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Traveling Sweater KAL

In case you were wondering: it is Monday! (You’re welcome!)

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And what better way to brighten up a Monday than planning a knit-a-long? I know!! So exciting.

So we had all of these wonderful plans for 2020 since it is Blue Moon’s 20th year of being Blue Moon. As with most things right now, our plans have gotten a bit derailed. And to be completely honest, all of this kind of took the wind out of my creative sails. In reality I know it is not 2020’s fault that we are here but nonetheless, it’s hard not to harsh on 2020.

Anyway – we are moving along in our celebration of 20 years of spreading the love and joy of fiber, yarn, color and making!! 10 years ago Karen Alfke and I mused over a sweater design I had in my head and she went away and created a stunning design ~ The Traveling Sweater!!

Original PT Glamour

I loved the design, and it turned out that many of the rest of you did also. Oh my goodness, so much yarn went out into the world for knitting this sweater! Hell, a bunch of you knit it twice! (One intrepid knitter on Ravelry has made FOUR.) It was an amazing experience.

Karen and I had talked about a re-issue with upgrades and a possible KAL for a few years now. So what better time than Blue Moon’s 20th year and The Traveling Sweater’s 10th?

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Aria in “Phaedra.”

One of the reasons all of this works now is we have the right YARN!!! We originally used a yarn we called Woobu. It was a lovely merino and bamboo blend that held up well and also had this silvery sheen to it (thank you bamboo!). Our mill discontinued Woobu after a very long run; ever since then, we’ve been searching for a yarn replacement. Finally we have found one!

Aria is a stunning blend of 60% merino and 40% silk, which is spun oh-so-beautifully. I love this yarn so very much. It’s silky, smooth and soft while also being strong and energetic. [Karen says: “Hey! That’s how I want people to describe me!”] And… it has that silvery sheen which we have been looking for since Woobu went away. I will tell you that there was a fair amount of happy dancing in the dye barn when we saw how well this yarn dyed and knit. Be still, my yarn- and color-loving heart!  We are thrilled to add Aria to our stellar line-up of garment yarns in general — and specifically for the Traveling Sweater.

We could say that it’s sadly ironic that we are knitting a sweater called “the Traveling Sweater” at a time when so many of us are staying safe at home because of the pandemic. However, I choose to see it as knitting HOPE and dreaming of that time when we will be together, not just in spirit but back out in the world at our knit groups and festivals. There is always hope, and together we can knit that hope into reality.

Okay — so here are some specifics:
• Karen has the Tenth Anniversary edition of the pattern up on Ravelry here. There’s an automatic $1 discount running from now until after the cast-on date in mid-June to say thank you for all the love & support over these ten years!
• In the new edition of the pattern, you get an additional size (XS/S for all you petites!), a ton of schematics to help you visualize how it goes together, plus tutorials and photos and and… Plus, there’s a free companion PDF that outlines how you can make a version without the back ‘spine’ detail!

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• In the weeks leading up to the KAL Cast-On Party, we’ll chat here about yarn, colorways, dyeing Aria, swatching, blocking … all the topics you’ll want to know more about so you can cast on with confidence for this glorious piece. Also, Karen will be hosting the official KAL conversation and answering all of your questions in her group’s Traveling Sweater thread on Ravelry.
• Karen is also planning to put together YouTube tutorials (because online video tutorials are a knitters’ best friend, especially during pandemic lockdown!). Some of you may not know that Karen is not just a talented designer but also a teacher: she’s been teaching knitting for decades at big conferences like Stitches and Madrona Fiber Arts, as well as at shops like Churchmouse Yarns & Teas (where she used to be on the design team). Karen has also been my partner in our School of Yarn series over the past few years. She not only KNOWS knitting, she is so good at helping others learn and excel.

Now onto the dyeing and getting your yarn. Right now Eat Sleep Knit has quite a bit of Aria in stock, so you can shop there for instant gratification! And of course we are dyeing to order, as we do! We decided to set the cast-on date for June 19th so there will plenty of time for me to dye and ship you your yarn!! I will, however, ask you to choose your colors and place your orders sooner rather than later — this helps me order in enough yarn and then dye it and ship it to you! If you need color input please do let me know. I am more than happy to help at info@bluemoonfiberarts.com. We are continuing our discount we have running right now through this time. Code is: supporteachother2020 and is good for 20% .

Karen says you will need 4 skeins for the new XS/S size, 4-5 skeins* for the M/L size (what used to be the smaller size on the original pattern), and 5 skeins for the XL size. (See the pattern page on Ravelry for measurements to help you choose your size). *An important FYI: the yardage for the M/L size is really close to 4 full skeins of Aria. If you want to do a bunch of extra swatching, or if you’re tall and love looong sleeves, you will want to get a 5th skein for insurance. This one was close enough that Karen wanted to give you the heads-up about that.

Okay, crew – ready, set: TRAVEL! We can’t wait to see what colorways you pick, and get us all underway on our trip toward hope and cameraderie.

By the end of this week I should be currentish up on most of the online orders. Phew!!!  Have I said how much I miss my team.

I will also be shipping the April spinning club. I will be sending out an email about sock club either today or tomorrow.

I hope you all are staying safe and well. I know this is a challenge on so many levels and in different ways for all of us. Please know you are all in my thoughts and prayers!  You are wonderful!! Take it one day at a time! Some days it is one moment at a time. I have had a few of those. We will get through this to a brighter more loving and inclusive place for all of us!!!

love!!

This and that and then, probably a little of those!

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Yup, this is how it is!  I would say that it’s been a week but when hasn’t it been so…there’s that. I had to venture out yesterday for supplies and it was pretty surreal. It had been a little over 4 weeks since I left here and it was just odd being out in the world. I am one of the over 60 crowd so I left early to take advantage of the less crowded shopping. On the positive side I got to see the morning unfold which was lovely. Everything is blooming. So much can happen in 4 weeks time but especially so in the Spring. Wow so much color everywhere, especially green. Oregon seriously rocks green in Spring. There are so many shades of green but I things my favorite is the bright tree leaf bud green. It’s the kind of green that vibrates with life force. I love it!

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And yes this does mean there will probably be more green colors coming your way. I love green! I remember quite awhile ago when I was inspired to do some new colors Debra very gently mentioned I might want to try other colors besides green. Whaaaat?? Oh Debra. I did though, because she was right. It has been awhile since I had a green phase so I’m going to immerse myself in green for a little while. Green is such a healing, calming hue ~ regenerative! 1647a76726e270e4e906e82fb9ab2a52

Wow, I had no idea when I sat down to write this morning that this is where we would end up. Since we are here if you have not heard Joni Mitchell’s song Little Green give it a listen.

” Just a little green lie the color when the spring is born.”

It’s one of my favorite songs of all time.

 

 

 

Okay let’s talk a little bit about knitting shall we?

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Photo credit: Boo Knits

Boo Knits Happy Talk Shawl

Isn’t this pretty? I do love a Boo Knits design. And I have been looking for something to use our SilkMO Lace with and there you have it. Also she is offering it as a free download right now which is super kind and generous! I’m thinking Featherlight and SilkMO Lace ormaybe Soft Rock instead of Featherlight. Hmm… . And it could be green!!!I am working on a grey with green tints to it and that would be stunning on the mohair. Okay…I have to dye!!! Since I am the lone dyer right now I do not have a lot of knitting time and then also my hands are older hands so I do have to rest them. Oh my don’t you love those points!!!

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Rayna by Noora Backlund

I am finding during this seriously stressful time in our lives and world that I need simple patterns that will still hold my interest. I think this is one of those patterns for what it is but also what it will do with color which always holds my interest.

Noora uses a fingering-weight yarn which our stashed are full to brimming with and pretty much any color is going to work.I would choose a mutli with just enough contrast but like I said anything will work. Noora’s pattern is also free at this moment. Please do remember the gift these designers are giving us and support them anyway you can

Photo Credit: Noora Backlund

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Twisted Slipster Blanket Shawl by Jen Toll Knits

I am adding this one in because it very pretty and I love the stitch and we need cozy comfort right now. It’s knit is worsted weight so pull out your Targhee Worsted!!! I would use a shaded solid so you can see those twisted slips!

Okay I think that is a fair amount of inspiration for us all.  I have to get back out to the dye barn to work on reeling and rinsing. The two r’s of fiber work. I am just cracking myself up here.

 

Photo credit: Jen Toll Knits

As I  have mentioned it is just me here and I am doing my best to get your yarn to you asap. If you need it sooner than later please let me know and again thank you all for the wonderful communication and sharing. You’re the best!!

Take care of yourselves and each other.

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I do have baby chicks on the way. We might need some hats!!

 

 

One day at a time.

Hello all…

How is everyone holding up? All of this is quite a bit to process for everyone but most certainly more for those working the front lines and for those who have lost their jobs. It’s a scary time and one that a lot of us have not come close to experiencing so our coping skills are being challenged.

I realized at the beginning of last week when I started to get panicky that I needed to adjust my way of thinking and being in this time period.

I live alone and my business is here with me. In many ways I am lucky and I know that. I try to step outside of that privilege as much as I can to help and support others.  I live where I work. My business is on the same piece of land as my home so I do not have to leave here to keep working. I am grateful for that!! However it does mean that I am the only one here and it’s a lot of work and work I have not done alone in a very long time.

If you know me you know I have very high expectations of myself. I often meet those expectations but I also know that sometimes my expectations are unreasonable. I realized when I had woke up with a panic attack last Monday that I needed to cut myself some slack. There’s no way I could meet the same timeline that a team of 5 women could. Yes I might have a superwoman complex. So I stopped myself from overworking and stressing about it all and then changing my mindset and I will tell you it has made all the difference. I look forward to going out to the barn to work instead of feeling overwhelmed by it all and because of that I also feel like I am getting more done and infusing it all with the love and joy I feel is so important. Like enjoying the color bubbles from mixing dye!

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And enjoying how the colors mix and shine of the Super Sparkle yarn before it all soaks into the yarn.

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That place where two colors meet and make another color or another shade of that color is one of the most magical and wonderful parts of being a dyer.

As far as jobs go mine is pretty awesome and I am fully aware of just how lucky I am!

 

So I guess this is my very round about way of saying that all of this that we are going through is seriously hard. It’s a lot to process and dealing with so we are going to need more patience and love with ourselves and each other to get through this. If you are sad or scared feel it, it’s okay and reach out. I was feeling a little sad this am so I called a friend and just hearing her voice helped me. And now I am writing to you which honestly ALWAYS makes me feel connected and joyful. We are in this together even if we are not physically together.

So what am I doing today? I am tagging and packing and shipping the orders I have ready.  Before I do that I will get the yarn I am going to dye today ready for dyeing. I prepped the dye for it last night before I went to bed. I don’t know why but I find working in the dye barn at night kind of magically delicious.

I am also writing this to you before I head out to get started. I also have to answer emails today print tags, order dye and talk to suppliers. I need to rinse what I dyed yesterday and hang it to dry and wash out the pots. Oh and I have to reel some yarn from cones to skeins, almost forgot. It’s cause it is my least favorite part of the job.

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I am going to pour myself another cup of coffee, feed the cats and Betty the chicken and head out to get things going.

I want to thank all of you for supporting Blue Moon.  Thank you to those who have been sending me pictures of what you are working on and also posting them to instagram and facebook.  I love it soooo very much. Oh and also for the love notes.

You are wonderful!!!!

Please know that I am working diligently to get you your yarn. If you need it sooner than later please let me know.

Please take care of yourselves!!

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Anyone know what day it is?

I was walking from the dye barn to my house at the end of my dye day  this past week. I was musing about dinner and a foot soak and it occurred to me I had absolutely no idea what day it was. I seriously did not have any idea. It turned out to be Thursday. Thank you iphone calender!  I got a note from a friend the very next day that said, “hey, do you know what day it is because I do not and it’s kind of freaking me out”.

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We are in uncharted waters here where we have little to no control. What little the control we have is not real pleasant and for some us seriosuly hard. And while it is important to be positive and hopeful it is also very important to be patient and kind to ourselves and others. All of this is unimaginable so it is extremely hard to process. We are all going to have all the feels and be overwhelmed and/or kind of numb. I have found myself just staring into space on occasion. I think my psyche is just trying to make some sort of sense out of it all. It has not been very successful.

What do we do? Well we need to be here for each other. We will get through this together and no other way. If your feel overwhelmed or lonely don’t be shy reach out. If you know of people who are on their own reach out to offer and ear, a shoulder or an errand.

We also do the things we know how to do that make us feel we have some sort of control. And for us that is creating wonderful goodness with yarn and fiber. Some of us are also baking lots and lots of sourdough bread which I am seriously amused by since for so long now it has been no carbs and no gluten. It’s what we find comfort in isn’t it? I love making chutneys and pickles and this weekend I started a batch of preserved lemons because it felt good to do so and I love them. So yummy!!!

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I find comfort in serving my community so I am going to be here working to get you yarn and fun ways to use yarn!! It’s been a very long time since I have not only been a full time dyer but also done all of the rising and bundling and printing and tagging and packing and shipping. I have gotten my head around how to make it all work so I am pretty tickled. I will probably on ship once (maybe twice) a week in order to stream line things. If you have a deadline please do let me know.

Also please know that the dye barn is being kept super cleaned and disinfected. It is just me here and I am freakishly careful. When things come in they sit before unpacking and then what I an clean off I do. I wash my hands so much they look like prunes. Also it’s dyeing so lots of very hot water all the time. I am not letting anyone else in the barn but me. I am immune compromised with a touch of asthma so am used to being extra careful anyway. I have just upped my game!!

Okay let’s talk knitting and yarn and color!!

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I sent out a email midweek about a MKAL that Tina Tse started. Unfortunately the link did not work so I am putting it here also.

It’s free which is so lovely of her and looks to be great fun.

She calls for 2 skeins of fingering-weight yarn in contrasting colors. We all have that in our stash now don’t we! Tina is a brilliant designer so if you are not familiar with her work this gives you the chance to get to know her design style.

If you need color help who you gonna call? Color Buster!! LOL

 

And speaking of MKAL’s our friend Larissa Brown has a Lunar Fade MKAL starting soon!!

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I almost never do MKAL but am going to give this one a go since it’s all moon friendly. You’ll need four skeins of fingering weight yarn, three that progress from a light to dark, and then a fourth that is a contrast color. You’ll get more info about the yarn requirements, theme when you get the Pre-KAL Guide that you receive when you buy the pattern. First clue comes out on the 10th of this month.

Here are two of my choices so far and based on what I had hanging around.

I can’t decide which one I like the most. I think I am leaning towards #2 . I am loving the greens and am feeling like I need a little more green in my life.  But then that golden color on #1 and #3 is pretty sexy too. Hmm…choices. All of these colors are very soothing to me. What would be your soothing hues?Also could take out the multicolor skein in #2 and use Heckley Speckley. Ohh… that might be it.

One of the other fun things I am doing is playing with our new SilkMO Lace. I dyed a skein in one of my favorite shaded solids Bladderwrack on the Rocks and I am madly in love with this!!

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This picture does not really do it justice. My scummy color loving heart is so very happy. I think combined with that golden Honey Dijon skein above would be mind boggling!!

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It’s amazing how adding in mohair lace can change a color. I took the swatch of Mad REAL that I had sitting on the needles added a strand of the SilkMO in Mica and it soften the color. YOu could actually grade a color by using different shades of SilkMO. Hmm… okay maybe when team Blue Moon is back I will play with that!!

Alright my lovelies. The 20% discount is still on! Code: supporteachother2020

If you are a seamstress and are working on face masks thank you!!

If you are one someone who is working the front lines of this pandemic THANK YOU!!!!

Take care of your dear selves!

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