The Knaughty Knitter

Have you ever dyed?

Hand dyed yarn is a joy to knit with.  You can do your own without too much mess and chemical knowledge - just use Kool-Aid.  No need for dedicated dye pots and microwave and the kids can help out.  There are tons of tutorials on line for how to do this.  But here's how I usually dye with Kool-Aid and it seems to be a bit different method than most.  Use the one that you have to add sugar to, not the artificial sweetener kind. Set your yarn (wool or silk or fiber to spin) to soak in water. No vinegar needed - Kool-Aid is acid enough by itself.  Seriously, don't drink the stuff.  Get a large pot and fill it with water, heat to boiling.  Turn off the heat, pour in a packet or 5 of Kool-Aid depending on how intense you want your color and how much wool you have. Squeeze most of the water from your yarn and gently place it in the water, cover and let set about 20 - 30 minutes until the dye is absorbed.  If you gently stir it a time or two you will be sure to get the dye onto it evenly, but for a kettle dyed look, just let it set in one place.  You can also sprinkle another color onto the wool and if you leave it set with no stirring, you'll have spots of different color on your yarn.  Let it cool, rinse, hang to dry and you can knit your pretty yarn.

This bag was made from Kool-Aid dyed yarn before I opened the store (10 years this week).  Never fades...

Oh and the point of all this.......I got a LOT of dyeable yarn from Brown Sheep last week and thought I'd put it on sale for a bit.  The weather might hold for a while yet to do some outside dyeing so come get it.  There's Burly Spun, Bulky and Worsted Lamb's Pride and it is 15% off through Saturday this week.

Make Christmas Stockings!

I just put a class on the schedule for making Christmas Stockings.  There's still time to make one for that new grandchild or the new son-in-law.  Class starts Sat Oct 17th and runs through Nov - included is a half hour private lesson time for when you get stuck.  Pick a Ravelry pattern or one from our selection. And when you are done, you'll have acquired all the skills necessary to make socks!

Beginning Knitting and Crochet

Classes are this Saturday.  There's still some room in these classes. Sign up and don't miss out.

Two huge boxes of Manos De Uruguay Maxima came in Friday - woo hoo, love that yarn.

Oh...I just thought of something.....Let's make July Free pattern with purchase month....So when you make a purchase I'll add a sweater pattern to your bag FREE. 

Open Wednesday 1-4pm

Normally we would be closed Wednesday.  But tomorrow is special - we will be open from 1-4pm just for all those Stitches travelers coming into the area.  Stop by and see us while you are here. And hey join us for Friday Night Knitting from 5-7 too.

 

Dye Days

Great weather and days off and energy all coincided lately and I got some dyeing done.  Here are pictures - dye porn if you will.

Oh the scarves are here and for sale... though I kept this first one for me.

Need Help?

I have put a discussion thread on our Ravelry group where you can post your knitting, crochet or weaving questions and I will do my best to answer them.  I will check it most days.  Unlike on the phone you could even post a picture and I could see the problem up close to help you. 

Reywa Yarn

has arrived.  Reywa is the Tibetan word for hope and that is what they do.  The profits go towards funding education for Tibetan children.  They are a fair trade company.  Their yarns are heavenly.  We now have Bloom - a lace weight 50% yak/50% silk yarn that feels so wonderful. I am hurrying to finish two other shawls so I can started on something in this.

Here's Berroco Indigo

Cotton and Recycled Denim.... the sweater pattern is available too.

A few more bags

I made these from some quilt pieces Lisa gave me when she was cleaning out.  I am obsessed with making little bags lately.  I make them generally with little or no interfacing or batting, but they are fully lined. 

And this one is big enough to carry a project...

Thanks, Lisa

January KAL

is Elizabeth Zimmermann's Moccasin Socks in Knitting Around, and also in the Knitter's Almanac (Nov).  Knitting Around has it in worsted weight yarn so I am picking a nice washable something wool and will use raggi on the bottoms I think.  The KAL starts on Saturday and we'll meet at 10am.  I will try to have one of my socks to the point of working the bottom so I can show how that goes (but no guarantees).  The KAL is free so long as you are using store yarns.  No need to sign up in advance, just show up.  

Happy New Year! (And yes it's Wednesday, we're closed today)  See y'all Friday and Saturday..