Yarn Bits

Knitters' Frolic

  Last weekend Yarns Plus participated in the Downtown Knit Collective's annual show which also included workshops.  We had a great time introducing the knitting world to Tencel.  We were able to display a beautiful Estonian lace shawl knit by Reet Triefeldt using our 2/10 variegated Tencel.  We also had several socks on display knit with our new 3/5 variegated Tencel.  I was fortunate to be able to take part in a full day workshop on Sunday with Sally Melville.  She went through a lot of basics that us self-taught knitters just aren't aware of--various cast-ons and cast-offs, seaming, picking up stitches along selvedges to add trims in a way that won't leave any holes, bobbles, buttonholes, and so much more.  She had many gorgeous knit pieces to generously share with us.  Her work is so inspiring and not always complex. I would highly recommend her knitting books.  Sally's instructions are always very detailed and clear.  I am planning one of her tops in her first book, "The Knit Stitch".  All the patterns in this book are simply knit in the garter stitch.  I think I can handle that.  I am first going to dye some leftover silk noil tomorrow and then I will knit that up along with some tencel to give it a little zip. This will be my first ever knitting beyond scarves.  I am still working on the sample black silk lacey sleeve I'm designing to add to a woven jacket.  More about that later. Happy knitting!!

Another Day Another Show

I didn't realize how long it has been since I've made an entry.  Our focus has been on preparing for the Knitters' Frolic in Toronto.  Since the 3/5 Tencel didn't arrive until a week ago, we have had to really move to get it skeined and handpainted for this show. 

In the meantime, we have also had a wholesale order to fill, which meant further handpainting was required to complete the order.  The last few days have been gorgeous and allowed us to hasten the drying process as the skeins can be hung outside on our deck to dry.  Hoorah!!!  Meanwhile I have almost completed weaving the black Tencel shibori warp to experiment with discharging it. 

I have also rece ntly been asked to weave some table runners for a new shop in the Distillery district.  I usually weave table linens with orlec yarn because it is strong and the fringes will hold up well, looking great over countless machine washings.  I had to order some white orlec from Gemini Fibres  www.geminifibres.com  and it arrived next day.  Great service!  I have planned a long warp threaded in a summer and winter pattern in white and then I will  use various soft colours as weft--off-white, a very pale yellow and silver gray for starters.  We'll see how sales go.  I'll post a picture as soon as they are finished, which has to be very soon. 

Lost in Action

The Just for Us Originals Show   www.just-for-us.biz  was last Saturday at the Old Mill in Toronto.  Last week is a bit of a blur as all the last minute details had to be taken care of, as well as the set up for our Marie Josette booth  www.mariejosette.com  The show was great--wonderful food and friends, an impressive fashion show and so much wonderful art to view and buy--wearables, fine art, photography, amazing bronze sculptures, jewellery and pottery.  If you missed it this time around, watch for us next spring.

Today it w as back to the usual Yarns Plus  www.yarnsplus.com  work.  Don and I are now focussed on preparing for the "Knitters' Frolic", the annual event staged by the Downtown Knit Collective www.downtownknitcollective.ca  That means we need to have more handpainted 3/5 Tencel ready for the knitters, so I was mixing dyes today for Linda to begin dyeing the 3/5 for us.  Notice my glamorous dye studio.  What luxury!! The undyed just arrived last week, so it is going to be a bit hectic for awhile, but that's o.k.  Here's a sample of my dye sample book.  I picked it up at an art supply store some years ago now.  It has really heavy duty paper pages that I can hole punch and tie in samples of the various colours I work with.  It is a terrific reference for me.  Sometimes I mix the same colours and sometimes I just use a colour formula as a jumping off point to find the correct mix for a new hue.  I usually will include a sample of the woven material the colours were designed for.  It really is an invaluable resource.

Gauntlet

I just finished a completely different piece using our 3/5 Tencel  www.yarnsplus.com  with size 2.75 mm double pointed needles.  It will be on display at our booth at the 11th annual Downtown Knit Collective's "Knitters' Frolic" on April 26 and 27 at the Japanese Cultural Centre.  I tried a fingerless lace gauntlet unsing our "Flame" handpainted 3/5 Tencel. I'm really happy with it.  More details about the "Knitters' Frolic" can be found on their website www.downtownknitcollective.ca  There are workshops planned for both days, but the vendors' marketplace will be open on Saturday only.  Don and I will be there selling our handpainted yarns, especially the 3/5 Tencel that I have been knitting the socks with, and now the gauntlet.  I have registered for an all day workshop on Sunday with Sally Melville called "Essential Skills for the Self-Taught Knitter".  So, on  Saturday I will be helping to work the booth, but on Sunday I get to play.  I can hardly wait.

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