous in the movie Love Story. The pattern comes from the needles of the incomparable British designer, Marion Foale, and the kit includes a skein of Marion Foale 3-ply wool along with the pattern (mine is now signed by Ali!) and a beautiful sea turtle button. All is to benefit WERF, the Wildlife Emergency Response Fund, one of Ali's favorite causes. Just $20 and worth every stitch. Contact sponsors T utto in Santa Fe and RYN Yarns in Milwaukee for information.

As gracious as she is beautiful, Ali kindly agreed to let me have a picture taken with her. She's wearing one of my new jacket designs, Collared Shortly. Nothing like some stardust, eh?

Behind the scenes ..for good reason!

2011-02-16T05:39:00.000-07:00

Arriving at Stitches West in Santa Clara, Ca this morning I will be met by this scene at booth #515....

oh my!

And then some eight hours (and several cups of black tea and broken fingernails) later the booth will be transformed! Like magic, it is!

Hope to see some of you there!

Not only the leaves......

2011-02-09T10:47:00.001-07:00

Last October the vines in our little garden were most beautiful. The tenacity of the English ivy intertwined with the changing hues of post-frost virginia creeper made a gorgeous tapestry of color. Reds and green dancing around shadows of purple and blue. Delicious! Today, while the sub-zero temperatures keep icicles hanging where these vines were last autumn, I've been thinking about October next and wondering what lovely sights the garden will hold for us..........

You might see them too. Please join me this October for the Knitaway® in The Studio where we'll enjoy three full days of knitting workshop along with some special treats and surprises as well. Plans are being finalized and registration will open on the website soon. I'll definitely let you know all about it. I'm very excited!

Baby, it's cold outside! And beautiful...

2011-02-02T09:11:00.000-07:00

So it is positively arctic here today. Record breaking they say. But it's gloriously sunny again.... the photo below is taken in my yard at daybreak....

I'll be loading yarn into my suv, Lucy, (named for one of the patron saints of knitting ) to set up the booth at the Rocky Mountain Sew Expo, so the sun is very welcome. Here it comes again through the door of the studio..I told you it was cold!

Gleaming for You......

2011-01-27T12:02:00.002-07:00

It's one of those legendary 360 days of sun here in Denver and this basket of freshly-dyed Dancing Colors yarn begged me to take its photo as I carried it from the dye studio to the Knittery. Really, I'm almost positive I could hear it whisper "please take our picture, we're gleaming for you......."

Then again, maybe I've just been reading too many fairy tales lately.

Jack Frost the lad?

2011-01-25T06:55:00.009-07:00

We've had some wintery days here in Colorado of late and I captured this image on our front door glass while on my way out to shoot a new sweater design in the early morning snow. Just last night I looked at it again and saw what looks to me to be a face, a bit of a frosty face to be sure, but a face nonetheless. What about you? Do you see the up-turned nose and elfen ear?

ChaChaCha Changes...

2011-01-24T19:17:00.000-07:00

As do all things, the Knitaway (and the Knitaway blog) are changing..... and believe me, this all promises to be a fabulous thing. Change is good and exciting, even though it can seem, at first, strange.

I saw a this on a little marquee outside a school near my studio:

"We can all cherish old memories and young hopes."

I like that.

Spring Knitaway in Taos

2010-01-23T16:20:00.005-07:00

It is still very much winter here in Colorado but photos of the grounds around the San Geronimo Lodge in Taos, New Mexico remind me that spring really isn't far away.

The the beauty of the entire area during May

is breathtaking. Thousands of artists can't be wrong. This is an inspiring place! Come see it for yourself.... registration is officially open . This year's spring session (May 6-10, 2010) includes the Mother's Day weekend and we have some special things planned. A Knitaway can make a really lovely memory. Hope you can join us.

Happy New Year!

2009-12-29T20:56:00.003-07:00

Just had to share this picture with all of you. We've had a really frosty winter here in Colorado so far. It has made things very knitting friendly... as in cozy up and stay in and KNIT! Been some yarn flying in this house, I can tell you. These are some frost ferns that bloomed on our window... ...so amazing is Jack Frost's art!

Mailed the Knitaway® 2010 cards today and the email goes out tomorrow. For me it's getting to say Happy New Year! to lots of you knitters. I have to say I just love it.

Here are my wishes...that you all have a joyous New Year and that I get to see you at a Knitaway® in Colorado or Taos. And if you aren't on the mailing list yet...well check it all out here!

Late summer moment

2009-09-03T07:25:00.003-06:00

My DH, Gary Oberle, is an artist who is especially adept at capturing the essence of the moment on canvas. I love this one as it really brings me back to that late summer day in the sand hills of Kansas....just wanted to share it with you all.

Past Midsummer

2009-08-11T09:57:00.004-06:00

Time is moving on and I've just emailed the info letters to Knitters who are joining us in Taos next month. Summer is wonderful but fall in Taos is amazing! Just look at these photos from last year...mmmmm. Joys to come!

2008-12-11T14:55:00.003-07:00

The winter holidays are coming so quickly! It seems it was just the other day that I was basking in the warm October sunshine at the Knitaway in Taos.

Today the new information for the 2009 Knitaways went up on the website. I never seem to tire of spending days in a beautiful place with a group of knitters. Just planning them makes me smile.

In the news for the Knitaways......We have a new location for the June Knitaway in the Rockies in 2009. The Boulderado is a wonderful historic hotel ( celebrating her 100 birthday in 2009!) and it's in the heart of one of the most scenic, artistic and "hip" towns in the country. This should be a good time! Check it out on the website.

And of course early fall will find us back at our favorite place in Taos, the San Geronimo Lodge, for two more Knitaways.

Sending you all my warmest wishes for your holiday season and for a bright New Year!

Speaking of Alpaca

2008-09-10T16:36:00.016-06:00

Just got this shawl finished and wanted to share it with you. I call it the Ruffled Peddlar. It is a variation of the Wool Peddler's Shawl from my first book, Folk Shawls.

Tehri in Finland (mustaavillaa on Ravelry... see my Favs!) did a gorgeous ruffled variation of the Wool Peddler's Shawl in Rowan Felted Tweed. The new alpaca yarn I'm exploring has 9 natural shades, and since I, like Tehri, love brown and black, I selected Cocoa and Charcoal. I used yo's for the increases that form the ruffle and made the ruffle a bit deeper. The deep ruffle gives the shawl some real movement. The extra width provided by the addition of the subtle ruffle also makes the shawl fit better than a regular triangle..it stays on! I think it works! Brilliant ruffled idea, Tehri! I love the flow of the Ruffled Peddler! It goes from gentle waves to really ruffled, depending on the sway of the wearer.

I so love this alpaca yarn that I will be selling it on my website. I'll have the information and the colors up on cheryloberle.com in the very near future. I will hurry, I promise, though I'm

busy packing as I write.... I do have Knitaway or two (three actually!) to attend in the next month. Joy!

It's September!

2008-09-04T09:08:00.005-06:00

As it often does, the summer has flown so quickly by. Now it's September! And in 10 days we'll be at Session II of the Knitaway in the Rockies in Winter Park.

Session I in June was an incredible experience. A fabulous group of talented knitters from all over the country, perfect weather (the one rain storm produced a magnificent dusk rainbow over the continental divide..quite a sight), and alpacas. And even better than that, baby alpacas. We were invited take an afternoon jaunt to Lonesome Stone in Granby, Colorado to meet the new members of the alpaca herd and to tour the mill ... and yarn shop. Ummmm! Such serene and engaging creatures are the alpacas that I could hardly get the knitters to leave the field to go yarn shopping. I managed to do so however and stash enhancement happened.

So now the end of next week the next group of knitters will arrive and we're going to visit the alpacas again. We'll probably see the aspen starting to turn and the last of the summer wildflowers gracing the sides of the walking paths. Autumn beginning in the high country has a particular feeling, a scent, almost a taste. It is one of my favorite annual experiences and thank goodness for the Knitaway to make sure that I get up there to enjoy every September. Oh yes, and then there's the knitting!

2008-05-17T09:48:00.006-06:00

It's May! Until I started this blog I always had the feeling that the months and weeks fly by but I see it's a warp drive speed we've got going here.

I'm happy to report that the new book is through tech edit. It is now in the capable hands of the publisher, Interweave Press, and is scheduled to be released late this fall. The title (at least for now) is Knitted Jackets: 20 Designs from Classic to Contemporary.

Now perhaps I can make a habit of blogging to share the 2008 Knitaways with all of you here.

The May Knitaway in Taos was just perfect. The weather was glorious, sunny and warm, the orchards were blooming and the cottonwood and willow trees were just starting to fill out in delicate shades of green.

We held class in the newly re-opened artists' studio at the San Geronimo Lodge. This an inspiring space for knitting with a kiva fireplace, french windows and the feel of creativity all around. I know that a lot of that creativity came from the group, The Sand and Sea Knitting Guild, who brought their vibrancy and love of knitting along with them from southern California.

Time does fly!

2008-01-24T16:04:00.000-07:00

Now, some of my more experienced blogging friends have told me that it's nice to post on your blog more than once every 10 weeks or so. OK. I'll try to do better. All my writing juices have been going into finishing my new book, Folk Jackets, which will be out from Interweave Press this fall. Lots of new designs and lots of sleeve stitches over the needles! So I may sound a bit spacey. The fact that I wished someone happy birthday yesterday and her birthday isn't for a month yet...well that might give you an idea of where I am.... uh, what day is it?

On the Knitaway ™ side, we mailed out all of the 2008 invitations the last week of December. It was like sending 100's of Happy New Year cards. I really enjoy the process that goes into the Knitaways from updating the mailing list and mailing the cards each December to preparing the workshops and packing my car to drive to the lodges. Most treasured during this process are the notes that arrive in the mail over the following months with the registrations. While I am a huge user of email, I still like the hand-written note; a note really gives you a feel for the person in their choice of the paper or card, the color of the ink, the flow of the handwriting. Even just a couple of sentences written in this busy age seems like a gift. Nice. If you've already sent in your registration, you'll be getting your confirmation in the next few days. I look forward to seeing you all in Taos or Colorado.

We've been having sub-zero temperatures here this week. Thinking about summer in the Colorado Rockies, with the wildflowers, the alpen glow, the hummingbirds, and a whole bunch of knitters helps keep the hearth and heart warm around here. Hope you are having a warming winter, too.

2007-12-02T20:10:00.001-07:00

December, is it? The year is coming to it's close so quickly. I've been in the process of preparing the annual Knitaway mailing. I love this time of year. Sending out the information for next year's Knitaways is like getting to send hundreds of holiday cards to knitters I've known for years and those whom I have just met in the last year. Adding names to my mailing list is like reviewing all the great shows I've attended, classes I've taught and knitters that i've met.

What makes thses Knitaways so special in my life? After 15 years I still enjoy the process and look forward to each event. Joy, belonging, creativity, and growth. I wish you all of that, too.

The Very First Tme

2007-11-10T19:37:00.000-07:00

Finally, the very first post...

Just back from the 10th annual session of the Knitaway™ in Taos. Well it's actually been weeks since I came back but after sleeping and getting my feet back on the ground I guess it only seems like I just got back. Taos is so amazing and the two groups of knitters this year were just as amazing. They held up really well to the rigors of my Japanese knitting workshop. I must have been a Japanese sensei (teacher) in another life because, like an old traditional sensei, I really expected a lot from my students this year. I'm happy to report that they all came through with shining colors and after the workshop everyone got an A+ for their ability to read Japanese knitting patterns and knit some very curious Japanese stitches.

Those of you who have been to Taos in October know what I mean when I say it is amazing. Nowhere else does the light hit the golden cottonwood trees and the blue mountains like it does there. It was the light (so they say) that brought the many artists to Taos early in the 20th century. I'm sure it was the light as well as the other, less concrete but very palpable, energy that enchants that area. I know that I'll go to Taos anytime that I get the opportunity. It gets into your being and then "being there" is a complete rejuvenation for body, mind, and spirit.

OK..so poetic I'm waxing. It's the light, I tell you!

As I said, this is my first posting to this blog. Actually to any blog. I am excited to be able to join all the wonderful bloggers out there and to have a place to talk about knitting and Knitaways™ and all things concerned with those particular passions of mine.

Now, right off the bat I will address the most annoying issue of the ™ symbol that will be frequently appearing after the word Knitaway ( oops! that's Knitaway™). Knitaway™ is a registered trademark of Cheryl Oberle Designs (hence the ™) and even though I have been advertising and holding the Knitaways™ in Colorado, Taos and Alaska for 15 years suddenly some people seem to think that they also need to call their knitting retreats Knitaways. It causes untold confusion when people (mostly unintentionally) use my trademark to promote their knitting retreats. I am happy to say that everyone (including a major magazine publisher who shall remain here unnamed) has respected the trademark once they were notified of it's existence and strength. To all these very ethical and professional folk I say "thank you"! While enforcing a trademark is something my attorney lives to do, I just hate to give him the chance. Ok enough said.

Now onto the future of Knitaway™ in Colorado, Taos and...who knows where next?

Dates for the Knitaway™ in the Rockies 2008 in Winter Park, Colorado, (2 sessions) and in Taos, New Mexico, (3 sessions) will be up on my website, www.cheryloberle.com this coming week. All the details will be there too. Actually the dates have already been published in the current issue of Interweave Knits magazine in the classifieds under "special events". Registration starts the 15th of January, 2008.

2008 is going to be a fabulous year for Knitaways™!

So the Knitaway blog is launched. I look forward to spending time here. Hope you will, too.

Cheryl