Shalimar Yarns

Super Bowl Sunday is Super Coupon Day at Shalimar Yarns!

2012-01-27T20:59:00.000-05:00

Super Bowl Sunday is Super Coupon Day in our etsy shop!

Our newest update on Sunday, Feb. 5th is going to have a Super Hot, Super Special limited edition colorway in Breathless. We love seeing your projects and we love it even more when you post them in our Finished Object Thread on Ravelry!

Post your FO in this limited edition colorway by April 30 and receive a coupon for 15% OFF

your next etsy shop purchase!

A Hat for your Honey - Worsted That is!

2012-01-10T09:57:00.001-05:00

Have you been searching for the perfect hat pattern to use with Honey Worsted? The search is over! Anne Hanson has designed a hat for everyone, the slofock. The pattern has sizes to fit every family member and also includes a matching mitt pattern.

Best yet it uses only one skein of our Honey Worsted! Honey Worsted is our superwash worsted with a generous 250 yards. It's machine washable with a soft and sqooshy hand, Honey Worsted is a versatile yarn for sweaters, accessories and afghans. Available in all 50 colorways.

This versatile hat looks great knit up in both our variegated and Stonewash colorways.

Shown here in Black Truffle.

The brim can be folded up to keep ears extra warm when winter winds are blowing too.

I love all the ways this hat can be worn. Be sure to check out Anne's blog for pictures of David in his slofock.

Thank you to Anne for this fantastic design using Honey Worsted!

Cheers! ~ Lara

A New Tradition

2012-01-09T06:30:00.000-05:00

Another year is upon us and once again we are handed another reason to reassess and regroup. I am a firm believer in stating and clarifying goals, particularly in writing. For me this is the first step in moving off the mark and giving myself the best chance of actually acheiving what I most desire.

But this year I felt it was especially important for us as a family to make sure we were also accounting for what we were most grateful for. So Christmas morning when we took down our stockings and opened our presents, I suggested that before we opened each gift, we say one thing we were grateful for. It was totally spontaneous and of course Paul and Edie often suffer through my ideas, but it truly was nice to reflect for a moment or two before enjoying the loving exchange of gifts.

So, perhaps this little tradition will give root and someday my grandchildren will be tallying their blessings on Christmas morning.

A Happy and Peaceful New Year to all!

2011-12-28T10:11:00.000-05:00

2012 is fast approaching and it seems as though 2011 has gone by in a flash. It amazes me at how quickly time can go by when we aren't paying attention to it and how incredibly slowly it can move when we are in a hurry. The passing of time can be measured in many ways. It can be marked off day by day on a calendar, measured by the changing of the seasons, or the growth of a newly planted tree in the yard of your first house. Knitting is a fantastic way to measure periods of time. The sock Im currently working on was started while waiting for an appointment, the heel while watching a movie and most the foot was completed at our knit group. Knitting makes time pass more smoothly when we are waiting and brings us comfort at the same time.

As 2011 comes to a close I am reminded of New Years past and looking forward to see what 2012 holds for us. Have a Happy and Healthy Knit Filled 2012!

Come Join our Sock KAL!

2011-12-05T15:32:00.000-05:00

We have an extended Sock Knit A Long running from December 7 thru January 25 on Ravelry. The Holidays can be a busy time for all of us with gift knitting, baking, visiting family and friends and sometimes just having to wait in line. We thought the perfect take a long knitting project would be socks and we have two great patterns to choose from.

Capitola by IrishGirlieKnits is our paid pattern and Carrie has generously given us a coupon code for 20% off good until December 11. She has a great blog by the way. If you have a chance be sure to check it out!

Since we haven't really done any manly items for our KAL's we chose Manly Socks by Hannah Six for our free pattern. Hannah has designed several patterns using Shalimar Yarns and we love her designs!

The Anti Black Friday

2011-11-29T12:06:00.000-05:00

This fall we've been pretty busy. Not necessarily more busy than in other years past, but busy in such a way that we have been able to acheive more balance in all areas of our life.

For instance, since Paul and I closed our retail yarn shop, Eleganza Yarns, we have been combining our weekends with a fun activity (these have ranged from biking day trips, to local hiking, to sightseeing in DC and Alexandria, VA.) to a home activity (these have ranged from organizing our files, papers and whatnot, to mucking the run-in and raking leaves). Now not every weekend is structured and we certainly are able and willing to rearrange our priorities as each weekend presents itself. But every weekend is now viewed as time that we can't get back, which makes it more precious indeed.

So this fall the media hype surrounding Black Friday sounded louder, more jangling and certainly more of an infringement into family and holiday time. Maybe it's me. And certainly it is easy for us to bypass the excellent prices on big screen TV's when we have so many other and more pressing ways to spend our money.

This seemed a good way to start a new family tradition...the Anti Black Friday. So Paul, Edie and I decided to spend the day at the National Zoo in Washington, DC. The weather was expected to be stellar (high 60's and sunny) so it was not to be wasted on anything but an excellent adventure.

It has been years since any of us had been to the zoo. It was a warm, sunny, totally atypical day for late November, but we were loving it.

We couldn't tear ourselves away from the year-old lion cubs rolling, pouncing, and lolling in their enclosure. There were 7 lion cubs born to two different lionesses last year and they are a lovely family unit.

And a trip to the National Zoo is never complete without a visit to see the Pandas.

And how often in your lifetime are you going to be able to go to an Elephant birthday party? Kandula was born at the National Zoo 10 years ago, and his handlers had the perfect party for him, complete with watermelon, carrots, squash and fruit flavored frozen dessert!

So, if you are ever in DC visiting, be sure to visit your National Zoo. Admission is FREE since it is part of the Smithsonian.

Cyber Monday Sale-a-paloza!

2011-11-28T14:07:00.000-05:00

We have some awesome Cyber Monday deals on our

Etsy Shop

through midnight tonight!

Take advantage of Zoe Sock at 20% OFF and our

DYE TO ORDER luxury base

-so new it hasn't even been named yet-

an incredible 60% Merino/20% Alpaca/20% Silk single ply,

DK weight, also 20% OFF

And check out our growing list of retailers on our website!

Knitting

2011-11-14T09:24:00.000-05:00

Each year as Thanksgiving approaches, thoughts of what I am most thankful for fill my mind. Knitting, which is a major part of each day in our house was one of the first things I thought of. The feel of soft fiber sliding through my fingers, the rhythm of the needles and watching a project grow provide a constant comfort and soothing feeling. I have met many of wonderful people through knitting - quite a few are now close friends. Knitting fills the gaps in time where I would otherwise be waiting for appointments or sitting and watching traffic go by on road trips where I am a passenger. It gives me a sense of purpose and feeling of accomplishment.

What are you thankful for?

Sale!

2011-11-08T09:43:00.000-05:00

It doesn't happen often that we have a sale and we are really excited about it! Homage is on sale in our etsy shop for a limited time at just $22.00 which is $4.00 off of the regular price. Homage a luxurious 3-ply sock yarn with a wonderful soft hand and drapiness. With 80% Super Wash Merino, 10% Cashmere, 10% Silk it's soft enough to wear next to your skin. Each skein generous 400 yards. Be sure to get yours before it's gone!

Congratulations to Sandy Gold!

2011-10-18T14:37:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to Sandy Gold whose hairpin lace original design won

second place in the Accessories Division of the 2011 Crochet Guild of America’s Design Contest.

Sandy used Shalimar Yarn's Breathless in Oyster for this fantastic design. Sandy can be found on Ravelry as SandyG1001

This stunning shawl is being modeled by Edie Eckman.

It's Fall KAL Time!

2011-10-04T10:40:00.003-04:00

It's time for our official Fall KAL! These two patterns would be perfect for Holiday gifting or to keep for yourself (shhhh we won't tell if you don't!).

Our paid pattern is Clarus by Laura Nelkin. Find Clarus here to purchase on Ravelry or buy directly from Laura's web site here

Our free patten is Fallberry Mitts by Anne Hanson. Find Fallberry as a free pattern on the new fall Knitty.com here.

Choose one of the many colors of Breathless or Zoe Sock and please tag your project with "ShalimarFall2011"

The KAL will run from October 19 thru November 20. Great prizes, fun and support await you now!
Join now on our Shalimar Yarns Group on Ravelry!

Knitspot's Fall in Full Color's Club

2011-09-28T10:49:00.000-04:00

We are so honored to be a part of the Knitspot Fall in Full Color Club. Anne Hanson designer extraordinaire and author of the Knitspot blog collaborated with Kristi to create this exclusive colorway in Breathless for the club called Hazel Leaf.

Anne designed a fabulous shawl pattern that can be knitted in two sizes. The pattern is reminiscent of the Hazelnut tree near her home. The the yarn colors reflect the color of the Hazelnut leaves in early fall. The Hazeline pattern is exclusive to the Fall in Full Colors Club for one year. If you aren't in the club, you may want to add it to your que. It's fantastic and would be worth the wait.

teresat2t's Hazeline

Smaller version of Hazeline

photo courtesy of Knitspot

Congratulations!

2011-09-20T09:41:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to Evelyn on winning First Place and Best in Show at the Great Frederick Fair with her Jaali Shaw in Breathless Sequoia!

The stitch detail in this pattern is beautiful. Kitman Figueroa designed the pattern and it can be found on Ravelry.

Evelyn also won Second place with her Anjou in Zoe Cayenne

Be sure to visit Evelyn's blog and see her other entries in the Great Frederick Fair.

Our Etsy Shop is Live!

2011-09-09T09:39:00.000-04:00

We are having our Grand Opening Celebration!

Welcome to our new Etsy shop where you will find new and unique yarns, new colorways before they are released, and the occasional one-of-a-kinds.

Get 20% OFF your order for our Grand Opening. Use coupon code: WELCOMERAVS and the coupon is good for all orders today through midnight Sunday, September 11th.

Happy Shopping!

PLY Party!

2011-09-06T10:03:00.001-04:00

If you are in the Baltimore area this weekend be sure to stop by the PLY Party (Peace Love Yarn) at Lovely Yarns on Sunday. We will have a booth set up with our yarns including all new lace weight Pastille and fingering weight Homage.

Clarus

2011-08-31T09:47:00.004-04:00

Laura Nelkin has designed a fantastic shawl using Shalimar's Breathless. If you leave a comment on Laura's blog by September 3rd at high noon you will have a chance to win the pattern and Breathless to knit it!

Breathless has a generous 420 yards per skein and is a blend of super wash merino, cashmere and silk.

Our Newest Member: Lara!

2011-06-02T11:38:00.039-04:00

We're giddy here at Shalimar because we are finally able to announce our new Director of Social Media, our good friend and ally, Lara Smoot!

This is terribly exciting time for us since we are still a relatively small company...namely myself, Paul and my daughter Edie as occasional assistant. But since 2007 we have continued to grow our retail shops and our yarn line. With all we have on our plate, having Lara spearhead the social media will allow us to focus on our core business...developing new colorways, new yarn bases and partnering with designers for new pattern support.

Lara will work on keeping our Twitter, Facebook, and Ravelry group updated. She will also be writing an occasional Blog post, which will be lots of fun. And she has has great ideas for KAL's on the Shalimar Rav group, so stay tuned.

Paul and I first met Lara, and her husband Andy, at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival several years ago. I admired a hand knit shrug she had on and from that point forward, it was instant friendship! Maybe it's that slight southern drawl, or maybe it's because there is absolutely nothing contrived or insincere about Lara, but she immediately became someone I knew that I would like to call my friend. And now I have the great honor of partnering up with her on all things Shalimar!

Besides being an extraordinarily talented (and prolific) knitter, Lara has a wonderful eye for color, style and a keen sense of "the knitting now". Lara is also a talented spinner, having won the Leslie Woodward and Alice Lohr Awards. With a background in marketing and equestrian clothing design, we know Lara will be a huge asset to the Shalimar Yarns team. Lara and her husband Andy (a great guy and yarn enabler extraordinaire) live in Lynchburg, Virginia.

She can be found on Ravelry as SpinningLara and on her blog: Sock Knitting Lara

You'll find Lara super warm and friendly and very accessible. Give her a shout out any time!

Welcome Lara to Team Shalimar Yarns!

Chance of Showers

2011-05-20T16:47:00.000-04:00

Now that it is officially spring and well on the way to summer, we have some lovely things happening. This double rainbow photo was taken by Paul from the back porch last week. The thundershowers were quick and left us with some awesome and ominous clouds overhead. But the loveliest was this, with my neighbors barn sandwiched in between the rainbow arcs...

And this was what was on the other end, just over the treetops of the back yard...

Clouds like this have been our regular afternoon view for the last week or more! So much rain and everything is green beyond belief and way overgrown...

Enjoy your spring weather!

My Own Little Romi Trunk Show

2011-03-25T15:53:00.005-04:00

I really love Rosemary Hill's designs, so it was a great treat to be able to have my friend Evelyn work up a few of Romi's very lovely patterns in Shalimar.

This is the very popular, very fast knit, Brandywine Shawl. We had it done up in a bright spring color-Corfu-in Zoe Sock. How wonderful is this with a crisp white blouse? Evelyn said she really loved this knit...so much she started one for herself in the same color!

This is Celaeno worked in Breathless, in the new Wisteria colorway. I love the little beads in this one and the flower motif. It is stunning and Breathless, with it's cashmere and silk, is the perfect luxury yarn for it.

I'm actually almost done with Elektra, which I've thoroughly enjoyed. I'll post pics as soon as I have it blocked. And I'm about halfway through with Taygete, another really fun knit.

I'll tell you a secret about Romi's patterns...they have both text and graphs (which completely satisfies my written preference) and they really go fast! Definitely check out her designs and consider joining one of her KAL's on her Ravelry group. You'll have a blast!

Harvest Moon Over Corfu

2011-03-25T15:50:00.000-04:00

I really love designer Heidi Kirrmaier's work, so when Harvest Moon came out, I knew that I would make it eventually.

So a few days ago I dyed up a batch of Honey Worsted in Corfu, a deep Mediteranean blue with overtones of black. If I knit fast, this could be the perfect late spring sweater to throw on when the mornings and evenings are still a bit nippy.

One of the mods I am making is to put a zipper in place of the one button at the bottom of the garter ridge yoke. It is totally more my style and functionality. Anyway...I'm loving all this delicious stockinette stitch on US #8's. Just the break I needed from the two shawls I am 'almost' done with.

Next week I have a surprise to announce. It involves new yarns, that's all I can tempt you with...but it's very fun. :) Please check back!

Vite Cowl

2011-03-23T17:35:00.004-04:00

While we are on the cusp on spring, it is still wintery in some parts of the country (and world), so with that in mind, I released Vite Cowl, a free one-skein pattern that is at least worthy of a couple of Lifetime movie's knitting.

And if it is a balmy 75o in your neck of the woods, check out your stash and start working on some holiday gifts. We used one skein of Cascade's super bulky Magnum with 123 yards.

You can download Vite here for free on Ravelry. Enjoy!

And because this is such a lofty yarn worked in a lacy pattern, you can wear it doubled around your face without feeling sufficated. Or wear it long and swingy, which is an adorable fashion now.

Welcome New Web Site!

2011-02-14T11:38:00.008-05:00

Our new long awaited Shalimar web site is live! We're really tickled with it and hope you are too.

Here you will find descriptions of our yarn bases, photos of our colorways (a few more coming), pattern support, retail locations, and more.

It has all of our new colorways...several of my favorites...

Oyster...

and Shamrock...

Safe to say that I'm in a springy mood today and just happy I have something to cross off my TO DO list! These great lyrics by Sara Bareilles seem appropriate...

Sing it Sara

There's too many things I haven't done yet
There's too many sunsets I haven't seen
You can't waste the day wishing it'd slow down
You would have thought by now, I'd have learned something

Sara Bareilles
Many the Miles

Welcome Late Winter!

2011-02-02T09:36:00.009-05:00

So it's time to quickly work up those little cowls, fingerless gloves and last minute scarves, folks. Punxsutawney Phil did NOT see his shadow. I think this may be the first time in a few years! Relief may be in sight...

So inbetween all the late winter projects, consider what your first spring project will be! I jumped the gun a bit and already finished mine. This is Folded, by the talented Veera Välimäki. My Folded was worked in Zoe Sock, in a new Stonewash colorway called Thistle.

Folded is knit bottom up and has a clever little gathering at the middle bust. It's adorable and a fun and quick knit. Satisfies the spring knitting beast for sure!

Thistle:

And we've been working on some new Stonewash colors, bringing our new total to over 50! These will all be available to view when the new website launches in a few days.

Glacier...

...Sequoia

And Lumberjack...

to name a few!

So watch for the new site soon and in a few days I will be releasing a new fingerless mitts pattern that is perfect for one of those last Late Winter Projects!

Happy Knitting!

To You and Yours...

2010-12-22T08:10:00.003-05:00

Want vs. Need

2010-12-09T07:49:00.013-05:00

When the holiday season approaches, I do spend some time thinking about what is most important to me. Even as a child, I realized that although the presents were special, it was not the magical part of Christmas. What was most magical to me was the lights, the music, the traditions that make spending time with family and friends truly the most important thing in the world.

So, in trying to take the "commercial" out of Christmas, I start by separating my "wants" vs. my "needs".

Unfortunately, my "needs" are each $5-10,000 more than my "wants".

These would be purty on my garage (oversized double naturally)

High Tension Fencing like this for the sheep & goats

A graded and paved driveway something like this (all 800' of it)

A new roof that shines like this one for the 83' long barn (ouch)

And my frivolous list of "wants"

Awesome boots

Cozy slippers (I'll take Target knockoffs)

Season 7 of NCIS!

I've been moderately good Santa, so if push comes to shove, I'll be more than delighted with the Ugg knockoffs.

Sincerely,

Your friend Kristi

It's a Busy, Busy Fall...

2010-11-30T11:43:00.009-05:00

So now that soccer season is officially over (daughters team, Dickinson College, lost in the Sweet 16 to National Champions, Messiah College) I am trying to work in a little extra knitting time between dying, designing and winterizing (I always wait too late).

We are getting wonderful feedback on Breathless, which will be hitting LYS's this winter and early spring. Breathless is 75& SW Merino/15% Cashmere and 10% Silk in a fingering weight. Simply divine!

And we're also excited that Zoe Sock is in two new books, just out and available at your LYS...

Dolce Handknits: Simple, Sophisticated Designs

and also in...

Sock Yarn One Skein Wonders

Kim (whose designs are indeed timelss) did up Seville, an adorable Bolero, in colorway: Merlin's Beard, and the Shalimar pattern, Clover Honey Shawlette designed by Hannah Six, is done in colorway: Sno Pea.

Both these titles are wonderful additions to your knitting book collection!

Fall is for Soccer

2010-10-25T14:24:00.003-04:00

...and knitting at soccer games...

Saturday, I was able to go visit Edie at school for one of their 'big' soccer games. They played Haverford and won in OT. Now, while my girl didn't play (she is a freshman goal keeper), it was still a thrilling game. And perfect soccer weather...cool, with clear blue skys, warm sun and lovely breeze.

As most parents of athletes know...there is almost nothing more enjoyable than watching your kid in their sport. And how cute is she...

Dickinson women's soccer is ranked 17th in this week's NSCAA National Poll. Go Red Devils!

Finally Fall

2010-10-21T07:46:00.010-04:00

I've been loving fall this year. It's been warm with periods of cool, perfect Indian Summer over and over. Now we're starting to have regular cool, crisp fall mornings and the leaves are turning nicely because of the late rains we've had. The great thing about this weather is that it turns up my creative juices and gets me excited!

We have a lot of fun surprises we are working on for the next few months. Here are some sneak previews of a new Stonewash colorway...American Beauty, a true Vampira, that special bustier, Valentine's Day candy box RED!

And I've been knitting like a fiend...working on a luxurious new base yarn that we will introduce in late November. Here it is in two colorways I dyed up for this little scarf, Cinnamon Grace. Very quick, very cute. I think I'll try it in worsted weight for a more wintery scarf.

And now that our Ludivine Mystery KAL is over, we have another KAL we'll be starting early next month. Watch for it on our Shalimar Yarns Group on Ravelry.

Ludivine Now Available for Sale

2010-10-07T09:24:00.013-04:00

We are pleased to announce that Ludivine, our 1st Shalimar Yarns Mystery KAL is now available for sale.

$5.00

Ludivine is a wonderful intermediate lace project done with one skein of Zoe Sock. Done of US #5's, Ludivine is a quick knit and is supported by photo tutorials here on our blog. We plan to add charting before years end, and all KAL participants (and purchasers) will receive charts.

Ludivine Edging Stitch Tutorial

2010-09-09T14:49:00.016-04:00

Knit 1, wrapping yarn 3 times around needle.

Do this over 5 stitches. Here is the beginning k1, the 5 yo groups, and the k1 at the end of the yo groups.

On the return row, begin the cluster stitch. Wyif, slip the next stitch while dropping the extra 2 yo's.

Repeat this for all 5 groups of yo's from the previous row.

Bring the yarn to the back between the needles

Slip these 5 stitches back to the LH needle:

Bring the yarn to the front between the needles. (Optional-this is where you would pull up your three small beads and position them in the front):

Slip the stitches back to the RH needle. Bring the yarn to the back between the needles:

Knit 1 to complete the cluster stitch:

Repeat the cluster stitch to the end:

The cluster stitch after the return row:

Ludivine est accompli

2010-09-07T13:39:00.020-04:00

Thank you to all the participants in the Ludivine Mystery KAL!

As usual, with anything new, there was some learning curve to get up and over. Everyone seemed to get through it with aplomb.

Thank you to everyone for your patience, thank you for your kind and generous comments, and thank you especially for your suggestions. They will absolutely be taken and used for the next KAL.

Here is one of my finished Ludivine's...

Ludivine is a small, one-skein shawlette that has optional beading on the edging. The pattern will be sent to all the participants on Sept. 15th, free of charge. A copy with charts added will be sent to participants as soon as possible.

The complete Ludivine pattern with charts will be available for sale off Ravelry within the month. Watch the blog for information.

My understanding of the French language is embarressingly only somewhat better than my understanding of astrophysics, Immanuel Kant and Keanu Reeves' success in Hollywood.

So it should come as no surprise that I used an online translator for the title of this blog. But this one is really fun and if you have speakers, you'll see why! (I'm so easily amused).

A kinder Kant...

He who is cruel to animals becomes hard also in his dealings with men. We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals.
Immanuel Kant

Ludivine Stitch Tutorial

2010-08-18T16:05:00.019-04:00

Slip 1 stitch as if to purl:

Slip the 2nd stitch as if to purl:

Next, with the tip of the RH needle, pick up the front/right-side leg of the next st on the LH needle (as if to purl):

Place this new stitch on the LH needle:

Knit this newly created stitch:

Knit into the front of the original stitch on the LH needle:

Knit into the back of the original stitch on the LH needle (completing a kfb):

You now have 3 new stitches to the left of the original 2 slipped stitches (the 1 picked up, and the 2 new sts from the kfb).

Now, one at a time, pass the two slipped stitches over these 3 new stitches:

Passing the second stitch over:

The staggered KSP (Kristi's Stitch Pattern)!

Is it Fall yet?

2010-08-02T15:20:00.010-04:00

We've been busy lately filling shop orders, chatting about Ludivine (our first Mystery KAL on Ravelry) and planning for TNNA in Long Beach in January. Whew!

And this beastly hot and super dry summer has chomping at the bit for a smidgeon of cool, fall air to blow through. The only cure for that, my friends, is to play with color!

So here is a sneak peak at one of five new varigateds that will be released in January.

Wishing you cool knitting wherever you are!

Ludivine Teasers

2010-07-19T10:12:00.008-04:00

Our first Shalimar Yarns Mystery KAL is getting underway with signups.

Ludivine, a french woman's name, is hardly popular these days. But it's meaning, roughly translates to "divine light", which in my opinion, is a wonderful reason to use the name.

In keeping with our French theme, we wanted to focus on the colors of Provence. Many and varied, there is almost no color that is not represented in that region at some point in the year. Bursting oranges, reds and ochres. Brilliant cerulean blues and warm pinks. The list goes on and on.

But some of the most iconic Provencal colors are subtle. Like the soft glow of a lavender field at dusk...

Or the grays and sea greens of a weathered farmhouse door...

We dyed this yarn especially for the Ludivine KAL and it is available exclusively at Pullingatstrings.com. I hope these photos help start you on your Ludivine journey.

Ludivine sign ups go through July 31st. Find out more about our first Mystery KAL here, and email me at shalimaryarns@aol.com to join in.

Watch for additional photos of our Ludivine colorway tomorrow morning!

Mystery KAL #1

2010-07-16T05:41:00.003-04:00

We're very excited to launch our first Mystery KAL for a pattern called Ludivine. This KAL is a one-skein adventure done in Zoe Sock, with lots of instruction, attention, support and fun.

The Shalimar Yarns Mystery KAL #1 is FREE and is hosted on the Shalimar Yarns Group on Ravelry. To participate in Ludivine you must sign up at shalimaryarns@aol.com. Sign up’s go through July 31st.

Optional--Only to Shalimar Yarns Mystery KAL participants: A special Mystery KAL colorway in Zoe Sock is available through one of our awesome retailers, PullingatStrings.com, In your kit you will find several special gifts, unique only to the Ludivene KAL! This colorway will ONLY be available for Mystery KAL participants and will not be available after that! Ludivine kits will be available beginning July 19th through August 15th. We will be posting teaser pics of the new colorway beginning July 19th.

Find out more about the Mystery KAL #1 here and sign up today!

We're working on a surprise...

2010-07-14T16:57:00.001-04:00

We've got a little surprise we're working on and are going to share in a day or two. And we're really excited about it.

Check back to get all the informaion on it...(I love surprises!)

:)

Tellus

2010-07-09T11:10:00.010-04:00

One of our new patterns for fall that we are most excited about, is Tellus, which debuted at TNNA in June. The idea for Tellus originated when one of our customers told us she wanted to use several different Stonewash colors of Zoe Sock in a simple, but elegant wrap.

We put our head to the drawing board and played around with some slip stitch patterns that we had developed. The beauty of slip stitches is the interest they give the fabric, along with lending a bit of structure. Tellus is a large rectangular wrap that is versatile enough for all four seasons, works up quick (US #8)and is a unique pattern that you won't tire of.

Tellus is now available for sale as an individual pattern or as a kit in 4 colorways, Cliff (warms), Moor (jewel tones), Surf (blues) and Vista (pastels).

Moor

Cliff

Surf

Vista

Purchase Tellus as a download or as a kit

Liddie

2010-06-21T17:58:00.005-04:00

Liddie, our newest pattern in Zoe Sock, is now available as a free download here. Made with US#5's, Liddie knits up quick and is flattering on a variety of body types.

Liddie is knit in the round from the bottom up. The sleeves are picked up around the armhole and knit top down with short row shaping. The change to a smaller rib helps wtih a more tailered and flattering fit.

Neckline decreases help shape and accentuate corners.

I used Tequila Sunrise...

and Peachy Keen, both Stonewash colors, in random striping.

Next Liddie I knit will be 3/4 length sleeves in preparation for fall. This is a quick and fun knit where you only seam the tops of the shoulders! Hope you like it!

Home Again, Home Again

2010-06-16T17:51:00.007-04:00

Paul and I are back from TNNA, where this year we once again ate good food, met with good friends and had a really splendid trip.

It was five days total, which flew by. Shalimar Yarns exhibited again and we loved every minute of it! It was great to meet some new Shalimar customers, and visit with old ones. Paul drives, I knit, and it is very relaxing taking a break from our daily routines.

Speaking of knitting...not a lot transpired out of the car, but here is a little project I started on the way home. Very rythmic and done on a US #8. I'm writing it up as I go, so it can be released in a week or so. As yet nameless...

This is a one-skein shawlette done in Zoe Sock. I wanted something rich and saturated, so I chose Sonoma, a popular new colorway we introduced at TNNA for fall.

It's good to be home though. The week before, Edie did senior week at the beach with friends, and we missed each other in transit. It was a good dry run for the dreaded upcoming college departure. She claims she only missed me a little. All I have to say is that it's lucky I was busy...

Introducing Arrietty

2010-06-04T10:50:00.012-04:00

Remember this? It was a project that I started in early spring, just about the time all the crocus were beginning to bloom. But alas, it was put aside when we got busy.

But now, I'm delighted to finally introduce Arrietty...a simple and fun side-to-side shawl with a 'leafy motif' knit on edging. And Arrietty uses three skeins of Honey Worsted, roughly 750 yards or less. We used the cheery new spring colorway: Sprout.

The faggotting lends a lacy feel and the little leaves work for spring or fall.

Arrietty will be released in two weeks, just in time for some beach knitting!

Oh Happy Day...

2010-05-27T15:12:00.012-04:00

Another milestone come and gone. Edie's high school graduation was this week in the evening. Needless to say, it's been a while since my graduation and I haven't been to a high school graduation in years. I forgot how nice it is.

I didn't cry to Pomp and Circumstance or our National Anthem (two almost guaranteed to get my going), but when one of her classmates sang, I did get a bit teary eyed.

After the ceremony, most of the kids participated in Safe and Sane, held immediately after at Knox Arena at Mount Saint Mary's. I picked her up at 6am the next morning...bleary eyed but happy.

Edie, Paul and I

And with her Aunt Denni and cousin Kelly

This may become a family tradition. I have a great shot of my mom wearing my cap and gown, mugging for the camera.

Last week I was finally was able to attend my first Stitch n'Pitch at Nationals Stadium in DC. What a beautiful stadium! We had a great time. Ate a Ben's Chili Dog, got lots of knitting done (the lighting is great...far better than my living room at home). I worked on Tellus for TNNA.

And then watched a wonderful fireworks show. Tellus is now blocked and waiting to be photographed. I'm hoping to have it up here by early next week.

Zoe Sweaters...what more can I say?

2010-05-17T13:55:00.016-04:00

I've waxed poetic in the past about my penchant for sweaters made with fingering weight yarn. You might remember Buttercup, the little top down sweater I made last summer. Quick and easy, with 1.75 skeins of Zoe...down and dirty.

And while I love the little Rowan sweaters done on a U.S. 3, I probably wouldn't be fit to live with if I actually attempted to make one. But on a U.S. #5 with a gauge of 26 st/4 in, now that's a nice knit.

Here I've used random striping in Tequlia Sunrise and Peachy Keen-both Stonewash colors. Maeve is rather slender in the hips and bust (unlike moi) but this sweater has generous ease and fits me great--finished bust: 37".

This yet to be named cap-sleeved top is done in the round, bottom up. The stitches for the cap sleeves are picked up and worked down. The neckline stitches are picked up for a shallow, square neckline. What I love about the ribbing is that it is sooo comfortable and will be flattering on a large range of sizes.

I plan on writing this pattern with comprehensive sizing and having it available (hopefully) by mid June. I'll keep you posted here!

Foxy Babies

2010-05-10T15:21:00.009-04:00

Remember these little guys...

They disappeared last weekend, and we felt certain the mother fox had taken them to other digs. We've spotted both mom and dad in our pastures hunting, so we knew they weren't far. In fact, one reunion between mom and dad was wonderful...lots of tail wagging, sniffing, submissive behavior-I like to think dad was doing the submissive thing :) It was fun to watch them.

But I read up on foxes and found out that they only use dens to welp, and that when the kits are ready, the parents will move them out of the den to teach them more about hunting and survival. These guys have definitely grown and are looking quite foxy now...

I'm glad they're still around and about in the neighborhood for awhile.

Spring Fling KAL

2010-05-03T14:08:00.010-04:00

First of all...because for such a big event and it would be terrible to not even mention it...we're back from Maryland Sheep & Wool, where it was beastly hot (witness sunburn) and crazy busy (note no pictures for the blog-wah). Thanks to all of you who came by to visit with us and shop Shalimar. It was great meeting some new friends also!

Those of you who stash enhanced some Zoe Sock this past weekend will be glad to know that it comes just in time for our Spring Fling KAL on Ravelry.

In honor of the occassion, we've also made some new sock patterns available; Morgana's Twisted Rib is simple knit/purl stitch combination, but one that lends interest and is perfect for a beginner. Here it is done in Zoe Sock, colorway Sprout. Find Morgana here as a free download on Ravelry.

One of our favorite sock patterns for men is Cyril's Woven Stitch. It's a manly pattern that makes up into a sturdy sock with lots of body. We made up Cyril in Black Truffle and they have now become Paul's favorite pair of socks! You can purchase Cyril here on Ravelry.

Here's the info again...don't dilly dally!
Spring Fling KAL

Keep on Knitting Star!

2010-04-26T14:16:00.003-04:00

Many of you may be familar with Star Athena, a Portland, Oregon designer whose work I have admired for awhile now.

Star designed Ides of March for her Socks For All Seasons Club. She used Zoe Sock in Cayenne. Yumm!

Star is designing a sock a month and has various options for club membership. Read more about it and sign up at Keep on Knitting in the Free World. While you're there, check out her other wonderful designs!

Sheep & Wool Countdown

2010-04-19T17:34:00.006-04:00

Between dyeing for shop orders and supply for Sheep & Wool, it's been pretty crazy around here.

And even though the weather is all over the board, we're thinking spring with two new Stonewash colors, Peachy Keen and Lemon Curd:

But we're also planning for our fall colorway and pattern introductions. One of the designs that we have in the works is Tellus, a textured, versatile wrap. Tellus will be available not only as an individual pattern, but also as a kit. We will be offering four different and unique colorways for this lovely wrap...so there is a colorway for everyone!

thanks to Hannah Six for her wonderful drawing!

How I Love Coupons...

2010-04-14T12:37:00.007-04:00

Let me count the ways!

We love coupons for Sheep & Wool especially! So here's the scoop...receive our coupons (yes, there's more than one) in our newsletter which is scheduled to go out April 28th. Sign up here by the 27th.

And then come by and visit with us, cuz Paul and I will both be there with All About Yarn-Tent E3

Because we are serious wildlife lovers, we are coexisting with some very lovely new neighbors. This family of foxes (mom, dad and 6 kits) took up residence underneath a shed, about 30 yds from the house, probably during or before the 'Big Dump' in February. I hate to think what happened to the luckless groundhog that was living there.

We're being ultra careful when we let the dogs out, and of course will be filling the den in with concrete when they finally vacate. They are beautiful though.

Countdown to Sheep & Wool

2010-04-09T10:12:00.006-04:00

We'll be at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival again this year. The dates are May 1st and 2nd at the Howard County Fairgrounds. If you are planning on being there, make sure to stop by and say hi!

You can find us with one of our favorite retailers, All About Yarn...in their tent, E-3. We'll have new colorways and a few surprises.

Here are three of our new fall colorways, Bark, Loden and Curry. We'll have these at the Festival too. Hope to see you there!

Best Easter Ever

2010-04-05T10:50:00.044-04:00

For the last eight years, I've been talking about getting downtown when the Cherry Blossoms peak, but to no avail. It's always been something, usually too busy, the weather, etc. But this year, Edie, Paul and I all had the day off, so there were no more excuses.

The weather was fabulous...clear skys and temps heading up into the 70's. After parking at Paul's office, we walked the few blocks to the White House. Secret Service and police were assembling, along with a crowd, so we knew President Obama would be coming out soon, most likely to attend Easter services at a church downtown. So we patiently waited.

At last the motorcade left. It was a nice way to begin our day in the Nations Capitol.

When the President is gone, the police open up the street to pedestrians again, giving everyone their photo opp. It was not so very long ago that this was a working street, with cars passing at all hours of the day and night. Now this back side of the White House is barricaded and open only to pedestrian traffic.

Immediately across the street from the White House, is Blair House. This is a wonderfully historic building, where the incoming President spends the night before the swearing in ceremony, and taking up residence at the White House.

I couldn't resist taking a picture of my favorite building in downtown DC. Here is the Old Executive Office Building, also right across the street from the White House.

On our way to the Tidal Basin, we walked past the Washington Monument. Always majestic and lovely.

Across from the Tidal Basin is the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. They had a beautiful banner strung up, which said, 'Celebrating the Gift of Trees'.

Ah...here is why we had come downtown. Past their peak by a few days, but still incredibly beautiful. The Tidal Basin was littered with paddleboats and the walkways were jammed with families and tourists all taking in the beauty of these famous trees.

I don't think there is a bad view from anywhere around the Tidal Basin. The Jefferson Memorial is beautiful from all sides.

The man himself.

Another reason I wanted to come downtown was that Edie and I had never visited the World War II Memorial. My father and all his brothers were WWII veterans. My parents lost many of their high school friends in the war. It shaped a generation and we reap the benefits of their sacrifices on a daily basis.

The memorial is nothing but stunning and awe inspiring.

This is a large memorial, with spectacular views.

Looking towards the Lincoln Memorial from down in the WWII Memorial.

The Pacific side of the Memorial. The base inside is enscripted with the battles waged on that front.

This is a powerful and emotional place. "We are determined that before the sun sets on this terrible struggle our flag will be recognized througout the world as a symbol of freedom on the one hand and of overwhelming force on the other." General George C. Marshall.

We left the WWII Memorial and walked along the side of the Reflecting Pool towards the Lincoln Memorial.

This photo cannot possibly give the impressive size of Lincoln. Above him is enscribed: "In this temple as in the hearts of the people for whom he saved the union the memory of Abraham Lincolm is enshrined forever."

Here we are looking out from the top of the Lincoln Memorial towards the Washington Monument. When I was a child, my parents would bring us to the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to watch fireworks on the 4th of July. The display was set against the backdrop of the Washington Monument. It was quite spectacular.

When we left the Lincoln Memorial, we were weary and sunburned, but also patriotic and happy. As we approached the corner, the police quickly barricaded the street and stopped traffic. President Obama's motorcade was coming through. And this time, he was only about 30 feet from us in his limo. We got a good look. How thrilling! Twice in one day!

What a great way to end the day and spend Easter. Have a wonderful knitting week!

Waylaidness

2010-03-31T10:17:00.012-04:00

March went out like a lamb, and this is what was left behind. Ah...at last.

My only stressor right now is that we've had a fair amount of rain, and with the temperatures expected to hit 80 F. this weekend, I know that the grass will really take off. I swear I can lay awake at night and hear the grass grow.

My March Madness was fairly successful. I can't call it a slam dunk, but I did finish a few projects and get behind the hump on Paul's cardigan. Now we are in crunch time to get prepared for Maryland Sheep & Wool, so I've put a few things aside for awhile.

Our friends, All About Yarn will have loads of our yarns in their tent, E-3. If you are planning on attending, make sure to stop by and say hi. Both Paul and I will be there. We love to visit with new and old customers!

I'm working on a new pattern that will be released before Sheep & Wool. Here it is in Honey Worsted, colorway: 'Sprout', which seems apropos at this time of the year. We'll have the patterns and model on hand at the festival.

After Sheep & Wool is behind us, it is on to preparing for TNNA in June. This is the fall trade show where we are exhibiting again. It's a really great experience for us, as we get to engage and visit with our retail customers. I really enjoy this trip. We drive to Columbus, Ohio, which is a nice respite (note that I knit, Paul drives). There are several new things we are releasing for June, but more about those later.

Have a fabulous weekend!

The New and the Old

2010-03-22T17:21:00.008-04:00

As March begins to wind down, I am in awe of how quick the month has gone. It may be that the spring like weather and blooming bulbs have something to do with it. It's fun to hear the spring peepers in the pond in the evening, and watch the grass get more green everyday.

In between my FO's, I have been working on a new series of colorways for TNNA in June. Here is one, which I have thrown out to the Shalimar Group on Ravelry for a naming contest.

And here is the beginning of a surprise design in Zoe Sock that I can't tell you any more about. Sorry.

My little side to side sweater that is (I swear) done except for the blasted crocheted edging and buttons, was put aside in a pique of pissiness when I couldn't get the edging to look right. I'll come back to it, or just pick up stitches and bind off the edge. Whatever. In the meantime, my goal is to finish Paul's Rowan Colourscape Cardigan by the end of the month--from the first Colourscape pattern book. It's very pretty and he looks good in pink and orange :)

I just had to throw this one in. Another pattern from the book. (Is this guy creepy or what?)

Knocking em' Down

2010-03-13T15:52:00.014-05:00

Thanks to Joan for such a lovely, well written pattern. I used Cascade Pima Tencel which is very soft, very drapey and nice to work with. I question how well it will hold up, and if I will see pilling or fuzziness. Not sure why I'm suspicious. It is a very soft fiber and loosely spun.

Maive is a bit smaller in the chest than me and her waist and hips are smaller than mine (at least now!) so it will certainly look different when worn.

Milinda was one of my March Madness items. (I've got them lined up to knock off like crazy this month). I picked up stitches around the neck last night and did the neckband, so she is finished. Hopefully, the next time you see Milinda, I'll be wearing her!

Today I'll be finishing the last 1/2 of a crocheted edging on a cardigan and sewing on the buttons. It's obvious that my attention span wanes when we are down to the finishing minutiae. Bad.

My Very Own March Madness

2010-03-03T09:11:00.026-05:00

If February was a busy, busy Knitting month, then March is shaping up to be a busy, busy Finishing month.

Originally I started this quilt for my daughter to go in her bedroom. Ten years ago. The ten year quilt. When she was six, I painted her bedroom in Laura Ashley colors, pale green walls, with yellow and periwinkle blue trim and a periwinkle carpet. Sounds nauseous, but it is really lovely.

As a perfect accompaniment, I wanted to make the Diamonds quilt out of Kaffe Fassettt's Glorious Patchwork. Kaffe was giving a quilting workshop at G Street Fabrics in Rockville, but it had sold out before I could register. No worries. Being the stalker that I am, I decided to go to G Street and get my fabric for my Diamond Quilt while he was there.

As Kaffe was taking his students though the quilting department on a walking tour, he stopped and complimented the selection of bolts I had stacked up. I thought I had died and gone to heaven. He's been my knitting hero since I was a teenager.

When I dragged this quilt out of hibernation this past year, I knew I was never going to be able to quilt it myself. My neighborhood quilt shop, Needles & Pins, helped me choose the backing fabric and bias edging. Judy, who works there, long arm quilted it for me and applied the bias edging. Now all I have to do is find a few quiet evenings when I can whip stitch the edging in place.

And so it was on to a few unfinished projects that are so close to being done that it is almost painful to look at them. First up is a Jenny Watson hoodie that I started in the early fall. This sweater (Design #6) is out of the Noro Collection, Book 3. I basically love Jenny Watson. I could wax poetic about her all day. I think I could marry her. Jenny just knows how to make those self striping yarns sing. When I think I'm completely over them, she drags me back in.

The yarn that I used is Kaleidoscope from Elegant Yarns, which I love for it's softness, yardage and price. I've been extremely pleased with the quality of this yarn so far. No knots and while it is a single ply, it is very strong, even and consistent, with a felty texture that is really a pleasure to work with.

Notice I'm not particularly anal with matching the stripes. Been there, done that. But all this poor hoodie needed was to have a bit more seaming done. Again, painfully 'almost' done.

Next up...the lovely Milinda by Joan McGowan-Michael, in Cascade Pima Tencel and a sweet little side-to-side sweater from a few years ago.

So, this March Madness may not be so bad after all...

Go March, It's Your Birthday!

2010-03-02T09:39:00.004-05:00

(Doing the It's Your Birthday song and dance)

Okay, so I have to admit that I am a wee bit MORE than ready to get this winter thing behind us and move on to spring. The thought of throwing the windows open, shedding the winter coats and scarves and being able to see green pastures again, is extremely tantalizing.

And the snow seems to be slowly but surely disappearing. Daytime temps are going up to the low 40's and the days have been fairly sunny. Yippitydooda!

One of the projects for Ravelympics that I had committed to, was a free fingerless mitt pattern (like there just aren't enuf of those-teehee). But they're fun and this one is, well...free, so what the heck.

This little mitt pattern is called Flitt Mitts and comes in two sizes-S/M and M/L.

My version uses Shalimar Honey Worsted in two contrasting Stonewash colors, along with scrap yarn from my stash. My stash includes a lot of Ella Rae Classic Worsted, which is what I used for the embroidery.

I'm a huge fan of Kristin Nicholas' work, her use of color and her use of embellishment on knitted items. I highly recommend her three books, Kristin Knits and COLOR by Kristin and Colorful Stitchery for inspiration. And you don't want to miss her blog: Getting Stitched on the Farm, which is a symphony in color, warmth and wit.

You can download Flitt Mitts here on Ravelry.

Proud am I

2010-02-23T10:01:00.016-05:00

She did it. She got into the college of her choice. I'm so proud and so happy for her.

She did without much assistance from me, other than the 'you can do it' rhetoric and the driving to visit college campuses thing.

There are so many milestones in a child's life. Teething, first words, potty training...all the wonderful and joyous experiences that go with parenting.

How do they go from the ones that make you smile and tear up at the same time, to the milestones that make your heart lurch and your breathe clutch? The first time to drop them off at a movie theater without YOU, the first time they go freeway driving without YOU.

So here I am, smiling and clutching at the same time. And all because my girl was accepted into college, and will be leaving me in 6 months.

I really am still smiling!

It's a Busy, Busy Knitting February

2010-02-16T08:56:00.034-05:00

I feel a little House on the Prairieish this month. Instead of feeling frustrated and house bound from our record breaking snowfalls, I've really embraced the opportunity to focus on my projects and dyeing, and really accomplish something substantial these last few weeks.

I'm still working on a secret project that I posted about earlier this month. It ended up by the wayside when other priorites bullied it to the sidelines. However, the Ravelympics (seemed like a good way to get back on track and get it done, so I added it to my list of three events! Greedy thing.

I also cast on for a new free Shalimar pattern that will be available next week and got busy in the dye studio working up a color combination that has been keeping me awake at night. I have yet to name it, but I love how the warm browns and blues play off each other.

Organizing my office/stash/ex-dining room (how sad is that?) was a definite priority. I moved the endurance saddle, horse blankets and miscellaneous tack to the basment, but kept my three bookshelves for ambiance (what's a room without books?)

The good news is that now I have a bright, cozy space with lots of natural light and a pretty view of my pastures, where I can get my sit-down work accomplished in between dye batches.

I love the look of my parent's old Heywood-Wakefield dining room set. It always reminded me of something right out of I Love Lucy. It works great for a desk chair and desk and it's comfortable to boot.

Wishing you a prosperous February full of great knitting!

Merlin's Bearded Trevi

2010-02-15T11:14:00.006-05:00

Last week, at the height of the Big Snow Dump, I started Trevi, by Knitspot. I fell in love with this little shawl as soon as Anne had it up for sale on her website. The geometric look of Trevi was a nice change from the more traditional lace patterns.

I'm following along in the Shalimar Yarns Winter KAL on Ravelry. We're doing any Knitspot pattern, so the fields wide open!

I'm loving the SSK's which give it a wonderful textured look, and I'm making the mini size, which is a sure bet with the yardage on Zoe Sock. The colorway, Merlin's Beard, was new this past fall. It is soft and even tempered in it's hue and will go with anything in my closet that is black, brown, gray or cream. Beautiful pattern!

No Surprise What We're Talking About...

2010-02-12T10:09:00.005-05:00

Paul and Enzo were out early after the BIG snow on the 7th. I measured in several places and we got 32" of snow. This is the largest snowfall in Maryland's history.

The drifts were substantially higher, some in the horse run-in were up to our heads. The dogs were initally fascinated with it, but the sheep, goats and miniature donkey are beginning to be a bit depressed after almost a week cooped up in the barn.

Of course there is nothing as pristine as new fallen snow. And the quiet was wonderful.

My best girl, Zoe. It was hard just to clear a spot so they could go outside! But Paul shoveled all day and we were at least able to get around the buildings. This was after SECOND decent snow, where we got at least another two feet.

So, it was a productive week at least. I got tons of dyeing done in the studio, started Knitspot's Trevi Shawl, and did some cooking. Hope you are staying safe and warm where ever you are!

New Spring Patterns

2010-01-24T12:50:00.004-05:00

Heike is our new one-skein shawl. Made with just one skein of Zoe Sock, Heike is knit from the top down and has a knit-on edging. The strategically placed increases allow for a subtle shoulder shaping that enables versitility in how Heike can be worn.

Best of all, Heike is a quick knit on US7's!

Morgaine is another quick knit, done in Honey Worsted on a US10. The 3/4 length sleeves are ribbed with a lovely lace edging. We received loads of compliments on these garments when we exhibited at TNNA and are very excited about them for spring.

Both Heike and Morgaine are available for sale now. Happy Knitting!

Winter Newsletter time

2010-01-04T10:32:00.006-05:00

I finished the Sprouted Citron yesterday. Definitely recommendable for quickness and ease. For myself, I particularly love ruching...it is rather old fashioned and elegant, soft and feminine without being sappy and rufflyfiddly (my word for waaaay too busy).

I did Citron in a new colorway...Sprout, in Zoe Sock. The contrast color is Kumquat. It's another one-skein wonder. Very nice pattern.

NEWSLETTER ALERT...to see what is new this winter (hint...spring preview) sign up for the Shalimar newsletter here. It will go out to new recipients on Wednesday.

Sprout

2009-12-28T16:00:00.006-05:00

Citron, a new shawl pattern in the winter Knitty, captured me as soon as I spied it. I'm a huge fan of ruching...and let's face it, another one-skein sock yarn project was right up my alley.

So here is my Sprouted Citron in Zoe Sock, in one of our new spring colorways, Sprout.

Sprout will be available to retailers after January 1st.

Home for the Holidays

2009-12-18T13:56:00.021-05:00

Tonight we have a snow advisory beginning around midnight and going through Sunday morning. The weather gurus are calling for between 10-20 inches of snow, which is huge for us. People in Maryland freak out over 1-2", which honestly, is just a dusting. But with the way people drive, enough to be a pain in the keister, if you know what I mean.

So, since it is Paul's birthday, (the baby is just 43) I'll be making beef stroganoff and red velvet cake for dessert. We'll be picking up a few movies later on and then we're going to hunker down for the night. It's so much fun to go to bed and wake up to a winter wonderland. I'm kind of excited, to be honest...

We're pretty much decorated for the holidays and even our little donkeys are joining in on the festivities.

For my birthday, my friend, Linda Wei, made me one of her little sheeps. This is a pattern from Ravelry, called Sheep in Sheeps Clothing. But clever Linda modified the head and put a scarf on him, rather than a coat. Which shows the pretty sheep body.

Isn't he adorable?

Behind the baby Jesus, is the knitted Christmas tree she made us the year before. I told her that next year I'll be expecting a Wise Man...

And here is a sneak peek at a special project that I am working on with a new yarn base to be introduced in late spring. I'll be sharing more on this project as I go along.

This is knitting nirvana. I love this yarn.

Lucinda Cowl

2009-12-11T13:40:00.006-05:00

While we are busily working on several new patterns for Spring, 2010, we wanted to give you a fun knit that you might want to use for your holiday knitting.

The Lucinda Cowl is a quick and easy one-skein project, perfect for that last minute gift. Made with one skein of Missy Bulky (130 yds) and on size US 11 needles, it is a great accessory item that will keep your neck toasty warm.

The diagonal Brioche stitch is perfect for hand dyed yarns, including variegated and semi solids, like the Shalimar Stonewash. And don't discount it for men! The stitch pattern is a great manly look.

You can download it here off Ravelry. Enjoy!

Snow Day Soup

2009-12-06T11:46:00.017-05:00

I don't often cook, let alone deviate from standard recipes, but I was pretty pleased with this easy and quick soup I concocted from left over Thanksgiving turkey. It got rave reviews from the family, and seeing as it is hearty and healthy, I'll be making it again.

So if you have a snow day and prefer to spend it relaxing with your knitting (hopefully with a dog on each side of you) and watching the fat flakes come down, here is the perfect recipe for dinner.

Snow Day Soup

5-14 oz. cans of turkey or chicken broth
4 stalks of celery, diced
3 carrots, diced
1 onion, diced
3/4 c. converted rice (like Uncle Bens)
5 c. turkey or chicken, diced
1/2 c. mayonaise
2 tbsp. lemon juice
2 tsp. white pepper
1 tsp. thyme
1 tsp. crushed rosemary
2 tsp. sea salt
4-5 dashes green tabasco sauce
2 tbsp. butter

Bring broth to a boil, add celery, onions, carrots, salt, pepper, spices and rice. Simmer uncovered for 20 minutes.

In a bowl, whisk mayonaise and lemon juice together. Add to broth slowly until smooth. Add tobasco, butter and chicken to the pot.

Simmer another 15-20 minutes and serve with your favorite crusty bread and greens.

And here is my progress on Akimbo by Westknits. The Zoe Sock has a lot of bounce and body, so this shawl is really fun to knit on.

I'm all Akimbo!

2009-11-30T10:49:00.007-05:00

Love the name. And after having such a great time on Daybreak, I had to try another of Westknits wonderful patterns.

Akimbo is another fun knit that uses two colors also. The main color is the Asilomar, with the Saffron as contrast. I've begun to see a pattern lately with my color selections, but I'm just not in a pink/purple mood. So, I'm going with the flow.

Asilomar...

and Saffron...

And I'm really excited because I'm about to break into the Saffron! (Can you tell I'm easily amused?)

Happy Thanksgiving to All!

2009-11-25T14:40:00.001-05:00

Tide Pool Daybreak

2009-11-23T11:13:00.003-05:00

Done! Daybreak, designed by Stephen West of Westknits is a delightful little knit. I was able to finish this in about a week, since the pattern is easily memorized and ejoyable to knit.

Here it is in Zoe Sock, colorways Sapote (Stonewash) and Tide Pool (variegated). I made the medium size, but cut down the stripes from 16 repeats, to 13 repeats.

Done on US 4's. It went really fast. Next up for me is Akimbo.

The Patience of a Buck

2009-11-20T17:17:00.003-05:00

They say patience is a virtue. If you are the Buck. If you are the Doe, then it is a completely different deal.

This was an interesting standoff. He may not look interested now, but when my car kicked them up this morning, he was in hot pursuit (again). I think she's safe as long as she parks it.

My Favorite Time of Day...Daybreak

2009-11-16T12:26:00.002-05:00

In between all the projects I have going on, I recently was inspired by my friend Kyrie Garrettson, to make a lovely and fast shawlette. She turned me on to Stephen West, of WestKnits. And I am immensely grateful to her.

After checking out Stephens' patterns on Ravelry, I immediately had to purchase Daybreak. It's chugging right along...a pattern that is easily memorized and of reasonable size (I'm making the medium with a 60" wingspan and 17" center length). The changes in color keep it from becoming rote.

I had a tough time choosing color combinations. I was torn. Was it Cayenne and Cornucopia, or Saffron and Juniper Berry? Or perhaps Black Truffle and Tamarillo? In the end, it was the colors that make me the happiest. And isn't that the way it should be?

So here we are after a few days of knitting. And I still love it. Honestly (and you won't hear me say this more than once every 10 years) I'd knit this pattern again in a heartbeat!

Daybreak in Sapote and Tide Pool.

My Journey into Journaling

2009-11-08T13:02:00.029-05:00

I've found that most, if not all of the fiberholics I know, are also kindred spirits in a love for other artistic endeavors and of course, words.

My interest in journaling is founded on my love for the outdoors, birds, animals, dollmaking (yes dolls) and of course...fiber. It's been on the back burner, but a project goal of mine to begin a journal that combines all of these loves. I'm thinking that fall is a good time to begin playing with mixed media and working on my 'wordsmithing'.

If you are interested in learning more about journaling and working on your creative expression, you might want to check out author Stephanie Lees' e-course, Thought Threads. It may be just the push you need to get to the next creative level. You can sign up on her blog now. The course is four weeks long and begins late this month.

And because we can't live by just words alone, you might want to check out Nature Inspired: Mixed-Media Techniques for Gathering, Sketching, Painting, Journaling, and Assemblage by Tracie Lyn Huskamp.

What is most intriguing about journaling, is that it can be a window into your past, present and future. It can be an insight into your soul. It can be part of the legacy you leave for your children and grandchildren.

I'm starting my journal today, and I'll be sharing some of my insights and art with you along the way. Because like life, this also is a journey and it really shouldn't stop until you die.

Early Fall KAL Winners!

2009-11-02T17:40:00.004-05:00

Our Early Fall KAL (Lacy Shawls or Shawlettes) on Ravelry is done! Congratulations to the winners!!!!

1st Prize: Hiya Hiya Interchangeable Needle Set (your choice US 0-8 or US 9-15) – Roadweaver (Louise)
2nd Prize: Skein of Zoe Sock – caffeknitted (Lynn)
3rd Prize: Baaubles Stitch Markers – nanarector (Evelyn)

Thanks again to everyone who took the time and energy to participate in the Early Fall KAL.

We will be starting our Winter KAL beginning January 10th, so stay tuned for more information coming in December, both here and on our Ravelry group. I can't wait...there will be lots of fun prizes!

Raven's (and fall) Rule

2009-10-30T10:32:00.000-04:00

Over the last several weeks, we've seen a dramatic change in the foliage here in Maryland. This is just one of many reasons why I love living where there are lots of deciduous trees. But the evergreens never cease to impress either...

Like the lovely carpet of pine needles in the drive after a windy night...

The lichen which seems to thrive on the cool, moist air...

And my favorite Maple in the backyard always has the most stunning color around Halloween...

Which brings us around to another favorite of the fall season...Football! And the Baltimore Ravens have some pretty cool colors that yearn to become hand dyed yarn.

This is Raven's Rule! which is available exclusively this season at the lovely All About Yarn in Columbia, Maryland. Get your team spirit on!

The Nickel and Diming of Me

2009-10-19T15:36:00.012-04:00

A wee bit of venting here...you see my daughter is a senior in high school. Need I say more?

This must be the year where the cost of owning a child increases exponentially. Now I see how it gets to $150K (USDA figures cited here folks, even though I say it is waaay low). Weekly she brings home yet another form with a fee requirement and ugh, dare I say it...a deadline. This must be the parents version of 'college prep'. Prepping you to open your wallet on a regular basis.

So that is my wee vent. Most of it is fun stuff; class pictures and invitations, Homecoming, etc. And naturally, she's worth it.

So now that fall is here (I swear this time, it really is) and the weather has dropped into the upper 30's at night (burr) we are well on our way to welcoming Halloween in a few weeks. So, it makes it a good time to introduce another of our new fall colorways: Kumquat. One of our Signature Stonewash colorways, Kumquat is a rich, vibrant orange with overtones of yellow.

And just a peek at my best girl, Zoe. How cute is she?

And my other best girl...

And my girl that I miss so much...

Lovely Thing

2009-10-09T10:00:00.006-04:00

As I was leaving the house this morning, this is what I spied under the pine trees...

At least 6" tall and standing all alone...

And this is what this morning looks like in mid-October in Maryland...

With expected highs in the 80's! It feels more like spring than fall. I'll take it though.

It's beginning to feeling a lot like...

2009-10-05T18:33:00.004-04:00

It definitely snuck up on us this year; fall is here and we have the low morning temperatures to prove it. Somehow, I've been too busy to really enjoy our very short Indian Summer, but we did have one. And now the trees are beginning to turn and I'm thinking that it's time to start winterizing the barn, before it turns bitter cold and it becomes a chore.

But with fall comes new fall colors! Here is one of three that we recently released. It's Merlin's Beard, a neutral composition of grays, browns and cream. This palette never seems to go out of style.

Happy Knitting!

Prairie House Shawl

2009-09-29T13:47:00.005-04:00

I was able to see the original of this scarf in Portland, Oregon at Twisted. A geat little shop! Don't miss it if you are in the area. What captured me was the sweet lace and knot pattern, and yet again...another wonderful one-skein scarf/shawl.

The pattern is by Portland designer, Star Athena. Check out her blog, Keep on Knitting in the Free World to see some more of her great patterns.

Here is my new Prairie House startup...Zoe Sock in Cornucopia. I'm knitting along with the Shalimar Yarns Early Fall KAL on Ravelry.

And I finished the St. James. It turned out great. Only three skeins of the Honey Worsted. Woohoo!

Win a Skein of Zoe Sock

2009-09-25T16:45:00.003-04:00

Introducing Xanthophyll by Hunter Hammersen. This is an incredible new pattern and Hunter is an amazingly talented designer. We're so glad she chose Zoe Sock to knit Xanthophyll in!

Yarn: Zoe Sock
Colorway: Sapote in Signature Stonewash.

To win that FREE skein...here's all you have to do:

Go to Violently Domestic and post (in the comments section) your favorite color of Zoe Sock by Monday evening (September 28th). It's that easy. And then if you're really smart, you'll check out all of Hunter's amazing patterns while you're there. They are all available to purchase through Ravelry.

Concord St. James

2009-09-17T13:35:00.009-04:00

Remember this...

It's becoming this:

St. James by Tonya Wagner

And I love the way the seed stitch pops in the Signature Stonewash:

This is an awesomely fast and easy project, perfect for an adventurous novice, or just when you need something relatively mindless for the car, etc. I used less than three skeins of Honey Worsted (250 yards) and made a medium (38" finished bust).

I'm off to finish the neckline, and then enough instant gratification for me...it's back to finishing the Perfected Gherkins' sleeves.

Lace Knitting Tutorial

2009-09-17T11:40:00.008-04:00

Swatch your way to Success!

Before casting for your lace project, you’ll need to knit a swatch -- at least four-inches square -- in your lace pattern. Make sure you knit at least one or two stitch and row repeats of the pattern, including edge stitches, and then wash and block your swatch according to the pattern’s directions.

Swatching is an invaluable tool that can save you hours of aggravation. For example, your swatch will help you:

**Learn any new techniques you might need
**Work through a complex stitch pattern so you get a feel for the rhythm
**View the finished lace pattern and make sure you like how it looks in your chosen yarn
**Find out if there are any errors in the pattern (Note: Checking for errata -- which you can usually find online -- is always a good idea when getting ready to cast on for a new project.)
**Make sure you are knitting to the gauge as stated in the pattern
**Check your fabric: Does it drape the way you want it to? Will it stretch out of shape?

Once you’ve knit a swatch you’re happy with, you’re ready to assemble your arsenal of lace-knitting tools…

Supplies

Row Counter: Helps you keep track of where you are in the pattern when knitting, and where left off when you put your project down
Stitch Markers: To remind you where to increase or decrease, and to remind you when you are starting a new pattern repeat
Locking Ring Markers: These stitch markers open like a safety pin --you can use them to mark the right side of your project, and can easily move them in the middle of a row
Sticky notes: Very helpful way to make notes to yourself and to mark your place on a knitting chart
Smooth, lightweight waste yarn (preferably in a contrasting color): You’ll use this when adding lifelines mid-project
Small crochet hook: When knitting with fine yarn, many people find picking up dropped stitches is easier with a crochet hook
Small stitch holder: Lets you set aside stitches to be worked later

Reading Charts

Spend time familiarizing yourself with the chart, the chart symbols, and the written directions for your lace pattern. Note that when you knit back and forth, you’ll read the chart from right to left for RS rows, and left to right for WS rows.

Read the pattern carefully to find out:
1) If all rows are charted
2) If only RS rows are charted
3) How to knit the WS rows

Often, designers will chart only the RS or lace rows, noting that you will purl all WS rows. One way to find out is to check to see if there are row numbers on both sides of the chart, or just on the RS rows. It’s important to check the written pattern for exact directions on how to knit WS rows.

Basic Stitches

YO: Bring the yarn forward between the needles, up and over the right-hand needle, and to the back again, creating a new “stitch” that wraps over the top of your right needle. Resume knitting as directed.

YOO (YO twice): Same as YO, but wrap the yarn around the right-hand needle two times before you resume knitting.

K2tog: This is a right-leaning decrease. Insert your right needle tip into the next two stitches from left to right (front to back), then knit the two stitches together.

SSK: This is a left-leaning decrease. Slip 2 stitches as if to knit, then knit those two stitches together (as described in K2tog, above).

YO before a purl st: Bring the yarn from the back OVER the right-hand needle (instead of bringing it forward between the needles, as usual). The yarn is now in place to work your purl stitch.

K2tog tbl (an alternative to SSK): This is a left-leaning decrease. Insert your right needle tip into the first two stitches on the left needle from right to left (back to front), and knit them together.

Fixing Mistakes and Lifelines...coming soon!

Thanks to Hannah Six for hand modeling and text development

Severely Talented...

2009-09-14T16:50:00.005-04:00

Check out this new book and the designer behind the fashions.

And then grab your knitting needles.

Roodharigendag...Celebrate the Red!

2009-09-11T10:42:00.010-04:00

So, whether or not you are a fan of 'gingerism' as they term it in the UK and Europe, you must appreciate the fact that there is a website devoted to the yearly Day of the RED...or Roodhargendag.

Coming from a family rife with redheads, along with strong and close ties to Scotland, clans and the whole ancestry bit, I can tell you that there IS a bond amoung redheads...if only for the sole reason that we all put up with nicknames and baiting as kids.

As an added consolation to redheads out there...news reports say that more people are dying their hair red now, comparing it to the 'lipstick effect' and probably more to blame on the economy than anything else.

Although I like to believe that people know a good thing when they see it...

St. James

2009-09-08T16:17:00.005-04:00

Just a peek at St. James, by Tonya Wagner. See what I mean? Isn't this absolutely an adorable sweater?

I think there is a KAL in it's future.

photo courtesy of Tonya Wagner

Sweater Girl

2009-09-05T19:18:00.005-04:00

Just a peek at the next project immediately following the Gherkin... St. James (rav link) by Tonya Wagner. This is a free pattern on Ravelry.

I'll be whipping it up in Honey Worsted, in the Signature Stonewash colorway: Concord Grape.

This is a great little top, made in worsted weight and perfect as a transitional sweater. It will be my first worsted weight sweater of the season, so I'm very excited to get on with it. Especially because the so very cute cap sleeves are just what I was looking for, and I don't want the fall weather to catch up to me (it probably will...oh well).

And while there is tons of idiot stockinette in the body, the finished product far surpasses that in pure interest alone. I think it will be worth the mindlessness.

My Summer without TV, Part II

2009-09-04T10:15:00.005-04:00

I'd prefer that this post was titled "My Summer without TV, the Finale", but we don't currently have cable and are probably going to keep on for awhile without it. Which, honestly is not the end of the world. I manage to keep up on the most pertinent news info (for the most part).

So far, my productivity over the last few months has even inspired me, so it seems that it is a vicious circle...focus more, work more, accomplish more...etc., etc. Over and over again! Is this any way to live?

And I even eek out a bit of time to knit, hence the Perfected Gherkin is coming along. Still on skein #2 and have about 3" on the back. The neckline will be a bit more modest after the button band is put on. The stitch holders on the neck edge are for the little mandarin collar, which I may or may not modify. I really love it so far.

The Perfected Gherkin

2009-08-27T11:03:00.003-04:00

Last week I started the Henley Perfected, by Connie Chang Chinchio. The original is done in a sport weight, which makes it perfect for the Zoe Sock on a US #5, as I get 6 st/in. with it. The color is Gherkin, a Signature Stonewash that 'might' be new for fall. I was going for a stronger contrast on this colorway and I think I got it.

I noticed on Ravelry that a lot of people considered this a slow knit, but I seem to be going through it pretty quickly, particularly the lace. I made a few alterations...to note, I knit from the bottom up in the round. I like to knit my seams in as I go, rather than go back and finish with a whipstitch. I find that it makes it clean and straight. With whipstitching I run the risk of getting the seam too tight, or on the bias.

Also, rather than start the placket below the division stitch at the bust, it was easier to get to beyond the division stitch to divide the fronts and back for the lace. I also like the look of the lace starting right below the bust, rather than cutting across the bust as the pattern looks to do.

So far, I've used a full skein on the body and only just cracked into the second skein. I'm certain I can do it easily with three (1350 yds), but I think I'll go for 3/4 sleeves anyway. It's a middle age thing I think.

New KAL for September Added

2009-08-21T20:22:00.005-04:00

Just a little reminder that we have added the new Shalimar Yarns Early Fall KAL on Ravelry. The launch date is September 15th, and we end October 31st.

This KAL is Lacy Shawls and Shawlettes. For those who may be a bit intimidated by lace, we'll have a good nuts and bolts tutorial on the blog in mid September. And don't forget-there are great prizes! Sign up on the group and knit along with us!

I'll be working on The Prairie Home Shawl, by Star Athena in Zoe Sock, in colorway Cornucopia. Just the right colors to get me psyched for fall!

More news...we are now officially on Facebook...Shalimar Yarns, so visit us there for more news, updates and photos.

Winner! Yeah!

2009-08-15T11:34:00.006-04:00

Congratulations to Michelle who won the raffle for the Namaste Hermosa bag with the Oh Snap! pouches! And thanks to all who checked the blog to find out if they won. (If you love prizes, join one of our KAL's in our group on Ravelry. We have some great prizes-if I do say so myself).

Wanted to post a finished picture of Buttercup, by Heidi Kirrmaier. It's a great little knit and only took less than TWO skeins of Zoe. I wore it at Sock Summit, and it got lots of comliments!

I also wanted to share some more 'Americana' with you from our cross-country Sock Summit trip. If you are ever in Oakley, Kansas, check out the Prairie Dog Town there. The owner has been there for more than 40 years. Here you can see a legendary stuffed Jackalope and be amused by the antics of the prairie dogs, who scamper around without paying the humans much mind.

And the largest prairie dog on earth...

Yes, we did pay to get in there, but it was quite a hoot!

Congratulations Raffle Winner!

2009-08-10T00:47:00.008-04:00

Sock Summit is over and we had a great time. We made new friends, met lovely customers, sold lots of Shalimar and saw some of the most incredible yarns, pattens and sock knitting accessories ever assembled under one roof!

Thanks to all who came to the Shalimar booth...it was wonderful meeting all of you.

The winning number of the Namaste Hermosa bag (and those cute little Oh Shap! Pouches) is: 461486

Now all you have to do is contact us before midnight EST, Sunday, August 16th. And we will ship it to you!

We really appreciate that we were able to participate in something as history making as Sock Summit. Thanks to all the organizers, volunteers, vendors and customers that made this a once in a lifetime experience.

(Here's a peek at part of our booth-the Signature Stonewash yarns).

Apropos Ball of Wire (or yarn)

2009-08-07T11:58:00.008-04:00

En route to Sock Summit in Portland, Oregon this past week, Paul, Edie and I were in my mom's home town of LaCrosse, Kansas, to visit relatives.

LaCrosse is home to the Barbed Wire Museum, the largest collection of barbed wire in the world. We loved the giant ball of wire outside of the museum, and thought it was very apropos that it could pass off as a ball of yarn.

Inside there is a 72 pound crows nest that was taken down from the top of a utility pole. Amazingly, crows are able to carry sizeable pieces of wire up to these nests. They line the tops with down and soft materials and lay their eggs.

LaCrosse is also home to the Post Rock Museum. North Central Kansas is an area in the United States where the homesteaders were able to use the natural limestone for fence posts. There is over 40,000 miles of stone posts in this particular area of Kansas, and they are incredibly beautiful and stately.

As a child, I was always fascinated by the fossized shells found in the limestone walkway on my grandparents farm. There is almost nothing more beautiful to me than the Kansas limestone posts, wheat, sun and sky.

The drive in across Oregon was nothing less than spectacular. The Columbia River Gorge is an awesome expanse that I couldn't take my eyes off of.

I'll recap Sock Summit later. Suffice to say...it is fiber overload and we're having a blast meeting tons of customers and retailers.

Simple Beaded Bind Off

2009-07-23T08:44:00.022-04:00

Easy Beaded Knitting: A tutorial
By Hannah Six

(Hannah Six graciously allowed us to use this beaded bind off tuturial here. This technique is the same one she explains more succintly in the Shalimar Yarns pattern Clover Honey Shawlette).

For those looking to add a little oomph to their knitting, and who aren’t interested in stringing hundreds of beads onto a ball of yarn, there’s yet another way to create lovely beaded knitting: A beaded bind off.

Fast, simple, and far easier on your yarn than stringing lots of beads before knitting, this is the method I used in the Clover Honey Shawlette pattern. A beaded bind off is wallet-conscious, too. No need to go out and buy special tools—all you need is a sewing needle and some dental floss.

Adding beads to your knitting is a great way to spice up a project, whether it’s a sweater, a handbag, or a lace shawl. After all, almost any knitted item can benefit from a little touch of elegance and sparkle – whether subtle, like tiny seed beads, or glamorous, like paillets (large sequins).

Sadly, many knitters hesitate to try beading because they fear it might be too difficult, too fiddly, or just too much work. I used to feel that way myself. That’s why I’d like to lay those fears to rest. The truth is, several methods exist for knitting with beads, some requiring no pre-stringing at all!

Be informed…
I’d like to help clarify the distinction between bead knitting and beaded knitting—two similar terms describing two very-different methods.

Bead Knitting is the centuries-old art of knitting many-colored beads into a project with one bead on every stitch. Using this technique, the yarn becomes a “bead-delivery device,” and is almost entirely obscured by the bead fabric. Careful pre-stringing is often necessary, so the colored beads appear in exact order to form images as laid out in graphs or charts. Originally used for small objects, like evening bags, this labor-intensive method produces spectacular results.

Beaded Knitting produces a knitted fabric with beads scattered across its surface. Beads may be applied sparingly or close together, and may also be used to show off a stitch pattern or motif, depending on the look the knitter is going for. Usually, in beaded knitting, the beads are pre-strung on the working yarn.

Gather your stuff…

• Yarn: Most yarns can be beaded, but there are a few exceptions. Textured yarns, delicate fibers, light-colored yarns, or those with little or no ply can be damaged when beads are strung on them. On the other hand, yarns with multiple plies made of strong fibers, like wool, are ideal—they just have to be thin enough for a double thickness to fit through the hole in your beads. For this exercise, a fingering-weight swatch or piece of knitting to practice on—you’ll need live stitches on your needles, so don’t bind off.

• Beads: Whether you want glass, wood, crystal, or plastic, its important to use beads that: (a) won’t weight your work down, and (b) can be washed in the way you plan to wash your finished object. Also, be sure to choose beads with holes large enough to accommodate a double thickness of your yarn. You may want to take a length of your yarn with you when you go bead shopping, to ensure a good fit. I used: 2/0 Czech glass E-beads from Beader’s Paradise (available in tubes at many craft stores…mine came from AC Moore, in Maryland).

• Needle: A long, thin sewing needle—the eye should be large enough to string a piece of dental floss through, but not much larger.

Give it a try…
Now that you have your beading paraphernalia at hand, take up your knitting and we’ll practice the beaded bind off used in the Clover Honey Shawlette. It takes only three steps to complete:

• Step #1: Bind off two sts, then stretch the second bound-off stitch (on end of right-hand needle) and drop it off the end of the needle.

• Step #2: Thread your sewing needle with dental floss. Bring the needle down through the center of the bead, through the loop of the knitted stitch, and back up through the center of the bead. Pull the needle and floss free and set them aside.

• Step #3: Slide the bead onto the knitted stitch (so the stitch comes up through the bead’s hole). Place this stitch back on the right-hand needle tip; you will pull it over the next stitch you bind off.

From here on, you’ll just continue binding off stitches and placing beads where you want them. It’s that easy!

Learn more…Now that you’ve slipped a few beads on your yarn and admired how professional and pretty it looks, you might want to learn more. Below are some resources to help you on your way. Happy (bead) knitting!

• Decorative Knitting: 100 practical techniques, 200 inspirational ideas, and 18 creative projects
By Kate Haxell & Luise Roberts
Trafalgar Square Books (2005)

• Knit and Crochet with Beads
By Lily M. Chin
Interweave Press (2004)

• Knit One, Bead Too: Essential Techniques for Knitting with Beads
By Judith Durant
Storey Publishing, LLC (2009)

• For more information about purchasing the Clover Honey Shawlette pattern, contact: ShalimarYarns@aol.com

Sock Summit Countdown...

2009-07-20T10:59:00.007-04:00

The next few weeks are pretty busy as we count the days till Sock Summit. If you are planning on being there, please give us a shout-out! and stop by our booth--Booth #319.

Here's a sneak peek at the Sock Summit Debut Sock that Chrissy Gardiner designed. It is called Butterfly Garden and is a riot of twists, cables, flowers and butterflys...so fun!

Chrissy used Zoe Sock in the Signature Stonewash colorway: Passionfruit. She'll have the pattern for purchase and a sample at her booth, #815. You can also see a sample of Butterfuly Garden at the Shalimar Yarns booth.

BTW...Chrissy's brand spanking new book, Toe-Up! will be available at Sock Summit. It's getting great reviews!

In Praise of Donkeys

2009-07-10T11:06:00.006-04:00

My family loves donkeys.
Not only do we love Fawn, who is possibly the sweetest, most adorable miniature donkey ever, but we find they are wonderful to use as decor also.

We love their temperament, and their generous nature.

We love donkey PEZ.

We love books and literature about donkeys, like The Donkey Companion, by Storey Publishing

We love to make donkeys.

Over the years, we have picked up donkeys at some unlikely places, and been given donkeys by friends who know of our passion for the stoic little fuzzies.

It is rare that someone expresses a dislike of donkeys. Really, what's not to like? Donkeys have a rich, historical place in history, literature, films and the bible.

In the garden...

Just a sweet girl.

La La La...Buttercup, Buttercup...

2009-07-06T15:46:00.005-04:00

And so the song goes. Buttercup is coming along. This is the point where I finished one skein of Zoe Sock. Isn't that amazing?

So this is a great two-skein project. I'm making the medium (which is supposed to be a generous 40" finished bust) but I've changed gauge, yarn weight and needle, so I'm ending up with more like a 38-39".

And I think I'll keep the sleeves short and just finish them off here. Very cute, eh?

Our Summer without TV-Part I

2009-06-29T10:22:00.005-04:00

This is no social experiment, no self-serving, horsehair vest wearing, chest thumping, semi-spiritual proclamation on our recanting of all things modern, secular, or remotely energy inefficient.

It isn't necessarily laziness or cheapness or ignorance (as my farrier asked me the other day-"Oh no, you're not one of those stoopid people are you?")-meaning the ones who must live under a rock not to have gotten the message about the big bang/changeover to digital.

No, not stupid either, thanks.

You may ask why, but then again, you probably might want to ask, "Why not?"

We can always point to work. We have our income generating work, our yard work (God knows there is no shortage of that), we have working out.

It may be ennui or a laissez faire attitude. It may be that we have no young children at home to entertain or babysit.

We have videos and CD's galore, we have books, newspapers, occasional magazines (but never enough since I am a magazine junkie), and we have blogging.

We even have knitting.

So now I find myself picking up the newspaper and actually reading it. Not just skimming the headlines, but actually reading the articles. And let me tell you, it is way more enjoyable than turning on the evening news and wallowing in the desperateness of it all-be it local, global, financial or crime related.

And even I find myself speculating (with validity) if the 'summer without' ends here. I go on the record as saying that doing anything by candlelight makes my head hurt thinking about it.

But one never knows...the summer is still young and we have several months to go before the fall premiere TV season kicks in.

And I'll let you know how my productivity level goes.

Swatching for Buttercup

2009-06-25T15:47:00.012-04:00

Today I started swatching (yes, that's right, note the date and time) for Buttercup, by Heidi Kirrmaier (Rav link).

Buttercup is being done in conjunction with the Socks OR Sweater KAL we have going on in the Shalimar group on Ravelry that starts July 1st.

While I am notorious for being a bit (dare I say it) 'preachy' with students and customers re: swatching, in reality I am a closet "winger" and only swatch when hugely deviating from a yarn weight or gauge. (Or if knitting in the round and the cast on number is big enough so that if I had to frog I would probably go apoplectic). Yikes.

And I figured this is a really good excersise to put Zoe Sock through in any case.

After finishing the Vaya Shrug and blocking it, I was astounded to come up with a gauge of 14.5 st/4". And the Zoe Sock still retained it's spring and looks wonderful. So, suffice to say that I am cockily confident that I can get 22/4" without too much angst and stress in my life.

So began the swatching journey...

I cast on with a US 6 and then proceeded to move to a US 7. The fabric was still nice, but I began to notice that the stitches were not as uniform as with the US 6. And unlike the Vaya Shrug (done on a US 8), I wasn't planning on putting as much blocking muscle into Buttercup.

On the US 6 I ended up with 25 st/4" and on the US 7 I had 23 st/4". I decided to go with the US 6, and a gauge a little smaller than sportweight.

So, while I can get 22 st/4", it seems that the fabric is not really what I want to end up with. Ah, well...no worries; I'll be compensating on the finished bust size I make, and allowing for the smaller gauge.

What I'm really loving is the subtle color shifts in the Cayenne, which give a lot of depth and interest. The photo shows it much redder than it really is...more of a rich, brick red. I can't wait to show it when it gets going.

Sock Summit Looming...

2009-06-25T09:36:00.012-04:00

At last the organizers have handed down booth numbers for Sock Summit. Shalimar Yarns will be in #627.

We are very excited.

I have to admit that I did not even attempt to sign up for any classes, seeing as the marketplace will be intense enough. I'm sure I'll be craning my neck to get a glance at Barbara Walker and living vicariously through customers who take classes.

And I still hope to be able to get out and walk around the marketplace a bit before we pack it up. Let us know if you'll be there, and watch for teasers here on some of the new and exciting items we'll have in the booth.

Vaya Shrug-one skein Wow!

2009-06-22T10:37:00.014-04:00

Last night I finished up the Vaya Shrug (design by Laura Nelkin) and blocked it out.

This is a quick, fun project, made even quicker by knitting backwards on the edging. Without doing this, the edging is an interminable chore, but it goes pretty quick with the backwards technique.

I think it is adorable...it turned out great in the Zoe Sock in Juniper Berry. I was especially pleased with how it looks in stockinette stitch. This was done on a US 8 so there is a lot of give in this garment, although not so much that it appears stretched out or 'holey". There was plenty of Zoe left over also, so the Vaya can be made significantly longer and larger.

The only mods I made on this shrug was to knit farther down than the directions call for (and it still only 'just' goes past my bubs). I also continued the decreases on the front so that it curves more into the center.

Next things next, I'll be working on a small sweater for the Shalimar Yarns Socks OR Sweater KAL on Ravlery, so I have to make up my mind before July 1st.

Join us if you can!

How to Work with Hand-dyed Yarns

2009-06-18T16:49:00.010-04:00

I get this question posed to me a lot, and while there is a wealth of information on the subject both in books and online, please bear with me as I put some of my thoughts down...

Hand-dyed yarns can be magical in many ways. Certain colors combinations can say different things to different people.

Many people are happy allowing for the colors to take their form. However, for others, learning how to manage these color combinations to eliminate the element of surprise is what many knitters desire.

Let's explore how to begin...

First look at color repeat. Is it long or short? Not all colors may be represented in the same repeat, ie. blue may be 2" long, green may be 4" long. Shorter repeats tend to help meld the colors together. Longer color repeats will give you more distinct color blocks.

Most hand dyed yarns are dyed in skeins (or hanks) so that there is usually repetition in the colors. If a skein has not been reskeined, it is easy to see the lengths of the color repeat. If it has been reskeined, you will have to untwist the skein and lay it down to examine individual strands.

By and large, the number of stitches being knit with is key to the type of patterning you might get in hand dyed yarn with color repeats. This is, in effect, what is know as the "magic number".

It is possible to engineer a garment or other project to get color "stacking" (whereby the same colors line up vertically on top of each other, producing columns of color), "flashing" (whereby the color repeats continually move to the left or right to product a zigzag effect) or an argyle pattern.

What you end up with is simply a matter of math and perseverance, with stitch gauge the key to patterning. Therefore, this type of accidental patterning is hard to maintain because of changes in tension and number of stitches, i.e. shaping in a garment is why you might see a sweater with interesting argyle across the front, only to have striping or pooling in the arms.

So...what's a Knitter to Do?

1. Knit a swatch, and then knit a bigger swatch. Pay attention to how the colors are playing against each other.

2. Change your needle size-because gauge is everything, just give it a try.

3.Change your stitch count-sometimes only a few stitches up or down will totally change a patterning effect.

4. Although it won't eliminate pooling, alternating skeins (working two rows with one and two rows with the other) will let you see if and how the colors break. Work with both ends of the skein to break the colors up also.

5. Be innovative. Use hand dyes with a solid or semi solid such as Shalimar Signature Stonewash * to use as a contrast or in striping. Use a slip stitch pattern to mix it up. Entrelac is a sure bet for eliminating pooling.

6. Be prepared to frog.

These are some of the ways to avoid pooling and patterning. I recommend enjoying the ride and glorying in the colors.

*Stonewash will not pool or puddle

Back in the Saddle Again...

2009-06-16T13:04:00.004-04:00

So Paul and I rolled in late last night from our whirlwind trip to TNNA in Columbus, Ohio, where we had a great show and a really great time. Suffice to say, we saw old friends, made many new ones, and ate lots of Jenni's ice cream.

Favorite flavors that were indulged in over the weekend were Goat Cheese with Roasted Red Cherries and Queen City Cayenne, which was so hot it gave me a head rush! Awesome. We also had some great meals at The Black Olive and Martini's, whooping it up with friends.

Some of my favorite events at this years TNNA were the Fashion Show, where we were able to see 100 of the yarn industry's newest designs. And both Paul and I enjoyed the classes we took, which always give us ideas and a new perspective on the industry and where it is going.

But best of all, we were able to introduce Shalimar Yarns to a large new audience and add a host of retail shops to our customer list! As LYS begin to receive their orders over the next few months, we will add them to our blog and website. We appreciate your support of them!

Forest Canopy Shawl

2009-06-07T11:29:00.003-04:00

In Zoe Sock, colorway: Acadia

The clouds have parted at last and we have been blessed with a weekend of sun and warm temperatures. It's a great day to pick up your knitting. Enjoy!