Monday, December 31, 2012

The Dyer's Notebook - Episode 15

Episode 15 - An Interview With Knitting Rose





Shownotes

This week I chat with Lise of Knitting Rose about dyeing, business, etc. You can find Lise through the following links:

Knittingroseyarns.com
Ravelry
Plurk
Twitter
Facebook
Podcast

Shop Update
No update on January 1. Next update is January 8.
January 1 - 3 All organic merino will be marked down 15%. All other yarn will be marked down 10%. No coupon code needed.

Monday, December 24, 2012

The Dyer's Notebook - Episode 14

Episode 14 - Sleepy Christmas Eve Edition





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Shownotes:



Announcements
Interview with Knitting Rose – Get questions in now!

Week in Review
Getting ready for Christmas
Knitting group Christmas party

Knitting
Wallpaper Cowl – Holla Knits Accessories KAL - Done!
Vitamin D Cardigan - Done!
V-Yoke Cardigan

Spinning
Unwind Yarn Company “Goldenrod” Corriedale – Done!

Stash Enhancement
Tosh Sock in Cathedral

Dyeing
What I’ve been dyeing this week – Scarves!

Ask A Dyer
None

Shop Update
Update on January 1 at 1 pm CST.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

FO: Vitamin D Cardigan


When my Thursday night knitting group at MadTosh decided to do a KAL of the Vitamin D cardigan, I wasn't too terribly excited. Drapey, open cardigans aren't normally my thing, and to be honest, I saw a lot of people's projects on Ravelry that I didn't think looked too flattering.


After reading a lot of project notes, I decided to make a few mods (listed in the Specs below) to get something that would (hopefully) look decent on me. When I chose my size, I went below my bust measurement because I didn't want the back and sleeves to be huge on me. One main concern was I didn't want the two front points to land at the bust line, which I think I avoided well.


I chose to do the cardigan out of Gynx Sock because I thought it would be a good example of a larger project using the yarn, but since I started, that base was discontinued. Oh well.


Specs
Pattern: Vitamin D by Heidi Kirrmaier
Yarn: Gynx Sock (discontinued) in "Ino"
Needles: US 5 & 4
Mods: Used fingering weight instead of sport, had to go up to 5s to get gauge
Added 10 rows stockinette stitch before and after the short rows
Lengthened sleeves to full length
Ravelry Project Page

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

FO: Wallpaper Cowl


This cowl has actually been done for days, but it's taken such a long time to dry after washing it! This is going to be a great, cozy cowl.


I love the yellow Chocobo colorway I chose for the lining. What was at first an afterthought has really made the cowl.



Specs
Pattern: Wallpaper Cowl by Emma Welford
Yarn: Gynx Yarns Merino DK in "Happy" and Charcoal, Gynx Yarns Merino Sock in "Chocobo"
Needles: US 6
Ravelry Project Page

Monday, December 17, 2012

The Dyer's Notebook - Episode 13

Episode 13 - An Interview With Unwind Yarn Company



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Shownotes:

Ask a Dyer
Tips on overdyeintg

Interview
This week I chat with Dana of Unwind Yarn Company about her business, and she gives advice for both hobby dyers and those looking to go into the business. You can find Dana at these places:

Etsy
Ravelry
Ravelry Group
Twitter
Plurk
Just One More Row Podcast

Shop Update
Shop update is Tuesday, December 18th at 1 pm Central
There will not be an update next week; next update is January 1 

Thursday, December 13, 2012

FO: Aristida Shawl


I started this shawl this past summer, and had grand plans of finishing it in a timely manner. As normally happens, I was distracted by other projects, but it's finally done.

Specs:
Pattern: Aristida Shawl by Alexandra Beck (from Knitscene Accessories 2012)
Yarn: Recycled from a thrift store sweater and overdyed by me.
Needles: US 7
Ravelry Page


Monday, December 10, 2012

The Dyer's Notebook - Episode 12



 Episode 12 - It's Actually Cold




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Shownotes:
 
Announcements
Interview with Unwind Yarn Company – Get questions in now!

Week in Review
Arlington Christkindl Market
                The RedSari, Dallas Lace Society

Knitting
Aristida Shawl – Done!
Wallpaper Cowl – Holla Knits Accessories KAL

Spinning
Unwind Yarn Company “Goldenrod” Corriedale – singles are done

Dyeing
What I’ve been dyeing this week.

Ask A Dyer
None


Shop Update
Update on December 11 at 1 pm CST.

Monday, December 3, 2012

The Dyer's Notebook - Episode 11

Episode 11 - I Actually Finished Something



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Shownotes:



Week in Review
I'm in a magazine!
Bunnyspinner patterns my husband and I "modeled" for

Knitting
Jose’s Socks – Done!
Wallpaper Cowl – Holla Knits Accessories KAL

Spinning
 Nothing much.

Stash Enhancement
Unwind Yarn Company Merino
Highland Handmades SW BFL
Magazine reviews

Dyeing
Club dyeing
Shibori and such

Ask A Dyer
Clarification about wearing respirator/mask

Shop Update
Studio Ghibli Club – Shipments have gone out!
Holiday yarns – Elf is out of stock, contact me if you want me to dye you some.
Update on December 4 at 1 pm CST.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

FO: Jose's Everyday Socks

I have a lot of friends whose significant others don't really appreciate hand-knit gifts,

I don't have that problem. In fact, I have the reverse. I knit Jose a pair of socks a couple of years ago before I was an experienced sock knitter. The yarn didn't really suit the socks, I knit them on size US 2 needles (I prefer 1s now for longer wear), and I kitchenered the toes incorrectly, so the seam popped rather quickly.

I decided this year that he needed a proper pair of socks after several reminders that his first pair was wearing out. I got some Louet Gems fingering weight from Webs, but it was kind of pink when it came in the mail, so I overdyed it a semi-solid light brown. These shouldn't have taken me so long, but I have so many other projects on the needles, they got pushed aside often.

 

I came home from knit night last night to a grumpy Jose. He was wearing one of his first socks on one foot, and his other foot was bare. He said, "Do you see that I am wearing one sock?"

I said yes, and asked why. He informed me that his other sock had completely burst at the toe seam. I asked him why he didn't put on some other socks, but I think he just wanted to make a point. So, today I finished his socks. He doesn't even know they're done yet (although they're wet and blocking right now), so I was able to snag a photo before he takes them from me.

Specs:
Pattern: Hermione's Everyday Socks by Erica Lueder
Yarn: Louet Gems Fingering
Needles: US 1
Ravelry Project Page
Modifications: Cast on 72 stitches to fit his foot.

Monday, November 26, 2012

The Dyer's Notebook - Episode 10

Episode 10 - Safety



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Shownotes
  

Week in Review
Lazy Thanksgiving week
I went Black Friday shopping

Knitting
Vitamin D – Body done. Not excited about fit so far.
Wallpaper Cowl – Holla Knits Accessories KAL

Spinning
Hasn’t happened (but did purchase fiber!)

Stash Enhancement
Black Friday haul
Yarn for:

Dyeing
Have not dyed the past week.
Safety – MSDS

Ask A Dyer
No questions!

Shop Update
Studio Ghlibi Club – I’m dyeing this week
Holiday yarns still in stock
No update this week

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Holiday Yarns and Black Friday Plans.

Holiday Yarns

As you might have seen, there are three limited edition, self striping colorways this season. I’ll only be able to dye them up a couple more times, but if what you want is out of stock, contact me and I should be able to take care of you. To check is any is available, holiday yarns will be kept in the first row of the first page of the shop all holiday season.

The first colorway is Elf. With equal-sized red and green stripes, this colorway looks great on both the Glitz (438 yds) and Strong (400 yds_ Sock bases. If you would like this on the Merino (400 yds) or Luxe (435 yds) Sock bases, let me know and I’ll do a custom order. I will only be dyeing this colorway in Glitz Sock and Strong Sock for the shop.

In Glitz Sock:

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In Strong Sock:

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The next colorway was born from my favorite Christmas decorations, which are always silver and gold. These equal-sized stripes of gold and silver also happen to be a great New Year’s colorway, or if you are just fond of bright, shiny things. The colorway name “Party Dress” comes from all of the bright, shiny, metallic party dresses that are in the stores for the holiday season. This colorway only works on the Glitz Sock base.

image title
This last colorway was a suggestion from a customer, and I am in love with the result. “Winter Wonderland” is equal-sized stripes of silver and light blue, and is a lovely winter colorway regardless of whether you celebrate Christmas. It was even suggested that these colors could be a possible Hanukkah colorway?

This colorway is only available in Glitz Sock as well.




image title

Black Friday

 
Hey guys, I’ve already had a few people ask me about Black Friday plans, so I thought I’d go ahead and let you guys know what’s up.

I will be having a one day only sale (Friday, November 23) on all of the discontinued organic merino yarn. I need to make room for all of the new stuff, and figured this would be a good time to give you all a little deal for the holidays. This will include all organic self-striping and the already discounted colorways. This will not include any of the new bases (Gynx Sock, Gynx DK, and Gynx Aran only), which means that holiday yarns will not be included.

I will announce the specific amount of the discount on Friday in this thread and all of my social media sites. This will be the last sale I have this year, so now is the time to stock up!

Monday, November 19, 2012

The Dyer's Notebook: Episode 9

Episode 9 - Drowning in Holiday Yarn



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Shownotes
  
Week in Review

This week I met up with ponkie from AnotherCraftyGirl!
There is now a thread in the Ravelry group to post your dye projects.
 
Knitting/Spinning
Hasn’t really happened (fiber monster)

Dyeing
What I’ve been dyeing this week – Christmas yarn

Ask A Dyer
What to do with waste dyes
 Organic/natural dyes

Shop Update
Studio Ghlibi Club sign-ups are closed!
Three holiday colorways
This week’s update – November 20 at 1 pm Central