Skip to content

Archive for

Shopping cart issues

You ever have those moments where  it seems like every time you go to get something done you are met with obstacle after obstacle? Well it has been a few days of this for me. The latest was trying to get shipping out yesterday and the shipping  system on the USPS site is sending errors and it just keeps saying to come back. Yesterday I put in all the info and it gave an error message the the tracking and would not process so…hopefully they get this fixed.

Our other and bigger issue also involves shipping. The shipping module/plug-in for the Blue Moon website is broke and we are trying to figure out if it is fixable which is why orders are not going through and are stalled one that page of the website.

So while we figure this current challenge out if you want to place and order here is what to do:

email me your order include:

Name, address and phone number along with what yarns you want to purchase, how may skeins and in what colors.

I will then send you a paypal invoice to pay and boom order placed.

or you can call me and place your order that way. 503.348.9278

I am sorry for this hassle. It’s certainly not how I saw this week going.

On the positive side of things it’s been glorious here weather wise and my daughter Rabia is home for the month visiting. So this mama is very happy!!

school of Yarn folks your packages are sitting here waiting for USPS to get it together as soon as they do  they will ship!

Okay I am off to play with dye on yarn for a few hours!!

Have a lovely Sunday!!

Sunday are for…

It’s Sunday and I am rinsing all the roving that was dyed yesterday and doing some cleaning because my middle child, my daughter Rabia is coming for a visit. So excited. She’s the one that is teaching and living in Kyrgystan so I have not seen for since last last July.  She will be here for the rest of the month so I have been trying to get as much done as possible so we can spend a lot of time playing!

It’s quite a stunning day here and mostly quiet except for the ravens whose babies are fledgling so every once in awhile there is the raven parent cheering section which is very very loud! we also have a barred owl fledgling whose parents are not putting up quite ruckus that the ravens are. Life in the woods.

I also have baby bunnies everywhere and quite a few baby squirrels. I guess it’s just that time of year but it seriously seems to be a lot more of them than usual.

I have been trying to use Sundays create space for inspiration. I get inspiration from many places and in varied ways all of which require me to be present and open and not occupied so space. Sometimes that looks like a walk or gardening or reading or even doing the dishes. I find you never know when and where a spark is going to fire up. Today it was picking up my CSA for the week which had this beauty in it.

IMG_8049

 

 

 

 

 

A tiny little head of purple cauliflower. So pretty!! So I got out my camera and spent some time with this little gem before I add it to my dinner salad.

Crazy cool right?

It’s a tiny head of cauliflower and look at that color and patterning… so pretty. Taking the time today to immerse myself in photographing this stunning little gem gave me such a sense of joy and peace.

I sent one of the pics to a friend who I thought would appreciate it. She’s somone who knows me very well.~ she asked me how I was going to cook it. I told her I wasn’t, that I was going to break it into tiny florets and put it in a salad. She laughed and I was  like what’s so funny? She said I know why. You want to be able to absorb that purple don’t you?!! LOL

Why yes, I do. It will also make a stunning salad don’t you think?!

It truly is the little things, especially on a Sunday and especially now.

Hope you are having a good day.

Thanks for listening!!

School of Yarn ~ Master Class

 

“The function of art is to more than tell it like it is ~ it’s to imagine what is possible.” ~ Bell Hooks

 

Years ago, our School of Yarn series as a way to give you the (knitter, crocheter, spinner or weaver) a better understanding of the yarns you were using. We wanted to open up your knowledge about fiber content, yarn construction and weight, as well as how and when to utilize which weight of yarn, with the right number of plies, made of the perfect blend of fibers. We covered quite lot of territory and I am hoping we contributed to you being more successful in your yarn choices and pairings with patterns.

… And then in waltzes the pandemic, bringing to a head issues that the textile industry has already needed to deal for quite a while. We are experiencing supply chain challenges, shipping issues and large price increases, some of which will hopefully get better and some that will just stay new and different. We need to look at these issues, not only in order to become better stewards of our planet in general, but also to start building a more sustainable approach to what we wear and make.

Blue Moon wants to be part of a solution, and with your help I believe we can add to the positive momentum forward. Our community is you – as well as the ranchers here in the western US who lovingly raise the sheep that grow the wool we are going to use – and also the processing people who clean the wool – and also everyone at the mill who contributes to milling and designing the yarn – and then of course me, your dyer and Karen, representing the designers.

All of the yarn we create and choose to bring into the Blue Moon line-up under the Community Supported Yarn initiative will be US made with The Textile Institute’s Responsible Wool Standards stamp of approval (certification). Yarn making takes time to get it from the sheep to your hands. So we are going to start now and go for a little over a year ~ 14 months. Taking time like this will allow us to give you the experience of the full scope of what (and who) is involved in creating yarn. We’ll also be able to take a look at why it is important to have ranching practices to protect the ground, to have scouring and milling practices to protect our water, and to have fair wages and humane treatment for everyone along this wool chain.

Change starts with us! Truly! I have seen first hand the power we have, so let’s get this ball rolling.

Our plan is to create two yarn-bases from sheep to skein together! You will also get skeins of some of the yarns we are adding to our line-up that have already been designed.

What follows is a general outline of what is to come in our Master Class and Community Supported Yarn venture. Our primary goals are: to create beautiful yarns for us all to enjoy while supporting everyone (animal, human and planet) along the supply chain; to build and celebrate a rich, vibrant community; and educate ourselves on more sustainable ways to create, dress and live on this beautiful planet. Karen and I are thrilled and grateful that you are joining us on this journey!

One of the things I know is that life is fluid, so things might change a bit since there are a lot of elements and folks involved, and we are still dealing with pandemic issues. (For example, I thought it was going to be challenging to get to ranches and talk to folks, and now it looks like we will have an abundance of these experiences to share with you. So very exciting!!)

As you can see, we have 13 months listed out here instead of the 14. It’s a safety net!! We have an extra month in there just in case we need that time. Live and learn!!

As Karen and I have worked through all of this we have found that there is so very much we would like to cover and discuss, so we are going to add in a monthly Zoom session that you can join live, or watch later if you missed it (or want to revisit a topic).

Every step of this process and every person involved has a story, so we will be learning a lot through each of these ranchers, growers, millers. Honestly, it’s my favorite way to learn because you get to see, hear and breathe in their passion and experience.

It’s quite the undertaking.
And here is a note from Karen:

As makers, we have a unique position vis-a-vis the climate crisis. On the one hand, we have the best perspective on what it takes to *make* the things we use on a daily basis, which puts us in a better position to empathize with the workers in the Global South who sew ready-to-wear clothing. We really know how long it takes to knit a pair of socks, or sew a dress!

But on the other hand, we are still consumers – our making takes resources, and with this emerging awareness of this situation the planet is in, we have to balance our desire to make with our need to consume.

I sum this up with an oxymoron: I call myself a ‘Minimalist Maker.’ And really, what it boils down to is, like in other aspects of my day-to- day life, questioning what I intend to consume. Do I really need it? If yes, can I source it more locally or from people who are doing really good work that I want to support? They are tough questions, but ones we have have to be asking ourselves so we can be an active force in turning this ship around.

So I’ve been digging in and reading a lot across a veritable Venn Diagram of overlapping topics: minimalism, the problem of fast fashion, capsule wardrobes, visible mending, conscious consumption…. Probably before the course is over, we will find a few more!

Every other month or so, I’ll take you through the highlights of some great books I’ve collected on these topics. If you want to do a deeper dive and read one or more for yourself, you can see if your local library has them, or order them up from your local bookstore – the links I’ve provided are from Powell’s in Portland.

Thank you for being a part of this community and journey! – Tina and Karen
Master Class Proposed Schedule

July 2022:Theme: Developing a Sustainability Sensibility
Where we are now: consumption and climate change Creating your ‘toolbox’ – what are you using and how does it reflect your values?
Reading: All We Can Save (Ayana Elizabeth Johnson)
First yarn shipment with specs and pattern ideas
Local Indigo Dye Farm Profile

August:Theme: From Sheep to Yarn! An overview of the steps along the journey of making yarn
Shaniko Wool Story
Yarn Industry Standards of weights and measuresExploring your personal style: what’s the story you want to tell with our clothes?
Ranch Profile #1 and Ranch and Small Mill Visit

September:Theme: Carbon Hoof-Print from lamb to garments Traceability and Certification
Specific US breeds and choosing wools for specific yarns What makes a good sock yarn and why?What is our role in the global clothing economy and why is that important?
Reading: Consumed by Aja Barber
Second yarn shipment with specs and pattern ideas
Ranch Profile #2

OctoberTheme: Shearing, baling and scouring…oh my! Superwash and other treatments
Your body quirks: what is your body comfortable in?  Ranch Profile #3

November:Theme: Mills and spinning
Mills in the US and certifications
Spinning a yarn: as the spinning frame turns all the singles Yarn weights, the importance of gauge, and how to knit a great swatch
Reading: The Conscious Closet by Elizabeth L. Cline  Ranch Profile #4 and Ranch Visit

December:Theme: Yarn design, milling timelines and testing procedures Matching fiber or fabric to your project – figuring out what you love to work with and wear
Third yarn shipment with specs and pattern ideas   Ranch Profile #5
January 2023:Theme: Yarn design, construction and making, Part Two Winter Ranching!
Your favorite clothes are the ones that fit: sizing and ease Getting to an ideal capsule wardrobe with a January Reset! Reading: Project 333 by Courtney Carver                                                            Ranch Profile #6

February :Theme: The value of place. ‘Fiber-sheds’ throughout the US Your sustainable wardrobe: what you already own, secondhand resources, and me-mades
Fourth yarn shipment with specs and pattern ideas Ranch Profile #7

 

March:Theme: Dyeing and dyestuffs both natural and chemical Footprints and sustainability
Building a color palette for more efficient making Reading: The Curated Closet by Anuschka Rees    Ranch Profile #8 and Lambing
April:Theme: Ranchers and their sheep; animal care and safety; loving what we do; caring
Cared clothes last longer: hand washing, storage, and how to extend the life of your clothing             Fifth yarn shipment with specs and pattern ideas. Ranch Profile #9 and Ranch Visit – Shearing

MAY: Theme: Running a yarn business
Building a community of like-minded souls
What 24 years in the hand work part of the textile industry looks like
When your favorite clothes get worn: mending and stitch work as wardrobe enhancement
Reading: Loved Clothes Last by Orsola de Castro
Ranch Profile #10 and Dye garden Visit for planting!!

June:Theme: Rounding it all up, casting off and working in the loose ends
What happens to the clothes you’re ready to let go of? Reuse, repurpose, refashioning                     Last yarn shipment with specs and pattern ideas and joy!!  Ranch Profile #11
July:Theme: Where do we go from here?
Show and Tell – what are your sustainable wardrobes evolving into?
A Zoom session to round up all our ideas and successes!

Garment Yarn Special

Okay so I have been chuckling about this since I sent out that email on Saturday.                                                                                    Actually I had a feeling as I was adding all the bases to the coupon code on the website. As I added each of the bases to the code I wanted to include in this “Garment Yarn”  special I kept thinking what makes each one specifically for garments.Is there really such a thing as a garment specific yarn anymore.

IMG_0865

Basically, I had wanted to steer clear of a few yarns because I am waiting on shipments that are a wee bit late. Also the sock yarns went up in pricing again so I can’t really discount them at the moment. Pretty much any yarn can be used to knit a garment. Do I think you might regret choosing a very fine lace-weight silk like our Silk Thread to knit a cardigan out of yes, I do. However, it does not mean it’s impossible ~you certainly can give it a go. I sure do not want to be the one to limit someone’s creativity. I am that child that totally ignored the lines when coloring. And that right there is what I was finding so very amusing. Well, that and the fact that I know one needs to be specific on these kind of things. Communicate well Newton!!!

I knew as I hit send on that email I should probably qualify what I meant but I let it go and moved onto shipping what I could get out before USPS showed up. She tends to come early on Saturday.

 

Now that I have answered a fair amount of emails about what bases are included I am putting a list of them here and will be send out another email with that list.

I am sorry.

I know better. Ya know some of us just need to be hit over the head a time or two extra to get it!  LOL

The SPECIAL runs to the 8th . The codes is: garmentyarnspecial and it’s a  15% discount

Yaksi and Yaksi Fingering
Targhee Worsted
Silky Victoria
Twisted
La Luna Dk
La Luna Fingering and La Luna Lace
Aspen Worsted
Aspen Sport
SilkMO Lace
Aria
Plushy

ALL Rovings are included in this! Got an extra bump so….lots and lots of Targhee!!!

I would like to say, that while it’s true that pretty much any yarn could be considered a garment yarn it does not mean they should be. As much as I believe in not limiting vision and creativity I also believe in using the yarn that is going to give you the best outcome no matter what you are knitting. And some of these yarns are better suited for garments because of the fibers used to make them and how they are spun!!!

IMG_9460D

IMG_4548

IMG_4496

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My current favorite yarns for sweaters and such are Targhee Worsted, Aspen Sport and Worsted, Silky Victoria, Aria and the La Luna’s. Someone is bound to ask!

Anyway there you are!

Hope everyone is hanging in there!

Take care!!

And just because here is my Felix who is so very loving and absolutely ridiculous! He does this ALL the time. Silly boy!

IMG_1571