The Knaughty Knitter

End of Year Spin Off

Okay so I was searching for something in my closet in the fiber room at home this week and never found it of course.  But what I realized is that I have more fiber for spinning than I knew about.  I decided that I am going to spin like crazy for the next week and see how much I can get done between now and the 1st of the year.  I have already done about 7 oz since Thursday and have a luscious pale grey and white merino yarn, and lumpy bumpy novelty yarn with coils and sparkle in pinks.  I dug the 1/2 lb bag of camel down out of the closet and will have about hundreds of yards of fingering weight camel yarn in a couple of days (that takes longer to spin than the lumpy bumpy).  I got a spindle full of it last night though.  

So then on the way to work I was thinking we spinners might have a little stashbuster contest.  Who can spin the most yarn between now/today and Dec. 31st?  So send me a picture or a list of your unspun fiber stash, and then spin as much as you can between now and then.  Bring it in on Dec 31st (we close at 3 that day) and we'll record your accomplishment.  At the end of the day I'll see who did the most (by weight)  and they win a 4oz package of hand dyed roving.  Sorry Lisa, you work here and aren't eligible to win this one....

Handspun Yarns and more

I was looking at an old Knitscene a little while ago and found an article about Knit Collage - a relatively new company whose yarn I love.  They hire women in India who prepare the fiber and then spin every skein.  They are a fair trade company so they pay a living wage to the women there. Often folks come in and are shocked at the price of hand spun yarn.  But think of the labor involved in just one little skein.  One of their lines is Rolling Stone and has little bits of other fibers and sparkle and other things spun in.  Gypsy Garden has little flowers in it as well.  All those those things require an extra step in preparing to spin and more time and attention in the actual spinning.  A single skein of 35 yds can take an hour or two just to spin.  Even my own handspun here at the store with fewer fancy elements requires a lot of time and energy.  Often it is hand painted fiber (mine or someone else's) and then spinning 4 ounces of fiber can take a couple of hours or all day depending on the thickness.

Enough lecturing now....Here's my latest thing - the knitted version of the Sparkly Cowl that I put out on Friday.  The crochet version can be purchased in store or on Ravelry.  I will put the knitted version up this afternoon.    I must confess I like the crochet version better - it was faster.  Sorry for the picture, this camera won't do the colors very well....It is really a nice Christmas Red with Shiny Bits......I did this one in Plymouth Aire - a super soft Alpaca yarn that feels awesome.

 

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Spinning Circle, Saturday, August 11

Spinning circle is Saturday, August 4, August 11, from 1 to 3:30. Bring your wheel or spindle and spin with us. Spectators are welcome to stop by and see how it works.

 

Sequins are here!

I know that may not make you all excited, but I have been anxiously awaiting them.  This is String Me Along by Southwest Trading Co, and I have a bobbin of hand-dyed wool at home on the wheel - waiting to be plied with some sequin yarn.  We have 9 colors.  This yarn can of course also be strung along with a regular yarn or some other novelties to jazz it up.  I love sparkle!

Look what's new!

This alpaca yarn from Heart of the South Alpacas.  This yarn is like one that they donated for door prizes at the Fiber in the Boro and before they were picked up I used to go get them and just sit and feel them.  This was some of my favorite yarn of the festival and now it is here!  Alpaca fiber from here v. South American feels much different, somehow more substantial and solid than the South American.  When you come in next feel them both to compare - you'll be surprised.  These were grown here in Tennessee and mill spun.  They vary in weight and price, and are really wonderful.  No dyed ones though.  Just a bunch of colors of undyed fibers.....I got some spinning fiber too by the way.

I have added a hat class to the end of January's schedule.  It is a class where you can use any yarn, any needle, and make your own hat.  There are just some simple rules to remember and you don't need a pattern anymore! 

And I got an opportunity today to order some basic tapestry looms.  Is anyone interested in a tapestry weaving class?  Let me know and I will get them.

Gift Suggestion # ...oh who knows

But Thursday would be the last chance at getting a spinning wheel or loom here before the holidays.  I keep knitter's looms in stock but spinning wheels and the larger looms have to be shipped from the west coast so order today for delivery before Christmas.

Oh and yesterday was cowls....here's one I made this morning between customers.  1 skein, the pattern is free with purchase of Souffle by Berrocco....easy easy easy!

Introducing.....

Targhee Top from Mountain Colors...Targhee wool is very springy and lofty, a little goes  a long way.  I have a whole shawl out of 3 oz that I got from Folsom Farms (local wool we also carry)

 
And Lisa's Rag Bags. 

 She makes these from all recycled materials.  Each one is unique and you can only get them here.  I have one and I love it.

 

And re introducing River Twist, also from Mountain Colors.  It seems a bit expensive ----until you knit with it and then your only thoughts are along the lines of "Where have you been all my life"  New colors are in.
Mountain Colors yarns are the ones I used to buy when I would go out of town to other yarn stores - I still think of it as vacation yarn and knitting with River Twist is like taking a luxury vacation at a spa.

And here is a FO that sat in the UFO pile for years.  It started out as a vest  but I was really done making little squares and sewing so it became a shawl.  It is all Koigu.  Never be afraid to mix colors....

 It'll be hanging over by the Koigu in the store....you know, in case you need to see it.  Also out of Koigu is the June Secret Scarf.....here are the beginnings of a couple of them......

 

Spinning Group

is here tomorrow from 12-3...come join us and spin the afternoon away.

I have added some classes to the calendar for July that will help you tap into your creative side.  Check 'em out.  (Hint - if you want to take the freeform knitting & crochet class - take the beginning crochet class in June so you can practice.)

Okay I added socks too.....but a different way of doing socks than my usual toe up, afterthought heel - a more the "old fashioned" way - cuff down etc.  and this will be a little lace sock.  SO if you have made socks before, but don't quite get it and want to try them again this is a good class for you, or if you have never made socks before this'll work too.  I have two socks on the needles and one is made with interesting techniques - it makes the tiny yarn knitting go faster, so does making it lace.....I know it seems that would be harder, but trust me on this - I usually find sock knitting tedious and I am really liking the little lace one.