Morning Routine

Stephanie wrote:

Mornings are my time. I'm up early, enjoy my coffee and get as much work done as possible before the rest of the household rouses. Recently we've made an adjustment to that schedule - the kids and I take a morning hike at a nearby reservation.

I don't get everyone up at the crack of dawn so I still have some morning time to myself. But the hikes have cut into my work time which means more juggling throughout the day.

Our hikes have been fun, creative, educational and entertaining. And there's been a bonus.

Blueberries. Loads and loads of blueberries. I've heard from others who have picked here for many years that the berries have never been so plentiful. This must be nature's compensation for a cool, wet June.

Mostly blueberries with a few random berries mixed in. We've been enjoying blueberries in pie, cobbler, muffins, pancakes - with plenty left over for the freezer.

The dye pots are keeping me busy so knitting time is scarce. When I do have time to knit a few rounds, this is what I've been working on.

The pattern is Wine and Roses. I'm using Bunny Sox Mulled Wine - sorry it's still not on our website. I'm almost finished with the cuff and am enjoying the pattern. And the yarn is scrumptious - just the thing when you want to treat yourself to something extra special.

New Yarn

Stephanie wrote:

My Fiddlehead Sock (Ravelry link) is done. While it feels good to finish and cross this off of my to do list (I have a rather long list), I miss knitting with beads.

Even the back of this sock has bead work. Beautiful, glistening globes nestled among colorful stitches.

To top it all off a beaded picot bind off. There is a bit of counting with this bind off if you want the beads to be evenly spaced. Who knew counting to 8 could be so challenging.

To fill the void left by the beads I have the good fortune of sampling a new yarn. This is our Bunny Sox. Sorry there's no link - it's so new it's not even on our website yet.

This yarn is truly luxurious - soft as only angora can be. We've had this custom spun for Dye Dreams at a small, family owned and operated mill. The blend is 60% superwash merino, 25% angora and 15% nylon.

We've been dyeing Bunny Sox in a range of colors for its debut at Sock Summit. And I'm getting ready to cast on with it for a sample garment.

I'll have more to report as I make progress on the sample. And there's more yarn news, too. Be sure to check back.

I try to keep tabs on knitting for various causes. Someone just brought Mother Bear Project to my attention. Take a moment or two to click and read. This seems like another worthwhile effort where knitters can make a difference.

Fiddlehead Fun

Stephanie wrote:

I seem to be going in many different directions these days. At times I feel my life is an exercise in extreme multi tasking.

For a while I was on a roll with finished projects. While I don't have a finished object to show today, I have made great progress on my Fiddlehead Sock (Ravelry link).

I'm marching right up the sock leg and plan to finish it in the next day or so. This sock is destined to fly solo as a booth sample. But I plan to make my very own pair as soon as time permits.

It's been a while since I've worked with beads, and I'm really enjoying it. This sock also has beads throughout the back of the leg. Now that I've gotten into a rhythm with the beads, I don't want to give them up.

As luck would have it, today more beads arrived in the mail. We have another project in the wings that also requires beads. New beads, new project . . . it should be a fun weekend.

Back from the Frolic

Stephanie wrote:

A week ago today we left for Fiber Frolic.  Where does the time go?  

Last weekend was loads of fun.  The weekend in pictures . . . 

The weather was beautiful all weekend long.  Outside vendors were able to enjoy it the most.

This kid goat was for sale along with a couple of others.  I wonder if this one found a new home.

These alpacas were so friendly and docile - very popular with the little kids.

And the parade was not to be missed.  Animals in costumes, kids marching along making music - it was a colorful, lively affair.

Half the fun of these events is the people we get to meet.  We met several people who know our yarn through Sheri at The Loopy Ewe.  Friends from around New England who made the trip to the Frolic stopped by to chat.  It was a very social weekend.

I always come away from these weekends with new ideas and information.  For instance I learned that Hatchtown Farm is now offering a fiber CSA.  A fiber CSA allows individuals to purchase shares of fiber.  The share money goes toward maintaining the animals.  In return shareholders receive fiber (or yarn) after shearing.

I've been involved with a farm CSA for produce, so it's exciting to see this same model transferred to fiber farms.  The fiber CSA is an innovative way to supply farmers with working capital and to receive fiber in return.  It's encouraging to see more and more fiber CSAs popping up.

Work is progressing on my Fiddlehead Socks (Ravelry link).  I'm making my way through the gusset increases.  Pictures will have to wait for better lighting conditions and an extra pair of hands.

This and That

Stephanie wrote:

It's been a crazy week here as Mona and I get ready to head out of town tomorrow.  There is always so much work involved before we hit the road - get our inventory in order, make sure we have all our supplies and display items, figure out the logistics of transportation (we can no longer fit everything into one van).  And we need to leave the home front in order - at least food and clean underwear for everyone.  

Once we get there we still have to set up, vend for a couple of days, tear down and pack it all up again.  We need a yarn roadie.  

Where are we going?  Maine Fiber Frolic.  It's a relaxed, family friendly event with animals and demonstrations.  And vendors, of course.  If you're in the area, be sure to check it out.

My latest knitting obsession is Fiddlehead Socks, our spring sock club installment.  Sivia Harding designed the pattern, and it's truly enchanting.  I'm having a hard time putting it down to do all of the aforementioned work.  It's not too late to order Fiddlehead.  And you can find the KAL for Fiddlehead here (Ravelry link).  Feel free to join us.

Finally, check out the work Claudia is doing to raise money for multiple sclerosis.  She is serious when it comes to fundraising.  Be sure to take a peek at the prizes she is giving away.  Consider making a donation - every little bit helps.

I will be working on Fiddlehead this weekend.  I promise pictures upon my return.

What's In A Name?

Stephanie wrote:

Dyeing yarn is a process with several steps along the way.  Just when we think we're finished, we come to what may be the hardest part - naming the colorway.

We have a new colorway that we want to release to the world.  It's all set to go except for one minor detail - it needs a name. It's like going through pregnancy, labor and delivery.  You can't introduce your new baby to family and friends without a name. Well, I did that with one of my kids.  It was well over a week before she had a name.  So far she hasn't shown any ill effects from her days of namelessness.

But it's different with yarn - we really do need a name.  We have to label and identify it.  Some yarn companies take the easy route and assign numbers.  Mona and I discussed this in the beginning and decided to take the time to name all of our colorways.

I love playing with words, looking up various meanings and derivations, bouncing possible options off family members.  Mona and I solicit ideas and suggestions from anyone and everyone.  We've even been known to ask relative strangers for input.

Naming colors takes a certain creativity and investment of time.  We want to observe the yarn in different lighting situations. Trust me when I tell you the lighting conditions in the Baltimore Convention Center are not conducive to accurate name selection.  Indoors, outdoors.  Where's the Ott-Lite?

Some names are clever and creative.  Some names are descriptive and utilitarian.  Some names are whimsical and magical. And some names are just plain lame.  I admit that at one time we had a colorway named blue.  I blame sleep deprivation for that one.

Given our sometimes less-than-accurate name choices, it's reassuring when there's evidence to support spot-on name selection.

Celestial Iris.

The flower iris.  Again, courtesy of my neighbor's yard.  I think it's a match.