Yarn Along

I have really been knitting up a storm this past Summer. I am behind in posting all my finished projects. I think I'll have to do a "What I Knitted On My Summer Vacation" post in a few weeks to get all caught up.  But in the mean time here is a little taste of some of my knits.

Last May when I went to the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival I purchased some Boho Batts from Boho Chic Fiber Co. The fiber is "Mermaid" and it is polworth wool, soft silk & nylon blend. I spun these batts into yarn faster than I could come in the house with them from the festival. I loved spinning these batts so much. I loved the playful yarn it created. Typically when I spin yarn I make it smooth and even. This fiber however wanted to be lumpy and bumpy and so much fun. I was sad about how long it sat on my desk as a skein of yarn. I couldn't figure out what to make with it. Then finally I decided a hat, but I couldn't find just the right pattern so I wrote one "Boho Batt Hat". It is free and works great for knitting up some hand spun yarn! It is just a simple K1, P1 hat and once I make a few more of them I'll update the yardage needed. Since the pompom can be any size it really can vary the amount of yarn you need, but I'd say 3.5 ounces of thick hand spun or aran weight yarn is best.

I also finished my Blue Sands Cardigan all out of handspun yarn a few weeks ago. I can't wait to post some finished pictures of that. I think I'll need to have my alpaca Blue in the pictures since I used his fiber for most of the cardigan.

In complete panic mode I casted on a Shockwaves shlanket. It is the perfect travel knit! I am using Miss Babs Kiera for it and I just love this yarn. It was great to work with while it was in the high 90s at Myrtle Beach. I planned on working on some projects out of alpaca, but I didn't think that would knit so nice with sweaty hands. This project is so addictive and has just enough design work that I haven't gotten bored with it. It is also very nice that I don't have to look at the pattern while I work on it.

Happy knitting!

Joining Ginny's Yarn Along

Gotta Love Me Blanket

When my kids ask for hand knits I jump at the opportunity.  Tiny requested a red and black blanket for his birthday. I considered several types of yarn, but I know Miss Babs Yowza Whatta Skein! would be perfect. I attempted knitting this blanket in several different patterns, but because of color of the yarn the patterns were getting lost and I know nothing beats a nice garter ridge blanket.

I wrote up the pattern and I put in on Raverly as a FREE download. I also included easy directions to modify the overall size of the blanket. The size I made for Tiny is just perfect. He sleeps with it every night. It is large enough that he can wrap it around himself, but he doesn't drag it on the floor!

You can download my Gotta Love Me Blanket on Ravelry. 

Joining Ginny's Yarn Along

Say "Sheepy"

Real knitting dorks take pictures of their outfits they plan on wearing to the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival.

That being said I am a TRUE KNITTING DORK and PROUD OF IT!!!!

My hand knit for Friday dinner with my sisters is one of my new patterns. This one is knitted with Marianated Yarns.  I will probably be releasing the pattern with that yarn as the suggested yarn.... but I'm also going to look for some fun other dyers at the festival that I can use to test this pattern out.

Also (don't ask why I look serious in this next picture, I have no clue) I will be wearing my Standing Stones Fingering version in Miss Babs Katahdin as a skirt. Since it is going to be 72 degrees I think it will be much more comfortable as a skirt then a cowl.

Yay I can't wait to go. All the craziness going on in Baltimore right now makes this trip a little bit of a nail bitter getting there.... but I know once we get there nothing is going to put all us knitter and fiber junkies between us and our love for sheep. I think we will have safety in numbers! 

The Joey Infinity Scarf

This week I released a new knitting pattern "Joey Infinity Scarf." It is worked flat on straight needles and can be closed with 4-5 buttons.

These fabulous tree buttons are from Wooly Moss Roots.

I have made quite a few of these infinity scarves over the Fall & Winter and I have been testing them out and wearing them everywhere :) I wanted to make sure of the sizes before releasing the pattern. The greenish brown version is made with two skeins of Tosh DK (450 yards).  I alternated skeins as I worked that version.

The gray or "Slate" version is out of Miss Babs Yowza Whatta Skein! This version used one skein (560 yards).  I love the Yowza because I didn't have to alternate skeins and I loved the length of it.

I have also made quite a few versions of this pattern in a cowl length.  I didn't include the information for the cowl sizes in the pattern, but I did include notes on the pattern page for making it cowl size.  I suggest having at least 225 yards of a DK or lightly worsted weight yarn. Work to desired length and then work the button band.

On the cowl I secured the top button approximately 7" from the edge. Then I buttoned the other three buttons.  This makes the cowl a funnel shape and It really shows off the buttons and is so comfy to wear.

These infinity scarves work up quickly and I think they make a great gift.  I also love the excuse to hunt for good buttons at fiber festivals :) 

Joining Ginny's Yarn Along

Snowed In

NJ is shut down today due to a state of emergency because of the snow.  Rudee Tudee has taken up a spot on the couch arm to watch the snow fall.

Look we could almost see grass!!!! Now we are expecting 8 fresh inches of snow.

I have SOOO many new patterns written, tested, knitted, knitted again, gifted, worn, tested again.... I'm not quite sure why I haven't released them. I think my biggest hold up has been naming them and settling on the yarn brands. Such decisions between Madelintosh, Miss Babs, The Fibre Company and Blue Sky Alpacas! At least I have my buttons selection down. The wonderful owners of Wooly Moss Roots have been amazing and I can't thank them enough for their support.

Now it comes down to what to release first.... 

The scarf above I had a great time making. I've been thinking of making a matching cowl to release with the pattern. I am planning on releasing it as a free pattern.... I am just dragging my feet.

I can blame that on all my quality time with the alpacas these days.  Everything at the farm finally started to thaw yesterday. My mom and I had the back breaking job of cleaning up hundreds of pounds of defrosting poop and hay yesterday. My father stopped by the farm to get something and while he was there he snapped a quick picture of my mom and I.  Remember behind every skein of yarn is a dirty hard working farmer :)

Joining Ginny's Yarn Along

Yarn Along

I am pleased to say I finally finished my Spire!!! I still need to take some finished pictures of it. But I'm very happy to have it off my needles. I handspun the yarn for the project. But for the knitted on edging I used Manos Fino yarn in the colorway Ivory Letter Opener. I am thrilled with how it turned out and can't wait to give it a proper photo shoot!!!

I've been busy writing a new pattern.  I have most of the pattern written up and not much to show for it. I've made lots of swatches and I have lots of notes. I'm glad to finally be knitting it! I am making two versions of it. One in Shibui Pebble yarn and the other the Loopy Ewe's yarn (the purple version).

Words can't explain how obsessed I am with the Pebble yarn. The yarn is amazing!!!!!!! I also love the Loopy Ewe's yarn, but the Pebble is hands down drool over worthy yarn.

I finished up another Standing Stones Worsted Cowl. This time I used 1 skein of Miss Bab's Yowza in the color way "Zombie Prom". I had to modify the pattern slightly by leaving off one repeat of the final chart, but I am very happy how it turned out. I always LOVE working with Yowza. It was also a great thing to knit after working on my Spire since it takes minimal effort to knit unlike the Spire.

Well that is it for my knitting that I can think about! I think I might have a few other WIPs floating around.

Links-

Spire

Standing Stones

Joining with Ginny's Yarn Along

Yarn Along

I finished up my Standing Stones Light Fingering Version.  The pattern is with my wonderful graphic designer sister and I'll be publishing it soon. It will go out to all the people who have already purchased the Standing Stones pattern in the worsted weight version as an update. I will be updating the price on the pattern as soon as I do release it, so if you want to take advantage of the $3.50 price you might want to do so quickly.

I made the dimensions of the Fingering Version slightly larger. Since the weight of the yarn is so light I love the way it drapes. I think the size of the garment and the yarn turned out well together. I really enjoyed using Miss Bab's Katahdin yarn. I loved seeing how the colors morphed based on the stitch I was knitting. I really think is turned out fun and adds a fun twist to the garment.

I've signed up for the Loopy Ewe's "Camp Loopy 2014". I ordered my yarn for Project 2. If you aren't familiar with Camp Loopy here is a little explanation for Project 2

The Challenge for Project Two – Find a project that reminds you of one of your favorite places to vacation or relax. It can be based on colors, regions, names, or however you’d like to interpret your love for that favorite place. We look forward to hearing you share your stories about what you picked and why! This second project must have a minimum of 600 yards, used in one project. 

(Not sets of things, like two matching hats or two shawls.)

I purchased 8 skeins of The Loopy Ewe - Solid Series in the color Blackberry.  I have a pattern I'm making for a cardigan. We are going to be camping on the beach in a few weeks and I wanted to design a light weight cardigan that I could put on in case it was chilly at night or if I've gotten too much sun.  I love the beach and I wanted to design a fun top that was airy and a breeze to wear. I choose this deep purple color because I thought it would hide stains. Since real camping does tend to get messy I wanted something that wouldn't look dirty after one use.

I also ordered some shade charts from the Loopy Ewe. So many colors to pick from! I am really pleased with the yarn. It is a 3-ply fingering weight 100% superwash merino. Of course the first thing I did with one of the skeins when I opened the box was squish it in my hands. It has a perfect wool crunch :) I can't wait to see how it knits up. I will make a few swatches and get them blocked.

The 2nd Project cast on date is July 1st and goes through July 31st. The chatter in this Ravelry group is too addictive. I had to stay out of there for a few days so I could a few things done first. I can't wait to swing back over there to get inspired by more campers!

Now back to finish my never ending Spire!!!!

Joining Ginny's Yarn Along

Standing Stones Cowl

I released my "Standing Stones" pattern! I have been overwhelmed with how many sales I have had already. I can't thank everyone enough for supporting me! I put so much time and money into working on my patterns and to have such an overwhelming response so soon leaves me speechless. 

I am so happy to be able to do something I love and have it appreciated by so many people. 

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

I am currently sell the "Standing Stones Pattern" for $3.50, but the price is going to go up after I updated the pattern to include additional weights of yarn. If you purchase the pattern now at $3.50 you will get the full version in additional weights automatically through Ravelry when I make the update.

In the mean time I am using some of this WONDERFUL Miss Bab's Katahdin Hand-painted 4 ply BFL Yarn. This skein is 1750 yards of pure fiber goodness. I am loving how it is knitting up!  The color is One Way.

And on reserve of I have this 560 yard skein of Miss Bab's Yowza- Whatta Skein on reserve for another version or maybe a new pattern.  The color way is Zombie Prom. I couldn't resist it!

Happy Knitting!

~Andee