One More for 2022

I've been hunkered down with yarn and needles the last few days.  It's been a real treat to have so much focused knitting time.

I had one more project simmering on the back burner.

Today I took a break from knitting to work out the details.

It's been another year of ups and downs, but I managed to knit my way through most of it.

May we all enjoy some peace and tranquility in the coming year.

Lost Days

Like many, I'm still recovering from the weekend.  I'm muddling along as best I can amidst constant confusion about the days of the week.  My biggest concern is that I'll miss our trash pickup.

The bar is low, and I don't have high expectations for the week.  This is all I could muster yesterday.

I know it's just knitting, but in this week without any structure, it felt like a productive day.

Don't Tell

I'm taking a wee break from kitchen duties to check in.  I still have plenty of holiday prep work, but I already have new projects ready for action.

I usually wait until we're over the holiday hump, but I might get a head start and cast on tonight.  Shhh.  Don't tell anyone.

If you're celebrating anything or everything this weekend, savor the moments with family and friends. 

This week's color inspiration . . .

Snowflakes on a fence.

Solstice Cheer

Time for holiday shopping is getting tight.  One easy solution is a gift certificate.

They're available on our website in any amount.  Grab one for a knitting buddy or add one to your own wish list.

The winter solstice is here.

I'm settled in with plenty of candles, a relaxing knitting project and a glass of wine.  Embrace the dark and celebrate the light.

In the Spirit

Yesterday I had my last event of the year.  Today I'm slowly pulling things together for the holidays plus planning a small celebration for my son's birthday this week.  I need to get busy making lists.

This morning before things got too hectic, I took a few minutes to wind yarn.

This put me in a festive spirit.  Back to those lists . . .

Sophie Shawl

 I have a new sample ready to go.

Sophie Shawl (Ravelry link).

For the yarn, I held Lucia DK with Shimmer - both in Dusk.  This was such a fun, relaxing project.  It didn't require too much brain power and had just enough going on to hold my interest.

If you're going to the Inman Holiday Market on Sunday, stop by our booth in the East Cambridge Savings Bank. I'll have the sample on display.

And if you're looking for information about Farm Fiber Days, the newsletter was released yesterday.  Follow the link for more details.

This is a busy month for birthdays in our house, and this sparkly cake provided my weekly color inspiration.

 Crazy candlelight.

All Socks

The holidays are next week, and the pace is starting to pick up around here.  It's nice to have extra people coming and going, but everyone wants to eat and I haven't done nearly enough grocery shopping.  That's at the top of my list for tomorrow.

In the meantime, here's a quick shout-out for Yarn Knot Socks, our sock club.

Signups are open now.  The club consists of three shipments - January, February and March.  Each installment includes a full skein of sock yarn plus a coordinating mini skein.  The club makes a nice gift - for you or someone on your shopping list.  You'll find all the details on our website.

Math on the Fly

Don't ask me about my holiday prep, but I had a productive knitting weekend.  Finishing always leads to more starting, especially when I have deadlines.  It's the knitting cycle.

My Sophie Shawl (Ravelry link) is off the needles and blocking.  I was doing my calculations on the fly and ended up with just yards to spare.  It's nice to come out on the winning side for once.  Thankfully I don't anticipate any other close calls with my current deadline projects.

It's Just a Hat

I'm knitting as fast as I can to finish a couple samples.  I told myself they would be quick samples.  Nothing is quick right now.  The days evaporate this time of year, and I'm scrambling to fit my knitting time into a tight schedule.

Today I was knitting at a birthday lunch for my daughter. Just a few stitches here and there but I know they'll all add up.  And really, this is a hat.  How long can it take?

This week's color inspiration . . .

Stunning magenta.

One More

Our final in-person event of the year is coming up on December 18.

The Inman Holiday Market is a fun, festive event with an awesome group of vendors.  This is a perfect opportunity for holiday shopping or to get something for yourself.  If you're in the Boston / Cambridge area, stop by and support small, local businesses.  Be sure to check the event page for all the details.

Sweater Weather

It's always fun to see what customers make with our yarn, and I enjoy the show and tell that often happens at events.

This morning I pulled inventory for sweaters.

It's that time of year.

Yarn Sub

I'm settling in to the rhythm of my winter days . . . make soup, light candles, knit every chance I get and plan new projects.  The project I had lined up the other day is off to a good start.

This is a sample repeat.  One of the yarns I used the first time around is no longer available, and I'm subbing something new.  It can be challenging when a yarn is discontinued, but I'm hopeful the new base works out. I'll keep you posted.

This week's color inspiration . . .

Yellow cheer.

Something New

I've been on desk duty today with a long list of emails and paperwork.  It's been a slog, but I managed to check a few things off my list.

Earlier this afternoon I took a wee break to browse on Ravelry and to cast on something new.  Just enough to take the edge off.

I still have a few urgent emails to attend to, so I tucked this little project away.  Back to the grind.

Monday Optimism

It's hard to get back in the swing of things after a long, holiday weekend.  My recovery is going to take a couple days.  I purposely avoided my inbox, and now it's a slog to wade through all the junk.  The delete button is my friend.

If you placed an order over the weekend, many thanks. The free shipping offer is still running today.  Hop over to the website.  It's a good time to grab supplies for holiday gift knitting or to get a little something for yourself.

I did most of the cooking for the holiday, but after Thursday I stayed out of the kitchen as much as possible. That left me with some downtime.  I focused on several knitting projects and came one step closer to casting on something new.

I'm usually pretty good about swatching, but it's especially important with this project since I'm straying a bit from the recommended yarn weight.  I have some math to do, but I think I can make this work.  At this point, I'm still optimistic. 

Thankful

Holiday prep is a lot of work.  The last pie is out of the oven, and I'm settling in for the long weekend.

Small Business Saturday is this weekend, and once again we're offering free shipping.

We're making a long weekend of it and running the special from Friday through Monday.  No code needed.

I have ambitious knitting plans for the weekend.

Yes, they include more hot pink.  I haven't had enough yet.

Even though there are many ups and downs in life, I try to remain positive.  If you're celebrating tomorrow, take time to pause and reflect.  There's so much to be thankful for. Enjoy your time with family and friends!

Hot Pink Crosses the Finish Line

The story of the hot pink yarn continues today.  Estrella wanted a headband to wear for the Philadelphia Marathon on Sunday.

I cast on the headband before we hit the road.  I had a feeling the knitting would be my responsibility too, and sure enough, I knit all the way to Philadelphia.  It's not very often I get to sit in the passenger seat.  I had other plans for my travel knitting, but when duty called, I shifted gears.

The headband was ready for the race early Sunday morning.  Estrella made a good call with the headband. The weather was cold and blustery.  Perfect wool weather.

The hot pink headband was both colorful and practical.  It was a challenging run, but Estrella stuck with it.  Her determination and perseverance paid off.  Cheers to crossing the finish line!

A Yarn Emergency

Yesterday my daughter, Estrella, had the bright idea for a last-minute knitting project that required hot pink yarn. Since I didn't have any hot pink yarn ready and waiting, I scrambled to dye some.

Today the yarn is ready.  Estrella said she'll do the knitting, but time is tight.  Since she needs this early Sunday morning, I'll cast on and get her started.  I have a feeling I'll be doing most of the knitting.

The leaves are off the trees, but I'm savoring the fall foliage colors one more time for this week's color inspiration.

Rhinebeck cheer.

Project Update

I had plans to tackle a swatch and start a new project, but life has sent me in a different direction.  Instead of starting something new, there's been sitting and waiting and zooming.

So I've been working on this project.

This is Sophie Shawl (Ravelry link).  I had a false start and went back to the beginning with a different size needle.  I like it much better now.  

This project kept popping up all over my social media feeds, and now I understand why.  It doesn't require too much thought which is perfect for the moment.  I'm still itching for something new . . . maybe later in the week.

Research and Swatching

Yesterday I had some unexpected free time on my hands. It's usually dangerous for me to have several hours without a purpose.  I ended up on Ravelry for a while a long time, and afterward I pulled this little pile.

I like to compare colors when I'm making a choice. Research is important, so I also took an informal poll of my household.  

This is the result of the poll.

Dark Chocolate was my initial choice, and it's nice the "research" confirmed my instincts.  Next up, swatching. 

Ranunculus

I'm wrapping up the week with a quick sample spotlight.

Ranunculus (Ravelry link).

This sweater was on the road with me this fall.  The pattern includes several different options, and it's easy to customize.  Many people have made it.  Check the project pages on Ravelry for inspiration.  It's a fun, quick knit.

The yarn is Lillian held with Shimmer, both in From the Bog.

I'm starting to wrap my head around the fact that the holidays are right around the corner.  I haven't done any decorating, but I need to get going.  This week's color inspiration puts me in the mood for Thanksgiving.

Shades of orange.

Short Week Scramble

After a hectic weekend, I had visions of a relaxed work week.  My planning is off because I didn't account for the Friday holiday.  Yesterday I realized the Post Office will be closed on Friday, so now I'm scrambling to ship as many orders as possible before then.

I did get a new project up and running.

It's just a wee thing right now, but I'll post pictures soon. And of course there are several other new projects in the planning stages.

Also, if you're thinking of joining the Thrummed Mitten Zoom class next week, there's still time to get in on the fun.  Follow the link for all the details.

More Coffee

I had such a fun weekend at Fiber Festival of New England.  A huge thank you to everyone who stopped by the booth!  It was great to touch base with so many people.

Here's a quick glimpse of the booth.

I'm trying to organize my work week, but I'm moving slowly today.  More coffee is in order.

More Thrummed Mittens

This has turned into an extremely busy week, but I want to check in with a quick website update.  Back by popular demand is another Kit and Class offering for Thrummed Mittens.

These cozy mittens are made by knitting bits of fiber into the fabric.  The fiber then creates a layer of insulation.

We've teamed up with knitting instructor Hélène Driesen to offer a Zoom class to go along with the kit. The class is scheduled for November 16, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM Eastern.

The kits are available in several colors and include yarn, fiber, pattern and Zoom instruction.  They'll be available this weekend at Fiber Festival of New England, Booth 432/33 East.  You can also order kits on the website.

In knitting news, I'm on the second sleeve of my sweater. The race is on to finish by this weekend.

On the Calendar

For today, a quick reminder about Fiber Festival of New England.

I don't know where October went, but this event is happening next weekend.  We'll have a spacious,       well-stocked booth full of hand-dyed yarn, knitting kits and yarn bundles.  As usual, there will be plenty of samples on display.

You'll find us in Booth 432/33 East.  Be sure to head to the event website for a complete list of vendors and weekend activities.

This week's color inspiration brings me cheer.

Magnificent marigolds.

A Spark of Inspiration

I knew I'd sort out the details of a new project eventually. Yesterday I settled on the pattern.

Today I picked the yarn.  Dusk plus Dusk.  This combo has been waiting in the wings for a while, but this morning I had a spark of inspiration and it all came together.

Right now I'm bogged down with piles of wet yarn that are drying so slowly.  Believe it or not, this new project is the highlight of my day.  I'm off to wind yarn.

Percolating . . .

It's Monday, and I don't have anything new on the needles.  I spent a fair amount of time over the weekend browsing on Ravelry.  I have plenty of ideas - just haven't made any decisions yet.

While the possibilities percolate, I picked up a project that is almost finished.

This Love Note (Ravelry link) was hanging out near my desk all weekend.  Originally I had planned to finish it before Rhinebeck.  In the midst of Rhinebeck prep, I ran into some technology and equipment malfunctions that sucked up any extra time I had for knitting.  Now I've set Fiber Festival of New England as the deadline.  As long as I don't have any more breakdowns, this is totally realistic.

One more thought for today.  The Hope & Sunshine Fundraiser is running right now to raise money for breast cancer research.  Most of us have been touched by breast cancer in one way or another.  Follow the link for more information.  Donate and enter to win one of the fantastic fiber prizes.

Fruit Tingles Shawl

I had several new samples on display at Rhinebeck and haven't shared many of them as finished objects. Here's a quick look at one of them.

Fruit Tingles Shawl (Ravelry link).  I paired Lillian Fog with a Mini Multi Bundle (No. 6  to be exact).  The colored sections include a fun stitch pattern.  I had to pay attention on those rows, but they weren't hard.  The rest was relaxing garter stitch.

Cheers to the weekend.  I'm looking forward to planning a new project or two.

I found this week's color inspiration at Rhinebeck.

Shades of autumn.

One More Day . . .

I have a long dyeing list and had every intention of making a dent in it today, but somehow the time got away from me.  I guess I'm still recovering from Rhinebeck. Now that it's mid-afternoon, I think I'll shift gears and save the dyeing for tomorrow.  Maybe I'll get my new label printer up and running.

And then I can cast on a new project.

More Coffee

I don't think I can consume enough coffee today.  I'm trying to be productive while dealing with a serious Rhinebeck hangover.  Unfortunately my schedule doesn't allow for a day off right now, so I'm muddling along with the help of extra caffeine.

So far I've done a load of laundry, emptied a section of the truck and sorted out some inventory issues.  I'm formulating a schedule for the rest of the week so I can gear up for Fiber Festival of New England.  A fresh list is in order.

For today, here's a quick look at our Rhinebeck booth. We had great fun.  Thanks to everyone who stopped by!

And now I'm off to make more coffee.

Rhinebeck and More

The race is on.  I still have a few skeins drying, many skeins that need labels and I just blocked my last sample. In a case of terrible timing, the label printer bit the dust the other day.  Now coffee is my constant companion while I write labels by hand.

If you're going to Rhinebeck, stop by and say hi.  You'll find us in Building C, Booth 42.

We'll have a booth full of hand-dyed yarn, knitting kits and yarn bundles.  Many samples will be on display, including the one that's blocking right now.

Also, the Rhinebeck Collection from Katrinkles will be available in our booth.

For those who can't make it to Rhinebeck, we're offering free shipping this weekend.  No code needed.

In other news, we've collaborated with Salt Yarn Studio again on another collection of Gift Knits.  There are several patterns to choose from plus we're offering Zoom sessions as an opportunity for knitting help or just to connect with other knitters.  You'll find all the details on the Salt Yarn website.

I look forward to seeing some of you this weekend.  If you don't have time to stop, wave as you pass by.

Weekend Plans

It's a holiday weekend across North America.  Judging from the traffic report I just heard, a lot of people are traveling.  I'm still deep in prep work for Rhinebeck, so I won't be going anywhere.

I have piles and piles of skeins that need labels.  I'll put on a podcast to keep me company.  Cheers to the weekend!  Happy Thanksgiving to our Canadian neighbors!

I found this week's color inspiration in Vermont.

Burnt orange.

Rhinebeck Preview - Wildwood

Time flies in the fall!  I blinked and lost a week.  Yes, it was a busy week including a whirlwind trip to Vermont. Thanks to everyone who stopped by the booth.  It was fun to see familiar faces and make new friends.

Now I'm in the midst of the chaos that is Rhinebeck prep. I'm pretty sure I'm adding to my lists faster than I'm checking things off.  Eventually the tide will turn, and I'll be able to tick off a bunch of to-do items.

Here's a peek at one of the new Rhinebeck samples.

Wildwood Shawl.  The pattern calls for three colors, and I chose Lillian in Cool Waters, Ginger and Pearl.  Stripes, lace, short rows . . . this design has a variety of entertaining elements.  The shawl is substantial and easy to wear.  Take a look at this pattern if you want to play with a combination of three colors.

Used Equipment

Things are getting a little hectic around here.  One of my many lists went missing this morning, and I almost lost it. I spent way too much time tossing the contents of my desk and work table all the while muttering choice language to myself.  The list had gotten wet (everything is wet when there's a lot of dyeing going on), and it was stuck to the back of another list.  Crisis averted.

A little info plug for those of you going to Vermont Sheep & Wool this weekend.  This year the festival is holding a used equipment sale.  

This is a great opportunity to pick up an item that's been on your wish list or to get rid of something you're no longer using.  You'll find all the information you need on the website.  Note the sale is only running on Saturday.

Remember you'll find our booth in the Vendor Pavilion. And now I'm off to consult one of my many lists.

Not Too Bad for a Monday

My schedule can be a little crazy, and Mondays are definitely challenging.  It reinforces my notion that there aren't enough hours in a day.  

Today, however, is a great Monday.  This morning our new washer was delivered.  I wasn't expecting it today, so it was a pleasant surprise.  We've been dealing with this laundry situation for two months, and I've made most all of the laundromat runs.  My time is extra tight in the fall, and I'm delighted to give up that chore.

On the knitting front, I double checked my Love Note (Ravelry link) progress this morning and realized I'm ready to bind off.

Two sleeves and a neckline are all that stand between me and the finish line.  After this morning, I'm feeling very hopeful.  Bring it on!

From the Sorting Pile

I'm heading to Vermont Sheep & Wool next weekend, so the last couple days I've been sorting inventory.  I have a couple projects ideas on the back burner.  Doesn't everyone?  This combination landed on top of the sorting pile, and I decided it would work for one of those projects.

This project wasn't a priority, but now I'm excited to cast on.  Maybe it will even happen this weekend.

Signs of the season are everywhere.  This week's color inspiration . . .

Orange with texture.