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Jul 31

Inspiration Monday: Moth-rah!*

MothCozyIt’s hot out, isn’t it? And here we are, on the last Inspiration Monday in July … is it cruel to post pictures of cozy, cocoony sweaters?

No, it’s not – it’s a knitter’s optimistic gesture, a reminder to all of us sweltering and melting in the summer sun that the time will come to wrap ourselves in woolens again, and drink our tea hot instead of iced. Winter is coming, my friends. Hang tight.

And when that time comes, you’ll want a new sweater to wrap yourself up in, right? You’ll want to be packing up your brand-new, fresh-off-the-needles Moth Cardigan into your suitcase to take to Rhinebeck. You’ll want to be wearing it as you queue up for your cider doughnuts and choose your favorite knit-themed mug from one of the stalls. And you’ll really want to be wearing it when – oh look! Is that Amy Christoffers walking toward you?

(These are my fantasies. You’re very welcome to share them.)

So it’s time to get one of these on the needles, STAT – if only as a way to take back some control over summer (which is bringing 110-plus-degree weather to the gals at Blue Moon. Send them strength as they stand over steaming dye pots this week!). Cast on a Moth Cardigan now, because that much Fisherman’s Rib is a deliberate business, and you won’t want to rush through the pleasure of knitting it by October.

Time to choose the perfect yarn, then – look no further than Silky Victoria. Long-and-fine-wool Polwarth is blended with a hint of silk for sheen and luster to show off the rich texture of the Fisherman’s Rib. And each generous skein comes with 695 yards of knitting potential, so the first two sizes can be worked from just two skeins ($72!). That’s a lot of knitting pleasure for way under a hundred bucks. For the largest size, you’ll want a third skein, but you’ll have a bunch left over for a few great accessories (holiday gifts or donations, anyone?).

The color of Amy’s sample piece left me inspired to choose a colorway that’s got all my favorite Fall colors all wrapped into one: dusty plums, faded greens, some woody tan and quiet greys … which of course means none other than Heckley Speckley:

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When dyed onto a silk blend, the fabulous scummy-plummy colors on Heckley Speckley come out a bit muted (remember my SilkMo Alexandra’s Airplane Scarf?), a nice choice for this oversized, cozy cardigan.

So by all means, brew your iced tea to get through this sweltering week … but keep an eye on the prize: a new fall (Rhinebeck?) sweater!

* Moth-rah? Mothra!

Jul 28

School of Yarn!!!

okay first things first!

I just walked out to the dye barn full of women to check on a few things. All of the dyer’s asked about our lone hen who has been sitting on a few eggs trying to repopulate our flock all by her lonesome. So…not one to ignore a cosmic hint, I thought why not go check on her and see what is what.

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Baby chicks!!! I could hear the peeping as I approached the coop. So adorable. A good day!

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and then there is this!

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I almost do not have the words to express how excited I am about this new venture of ours! I have been wanting to do something like this for quite awhile and either I did not have the time or the energy or the team. There is a time and place for everything right? Well, it seems the time is now. The stars have finally aligned to shine their blessing on our little School of Yarn!!

Truly, I could not be happier.

First of all I get to work with two of my favorite people Karen Alfke and Maggie Baird on a project that we all feel passionate about. Both of these women bring years of knowledge and experience that are the perfect balance to my own.

There are a few things in this world that I feel like I am really good at and one of them is yarn. I know yarn!  And… I love it! I love everything about yarn from sheep to sock, silkworm to shawl.  I’ve been working with yarn as a dyer for about 18 years now and still… every single morning I walk out into that dye barn and breath in all the wool and vinegar fumes and my heart expands with it all and I know… I am exactly where I am supposed to be.

Actually, it is one of the better parts of my day before the business of running a dye/yarn company hits the fan. I am usually the only one there (butt-crack of dawn!!) for a good hour or so.  It’s just me and my yarn. There is yarn hanging from the rafters and drying in the breeze from the fans and there’s color just about everywhere. I say hi to my skeiny friends and start the water running for all the washing and soaking of the yarns we are going to dye that day. Not a bad way to start the day!

Okay, so I am running out of time and quite honestly steam and believe it or not, words. It’s been a few weeks of writing which is not my best thing, so it takes a bit more out of me then say, dyeing does! As with the sock club, which is 12 years old this year, and with Blue Moon, I believe that expanding our knowledge base and building and appreciating our community betters us individually and as a whole and this is also our goal with our little School of Yarn.

I do hope you will join us on this new adventure of ours.

As always if you have any questions please email us at info@bluemoonfiberarts.com

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Don’t forget that next weekend is the Barn Sale and Dye Day event here in Blue Moonland. The Dye Day part is full. We will have an indigo vat going which anyone is welcome to use.

BARN SALE hours are 9:00 to 5:00 on Saturday August 5th @ the big red barn in the land of Blue Moon 56587 Mollenhour Rd. Scappoose 97056

Directions!

If you are coming from Portland or Vancouver you want I-405 to US 30 West towards St.Helens
You will be on this for about 14 miles.
You are going to drive all the way through Scappoose to the end of town.
Right after the fire station is the last traffic light which is Scappoose-Vernonia Highway
You are going to turn left onto Scappoose-Vernonia Hwy
Go about 7 miles up. It’s a pretty and curvy drive!
Turn left onto Chapman Road
Go about quarter of a mile and then turn left onto Mollenhour Road
Go about an eighth of a mile and  our gravel drive is right after a row of mailboxes where the 1st one has 56587 on it.
Also…there’s a huge piece of driftwood with a green house number sign on it.
The gravel road dead ends into Blue Moon. So drive all the way down.

Note: Before Chapman Road there is a Chapman Grange Road. You DO NOT want that one!!

Also please do come all the way down to us. We have parking and will direct you. If you want to carpool that is awesome. Please do not park on our neighbors land. Thank you!

Speaking of events…on August 12th I will be at Coastal Yarns in Canon Beach with a trunk show and yarn tasting and an Eclipse colorway.

I would love to see you!

Have a lovely weekend!!

Ooops almost forgot.

We are in the process of shipping out the birthday prize winners!! yay!!!

Thank you all for playing!

And the winners of Kyle’s lovely book, Urban Knits are:

violetdale and amelie

If you both could email us with you address we can get those out to you.

Jul 24

inspiration Monday: scowl, and the world scowls with you…

[Apologies for the late, after-Monday post, y’all. The blog scheduler burped! If you needed a do-over for Monday, here’s your permission. Happy Monday (again)!]

I have a new obsession: shawl/cowl hybrids, affectionately known ’round here now as ‘scowls.’ Specifically, the brain children of Hilary Smith Callis, aka The Yarniad: three of her patterns slam-dunked into my Ravelry library last week, all for this great new-to-me shape. Basically, these pieces start out flat, like the beginning of a triangular shawl; but after a few rows, you join to work them in the round, and the front ends up sumptuously longer than the back.

Let’s start with Starshower:

© Hilary Smith Callis

© Hilary Smith Callis

All that great texture and lace, front-and-center under your pretty face, right where you want people to notice it. But unlike larger shaped shawls, which you have to re-tie periodically (and if you live in a windy spot like I do, ‘periodically’ means ‘every five minutes’), this scowl shape just pops over your head and never unwinds itself!

Starshower Back

See? Less in the back, more in the front! So you can squoosh this up under your coat without feeling like Quasimodo, all hunched up with too much material back there where no one can admire it.

I love love love a great openwork texture married to a bit of garter stitch – such a great way to showcase pretty yarns without making things too busy.

Starshower was designed with sparkle in mind, so it’s a good thing Tina’s got shiny toys for us –in Super Sparkle, that is! And lookie there: Starshower needs 400 yards for all the scrumptious, sparkly goodness, and Super Sparkle provides… imagine that – 400 yards exactly!

If you’ve got any last summer road trips planned before the back-to-school onslaught, this would make a great one-skein-takealong. Wind up your skein before you leave, print out your pattern, grab your needles and pop it in a cute project bag so you’ll be set for hours of entertainment. With sparkle!

Want something on slightly larger needles? How about Dewberry:

© Hilary Smith Callis

© Hilary Smith Callis

and Adama:

© Hilary Smith Callis

… aran-weight near-instant-gratification knits that might just jump off your needles in a weekend. Dewberry calls for 200 yards of a worsted- or aran-weight yarn (exact gauge not being critical, you can swatch with a needle size that gives your chosen yarn some nice drape). When Tina announced the launch of Plushy this last week (at its generous introductory price of $5 off per skein!), I knew it had to become my first Dewberry. The shaded solids that came out of the barn this week (immortalized in Tina’s photo on Instagram) nearly made a thief of me. (Knowing how sad that knitter would be if her order was delayed was pretty much the only thing that kept me on the straight and narrow around that skein of Bladderwrack on the Rocks!)

Adama calls for 300 yards, which must mean it’s just a bit more lavish – but either way, you’ll have enough in one skein of Plushy (ONE SKEIN!) to make either scowl. Just a little over $20 and hours of knitting pleasure could be yours, not to mention snuggle time around your neck when you wear it.

Thank you, Hilary, for my new obsession! I’m off to cast on this skein of Super Sparkle for my very own Starshower (perhaps I’ll finish in time for the eclipse?).

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This week’s quote, to get you thinking:

“Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.” – Karim Seddiki

Jul 21

New Summer Hues!!!

What could be better than a bit of color and whimsy on a bright and shiny summer’s day!

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I’m pretty smitten with this whole group of colorways but most especially these three! Octopus’s Garden, Pixie Dust & Unicorn Farts and Chintz & Giggles. They just make me happy.

About as happy as those hues make me feel, this trio of Plushy does so even more. Which is a little odd since I am not exactly a pink person.

From left to right we have Goodby Kitty, Baby, it’s cold out. and Cariblue.

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…and then there is this trio of shaded solid goodness!!

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Again…form left to right: Tempest, Bladderwrack on the Rocks and Jasper.  I am so knitting a sweater with Plushy in Bladderwrack on the Rocks and maybe a lap blanky for when the Pacific Northwest wet and cold winter hits.

 

I can not sing the praises of this yarn loud enough! It takes the dye really well so the color is extraordinary. And the ply on this puppy is just snug enough to keep its elastic quality but not too tight to make it heavy. The stitch definition is simply AMAZING!! And it is just super cozy.And since it is worsted weight it is the perfect yarn for holiday present knitting.

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Last week I mentioned our facebook group and how we were going to start our holiday knitting. Maggie is going to be your hostess with the most-ess and our first project is a hat in of course, Plushy.  We contacted Alex Tinsley to see if she was interested in us using some of her hat patterns and she is. She is going to knit Fructose and is using Plushy in Smoke on the Water. Check out the facebook group page for details!

We are diligently working to get orders out! The week long power outage did set us back a little bit.

It is so beautiful out I am going to post this and go for a walk to enjoy the rest of this day.

I get to teach dyeing tomorrow so I am pretty excited!!

PS: I am aware that the picture of Pixie Dust and Unicorn Farts looks different that the instagram video. It was hard to get a good picture to day and I will try again tomorrow. I promise it is the same colorway. Cross my heart and hope to dye! ;0)

Have a lovely weekend!

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Jul 17

Inspiration Monday: Cozy Up!

Some patterns take the Knitting Internet by storm… A good design can capture our hearts and jump on our needles faster than we can say “indie designer.”

Image © K Good Photography

Image © K Good Photography

One such pattern was released this week – Veronika by the ebullient VeryShannon. In case you’ve been sleeping under a rock (otherwise known as ‘camping’ this time of year) and haven’t clapped eyes on it, it’s a cocoon-like shrug for you to knit up now and nestle into as the weather pulls in. (“Winter is Coming!”, right Game of Thrones fans?)

And in a burst of universal synchronicity, Tina’s launched a yarn that should be just the thing you want to snuggle up in… Plushy! This 3-ply, 20.5 micron merino provides plump stitch definition and some extra durability for years of wear (good to have in a garment that’s got a few miles in it when it’s this cozy).

Plushy

Best of all, Tina’s offering Plushy at an introductory price for the next few weeks of $5 off per skein – generous, 330-yard skeins, to boot! So if you pick a color now and git ’em ordered, they’ll be at your doorstep and on your needles before the Equinox.

Shannon’s worked three sizes into the design, so even though fit isn’t super-critical, you can choose a size that will give you generous room without swamping your figure.

Size 1 gives enough ease for bust sizes 30-38″, and takes 1323 yards = 4 skeins of Plushy;
Size 2  gives enough ease for bust sizes 40-46″, and takes 1562 yards = 5 skeins of Plushy;
Size 3 gives enough ease for bust sizes 48-54″, and takes 1691 yards = 5 skeins of Plushy.

Now for the hard part – choosing a color! I’m thinking mine will have to be in one of the Raven Clan colorways, for a deep moodiness that will serve me well through our wet, dark Pacific NW winters. (Maybe I’ll step out of my usual blues-and-greens safe place and try Tlingit to spice things up…)

See you on the needles!

Jul 14

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all the knits…and a few other things

Okay, so it is Friday and if you were sitting here with me you would hear the generator humming (dull roar actually) away, diligently keeping our little dye company going.

It worked!!

They did turn the power off all week long from 6:30 am to 5:30 pm. We worked in shifts because there is only so much of our operation a generator can manage. We did not run out of propane or patience. Although there were moments when I was seriously worried about the patience. Like yesterday when I was picking up yarn and the water guy who was resealing our holding tank said he needed to come now and that meant no water.

It felt a bit like the powers-that-be were trying to see what exactly they could throw our way that would make us stop. Turns out we are a resourceful bunch and not much stops us. Well there was that 3 feet of snow but I feel like that is fair. I am super proud of my team!

I am also really looking forward to next week when I do not have to go out to the barn before the crack of dawn to fill everything with hot water and make all the dye for the day and then be on call for 2 shifts of worker bees.

I might just sleep all weekend!!

I am still working on new colorways! I know… I promise next week! Right now there is a new one up that I created for Lorilee Beltman’s ~ On a Lark Retreat ~ that I taught at last weekend. Such a great time. I love teaching  so that part is always fun.  Lorilee held her retreat at the oh so lovely Island Wood on Bainbridge Island and she really creates a great space for knitters. So much fun and learning and relaxing and knitting was had by all. And what a wonderful group of knitters!! Oh my goodness.  I hope she invites me back to teach again next year.

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The color way is called, On a Lark!! I love how it turned out, don’t you? I took the inspiration from Lorilee’s artwork for the retreat. It’s looks really pretty all knit up too!

As I said in the newsletter we just sent out there are so many wonderful designs to knit these days. I wanted to take a moment and tell you about some of the talented folks I get to work with.

Nona Davenport owns All Wound Up Yarn shop with her mom Leslie. They are lovely!! Nona designs! She designs for our sock club this year. In honor of their shops 2nd anniversary I made them a special colorway and Nona designed Firmament, a super cute anklet sock and then Malaika Gabriel designed a cute crochet shawlette called Waxing Moon. So much lavender knit goodness!

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And then there is this lovely piece Cumulus that Nona designed using our Silk Victoria!

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Photo credits: Nona Davenport

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and for the spinners….

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A New Spin on Color by Alanna Wilcox  (aka spinnybuns)

Alanna contacted me lat year about using some of my fiber for teaching and then, also this book.  It’s a lovely book from an experienced spinner and teacher. We are offering a 10% discount on fiber to anyone who purchases her book either in print or pdf download. She has the discount code info and will give it to you when you buy the book which I highly recommend!

Since we are on the subject of wonderful books I have another to recommend and a giveaway!

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Photo credit: Interweave

The Urban Knit Collection by the oh, so lovely and talented Kyle Kunnecke

This book has been out for a little while but we recently just received from Interweave a few copies to give-away.  I thought since Kyle is moving from the bay area to Seattle what better way to celebrate.  I love Kyle’s design ascetic. He is a color-work magician and we love working with him! Hopefully since he will be closer we will get to work with him more!

I have 2 books. If you would like to win one then place a comment in this post and we will randomly pick two lucky knitters!

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Before I sign off to go for a much needed walk I want to remind all of my Notorious Sock Knitters that their 20& discount code changes to 15% tomorrow.

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Also Plushy is still on special for another week!!! Get it while you can at this price. Believe me you so WANT to knit all the things with this yarn, at least all the worsted weight things!

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I have heard you and our next 3 offerings for the Rockin’ Whorl Club are live!! Sorry it took so long!

Check our facebook group!

Where we are slowly but surely starting our holiday gift knitting support group!

Have a great weekend everyone!!

Happy knitting!!

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Jul 10

Inspiration Monday: JUKO

Today we have nothing but the freshest inspiration for you … so fresh, it’s only just been released!
JUKO two-color

From the fertile, textured brain of Olga Buraya-Kefelian, aka Olgajazzy, comes JUKO (Japanese for fluted or grooved), a single- or two-color double-brioche cowl in two sizes.

Double brioche, you say – what’s that? If you’ve tackled brioche before, you’re familiar with the glorious depths of its 1×1 ribbing – somehow more elastic and deep than traditional rib, thanks to the doubled strands formed by either knitting into the row below or yarn-overing as you slip stitches. And as deep and squooshy as it is in a single color, in two colors it’s downright magical. Double brioche extends the ribbing into 2×2 territory, with 2 knits next to 2 purls and some slipped and some worked and my, what fun!

Since I follow Olga on Instagram (a highly entertaining thing to do – some of her close-up shots of her textured work look like sea creatures, or wild architecture, or moonscapes!), I saw this cowl flash by with the magical words “Pattern now available on Ravelry!” and faster than you can say “where’s my coffee?” I had purchased, downloaded, printed and grabbed needles and yarn to cast on.

As luck would have it, I had Tina nearby (on a slumber-party stayover after her teaching gig at Lorilee’s “Knitting on a Lark” retreat at Islandwood), and she approved of my yarn choice: La Luna DK. We both thought the combination of silk and high-micron merino would be sheer indulgence around the neck, and would drape lustrously at the recommended pattern gauge.

unnamedBoy, were we right! I love the happy marriage of merino and silk; the silk provides all the luster and drape and amazing sleek finger-feel we knitters crave, and the merino provides the bounce and memory the silk needs to hold its shape. Plus, I gotta say, this is one of my absolute favorite yarns to have around my neck. EVER.

At 220 yards per skein, you’ve got the right amount of yardage to put together either a single-color or two-color cowl with two skeins of La Luna DK without a ton left over. Or go ahead and make it just a wee bit deeper to use up all your yarn – you won’t regret having that little bit of extra fabric to snuggle up in!

Olga’s been fantastically clever in working out the stitch pattern here – there’s a little adjustment at the end of the rounds to minimize any pattern jog between rounds, as well as proper attention paid to the cast-on and bind-off rounds for a professional finish (so important in so sleek a thing as a cowl).

I love how the 2-round pattern repeat magically combines both the yarn-over-and-slip method and the work-into-the-row-below method of brioche – essentially marrying the two schools of brioche into one cool rhythm! Work up a JUKO and you’ll be well-versed in both methods, so you’ll be free to brioche away on any designer’s pattern to your heart’s content. Learning and fun in the same pattern – that’s what I call inspirational!

FYI, if you’re an auditory learner like me, you’ll find yourself chanting a little four-step mantra as you work the 2×2 rib in this pattern. My Round 2 mantra goes: “below, purl, knit, slip” and Round 3 goes: “purl, slip, below, knit.” Curious? Go buy the pattern and try it out!

A soothing rhythm, a cool new technique, a chance to cast on and play with lustrous, sumptuous yarn – this one’s a total no-brainer. Sock away a couple in the gift drawer for the holidays and your December self will thank you later. (Make several so you can bear to give a few away.)

If anyone needs me, I’ll be downstairs on the couch, chanting. Below, purl, knit slip…

I’ll leave you with a quote from Maya Angelou, very appropriate for the design of our friend Olga:

“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” – Maya Angelou

Thank you, Olga, for this week’s inspiration!

Jul 7

Notes from the ledge…

I am having one of those weeks. You know the ones where the shit just keeps hitting the proverbial fan and you are still reeling from one disaster when another problem arises and needs your attention and only your attention only right now!!!  I am most definitely having one of those months, with this week being seriously the most dramatic and kind of surreal to be honest.

It started on Sunday when I spilled a cup of water on my laptop. Yeah!!!  Of course it stopped working and I had a moment that I am not real proud of.

My son the techie told me to turn it off and teepee it and let it sit for 48 hours and then we would see. Then, in a vain effort to talk me off the emotional ledge I was teetering on, he told me not to work cause he had a ThinkPad I could borrow. So funny. I am a Mac user – it is all I have ever used. That is not a trick that this old dog is capable of learning. I was pretty touched that my son thought I could, though.

Okay so in waltzes Monday and I am trying to get stuff done with no laptop.  The phone rings and it is our electric company, Western Oregon Electric Cooperative, with a taped message informing me that July 10th to 15th from 6:30 am to 5:00 pm they are shutting off the power so they can work on the substation.  What the hell!!! So I call to verify and sure enough that is what they are doing and we have no recourse. Just slam, bam no power ma’am. I suggested that they might want to take the word ‘cooperative’ out of their business name.

If we were not the creative, problem solving souls that we are this would shut us down for the week. However we are creative and there are generators and we are going to work in shifts so we do not put too much of a load on the generator. Yay team Blue Moon!!! Such rock stars, these women I work with.

Okay, so we are feeling a little more optimistic and like we might have that covered. (We’ll see how the generator holds up.) Then lo and behold our work horse Dell laser printer dies. It dies DEAD!! Yup. And you know I can’t even complain, because that thing has worked its arse off for us for about 10 years. It’s just the timing of it all, right? Almost like someone does not want us to dye yarn for knitters. It’s really starting to feel that way.

We use this printer to print our yarn labels and all kinds of other very necessary things. I am waiting to hear from the repair guy on a printer they might have we can buy or use. I am hoping I hear from him before I leave here at noon today to go teach a dye day at Lorilee Beltman’s On a Lark Knitting Retreat.  I know…that stars are obviously aligned for some wickedly weird happenings.

Underlying all of this running-a-yarn-business drama is some personal stuff that has me at the very least distracted.

I feel like I am leaving something out but  I need to get to the fun exciting part of what I have to tell you today. Fingers crossed that the force is with us and our generator next week!

Look: we have a new yarn!!!

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PLUSHY!!!  Three plies of 100%  superwashed 20 micron worsted weight Merino goodness!! There is a whole lot to love about this yarn. It is squishy and soft and lofty and elastic… . The stitch definition will bring a tear to your eyes.  I see all the knits with Plushy.
100% SW 20.5 micron Merino – 3 ply
Length: 330 yds / 301 m
Weight: 9.5 oz / 270 g
Gauge: 16 to 20 sts / 4 inches (10cm), US 7 -9 needles (4.5 – 5.5mm)

Plushy will be priced at $27.00. Right now we are offering it at $22.00 so we can all get our holiday knit on. Maggie and I are so going to knit sweaters and blankets out of Plushy! We were hatching a plan yesterday. We are adding it into our line-up now since we are starting our Holiday Gift Knitting KAL on our new Facebook page this weekend. We are starting at the top with… hats!!!

We have added in 5 of our favorite holiday colorways to the website, rotating these in and out until we add them all back in the fall. Can you you find them all?

Another special we are running this weekend (or until we run out of yarn!) is on our beloved Marine Silk Fingering. (I might have found an extra box or two in the storage pod.)  20% off  and the coupon code is:  MSF2017

I have a shawlette out of this yarn that is one of my favorites to wear just because it feels so very nice. All that silky shimmer makes it looks pretty wonderful too. Oh.. and the drape: my, oh my!!!

Here are just few lovely shawls folks on Ravelry have knit with our Marine Silk Fingering:

AnnaW’s Spotlight:

Spotlight

mmhiscox’s Shiver (with notes about how she squeaked it out of one skein):

Shiver

And have you seen all the beautiful Reynas on Ravelry? Noora Laivola designed it to make the most of 400+ yards (so one skein) of fingering-weight deliciousness like our Marine Silk Fingering… and to show off gorgeous multicolor colorways as well! Sounds like a win-win.

Reyna

Okay a few things before I dash off to pack the car and head out to Bainbridge to set up for tomorrow’s class.

• The Rockin’ Whorl Club next phase goes up for sale next week!!

• We are working on getting out all the yarn gifts and such that you won for my birthday fun and games. We have not forgotten.

• Also check out our new group on Facebook – we plan on having all sorts of  colorful knit fun there!!

I am sure there is more I had to share but the ticking of the clock is getting louder so I am going to go pack the car…  Have a lovely weekend!
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Jul 3

in a timely fashion

TimelyIn these warm months of longer days, we can feel more generous with time. Watering the garden takes time; steeping sun tea takes time. Is there more time to think right now? I’d like to think so.

“In the fulness of time” is a phrase that has such a tempting feel to it – in the fulness of time, I could write a book; knit a sweater; learn to meditate… so many delicious things can happen with the gift of time.

Today’s Inspiration Monday is a lightweight, fun, colorful project that would be an ideal companion to a summer’s day … and it’s quite literally Timely. This stripey, top-down cardigan by Libby Johnson of Truly Myrtle is a treat of a project, combining stripes and easy construction – it would be timely to start it now so you can wear it as the evenings draw in this Fall.

Doubly timely, as well, given that Libby started a KAL over in her Ravelry group on July 1. Choose some colors lickety-split, get your order in, and the Barn Girls will have your yarn to you asap so you can swatch and join in the fun!

But what yarn? This little cardi is going to be a three-season stunner because of its gauge: 27 sts and 39 rows = 4″/10cm is a super-lightweight fabric that can go outdoors in warmer weather, or be the perfect layer for the office A/C.

Standard fingering-weights might just be too beefy for this project – a yarn that knits up comfortably at 7 sts/1″ might not be opened up enough to create drape at this gauge, and end up a bit too stiff or pert. My first thought was La Luna Lace, since it’s a perky little 2-ply that’s thick enough to be inbetween cobweb lace and fingering. Sure enough, I tried a swatch and got gauge on the second try with US4/3.5mm needles. It’s so drapey and wonderful, I had to make a little video of it swishing and swinging…

Now what about color? Here comes the fun – the 2-row stripes mean you can really play with contrast and ground a highly-active Multicolor Wave with a grounding neutral. The texts have been flying back and forth between me & Tina since we discovered this sweater with colorway combinations; kind of like a game of Colorway Poker (“I’ll see your ‘Muddy Autumn Rainbow’ and raise ya ‘Farmhouse’!”)

Jengu

For my project (and you know I already got my order in), I chose to stay true to her beautiful photographed sample and use a pale neutral for my Color A – I chose Jengu, one of the Spirits. Because these pale, pale neutrals are ‘spirited from’ just one color, you can tease out your favorite hue from a multicolor and anchor it with your favorite Spirit.

Xander

For Color B, you can really let fly – even if you’re resistant to wearing multiple colors at once, like I am. The alternating stripes of solid + multi create a harmonious, and nearly minimal, impression. So here was my chance to dip my toe into Buffy waters – I chose Xander, because I’m totally infatuated with browns and blues together right now. Since Jengu is spirited from blue, I know they’ll go together beautifully.

everydaygrey_sk Everyday Grey

Golly

Golly

tempest_sk

Tempest

Hey all!! Happy Monday. I (tina) am chiming in with a few other colorway pairing suggestions, cause I just can’t help myself!  And as always if you need help please ask. infor@bluemoonfiberarts.com

I’ll list the Bespeckled colorway and then next to it will be a list of shaded solids that I like with that Speckle.

DepravedDyer Birthday Sprinkles :  Just about anything. On the brighter end Boysenberry, Aquarius, Fancypants Fuchsia, Lean Mean Aubergine, Tit4Tat. On the lighter end ~ Chillaxin, Rosebud, Everyday Grey, Pistachio, KMBFLA and Lauma.

Apron Strings :  Magically Delicious, DesAqua, Pistachio, Saffron Surprise, Coral, and Melusine

Scattering Particles on Parade: KMBFLA , Coral, DesAqua, Aquarius, Mermaid Tears, Boysenberry, Orchid Queen, Pooze, Lean Mean Aubergine and Lauma

Heirloom Tomato Jam : Pistachio, Pooze, Pond Scum, Harriet, Saffron Surprise, Calendula, Rose Quartz, Brick and Poupon

SugarPlum Fairy Dust: Lauma, Mermaid Tears, Winter Solstice, Pooze, DesAqua, Seafoam Home, Saffron Surprise and Rosebud

Autumn’s Up:  Magically Delicious, DesAqua, Pistachio, Saffron Surprise, Coral, Melusine, Pond Scum, Aquarius, Chillaxin, Calendula, Harriet and Sun Salutations.

Guardians of the Galaxy :  Just about anything!!   I like Everyday Grey, Mermaid Tears. Jengu, Tit4TaT, Smoke on the Water and Pistachio to name a few.

Heckley Speckley : Lauma, Branwen, Winter Solstice, Sun Salutations, Tempest, Spruced and Mica

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And since it’s Inspiration Monday, we’ll leave you with this inspiring quote. This week’s is from Virginia Woolf, and we think it speaks directly to us as knitters, especially knitters who love garments.

There is much to support the view that it is clothes that wear us, and not we, them; we may make them take the mould of arm or breast, but they mould our hearts, our brains, our tongues to their liking. – Virginia Woolf