Dirty Water DyeWorks

Centrique

2012-02-10T09:38:00.001-05:00

This week my knitting time has been focused on one and only one thing.

Centrique by Carol Feller.

This lovely wrap is destined to be a booth sample.

Once I got in the groove this pattern was a nice relaxing knit, but I did hit a snag early on.

I had almost finished the first lace repeat when I decided to do a stitch count just to confirm that I was on track.

I was off by one stitch. One little stitch. Nothing vexes me more.

I counted and re-counted with the same result. In a moment of frustration I was tempted to rip back with reckless abandon to the beginning of the lace repeat - some 20 rows back. I figured the only place I could have gone astray was at the beginning.

Instead of ripping I took a deep breath, put my needles down and walked away. When I came back, I decided instead to first rip back a couple of rows. Maybe, just maybe, the extra stitch would sort itself out.

After ripping back four or five rows the extra stitch was gone, and my stitch count was correct. Order had been restored. I love it when that happens.

The yarn is Dirty Water DyeWorks Edna, colorway Dijon.

I'm still not tired of working with Edna. This wool / silk combination is practical with a hint of luxury. I can't seem to get enough of it.

This weekend Dirty Water DyeWorks will be at the Slater Mill Knitting Weekend. The hours are 10:00 - 5:00 on Saturday and Sunday. If you're in the area and need a fiber fix, be sure to stop by. See the link for more details.

Sometimes the early bird gets the worm. Or a colorful sunrise shot. Early one morning I captured my color inspiration for the week. If you look closely at the bottom edge, you can see the colorful sky reflected in the river below. The color show lasted for just a brief moment, and then it was gone.

Fast fleeting display.

Bewitching Beads

2012-02-08T09:55:00.000-05:00

I have a new project brewing.

A new project that includes beads.

Beads are a wonderful complement to yarn, and there are so many colors to choose from.

Deciding which color to use is the hard part. Beads can be tricky. They are transformed once they are on the yarn. The off color in the tube - the one you swore would never be the right one - can turn out to be the perfect match when it's strung on the yarn. Likewise the color you thought was going to work beautifully can turn out to be a real dud.

Sometimes the best bead color is no color at all.

Crystal clear.

I never make a bead selection without first testing several colors on a strand of yarn.

Even then the decision isn't always easy. I was on the fence with this one, so I took a poll at knit night. Sometimes you need a little help from your friends.

Preview

2012-02-06T10:09:00.001-05:00

Lately there have been some extra dye pots in the mix.

Several new colors will be added to the lineup. To make room for the new a few colorways will go on hiatus. It's always refreshing to change the rotation.

And I will be offering a new merino / silk blend.

It's always exciting to pick and choose which new colorways to dye. There are so many choices, so many options.

After the colorways are chosen, the dyeing is easy.

My next task . . . deciding which colorways to use for booth samples. Sometimes the decisions don't get any easier.

Colors For Thought

2012-02-03T10:38:00.001-05:00

The dye pots are busy, and my days are full of color. There are earth tones, jewel tones and everything in between. Dye, dry, twist and label. The process is the same yet always different - subtle nuances, shifting colors. It never gets old. And during the process random combinations appear - colors tossed together to be packed away later. This combination caught my eye, and now I want to use it for something. Anything.

Marie. Blue Jeans and Raisin. A project to contemplate while I dye more yarn.

Speaking of projects I've been following a design that's under construction. Designer Becky Herrick is puzzling out a cabled sweater pattern. The twists and turns of cables can be challenging. You can read about Becky's design dilemma here. She's using Dirty Water DyeWorks Edna, colorway Acorn.

I love the gray days of winter, but my color inspiration for the week is the exact opposite.

Bright and bold on burlap.

Playful

2012-02-01T09:55:00.000-05:00

I have a new assistant.

With proper training maybe he can help with some of the work around here.

The pencil is intriguing, and there's a mountain of paperwork to go with it.

Or maybe it's the phone.

I hate phone calls. Any help with this would save me hours and hours of precious time.

And then there's the yarn.

There's always plenty of work in the yarn department. Wind, dye, knit, repeat is my mantra.

The yarn may be a good fit for him.

Attack.

And destroy.

If nothing else, he will provide hours and hours of entertainment.

His job title? Playful distraction.

Pass The Chips

2012-01-30T09:23:00.000-05:00

I've fallen down the rabbit hole. The hexipuff rabbit hole.

The Beekeeper's Quilt and the adorable, colorful hexipuffs are all over the place. Everyone is making hexipuffs.

A couple friends and I had discussed a mini KAL - make hexipuffs, swap yarn, share in the joining. We never got it off the ground, and I vowed to put this project on the far back burner. I don't know what got into me, but the other day I decided to try one.

Just one. What could be the harm in that? I have oodles of leftover yarn rolling around, and each hexipuff takes just a smidge. I knit the hexipuff, stuffed it and closed the end - quick and easy. A soft, cushy mini pillow. All I need is several hundred more and I can have a whole quilt. This could be a problem, I said to myself. Before I knew it I was digging through baskets and bags, looking for yarn remnants, lining up more colors to use. Just one more hexipuff.

I have a lot of dyeing on my plate right now, and this new obsession could be either really good or really bad. It's nice to have a quick knitting fix when I'm so busy. But if I can't stop making them, they are a total distraction and time suck. I'll never get any work done.

Be warned - hexipuffs are potato chip knitting. You can't knit just one.

Crazy For Kits

2012-01-27T09:31:00.001-05:00

In two short weeks I'll be hitting the road for my first event of 2012. I'm busy planning - making lists, dyeing yarn, knitting a couple of new samples. And I'm working on knitting kits - yarn and pattern in one tidy bundle. Knitting kits are popular. In addition to my regular lineup of kits I'll have a couple of new ones available at this event.

These skeins will be wound off into smaller skeins for kits. With several color choices there's something for everyone.

Sometimes a color catches my eye because it seems so out of place, so uncharacteristic for the surroundings. That describes my color inspiration for the week.

Mother Nature's graffiti.

Walk Away

2012-01-25T08:44:00.000-05:00

New booth samples. It's always fun and exciting to knit new samples for the booth. Adding new samples is my way of redecorating and giving the booth a fresh look. I've chosen several patterns and colors have been selected. The process is underway.

But I was stuck - stuck looking for one more design, one more . . . something. I didn't know exactly what I was looking for, but I would know it when I saw it. I searched books, the internet, Ravelry. I convinced myself that if I spent just a little more time I would find that one last design - the one that spoke to me. I spent hours sipping coffee and perusing patterns all to no avail.

Yesterday I brought my search to a halt and decided to walk away from it. For now at least.

There's nothing like a new project with new decisions to clear my head. Distraction is a wonderful thing.

Escape

2012-01-23T10:43:00.000-05:00

I do a fair amount of traveling throughout New England, but most of it is work related. I live in an area rich in fiber festivals and events. Last year I was a vendor at almost twenty events, all but one of them in either New England or New York. Don't get me wrong. I love hitting the road with a truck filled to capacity with fiber, but every once in a while it's nice to travel light with just my personal knitting.

I had a small window of opportunity to visit a dear friend in Maine and had been planning a long weekend getaway.

The weather cooperated, and I was gone.

Gone to a small coastal fishing village near the Canadian border.

It's nice to escape every once in a while.

Lingering over a late breakfast with knitting in tow.

Plenty of time for late night chats and a couple of beers.

Plenty of time for knitting. I worked on several projects and finished this one. Another Scrunchie Hat.

This Scrunchie is for me.

Made with leftovers of Edna - Slate, Dijon, From The Bog.

Change of scenery and time with a friend - just what I needed. I would have loved to stay longer.

The time passed all too quickly, but I came back rested, refreshed and ready to get back to work.

Captiva Wrap

2012-01-20T13:13:00.000-05:00

Just last week I started a new booth sample.

I was consumed with the magic of short rows and couldn't stop knitting.

In no time the enchantment was over, and I was binding off.

Captiva Wrap.

This design is worked from side to side in a series of short row waves. The short row shaping makes Captiva a shawl that stays put when you wear it.

The scallop border is knit as you go.

The end of the border is finished with a tail.

A tail that's perfect for tossing over your shoulder.

The yarn is Dirty Water DyeWorks Edna, colorway From The Bog.

This yarn is one of my current favorites. Edna is a blend of Polwarth wool and silk, a combination that gives Captiva elegance and drape. You'll have to excuse the color variation in these pictures. Winter lighting is not my friend.

But I am enjoying the winter weather. An arctic blast created my color inspiration for the week.

Icy gray.

Remnants

2012-01-18T09:02:00.000-05:00

I've been surveying odds and ends of yarn. They are everywhere - buried on my desk, tumbling off the work table, spilling out of my bag. Bits of this and that. Remnants of completed projects.

I set a challenge for myself to use up some of these yarn leftovers. It so happens I need a new traveling project - something that doesn't require all the charts and elaborate pattern instructions I'm currently working on. A sock project would be the logical choice, but that doesn't work so well with a mishmash of yarn. Instead I'm going with a hat. The bonus to knitting a hat is that it's fairly quick. A little instant gratification now and then is a good thing.

I've narrowed the yarn down to these four. They are all Edna so I won't have to deal with varying weights and gauges. Deciding on colors is the next step. Mix and match, pick and choose. Now the real fun begins.

Don't Slip

2012-01-16T11:07:00.000-05:00

I have a steady stream of knitting requests from family and friends. While there is always a wait time, eventually I come through. This project seemed to take especially long.

The popular Felt Clogs. It took me quite a while to finish this pair. It could be because I've made this pattern so many times now that I'm bored to tears with it. Or it could be because this pair is for men's size 12 feet. Either way it was a bit of a struggle.

I was relieved to get these slippers off the needles and even more so to felt them. The final detail was finishing the soles.

These slippers are wonderfully woolly warm, but they are like skating on ice if you have hardwood floors.

Over the years I've tried different things to deal with the slippery soles - everything from adding full leather soles to strategically placed leather patches.

My current solution is Plasti Dip, a rubber coating often used on tool handles. I get this wonderful goo at my local hardware store. It comes in a variety of colors, but usually I settle on basic black.

I've developed a method for applying the Plasti Dip.

First put the slipper over a full one liter bottle. This makes it easy to work on the sole and keeps the slipper steady.

Give your Plasti Dip a stir and grab a paintbrush.

I prefer to use a foam brush but any kind of paintbrush will work. Be warned that Plasti Dip has a strong odor. Do this outside or in a well ventilated space. Cover the entire sole with a layer of the goo. It's very thick and won't drip down the sole.

Allow the Plasti Dip to dry. Then paint on another layer. I add 3 or 4 layers for a nice solid, non-slip surface. Yesterday I applied all 4 layers, and today this pair is ready to wear.

Now I can start the process all over. My son just informed me that he's worn out his pair. Men's size 14.

Makeover

2012-01-13T09:25:00.001-05:00

All fall my to-do list included adding a few new colorways to the website. These are Bertha colorways that I added for the fall shows but never got around to posting live. This task hovered near the top of my list but never made priority status. With the new year I decided to add the colors and cross it off my list.

Since I was adding a few colorways, why not update the website and give it a fresh look. Spend a little more time, make a few minor changes. This was going to be fast and easy. As so often happens what was initially a quick job mushroomed and became a huge project that required computer savvy reinforcements and bottomless cups of coffee. I've long since lost track of my time investment on this endeavor, but I'm happy to report that the project is finished. You can view the final product here. It's the same as the old website in many ways yet different. It's like rearranging the living room furniture. At first the room seems so wonderfully fresh and new, but really it's still the same furniture.

Since I've been chained to my desk, I don't have any pictures of knitting or dyeing to share. Not to mention the weather has been gray, dismal and all round lousy for taking photos. Instead I have a couple of random bits of . . .

THIS AND THAT

~ Granny squares. You know what I'm talking about. Those thick, firm crocheted squares that were assembled to make afghans back in the day. Granny squares have come a long way - there's even a granny square dress. Consider granny squares on steps. A lot of granny squares, a lot of steps. Crazy, colorful, beautiful art.

~ Kids, color and a mountain of stickers. These three things combined can change a room. You can see the transformation over at Colossal. Take some time to click around on this site. It's full of art, design and color inspiration.

~ Finally, a new take on the travel mug. If you use a canning jar for coffee, now you can take it on the road. I'm all about coffee, and timing is everything. Just last week my travel mug started leaking. I'll have to give the cuppow a test run.

As a bonus for cleaning off my desk I uncovered my color inspiration for the week.

A rainbow of color.

Shades Of Brown

2012-01-11T08:59:00.000-05:00

Recently I've had several requests for custom dyeing. I thoroughly enjoy this process - narrowing down the color, experimenting with different options, discovering unexpected surprises along the way.

The other day I found myself working with this yarn.

Bulky Peruvian wool. Currently I don't offer this yarn, but maybe I should. A project like this is a great way to give it a test run. I wound off some sample skeins.

The request was for a color in the brown family. I came up with half a dozen formulas and decided to try three of them.

I'll get feedback on these. Maybe one of them is the right color, maybe I have to dye more samples. Either way I'm glad I don't have to choose because I love them all.

Shaping Up

2012-01-09T09:55:00.000-05:00

Ever since the holidays I've been enjoying my share of self indulgent knitting. In a moment of weakness I even ordered yarn to fuel the fire. Toward the end of last week I was updating my calendar when it hit me. In a matter of weeks I'll be back in my booth for another round of festivals and events. That means it's time to start knitting a few new booth samples.

I keep a running list of patterns for potential booth samples.

I consulted my master list, and after some debate I settled on Captiva Wrap.

The yarn is Dirty Water DyeWorks Edna, colorway From The Bog.

After a series of short rows the first wave is complete.

An eyelet row marks the end of one wave and the beginning of the next.

Short rows with lacy details. I'm mesmerized.

Felting Fun

2012-01-06T10:37:00.000-05:00

Once in a while even a cushion of extra time isn't enough. I've been sucked into a website update that's taking longer than anticipated. I always allow extra time, but this go-around my allowance wasn't enough. The faint glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel was extinguished yesterday. Right now there's no end in sight.

While there's been time for knitting and dyeing, there hasn't been time for photos. Instead I have needle felting to share with you. I play around with needle felting every once in a while, but my daughter is the one who has the needle felting bug.

Needle felting is sculpting with wool.

She started with these three colors of wool roving.

Add some time, patience and a lot of poking.

The wool was transformed into an adorable fox.

I love the whimsical face. Now my daughter has asked me to dye fiber in specific colors. I can't wait to see what other creatures appear.

The remnants of our New Year's Eve celebration provided my color inspiration for this week.

Bright and cheery with a bit of shiny silver.

Options

2012-01-04T10:32:00.000-05:00

My post-holiday knitting indulgence continues. I have a project in mind and have spent a lot of time contemplating color combinations. I've been obsessed. It's the last project on my radar at the end of the day and the first one that comes to mind in the morning. The funny thing is that I spent hours agonizing over colors online but couldn't come to a decision. I was about to scratch the whole project when it dawned on me that I had some real live color samples that would make the whole process easier.

I've narrowed it down to these. A decision is imminent.

And because one new project isn't enough . . .

This rich colorway has been calling me. Dirty Water DyeWorks Bertha, colorway Chocolate Raspberry. In this case I have the yarn picked out but haven't quite settled on the pattern. Now that I think about it some beads might be nice.

So many options, so many decisions.

All Mine

2012-01-02T10:32:00.001-05:00

It's January. This is the month that knitters wait for. After weeks and months of frantically knitting to make things for others, they can now indulge themselves. This is the month when knitters knit for themselves. Spend some time with your Ravelry queue. It's time to cast on one, two or five projects for yourself.

Even though I still have a couple of outstanding holiday gifts to finish, I couldn't resist any longer. Over the weekend I had to cast on just a little something for myself.

I think I showed great restraint. There are two or three sweaters near the top of my queue, but all of them involve dyeing the yarn first. Instead I went with something small, something I could start right away.

Selfish knitting. There's nothing like it.

Reflection

2011-12-30T11:07:00.001-05:00

Out with the old, in with the new. I've been busy tying up loose ends for a fresh start in the new year. As I get ready to ring in another year, it's a good opportunity to pause and reflect on the outgoing year.

It was a busy, inspiring, eventful year for Dirty Water DyeWorks. From Sock Summit to Rhinebeck and everything in between . . . it was fun to meet so many of you in person at events in New England and beyond. The 2012 calendar is filling up, and it promises to be another year with plenty of travel and adventure.

New yarn lines will be offered in the coming year along with fresh colorways and kits. Some items will be retired to make way for the new. It's all part of the process.

In business and in life it's often good to cast your net wide. There's a certain thrill because you never know what will come back. Sometimes there are disappointments, often times there are surprises. And there's always the challenge to make the best of the situation and move forward.

I'm reminded on a daily basis that inspiration can be found almost anywhere - even amidst the junk mail.

Paper snowflake magic.

Best wishes for the new year and the challenges ahead.

Snags

2011-12-28T11:11:00.000-05:00

This week between Christmas and New Year's Day isn't a vacation week for me. I have plenty to do, but I am working at a relaxed pace. In addition to a little dyeing and a lot of paperwork I'm concentrating on knitting the last of the holiday gifts.

The other day I spent time plotting and planning a cozy, colorwork hat. This was going to be a fun, entertaining project. Then I hit a snag. I did the numbers and realized that I didn't have enough yarn. It turns out the recipient would rather have Pop Up Paws instead, and I have the yarn ready and waiting. That was an easy fix.

And I've been knitting away on these almost mindless fingerless mitts.

I finished one in no time at all.

Without giving it a thought I cast on the second one.

This was going to be a snap. I was going to hand over these mitts and cross another gift off my list.

Then I hit another snag.

Yes, I ran out of yarn. I'm so close - all I need is enough yarn for 10 rounds on the hand and a bit of a thumb. I convinced myself that one ball was going to be enough, but I should have known better. These mitts are for my son, and he has huge hands - hands the size of my forearm.

I have another ball of this yarn. I think I have another ball of this yarn. Later today I'll be stash diving to find the other ball. Or a close substitute.

Stamina

2011-12-26T10:40:00.000-05:00

In the blink of an eye the Christmas holiday has come and gone. All that planning and preparation requires a certain amount of fortitude, perseverance and focus. Hours and hours of work - and then it's over.

It was an enjoyable holiday.

A good time was had by all.

I woke this morning with a huge feeling of relief. Now that the I don't have holiday planning on my plate, I have a flood of ideas for new knitting projects. All those patterns and yarns that I had to tuck away have suddenly surfaced. Dye pot experiments with new yarns and colors are calling.

Fun times ahead.

'Tis The Season

2011-12-23T11:53:00.000-05:00

'Tis the season to be jolly. It's also the season to be frantically busy and crabby. In an attempt to reduce the stress of the holidays I've let go of unrealistic expectations. Instead I'm focusing on the simple things that matter.

The tree is up and decorated with lights.

We'll hang the ornaments either today or tomorrow.

My basket of holiday knitting is still overflowing. I've already warned recipients that they'll get their gifts when they are finished.

Note that I haven't done any wrapping. The gifts under the tree came in the mail.

The kids and I have done a lot of baking.

Now that we've gifted all of these, we need to bake more for ourselves.

This was a group project.

A gingerbread train.

Complete with colorful topper.

The house is decorated.

Paper chains.

A smiling snowman.

Today I'll enlist the help of elves for the wrapping, baking and decorating that still needs to be done. And I'll give myself time with that basket of knitting.

The sights and sounds of the holidays have plenty to offer in the way of color inspiration.

Lively lights.

'Tis the season. For those who observe the holiday, may you have a meaningful celebration.

Hope

2011-12-21T09:38:00.000-05:00

Winter solstice is upon us. Darkness. The long night. I celebrate these dark days by lighting many candles - warm, cozy light to chase away the shadows.

Marking the winter solstice is a ritual of hope - hope that the sun will return and the daylight will grow longer.

I am usually full of hope. While I no longer have hope that these socks destined for men's size 12 feet will be done in time for holiday gifting, I do have hope that some day they will be finished.

And I have hope that the light will return and the cycle of seasons will continue. Embrace the dark for out of the dark comes light.

To The Rescue

2011-12-19T10:14:00.001-05:00

If you're in the process of knitting holiday gifts, you may be at the point where it's time to abandon more elaborate items in favor of a quick project. Set aside the complex Fair Isle sweater and the intricate lace. What you need is something that you can finish before the holidays.

A hat is often a good solution in situations like this.

I opted for the basic 2 x 2 ribbed hat. The pattern is mind-numbingly simple - knit 2, purl 2. I must admit that the other night I found this easy stitch combination a bit challenging. I blame it on my sleep deprived state, the hockey game I was watching or both. In any event I got back on track and finished without any problems. I can cross off another gift from my list. You can find patterns for similar hats here and here.

Carry on with your holiday knitting and don't give up hope. It's still early in the week.

Scrunchie Hat

2011-12-16T09:23:00.000-05:00

It's that time of year when I have a crazy number of knitting projects in the works. I should spend each and every waking moment with needles in hand. If there were knitting police, they would hand me a ticket for knitting to the point of no return. Every project I complete is an accomplishment. Plus it frees up another pair of needles.

Scrunchie Hat.

This design is the work of Lucy Neatby.

Her well-written, thorough patterns never disappoint.

Scrunchie includes instructions for a variety of sizes and different weights of yarn. There's even a headband version.

And there are options for endless color combinations. Or a solid colored hat if that's what you prefer. I'm already thinking of color combinations for my own hat.

The yarn is Dirty Water DyeWorks Edna.

Royal, Mauve and Lupine.

Edna is a Polwarth / Silk blend that produces rich, subtle color variations.

It's a treat to work with.

The pattern includes several finishing options for the top.

I couldn't resist the colorful pom-pom.

The weekend is upon us. If you're holiday shopping in the Cambridge / Boston area, check out the Handmade Holiday Show tomorrow (Saturday) at Gather Here. It's a great opportunity to buy local and handmade.

Often the color that stands out is the one that grabs your attention. My color inspiration for the week looks even more vibrant in contrast with the surrounding earth tones.

Eye-catching moss green.

Merrymaking

2011-12-14T08:42:00.000-05:00

We've been making the rounds of the holiday party circuit where there's an abundance of festive food, laughter and good company. All of this merrymaking is great fun, but it definitely cuts into my knitting time.

The almost-finished Scrunchie Hat. It's in a holding pattern, waiting for the crown.

I'd better finish quickly.

There's a yarn queue forming.

In other news gift certificates are now available in the shop. They are perfect for holiday gift giving and other occasions. The best part? You don't have to go to the mall to get them.

Random Monday

2011-12-12T09:38:00.000-05:00

I'm not quite sure how we landed on Monday again, but here we are. I have knitting to share, but alas, there aren't any pictures. Yes, it's definitely Monday. The knitting will keep for another day. Instead today is a good day for a bit of . . .

THIS AND THAT

~ Check out these intriguing pictures of shepherds on stilts. Click on the pictures to enlarge. As if getting around on stilts isn't enough of a challenge, note that some of the shepherds are knitting while on stilts. The sheep graze on bog land, and the stilts keep the shepherds out of the muck. Personally I would have opted for a good pair of boots. You can read more about it here.

~ Speaking of sheep if you need a holiday gift for a knitter, you might want to consider the sheep gift from Heifer International. Easy online shopping and a good cause all rolled into one.

~ Looking ahead to 2012 the top color of the year will be Tangerine Tango. The attributes of orange are vitality, urgency and strength. We can use a healthy dose of all three in the coming year.

~ Finally, paper snowflakes. It's that time of year when I like to pull out paper and scissors. Cut, cut, cut. If you need inspiration, take a look at these beautiful flakes made from junk mail. And if you don't have time to take scissors in hand, virtual paper snowflakes may be just the thing for you.

Combinations

2011-12-09T07:10:00.001-05:00

I've been working on holiday knitting. At this point in the game I have more good ideas than actual finished projects.

I have a plan for these three, and it involves combining them in a particular order. Any order will do. There's no right or wrong, but I'm stuck.

This has a nice flow.

But there are other options.

This one has a certain appeal.

But then again, so does this one.

I've been playing around with these combinations for too long. It's time to make a decision. After all of this back and forth, the actual knitting will be done in no time.

We are surrounded by color each and every day. Sometimes it takes a unique contrast in colors to get our attention. So it is with my color inspiration for the week - minty green against bark brown.

Lacy lichen.

Diamondback Mitts

2011-12-07T08:35:00.001-05:00

I have a new pair of mitts.

Diamondback Mitts by Stephen West.

I enjoy designs from Stephen West. He features some creative constructions and has fun with shapes and angles.

These mitts are no exception.

A simple cable and a few slipped stitches create the diamondback pattern.

Only one color is worked at a time. With color changes every two rows, it's easy to keep track of the colorwork pattern.

The thumb flows naturally from the diamondback design.

Two of the diamondback lines form a built-in gusset and nestle the thumb.

The mitts are unisex.

The pattern includes options for different sizes.

The yarn is a wool / mohair blend - soft and silky with a subtle halo.

Currently Dirty Water DyeWorks offers this blend only at festivals and events. I think it might be time to offer it in the full lineup.

My track record for keeping mitts isn't very good. I've scattered more than my fair share across New England.

I hope this pair will help me break that cycle.

All Thumbs

2011-12-05T08:54:00.001-05:00

My Diamondback Mitts are off the needles, and I'll have shots of the finished product in another post. While I was working the thumb, I took pictures of the thumb in progress. There are many ways to make a thumb. This pattern uses the following thumb construction.

Elizabeth Zimmermann calls this the thumb-trick in her Knitter's Almanac. Knit 4 stitches with contrasting yarn - that's the bright blue above. After knitting those stitches, put them back on the left hand needle and knit them again with the working yarn. Note - if you're working with finer yarn, you'll probably need to increase the number of contrasting stitches.

Continue to work the rest of the mitt. After the mitt is finished and off the needles, it's time for the thumb.

The blue strand marks the spot where the thumb will be. Open up the thumb hole by unraveling the blue yarn and exposing live stitches.

Unravel stitch by stitch.

Put the stitches on needles right away.

If the stitches get away, it can be messy.

Keep unraveling until the contrasting yarn is free.

After all the unraveling there will be two sets of stitches and a thumb hole. For this thumb there are 3 stitches on one needle and 4 on the other. Due to the way stitches are constructed there will be an odd number of stitches after removing the contrasting yarn.

Knit across the stitches that will make up the bottom side of the thumb.

Pick up stitches in the gap between the two needles.

Knit across the top set of stitches and pick up stitches in the gap on the other side.

Stitches all around, ready to become a thumb.

All that's left is to work the thumb.

This thumb is done, ready for a bind off. Remember the thumb-trick, a quick and clever technique.

All Blue

2011-12-02T08:45:00.001-05:00

I've been focused on the dye pots.

Blue, blue and more blue.

While I've been immersed in blue, my daughter started a new knitting project.

Dipped Infinity Scarf, the purple version.

At first I think she asked me to make it for her.

When she realized it would be along wait, she took matters into her own hands. She has a very independent, do-it-yourself attitude. The scarf is coming along nicely, and she is thrilled. Maybe I'll ask her to make one for me.

For several months now I've been attracted to all things yellow - from bright to mellow. Maybe I'm storing up visions of the sun as we head into the dark days of winter. There's even a hint of it in my color inspiration for the week.

Fading yellow.

A Find

2011-11-30T08:00:00.001-05:00

The other day my daughter and I were in a local store, and she persuaded me to take a look at the Christmas aisle. You know which aisle I mean. The aisle full of all things Christmas from candy to candles to lawn ornaments. The aisle with enough lights to light up Times Square.

We strolled down the aisle, laughing at some of the silly things designed to celebrate the season. We decided that all we needed were some lights when my daughter made a discovery.

She found a bit of magic tucked away at the back of a shelf. Ice skaters. Ice skaters wearing handknits.

A girl.

And a boy.

Ice skaters all warm and cozy in woolly sweaters and hats. They made my day. These skaters are meant to be tree ornaments, but for now they'll be keeping me company at my desk.

Monday Is For Mitts

2011-11-28T08:12:00.001-05:00

I had a plan for this past weekend - a plan that included a lot of knitting time. Instead it turned out to be a work weekend. In the long run all that work will make the coming week easier to swallow, so I'm OK with it

I managed to start this.

The first of a pair.

By the end of the weekend I had knit just enough to see the pattern.

Diamondback Mitts. Two colors, slipped stitches and a wee cable - enough action to hold my attention without driving me crazy.

In the spirit of knitting on-the-go I leave you today with a story from Toronto on knitting in public. Always be prepared - don't leave home without it.

Thankful

2011-11-25T10:13:00.001-05:00

The Thanksgiving holiday. There was a flurry of activity the last couple of days. Kitchen activity.

Traditional turkey.

Traditional sides.

More than enough.

And the highlight of the feast.

The pie selection.

Plus one.

The designated breakfast pie for Thanksgiving morning. Swedish apple, in case you're wondering.

Time spent with family and friends. An opportunity to reflect. We have so much to be thankful for.

My color inspiration for the week comes from our holiday bouquet.

Red surrounded by golden rust.

Missing Mitt

2011-11-23T08:13:00.001-05:00

I have a fall tradition of losing my fingerless mitts. Every year I have a pair that I take with me as I travel around New England. They go with me to every sheep and wool festival, every fiber event. They keep my hands warm when I'm setting up, packing up and in between. The tradition is that somewhere along the way I lose them.

This year I added a new twist to the tradition. I lost only one of the fingerless mitts. I've searched high and low, rummaged through boxes and bins. Somewhere out there one of my mitts is lost and lonely.

I make my fingerless mitts from the same pattern - Maine Morning Mitts by Clara Parkes. I love this practical and quick knit, but I've come to the unscientific conclusion that maybe the pattern is the reason I keep losing my mitts. So to test that theory I'm going to make a new pair of mitts using a different pattern.

I'm in the process of choosing.

I need a combination of two colors.

I'll contemplate the choices while I do this.

My youngest christened this day years ago. Today is pie baking day.

Fiber Trunk Show

2011-11-21T07:46:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I had the pleasure of setting up a display and hanging out at Gather Here, an inviting fabric and yarn shop in Cambridge.

It was the Fiber Trunk Show, a first-time event for the shop. Virginia, owner of Gather Here, knows how to put on an event.

I was in good company yesterday.

There was Adrian from KnittinK and Stacie from njstacie*made.

Shannon from The Spun Monkey Fiber Shoppe made the trek from Vermont with her fun wares, and Debbie from Tanuki Dyeworks was on hand with beautiful fiber. The trunk show added a lot of color and activity to the bustling shop.

I think there's something in the air at Gather Here. The shop is all about creativity and fun. Beware if you are there for any length of time. Let's just say I made more than one trip to the fabric cutting table. Thanks to Virginia and her friendly staff for a great afternoon!

Not that anyone noticed, but I was wearing a new pair of handknit socks yesterday.

Flatiron Clog Socks.

I love this modified rib pattern. It's stretchy and oh, so comfy.

The yarn is Dirty Water DyeWorks Lucia, colorway Pixie.

Last week I vowed to work on these socks and only these socks until they were finished.

It's time for a new project. Endless possibilities await.

Friday Update

2011-11-18T08:20:00.001-05:00

I have just enough time for a quick update. I'm putting the finishing touches on my display for the Gather Here Fiber Trunk Show on Sunday. If you want to read additional information about the featured vendors, be sure to check out the Gather Here blog.

With any luck and a little bit of knitting time I'll be wearing these socks on Sunday.

I made a pact with myself so be faithful to these socks, to see them through to completion before starting something new. Now that I'm on the straightaway to the toes, I've started to contemplate my next project. I may have even taken a few minutes for Ravelry. While my mind flits from an owl trimmed shawl to a new sweater, I realize that the gift giving season is upon us and I should probably focus my attention on that. But that doesn't stop me from dreaming.

This time of year is characterized by gray days and diminished light. Sometimes even the dismal, dreary days are loaded with color. My color inspiration for the week.

From shades of purple to reddish yellow and earth tones. It's all here.

Unfinished Business

2011-11-16T07:32:00.001-05:00

Sometimes circumstances force you to tend to unfinished business. Or in this case an unfinished knitting project.

Now I'm sure if we were all honest with ourselves, we would fess up to having an unfinished project or six. I admit I have a few lingering projects that need attention, so the other day I really had no business even thinking of starting something new. And I didn't, but not because I was virtuous and diligently pulled a project out of the basket that holds all those unfinished projects. No, I didn't start a new project because one of the DPN needles I needed for the new project went missing. And there wasn't a replacement readily available.

That trend continued into the next day when I was out and about. As luck would have it I had some waiting time on my hands. Prime knitting time. I reached into my bag. There was only one knitting project. How did that happen? Usually I have a selection of at least a couple of projects with me - that way I have a choice depending on the situation. If I'm sitting and settled in the doctor's office, I can pull out a chart. If I'm waiting in line at the Post Office, a simple sock is better.

It seems the powers that be want me to focus on one project and only one project.

And I have been. This is the second of the Flatiron Clog Socks - a project that I started probably in late summer. I give in. I won't even consider another project until this is done. That's fine - I need another pair of socks.

Besides I should focus my attention on this rather than the distraction of a new project.

The Gather Here Fiber Trunk Show is this coming Sunday. It's going to be a fun time. If you're in the Boston / Cambridge area, stop by and check out all the fiber goodies. With any luck I'll be wearing a new pair of socks.

Creative Crafts

2011-11-14T09:29:00.001-05:00

Another weekend, another event. I've had a string of booked weekends this fall, and this past weekend was no exception. This was a weekend for the kids and their annual craft fair.

There were so many clever, creative items on display.

Handmade beeswax candles.

And more candles.

This one is so beautiful. I may not be able to burn it.

An adorable gnome family.

Complete with a mushroom.

A colorful fairy.

You can't see it here, but she has wild, woolly hair.

Small, detailed felting.

A mitten pin for my winter coat.

Late in the day I stumbled across some knitting.

Small scale knitting.

And to top it all off . . .

. . . a knitter for the dollhouse. See that basket of yarn? She even has her own stash.

Pinstripe

2011-11-11T07:45:00.001-05:00

Last week I mentioned a new mitten kit in passing. Today I have a full report.

Pinstripe Double Knit Mittens Kit.

Stripes on the top.

Stripes on the bottom. Stripes all around.

This design uses double knitting - a clever technique that creates a two-sided fabric. Double knitting has the potential for all sorts of colorwork options.

And it's reversible. This kit uses Dirty Water DyeWorks Bertha, a blend of Superwash Merino, Cashmere and Nylon. Bertha makes a cozy, luxurious mitten.

The Pinstripe design includes two cuff options.

This is the gauntlet option. The other choice is a traditional ribbed cuff.

You can find the Pinstripe Double Knit Mittens Kit here. Scroll down a bit for the mittens.

This kit provides an opportunity to learn a new technique and is available in three different color combinations.

Every fall I'm amazed and entertained with the color transformation from green to reds, yellows and browns. The full fall spectrum is represented here in my color inspiration for the week.

Lingering leaves.

Show And Tell

2011-11-09T09:02:00.000-05:00

I like to share photos of my booth samples on the blog. For those readers who never get a chance to see the booth, it's a way of staying in the loop. And for those readers who do get to see the booth, it's a nice preview. I often hear customers say, "I saw that sample on the blog."

This sample joined the booth at Rhinebeck.

Ginkgo Shoulderette Shawl.

A friend whipped up this sample for me.

The yarn is Dirty Water DyeWorks Bertha, colorway Dahlia. Dahlia is a recent addition and will be available on the website soon.

Bertha has a bit of cashmere - soft, cozy and comfortable.

It's nice to treat yourself to a bit of luxury.

Ginkgo Shoulderette is a relatively quick knit and takes only one skein.

Something to keep in mind as the gift giving season approaches.

The End Of The Road

2011-11-07T13:07:00.000-05:00

The fall fiber festival season came to an end this past weekend with Fiber Festival of New England.

This was the second year for this event, and those who came out were not disappointed. For many it was a bright spot in a week filled with an early snowstorm, downed trees and days without power.

There was felting.

Bird houses from New England Felting Supply.

Star ornaments from Sunshine Daydream Farm and Gardens.

And this trio from Tall Grass Farm.

Ready-to-wear.

Mittens for little hands from Robin's Hoods.

Tools.

Beautiful wood from Hearthwise, makers of drop spindles and nostepinnes.

Sheep candles.

From Bartlettyarns. Too cute to burn.

Sheep wearing sweaters.

Greeters at Pinestar Studio.

Of course there were animals.

Real sheep.

An alpaca posing with help from a steady hand.

It was a wonderful fall festival season - a chance to make new fiber friends, a reason to connect with longtime fiber buddies. Weeks and weeks of fiber fun. Thanks to all who came out! Until next time . . .

More Mittens

2011-11-04T07:48:00.000-04:00

I had a lovely blog post planned, but I ran into some camera issues. Today I'll give you a taste with more pictures to follow in another post.

Pinstripe DK Mittens by Lucy Neatby. Double knitting, two colors, a lot of fun. Dirty Water DyeWorks will have this mitten available as a kit with several color combinations. The kit will debut this weekend at Fiber Festival of New England. You'll find Dirty Water DyeWorks in booth 432/433 East.

Speaking of which Fiber Festival is being held in western Massachusetts, an area hard hit by last weekend's storm. Many have been without power and spent much of the week digging out. Eastern States Exposition, the site of Fiber Festival, is up and running. The show must go on. If you're in the area, don't be afraid to venture out.

My color inspiration for the week mimics the mitten above.

Golden orange stripes.

Dreaming

2011-11-02T08:30:00.001-04:00

I'm in the final phase of pulling everything together for the next-to-last show of a wonderful fall season. It's been fun, crazy busy, inspiring, rewarding and at times challenging and chaotic. It's encouraging to raise the bar and come out on the other side in one piece.

Now that I'm in the home stretch my mind has started to wander. As I dye, twist and label skeins of yarn I think of knitting. Knitting many things. This is what happens when I don't knit for several consecutive days. I'm not satisfied with the thought of starting one new project. I want many new projects.

And so I dream of Erin's Hat from Debbi Stone. Or Mittens With Pints On by Spilly Jane. Really any of her mitten patterns would do, but a pint is especially appealing right now. And then my dream gets bigger, and I contemplate a new sweater. I don't have a particular pattern in mind and I don't dare go on Ravelry to search, but I do know that I would make it out of Edna. The possibilities are endless. Knitting for myself . . . soon enough.

Fiesta Mittens

2011-10-31T06:09:00.000-04:00

The winter weather blew in just as a mitten came off my needles.

Fiesta Mittens by Lucy Neatby.

The clever Flying Swallows stitch covers the top of the mitten.

A simple color pattern covers the palm.

The thumb and gusset include wonderful details.

It was entertaining to watch the design unfold.

This detailed pattern includes both charted and written instructions.

The yarn is Dirty Water DyeWorks Lucia, colorways Seaweed and Mustard Seed.

The Fiesta Mittens Kit will be available at Fiber Festival of New England with several color combinations to choose from.

Fiesta fun.

Larger Than Life

2011-10-28T10:29:00.000-04:00

I'm pulling everything together for next weekend's Fiber Festival of New England. In order to get from here to there I need to be organized.

Now I've long been a fan of these colorful little squares.

Post-its. They plaster my desk, work table and surrounding areas. My kids have turned me on to the virtual kind, and they have their place. But they're just not the same as the original.

You can imagine my delight when I came across these.

Poster size post-its. These sticky whacks of white have been my salvation this fall. When I'm heading out for a couple of days, I leave a large, long list so that my household continues to function on some level. When the list is the size of a poster, no one can say they didn't see it. Not even bleary-eyed teenagers.

And I use them for my large to-do list when I'm gearing up for a show. This one is ready and waiting for my weekend list. I can't wait to pull out my Sharpie and get started.

Believe it or not some things get taken care of without being written on a list. Fun things like decorating the yard for Halloween.

We now have a spooky graveyard complete with caution tape. The graveyard is a tradition around here, and we make additions every year.

Fun things like baking.

Colorful, tasty treats. We are set for Halloween, and I didn't have to lift a finger.

Yesterday before the rain turned to snow I captured this richly colored leaf. My color inspiration for the week.

Shimmering red.

Restocking

2011-10-26T08:47:00.001-04:00

Fiber Festival of New England is right around the corner, and I'm in the midst of restocking. There will be a couple of new items available at Fiber Festival. Keep an eye on the blog for a sneak peek.

I'm happy to report that after a brief hiatus the Diamondback Mitts Kit is back in stock, available only at shows.

These freshly dyed skeins are waiting for labels. There are plenty of options available for making the mitts using either one color or two.

I leave you today with the creative work of Kate Jenkins - a knitted supermarket and a knitted hotel room. I wonder what she will knit next.

Red Scarf Time

2011-10-24T09:02:00.000-04:00

This has been a busy fall with many shows and a lot of travel time. I realized over the weekend that this lovely season is slipping away, and I haven't had time for many of our traditional activities.

While I try to figure out if I can still squeeze in some apple picking, I do know that I haven't missed out on one of my fall traditions.

The Red Scarf Project.

This project collects scarves for foster children who are no longer part of the foster care system and are on their own in college. The scarves are distributed in time for Valentine's Day. Donations are being accepted from now until December 15. There's still plenty of time if you want to contribute.

It's Monday, and I have a new project in the works. This week is off to a good start.

Back And Forth

2011-10-21T07:38:00.000-04:00

Sometimes it seems I have to take a step backward to make any forward progress. Case in point. Yesterday I picked up my current mitten in progress - the one with the entertaining colorwork. I was admiring the colors when I noticed a particularly big, blue blob. Was I imagining it, or was there a mistake about 9 rounds back?

I put the mitten down and went for more coffee. When I came back, the blue blob was still there. There was definitely a mistake - a ssk that should have been a k2tog . The stitch had the wrong twist and was showing blue instead of yellow.

Now a mistake is not the end of the world, and some of them I can even live with. This, however, was not one of them. Ripping back 9 rounds of colorwork on 2.25mm needles is not for the faint of heart.

In the end I was left with this colorful tangle and the satisfaction of correcting that decrease and eliminating the blue blob.

As luck would have it I had an opportunity for extra knitting yesterday. Meetings and time spent waiting can be productive when it comes to knitting.

I caught up to where I had been interrupted by the mistake and then some. The thumb gusset is complete, stitches are set aside and I'm marching to the top of the mitten. And I'm on the lookout - no more blue blobs.

As leaves and plants dry up and shrivel, there is still plenty of color to be found. My color inspiration for the week.

Red-orange, vibrant to the very end.

Recovering

2011-10-19T10:39:00.000-04:00

It's the Wednesday after Rhinebeck, and I'm still recovering. In fact I may feel more exhausted today than I did on Monday.

I hate to disappoint if you stopped by the blog looking for pictures of knitting in progress, new colors or fun projects. The lighting today is awful for photos, so my knitting update will have to wait. Instead it looks like it's going to be a day to tackle the mountain of paperwork, process orders and sift through emails. With any luck I'll even find time for a nap.

Rhinebeck Tradition

2011-10-17T14:25:00.000-04:00

The long-anticipated Rhinebeck weekend has come and gone.

True to form the weekend did not disappoint. It was crazy busy.

Rhinebeck is many things.

There is yarn and fiber of course.

But that's not all.

Food.

Music.

Colors in all shapes and sizes.

Activities for kids and grown-ups who dare.

Remnants of a sand sculpture from the Dutchess County Fair.

Complete with knitting.

Rhinebeck celebrates the season.

But above all Rhinebeck is a tradition, an annual trek to share time with friends. Thanks for a most memorable weekend.

Road Ready

2011-10-14T08:43:00.000-04:00

The adventure continues. I'm packed and ready to hit the road to Rhinebeck. I'm going through a mental list to make sure I haven't forgotten anything. Yarn, kits, more yarn, samples, still more yarn. If I've forgotten anything, I probably won't realize it until I'm unpacking on the other end.

Last, but not least, is the latest shipment of bags from Michele at Three Bags Full.

New fabrics.

New sizes.

The sweater bag.

New details.

The bead alone is enough to make me want this bag.

All of these goodies and more will be in the Dirty Water DyeWorks booth - Building C, Booth 42.

All summer I meant to get some sunflowers at the farmers' market. I admired their beauty and color, but for one reason or another I never brought any home. While most of the flowers have come and gone, this particular sunflower caught my eye the other day. I was driving but pulled over to capture the last of its color. On this gray, rainy New England day I leave you with my color inspiration for the week.

Bright yellow fresh with raindrops.

Countdown

2011-10-12T08:15:00.000-04:00

This coming weekend is Rhinebeck, and I'm in the midst of final preparations.

Twist, label, repeat is my mantra.

A Slice Of SOAR

2011-10-10T09:50:00.000-04:00

Last week I spent several days at the SOAR marketplace. Even though I didn't participate in any of the other SOAR activities, I had some wonderful experiences and met some interesting people.

There were attendees from all over and many make this an annual event. I met Myrt, an elderly woman from San Antonio. This was her 25th consecutive SOAR. She talked about the friends she has made over the years and how she looks forward to seeing them every year. Myrt is energetic and lively and has vowed to keep on attending as long as she is physically able. She is truly an inspiration.

Janel Laidman was teaching at SOAR and stopped by to say hi. She had a busy teaching schedule but managed some time for the marketplace. As always it was nice to chat with her.

There was so much to see.

Fiber.

And more fiber.

Subtle shades of plant dyed fiber from Michelle at Sunshine Daydream Farm & Gardens.

Silk.

Cheerful color combinations from Misty Mountain Farm.

There was all sorts of equipment - spinning wheels, drum carders, hand carders.

And spindles.

More spindles from Hatchtown Farm.

Weaving.

Stunning rugs from Demetrio Bautista Lazo.

Made with plant dyed wool.

Woven in the Zapotec tradition.

SOAR was memorable and inspiring on many different levels.

Just A Glimpse

2011-10-07T08:30:00.000-04:00

All week I've been trying to squeeze in a few minutes of knitting time. Usually I have plenty of time spent waiting and knitting but not so this week. I even had to give up my weekly knit night for more pressing matters.

Yesterday, much to my surprise, there was a break in the action. Just enough time to knit a couple rounds.

My latest project with a splash of color. This isn't just ordinary colorwork. It involves yarn overs and decreases and is oh, so much fun. Now that I'm in the groove, I don't want to put it down. This could be trouble.

Spin-Off magazine's annual event, SOAR, is being held in Manchester, New Hampshire and is going on right now. Dirty Water DyeWorks is one of the marketplace vendors. If you're interested in spinning and are in the area, you really should stop by. The market is full of spinning equipment, beautiful fibers and more. See the SOAR website for details.

It's fall in New England, so it's no surprise that my color inspiration for the week is very seasonal.

A cluster of mini pumpkins, orange and yellow.

Cobble

2011-10-05T07:56:00.000-04:00

Green. A new green shawl.

Cobble.

No, I didn't magically whip this up in the midst of my busy fall schedule.

A dear friend knit this for me.

It's been keeping me company at my desk, and I appreciate it as only a knitter can.

This shawl is full of texture and interesting details.

The yarn is Dirty Water DyeWorks Paula, colorway Avocado.

Next week Cobble will debut as a booth sample at Rhinebeck, but for now it's mine. All mine.

A Weekend In Vermont

2011-10-03T10:16:00.000-04:00

This past weekend Dirty Water DyeWorks was at the Vermont Sheep and Wool Festival. I love all the fiber festivals, but Vermont is one of my favorites.

There are so many things to like about Vermont.

Breakfast at the diner.

Fun for the kids.

A sculpture of a moose family.

Vermont is still recovering from the recent hurricane. I didn't know what to expect but was prepared for the worst. There was evidence of flooding along the river. Homes and businesses washed out and empty. Damaged roads that had been repaired. FEMA workers in the local restaurant.

And this message posted along the White River.

We had a wet weekend at the Tunbridge Fairgrounds.

But that didn't keep people from turning out.

There were vendors inside and out. Attendees came prepared with umbrellas, rain gear and mud boots.

I had a visit from designer Becky Herrick who just released an ebook. Stop by her website for information on the ebook and her other designs. I also met Chris from Vtknitboy, an avid spinner and knitter. Check out his blog for information on bunnies, spinning and more.

As always there were so many things to see. So much creativity and inspiration.

Adorable booties from Moonlight Llamas.

There were animals of course.

Curly locks.

And good food.

NOFA Vermont with organic pizza made fresh at the fairgrounds. They worked hard to keep up with the demand.

Vermont was wet, soggy, muddy . . . and delightful. Thanks to all who came out for this lovely event.

Slow Start

2011-09-30T07:35:00.000-04:00

All week I've been trying to get my latest knitting project up and running. I had high hopes of slipping it on my hand for a try-on, but so far all I've managed is the cast on and a few rounds.

A mitten cuff. By mid-week I realized that my knitting time was going to be limited, so I set a goal of finishing the cuff by Friday. Simple enough. Ribbing . . . 24 rounds of ribbing. Today is Friday, and the cuff still isn't complete. I've given myself to the end of the weekend. This cuff will be finished by Monday even if I have to lock myself in a room to do it.

This weekend I'll be at the Tunbridge Fairgrounds for the Vermont Sheep and Wool Festival. I'm looking forward to another weekend of fiber fun.

This is a colorful time of year with vibrant hues peeking out from subdued earth tones. My color inspiration for the week.

Warm, golden yellow.

Button, Button

2011-09-28T09:13:00.000-04:00

Button, Button, Who's Got The Button? A game from childhood and one I played with my own kids. Buttons. Practical, colorful, artsy, entertaining.

I have fond memories of button collections. My grandmothers and aunts would save buttons from discarded garments. They had lived through the Depression and nothing was wasted - not even a button.

I have my own button collection, and I added to it at the Southern Adirondack Fiber Festival.

There were several button vendors - some with vintage buttons.

Take a look at the original prices.

Oh, the choices. And the colors.

I don't think I can bear to take these off the cardboard. Always In Style.

Buttons in many shapes and sizes.

Big buttons.

Big buttons with texture.

Small buttons.

Small buttons with detail.

Buttons sold by the bag.

Buttons patiently waiting. Waiting for just the right project to come along and snatch them up.

Adirondack Adventure

2011-09-26T09:46:00.000-04:00

It's Monday morning, and I'm catching my breath after a weekend in the Adirondacks. Come along for a photo tour.

At three years old the Southern Adirondack Fiber Festival is a fairly new event. I had never been to this event as either a vendor or attendee, so I was excited for a new festival in a new location.

This well-rounded event did not disappoint.

Weaving. Just seeing the looms up and running made me want to pull out my loom. Several weavers also stopped by my booth to chat. Lovely conversations.

This is for those who want to weave but don't like warping.

Continuous strand weaving. This loom, courtesy of The Wren's Nest, doesn't require warping. Magic.

There was felting.

A basket of booties from Valerie's Gallery.

And flowers from Decadent Fibers.

Equipment.

Vintage knitting needles from Lazy Day Farm.

And soap.

So many to choose from at Natural Specialties.

This festival is held at the Washington County Fairgrounds near Saratoga Springs. The area is full of history, and I would have loved to spend more time poking around. Maybe another time. I did stumble across a couple of interesting things in Schuylerville.

Art.

Bike art.

A whole row.

In different colors.

And standing guard on one of the street corners.

A beautiful painted horse.

It was a wonderful weekend with a short week ahead. I'm back just long enough to gear up for another road trip and another adventure next weekend.

Mad Dash

2011-09-23T07:22:00.000-04:00

I'm scurrying to get out the door and on the road. This weekend I'm off to the Southern Adirondack Fiber Festival and am really looking forward to it. A change of scenery can do wonders. I must admit that this week I left too many things for the last minute. Remind me - why didn't I take care of that oil change earlier in the week?

These two will be coming along for the ride.

The makings of a new project. I'm anxious to get started on this but am realistic that often I don't have time at fiber events to actually do much knitting. But really it doesn't matter. It's comforting to know that I'm prepared.

Today marks the first day of fall, that gradual slide into the dark and cold. I'm marking the occasion with a final shot from summer and my color inspiration for the week.

At water's edge . . . shimmering earth tones.

In The Works

2011-09-21T08:06:00.000-04:00

I'm in the midst of a crazy busy stretch with events almost every weekend from now into November. Packing, un-packing, counting, re-stocking. Bits of dyeing here and there.

This week, in the midst of all this frantic activity, I have extra meetings and appointments. It's bad timing, but it does give me extra knitting time. I have a couple of new projects in mind but decided to focus my efforts on something that's been in the works for a while. Something that won't require too much concentration.

I'm feeling quite proud that I resisted the urge to cast on something new.

Instead I'm going to finish this sock - a booth sample for a kit that will be available soon. Just a few stripes - I had forgotten how much fun it is to watch the colors shift. I'm working on the foot now so it's straight ahead, effortless knitting. And since this is going to be a booth sample, I don't have to make it big enough to fit my largish feet. I'll be done in no time. Maybe then I'll start something new.

Fiber Twist Fun

2011-09-19T09:36:00.000-04:00

This past Saturday I was up bright and early for the drive to western Massachusetts and Fiber Twist.

This cozy, one day event has two dozen vendors offering a wide range of goods.

There were gorgeous spinning fibers.

These beautiful plant dyed fibers are from Woolies of Shirkshire Farm. They specialize in Coopworth wool. Their subtle dye lot variations offer all kinds of spinning possibilities.

There were ready to wear garments.

This sleeveless wrap comes in a variety of fabrics. A versatile, practical garment.

Colder weather is just around the corner.

Several vendors had nice selections of hats, scarves and mittens. Plenty of options to choose from.

And it's not too early to start thinking of the holidays.

Sheep ornaments and more.

There were other vendors - rug hooking wool and supplies, yarn and supplies for needlework, felted garments and decorations. For a small event Fiber Twist brings together a diverse group of vendors.

Fiber Twist is held in the employee fitness center at the Yankee Candle flagship store.

Yankee Candle is quite the attraction.

There are candles and so much more.

The grounds are decorated for fall.

Including this pumpkin.

All 602 pounds.

It was a long day but so much fun. Thanks to call who came out to support this event.

Cream And Sugar

2011-09-16T09:02:00.000-04:00

This week has been filled with waiting time. A lot of waiting time. Time I should have spent on dyeing. Time I spent on knitting instead.

Cream and Sugar Cowl by Alana Dakos.

This cowl is the perfect accessory as we head into fall, just enough to keep the chill out.

This cable design has five cable rows. The other rows are effortless knitting.

This well-written pattern includes both written and charted instructions.

Chunky, cozy cables.

Cream and Sugar would make a perfect gift, but then again you may want one for yourself.

The yarn is Dirty Water DyeWorks Lillian, colorway Topaz. This 100% Superwash Merino yarn has the right amount of spring and bounce to make these cables stand out. Truly a delightful knit.

Tomorrow I'll be in western Massachusetts for Fiber Twist. It promises to be a beautiful day to be out and about. If you're in the area, be sure to stop by.

It's that time of year when we can watch colors change right before our eyes. The shift from green to red is my color inspiration for the week.

All shiny and bright.

Bonnet

2011-09-14T08:51:00.000-04:00

Last week I was working on a little something for a little person.

Over the weekend I finished it. This is Bonnet by Elizabeth Zimmermann, the companion hat to her Baby Surprise Jacket. The yarn is a 100% Superwash Merino base used for the Sweet Bunting Cardigan Kit, colors Clematis and Baltic Blue. Currently this yarn is only available in the Sweet Bunting Kit.

I was thoroughly entertained while knitting this little hat. It has many of the same characteristics as the Baby Surprise. There are twists and turns along the way. This is one of those patterns where you're best off blindly following the instructions. If you stop and think for too long, you might get lost.

In the end it all worked out. The striping came together nicely at the back of the hat. I couldn't have planned it any better.

And I'm thrilled with the little button.

A perfect color match found on a late in the day, last minute stop at Gather Here. This was a great diversion from the other projects at hand. Now it's time to get back to work.

An Evening With Annie

2011-09-12T06:17:00.000-04:00

On Friday evening I had the pleasure of hearing Annie Modesitt speak at the Common Cod Fiber Guild meeting.

Annie is a self-published author and knitting instructor. She taught herself how to knit years ago and was told more than once that she was knitting "the wrong way", i.e. combination knitting. Simply put combination knitting is twisting the stitches on one row and untwisting them on the following row.

Annie's talk was informative, entertaining, challenging and thought provoking. Let me share some of her words of wisdom.

~ Instead of calling those who have just started to knit "beginners", call them new knitters. There are new knitters and adventurous knitters.

~ We knit to make ourselves happy. It's OK to admit that.

~ Knitting restores your inner sense of rhythm. There is a certain calm that comes from knit, knit, knit.

~ A mistake is just a different way of doing something right.

Annie's philosophy is that there isn't one right way to knit.

Instead there are many different ways to knit with all of them producing the same fabric. Find the style of knitting that works for you and follow it.

Interrupted

2011-09-09T09:41:00.000-04:00

The other day I started a new project. It was progressing nicely. I had just finished the ribbed border and was about to start the good part - the part where the stitches twist and turn and do all sorts of acrobatics. And then all work came to a screeching halt.

I had to take time for some planning.

There are new kits in the works, and that means choosing colors. I worked my way through that process, selecting colors and having way too much fun. After everything was squared away, I was anxiously looking forward to picking up my needles. Time to put those stitches through a gymnastics drill.

But it was not meant to be. I encountered a knitting emergency. One that had to be dealt with immediately.

I need a knitted something for a little one, and I need it right now. Those stitches doing twists and turns and somersaults? They will have to wait for another day. In the meantime I have a sweet little something to keep me occupied. And since there is a pressing deadline for this sweet little something, I'm sure I'll be working on my other project in no time at all.

While the fruits at the farmers' market switch from berries to apples, I gathered a few peaches and blueberries to make a delicious sauce. The mixture of yellow-orange and blue cooks up into a beautiful pinkish red - my color inspiration for the week.

The last of the season.

For The Season

2011-09-07T08:50:00.000-04:00

I have a new project underway - finally. I'd been considering this pattern for several weeks but couldn't decide on the color. I pulled several skeins of different colors, debated, asked for input from family, debated some more. And then I started the whole process over with a different set of skeins. When I still didn't have a decision, I put the project away for a few days.

Then we experienced a decided shift in the weather. Suddenly it was fall, and I picked a color without hesitation.

A color to match the season.

SoWa Sunday

2011-09-06T06:08:00.000-04:00

This past Sunday Dirty Water DyeWorks was a vendor at SoWa Open Market.

This event is held every Sunday from May to October in Boston's South End. SoWa features wares from many artisans and crafters with something for everyone.

For kids.

Fun animal hats.

Wooden toys for little ones.

For adults.

Ceramics.

Things that smell good.

Candles and more.

Soap.

In cupcake form.

I love this take on the classic paper chain, but I don't think it was for sale.

A fabric chain.

This fall Dirty Water DyeWorks will be at several SoWa Sundays. Details to follow.

It was a fun outing, and I look forward to doing it again.

Trunk Show

2011-09-02T10:11:00.000-04:00

What could be more enjoyable than knit night? Knit night with a trunk show. Gather Here hosts a knit night called Pints N Purls. As the name suggests knitters gather to drink beer (or wine) and to knit. Beer, knitting and lively conversation - it's a great combination.

Last night at Pints N Purls we had the added bonus of a trunk show. Susan Gibbs from Juniper Moon Farm was on hand.

She has been working hard to launch a new line of yarn. After all her work the yarn is now available in stores, including Gather Here.

There are three different yarn blends, and each yarn has a book of patterns.

Susan brought the samples that were used in the books. It was a great way to see the yarn in action - the colors and textures, the possibilities.

Susan will be on the road this fall, traveling the countryside to promote her new yarn.

To find a list of stores that carry yarn from Juniper Moon Farm, check the stockist list. To find out if Susan and her trunk show will be in your area, check her tour schedule.

If you're in the Boston area, Dirty Water DyeWorks will have a booth at SoWa this Sunday. SoWa Open Market features local artisans and a wide variety of goods. It also includes a farmers' market. SoWa is open from 10:00 - 4:00. Click on the link for more details and directions.

It's the season for peaches here in New England. For me it's a sign that summer is coming to an end, and fall is just around the corner.

I bought over a bushel of peaches. Peach pie, peach sauce, peach cobbler or just by themselves. We are savoring this last taste of summer.

Peaches. My color inspiration for the week.

Sweet, juicy goodness.

On The Fringe

2011-08-31T11:55:00.000-04:00

The other day I finished the mystery blob. As I mentioned in a previous post, half the fun with this project is the finishing. Follow along as I share the process.

First of all the name of the mystery blob is Bad Oyster.

This pattern starts with a small number of stitches. Notice the straight panel that runs from top to bottom. Increases are placed on both sides of this 20-stitch panel, and the blob grows with every round. The pattern says to knit until the panel measures 18 inches or until you run out of yarn. I used the run out of yarn measurement.

Cast off all the stitches except the 20 panel stitches. Next comes the fun part - steeking. Note: you need a sharp scissors for this step.

Take the 20 live stitches off the needle and find the strand between the 10th and 11th stitches - the middle.

Grab the handy dandy scissors and start to cut.

Snip, snip, snip.

All the way down the panel.

Making sure to stay on track and in the middle.

Snipping all the way to the end of the panel.

The blob is cut open.

Now it's time to unravel.

The panel strands are sorted out and tied to make fringe.

Then it's on to blocking.

The bath and blocking help straighten out the kinky fringe.

In no time Bad Oyster is ready to wear.

The yarn is Dirty Water DyeWorks Lillian, colorway Sea Glass. Lillian is a soft, cushy 100% Superwash Merino yarn. You may be wondering about the name of this pattern. The design is all knit and no purl, hence the name Bad Oyster.

Yes, this will be another booth sample.

I love steeking. It's loads of fun and has many practical applications. I chose this pattern for the booth because it's a great introduction to steeking. Somehow cutting into a shawlette seems less intimidating than cutting into a whole sweater. If you've wanted to give steeking a whirl but have been terrified at the thought of cutting into your stitches, give it a try with this pattern.

I must admit at first I wasn't particularly drawn to the fringe. One of my daughters says it has a cowboy look.

Maybe so. But I've grown rather fond of it.

The Morning After

2011-08-29T08:55:00.000-04:00

After a date with Irene yesterday, today dawned bright, clear and sunny. Mother Nature flexed her muscle, and New England will be cleaning up for quite some time. Western Massachusetts and Vermont were especially hard hit with severe flooding. Towns are under water, and covered bridges have been washed away. It's heartbreaking.

I rode out the storm with knitting in hand. The windows rattled, the house shook and I listened to a mysterious drip, drip, drip. All the while knit, knit, knit.

The mysterious blue-green blob grew.

The end is in sight.

I'm almost out of yarn. Then the real fun begins. Don't worry - I'll post all the details.

There was more knitting over the weekend, and I even managed to finish a lingering UFO. Those pictures will have to wait for another day.

I did put my knitting down long enough to do some baking.

Passing the time with peach pie.