Yarn Along

I am on Day 8 of the flu. Or whatever this nasty cold really is. I'm am so ready to be back to 100%! But all this down time has really been great for my knitting. I actually have three new patterns. A turtle neck sweater, shawl and a cowl!

I made a shawl using 400 yards of sock yarn. I made the first one (the yellowy brown one) from my head.  I knitted it without anything written down. Now I'm knitting the second one out of Blue's yarn and this time I'm writing down the directions. I can't wait to send this one out to test knitters I really like it.  Also I made a pattern for a cowl using my handspun yarn.  I'll have all the detail on these patterns up soon!

I ran out of yarn for my sweater and I still need to finish the bottom waist line, but it is almost done. This will be a free pattern I will release after it is tested.  I wanted a casual lightweight sweater and this seems to be working out perfect.

Rudee and Rocky think all this sickness is getting old. They are ready to get out of the house and go for a run. Sorry dogs a few more days of rest.

I have been doing a lot of reading with the kids, but not much for myself. I have however been watching a lot of DIY shows on TV. I am so ready to rip my house apart and make it amazing just like they do on TV! Too much DIY watching can be harmful to the checking account.

Joining Ginny's Yarn Along

Yarn and Knitting

Chelsea yarns opened up not far from where I live.  After my first time shopping there I knew this was yarn heaven. There are so many amazing yarns to pick from.  I was excited when I got my next test knit assignment and I knew I didn't have yarn in my stash. It meant I got to take a trip to Chelsea yarn. Woo Hoo. So today I went by and picked up 4 skeins of Malabrigo Twist in #618 Liquid Amber.  I wish I could tell you want I am knitting with it, but it will have to wait until after the pattern is published (sometime in the Fall). But you can take a peek at the yarn for the time being.

 

I feel like I have been knitting so much lately. Some of it I haven't been able so share because they are test knits and I can't reveal them until after the patterns are published.

 

But I have been plugging away on my Quill. 

 

 

It is hard to photograph at this point, but it has been a joy to work on. I made post about it here with the knit along I am doing.

 

I wanted something pretty to make with my Miss Bab's yummy sock yarn. When I came across this "EZ 100th Anniversary Camping Half Circle" I thought it was the perfect pattern.  It is inspired by Elizabeth Zimmermann's camping trips.

 

 

 

The pattern is by Mwaa Knit

 

~The theme of the Camping shawl is the wonderful camping trips that EZ describes. In the Knitter’s Almanac, page 85, she describes being over 60, water-camping and fishing in the Canadian north woods. Spectacular! There are other stories about camping by the Mississippi, “dandled by the milky ripples” of the river (The Opinionated Knitter, page 70). But my absolute favourite is about a camping trip on a remote island in northern Canada, in late September 1971, with Elizabeth, the Old Man, and KLINE, the cat (The Opinionated Knitter, pages 38-41). If you have never read this, you simply must get hold of it.
The Camping theme:
-- 72 and 144 st rings: Paw Prints (adapted from The Haapsalu Shawl page 131), to honour KLINE the cat, and all our furry companions.
-- 288 st ring: Slanting Twigs (page 119), to represent a walk in the forest with sun shining through the trees.
-- 576 st ring: Willow Leaves (page 105), to celebrate the beauty of everything growing and green.
-- Edging: I’m calling this Waves and Droplets. Based on TiaJudy’s scalloped edging to represent water lapping up at the edge of the lake or river, and rolling back across the sand and rocks.~

With my upcoming camping trip I just couldn't resist this pattern! The bonus is the pattern is free.  It is a joy to knit. 

 

I am really enjoying having a selection of things to knit these days. That is a big stretch for me since I usually only work on one thing at a time. But I am really enjoying having the options.

 

Joining with Ginny's Yarn Along

Oh and when I haven't been working or knitting we have been having a ton of fun. Yesterday we went to Six Flags Great Adventure with my sister Leanne and my nephews. We had an awesome time!



A Mystery Shawl and the Carrot Lady

I am so sad about what just happened in Boston. I hate to see such horrible things happen. 

 

I don't have the words to put all my thoughts about it in writing so I hope you don't mind some pictures of knitting, alpacas and people who have inspired me to clear your and my mind of it for a moment.

 

 

I started this Blog one night not knowing what I was really going to do with it.  I thought it would be a good place to share all my pictures.  The next morning I went to our neighbors alpaca farm to see a cria that had just been born. I was hoping to get a few pictures of the new little alpaca and while I was there the owner showed me a Blog "It's All About Purple".  He told me about a woman, Debbie, who had just visited his farm. He went on to tell me she has MS and is one of the most inspiring people he has ever met.

I went home later that day and looked up her blog.  I made a comment and the rest is history.  If you know Debbie then you know how awesome she is. If you don't know her I highly recommend getting to know her.  She has made this little blog of mine come to life. I thank her so much for all her words of kindness, her recommendations of places to go and the list goes on and on.

 

 

We live a town apart, but never see each other. My boys are young and hers are grown and out of the house. She has given me so much motivation to "take the picture".  I was so excited that she could come to my parents farm today to play with the alpacas and help take some pictures of me wearing my new shawl.  Although I think she was having more fun being the Carrot Lady.  She insisted she didn't know what she was doing taking pictures, but I think she did a fantastic job.  She was so much fun to spend time with. 

 

And as a bonus my shawl is now featured on the designers page!  That is the biggest thrill in the world to a knitter, or to me at least.

 

 

Francesca help me out with the pictures too. She is such a good alpaca.

 

It was hard keeping Debbie away from the alpacas for too long. 

 

 

As for the shawl I made it with a MKAL (mystery knit along). When I signed up for the MKAL I had no idea what is was going to look like.  I was knitting from paper and hoping I was doing the right thing!  That really tested my skills.  But the group I was knitting with was so much fun and it was so fun to see everyone's progress pictures along the way.  Romi is the designer of the shawl and I highly recommend joining her Ravelry Group Romi's Studio.  It is a very active group.  You will pick up lots of tips and there are lots of people to help you with her patterns.

 

 

I wanted to get a picture of the shawl with Blue since he has spots, but he didn't want anything to do with it.  I guess pink isn't his color.

 

It was also nice having Debbie at the farm so I could get some fleece shots.  Getting these pictures helps to have 3 people: the photographer, alpaca holder, hands to open the fleece.  So between myself, my mom and Debbie we got some fleece shots.  The pictures are taken from their sides.

 

This is Reno.  I wish you could feel how soft his is through the computer.

 

Next up Jatoba.



 

Soon that will all be turned into yarn!

 

I got a quick shot of my mom with Reno. I think everyone should get to hug an alpaca everyday. It would make for a better world I am sure of it.

 

 

 

I would also like to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who has been voting for me in the National Alpaca Photo Contest.  You guys are the best!  I can not believe how many of you are voting and supporting me. I can't say thank you enough!

 

Notes:

Ravelry link- Mystery Shawl (I have tried to change the settings so no Raverly users can see my link)

Yarn- Cascade Yarns Heritage Hand Painted Sock Yarn 75% merino superwash / 25% nylon

Yarn (pink)- 100% Superfine Alpaca

 

A few notes on the colors of the shawl- I dyed the entire shawl in a pot of my own homemade dye using flowers and black cherry jello.  You can see my post about how I made the dye from the flowers here.  I dyed the shawl when it was complete to marry the two colors together.

 

Joining with Ginny's Yarn Along