New Colorway: Wasco

This yarn is named Wasco. Little more than 10 miles to the east of Hood River is Wasco County. Due to something called a rain shadow, this marks the beginning of more arid country. It's beauty is held in fields of wheat and other grains, which glow golden and brown in the summer sun.

It is shown in MIU Superwash Sock Yarn. It is part of the 2015 Color Collection. Find the rest of the new colors on the website!

Litla, a Little Shawl

After all that holiday knitting I think a quick selfish knitting project is in order:

Introducing Litla, a little shawl. She is knit out of 2 skeins of Superwash Bulky in color Ginn. The pattern is part of the Beautiful Wreck Collection by Larissa Brown. 

I had one of my trusty sample knitters knit it up this last fall and I finally got just the right light to show it off. It is so cozy! I just want to snuggle with it!

Kits are now available in the shop with a 10% discount on the yarn! Pick one up and start the New Year out right!

BW: Lichen Shawl

When I created the 5 colorways for Beautiful Wreck I never thought that I would fall so in love with one particular color. That colorway being Betta. As you may have noticed, I am a purple sort of girl. I also love a lot of greens and blues. Oranges, browns, and golds usually not much at all. However, that changed when I made this colorway. It just is so earthy and breathtaking. I want to knit everything out of it!

So, when Larissa Brown suggested we knit up a few of her shawls inspired by the book out of my new colorways, I instantly knew I needed to have a Lichen Shawl out of Betta. After all, different lichens are just what Betta used to dye with. 

I also couldn't help draping said shawl around the beautiful oak tree in my yard. Doesn't it look like it just belongs there?

The yarn I chose for this project is the new MIO Columbia Sport. Grown right here in Oregon and then dyed by me. It makes for a gorgeous combination. It reminds me of the golden hills of Eastern Oregon, much like the area where this wool was grown. Best of all, it only takes a single skein!

I also decided not to block the shawl as vigorously as the pattern shows. I liked the slight curl of the edges, because it looked more like lichen to me. As you can see it can be worn a variety of different ways. Kits are available in the shop and are ready to ship out today!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! I plan on spending mine knitting and getting ready for the holidays! Don't forget: Luxury Yarn Sale ends on Sunday!

BW: From the Fields Shawl

I'm pretty excited to finally have up on the website a collection of patterns designed by Larissa Brown while she was writing the book Beautiful Wreck. I have had a couple of the patterns knit up in colorways inspired by the book too. 

The first one is From the Fields in Cashmere Blend (MCN) Sock color: Har. It uses only 1 skein! 

I love the back panel and how it looks like waving wheat in the wind.

Then the front has another panel of lace, which folds around the front.  

When I spoke to Larissa Brown about the pattern, she said the shape is designed so it won't fall off your shoulders. It simply wraps around and sits there. Which means you don't have to use a shawl pin to keep it on! Though, I think it would look stunning with any of the Plover Copper Shawl pins.

This is a perfect holiday project. Knit it for a special someone or for yourself! Also available in kits, perfect for the love one, who can make their own!

Epic Saga Hat

It all started with Larissa Brown's wonderful book Beautiful Wreck. I was inspired to dye colorways based on the characters from her books. Then I made little mini skein sets of 5 colorways. I got to thinking, what is a project that would use up all 5 mini skeins? This is what I came up with:

The Epic Saga Hat. It starts at the ocean, then goes through fields of wheat, and then on through mountain peaks. The motifs I used are based off of traditional Icelandic sweaters. It was a joy to design and an adventure to knit!

So, start an epic journey of your own and knit this hat today! It will be an adventure you never forget!

Turntable Wrap

Another new pattern to the shop is the Turntable Wrap by Hillary Smith Callis.

It really does look like a turn table with ridges much like your favorite song captured on vinyl. I just had to pair it with a Copper Treble Clef shawl pin. The yarn is MIO Columbia Sport in colors Moss and Raven Storm. It knits up like a dream in this pattern. I just want to snuggle up in this shawl and listen to my favorite tunes!

See it in person this weekend at Oregon Flock and Fiber! We are in a new location in the Main Building. No more rain for us!

Wizzo

Wizzo is a new fantastic pattern by Lee Meredith. I'm really excited to carry it in the shop!

What makes it so exciting? Well it is actually a pretty simple shape to knit, but because of the placement of holes and buttons there is a myriad of ways to wear it. 

As you can see I had a lot of fun playing with it. The yarn is my Superwash Bulky in color Poppy Field. My friend Michelle knit it up for me she said she really loved the yarn. It was a super fast knit. It takes only 2 skeins of bulky yarn for the small size (shown) and 4 for the large size. Plus you get a 10% discount on yarn when you order them all together.

I went with simple buttons because the colors are so bold. I think it would also look really stunning in subtler colors and fancy buttons. Actually any which way you make this will be fabulous! You can't go wrong.

I'll have it on display at Oregon Flock and Fiber this next weekend, so if you are attending, make sure to stop by the booth and play with it in person. It's lots of fun! We'll be in a new location inside, out of the weather, in the Main Building!

Beautiful Wreck Mini Skeins

One of the new things I am doing with the Beautiful Wreck Collection is Mini Skeins. I love these little bitty skeins of joy!

See what I mean? These are out of MIU Superwash Sock. I have a few sets ready to ship. So if you order them today, they should ship out today! I'll also have them at Oregon Flock & Fiber if you want to see them in person. 

BW: Brosa

Brosa is Heirik's brother. He is blond haired blue eyed, typical sexy Viking. His calling is for the sea. For his colors I brought in the blues in the sea, but went lighter to go with his fair coloring.

You can find his yarn and those of the other characters from Beautiful Wreck here: http://www.lavendersheep.com/shop/bwreck.html

BW: Betta

Betta is Ginn's best friend. She is a natural dyer. She is depicted gathering materials and dyeing yarn for the community. I felt a combination of natural tones was what fit her best.

I also admit that Betta is my favorite character or at least the one I identify with the most. Of course it probably helps that she is a dyer like me!

You can find her yarn and those of the other characters from Beautiful Wreck here: http://www.lavendersheep.com/shop/bwreck.html

BW: Har

Har is Heirik's uncle and right hand man. The imagery around him in the book is wine, sunset, and copper. I don't want to give away much more than that from the story. Those colors inspired me to make this yarn.

You can find his yarn and those of the other characters from Beautiful Wreck here: http://www.lavendersheep.com/shop/bwreck.html

BW: Heirik

Heirik is the hero of the story. He is dark and mysterious. Black is definitely his color. I felt it needed a touch of Ginn and Brosa, as he is connected to both of them. So I added the blues from both of them. A little touch of the whale and a touch of the sea.

You can find his yarn and those of the other characters from Beautiful Wreck here: http://www.lavendersheep.com/shop/bwreck.html

BW: Ginn

Ginn is the main character. As we learn in the book a wreck is a whale, a gift from the sea for the people in the book. Just as Ginn is a gift from the sea. I felt the deep blue tones of the whale best depicted Ginn.

You can find her yarn and those of the other characters from Beautiful Wreck here: http://www.lavendersheep.com/shop/bwreck.html

Beautiful Wreck

I must say that I am totally in love with Larissa Brown's new book Beautiful Wreck. I read it earlier this year and loved it so much I had to read it all over again. I just didn't want to leave her fabulous Viking world! When I read it the second time through I was inspired to make colorways. I contacted Larissa Brown and got her permission and here we are ready for the reveal!

Simply put the book is a time travel Viking romance. If you are a fan of Outlander then you will be a fan of this book!

The 5 characters that I have colors for are Ginn, Heirik, Har, Betta, and Brosa. I'm going to spend next week going over each colorway and character, so you can get to know them a bit yourself. 

I'm doing things a little differently this time for ordering. I have some colors on hand and ready to ship. However, I wanted to give as many options as possible. So I set up an order form, so you can purchase on any base. First orders will be shipped out September 1st. I'll change the dates as orders fill up and ship them out until everyone gets their yarn. I also have minis, and sets of minis to ship out too. I'm so excited about the mini skeins! They make the cutest sets! So far every time I have shown them to someone they have been bought up!

You can find out more in the shop here: http://www.lavendersheep.com/shop/bwreck.html

Felted Scarf

This week I am getting ready for the Columbia Gorge Fiber Festival! Yay! It's so nice to have a show practically in my own backyard! Anyway, while I was organizing things to take to the show I realized I never blogged about this wonderful scarf I had commissioned out of my Merino Tencel Roving. 

Isn't it gorgeous? The artist is Judy Nicols of Hood River. Her scarves are currently on display at the Oak Street Hotel. She bought fiber for me and showed me a few of her beautiful scarves. Each one is a work of art! I knew I had to have one for the booth!

Each scarf is made from 2oz of Merino / Tencel Roving. Which means that you can get 2 scarves out of one 4oz bundle of fiber! This one is out of Poppy Field. I love the transition of the colors and how well they work together. I'll have it on display at CGFF. Make sure to stop by and check it out!

New Colorway! Spring Wildflowers / Pink Lady

Today we have 2 colorways to share! They are a variation on one another, but I love them both, so I am keeping them both! The first is Pink Lady, soft and subtle with bits of soft pink and pale green. Then Spring Wildflowers adds a dash of deeper green, creating a whole new colorway!

The first is Pink Lady. Growing up in the Hood River Valley I was introduced to many different apple varieties. My favorite ones were always the ones the blended soft greens and pinks, including Pink Ladies.

Merino Tencel Roving

Superwash BFL Roving

This yarn is named Spring Wildflowers. I love Springtime! Especially the little pink wildflowers peeking through the new spring grass. 

Superwash Sport Yarn

Crown Point

This roving and yarn is named Crown Point. Every spring I go for a drive with my family up the old Scenic Highway to Crown Point. Every year I am mesmerized by the beautiful bright green moss peaking through the cracks of the stones. It really is that bright! I wanted to capture the colors of the stones and the bright contrast of spring moss through them in this fiber.

Superwash BFL Roving

Merino Tencel Roving

Superwash Sport Yarn

New Colorway! Poppy Field

This roving and yarn is named Poppy Field. I love poppies. They are so wild and elusive. I thought I would paint a colorway which represented the california poppies, which grow wild everywhere around here. Also, the purple, red, and coppery ones from my mother's garden. There's something about them that just makes me smile when I see them.

Merino / Tencel Roving

Superwash Sport Yarn

Superwash BFL Roving

Copper Kettle

This roving is named Copper Kettle. I love copper. I love the rusty orange color it has when it is new and shiny. I love the green to aqua tones it has when it ages. I set out to capture those colors in this fiber. The end result is even more gorgeous than I planned.

Merino Tencel Roving

Merino Tencel Roving

Superwash BFL Roving

Superwash BFL Roving

Now available in Merino Tencel Roving and Superwash BFL Roving. Click the links to see all of the new colors before I post them here!

New Colorway! Raven Storm

When I thought about creating this yarn I thought about the joke: What do you call 2 crows sitting together? Attempted Murder..hehe. So I really wanted to call it that, but then my husband saw the yarn and thought it looked like lightning. So I decided to combine the two and call it Raven Storm.

Merino Tencel Roving

Superwash Sock

Now available in Merino Tencel Roving and Superwash Sock Yarn. Click the links to see all of the new colors before I post them here!