Saturday, March 31, 2012

Lace and Tea and Knitting, oh my!

It's a weekend  of girly fun.  Both  Knit Knack  and  Wild Yarns  are having events you'll want to check out.


       Today Wild Yarns hosts a knitting and crochet tea party from 10am until closing.  Yesterday I dropped off some more OM hand-dyed organic merino at the shop and it looked beautiful in there, like a garden of colors.  I hear the patio will be open.  Maybe I'll see you there.  

       Tomorrow I'm teaching the Lace Sampler Workshop at Knit Knack.  We'll spend the day together learning how to knit lace and exploring some beautiful patterns from around the world.  Perfect spring things.   Give Gerry a call to check for open seats in the class.  Love to have you join us.

Lace and Tea and Knitting.  I feel prettier already.
     



Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Almost Speechless Wednesday

Just received an incredibly beautiful video and wanted to share it with you all.
Take a look, please.  And enjoy!



Monday, March 26, 2012

Wishbone Shawl

 Shawls that take just under 500 yards of yarn are a design theme I've been exploring of late.  The Mountain and Plains Shawl was the first to get published and now I present you with the Wishbone Shawl.  Shaped in a graceful arch with extremely long tails, this is a featherweight lace mesh shawl and a versatile wrapper.




   This is a simple, nicely repetitive pattern, easy to start (and finish) this spring season..  And best of all, the shaping keeps it hugging your neck for carefree wearing.  It is fabulous in a hand-dyed varigated yarn.  The model used Dancing Colors DK . 
Just one hank.

Sunday, March 25, 2012

On and Off the Needles

Here's a peek at the latest coming off the needles this last week.  A bit of a tease I know, but both mystery projects will be revealed soon, coming to a Ravelry  pattern shop near you.

 

And... 
More big news in the studio this week is that Folk Vests has become an ebook!  And it looks fabulous on your mobile reader or desktop.    I'm excited to be entering the ebook world thanks to Interweave's decision to keep Folk Vests in print digitally.  For those of you who already have a print copy (thank you!), the ebook also makes a perfect companion to that (now very precious) book.   The Folk Vests ebook is  ready for you and available through my website



Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Spring Fever

Aren't these just the most beautiful little eggs ?  I couldn't resist them when I saw them at a local market.  Quail's eggs about one quarter the size of a chicken's egg.  And the colors!  They simply charmed my socks off.  Obviously I have spring fever.

                              

With so many warm days the hints of spring are everywhere in the studio garden.  Not that I've been gardening as yet, just a bit of tidying up after the snowy winter.  The robins are arriving in the garden to investigate some errant tufts of wool from my latest fleece washing project, six pounds of English  Leicester.  I think some scrap wool would make lovely lining in a nest.


Another beautifully colored fleece, as you can see.  I have a weakness for the colored fleeces.

 
This is fleece number four of the five I bought in January.  My goal by the start of spring is that they'll all be washed, safely tucked with atemesia and lavender into their pillowcases and ready to card (my current preparation of choice).  I'm testing out different carders before making the plunge into ownership.  I used a Louet  Classic Carder for my Gotland fleece and it came out beautifully. 

Next up to wash is four pounds of creamy Polworth ,  a different breed from the long wools indeed.  I'll be doing that in smaller, more careful, batches.  Been saving it till last just to hone my fleece washing skills.  I'm more confident now so I think I can avoid felting this fine wool.

For now though, while the English Leicester dries, there's lots of knitting to fill my time, more lace, more shawls, more classes.  But  I'll save that for another day.....

Monday, March 5, 2012

Sweet Shawl at Wild Yarns

Tomorrow night, March 6th, join me at Wild Yarns for the first of two classes on the "Sideways Shawl with Lace".  Some of you will recognize this as the fabulously popular Carol's Clever Little Shawl pattern,  a delightful, and historic, small shawl with details galore.  

 
The pattern is free on my website ( click the link above)  If you've been wanting to give this garter stitch beauty a try here's you chance to do so with other knitters in the charming environment of Wild Yarns.  It's a great first shawl project and I'll have ideas for variations to share as well.  We've got a couple of seats open so give Kelly or Anna a call and join us.  You will love this shawl.  Everybody does!

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Mountain and Plains Shawl

The Mountain and Plains Shawl, which had it's debut at Stitches West last weekend, is now up in my Ravelry shop.  I'll be busy for the next few weeks in the dye room filling Dancing Colors yarn orders for this one.  It was a great show! Thanks to all of you who came by to visit.  I so enjoy spending time with so many beautiful knitters.

 
PS: I just realized that I already posted this photo a few weeks ago, before the pattern was done.....sigh.. Guess I'd better catch up on sleep now, too.