Archive for the 'yarn reviews' Category
The Needle Arts Studio
Friday, April 27th, 2007
Hello from ROCK CITY!!
So you probably thought I’d never fly again after LAST weekend, but LOOK! Here I am in DETROIT! With Shay Pendray!
We’re taping a segment on the Needle Arts Studio, a PBS program that reaches 60 MILLION households in the US and Canada.
Here’s me and Shay on set:
The yarn we’re fondling is the new Cash Vero from Cascade yarns. It’s a blend of Cashmere, Merino, and Microfiber, so it’s soft and shiny and economical at the same time. You can pretty much sub it for anything you’d use 220 for. The ball band wants you to use a bigger needle, but I think I’ll be using it in worsted situations.
I’m going to be updating this post today with more photos, but want to get this posted! I neglected to post right away about the book fair, and now the photos are on the other computer…
The trip started out like any normal trip that I go on alone…very very iPod-zone out and knit…THEN. In Dallas. I’m in line to get on the plane and am approached by a gorgeous blond woman who seems to know my name! Guess WHO! Tina Whitmore of KnitWhits!! You’ve seen her work on her own site, at Stitch Diva, and all over the country in yarn shops. Tina and I rode to the Inn together and had dinner and dished until 10 pm. (Then I had to go finish my project!)
Tina on TV:
This morning, we all got up to go to the studio, and who’s in the lobby? KRISTIN NICHOLAS! She’s published EVERYWHERE, and you probably recognize her work by its use of color. She has a new book coming out (I got a sneak peek at the projects but swore not to post photos, so I didn’t take any.) Her projects are colorful and playful and when she laid them out on the table, every single one of us was over there swarming her. She’s amazing. And just generally really awesome to talk to. She’s got a BLOG! YAY! (She also has her own yarn line and the colors are just gorgeous. Deep and rich.
Kristin, Shay, Me:
I also met the Chicks with Sticks! These ladies are so much fun! The projects they showed use crochet in situations where we’ve gotten used to using knitting, like the potato-chip scarves and even in felting. Their work is very brightly colored and fun. Loved meeting them! I heard that they’ve even sold their knitting kits on QVC! Now *that’s* national coverage!
Lisa Daniels of Big Sky Luxury Yarns and Muench Yarns was there to do three segments. She was showcasing the “Touch Me” chenille with wool core that I used in my Spring 07 Knitscene pattern. Really enjoyed meeting her.
Heather from Monsterbubbles was there. She cross-stitches on alternative surfaces. She sells kits for jewelry and art wall hangings that use window screen as the base for the stitching, instead of cloth. These are so gorgeous, funky, and modern. I really like them. You should check out her site gallery.
Group Photo:
L to R: The Chicks, Heather, Me, Tina, Kristin, Lisa, and the really sweet Borgello needlepoint woman.
PS: Tina’s saying, “We’re suddenly all scrunching down.” and we were. We were. lol.
Posted in yarn reviews, events | 6 Comments »
Spin Cycle!
Tuesday, April 17th, 2007
(thanks, google maps!)
Nate and I both have 40+ hour a week full-time jobs. Because we’re both also really busy outside of work (he’s a painter and I have this little knitting hobby of mine) we usually see the weekends as time to devote to the *other* stuff that we do.
We each have our own studios in the house and hole up all weekend and get into our individual projects and don’t really see each other. THIS weekend, we decided to break that habit and go on a long drive together. We sort of randomly chose Cloudcroft, NM as our destination. It’s not too far away, and is up in the mountains so the scenery is really different than what we have here in the Mesilla Valley. They have TREES. They have SNOW!
Just before we got in the car to go on the drive, I checked the mail…and LOOK was in the mailbox:
A hank of Spin Cycle handspun silk in a rich golden red called dragon’s breath. So even though I (as per the “getting out of the house agreement”) didn’t work on any knitting the whole trip…I still got to play with yarn! Spin Cycle is run by Kate and Rachel, who have an unbelievable sense of color and texture and make really beautiful yarns.
Those of you lucky enough to live in Bellingham can just go see them any time at the farmers’ market or stop by the shop…the rest of us can antsily oogle online. I even spotted a modified boobholder in the gallery!
So when we got up the hill we ate at the Texas Pit BBQ place. Nate had a Sliced beef BBQ sandwich (sauce ON it, not on the side) and I had potato soup. Even though the place to eat was my choice…I got the only non-BBQ thing.
We figured it’d be cooler up there, so we brought jackets. Nate brought some thin windbreaker and I brought the jacket to the suit I wore in Aaron and Margi’s wedding (WITH red wine stain down the front, I noticed on the ride home). We were really not prepared.
It was nice to get away for a real day off. Even a few hours.
I came home and finished two knit garments and started a third.
I’ve got a deadline coming up: 8 possibilities for the cover of Glam Knits. I’ve finished a few, and the rest are just waiting for trim. Sometimes I have the hardest time figuring out how to trim something. Plain 2×2 ribbing? Fisherman’s Rib? Some fancy rib with yarnovers or cables in it? So I plop them onto the mannequin and sit here and stare at them. Sometimes I even have 3 or 4 with varying hem lengths on it at a time.
This mannequin backup got to me Friday. I had 3 sweaters on the mannequin and my eyes were having trouble delineating what was what. So I ordered TWO more mannequins. The one I have is (roughly) my size.
Most of the time when knitting samples, whether for the books or magazines or yarn company work…I have to knit to a 34″ bust measurement. So I ordered a 34 (W8). I’ve also decided to use a plus-sized model in the photography for the new book, so I bought a size W16. I know that a 16 isn’t even really PLUS…but that’s what my model is.
They have really cheap ones here. They don’t have every size, but they have quite a few. They’re nice because they’re pinnable. (and cheap.)
Posted in yarn reviews, just chit chat | 8 Comments »
Vickie Howell Collection Preview
Monday, April 16th, 2007
I think I mentioned before that I’m working with Southwest Trading Company on some patterns for the Vickie Howell collection. Here are a couple of previews of ideas I’ve been playing around with:
The blue/pink/green top is knit using ROCK, which is silk, wool, and hemp. Even though this yarn is 30% wool, the silk and hemp blend with that to create a great 3-season yarn. Rock is less shiny than CRAFT, and has a really nice smooth texture. I used US7s to knit with it and found that it knits fast and doesn’t strain my fingers at all, the way some yarns can.
(These are only teaser pics because we want the FOs to be a surprise!)
ALSO: PS: Who am I kidding that I have time to sew?? We need to get my parents moved into their new house so that my MOM can help me 
Posted in yarn reviews | 4 Comments »
Tilli Tomas “Glampyre” colorway
Tuesday, April 10th, 2007
I received this gorgeous yarn in the mail a couple of weeks ago…but…as we decided yesterday…I’ve been a jerk about taking pictures. So. Yesterday at lunch I snapped a few. This colorway is a mix pf purples and blues anchored with black. GORGEOUS!
Posted in yarn reviews | 11 Comments »
Book! In the WILD!
Friday, February 9th, 2007
Look what I found in my inbox this morning! Someone (thanks, Shannon!)saw my book on the actual shelf in an actual bookstore!! I haven’t been to the local B&N in a while to check for myself…but, as Joey Lawrence always used say, “Woah!”
I just had the thought: “I talk about myself WAY too much on this blog.” Then: “Um. It’s a BLOG.”
SO…more about ME.
I was just sent the most beautiful package of yarn from Tilli Tomas. We met while I was working on the Stitch Diva Simple Knitted Bodice (three links) pattern and have become friends. 
Tracy has come up with a new color called “jade” that’s a blend of really rich greens. The sequins on the “disco lights” are even green.
I love that disco lights!! I’m like a magpie…if it’s sparkly I MUST have it. So, we’ve been working on some things together…like the wrap cardigan pattern that I’m currently in the process of getting sent out to my TNNA people! (I’m sorry, TNNA people! This is taking MUCh longer than I imagined.)
I’m sure I’ve told you this before, but wherever my husband I go out to eat, before long we’re treated like regulars…and one time I asked him, “Why do you think people in restaraunts always remember us? Down to what we order?” And he said, “Because you’re so flashy.”
He didn’t say it in a mean way at all, just very matter-of-fact. At first, I was a little offended. I’m from Iowa. We are NOT flashy. But…he’s right. If I’m not sparkling, I’m wearing pink and yellow argyle socks with green sandals…or a long white leather pimp coat with a fur collar.
I was at a conference the past few days, and one day someone even said to me, “That’s a quite a shirt. What is that? Embroidery?” Well. That’s quite the polar fleece that you’ve been sporting the past four days. What is that? Goretex with Thinsulate? (He was nice, actually, and I think actually kinda liked the shirt…but it was slightly unusual/out of place at that particular venue.)
Another standout moment: Some of our research is done at a facility that’s arranged in a big ring. (To remain nameless, so this can’t come back to haunt me later when I apply for jobs) They provide you with bicycles so you can get from point to point in the ring faster than if you had to walk the mile from point to point.
One time that we went, I brought my rollerskates and was skating around the ring. No big deal, right? What’s skates compared to a bike? Is it really that weird? YES. Apparently it was the freakiest thing that people had seen in a long time. People took my picture, and they had to call the safety people to see if it was ok, and it was HUGE deal. (It was deemed NOT ok, safetywise, and I had to take them off.)
I heard a really funny story from a girl I went to grad school with (in another department…not mine.) She went over to the lab one night really late to pick up a notebook while she was studying for her comps or something. She walked in and the entire lab floor was covered in newspaper. Like, every inch of the floor.
She looked around for anything spilled, or broken glass…nothing. So she started picking up the paper as she walked back to her desk for the notebook, and there sitting at the computer was one of her labgroup members. In longjohns and trench coat. And that’s it. No shirt, no shoes. (This was the same guy with the Playboy belt buckle and matching Playboy backpack.)
She said she didn’t even ask. Just got the notebook and backed slowly away. Later, we tried to piece together what might have happened…but never were really sure. Did he spill something on his pants, shirt, and shoes and have totake them off? Was he in bed and had to rush over to check his email and forgot to put shoes on so he spread out the paper? Was it just too hot in there?
There are varying degrees of ‘flashy’…
Posted in yarn reviews, just chit chat | 6 Comments »
Blogalicious. ACTUAL NEWS. (beep da da beep da da beep beep) …newswire from the 40s
Sunday, February 4th, 2007
Blog. To the a-l-i-c-i-o-u-s. It’s blog. To the lish. Glam-a-lish-ious.
I’ve been up in the gym just a-workin’ on my knitness…he’s my witness.
(Ok. You KNOW this is me mocking one of the most laughable songs ever on the radio. “check it out…”)I’m working on some designs for the Vickie Howell line from Southwest Trading Company. I just got a fabulous package in the mail from Kat and Jonelle…full of brightly-colored, interestingly blended Vickie yarns. Please ignore my ‘manicure’…I’m still recovering from a rather horrifying run-in with some acrylic nails. Never get them. Or, I should say, never get what they call a “fill” because they sand your own nails down to the quick. Which so far has taken three months to grow about halfway out. Doesn’t help my nailbiting any. But that’s not what I’m talking about. Anyway. Oh, and, I had the camera on manual and forgot to do the white balance…thus the blue man group hue on the fings.
This is “Craft” which is a cotton/milk fiber blend. It’s really soft and pliable. You know how cotton can be totally non-stretchy, make your elbows hurt, and just be awful in general. Somehow milk fiber (which I’d love to see on its own) acts like the antidote to that. I’ll let you know how a garment does…but so far…my BELT is awesome. Look for updates on “Love” and “Rock” as well.
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Dream in Color swatch
Thursday, January 25th, 2007
OK! So, I’ve got photos, finally, of the Dream in Color swatch:
I really like the fact that it doesn’t pool, and the colors are like ripples on water…there, but shifting. Pretty. AND…it matches my new site! This is going to make a nice, cozy sweater!
Here’s Harvery with the ball and swatch. Doesn’t our back yard look wild and overgrown? The “grass” (Bermuda grass that we thought was weeds when we first moved in) stayed green and kept growing well into December. Then, other winter weeds came in (those green tufts.) That dead-looking stick, right in front of the window, is a branch of a bush that IS still alive. Just not so green right now. Just before I took this picture, a wild grey and white Tom cat was stalking around outside. Harvey HATES it when other cats come into the yard. There’s one cat that’ll come up to the screen door and torment him at night. We wake every few nights to an awful howling, growling through-the-glass-door catfight. They even slap each other through the glass. 
Laura and I have been talking, and soon we’ll have the RSS going, so you’ll see glampyre updates in your blogroll. We also want to get the comments figured out, it’s hard to naviagte and figure out where to sign up for the password, and then how to use it. Thanks for continuing to be patient as we get everything worked out!
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Dream in Color Handpaints
Friday, January 19th, 2007
While manning my booth at TNNA, I received a lovely yarn to sample from Dream in Color Handpaints.
The yarn is dyed in a process called “veil dyeing” which produces an even undertone with deeper tones over the top in a veil of color. It’s really pretty in the hank. I love the color selection from this company. They don’t focus only on the cheery bright colors (which I sometimes really do *LOVE,* just am not always in the mood for) but also have some really great deep, mottled, dark colors.
My sample hank is in the colorway “deep sea flower” which is a dark aqua base with deep purples and greens over the top. The color is dark and delicate, verigated without pooling, and will be a dream to work with, I’m sure. (Mom is a big fan of this one, too.) The needles in my mind are clicking just looking at the photo!!
(Yes, I have needles in my mind. They’re constantly knitting while I get stuck doing the more mundane things that the rest of me has to do all day.)