Alpaca with a Twist - Highlander (Tweed)

Pansy

Birch

Blackthorne

Thistle

45% Baby Alpaca, 45% Merino Wool, 8% Microfiber, 2% Viscose, 3.5 oz, 145 Yards
Alpaca with a Twist Highlander is just as luscious, soft and bouncy as Big Baby!! The colors are so pretty. I have not knitted up anything with these new yarns yet, but can't wait to start!! Locate and purchase some, you won't be disappointed. (Click on each photo for a larger scale photo.)

The Unoriginal Hat - Designer: Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

The Unoriginal Hat is a free pattern you can obtain at The Yarn Harlot's blog. This pattern was a real exercise for me in cabling. At first I didn't like the 'work' involved, but once I got into it, I found that I truly did enjoy it and was loving the pattern being created by the cables. I used Cascade Yarns "Pastaza Paints" - 50% Llama and 50% Wool; the yarn is considered 'chunky' and the pattern called for bulky, so I doubled up the strands and knitted the hat on US #10 dpns. I encourage you to try this pattern out. . .

And Did I Mention More Luscious Yarns?

And, yes, more Peruvian Tweed Alpaca Yarn (can't get enough of it). . .

Fleece Artist

More Fleece Artist Yarn

And yes, more Fleece Artist Yarn

And Yes, More Luscious Yarns . . .!!!

Jade Sapphire Exotic Fibers 4-Ply Cashmere

Claudia Handpainted Yarn

Claudia Handpainted Yarn; Noro (center hank)

More Luscious Yarns. . .

Claudia's Handpainted Yarn (top and bottom) Fleece Artist 12Ply Cashmere (middle)

Blue Sky Alpaca & Silk Yarn

Fleece Artist Sock Weight Yarn

Melosa Lace Weight Yarn from One Planet Yarn

Lorna's Laces Sock Weight Yarn

My Luscious Yarns . . .

These are Colinette Yarns.

These blues, whites and taupe are Lorna's Laces Sock and Worsted Weight Yarns.

This lovely yarn of blues and pinks are from One Planet Yarns called Mama Llamas.

This Peruvian Tweed Yarn (which is really in its natural color) is my all-time favorite YARN!!! Its been called the 'poor man's cashmere'.

Alpaca Cloud Accessory Scarf/Tie

This was great fun!!! I loved knitting up this fast scarf. It was knitted up in Knit Picks Alpaca Cloud Papaya colorway on US #10 needles. The yarn was lovely to work with and the pattern was just so easy. I blocked it but I realized I need work at blocking my finished items!!!

Yarn Dyeing @ The Point Knitting Cafe

This past weekend I took a class -- a yarn dyeing class at The Point Knitting Cafe in the Village of New York City (http://www.thepointnyc.com/) It was so much fun!! The instructor was really a blast and since there were only two students we decided to share our color palettes. I only dyed three hanks of Kraemer Yarn. The first one is called Jeannie, 80% Superwash Merino, 20% Nylon 100 grams Super Fine Weight approximately 420 yards before dyeing; the middle yarn is Kraemer's Sterling Silk & Silver, 63% Superwash Merino, 20% Silk, 15% Nylon, 2% Silver, 100 grams approximately 420 yards; and the third one is Janice, 100% Merino Wool, 100 grams, Medium Weight approximately 300 yards before dyeing.

I enjoyed this experience so much, that I have already placed an order for dyes and bare yarns to try out at home.

The Point is such a cozy shop. There is a cafe counter and you can order coffee, cappuccinos, lattes, etc. while sitting and chit chatting with other knitters! Visit the shop, you won't be disappointed. And while you are there, visit The Market, where artisanal breads are made one block east of the yarn shop.

Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock Yarn - Seaside "Media Socks"

I am in the process of knitting a pair of sock from the book "Favorite Socks". They are called Media Socks. I am using Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock Yarn in Seaside colorway.

These socks have a mock cable and lace design which might be a little difficult to see because of the busy colorway. The socks are knitted in US #1 dpn needles.

I just love knitting on smaller needles. I find as I expose myself to different designs and patterns, that I really enjoy using smaller sized needles versus larger sizes. I enjoy how the smaller needles create such a tight fabric that seems almost seamless. Granted, with larger sized needles you progress a little faster in your garment, but for me its the process of creating that I seem to enjoy. Don't get me wrong, I also enjoy the end prodcut as well. I derive a certain pleasure in knowing that not everyone can create SOCKS! Yes, I have become a SOCK snob. There is a certain aura about the majic of turning the heel, picking up the stitches for the gusset, etc. Wow, what a feeling of accomplishment.

This yarn is also really nice to work with. I love Lorna's Laces products. The Worsted Weights are also great. Please check out this yarn by visiting your LYS or online knitting store.

"Vintage" Helmet Garter Hat

This hat was a dream to knit. Needful Yarn is a lovely yarn and held up well to my frogging. I so enjoyed this pattern and was supposed to put it up on my blog as I had received permission from the owner at my local yarn store, but unfortunately I either misunderstood the instructions or something was not "right" with the pattern, so I haven't debut it on the blog.

The hat is knit up sideways and there are these peaks and valleys throughout, but somehow my peaks never met my valleys at the right junction. So, I continued the pattern as I thought it should be and came up with this. Its actually for a newborn/infant or so, and it sort of reminded me of Saturday Night Live (SNL) The Coneheads , remember them? Anyway its still rather cute. I used US #3 needles and loved every moment of this knit up.

Etsy.com

http://www.grandviewfarmvt.net/

I recently decided to venture into surfing on Etsy.com. To my amazement and surprise, I found lovely yarns and wonderful vendors. I made a yarn purchase from Grandview Farm Vermont. A small family owned farm. I just fell in love with the picture of the yarn I saw on this site. Well after contacting the vendor, she made a special listing on her site so that I could order the amounts of skeins I wanted. The yarn came from her sheep named "Fedora" and was handspun by the vendor, not Fedora of course. . .

This yarn is so soft and clean. I wish I could just put my head on it to sleep its so soft!! Please visit this site and support our local farmers. I love doing this and wish we could all support them. They do a great job taking care of their animals and their 'homegrown products'. Good old USA made. . .

You can also find this site on http://www.etsy.com/

Lorna's Lace Shepherd Sock Weight Yarn

This sock weight yarn is so pretty. This too was purchased from Jimmy Beans Wool (www.jimmybeanswool.com). Click on picture for a larger image and more information about the yarn.

Lorna's Lace Shepherd Worsted Weight Yarn

This is a lovely yarn purchased at Jimmy Beans Wool (www.jimmybeanswool.com). Its lovely to the touch and I love the fact that its in its natural color. I hope to make a cable or basketweave scarf w/this yarn.

Lorna's Lace Shepherd Sport Weight Yarn

I picked up this lovely yarn by Lorna's Laces from Jimmy Beans Wools online shop (http://www.jimmybeanswool.com/). On occasion they have "Mill End or Odd Ball" yarns at a lower price. Its a great find. What mill end or odd ball yarns are yarns that the dye has not taken fully so that you don't have the deep color. But you know what, who cares!!! The colors are still beautiful and not told to anyone, no one would be the wiser. The yarn is still good quality and those looking at garments made by these lovely yarns would not be able to tell that the color didn't take as it should have.

Scarf / Lopi Yarn from Tongue River Farm

This is the Lopi Yarn I purchased from Tongue River Farm at http://www.icelandicsheep.com/

This yarn was great to work with and easy on the hands and eyes. I used US#10 needles on this cable scarf. I just kept knitting until my yarn cake came to an end.

My Latest Purchase @ Stitch Therapy Brooklyn

I have to just rave about the owner at Stitch Therapy (http://www.stitchtherapybrooklyn.com/), she is such a good sales person. She never makes you feel like you HAVE to buy something or anything. But, she has this wonderful Table Top Sale going on right now and she adds to the stash of yarn on the table. So one of the first things you see is that special 'stash' and you just cannot resist acquiring some of it. I just can't say enough about this store. Everytime I go in she is either unloading a new stash of yarn shipment, adding labels to the stash, rearranging her table top sales and, more importantly, interacting with customers.

Well as you can see I walked away with two balls of each of the items in the picture. This is yarn is called Sublime Cashmere Merino Silk Aran and the two bottom yarns are also by Sublime Kid Mohair Blend. Lovely stuff. . .

Colinette Jitterbug Yarn, et al

The Jitterbug hanks I have at home, and I have lots, come in hanks of 100 grams, approximately 267 meters and according to the label and LYS owner, one hank is enough for a pair of socks. I always purchase two hanks of everything if making socks, because I am always afraid that I won't have sufficient yarn to complete the project.

I recently completed a pair of socks in the Crystal Palace Cotton Panda, 170 yards, 50 grams. And one skein completed two socks although I did use a small amount of yarn from the second skein, but virtually one skein completed the pair. I used size US #2 needles.

Yarns

My blog's description does have the wording 'luxurious yarns' and so here it begins. These yarns have a feel so soft and light. The HandMaiden's 4-ply Cashmere is totally soft, almost like a newborn puppy's or kitten's fur. The Fleece Artist's colorways are totally crisp and bright. Lorna's Laces blend of silk and wool is quite striking and Lanas Puras out of South America, is a lace weight yarn. I can't wait to create something beautiful from these yarns. If you click on the picture, the photo will open up a little bigger and you can see details and the description of the yarns.

Colinette Jitterbug Yarn

Some have asked me how do I like this yarn. I must say I love it. Of course, I compare all yarns against Jade Sapphire's Mongolian Handspun Cashmere yarn and nothing compares to the softness of that yarn, but this yarn is fun to work with. Because I am not as experienced at knitting as some others are, I find that I cause the yarn to split. This yarn is excellent in that it did not allow me to split it easily. The ply was a tight ply unlike the Cotton Panda yarn which split too easily, that doesn't mean I didn't like Cotton Panda, I loved it and loved the product it produced. Jitterbug feels very substantial in the hand, and I noticed that with the heat it would get a little crunchy, possibly because my hands were starting to sweat. Who knows, but overall the yarn lent itself to the pattern very nicely and it has a little sheen to it. I don't think that can be seen in the picture but it does, trust me. Very slight sheen, which I like. Would I use this yarn again ABSOLUTELY!!! The color is very pretty. That moss green color has little flecks of cranberry spotting throughout and it falls ever so nicely on the sock. Just love that about the yarn.

Working with Panda Cotton Yarn

Working with this yarn was lovely. It has a nice elasticity and cool feeling. My socks came out with a nice drape and 'heavy' or substantial feel to it different than the first pair of socks made in Opal superwash wool. The colors are bright. I used one 50 oz. skein to virtually complete the pair. I only had to use a little yardage from the second skein. So now I can make another pair, maybe shorter in the same material. The only feature I didn't like about this yarn was the splitting of the plies. I found that I had to be careful not to split the plies and when I had to rip back a few stitches I found that the yarn would separate its plies. Other than that the yarn was terrific and the end result was quite satisfactory.