Spinning for Knitting

(Gourmet Stash Fibery Tribbles being knit into a hanspun sock)

Hi, Knitters,

I was contacted by Liz Gipson, one of the founding members of Spinzilla, to contribute a blog post for the upcoming Spinzilla 2015 event. Ahhh, Spinzilla! How I long to be of part of this thrilling spinning adventure someday. Due to my travel and teaching schedule this fall I am unable to participate but it is my goal at some point to be a Spinzilla participant! I will be watching and cheering on all of the spinners this year and I hope all of you run to sign up if you haven't yet on Spinzilla.org. Last year I was so inspired by all of the Spinzilla participants. 

Click here to follow Spinzilla2015 on Instagram.

Liz asked if I would write about the topic Spinning for Knitting. I said yes to Liz's request because although I don't consider myself to be an expert spinner I do think I have something to offer to this conversation. I have suggestions that may help others with this topic because the main reason I spin is to knit the handspun yarns I have created.

If you don't know what Spinzilla is here is a message from Liz Gipson, one of the founding committee members of Spinzilla:

Spinzilla is a global challenge to see who can spin the most yarn in a week. Teams and individuals take to their spinning devises to make as much yarn as possible in a very short amount of time. The event is designed to get spinners to push past their fears and to raise money for the NeedleArts Mentoring Program to foster the handspinners oftomorrow. Spinner registration is open for just two more weeks. There is a team that needs and wants you. To see the complete list of teams, FAQ, and blog posts about how to get ready, visit Spinzilla's website at www.spinzilla.org.

You can still sign up to participate so be sure to check it out if you are interested. Click here!

Sweet Sheep Pattern on Ravelry

First and foremost I am a knitter so when I look at any yarn, commercial or handspun, my mind immediately starts thinking about how I would knit the yarn. When I started spinning about 4 or 5 years ago all I wanted to do was knit with my handspun yarn. Right from the start I would knit with all of my handspun yarns, I had no hesitation at all. I was proud of my handspun, no matter how lumpy and imperfect. In fact, I made a design and pattern out of my very first handspun yarn called Sweet Sheep. The quality of the yarn was questionable for sure being my first but by knitting it into an adorable sheep the imperfections became somehow even more charming than I could have ever imagined. It felt like magic.

In my eyes there is no reason not to knit with ALL of your handspun from the very start. 

Right from the start I would spin and spin and spin all sorts of weights of yarn and use different plying and spinning techniques. I couldn't get enough of spinning and then knitting my handspun yarns. I think the word some might use is obsessed. The excitement still runs high while I am waiting for a new handspun yarn to dry when it is just fresh off my wheel. It never gets old to think about what I will knit with my handspun.

Part of the allure of yarn is trying to figure out that perfect project that will make a match made in heaven. It is like a puzzle challenge. I'm always asking myself, is it the right weight, the right yardage, will it drape or be light enough, will it hold up to wear and tear...... the questions go on and on. But if you don't try and experiment you won't ever figure out how to use your handspun and knit it into beautiful, wearable pieces. 

(A pile of handspun socks using the free pattern, How I Make My Socks)

Since I started spinning I have knit everything under the sun with my handspun yarns. I have knit shawls, socks, hats, mittens, fingerless mitts, a cardigan, toys, scarves, etc. Each project I work with handspun is somehow more satisfying than when I knit with commercial yarns. There is a different feeling you get from working with handspun especially when you've spun it yourself. 

Click here to scroll through some of the projects I've created using my handspun yarns through the years!

Here are 8 tips for the Spinning Knitter:

1. Have Fun!! Just cast on with your handspun yarn and KNIT! Don't worry about the imperfections in your hanspun yarn because often much of it will disappear when it is knit into fabric. To me little imperfections add to the fabric and make the project even better. Your finished object will be one of a kind and that's the best.

2. Spin the yarn, then pick the project. I always just spin away first, really focusing and enjoying the process of spinning. Sometimes I have an idea in mind for the future yarn I am making and sometimes I don't. Sometimes the yarn turns out completely different than I initially intended. I never want to get caught up in trying to be too exact when I'm spinning to knit because that zaps the fun out of it. There are a million different things to knit with handspun and your yarn, no matter what, will work great in some project out there.  

3. Keep it simple. When selecting projects for your handspun simple projects are often better. If the yarn is busy with lots of color or barber poling, stockinette stitch, rib or garter stitch will usually look best. Basic hats, mittens, shawls, scarves and socks are often the best choices for a wide variety of variegated or striping handspun.

4. Combine your handspun with commercial yarns. This can help to make up for smaller yardage. My favorite knitting project combining handspun with commercial yarn is this cardigan (see the photo below). I combined a Loop Bullseye gradient bump with Cascade 220 in black. It turned out wonderfully. The gauge for the handspun wasn't always exactly the same as the Cascade 220 but it didn't matter at all. This is one of my all-time favorite projects.

Click here to read all about the spinning and the knitting of the Loop Bump cardigan!

I've been adding commercial sock yarn for cuffs heels and toes in my handspun socks lately and I love this combination. The pattern I use for my socks is the free pattern called, How I Make My Socks.

5. Experiment! Experiment with the needle size for knitting your selected handspun and be prepared to switch needles and swatch until you get the gauge that will work best for the yarn at hand. Knitting with handspun is not an exact science. For me there are often thicker and thinner moments throughout the yarn and I expect this and it doesn't bother me. I often have to try out different needle sizes when starting a handspun project. It is a different beast than commercial yarns.

6. Be Flexible. You may start out thinking you are spinning a fingering weight to knit a pair of socks and then you end up with a worsted weight perfect for a hat. That's fine! The part of spinning that is so interesting and fun to me is that things change during the process and it can keep you on your toes. It is exciting and adventurous.

 7. Don't force the spinning or the knitting. "Let the fiber be what it wants to be." I used to hear this all of the time from spinners and I didn't get it. Now I get it. What this means to me is that while you are spinning don't force the fiber to be something that it isn't meant to be for your technique. Through experience I know that for me Polwarth Silk blends can comfortably be spun into very thin singles. If I am spinning a straight up Falkland roving it works well for me to spin a worsted or bulky weight yarn. When you first start spinning different fibers you will find out how they spin up best for your personal techniques.

On the same note don't try to knit your handspun yarn into a project where it won't work. Maybe you'll even have to design something on your own to make the perfect match for your special skein of handspun. I did exactly this with the 50 Row Shawlette (see the photo below).

50 Row Shawlette ~ roving was from Unwind Yarns

I had 250 yards of a worsted weight handspun and I couldn't find the perfect pattern for it. That's when I decided to just cast on and make up a fun shawlette that would use every inch of the beautiful handspun yarn. The 50 Row Shawlette was designed in a snap. It was a perfect match.

Another project I designed when I couldn't find the perfect pattern is called, Lost Banner Hat (see the photo below). 

The Lost Banner Hat, knit in handspun from Fiber Optics Gradient Roving.

Here is an example of a gradient yarn I had spun where there wasn't enough yardage to create a larger project like a shawl but I wanted to keep the gradient colors intact. I needed a simple knit with stockinette stitch and rib. The Lost Banner Hat takes about 200 yards of a worsted weight yarn, either handspun or commercial. This hat knit in handspun feels so good on my head. I love it.

The name of the hat pattern was because the hat was lost and then found a long time later.

(Handspun socks knit with Friends in Fiber Gradient Rainbow)

8. BE FEARLESS! Knit your hanspun yarn into beautiful, treasured things. Don't just let it sit on a shelf or in a bin somewhere. Show it off to the world. There is really nothing like knitting with handspun yarn and you won't know until you try. It is pure magic! Really.

Lastly, be PROUD of your handspun yarn. And be proud of your knitting with your handspun yarns. How amazing is it that we can create our own yarns through the process of spinning and then make one of a kind originals with that yarn? It's the best.

By knitting with your handspun yarn you are tying your knitting in a more direct way to the wool, the silk, the cotton, the yak, the sheep, the earth, the farmers....  that's a powerful thing

Handspun is cool! Knit with it.
xo ~ susan

The Possibilities of Fall

Hi, Knitters,

I have randomly selected a winner of the Berry Colorful Yarnings skein of choice and it is....

bigdg on Ravelry!

Congratulations to bigdg. All parties have been contacted. I hope you enjoy your new yarn. Thank you to everyone for entering and I'll host another giveaway very soon.

The acorns are a part of a series of new patterns I have coming out next week. It is a Woodland Friends trio of patterns that you may have seen if you follow me on Instagram. Fall is upon us and it is always good to have a few new woodsy animals to knit. I'll fill you in on all of the details next week when the patterns are released. The patterns will be available in print form with a scratch off Ravelry code through Alana Dakos Never Not Knitting Press which sells to local yarn shops and it will be available for download through my Ravelry Pattern Shop.

I'm super excited about and proud of these new designs and I am honored to be a part of NNK Press. It's good company over there with Quince & Co., Carrie Bostick Hoge of Maddermade, and Alana Dakos to name a few of the other printed pattern lines available to yarn shops through NNK Press. 

Another fall-ish project I am making progress on is a pair of socks. I finished the first of the pair for my handspun socks last week. What a fun knit. The sock fits perfectly and I am loving the red toe and heel. The fiber is called, Mulled Cider and it is BFL. The yarn, even though it is not perfectly even by a long shot, knit up to a wonderful even fabric. That's the thing about handspun even though it is often a bit of thick and thin, when knit many of the imperfections somehow become difficult to detect. I think this is particularly true when knitting a tighter, denser fabric like in sock knitting. 

Bowl: aaharrison on Etsy

Red yarn: Opal Solid Series

Mulled Cider BFL roving 4 oz.: Friends in Fiber

Sock Blocker: theloopyewe.com

Pattern: How I Make My Socks free pattern

I cast on 60 stitches on US size 1/2.5mm dpns from KnitPicks.com.

When I was at the SSK Retreat this past July I saw a beautiful knit textured mug being offered as a prize drawing. I really loved this clever mug and even thought about it later. Then I somehow ran across this Etsy shop a couple of weeks ago and I took it as a sign that I should order a mug for myself. So I did. 

It is my new favorite. The kind artist, Charan, included a little matching dish as a gift after we coresponded a bit. He had recognized my name. The dish can be used as a tea bag holder or as a notions dish. It is the sweetest knitterly set, very impressive. This would make the best gift for a knitter who already has a lot of yarn.

Charan Sachar's Etsy shop is called Creative with Clay. Be sure to check it out.

I never really gave a full run-down on the blog about the Maude cardigan I finished a couple of weeks ago. I kind of like to record my completed projects on here so I thought I might fill in the blanks a bit with some specifics.

Pattern: Maude by Carrie Bostick-Hoge ~ worked from the bottom-up with a raglan decrease yoke

Size: 40-inch bust (I usually wear size 36-inch bust but the pattern is supposed to have about 6-inches of positive ease.)

Yarn: Brooklyn Tweed Shelter in the Button Jar colorway, 9 skeins 

Needles: US size 7/4.5mm

Buttons: 5 Black Walnut buttons from Wooly Moss Roots on Etsy

Level of Difficulty: Intermediate due to several AT THE SAME TIMES going on throughout most all of the garment, lots of keeping track! An expertly written and clear pattern but I would not recommend this for a beginner or first-time sweater knitter.

Modifications:

~ I knit the sleeves in the round on dpns. I could not understand the reason for knitting the sleeves flat and then seaming them as directed in the pattern. I love to figure out the intentions of the designer as far as construction choices but I couldn't see any advantage to working the sleeves flat here. 

~ I picked up the bottom edge of the pockets and knit them directly onto the fronts using the ends to stitch down the sides. The pattern suggests knitting the patch pockets in separate pieces and then stitching to the fronts.

~ I shortened the sleeves a couple of inches. I think the pattern suggested a 20-inch sleeve length and I knit mine to 18-inches.

That's it! No other modifications were made.

Did you notice anything about the pockets?

The left pocket is placed slightly higher than the right pocket! This is so funny to me.

This may have something to do with the fact that I picked up and knit the pockets while the large-sized cardigan was rumpled up on my lap in the car ride on the way to our Door County vacation. Laying the garment out flat on a table would have been a better idea on my part. Yes. I haven't decided yet if I will fix this or leave it. You can see the pocket unevenness in the photo but when I'm wearing the cardigan it isn't really noticeable. It is only a couple of rows off. We'll see how I feel when I really start wearing the cardigan a lot in the cooler weather.

The possibilities of fall knitting are endless and motivating. Fall is the season where knitting energy runs high for most all of us. I have so many projects and ideas and plans for my fall knitting and I'm sure you do, too!

Until next time.

xo ~ susan

Berry Colorful Yarnings Giveaway & More

Hi, Knitters,

I have selected a winner for the skein of the Julianna's Fibre Repeating Gradient sock yarn and the winner is..... Celticcaston on Ravelry! Congratulations Kelly, my New Brunswick buddy. I have contacted Kelly and Julianna. Thanks to everyone for entering.

Today I have another fun sock yarn giveaway for you. The owner of Berry Colorful Yarnings, Michelle Berry (how cute is that?), has sent me some of her beautiful self-striping yarn to try and I love it. The colors are so saturated and unusual and well-done. 

Starting on the left in the photo above, the colors are Hulk, Bright Beginnings and Berry Punch. The yarn is 25% Nylon and 75% Superwash Merino, 463 yards/100 grams, fingering weight. 

Click here to see the Berry Colorful Yarnings Etsy Shop!

Thanks to Michelle's generosity I get to give away a skein of choice from the shop to one lucky winner! Please leave one comment on this blog post to enter to win. Please only click on Publish one time when you leave your comment, there is a delay before your comment will appear on the blog. Please include your email or Ravelry username so you can be contacted if you win.

Good luck!

I have a teaching event coming up right here in Madison on October 10th, 2015. KnitCircus is hosting a retreat at their new dye studio and retail shop. It is so close to my house and that makes me very excited. Amy Detjen, Jaala Spiro and I will be teaching all weekend. I am teaching my Sock Yarn Bunny Workshop and my new Shawl Shapes Design Workshop. I can't wait.

Read all about it and sign up by click right here: KnitCircus Fall Retreat 2015! 

I hope to see you there. It is coming up quick. 

On another Madison note I finished the first of the Madison Memories socks by Quaere Fibres. This is a custom colorway Janel dyed for the Itty-Bitty Knits Retreat group this past June. I am anxious to get the second sock finished so I can wear them this fall. I don't think she is making the Madison Memories colorway for her shop but she has lots of other fun yarns to choose from.

Click here for Quaere Fibres on Etsy!

Pattern: How I Make My Socks ~ free pattern

Needles: Signature Needle Arts dpns, 6-inch length, US size 1/2.25mm

Sock Blocker: theloopyewe.com

I am also working on another sock knit out of my handspun yarn. I spun 370 yards from 4 oz. of BFL roving in the Mulled Cider colorway from Friends in Fiber. I decided to add a red heel and toe on the Mulled Cider socks in some Opal Solid Series that I have on hand. I am using Knit Picks dpns in size 2.5mm because the handspun varies in thickness and tends to be a little heavier in spots. The sock fabric is turning out great. I cast on 60 stitches instead of my usual 64 stitches.

I have a new goal to always have a handspun sock on the needles starting this fall. I favor my handpun socks and I'd love to have more of them in my sock drawer to choose from. I need to get going on spinning up yarn for my next pair soon.

The cardinal yarn bowl is one of my favorite knitting accessories. It is made by the ceramic artist aaharrison and I feel like it is one of the most special pieces I own.

Click here to visit the aaharrison website!

Click here to visit the aaharrison shop on Etsy!

For the gifting season ahead you might want to keep this one in mind for any beloved knitter on your list. There are other styles and birds to choose from and you really can't go wrong it is all so lovely.

I have finished the funnel neck and yoke and have just separated for the sleeves on the Antrorse sweater by Shannon Cook. It is a simple, fun and fast knit. I love the funnel neck. The yarn is Quince & Co. Osprey in the Peacoat color. 

You can see the chevron pattern is starting to appear on the front of the sweater. The body should go really fast as it is just a straight down knit with only the simple chevron panel to be concerned about. Plus the yarn is heavier and I am using US size 10 needles which always makes for a fast knit.

Well, there you have a small snippet of what's going on at my house right now. August goes by quicker every year. I always feel like I'm hanging on to these last summer days by a thread. What's going on at your house this August? I'd love to hear.

I hope you are all well. Please remember to leave a comment to win a beautiful skein of striping sock yarn of choice from BCYarnings. 

xo ~ susan

A Newfound Love

Hi, Knitters,

First, my generous friend, Jaala Spiro of Knitcircus, texted me yesterday and because the response to our new Come What May shawlette collaboration has been so fantastic she told me to give two kits away! So thank you everyone for purchasing the gradient yarn, the shawl pattern and the kits. Great news all around. 

Click here to see the details on the kit and the other color options.

The winners of 2 of the lovely Come What May Shawlette kits with beads, pattern and choice of gradient yarn colorway from Knitcircus are......

grahamcrackerzz ~ rav username   and  loopiedoo ~ rav username!

Congratulations to you both. I have contacted both of the winners. Thank you to everyone for entering and I will have another giveaway very soon.

Now on to today's topic at hand. 

Have you ever tried something new that you didn't enjoy, put it away only to come back to it later to have something suddenly click and you fall completely in love? This has happened to me a lot over the years. I think timing is everything. Whether or not you pick up a skill with passion depends on your desire to learn something new at that exact moment in time. I've had this happen with embroidery, sewing, quilting, spinning with a wheel, cooking, and even certain knitting techniques. 

photo from SpinCityUK on Etsy

So here's what happened. I saw this fiber called Dolly Mixture from SpinCityUK, on the wonderful Little Bobbins podcast. I fell in love with the unusual bright colors and the blend of fibers. I ordered two braids of the Dolly Mixture (click here to read about this unusual braid of fiber) for a total of 7 oz. I can't wait to start spinning this fiber on my Schact Ladybug. 

When my package arrived I was surprised to see that Louise included one of her beautiful dried flower spindles in the package as a gift. Click here to see a similar spindle in her shop. I was immediately enamored with this pretty spring-like spindle. There is a lightness and a sweetness to it. 

I decided at the very moment I saw the SpinCityUK flower spindle that I had to learn to use a spindle and quick. Now, quite awhile ago I had purchased another spectacular little spindle from Aaron Makes Stuff. This beautiful spindle is handcrafted with colored pencils set in resin. I love this spindle equally but when I got this one and tried it my heart wasn't into learning how to spindle spin. I was too preoccupied with other work obligations which made me feel restless when I was trying to learn. I put it away knowing that I would come back to it when I was ready.

Awhile ago I had watched a couple of videos on YouTube about spinning with a drop spindle so I knew the basic idea. Plus I have been spinning on a wheel for a few years now which helped with knowing how to draft and work with the fiber. Anyway, I picked up the flower spindle and gathered some of the fiber samples I have saved through the years. Suddenly the spindle worked for me and it was like magic. I could actually spin with a spindle! 

I feel like I get it now. I know people collect spindles and love using them to spin all sorts of fiber into yarn. It is definitely a slower process than using a wheel but there is something that is so fun about the process of using a spindle. I am already planning what to bring to spin on my upcoming travels. I think I am officially hooked. Yes, it was only a matter of time.

The mini-skeins above are my first spindle spinning attempts. The mix with the black is my very first attempt. It's pretty messed up but I learned a lot. The middle skein was next and I saw improvement. The pink and purple skein on the end is Romney fiber from Sheep Dreams, this was my third attempt. I did a 2-ply and ended up with about 50 yards and it is quite pretty and usable. 

Then I dug out my Aaron Makes Stuff colored pencil spindle. The two spindles are very different. The Aaron Makes Stuff spindle is light as air. The flower SpinCityUK spindle is much more substantial. I found a sample of some fiber from one of my favorite dyers, Friends in Fiber and started spinning with this other spindle. I am so pleased with how this spindle and fiber are spinning up. It is a really different experience but what fun!

Now I am spinning a batt that Joanna (click here for her podcast) from KnitSpinFarm threw in with another order I had made from her shop. It is 2.5 oz. of heaven. Joanna makes the most wonderful batts, honestly. She puts some sort of magic into the fiber because whenever I spin something from her shop I get the warmest, calmest feeling of appreciation for the fiber. She makes things extra pretty and sweet somehow. As you can see in the photo, the KnitSpinFarm batt is light green and yellow, so perfect for March and moving into the spring season. I feel like the flower spindle and this fiber are a match made in heaven. I am winding the singles onto a bobbin when the spindle gets too full. I am going to ply this on my wheel when I am done spinning the singles.

I'll keep you posted on my progress. Are you any of you into spindle spinning? I'd love to hear about it and any tips or tricks you might have for me as a newbie.

I'll leave you today with a photo of this gorgeous Harvest Wool from Timber and Twine.

Click here to read all about this company.

The skein above was dyed with madder and alum. It is 100 grams of an 8-ply and I think it might be about a DK weight. The yardage isn't listed. It is so pretty, rich in color and interesting. I love the messy skein, the twine, the tag, and the brown paper wrapping. It's all good. I'm pretty sure this skein will become a new hat for me. I'll keep you posted on this one, too.

Click here to check out Timber and Twine!

Have a happy and productive week ahead, friends.
xo ~ susan

Winners & Favorite Sweater 5 for #projectsweaterchest

Hi, Knitters,

Early this morning I randomly selected the winners for the Little Skein in the Big Wool winners. Anne Vally, the creative mind of Little Skein, has generously upped the ante once again. She wrote me that she wanted me to select 9 winners for this exclusive giveaway: 1 Luxe Kit, 1 skein of Anne's Story sock yarn, and 7 sets of stitch markers! Here's how it turned out:

Winner of the Luxe Kit: pattytrish (rav id)

Winner of the Anne's Story sock yarn: sewknittystar (rav id)

Winners of a set of stitch markers:

1. bookchick29 (rav id)

2. karenswb (rav id)

3. cascott (rav id)

4. flogigknits (rav id)

5. alilou (rav id)

6. tjf (email entered)

7. yarnaddict (rav id)

Hooray! Congratulations! I have sent all of your Ravelry IDs and email address to Anne of Little Skein. She will be in touch to gather your mailing addresses. Thank you to everyone for entering. It was a great response and I loved reading about all of the Anne of Green Gables connections and memories. It was really quite sweet.

Now on to today's topic at hand. I am on Favorite Sweater number 5 for the #projectsweaterchest along. If you are just joining me I made a little video of my favorite sweaters in a casual fashion show kind of way and now I am giving details on them in no particular order.

Or Click here to see the 10 Favorite Sweaters video!

As I've been traveling around to teach this fall I have had more comments from people on the two sweater videos I made and posted about a month ago. That has been really fun to hear and the person is always laughing or smiling when they talk to me about it. I love that. 

There was no planning for these videos at all. I looked at my sweater chest one day and thought I should try on my favorites and some oldies and record it. I arranged the top 10 on top for quick access and started filming. It was one take for both of the videos. 

Click here for the Oldies video!

Today the featured favorite cardigan is the Basic Chic Hoodie by Bonne Marie Burns or Chic Knits. 

Click here for the Basic Chic Hoodie pattern information!

I decided to knit this very simple top-down raglan hoodie using up a skein of my handspun striped with some black Cascade 220 from my stash. The handspun began as a bullseye bump from Loop.

Click here for Loop on Etsy! Use caution. You will want to purchase everything in this shop!

The thing is the yarn turned out better than I could have imagined. It was a chain-plied worsted weight and came in at about 250 yards. I wanted to do something really special with the finished skein.

For more details on the spinning of the Loop Bullseye Bump click here!

I searched and searched until I found the most basic simple hoodie pattern and the entire project turned out perfectly.

For more details on the knitting of the cardigan click here!

I enjoyed everything about knitting the Basic Chic Hoodie. The pattern is clear and well-written. This would be a perfect first time cardigan project. It couldn't be any more basic and simple. The pattern has a lace panel front option included. The size range is from a 36 to a 54 inch bust so it is expansive. 

I had some custom buttons made by Deerfield Creations. These are my most favorite buttons of all time. They are hand-turned black wood buttons and they are smooth as butter and beautiful.

Click here for the Deerfield Creations website!

I made some modifications but you wouldn't need to change a thing. I made my hoodie in the smallest size. These are the modifications I made to the original pattern:

- worked at a slightly different gauge (smaller)

- added waist shaping

- changed the number of sts cast on under the sleeves (fewer)

- changed the sleeve decreases (did a rapid decrease right away to get rid of extra fabric under the arms and then continued on a bit differently than the pattern suggests)

- changed the length of the body and sleeves

- changed the buttonhole number 

- picked up a different number of stitches for the button bands and hood edging

- used kitchener stitch to close up the top seam of the hood to give a smoother finish (instead of 3-needle bind-off)

- added the stripes!

I finished the cardigan a little over a year ago. I wore it a lot last winter and plan on repeating that for the upcoming cold season. It fits great, it is comfortable and it looks sharp. Plus, I used up my entire skein of handspun for a sweater. What could be better than that?

There is more to come for #projectsweaterchest! People are already posting in Instagram using the hashtag. This is a long knitalong being run by Leslie of The Knitgirrls, Jasmin and Gigi of the Knitmore Girls and me. Basically it's simple to participate, just hashtag your Instagram photos that relate to knitting sweaters starting now or anytime with #projectsweaterchest. Periodically prizes are going to be drawn. The podcasters are planning on talking a lot about sweater knitting and how to choose and knit a successful sweater. 

It is exciting and as more happens I will be sure to link and discuss on here.

Later this week I am planning on recording a new podcast episode and I may just have another exciting giveaway to share. Stay tuned...

xo ~ susan

New and Fun ~ a giveaway, too!

 

Hi, Knitters,

I have a few new-to-me products to share with you today and stay tuned for a cool giveaway opportunity. The first items on my list are from a new-to-me dyer, Sheepish Creations on Etsy. I happened upon this shop due to an Instagram photo I saw that showed some stunning handspun yarn. After a tiny bit of investigating I found the Etsy shop and the exact colorway of the yarn. I can't remember who took that initial photo of the handspun (anyone remember?) but the fiber was called Little House on the Prairie. Well, right there I was pretty much sold. I quickly added the Little House on the Prairie 4 oz. of merino fiber to my cart.

Click here for the Sheepish Creations shop on Etsy!

The shop is run by Robin and Pam Bates from North Carolina. They do great work.

I continued to look around the shop for bit. There are other things like undyed fiber, dryer ball kits, ribbon, dyes, and more. It is a fun shop alright. I ran across some Wensleydale fiber and I have been wanting to try spinning some new fibers. This seemed the perfect fit.

The photo above and the first photo are the beautiful Wensleydale 4 oz. braid. The colorway is Prairie Field, which once again, grabbed me instantly. It is an interesting fiber, slightly crimped and not super soft but I like that sometimes. Plus, I'm all about the prairie in every way possible be it Little House or the actual prairies and meadows I hike on nearly everyday.

Here is the information from Sheepish Creations about this gorgeous braid of Wensleydale:

Prairie Field - Wensleydale Wool Roving (Top) - Handpainted Spinning or Felting Fiber - 4 ounces

For those of you who enjoy spinning, here's 100% lovely Wensleydale fiber. This is soft, lofty, and has a long staple, so it's fabulous for all skill levels. This is processed as combed top, although is often incorrectly referred to as roving. I spin this fiber myself, and I love the lofty and unique yarn that I can achieve so easily.

Have fun trying out a less-common type of wool. Sure to be a pleasure to spin!

Above is the 4 oz. Merino braid from Sheepish Creations called Little House on the Prairie. I love the white clouds, blue sky, brown trees and ground and of course the green. It's prairie colors all the way. Here is what Sheepish Creations had to say about this braid:

Little House on Prairie - Merino Roving (Top) - Handpainted Spinning or Felting Fiber - 4 ounces

For those of you who enjoy spinning, here's 100% lovely Merino fiber. This is super-amazingly soft, lofty, and drafts like butter! Some merino is hard for beginners, but this stuff is perfect for both beginners as well as advanced spinners looking for something lusciously soft. This is processed as combed top, although is often incorrectly referred to as roving.

Sure to be a pleasure to spin!

I'm pretty excited about spinning up both of these fantastic fibers! I'll keep you posted. Sheepish Creations has excellent customer service, too. I had some correspondence with the owner and she was extremely helpful and responsive. It looks like they have a lot of followers and a lot of sales already so this shop isn't new to everyone, it is a popular one to say the least.

Click here for Sheepish Creations on Etsy!

Speaking of popular, the always innovative Signature Needles Arts has come up with a 100% cotton Blocking Cloth with built in 1-inch squares. You can wash it, throw it down anywhere, protect floors and beds while blocking and use the grid to make sure your measurements are accurate. When you are done simply fold it up and put it away. I think it is a great concept. 

Thanks to the kind folks at Signature for sending me a Blocking Cloth of my own to use and use over and over again. It's very smart.

Click here to see more information about the Signature Blocking Cloth! It's a good one!

How about this adorable hand-painted knitting gnome? I love it! My friend jenb69 (rav id) sent me two wonderful painted canvas bags that her friend Linda (redhotart - rav id) makes and sells on her Etsy shop called, Red Hot Art by Linda. I love them so much and I think you would, too. Thank you for the sweet gift!

Click here for Red Hot Art by Linda on Etsy! 

Not all of her bags are knitting related and I love those bags, too. Linda lives in Florida so she has a great beach theme to her shop. Linda is kind and helpful and she loves requests so I know she would love to hear from you if you have something in mind. 

Linda has recently joined my Ravelry Group, Itty-Bitty Knits and it is so much fun to see her jumping in and talking to everyone. She started a thread for bag suggestions on our forum so you could also chat with her there.

Click here for the Itty-Bitty Knits group and bag thread! Linda's photo on Rav is adorable, she is standing next to her hanging painted bags.

Both sides of the bags are painted, which I love. The attention to detail is wonderful and the quality of the canvas is excellent. It is sturdy and still pretty soft as far as canvas goes. I think with wear and tear it will soften up even more. 

I love bags like this to put smaller project bags in when I am out and about. It is a great beach or pool bag, too, or a market bag. It is pretty large and can hold a lot.

Linda has offered to give a hand-painted bag away as a prize to one of you! Thank you, Linda. Please leave a comment on this post and I will randomly select a winner in a couple of days. Please leave your email or Ravelry ID in your comment to win a tote bag. I will then put the winner in touch with Linda to discuss your new bag. 

This is a great shop to check out! Hop on over to Red Hot Art by Linda on Etsy!

A little while ago I was sent this really interesting skein of yarn by LanaMundi Yarns and sold by the  Feel Good Yarn Co.

Click here for the Feel Good Yarn Co!

If you are like me and you spend time outside in the cold weather you will love this yarn. The Silver Spun has silver in it and therefore it is conductive and therapeutic. Knit it into the fingertips of your gloves or mittens and you can use your phone or iPad without removing your gloves or mittens. This is such a cool concept and I can't wait to give it a try. Are you with me on this? 

Here is what the Feel Good Yarn Co has to say on their website about the benefits of silver in a yarn:

BENEFITS: 

The silver content in SilverSpun makes it therapeutic and conductive. Silver inhibits the growth of odor causing bacteria, has excellent thermal properties, is nontoxic and is perfect for those suffering from diabetes, arthritis and sensitive skin. Silver is also an excellent conductive agent thus allowing smartphone or tablet touch screen use while wearing gloves knit from the yarn. The silver is permanently adhered to the yarn and will not wash out.

One last thing before I leave you today, I was so happy to be included in the Twinset Designs Podcast's Living Doll Knitalong. The group used my doll pattern, Mary, Millie & Morgan, as a template to create dolls that resembled someone loved or important to the knitter. Many made the dolls resemble a beloved child. But one fancy and talented member of the group knit her dolls to resemble Jan and Ellen, the actual twins of the Twinset Designs Podcast. Jan and Ellen have an adorable photo of themselves as toddlers in bonnets and plaid dresses and it is just charming. Turbogrrl on Instagram or Turbogal on Ravelry, is the creator and knitter of these fantastic dolls and she is sending them all over the globe (literally!) on a Flat Stanley type tour. I was honored to be included so I brought the girls out on my evening hike and took some photos. How much fun is that? I love everything about the doll tour and the Twinset Designs Podcast. I never miss an episode! Oh, and if you are on Instagram the hashtag to check out where these dolls are traveling is: #twinsettour

Click here for the Twinset Designs Podcast website to find out more!

Well, I hope you found something new-to-you in this post. Let me know! It's always fun to see different products that are available to us as knitters. 

Don't forget to leave a comment to enter to win a tote bag!! Good luck and let the comments begin. I'll be back soon with a winner and much more. I hope your week is off to a good start.

best, susie