Rikke Hat

In true Liz fashion, I decided that I needed to take a break from the sleeves on my Blair Sweater and whip up a quick project. I choose a hat pattern that I've been eyeing since it's release and I'm really pleased with the result and will most definitely be making more.

Pattern: Rikke Hat by Sarah Young

Yarn: Madelinetosh Tosh Merino DK in Earl Grey

Modifications: I knit the body of the hat about 1/2 inch shorter than the pattern called for before the crown decreases. Mostly this was because I was afraid of running out of yarn (I had a few yards to spare when all was said and done), but I'm glad I did because I definitely wouldn't want the hat any longer/taller.

The Tosh Merino DK knit up really nicely and ended up much softer than I thought it would. It's a single ply merino, so we'll see how it holds up, but I think it's going to do pretty well.

I've also been spinning like a maniac since I had a shop update planned for today. So, hope you're ready for some more handspun pictures!

Corriedale/Finn/Rambouillet blend dyed by Spinner's Hill 

Organic Merino dyed by Two if by Hand in "Sweet Surrender"

Superwash Merino dyed by Pigeonroof Studios in "Swamp"

Superfine Merino dyed by Two if by Hand in "Dance Hall Hips"

This is my most favorite skein of the bunch! I love the flashy, bright colors!

Now that the shop update is over I need to concentrate on some more custom spinning and a handspun/project bag set I'm doing for an auction on ravelry to raise money for several charities that are sending money to Japan. More on that to come...

Well, I'm off to package up some etsy orders and ship them out!

Love,

Liz :)

A New Project Bag...and some more handspun, of course.

I had an idea for a new project bag a couple of weeks ago, and finally got around to making one! I wanted a flat bottomed zip bag with a patchwork design on the outside. I made a prototype and decided it was too small:

It just fits a yarn cake and sock in progress. 

I had enough squares cut for another one like the small one, and I cut a bunch more matching fabric to make it bigger. Then I decided I needed to use some really cute owl fabric I had picked up and found some coordinating prints to go with it. I finished the owl bag earlier today and will finish up the second one tonight or tomorrow.

This one is much roomier and comfortably fits 2 skeins of yarn. And it has a handy dandy handle. 

 Pretty, pretty yarn sitting in the bag.

I've finished 2 more skeins of yarn for the shop, but the lighting has been terrible so the pictures aren't totally accurate:

Organic Merino dyed by Two if by Hand in colorway Exhausted

I'm going to rename it "Caribbean Cruise" for the shop. 

Merino/Cashmere/Nylon dyed by Two if by Hand

This skein is much more forest green in real life...hopefully the light will be better tomorrow so I can take better pictures!

In knitting news, I'm still working on the sweater for Seth's dad. I started a sleeve today and I'm hoping to make some good progress on it tonight. I also finished the first sock that I posted a picture of in my last post. And I'm almost to the heel flap on the second. I'm confident they'll be done by the end of the month. 

Your sweater is looking great (again)....I can't wait to see the finished product! 

Love,

Liz :)

Hydrangea Neckwarmer

I received the book Brave New Knits from my parents for Christmas and needed a project to keep me from getting too bored with the sweater for Seth's Dad. Anne Hanson has a pattern for a pretty little neckwarmer in there, and thought it would be a perfect small project. Except for the fact that it was kind of addicting and I didn't want to work on anything else. Oops. :)

Pattern: Hydrangea Neckwarmer by Anne Hanson (from Brave New Knits)

Yarn: Cosmic Fibers Yarn Cassiopeia (MCN) in colorway Amethyst in Shadows (this is one of the skeins I bought at the Holiday Inn during Rhinebeck)

Modifications: Instead of sportweight yarn, I used fingering weight. I still used the recommended needle size, but followed the directions for the larger size in order to achieve the smaller size. I realized after doing almost 3 pattern repeats that something wasn't quite right. When I went back to the Ravelry pattern page, I realized there were pattern corrections online. So, I ripped out what I had done and restarted. I probably could have kept going, but the lace pattern didn't look quite right. 

The Merino/Cashmere/Nylon was a dream to knit with.  

It'll be great under a coat when I don't want to wear a bulky scarf.

There's enough yarn leftover to make something else, too. The neckwarmer barely put a dent in the skein. Probably socks. But, who knows. 

I finished another skein of handspun yesterday for the shop. It still needs to be washed, reskeined and measured, but I took a few pics today right before the rain started back up. 

Rambouillet dyed by Two if by Hand in colorway "Train Tracks like Stitches" 

It's amazingly squishy and soft.  

Yumm. 

Tomorrow I'm going to start another custom spin with some Merino/Cashmere/Silk. It. Is. Amazing. It came in the mail and I promptly went on ravelry and bought myself a braid in a different color. 

Well, I think that's it for now!

Love,

liz :)

More Spinning!

I've been doing a TON of spinning lately to make sure I have a nice selection of handspun for the next shop update. I'm aiming for 6 skeins and 5 are done already. The 6th should be done either today or tomorrow and then I have a custom spinning job to start (a whole pound of pretty, pretty fiber!).

During all of this spinning I realized I clearly have a new obsession: Two if by Hand fiber

Everything for the next shop update is spun from their fiber. I can't help it! I order, it ships quickly and arrives here all lovely begging to be spun up. They do a fabulous job dyeing and their choice of fiber bases is outstanding.

I think this next skein might be my most favorite. ever.

Merino/Cashmere/Nylon (80/10/10) in Two if by Hand's colorway "Comfort me with Apples" 

I wish you could reach through the screen and squish it. It's amazingly soft and squishy! 

I think I'm going to order some more of this for myself and knit some socks or mittens out of it. How fun would those be?! 

It's actually broken up into 2 skeins because I wasn't able to fit all of the yarn on one bobbin. 

Next up:

Falkland wool in Two if by Hand's colorway "Crucio"

While not as soft as the MCN...the Falkland spun up really nicely and is surprisingly soft.

This also had to be put into 2 skeins

The last skein I'm working on for the update is Merino/Silk and it's super shiny and soft...it should be really lovely when it's finished. 

Only a couple of more days....and then I can finally post about all the secret Christmas knitting that's been going on!! Everything went out in the mail on Monday, and although the post office lady only gave them a 75% chance of arriving on time everything has made it. Phew. 

Well, I'm off to make some progress on a pair of socks, finish up that skein of yarn and head to a neighbor's house later for drinks and cookies!

Merry Christmas!

Love,
liz :)

Oregon Gardens in Winter

I had a lovely visit with Mama Limmer this weekend! She arrived on Thursday and after a wee bit of yarn shopping we headed back to Corvallis to rest up for all the weekend festivities. On Friday night we attended a city function called Winter's Eve. The money raised goes to the Corvallis Assistance League  which provides services to kids in need (dental services, teddy bears for kids in crisis situations, clothes for kids in need, etc). The city blocks off one of the roads and has a huge heated tent with food, wine, and silent auction items. Tickets also included a coupon book for downtown businesses, most of which stayed open during the event. I ended up with a new pair of Dansko's that I've been contemplating for a while now. 20% off helped that decision! I've also come to realize how stretched out my black Danskos are...I think I'll have to replace those after this winter. 

Anyways...on Saturday the weather was gorgeous (chilly, but sunny!) and my Mom, Seth, and I headed to The Oregon Garden. Even though there weren't many things in bloom, it was nice to just be outside enjoying the nice weather and beautiful views. 

The clouds were absolutely gorgeous the whole time we were there. 

Who says that it rains every day in Oregon during the winter? Not true.  

We'll have to make sure we visit in the spring and fall next year. These planters on the water are just gorgeous with the cloud and tree reflections. 

Fun, gnarly tree. 

The Pac NW is really dog friendly. Dogs are welcome at The Oregon Garden and there is even a "Pet Garden". Sailor posing in the Pet Garden.  

Sailor checking himself out.  

Sailor striking a pose. 

The boys.

Friday night my mom and I whipped up a double batch of chocolate mint cookies (the kind with andes candies on top) to freeze for a cookie swap at Seth's office and for Christmas cookie platters. We made 2 more kinds of cookies on Sunday (raspberry jelly thumbprint cookies and shortbread chocolate chips) and my Mom did some Christmas wrapping. 

On Monday we headed up to Portland and met a couple of ladies from one of the groups my Mom is in on Ravelry (Pug Lovers) for lunch. We went to Twisted again and hit up Dublin Bay, REI, Powell's, and Knit Purl. I bought some lovely yarn at Dublin Bay as well as a skein at Knit Purl along with some adorable Christmas ornament kits! After our yarn shopping extravaganza we checked into the Crowne Plaza (gotta love free nights from Priority Club!) and hopped a shuttle to the Lloyd Center to make some returns at the Loft. 

Yesterday I dropped my Mom at the airport and stopped at the outlets in Woodburn to do a little Christmas shopping. I, of course, found a fabulous rain coat at the Merrell Outlet. Since we moved last year I've been searching for a cute, long raincoat with a hood. All the cute longer coats I've seen haven't had a hood, and well, it rains here and I don't like to carry an umbrella. Then I found this yesterday:

But in forest green with orange rivets. Completely waterproof and cute. 

And, because no post would be complete without some shots of yarn or fiber....here's a few pictures of some roving I've recently acquired from my new favorite fiber source, Two if By Hand.

Enchanted on Merino/Cashmere/Nylon 

Miss Granger on Shetland 

Nymphadora on Finn

I love that they do Harry Potter themed colors. I'm such a dork. :) 

Okay....I must go work on finishing up my Christmas knitting!

Love,

liz :)