Stash Bash with Unplanned Peacock!

Natasha from Unplanned Peacock has a wonderful sense of color and dyes up some pretty amazing yarns.  When she asked if I would be interested in having her create a color palette and kit for Stash Bash, I was ecstatic!!  Natasha has come up with a vibrant rainbow of eight colors with your choice of a coordinating white or black background all in her Peacock Sock.  If you already have Stash Bash in your library, no worries as there is a kit only option.  I can't even begin to describe how excited I am about this kit!  The colors really speak to me and I can't wait to see all of your Stash Bash shawls knit up!  Be sure to tag me on Instagram with your pictures @spinninglara and use the hashtag #UPPStashBash so I can see your shawl!

Here is a link to the kits:  Unplanned Peacock Stash Bash Spectrum Kits 

Heat Lighting and Socktober

I'd like to introduce my latest sock design, Heat Lighting in Unplanned Peacock's Cozy Sock.  This is a super fun and easy to knit sock that is worked from the cuff down and incorporates a modified short row heel.  The lace pattern is simple enough to knit while watching tv or going to a game.  Unplanned Peacock's Cozy sock was a delight to work with.  It's a blend of 20% super soft alpaca, 60% merino and 20% nylon.  It had a luxurious hand and literally just glided over my needles.

In celebration of the release of Heat Lighting and Socktober, ALL of my sock patterns in my Ravelry Pattern Shop are 50% until October 1.  Use coupon code: Socktober when you check out.

Eclipse

 I've joined up with Natasha from Unplanned Peacock to bring you this lovely wrap.  Eclipse is a super easy, short row, garter stitch shawl worked up in Unplanned Peacock's Peacock Sock.  Peacock Sock has a lovely hand and I really enjoyed knitting with it.  It comes in an incredible selection of colors and Natasha is always helpful in choosing ones that go together if you have a hard time with that. 

 
Eclipse one of those knits that you will want to take with you to work on everywhere you go.  If you make a mistake while working on it, it's not a big deal.  The garter stitch will hide it and only you will know.  For those of us who aren't fond of picking up wraps on short rows, good news!  No need to pick up the wraps.  The lovely garter stitch texture hides them perfectly. 

I want to thank you all so much for your support of my designs.  I really can't express how grateful I am!  I love seeing all the things that you are knitting and enjoy the friendly chatter that you bring to my Ravelry group and on Facbook.  I am not always able to have coupons or sales for new designs, but try to offer them as frequently as I can.  For Eclipse, use coupon code: Luna for $1.00 off in my Ravelry pattern shop.  Thank you again for your support!

Lara

Modifications

One of the things that I like the most about designing is getting to see all of the beautiful projects that you are making from my patterns!  It's really fun to see them knit up in different yarns and you guys have so much creativity with modifications.  KisForKnitting added beads to her Mother of Dragons Shawl:

Stephanie used her own yarn that she had made at a mill from local fiber to create a larger version of Mother of Dragons. 

FlowerKnitDeborah who won a copy of Juliet on Facebook, knitted hers up in just a matter of days!  She used Indulgent BFL Silk DK which is from her own shop.  I love how Juliet looks in a tonal colorway.  The lace pattern really shows up well.  I really enjoy working with variegated and self striping yarns and sometimes forget how pretty something can be in a more understated colorway.

 

What modifications have you made to patterns?  Are you a knitter who strictly follows the pattern, or do you like to change things up a bit? 

Fresh off the needles and soon to be handed over to Margi for test knitting is Eclipse.  She is knit up in Unplanned Peacock's Peacock Sock in Sun and Moon.  Here is just a hint of what she looks like!

I don't want to go on and on about the puppy and how cute he is and how much I love him and all, because not everyone loves puppies and some people just want to hear about knitting and that is perfectly ok.  We did finally figure out a name for him last Friday so we don't have to call him Voldemort.  We are calling him Iggy!  He looks like and Iggy, don't you think? :)

He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named

I had such a fantastic time at the trunk show at Mosaic Yarn Shop last weekend!  The best part of the day was getting to meet so many very talented knitters.  I am extremely embarrassed to say that once the shop opened I totally forgot to take any pictures.  I think I talked non stop the entire time I was there and taking pictures slipped my mind.  Suzanne aka NeedleHappy  brought one of her finished Yorktown Socks (in a coordinating bag to boot) to show me and I didn't even get a picture of that.  She does have this picture on her Ravelry project page, but I would have liked to have taken one of her and her sock.  The yarn is

Cascade Yarns Heritage Silk and has a lovely hand.  I've never tried it, but may need to after feeling it in person.

I did manage to take a couple of pictures before the opening.

 

The center shawl is Juliet in Rivers Edge Fiber Arts new Seasons self striping yarn.  Juliet was released on Monday and there is a coupon code for $1.00 off if you purchase Juliet through Ravelry: Summer2014  It expires at midnight on Saturday July 19.  Juliet is also available on Craftsy and will be added to my Etsy shop early next week.   In case you want to order yourself a skein of soft as a kitten Seasons yarn, Carol is offering free shipping through July 20.  If you would prefer a hard copy of Juliet, Carol will have them on hand at the shows that she has a booth at.

I got to spend some time with Natasha from Unplanned Peacock who is one of the nicest people you would ever want to meet.  She has a great selection of yarns and some really fantastic colors.  I'm currently working on a new design in her Peacock sock that will be released in early fall.  Want a teaser?   Here is the swatch, the colors are Moon and Sun.

It's countdown to puppy time!  We get to bring the little cutie home next Friday and we still don't have a name.  Andy has threatened to call him "He who must not be named" if I don't figure out what to call him before we bring him home.  I have told him no-way are we naming our puppy Voldemort! This face is way too cute for that!  Margi has suggest Thor which I like, so maybe he will be Thor.  I could knit him a little Viking hat.

Trunk Show!

We have a fun and fabulous day planned at Mosaic Yarn Shop in Roanoke this Saturday, July 12th, from 10-5 pm! Natasha from Unplanned Peacock  is bringing a fantastic selection of yarn and will be setting up in the parking lot.  I will have samples of all of my designs available for you to try on and the patterns to go with them.  If you are in the area, I would love to meet you and answer any questions that you may have and also help you select a pattern and yarn to go with it. There are going to be some great door prizes too! Natasha has a BAG of spinning fiber to give away!  Just bring the skeins that you have been spinning for Tour de Fleece to show off and Natasha will enter you in the drawing.   Gina is providing cupcakes, champagne and lot's of goodies to snack on too.

Once you’ve been inspired and adopted some lovelies, head on to Blacksburg to the New River Fiber Company to see the Kismet Fiber Works trunk show from 4-8pm!

I have a brand new design, Juliet, that is being released on July 14th in River's Edge Fiber Arts new Seasons self striping DK yarn.  I will have a limited number of hard copy patterns available on Saturday so be sure to come early if you would like one!  I'm going to be blogging early next week with all the details on Juliet.  In the mean time, here is a sneak peek for you.




Only 17 more days until the puppy comes home, not that I am keeping track or anything!  We still haven't settled on a name and are working diligently on this.  Andy and I spent the weekend going to the pet stores in town and picking up supplies.  We may have gone a wee bit overboard and even wound up with a puppy pool.  I have missed Roper so much over the last year and I am really looking forward to having a new friend in the house.