Workshop Wednesdays: Snowdrop Scarf

Snowdrop Scarf is taught by my good friend Donna Arney. Donna shares a booth with me at all of the shows I do. She is part owner of Gardiner Yarn Works and her and her husband own Plover Designs. Donna is my hero and has saved me more times in the booth than I can count! I love how steady and practical she is. I haven't had the joy of taking a class from her, but I have heard from her students that she is really awesome in the classroom too! She teaches a class once a week at All About Yarn in Tigard, OR. Her class is a help with anything class. She has a following of students who have taken her class for years, going from project to project. Her students are so loyal they even bought yarn back in September from our booth at Oregon Flock & Fiber in anticipation of her class in April!

The class she is teaching is the Snowdrop Scarf class. Donna originally designed this scarf to teach a beginning lace class. It was then added to the Gardiner Yarn Works line and is one of their hottest selling patterns. I have knit the pattern myself as a booth sample and simply loved it. It's very easy and makes a beautiful end result. I had the pattern memorized in no time! The scarf just flew off the needles!

For more info on the class check out: http://cgff.lavendersheep.com/workshops/snowdrop.html

Workshop Wednesdays: Knit to Fit

I wanted to try something to promote classes for the Columbia Gorge Fiber Festival. I want to devote Wednesdays to highlighting one of the workshops from the show and the reasons behind why I chose it.

First up is the one and only class Friday morning: Knit to Fit. Friday morning can be a little bit of a difficulty to fill, because most people out of the area have to plan to travel here. However, this class had no difficulty last year filling up, so I felt comfortable putting it in this time slot again. Sarah Keller is the owner of my local yarn shop, Knot Another Hat. You can find me knitting there most Sundays with a group of wonderful people, checking out the new yarn and catching up on all the latest local gossip. Sarah has created a yarn shop like no other. She brings her enthusiasm for yarn and knitting with her when she teaches.

Nichole Reese, Sarah's partner in crime for teaching Knit to Fit, is one of the most technical knitters I have ever met. She will chart out a pattern line by line for her classes if she needs to, just so students get a feel for how it works inside out and backwards. Nichole's background is in accounting, which gives her an eye for detail when teaching any pattern. She has her own pattern line, bluegirl knits. In addition to Knit to Fit she is also teaching Brioche Knitting: It's not a French Bread, which I will touch on later.

As you can imagine these two make a stellar pair in class. They go over the ins and outs of how to make a sweater fit you in all the right ways. I'm sure you will walk away from this class inspired to knit your very own sweater, whether it is your very first, or hopefully, the one that fits you best!

Make sure to check out the Knit to Fit class, Friday, April 20th, 9am - 12pm.

Blair Socks

My husband loves socks!

Especially warm soft ones. So I finished his Cashmerino socks (rav link) up just in time for Christmas. He has seen them and tried them on, so it is safe to post about them. They ended up using 2 balls of the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino DK in the main color and less than 1 ball for the contrasting heels and toes. They knitted up super fast on #3US needles. They were such a comfort to knit I actually miss them now they aren't on the needles. I need to cast on for another pair of socks for Blair. He loves them so much and wears them all the time!

Although, I am finishing up my Moonstruck Cardigan. I just have the collar to finish, then it's seaming and blocking. Mmmm...I can't wait to wear it. Then I want to start Christmas stockings for next year (not even going to attempt this year). I also have a baby sweater in mind too, that's uber cute (the peapod one from 60 Baby Knits). I also think I might splurge after Christmas and get yarn for a Swirl Cardigan. My lys is going to run a knit-along, and I really really want to join in on the fun.

I think that's all for now! I hope everyone has a great holiday season!

New! Plover Design Shawl Pins

Just in time for Christmas, or a little after Christmas Shopping, Plover Designs has released 2 new shawl pin designs:

The first is a simple, but elegant Spiral design. It is shown in Aluminum, but is available in Aluminum or Copper. I can also get it in Silver upon request.

The second is a design they have called Eye. You can see why. It is definitely reminiscent of the Eye of Horus. It makes me think of Stargate, which I really should sit down and watch again sometime soon. Maybe over the holidays. It is also available in Aluminum or Copper, with Silver upon request.

Photos are courtesy of Plover Designs, for which I am very thankful! More photos are available on the website!

The Winner is....

Teri with her comment: What a great idea, count me in the drawing.


Congratulations! I'll get it in the mail by the end of the week!


If you didn't win, don't worry, I should have something going on for my blogiversary in January. So stay tuned!

Moo

I got this really good idea for Christmas gifts this year with my toddler. I went to Moo.com made stickers with everyone's faces on them. I plan on putting people's pictures on their Christmas packages. That way X can help hand out gifts without having to read the labels. I think it will be a fun matching game. I'll probably get my mom in on it too. It may end up being a disaster, but I think it will create a lot of laughs in any case. =)

Projects & Holiday Ideas

I have most of my holiday knitting done. Of course I can't share all of it, just in case, but I can share these two projects:

This first project is knit out of my handspun yarn. It is Merino/Angora. I spun it in college with the idea that I would someday knit it into baby things. Well, that day has come. From this one skein I got a cowl, mitts, and a hat. I have a really awesome idea of adapting it for my yarn and writing up the pattern. So hopefully I'll get to it before my next show. Everything needs to be blocked, but hopefully I will post more about it again soon. 

The second project is knit out of Rowan Kidsilk Haze Stripe in color #002 Cool. It is simply gorgeous! I knit it for my grandmother and it was a very simple pattern. Here goes:

CO 160 sts with a #8US needle.
Row 1: k
Row 2: p
Row 3: k
Row 4: p
Row 5: k

Repeat these rows 12 times all together.

For this width it uses 1/2 ball, which means I have another 1/2 ball I would love to give away to a lucky reader. So if you are interested in making this scarf and want the yarn leave a comment by Sunday night. I will randomly select and post a winner on Monday and get this yarn out to you. If you are a really speedy knitter you might even get it done before Christmas!

Announcements!

So, I have been working very hard and I have 2 very fun things to announce!

First, Happy December! For the Month of December, enjoy FREE SHIPPING throughout the US and Canada! That includes everything in the shop, even the Sale Bin! Make sure to check it out for all your Holiday shopping needs: http://www.lavendersheep.com/shop.html

Second, I posted up Workshops for the Columbia Gorge Fiber Festival. I'm really excited about the selection this year. I'm going to work on a series of posts to highlight each class here on the blog, so stay tuned! I promise more content is coming in the near future. Check out the Workshops here: http://cgff.lavendersheep.com/workshops.html

Busy is an Understatement!

I can't believe I haven't blogged since the 1st! Eeep! I have some good reasons for it.

1. I finished organizing all of the classes for the CGFF. They will be announced in December, and I'm super excited about all of them.

2. I opened up registration for returning vendors, so applications have been pouring in for spots and such. It's been fun trying to fit people in the new space (and the old!). New vendor registration begins December 1st. I have nearly 30 vendors on the list! It looks like a rather nice list too.

3. Something new:

A new little Ellsworth coming in June! It definitely means a lot more time napping and trying to take it easy! Emphasis on the trying part, since I can't sit still for too long! I think nap time might be taking over my blogging time. However, I will try and make a concerted effort to do more of it. =)

Super Superwash Sale!

Happy November! Just in time for the holidays, and most importantly, holiday knitting, I decided to put all Superwash Merino Yarns and Fiber 20% off! 

This includes Superwash Sock, Superwash Sport, Superwash Worsted, Superwash Bulky, and Superwash Merino Roving. It also includes custom orders, so if you don't see what you want in the shop, make sure to order it! Thanks!