Breathe Deep

I would never buy yarn without a pattern!  Unthinkable, right?  It’s a great motto when I first transitioned to a single-income family and had to plan for every dollar.

Over time, situation improved.  I adjusted and so was my stash.  It laughs and laughs and continues to multiply with a sound of rustling ziplocs…

and now into stackble, clear plastic bins (only 10th of the stash.)  Obviously, I’m not super concerned or too nutty about the amount of stash I accumulate.  With some luck, I could have another 50 years to polish it off.   Since I check into the news occasionally, I also foresee the price of textiles increasing–and/or the quality dropping–so I had no qualms about doing a little stockpiling…until now.  I’m talking about hoarding nearly a full yarn shop in my home!  APOCALYPSE.  Oh wait…with the droughts/flooding in cotton and wool-producing areas looking bad for the foreseeable future, it may not be a bad idea as long as I store ‘em properly.   Yarn doesn’t go bad!

Nowadays, I jump on yarn without projects in mind if it’s on sale; something I really want–lusted and fondled; the type of fiber I know I would use that feels terrific and in colors I love; or a rare chance that it won’t come around again–you know when a seller creates scarcity on purpose to get you to buy?!

When such opportunity presents itself often, can I still call it a splurge?

A vague idea was instantly formed around Pashmara where they were spotted…some wavy, lace shawl.  What it ended up to be now is another story.  The cashmere, silk, and super fine merino blend is heavenly to knit with, silky/smooth yet sticky so I just knit directly off the hank without winding up as ball.  (Much vibrant, richer purple and turquoise than I’m able to capture below.)

It’s an interesting construction, fun piece of test knitting for Anne Lernout.  I never thought that I would be working on anything so important that I’d have to keep it a secret…but it’s happened!  Though I can’t share details online until the pattern is ready, it’s nice to reveal an itsy, bitsy corner.

What do you think?  Do you like to see designs in progress or be surprised by a big, exciting pattern reveal?  I think I like to see the pattern come together, get snippets of what to look forward to as the designer progresses.  That’s just me.

As much as I love the first run, it isn’t a good representation of what the designer had in mind.  Instead of tinking the border rows for the third time–over tens of thousands of stitches, I am keeping this organic, cascading cardigan my new summery swing.

Soon…I will cast on another one for Anne.  Good thing I do love knitting sweaters  Isn’t summer just the best for perking up your knitting mojo? 

Happy crafting and keep those creative juices running!

(still doesn’t do texting, MySpace, Twitter, StumbleUpon, DiggIt…but caved into Facebook!)

My Life

Do what I love and do it often.

If I don’t like something, change it.

If I don’t like my work, quit.

If I don’t have enough time, stop watching TV or stay off FaceBook.

If I am looking for the love of my life (and I’m not,) stop…they will be waiting for me when I start doing things I love.

Stop over analyzing, life is simple.  All emotions are beautiful.

When I eat, appreciate every last bite.

Open my mind, arms, and heart to new things and people, I am united in all differences. Ask the next person I see what her passion is, and share my inspiring dream with her.

Travel often.  Getting lost will help me find myself. Some opportunities only come once; seize them. Life is about the people I meet and the things I create with them, so go out and start creating.

Live my dream and wear my passion. Life is short.

Some days I need a little extra encouragement. The words, lines, or colors don’t want to come–or worse–I don’t even want to sit down to create. Thank goodness. The world is full of inspiring manifestos–guaranteed to give my uncooperative creativity a sharp kick in the pants–ones that I may turn and nudge ideas out of my head and into the hands of the world.  Here is a terrific, simple fortunate shared by my friend:  Stop searching forever, happiness is just next to you.

What’s your favorite contemporary manifestos?

Happy crafting and keep those creative juices running!

(still doesn’t do texting, MySpace, Twitter, StumbleUpon, DiggIt…but caved into Facebook!)

Rut Buster

You knew this was coming!  I am stuck in a comfort zone I can’t escape.

No matter what I do, I just keep ending up spinning the same yarn over and over again (like I am with my life path!)

Is it me, the equipment, or the fiber that makes it happen?

What else is out there? I am overload when I even attempt to think about what to try next…stuck with stash I don’t dare to spin ‘cuz I’m afraid I’ll ruin it.  I’ll just do what I’ve always done.

Do you hit a wall working towards a specific goal like I often do?  I just want someone to make me try something new that I never would have thought of, that I can’t make myself try, that might push me to a new level I didn’t expect.

Would tricks like spinning while walking, standing, sitting, talking, spinning blind…amaze you?  Well, maybe only if you spin? The trick–the only real trick–for me is practice. The hard part, of course, is having a clear sense of what to practice. This gets extra complicated ‘cuz everyone is different and needs to work on slightly different things.  So, what works for you isn’t necessarily the right advice for me.  Profound?  You’ve got to admit…that does sound pretty, dang profound, doesn’t it? Yeah, I thought so too.

I spent an evening finger twisting, thigh spinning, stick spinning, winding up in center-pull balls, plying my yarn, finishing my yarn, and getting ‘em ready for use.

How do you like my fiber bash?  Do you spin?  Yes?  Do have a secret spinning shame you want to admit and find a way past it? Or maybe a pet peeve that nobody understands and you want to work through it?

Like me, are you afraid to try spinning something totally unlike your personality? What spinning thing wouldn’t you even try unless someone double-dog-dared you?   I have a few ideas up my sleeve. Lets see if it will work out…

Happy crafting and keep those creative juices running!

(still doesn’t do texting, MySpace, Twitter, StumbleUpon, DiggIt…but caved into Facebook!)

Back into the Fold

of spinning. Each time I set foot inside Laura’s studio in Eugene, Oregon, I know instantly I will be in for a fiber-licious treat. I marvel at her hand-painted, hand-dyed, carded batts, handspun, knitted, woven, and crocheted garments…inspiration abounds right out the door of her fiber haven.  (I finally took my dreamy John Westlake to the valley for a spin…and met her peers–Liz‘s and Monica’s.)

I enjoy watching what every spinner was working on, how each drafting her cloud-like fluff, adjusting her wheel…something wonderful happens when we get together. Although our specialized interests differed, we would soon exchanging helpful ideas, oooh-ing/aaaah-ing over each other’s creation, cheering one another on…sharing our passion for spinning and knitting gives me great joy!

Then it was over and time to hop back on the van and return to in-law’s home. Time at Laura‘s always passes lightning fast. But, I have my silky, yummy goodness to work through next couple of weeks–filled with fond memories of my brief visit.

Only wish I could get away every week to hang out at Textile a Mano, a dyed studio and local yarn shop–with Laura and all the fabulous spinners and knitters! Where’s your favorite hang-out? What do you do when you get together?

Happy crafting and keep those creative juices running!

(still doesn’t do texting, MySpace, Twitter, StumbleUpon, DiggIt…but caved into Facebook!)

Did You Feel It

this morning–crisp and cool, not hot and humid?

Autumn winds always drift me into yarn shops. Now that the weather has cooled down just a wee bit and the feeling of Fall is in the air, I started to think a bit more about holiday knitting.

My plate is overrun and an intense sense of guilt came over me today as I have this beaded lace in MadelineTosh Lace awaiting to be cast on

a super secret project for Heather Dixon (aka armyofknitters) who’s currently stranded in Cape Cod, without electricity, no thanks to Irene.

two lace sweaters for Vera Sanon of Sun Fun Living Knits

a new shawl in DK weight that I need to do a swatch first for designer’s approval…All must be completed in ten days!!!

Guilt or no guilt…hubby and I are staying up…spending the evening glued to our very own Alfred Hitchcock marathon to ring in the Labor’s Day weekend. This swirl sure makes a perfect, mindless project for such occasion and for its meditative effect.

What is your grand plan for the long holiday weekend? What is your mindless knit on the needles?

Happy weekend, crafting and keep those creative juices running!

(still doesn’t do texting, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon, DiggIt…)

Fall All Over the Place

not quite yet…but close. Fall is just a dream here in the high desert.

It’s time to cozy on up and plan out next nine months’ study focus besides holiday knitting. I have nailed down four themes.

ARCHITECTURE: Taking inspiration from architectural and technical design, find new ways to construct garments and accessories. Play with asymmetry, layering, folds, pleats and woven looks. Mix mat and shine, smooth and textured yarns, short row patterning and stripes. Be experimental whilst creating wearable and attractive clothing. Color Sense: Black, granite, stone, vanilla, milky creams, palest yellow, duck egg, and misty blues to forest green.

COLOR BLOCK: Play with scale for uncomplicated construction, covering the body in bold, solid colour. Incorporate cool, contrast trims or modern, graphic motifs with a slight 60s vibe, perhaps. Layer with complimentary colors or shades of the same for single color dressing. Heavier gauges work well in one color, textured patterns, and oversized shapes. Complete with large patch pockets and buttons applying Cat’s latest Sweet Tomato Heel technique. May be belted in finer gauges. Color Sense: Black, mango, peach, mellow yellow, minty greens, magenta, juicy pink, and Caribbean blue.

TAPESTRY: Explore all-over patterning using a mix of solid, semi solid, space-dyed and variegated yarns. Add images of flora and fauna hidden within the intricate curls and swirls of a design. Blur the edges of fair isles using the reverse, wrong side or a mix of right and wrong sides. Large scale, all-over lace looks exquisite in the rich tones of the season. A wonderful theme to play with more hand-dyed and hand-spun yarns. Color Sense: Aged berries, lipstick reds, wine, rose blush, rich purples, antique gold, teal, turquoise, teal, and deep green.

MANOR HOUSE: Traditional English country heritage with modern attitude. The tweeds, herringbones, twinsets and pearls get a make-over whilst maintaining a contemporary edge. Play with scale and color. Mix checks, stripes, fair isles and texture. Embellish with leather trims, pearls, fancy buttons and belts. Color Sense:Black, warm greys, mid blue to navy, camel, leather, rich wood, mustard and ginger. What a challenge this will be for self…one that definitely takes me outside of the comfort zone!

Yes, I do sound a bit ambitious. As Leo Burnett said, “If you reach for the stars, you might not quite get one, but you won’t end up with a handful of mud, either.”

Do you have any fiber plans? How do you go about following them?

Happy crafting and keep those creative juices running!

(still doesn’t do texting, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon, DiggIt…)

Colors of the Aura Swirl

Finally here! Ready to cast on another swirl.

My new electric ball winder was put to work

Yarn is wound

My Knit, Swirls pattern is in front of me! Needles are chosen

It took awhile to swatch, playing with color placement and gauge. The 8″ by 10″ swatch’s been properly conditioned (read here for details.)

Though the swirl wouldn’t be in exact color sequence shown, it gave me clear ideas what I like and don’t like when pairing colors together. So far, it took nearly a hank for the 537-stitch cast on and completion of first welt.

My personal interpretation of Coat of Many Colors may not be a showstopper jacket, but, I can assure you it’s easy to knit…yet looks complicated with great instructions in a gorgeous book. Gotta love that.

We had our not-back-to-school potluck at Camp Meadow yesterday.

Great locale,

perfect weather,

as always, yummy/abundant food,

awesome companies–enjoying old and new friends–what more can I ask for!

It was another fabulous evening

fantastic way to wrap up the summer.

Happy crafting and keep those creative juices running!

(still doesn’t do texting, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon, DiggIt…)

Fiber and Light

two of my great loves in life. Of course, I love nothing better than photographing yarn

and knitting…with my new toy.

I live in a thriving craft culture of the Pacific Northwest with my family, who–thankfully–happily indulge my wooly whims.

The simple, serendipitous things really are the best.

The crocuses are poking their heads out and blossoms are being munched by the deer.

I have been pulling brights out of my stash for summery projects. What about you? Camping, bugs, or flying pigs?

Happy crafting and keep those creative juices running!

(still doesn’t do texting, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon, DiggIt…)

Jizzy Jizzy Jazzed

…so thrilled to join in spinning today to see Laura (the brain behind Textiles A Mano,) Jo, Liz again…Mary and Wendy for the first time, plus a couple of familiar faces Janel (showing off her stunning hand-spun quivit, beaded lace cowl) and Laura in her fabulous hand-spun Solar Flare.  A basket of preaches…a very accepting group.  You spin what you spin.  There’s lots of chattin’ and some munchin’.  It was utterly peaceful.  Social spinning is so much fun while one may absorb information and tips like sponges from spinning goddesses!

As you may know, I’m easily distracted by soft, luscious, shiny fibers, an avid voyeur of all things beautiful, and on the look out for daily diversions…

A limited quantity of these cloud-like, exotic braids were dyed and blended by Laura herself.  Last of the two are mine, all mine!  Laura’s choices of stock are overwhelming tempting.  It was hard to not grabbing everything in sight.  She creates some of most delicious, dreamy batts I wanted to take home–be sure to keep your eyes open for them glittery batts at Black Sheep Gathering in Eugene, OR, next week. Thankfully, I left the plastics at home and spent within the limit of what I had in cash!  Here is a small harvest spun and plied on my Cascade drop spindle

Based on the 3-gram, 32-yard sampler, I will be able to knit a substantial lace in a range of 1100 yards out of the two 50-grams braids. It is remarkably bunny soft…buttery goodness!  I was looking at motorized carders last year, but, the price was prohibitive for me. We are talking well over $1000 and in some cases $2000.  I can’t justify that as a hobbyist.  I also would not consider motorizing the carder myself.  That’s not in my skill set.  Nope…absolutely not going there!  I’m not that experienced when it comes to carders.  If I really wanted a motorized version of a carder, I would talk to Pat Green and see what they recommend.  But really, just a hand-carder as it stands has increased my output so much compared to what I did a year before that I don’t need to go there myself.  Besides, good news is that Laura just got more of the fine, exotic fiber in so she would dye and blend me some purple-blue braids in the near future

while on the subject of spinning, here is Bling Me blended by my sweet spinning buddy LeAnn that I have been dying to show the world

The fiber was fun to spin up.  There is a rhythm you must find, but, was such an instant pleasure at seeing the fiber be transformed into yarn

and so easy to ply together with my KCL Dichroic Glass spindle while on the day trip to Portland yesterday.

;”>

This small 19-gram hank of sampler measures a meager 80 yards. Though a decent fingering weight (210 yards/50g,) I am contemplating whether or not to leave it as a single and finish it as a single lace. Would it hold up? Or spin it finer and leave it a 2-ply?  Decision. Decision.

Ain’t I lucky to live in an age when i may do for fun what other people did of necessity, and I may do it with an astonishing range of luxury fibres to produce an amazing range of yarns, fabrics, and garments, most of which are totally non-essential in today’s society.

Fiber art and fiber craft are one way in which I may really let myself go, choose whatever seems appropriate for the moment or the mood, improvise up a storm or turn out a perfectly executed design from a complex pattern, doodle, learn through mistakes, exercise my imagination/editing/tweaking skills, and just plain have a fantastic time twiddling my little sticks and hooks and string and things. I love the tools for what they are, as they are–and I so love yarn

that I would just pile up balls of it on the floor and ROLL in it to soak up all that beautiful colorful fiber goodness. Life is good!

Happy crafting and keep those creative juices running!

(still doesn’t do texting, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon, DiggIt…)