Tale of Two Yarns

In an effort to keep up and kick start my blogging with some more readers I am participating in the second Annual Knitting and Crochet Blog Week.   Each day there will be a different subject that knitting and crochet bloggers will be typing about.

The first subject being a "Tale of Two Yarns."

Yarn is one of my favorite things...well...in the world.  I love yarn store.  I love the variety of fibers that I get to experiment with while doing needle work.  I was talking with a student about fibers and we agreed that we all start out with very commercial, often times acrylic, yarn.  Then, the artist grows, as well as their skill, and all of a sudden you want to good stuff.  What exactly is that?  It depends.  I find that I am either looking for yarn and then finding something to do with it OR finding a project and then looking for yarn.  But with the queue that I have on Ravelry, I often have an idea of yardage floating around my head so generally for me...yarn first.

One such instance is Cascade Eco Duo+.  If you love neutrals at all, you simply have to touch it.  Then, once you have touched it, you buy it.  It wasn't one of those instances that I would buy yarn just because I love it then stash it.  This yarn I used immediately.  I made a hat out of it and tried my hand at my first cables.  The hat is so incredibly soft.  I often tell people to touch it because it feels like a kitten. For the sake of being critical and subjective- I will say that while I love the yarn for the hat that I made, it is not an everyday yarn.  This is the kind of yarn that you would use for a specific project.  A sweater would be wonderful, but it would pill a lot.  A cowl would be soft and glorious.  But because of the fuzz, I don't recommend it for long term wear and tear.

The next yarn that I am going to highlight is Madelinetosh Tosh Merino DK.  Frankly, I love a lot of their yarns.  I chose this one in particular because I prefer to work in DK vs. fingering.  The other reason I chose Tosh Merino DK vs. Tosh DK is because what I am learning about myself is that I love single ply yarn.  I find that I am drawn to that over a plied yarn.  I have plenty of plied yarn, but majority is single ply.  While I am not generally a fan of superwash yarn, this is indeed superwash merino.  I think that lends itself well to making it an absolute favorite, versatile, everyday yarn.  The first project was a hat.  The next project with it will likely be a shawl.

You may notice a trend hat, hats, hats.  I find that hats are a good way to test out a new yarn.  And then you can build up a supply of last minute gifts while you are at it. 

Inspiration

It my new tagline.  Do you like it?  Have you noticed? 

Be well. Create. Inspire. 

Words that came to me as I continue on this fiber filled blogging journey.  I have to say that I too have times of feeling rather uninspired.   Working in a spiritual center I have come to understand that it is a part of the cycle of life.  We all have times of light and shadow, dusk and dawn, happy sad, mad glad.  You get the picture.  But the more that I think that I am being uninspired, the more inspiration comes my way. 

It is an absolute honor to be called an inspiration by someone.  This has happened on several occasions now, often coming from those that inspire me.  What I appreciate most is that I am able to inspire people in so many different aspects of my life.  Some I have inspired creatively, some I have inspired by my parenting, and some through my work at the spiritual center. It is all of this abundance that inspires me to keep it going, to keep creating, to keep being the best wife and mother I can be. For those of you that I have inspired and vice versa, please know I am truly blessed by knowing you and YOU continue to be MY inspiration.

So, now, let me share with you some recent finished projects to show you where I channel all that goodness!

Crochet Class

Check it out! I am on board to teach a beginning crochet class at MakeOne in Milwaukie. If you have ever been inspired to crochet, now is your chance!

Beginning Crochet – Sundays (3/20 and 3/27) from 11:30 – 1:00 pm –$24 - Michelle Kroll

MakeOne DescriptionWant to venture into the world of crochet with confidence? Come and take this two session class from Michelle. She’ll get you “hooked” on crochet and on the road to making those crochet projects that you’ve had your eye one. Register for this two session class by calling (503) 974-9614 or stopping in.
 

Scones & Rikke Hat

First of all, sorry for the delay.  There was a sick day thrown in and a knitting retreat.  There will be a separate post for the knitting retreat later.

When launching RainMomma.com one of my goals was to throw in the occasional recipe. I enjoy trying new recipes, particularly if it is any kind of baked goods.  As  we start getting into canning season you will likely get introduced to some of my favorite jam recipes.  But, one of my favorite things to make are scones.  They are the ultimate versatile pastry.  You can add just about anything to them, and have them sweet or savory.  Here is the basic recipe that I have been using.  (Adapted from a recipe given to me by Eileen Parfrey.)

Michelle's Basic Scone Recipe

1/2 c. rolled oats
1 c. flour
3 T brown sugar
1.5 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
1/4 t salt
1 T flax seed
6 T butter
6 oz. Greek yogurt

Cut in the butter with the flour and the rolled oats. Mix in the remaining dry ingredients.  Mix in the yogurt.

Add-ins: crystallized ginger, mini chocolate chips, nuts or seeds, 1/4 of your favorite spice, vanilla beans, or 2 T of finely flaked coconut (like the kind used for macaroons).

Bake at 400 for 14-18 minutes.
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And now for the finished object update.  There have been a few since the last post.  
Those will be in the follow-up about the knitting retreat.  Below is the Rikke Hat.  The hat is a design by Sarah Young of Happy Knits and is a free pattern that you can find here.  It was a fun and easy knit.  The yarn I used for this was Madelinetosh Tosh Merino DK in Ruby Slippers.  I simply love Madelinetosh yarns.  All of their colors are fabulous and their yarns soft and smooshy.

Here is what I called Raspberry Rikke.

Test Update

Above is the test gauge for Zitron Nimbus 100% Organic Merino.  The yarn choice really confirms my affinity for single ply yarn.  I am not sure why that is.  But, I knew when I start this project that I wanted a rich color.  Some of the others I thought were a nice mahogany brown, deep navy, plum or cordovan shade of red.  The picture doesn't really show the color in its truest form.  The color is really a charcoal color, think pencil lead.

I am slowly making progress.  I seem to psych myself out since I am more or less writing as I go.  The end result will be a vest.  I love the idea so I hope it turns out the way I hope.  It is being knit for a small-medium for pattern-submitting purposes.  In the yarn I chose it is going to be rather warm.  But, the pattern is versatile enough that, done with the right yarn, could be worn in the spring/summer.  I have a few other projects on my plate I am working on as well.  So, off to get a few more inches done. 

Up Next: FO update and a recipe!

Be well. Create.  Inspire.

Comfy & Warm

This was a super easy crochet project.  It involved a pretty basic stitch pattern and easy shaping.  This definitely could have been done sooner.  One could even get it done in a weekend.  I managed to stretch it out by being tied up with various other knitting projects.  It is made with Cascade Yarns Cash Vero.  I broke in the sweater on Monday, and let me tell you it was toasty.  It is also VERY soft.  I am hoping that it won't pill too much.  If I had more yarn I would likely have made the sleeves a little longer.  But that said, it really is going to be perfect to wear over a tank in the spring.  I think it is versatile enough to be worn in any season.  Don't quote me on this, but I may make another in the future.  

A little review on the yarn.  This was my first time using this yarn.  It was very easy to work with.  It didn't split too much, with is always key.  It was very soft which made it a little slippery.   I am going to use the last 15 yds or so that I have left to make a swatch to remember this one.

Next up:  A progess report on my first design venture.

Girasole

 

So here is the finished product.  The wonderful Girasole.  I loved knitting this.  From beginning to end.  I think that I why I am drawn to lace charts.  First, I am enamored with the idea of starting a new project.  And when doing a circular or triangular shawl it grows so quickly in the beginning.  Then, with this pattern I kept getting more and more excited about how the pattern was looking and progressing.  There was certainly that level of excitement present because I was working on something for myself.    I absolutely love the outcome.  The yarn choice makes for a very comfy and warm blanket. 

So, down the line will be another Jared Flood project.  I have gathered enough Shelter yarn to make the Terra Shawl. The colorway, of course is Homemade Jam.  There are a couple more projects in the works before that however.  

Stay tuned for another update on another finished project.  The Chevron Sweater.