Hijacked Life

So my husband, E has been sick and in the hospital the last few days. He has crohn's disease. He's going in for surgery sometime next week. Needless to say, I might not be around here much. I'll be sitting in a hospital knitting.

Happenings

So I've been teasing for a while about Tour de Fleece. Here's the skinny. While the Tour de France is riding, we spin. When they take rest days we can too. When they have climbing days we can choose challenge ourselves. The ride is July 3-24, get ready to saddle up!

I've been going through my stash almost every day trying to decide what to spin and I came up with a stash bucket. All of these inspire me and that's what I need to make it through this challenge. I tend to not like projects like these, there's this rebellious streak in me that says I don't have to spin, even though that's the point. But for my sanity I really want to spin the next three weeks. There is something very therapeutic about spinning for me. I calm down, I tend to problem solve things that stressing me out, and it's a break from the kiddos. So I guess my goal is to participate the whole time. I know I won't be spinning up this whole bucket, but I'll get to what I can. I've been emptying the bobbins and plying so it's all fresh projects to work on! Are you participating? What's your challenge/goal?
While I was pouring over the stash I found a few things that I'd like to sell for cheap. I'm allergic to all wooly things, but tolerate some better than others. Sheep I can do, anything else (angora, cashmere, camel, alpaca, pygora) I don't do well with. Which keeps things under control a little better with the budget.


These are 2 oz each of 80% merino 20% cashmere. I paid $20 for each of them, but I'd like to sell them for $12 each. Let me know if you're interested and I'll pop them in the mail. They are dyed by the amazing Sandy Sitzman, who I stock on a regular basis at shows! You could get these in time to spin up during Tour de Fleece!

The other topic I've meaning to get to around here is Chrissy Gardiner's new project. Chrissy has a book coming out next summer that features a bunch of independent dyers with stories about them and patterns she's created for the yarn they've submitted. Guess what?! I'm one of them!!! When she told me about this project I almost wet my pants I was so excited! If you have loads of sock yarn and need a pattern monthly to make it through all the skeins, I'd join. In fact, I did join! I can't wait to see what's in store.

Next time: an update on Mother Bear Project, growing Knitted Wit

We Interrupt Regular Scheduled Programing For...

A kit!! I was asked by Wool Girl to dye yarn for her sock club kit and here it is! Her kits are truly amazing. It feels like I got a gift in the mail from a special friend. Every detail is so thoughtful.

There are two patterns and lots of treats. I can't wait to knit up the little kerchief. And the yarn turned out pretty fabulous if I do say so myself! I feel very lucky to participate in such a club. I hope there are more collaborations in the future!

If you just found my blog because you're in the club, Welcome! I'm sorry the shop is down right now but feel free to contact me about any yarns you are interested in. Here's what's slowing me down these days
I'm quick on the email reply though so let me know if you have any questions! The shop will be back up shortly.

Next time: Tour de Fleece, and Chrissy Gardiner new big idea

Black Sheep Gathering

Watch out, I'm posting again! So last weekend was Black Sheep Gathering in Eugene. e spent the night at Oma's house Friday so o and I could get up early Saturday morning. We hopped a ride with Deb and arrived less than two hours later. o did great with both drives by the way! He was quite the hit, I've never had so many people stop me to see who was in the moby.

I wasn't planning on buying anything, for a few reasons, but then I gave myself permission to find one special thing. After walking through the booths a few times I kept going back to the same three skeins at Blue Moon Fiber Arts. I told myself if they were skill there when we walked to the car I'd get them. Sadly for my wallet, they were there!

Two of the skeins that are the same are rare gems and I love them. The other one is a mill end, I think it's supposed to be Bella Coola maybe. It looked nice and manly to me. So I've been trolling Ravelry trying to find the perfect pattern but nothing is sticking out to me. Any ideas? Maybe a baby sweater? They're medium weight by the way, so sportish. I don't feel like that's what I should be knitting right now. I should be making samples out of my own yarn, but how long have I been saying that?!

Speaking of things I shouldn't be working on. I've been cleaning out my junk in the garage and found a pattern for a teddy bear. Have you heard of the Mother Bear Project? Well I got a pattern from them a few years ago now and I was itching to start something new. Nothing like ignoring the two projects going on in my bag right now! I highly recommend making one. I'm on the pants right now.

The pattern is super easy, in fact I think it would be a great way to teach some one how to knit. Anyways, I hope I can make a few of these since I have giant skeins to use up. It's an easy knit to squeeze in a few stitches here and there. Which is the time I have!

Next time: Tour de Fleece (this website is not updated, but you get the idea) and Chrissy Gardiner's new project
It helps me to have a next time line. I know where I was going when I get back here!

Catching Up

I keep thinking I'll have time to sit and do a giant post, but I've realized I'll have little moments here and there to do a post. So I'm going to work on this when I have the time. I can't believe how much time has passed! o arrived June 1st, which explains the silence for the last month, but not the silence before that! I'm not sure what happened there!

o is doing terrific. We had a bumpy start but everything is wonderful now. He is gaining weight just like e did, pounds at a time! I can't believe how much he's plumped up and he's really tall. He's very relaxed and tolerates all the kisses e has to give him. I'm working on tolerating it myself. Today was actually a good day, but I tell you. Two kids at a time is not easy. e is full of life and expresses it in every fiber and motion of his body. I could go on all day about these two!

So on to Knitted Wit. The shop is a little sad right now. But I'm hoping to have a new website up soon. Nap time is the new work time for this mama. I want to have pictures up for everything that you can order. Then you just let me know what you want and I dye it up if it's not in stock. It's super hard to stock an etsy store with the limited time I have, so I'm hoping this might work better.

Did I ever tell you about all the new yarn I'm dyeing? Silky and Single (merino and silk singles) and a lace that has silk and merino. Hmmm, I think there's something else. Oh, set colors for the silky and single, lace, merino knots and bling. I really like the ten colors I'm offering. Do I have a picture? Probably not. Ugh. I also have 30 different color ways dyed up. All this went to TNNA to try and get a few new accounts. I'm also hoping to make up little kits of all the pretty yarn and fiber to send to a few shops. I would love to add a few more shops, like 5 to 10. I'm trying to be realistic about how much I can do, but I'm also realistic in how much income I need to make!

If you want to see Knitted Wit in you LYS let me know and I'll be sure to send them a little packet!

Next time...Black Sheep Gathering. o goes to his first fiber show at 2 1/2 weeks!

and the winner is...

Dillpickle! All the way in Australia! I'll email you for your address and get the yarn in the mail. Thank you for all the ideas readers. One of my favorite new discoveries was Spilly Jane Knits. Have you seen her patterns? Go to Ravelry and check them out. Very entertaining!

I hope all you moms had a great mothers day. e celebrated his 2nd! birthday yesterday. A very fun filled day! I'm glad I have today in the studio to recover, the weekend wiped me out! I hope to be back shortly with some new yarns and colors to show you. Thank you again to everybody that left a comment.

Contest Time!!

Hello, and welcome back to our regularly scheduled programing! Thank you for being so patient about this contest tease! Up for random a drawing is a set of Roy G Biv in pastel, 25g of 7 different colors.
I'm going to draw a name next Monday (5/10), just leave a comment telling me what your idea is to do with the yarn! Pretty easy. One idea might be knitted toys. I saw some at Wool N' Wares out in West Linn out of Rose City and it was so cute! Then Vicki (one of the new owners!) suggested using a brown and orange yarn I'd dyed to make a tiger. Too cute! If only there were a few more hours in the day.

There's has been some knitting around here though. I have no pictures, but I'll snap some for next time. I am happy to report that our house has been pretty healthy this last week and a half (everybody please knock on some wood!). Even my back is starting to feel okay. As long as I don't dye for 8 hours. Which is a bit of a bummer to be honest. The studio is one of my favorite places to be!

I'm going to run away and sit on the couch and knit. I gotta make the best of a toddler nap while I can. Please leave a comment to win some yarn, I'd love to hear all the wild ideas and maybe make something myself!