Dorset Batt,

When I began this Dorset journey I had no idea where it would lead. Dorset was a new fiber for me to learn about. I have to say that I really like it. As I have posted before I went back to a colorway that I used a long time ago, but this time I used Jacquard dyes and was very please with how everything turned out. In fact it took the dye amazingly well.

 

So then it was time to knit. Since I have read and been told that Dorset is great for socks, of course that was the direction I went. I just wanted to find out what everyone was talking about. So on size US 1.5 circulars the test started.

 

The knitting experience was different. The Dorset makes a very solid fabric, because it grabs and clings to the stitches beside it. That makes a warm sock. To make gauge I did have to adjust the tension in how I let the yarn run through my fingers. After that, it was smooth sailing. The stitches are defined, close together and exactly what I was hoping for. Now I don't know if I would wear these in the Summer, but anytime it was chilly or cold, a Dorset fiber sock would be the way to go.

 

I had planned on just knitting one sample sock, but after finishing the first one, and enjoying the sock and it's fit, the second sock is on the needles as we speak. :-)

 

So I'm encouraging you to try some Dorset, I have several 4 oz bundles in the Etsy shop waiting for you to enjoy.

 

Dorset Batt, The Process I've Been Wanting To Share

A few months ago, Smoky Mountain Colors met a wonderful local woman who raises Dorset Sheep. We obtains one of her cleaned and processed batts and I couldn't wait to start spinning it. Here is a photo of what the batt looked like after I divided down to 4oz bundles.

As you can see it has a beautiful color, it's clean and a lot can be spun from 4oz. I've found it be airy and a little stretchy (which is fantastic for nice warm socks). Now I have to be honest and say that almost everything I spin has some silk or bamboo, or something in it to made it super soft. This is one of the few things that I have spun straight up, not blended. So with that said, I feel comfortable saying that it's a little softer that Lamb's Pride wool. If you have never used Lamb's Pride I guess it's comparable to Cascade 220 and maybe Galway.

So here is the next photo. I spin a little on the thin side, mostly fingering to sport weight. I spun this so that I could knit some socks since everyone has been telling me what great socks this fiber makes. :-) There is about 400 yards, 2-ply.

So my next step is to dye see how this yarn handles dye. I have changed the dyes I use and this gave me an opportunity to try out my new "goodies." Needless to say I was pretty excited about both learning how the new dye worked and seeing how the Dorset took the color. Let me insert a little side story, when I first started dyeing I did a colorway that I loved but sold it. So I've been looking forward to dyeing it again, and this was my opportunity. There is nothing like bright reds and yellows blending into a clean crisp orange, then that fading and then adding a touch of green and lightening it up to a lime so it will the blend into the color pattern. So here are my results.

 

Two days ago I started the socks and will have photos for you when they are finished so you can see how they look.

 

www.etsy.com/shop/smokymountaincolors

 

Another Avenue To Great Products

Craftsy yarn sale! Save up to 80% on yarn for 48 hours, November 15 & 16.

I just wanted to share with all my friends that Craftsy is have a pretty good sale not just on fabric, (for my quilting and sewing friends) but YARN! Click on either link and see what they have to offer. You maybe totally surprised!

The Perfect Home for my Hand Dyed/Handspun

 

 

Many of you know that I have a real attachment to this year. I thought for days whether I would list it on Etsy shop or not. Well I did, and after a couple of weeks I am so happy to say that it found a good home. :-) I know for a fact that this yarn will be knitted into something beautiful, and will be well taken cared for. One of the things that makes this purchase so special is that it was purchased as a gift.

Now I have to dye some more roving for me!

Once I shipped the yarn and heard that it had been a huge success, it hit me that I wonder if other hand dyers and spinners out there get feed back about their work. I know I try to let the people that I order special yarns and roving from know how much I appreciate it and sometimes send a photo of a finished yarn or knitted project. Do any of you do that? Ravelry Groups give us a great opportunity to share our appreciation and photos. Next time you finish that special project, drop an email to the designer or dyer or spinner and let them know how you feel about the project. I am sure they will love it. Sometimes a kind word will make someone's day. :-)

Smoky Mountain Colors Has Been Busy

It's been really exciting the past couple of months. I can't tell you how many people has encouraged us and are behind us in this new venture. We recently had a booth at the Old Mill Heritage Days in Pigeon Forge, TN. (9/28/13). It was great. Wonderful sells, good feedback and lots of connections. It was a start, a great start. Below are a few of our set up photos. I am so grateful that Karen was there too. We have both been so busy it was wonderful to spend the day with her. People were starting to come up to the booth so I didn't get photos of the finial set up, but you all get the idea. :-)

 



Now we are listing like crazy some of our new dyed and handspun yarns. The leaves are changing here in the Great Smoky Mountains and it's so inspirational. So keep an eye out for some really new colorways! Come and visit us at Smoky Mountain Colors.

Pictures for you

Well I thought since I only have a couple of things on the needles right now, I'd get a few pictures of them up on the blog.

These socks are going to be sooooo nice when they are finished. I'm using Lion Brand's new Sock Ease yarn in Toffee. We'll see how the yarn wears pretty soon. LOL. The ribbing is a 4 stitch rib, with the typical 2 knit, and then the Moss stitch, that you have to see pretty much up close to enjoy, but I think it may become my favorite ribbing.

The next pictures are of a project I started out of frustration. For some reason knitting wasn't relaxing me so I got the drop spindle out a few weeks back and started hand spinning.. Then I decided that I wanted some yarn that was thick and thin, for the up and coming cooler weather. So I started spinning whatever I reached in and got. ;-) And this is what it's become. I'm naming it Neapolitan, since it reminds me of strawberry, vanilla and chocolate.

OMG, Ravelry! I know I'm a late bloomer and all that, but I have to say that I could seriously waste a lot of time there. LOL. I'm still getting setting things up and looking around but I hope this coming weekend that I can get a lot done on it. Keeping track of projects, needles, etc will be so nice.

I have one more picture for you. Everyone knows that my daughter is a Pastry Chef. (don't we all love her? ) But over the weekend she turned 22 and did her own birthday cake. Now let me explain a little about Sara. Since she was about 2 years old her favorite holiday has been Halloween. When she was 3 or 4 she wanted me to change her birthday to Halloween, so you can see where we are going here. ;-)

Blessed Be

YO Scarf Pattern

YO Scarf

Materials: Size US10 needles
Yarn: 262 yards of thin Ribbon Yarn (I used Hobby Lobby's Yarn Bee, Topkapi, in Tarsus)

Directions:

Cast On 17 loosely

Rows 1-10: Knit

Row 11: Knit 1 [YO 3 times, K1], continue across.
Row 12: K1, [drop 3 YOs from previous row, K1] continue across.
Row 13-14: Knit
Row 15: K1, [YO 2 times, K1], continue across.
Row 16: K1, [drop 2 YOs from previous row, K1] continue across.
Row 17-18 Knit
Repeat Rows 11-18 until desired length.
Knit 8 Rows
Bind Off loosely.

Hope you enjoy!

Update: please email me if you find a problem with the pattern. So far my students haven't but, typing it out I may have missed something in spite of the 10 times i read it over. ;-)

Knitting, Dog Shows and other stuff

It's true, I haven't fallen off the end of the earth yet. This year has been something else so far, but I can say that finally life is beginning to be much happier. Though I'm twice as busy, I am happy and getting some knitting done, and going to dog shows and taking charge of areas of my life that I had let slack or thought was ok.

Anyway, I've got some projects going on. The yarn below is Kid Merino from Crystal Palace. It's for a shawl that I'm making for my daughter. The shawl is called Milady's Shawl, designed by Dee Jones for Alpine Meadow Yarns.


A little while back I was not really intending on buying any yarn I was just looking and there on Handpainted Yarn's website were these two beautiful lace weight yarns. They just somehow got into my cart and ended up in my mailbox. LOL.

And here is what I'm making. It's a variation of the Feather and Fan shawl. It's hard to see because of the wood background. But when it's finished I'll take a much better picture for you. We've been joking around about how these are the very colors of my new pup, T.

Details and a better idea of the colors.

You know I can't let this one go. LOL. Today is Gunther's 2nd birthday. Him and T have celebrate all day. We've been to PetCo, Starbucks and Petsmart. It's been a big day. I'll have more pictures tomorrow on Gunther's blog. Gunther, GT and I just got back on Saturday from a dog show in Greenville, SC. We have a great time inspite of my mistake. LOL.

It really feels good to be in a place in my life where I am feeling centered again. Where most of the people who made my life a living hell the first part of the year are long gone and dealt with. It's been an interesting spiritual ride, many lessons reviewed and new ones learned. But I'm just grateful for today. Grateful is such an overlooked feeling. It can be the entrance to such peace.

Froggin'

Yup, I frogged the Black Purl sock. But it's ok, I started them again immediately and I love them even more now. I was using size 2 needles and when I tried the sock on I didn't like how it fit. SO, I frogged, changed needle sizes and like magic it's working out much better.

Now for the ribbon scarf. I have a student who started running out of time on getting her scarf done so I took it to finish for her. Here are some pictures of it. She is doing the alternate pattern that I wrote. The pictures don't do the ribbon justice, because it's more of a pale pink with a dark green and black.

If you happen to have a Hobby Lobby around this is the yarn she is using. It's really beautiful.

P I C T U R E S

I promised pictures and here they are. Of course I have to start out with my furry son's ribbons. LOL. The one on the left is the place ribbon and the other one is the qualifying ribbon. Now for knitting. (grin)

Here is the finished ribbon scarf. I LOVE IT. But, you know the next one I make will have changes in it. First off it's too wide. For us Southern ladies, we don't want to do or wear anything that might make us "glisten" a little too much.
This ribbon yarn is heavy and will make you sweat like a pig. LOL. It's definitely not a scarf meant for warmth, but as an accessory, so when I get it all written out, it will be half the width and not quiet as long. It's a quick pattern and will make a great gift.

By the way, it's made on size 10's or 10 1/2's and I got the ribbon yarn at JoAnn's a long time ago. But I was in there the other day and seen that they have some really pretty ribbon yarns.

Now for more pretty stuff. I have always loved looking at the Recycled Himalaya Yarns. They are just so full of color and personality. So when Patternworks had their Recycled Rayon on sale I ordered 2 hanks. I have no idea what I'm going to make with them. But I have them now and just enjoy the colors.

And finally. I have a distant cousin that just had her first baby. A little boy. Some of you may recognize this yarn from a previous blanket, but I have enough left over to make this Fan and Feather baby blanket. Since the picture was taken I have gotten quiet a bit done on it and have about another quarter of work to do.

So there we are. We're caught up on knitting and we are caught up on Gunther. LOL. Oh one more thing. If you are a dog owner let me suggest to you a lady who makes Tugz for all size dogs. Rescue Me Tugz. She makes no money on her dog toys, all of it is donated to different dog rescues. For the month of June she is donating all her money to the Great Dane Club of the Mid South's Rescue. Our rescue needs the help, so if you can order a $3 or $5 tugz it would be greatly appreciated.

Coming Soon (LOL)

I am working on writing up the patterns for the lap afghan and for the scarf. So those will be posted pretty soon. I also got some beautiful yarn in them mail yesterday that I have to get pictures of to share. So I haven't forgotten the knitting world.

Things are getting better in around here. I've been doing some dog training on the side which is a hell of a lot of fun. I may pursue it full time because I am having a great time with it. I've also been working with Gunther and he has been in a few obedience competitions and won so that has been crazy. His next one is in July and we'll be traveling to Greenville, SC. While at the shows I've had time to do some knitting and I was amazed at the ladies at the dog shows that knit. Of course she it's a competitive atmosphere, you know after a while the conversation turns into a pissing contest of who knitted what and how difficult the pattern was and on and on. LOL. It takes all kinds. But, they are knitters, and for the most part fun to talk to.

So that's all I've got for now. Hold on and come back for pictures! By the way, just because I've not been posting doesn't mean that I haven't been keeping up with everyones blogs. OMG I've turned into a lerker!