Look at What I've Been Up To

I just finished up another MKAL with Romi. I love how my shawl turned out! I of course went against the rules and instead of making it in two colors like the pattern called for I made it in one. The yarn I used was from the Sheep Shed. I purchased the yarn last Fall at Rhinebeck. I had seen their yarn the year before and didn't buy any. I didn't make that mistake again this year and I was so excited to get two skeins of their Silk Merino blend. I had wanted to make a large white shawl......but..... I had no idea what pattern to make. I casted on several of my own patterns, but nothing stuck. So when I saw Romi was having her KMAL I said there was no way I was missing out on it, but I didn't have enough stash yarn to make it! So the white yarn it was even if it was going to be one color instead of two. Well I am more than happy with it in solid white!!! It was so fun to get one clue every 5 weeks. It was NOT so fun not being able to share what I was knitting with the rest of the knitting world. But as of today I can share it and it has been so much fun getting such a HUGE response from Ravelry. I feel like I am back in the loop!!! I have quite a few patterns of my own to release in the next few weeks :) All this secretive knitting is no fun!

And just for fun I had used my chicken Bonnie in the picture for my Ravelry project page... since it was supposed to be kept secret. In the picture below is Bonnie on the far left 

(how freaking cute is Harley's face in the back, she is special).

Here is Bonnie (going back I wanted to name all my chickens after the people on Alaska the Last Frontier. I wanted my own Kilcher Homestead. Somehow we only ended up with Bonnie from the show. If you haven't watch the show and know who I'm talking about... shame on you, you should really watch it.)

Here is Bonnie after a few weeks of the MKAL.

And Bonnie today! She is huge. My babies are growing up so fast.

Hopefully I'll be back to making regular posts soon! If not I'm studying up on all the vendors I'm going to visit next weekend at Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival!!!!!!

Joining Ginny's Knit Along

Yarn Along ~ Shawl

Yay I am so happy to have an FO to share on the Yarn Along!!! I finished up my Mystery Knit Along with Romi. I used Anzula Squishy in the colorways Paprika and Sexy. There is something so satisfying about getting one clue a week for five weeks. It was a joy to knit and like always Romi put in a few techniques I haven't done before, which I always find as a bonus by making her patterns.

I have to give props to Tiny (age 6) for taking the pictures of me in the shawl. He did a good job holding my big camera. Had I realized I was going to be in the pictures maybe I would have dressed nicer and done my hair :)

Joining Ginny's Yarn Along.

A Knitting Pep Talk

I finished my second Postcard Cardigan with Anzula Squishy yarn. I am hoping to do a photo shoot tomorrow. I have just the place in mind and I have enlisted the help of my wonderful husband to take the pictures of me wearing it (well both of them separately). Hopefully it will all work out and I'll share finished pictures tomorrow. Then I have to review the pattern 600 times and try to muster up the courage to publish it.  I am going to be releasing it in one size. To start.... then possibly I'll add more sizes in the future.

 

I had a little pep talk with myself. I tried to decide what path I should take with my knitting and designing. I really love designing and it is all I think about. I decided I will finish up a few projects I already have on my needles and then I'll focus on my next patterns to publish. I told myself that I won't join any more KALs or do any custom orders.

That lasted for about one hour. Then I saw Romi is having another MKAL. I did her Mystery Knit Along last year and I loved the group and I really love her patterns. I loved getting one clue a week for five weeks. I really looked forward to my new clues each Friday morning. So without hesitation I bought the pattern and rushed up to Chelsea Yarns and bought this fantastic Manos Fino in colorways Ivory Letter Opener and Antique Lace. I wore the two skeins around my neck in the store to make sure I could live with the two colors and of course I love them. So do my little birds :)

 

Plus I love the story behind the Manos del Uruguay story:

 

~Manos Del Uruguay Yarns

100% Hand Dyed Yarns  

 

With each purchased skein of Manos del Uruguay yarn you will be helping a woman to support her family. Each skein is signed, so you will know who made your yarn, and from which village it came.

You will be supporting the hand-crafted rather than mass-produced, and contributing to an economy where the workers control of the means of production. You, as a handknitter, crocheter or weaver, will be contributing to women’s careers in harmony with family life, and contributing to the landscape, and cultural heritage of Uruguay.~

I can't wait to get it started!

 

Links-

Chelsea Yarn

Manos Del Uruguay Fino

Romi MKAL 2014 "It's a Mystery" starts March 21st

 

 



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