Thursday, December 27, 2012

A Smattering of Purples


Hi, Knitters,
I hope you are having a wonderful holiday season so far. The week is going so fast and my house is a busy place which we always love. I have a couple of quick things to share today. Quite a long time ago, I think when I first started spinning, I ordered this beautiful purple superwash wool roving from Sunshine Yarns. I know that TC was playing around with spinning at that time and I am pretty sure she used a small amount of the 4 ounces to practice her spinning. So I started out with a little less than the usual 4 ounces.

Anyway, I was taken with this beautiful mix of purples when I was looking for the next thing to spin. I just had to get it going right away. I divided the roving into three equal parts to make a 3-ply yarn.  I love the end result.


In the end I got about 180 yards of a dk to worsted weight 3-ply yarn. It is really a beautiful mix of color. I have no idea what I will make with it but there isn't much yardage so it will most likely become a hat of some sort.


Sunshine Yarns is a great place to pick up some roving if you are in need. Dani, the dyer, is an amazing talent with color.  I've spun and knit her fiber for years and it is always a pleasure. 


This yarn is like a whipped up treat. I can't wait to get to knitting with some more of my handspun yarns in the winter months ahead of us. It is starting to stack up on me. 


Here it is in the bright sunlight and a little instagram filter help. It sure is a stunning hank of yarn.


Another favorite purple yarn of mine is from Quince & Co. and it is called Frank's Plum. It is a vibrant and intense shade of purple. I am knitting Hannah Fettig's 70 yard Mitts with some leftover Lark I had in my stash. This pattern is found in the Knitbot Essentials collection (a great pattern book!). The first mitt turned out really tiny, a little too small for me. I had my niece try it on and it fit perfectly. I will finish knitting the second mitt and give the pair to her. I will go up a needle size and make another pair for me. They are really cute and it is a very fun and fast pattern.

Next up, I have a big box of Frank's Plum in Puffin waiting to become Ambrosia by Gudrun Johnston...... 


The last thing I am making great progress on is the Belfast Hoodie by Carrie Bostick Hoge. The fit is turning out perfectly. It is a bottom up raglan/yoke cardigan. I enjoy different styles of construction when I am knitting up sweaters. It keeps things interesting. I am now well into the hood. Left to do are the button bands and the pockets. It is a cute one for sure. I can't wait to soak, block and start wearing it! The yarn is Quince & Co. Lark in the Pomegranate colorway, which is kind of a muted rosy-raspberry color. It is kind of hard to describe which is usually the best kind of color.

Well, I'll keep you posted on my progress. I already have some new pink roving on my wheel. It is gorgeous and bright and fun. I also have many more cardigans lined up and ready to roll this winter. I am hoping to get a couple more finished before the cold weather leaves.

Coming up, I have a couple of fun giveaways to share over the next weeks. I think you will really love them. 

I'll be back soon with more. Take care and keep warm.
best, susie
p.s. Thank you for all of the warm holiday emails. I really appreciate it.