Charity Knitting

I started a new group on Ravelry for charity knitting.  It is something I felt needed to be done.  I will do charity knitting since it is such a great cause.  I have donated items in the past to the American Indians of North Dakota.  They were in need of hats and I sent them a bunch. 

I knitted a pair of Selbu style mitts for Mitts of Steal group and I decided to go ahead and get the word out about the charity knitting group.  I am getting more and more members.  I started this group after a horrible time with my old knitting group.  I found out how really selfish they are and closed the group down.  I am no longer speaking to anyone from this group because they are completely toxic and believe all the lies that one chick is spouting.  Well, they will find out soon enough when she turns on them.   Not my problem anymore. 

So far the group has attracted a lot of other women who knit for charities and several charities who need help.  I am hoping the group will attract the right type of person who has the time and the energy to help others in need out. 

At some point in time we all need help and this group is there to help out anyone who needs it. 

If you feel you have the talent or a need to share your gift of crochet, weaving, sewing or knitting...please stop by and say hello.  All are welcome.  We need the help. 

Sock Yarn Junkie

I am staring at my shop tote that has all of my yarns I just painted this week and I am in love with them.  I have a yarn passion so strong I don't want to share my beauties.  My fingers are just itching to reach in, pull several of them out and wind them into a ball.  I have to mentally slap my hand to stop myself from doing just this. 

Tempest is one of my favorites, and it was a tempest to wind into a ball.  Hence, it's name. 

Garden party is another one that tempts me unbearably.  For some reason green yarns are so beautiful to me.  I think because there are many shades and variations of greens. 

Pictures do not do these yarns justice, they are gorgeous in real life.  The lace weight version of Garden Party is beautiful beyond words.  I love how each different fiber takes the colors.  Truly a unique process. 

As a knitter who loves sock yarns and loves to paint them, I will say that if you want beautiful yarn and you want it to be a nicer variety...look no further, I paint nice quality yarns.  The merino/silk sock yarn is one of my favorites.  It knits up beautifully and never lets this knitter down.  I have experimented with other yarns in the past and I keep coming back to this one. 

From now on, I will be sticking to each yarn that I truly love and not go haring off like a crazed woman in a shoe sale.  I have been to some killer shoe sales and have seen things that would make a sane person cringe.  Unbelieveable is what this should say! 

I Knit Socks

Right now, I am working on socks and several other items.  This yarn is called Swinger and it is one of my own hand painted merino/silk sock yarns.  I am knitting this with US 3 needles.  The cast on is 52 stitches so, there is some pooling of color. 

I chose to do a heel with a bit of texture to make it interesting.  I am using a garter stitch edge for the heel flap, it works out very nicely.  I thought of doing an eye of partridge heel flap but, I wanted something completely different with this sock. 
 
The colors seem strange but, they actually do work nicely together and the sock looks fabulous on the foot.  Well as far as I have gotten on it, it looks great. 

This pair of socks will be for sale once they are finished.  :)   

The Start of Something Wonderful

I am using two skeins of my 100 yarns.  I am knitting a pair of charity mitts for my friend.  She is starting a non-profit for kidney dialysis patients.  My mitts are for a man, I chose pea pod and regal both are Palette yarns from Knit Picks.  My main color is pea pod.  My contrast is the regal. 

Pictures will follow as I get more of the mitts knit.  I am currently on the cuff.  I am using US 2 Addi turbos to knit these.  :) 

Stash Dig

Today I did a stash dig to find yarn to work with.  I am trying to challenge myself by using up this yarn.  I finished the Drowning in Brown goes Another Round.  I also started Cupid, Draw Back Your Bow.  See bottom two pics for this hat.  Both hats will fit a youth. I have to block DIBGAR.  I will deal with that tonight.  It can live on the foam head while it dries. 

Solace Socks for Ethan

        I have finished one of Ethan's socks.  I took two pictures of the sock so, both sides can be seen.  I am on the foot of the second socks and headed for the toe.  I hope to have these finished by tomorrow morning so, I can start on Eli's socks.  I will then make the tags for the socks so, they can be mailed out to my niece. 

The yarn is Solace and it is one of my hand painted merino/silk sock yarns.  I love the base yarn since it is very quick on the knitting needles and it holds up.  I have had more compliments on this yarn than any other.  I think that is why I will be doing merino/silk sock yarn as one of my staple yarns in the shop.  It dyes beautifully and shows off the dyes to perfection. 

A New Shawl on the Needles

I started a new shawl yesterday and so far, easy knitting.  It is almost mindless knitting.  The yarn I am using is one of my hand painted merino/silk sock yarns.  It is called Sugary Confection.  It reminds me of chocolate and a gooey centered truffle.  Yummy! 

The pattern is Multnomah by Kate Flagg and it is from Ravelry.  If you are on there, check it out, it is a nice pattern to work on.  It takes sock yarn so, if you haven't graduated to using lace weight yarn, sock yarn is easier to work with. 

I am on repeat 21 of the 35 repeats.  So far it isn't too big, I am hoping it will get bigger.  The bottom portion of the shawl is feather and fan, it looks to be the old shale pattern.  I love working feather and fan since it is truly unique. 

I am using size US4 needles for this project although the pattern does suggest US 3's.  I think the US 3's would have been too small for this yarn.