The Reveal!

Since the Intersect MKAL has come to a close I thought it would be a good time to reveal what the patterns look like!  The ladies in the Indieway Yarns group all did a fabulous job on their projects!  Dragonstar posted about hers on her blog.  She also has an interesting post where she is knitting with giant needles - be sure to check that one out too.  You can see all of the projects for the MAKL on Ravelry.   I have to say that the Indieway group made me feel right at home and I had a blast getting to know everyone. Wendi, who is the creator of Indieway Yarns, has been wonderful to work with and so much fun!  I have another pattern coming out later this spring in her yarn and will have more details very soon.  I was so happy to see that AllisonMarie joined the group too.  I've known Allison from other groups on Ravelry and she is super nice.  We even met in person once which was really cool! 

Andy and I had such a great time doing the photo shoot for Intersect.  We were driving around downtown Lynchburg looking for a spot to take pictures when we spotted this great yellow door from a street above.    We parked a street below where we had spotted the door and took the walking path up to it.  I have no idea what the door leads to, which made it even more perfect for pictures for a Mystery Knit Along!

I am updating the pattern in Ravelry so that it includes pictures and will no longer be in clue format.  It's a fun knit and would make a perfect Easter gift.

I love the color of the door and really would like to paint something at our house in this shade of yellow!  Bright colors always cheer me up and I love being surrounded by them.

 

I have a few other fun things in the works that I will be posting about next week; a couple new patterns that are in the works and an upcoming KAL with Bare Naked Wools. If you go to their website there is a count down at the top of the page that is a mystery.  I have no idea what it's for and I would really like to know! I guess we will have to wait for 47 more days to find out. 

Flu

Last Monday I was minding my own business and went to the doctor for some routine blood work.  I started to feel a little tired on Wednesday and by Thursday morning there was no way I was getting out of bed.  Coughing, fever and feeling like I had been hit by a truck.  I figured it was just a little bug and took some Dayquil and Nyquil.  By Saturday I was not improving so Andy hauled me back to the doctor (can you see the irony here?) where I found out that I had the flu.  Five days of Tamiflu and lot's of rest has me almost back to normal.  I normally don't go to the doctor when I first get sick as usually I get better fairly quickly.  This has been a huge learning experience and I have to say that if you are not feeling well and it's flu season, don't wait.  I could have been feeling much better sooner if I gone in when I first started feeling ill.

Now, on to much more fun stuff!  Today I released Frost in Bloom - The Hat.  It's introductory priced at $3.50 until February 1 in my Ravelry shop.  Shown here in Indieway Yarns First String in the Delicate Pastels colorway. I've also updated the Frost in Bloom infinity scarf pattern with new formatting and my logo. 

The handspun sweater that I had posted about last time is nearly done.  I'm so excited about it!  It fits me really well and I love how it kind of stripes in the center.  The fleece that I used was from a Jacob sheep which are multicolored.  It's a little difficult to blend the colors together evenly when processing fleece by hand so some of the skeins that I spun are darker or lighter and have a cool striping effect.  I think I was pretty lucky with where the darker stripe is. It sort of looks like it was intended that way and gives a slimming illusion in the waist area. 

I knitted the button and neck band all in one piece, adding a bit of mitering where they join.  It still needs a final steam to smooth out the button band.  I'm heading out tomorrow in search of ribbon to line the inside of the button band with.  The buttons are so cute!  I had purchased two of them a couple of years ago from Melissa Jean while I was at MDSW.  I had no idea what I would use them for and when I laid them out on this sweater I knew they were perfect!  I went to her online shop and ordered more (thankfully she had them in stock) and they arrived yesterday.  There will be nine of them, which is why I need to line the button band. 

The First Clue from the Intersect MKAL went out today.  I can't wait to see everyone's projects!  If you have a chance pop on over to the Indieway Yarns group on Ravelry to see all the Intersect projects!

Happy New Year!

I always find the new year to be especially exciting.  It's full of hope and promise for good things to come.  While 2013 was hard in many ways, I try to look back and see the good things that happened.  Meeting new friends, publishing my first design, traveling a bit, and doing a few home improvements are just a few of the wonderful things from 2013.

I'm still working on my list of goals for 2014.  Organizing the yarn/craft/office is at the top of the ever growing list.  Each year in January I organize this room and by June I start to worry that the Hoarders show people are going to call to see if they can film an episode in this room.  I decided to start this year out a little bit ahead of time and did a stash toss in December.  I looked at all the yarn I had and put aside the skeins that I knew I wouldn't have time to knit with (they are in my Ravelry destash if you are looking to add to your stash).

I just finished blocking a new sock design that will be coming out in February.  It's knit in Peppino (don't you just love the name?!) from The Yarns of Rhichard Devrieze.  This spectacular colorway is Frosted Windows and really pairs well with the lace motif in the sock.

I'm still working on naming them.  It's a good thing Andy and I didn't have children as they would have gone around without being named for quite some time!  If you watch True Blood, when Detective Belfleur had quadruplets he named them: One, Two, Three and Four.  I can totally see me doing this!

Peppino is a wonderful fingering weight yarn that glides through your hands while you knit.  This is my first time working with it, and I'm really impressed!

Along with the beautiful skeins of Frosted Windows that Rhichard sent was a lovely grouping of mini skeins for swatching with.  These are in his Merino Worsted which is just full of squishy goodness!

The first thing that I have cast on in 2014 is a cute little cardi.  I'm making up the pattern as I go - a bit of free spirited knitting! While I was looking through my stash I found some really nice Jacob yarn that I had spun a year or so ago.  It came from a fleece that I purchased at MDSW that I processed by hand.  It's from a lamb's first shearing so the fibers were a little short, but that worked out as some of the shorter fibers in the finished yarn look a little like flecks.  I tried to blend and card the fleece evenly before I spun it, but there is still some variation in the finished yarn.  I'm hoping to have it done in a week or two and will post more pictures of it as it progresses.

There is still time to get in on the Intersect Mystery Knit Along!  The first clue will be coming our on January 17.  Wendi is hosting the MKAL in the Indieway Yarns group on Ravelry and has generously offered a coupon code for $2 off per skein to use in her Etsy shop on MKAL yarn. 
Coupon Codes ($2/skn)
For 1 skein: 1mystery
For 2 skeins: 2mystery

Intersect Mystery Kint Along

The Intersect Mystery Knit Along pattern is now available!  I'm so excited about the MYKAL, it's two fun filled patterns that are perfect for those of us who have been overwhelmed with holiday knitting and need a little something to sit back and relax with.  

Wendi has a thread going for the MKAL in the Indieway Yarns Group on Ravelry where you can join in on the fun and we can answer any questions that you may have.  

Intersect is specially priced until Jan 1 at $6.50 which includes both patterns for the MKAL, no coupon code is needed.

Here is a little information about the MKAL and the pattern:
 

Welcome to the Intersect Mystery Knit Along! Two effortless projects, clear instructions, six clues and a lot of fun along the way. Both patterns have been test knitted and tech edited to ensure that you have an enjoyable experience!

The first clue will be released on January 17th with a new clue being released every Friday for five consecutive weeks. Join us in the Indieway Yarns Group where you can post progress pictures and we can answer any questions you may have.

The clues are designed for those of us who have been wiped out from holiday cheer and want something fun and relaxing to knit.

What are the two projects? A hat and matching mitts. Why is this being disclosed? You may have thought it was supposed to be a secret… Well, Wendi and I felt that knitters would want to have an idea of what they were going to be knitting. It helps in choosing the color of the yarn, and this way you won’t be expecting an Estonian shawl or something of that nature.

Wendi from Indieway Yarns has generously offered a coupon code for $2 off per skein (may be applied to non–sale yarns) for the MKAL. Use it when ordering in her Etsy shop : https://www.etsy.com/shop/Indiewayarns?ref=si_shop For 1 skein: 1mystery For 2 skeins: 2mystery

Materials needed for the MKAL: 2 skeins of Indieway Yarns Best Worsted. The color used for the original design is Periwinkle. The pattern looks fab in tonal and semisolid colors, and also will work in variegated colorways as the pattern stitch will break up pooling that sometimes occurs.

Notions: Stitch markers, stitch holder (optional), and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends.

Needles:
Hat: US 5/3.75 mm 16” circular needle, US 6/4mm 16” circular needle and dpns, or size needed to obtain gauge.
Mitts: US 4/3.5 mm set of dpns or size needed to obtain gauge.

Gauge:
Hat: 22 sts X 28 rows = 4” blocked in stockinette.
Mitts: 20 sts X 32 rows = 4” blocked in stockinette.

Gauge is critical to the fit of both the hat and mitts. Be sure to take time to check your gauge.

Now all that is left to do is to choose a color for your hat and mitts.   Wendi sent me this fantastic shade of deep purple called Black Currant which I am in love with! I just took a peek in her shop and I don't see that colorway in there, but a little birdy told me that more Best Worsted is being added to the shop later on today, so be sure to check and see what colors she is adding.

 

A Festivus Fortherestivus

That's right, it's the time of year that many of us have been waiting for.  It's almost December 23 which means it's time for the Annual Airing of Grievances for Festivus! Since no one ever likes to go first in these things, I will start: 


To my mother who decided to tell my Grandmother she is putting her in a nursing home. Right. Before. Christmas. What is wrong with you? I can't comment further on this, because quite frankly I am infuriated. You couldn't wait a couple of weeks to do this?

To the person who brought the nut encrusted cookies of death into our home last year.  Do it this year, and it will be the last time you are invited over.  I really want to print out a copy of this article to give to you, but my sweet husband has asked me not to.

Share your Festivus grievance in the comments section by Thursday December 26 and be entered to win my new Intersect Mystery KAL pattern!

I will be talking more about the pattern the next couple of weeks here on my blog and in the Indieway Yarns group on Ravelry.  There will be a thread for the KAL in the Indieway group (it should be up today or tomorrow).  The KAL will consist of two patterns and six clues.  The first clue will be released on January 17th with a new clue coming out each Friday after that.  So, are you wondering what the patterns will be?  A very cute hat and matching mitts!  The samples that I did continually get compliments every time I wear them.  The test knitters have all been sending me pictures of the ones they have made and it's so much fun to see what they look like in other colors.  For the KAL you will need two skeins of Indieway's Best Worsted.  It's a really enjoyable yarn to knit with.  It has a great hand, shows stitch definition well, and best of all it wears well.  It's soft and warm, and I've worn the heck out of the mitt's and there are no signs of pilling. I hope you can join us for the KAL, the Indiway Group has a lot of great gal's in it and the KAL is going to be a lot fun!  

PS The pattern will be available for purchase on Ravelry beginning December 27. 

2013

It's hard to believe that 2013 is almost over and the start of a new year is right around the corner.  This year has had a lot of wonderful things in it.  Seeing one of my designs on the front page of Ravelrys Hot Right Now list was unbelievable! Last December I set a goal to publish six patterns in 2013. I fond that I love designing and writing patterns and wound up publishing 16 patterns!  This is my first year designing and I'm so excited that I was able to actually do more than I planned for. There is still one more pattern to come this year, Iridill, which will be released later this week. If you are looking for something to take along to holiday gatherings to work on, this is the perfect project.  The pattern includes two sizes, shawl and shawlette, in two weights of yarn, worsted and fingering.

A little later this month the Intersect Mystery KAL with Indieway Yarns will be available for pre-purchase.  The KAL will be held in the Indieway Group on Ravelry and is going to be loads of fun!  I don't want to give away too many details, but I can say that it includes two projects and six clues.  It will be a great way to get through the mid January and February winter blahs.

Look for this placemarker on Ravelry when the pattern is released:

Guess what?!  I am so excited about this!  After a year and a half I am only EIGHT hexipuffs away from finishing!  We had an ice storm yesterday and spent the day inside.  I wound up finishing what I was knitting on and decided to see if I there were enough hexi's to make into a throw.  I should be able to knit eight more hexi's and get them tied on by the end of the year.  Earlier this year Kyle sent me the ones he made which was a huge help or I would be even further away from finishing.  I really enjoyed putting them together.  I could look at each one and remember where the yarn came from.  Most of the yarn was left over from things that I have knitted over the years, a few hexi's were made from mini skeins, and there are some in there that are made out of my handspun yarn. It kind of reminds me of the yo-yo quilts that were popular when I was a kid (back in the dark ages!).  I wound up over stuffing the hexi's and the throw is quite heavy.  Something to keep in mind if you decide to knit one.  I don't mind the weight of it though and it also will be nice to sit on since it's really squishy.

Last December I had a Festivus Airing of Greivences post which was so much fun.  I am planning on having another one later this month.  I'm really hoping that special someone doesn't bring us nut encrusted cookies of death again, but if they do it will be great writing material!  Andy is talking about putting up a Festivus Pole in honor of our new tradition.  It's all in fun of course.  Sometimes things happen and there isn't a good place to vent about them.  The Festivus post will be that place!