When we got in this new yarn from Aracaunia called Sotaqui, I knew I had to knit up something quick with it.  So, here is a super easy, super quick knit with superbulky yarn on super big needles.

SOTAQUI COWL

Materials:

1 skein of  Aracaunia Sotaqui

24" Size 19 needles

Cast on 40 stitches.  Join to work in the round

Pattern: K2, P2 all the way around.  Repeat for each row.

After approx 13 rows -- bind off.

Mini Skeins    

  Hopefully you have seen my version of Tin Can Knits' Vivid Blanket. I dyed up lots of colors, wound them into 90 yard skeins and kitted them up.  I  love doing projects like this because it's so satisfying to get a square done. And then you want to do another and another ......

So, I decided to dye more "mini-skeins" and sell them individually -- if you want to make the blanket, you can choose your own colors. Or, if you are doing a project that requires small
 amounts of lots of different colors, this would be a great way to buy yarn.

I'll have the yarn for sale at the Garden State Sheep Breeders Show Sept 6-7 at the Hunterdon County Fairgrounds along with plenty of other hand dyed yarns and roving.



Here's a pattern I just wrote that uses 8 different colors of the mini skeins -- you could probably make 2 or 3 cowls using this yarn.

FEATHER AND FAN COWL

Materials: 8 colors of Woolbearers' Mini skeins.

Color A: Red/Black

Color B: Deep Magenta

Color C: Wine Rose

Color D: Med Grey

Color E: Light Grey

Color F: Pink Magenta

Color G: Light Pink

Color H: Dark Charcoal

Needles:  Size 5 16" circular needles

Begin with color A,  Work first 6 rows of scarf and then change to color B and work 8 rows of pattern (or 2 repeats), do the same for Colors C through G.  Work last 6 rows with Color H.

Cast on 154.  Place marker, join to work in the round.

Setup rows:

Row 1:  Knit

Row 2: Purl

Feather and Fan Pattern:

Row 1:* (K 2 tog) 2 times, (YO, K 1) 3 times, YO, (K 2 tog) 2 times, repeat from * 13 more times

Row 2: purl

Rows 3&4: Knit

Repeat these 4 rows for pattern

With Color H: Knit Rows 1-4  of pattern.

Row 5: Purl

Row 6: Knit

Bind off in knitting.

©Woolbearers

 

     It's hard to believe that Woolbearers has been in business for over 10 years now.  I think it was only yesterday when we opened up the shop in a little house down in Mill Race Village.  Times have changed and we have had to make lots of changes as well.  Moving up to High Street has been great -- lots of visibility and a nice large shop to display all of our goodies. 
     The latest program Woolbearers is offering is CustomFit. CustomFit makes custom patterns for hand-knit sweaters. It takes your choices, your body, and your hand-knit fabric and produces a pattern perfectly suited to you. Design and fit expertise are built-in, so you get to make all the fun choices without worrying about the hard ones.  CustomFit builds a pattern that fits beautifully from hem to neck, and everywhere in between.

 Here is my first CustomFit sweater.  I used Customfits Classic Cardigan template and indeed, I got a perfect fit. I used Zealana's Heron yarn.

  Fran's first sweater is a pullover. She specified some of the design choices she wanted (neck depth, neck style, edging, etc.)  and got great results.  Of course, it fits perfectly as well.  We both said that the shoulders were a perfect fit -- something that doesn't always happen, even when trying on store bought sweaters.  Fran knit with Tahki Tara Tweed.

I just started another CustomFit sweater.  I did a twisted 1 x 1 rib and  am incorporating a pattern on the back -- maybe the fronts too -- we'll see. I was really inspired by the Botanic Knits trunk show. Found this leaf pattern in one of Barbara Walker's books.
This time I'm using Classic Elite Mohawk Wool and I just love this new yarn  -- it's made of Merino and Romney, is soft, but has great stitch definition.  Here are all the natural colors.

Our first 2-part classes are scheduled for Thursday, July 31st & August 7 or Saturday, August 2nd & 9th,  More info is on our website.





I know it's been months since I have blogged, so here are a few items I have been collecting to put on the blog.  I hope you have all seen my version of the Vivid Blanket by Tin Can Knits.  I've made up kits and lot of folks are knitting away. 

Here is my first version 

and here is Bonnie's version.  Just love it!

I dyed extra black yarn for her and away she went!

Janet has a new grandson and of course he needed a new blankie.  Janet made this out of Berroco Vintage.  The pattern is by Ashley Rao and is published in 60 Quick Baby Blankets.

Robert visits our shop when he is in the area and just had to show off his latest creation.

Here are some new yarns that have been coming in:

Mrs. Crosby Train Case (fingering weight)  Buy here

Spincyle  Dyed in the Wool.  Buy here

 Sweet Georgia Silk Crush 

Delicious Yarns Parfait

If you can't make it into the shop, I'll be getting all these new yarns on my online store soon.

Double Knitting Workshops held at Woolbearers last weekend were a big hit.  Thanks to Alasdair for coming down to Woolbearers from Boston, where it was a little warmer and we didn't get any snow.  Can't wait to see all the new double knitting projects you are making.

Now I know it's been a while since I last blogged. These are some of the things I've been up to:

Vogue Live Knitting

Here's our booth

I dyed up kits of 20 different colorways for knitting Tin Can Knits pattern "Vivid".  Sold out at the show, but I've since dyed more and have for sale in the shop and on my online store.

I actually finished a sweater (yay). Last Fall we started a KAL for Kate Davies Braid Hills Cardigan.  I decided to use my hand dyed sport weight merino and am really pleased with the results.  Kind of hard to see in the first picture -- the second picture, while not true to color, is a better representation of the cable work.

Everyone loves those buttons!

I finished the wedding shawl for Jen a long time ago, but didn't put the flowers on, because Jen thought it should be lined.  So, I bought some fabric and proceeded to line it.  Then I realized it wouldn't have any stretch with the fancy fabric I had, which is key to getting the shawl on.  I went with Jen to her final dress fitting the other night and we all (dressmaker included -- thank you Rosemary) decided not to line it.  Since the bodice is beaded, she will have to be careful getting it on and off.  The pattern for the shawl is the Summer Rose Capelet and I double stranded the Lotus Mink yarn. It is just so yummy.  I hope the bride likes the final product.

My daughter, Emma is going to be one of the bridesmaids.   Since there are 5 of them, I did not volunteer to knit shawls for the bridesmaids, but I really wanted to make Emma something. So here's a little shrug she can wear to the rehearsal dinner.  It's the Gaia Shrug pattern made out of Shulana's Mersilca, an aran weight, wool/cashmere/silk blend. Knits up in a day or two.

I bought my dress for Jen's wedding a few weeks ago and decided at the last minute to knit myself a shawl.  I have always wanted to do the Swallowtail shawl, and since Jen didn't want any lace in her wedding shawl, I just had to make it.  I used Jaggerspun Zephyr wool/silk laceweight and used beads instead of doing the dreaded nupps. Love the way it came out.

Since I had a deadline for the shawl, all of my other projects were on hold.  But I am now slowly getting everything else finished.  Only 5 more rows on Ysolda Teague's Follow Your Arrow shawl.  Glad I used my hand dyed fingering weight yarn, because I had to dye more yarn to finish.

Here is my Harvest Cardigan.  I'm making a child's size in hopes of finishing quickly.  Using Madelintosh Vintage and just love the way it knits.

My Strokkur is coming along slowly.  I had to rip out about 10 inches --- I put the stitch markers for side shaping in the wrong places initially and just couldn't salvage it any other way. Finally on the sleeves and then for the fun stuff -- fair isle yoke!  I'm sure it will be ready for next winter.  Making this out of Lopi Lite.

There are lots more UFO's -- but I am determined that 2014 is going to be the year of finishing things!