Ever since Lynne told me last week that her new TS Knit Sweater book was out, I have been skulking around the mailbox daily, anxiously awaiting my promo copy. Finally, yesterday, I saw a book size package tucked into the side of my mailbox. I was so excited that I immediately dropped everything and went through the book page by page. I love this book. Lynne is a great author and fiber artist, so knowledgeable. This book is designed to help knitters and spinners get their creativity juices flowing. Excellent job, Lynne!
Linda LaBelle, owner of The Yarn Tree in Williamsburg (Brooklyn) emailed the other day and said she was out of my handpainted spinning fibers and said to send more. So here's a sampling of what I sent. These are Blueface Leicester wool, but I also sent an array of other fibers including superfine merino, silk, alpaca and baby camel. These should arrive next Monday, so, you spinners in the NYC area, The Yarn Tree is the place to go for your spinning fibers. Not only does Linda carry my handpainted fibers, but she has a great selection of just about any fiber you might want to spin. And she's got spinning lessons, too.
And while we're on the subject of The Yarn Tree, I finished dyeing a special colorway for Linda's "Sock for All Seasons" sock club. I also finished the pattern and knit up a sample of the sock. I was quite pleased with the outcome, but of course, there's no picture because this is a surprise for club members, who will receive my yarn and pattern in Spring 2008. And, I hear that people are already asking about the next "Sock for All Seasons" club, which I understand will be available for sign up in December.
For the past few days, I have been messing around with a Shetland ewe fleece I bought at Rhinebeck last year from Eileen Testo of Weston Hill Farm in upstate NY. Since Black Sheep Gathering, Karen and Miryha have been washing and carding the fleeces they purchased up in Eugene. Seeing the newly washed fleece and how pretty they were motivated me to wash and card one of the fleeces I had gotten last fall. And I have been enjoying spinning it outside, under a big umbrella on my patio. Here's the result:
After washing the fleece, I separated it into three piles, light, medium and dark. This yarn is the result of taking a strip of the light and dark and predrafting them side by side and then spinning them together. I got a very nice heathered yarn. The medium portion of the fleece will be spun and plied on itself. I hope to knit this yarn into a sweater, using some colorful handspun yarns as accents.
Aside from all the fibery things I love to do, I take long walks 4 or 5 times a week at one of my favorite spots, Dana Point Harbor, about 10 minutes from my home. I feel very fortunate to live near such a beautiful place. Walking down by the ocean is renewing and relaxing and is the perfect way to end a long day of working.
I spoke with Kat at La Petite Knitterie yesterday and she is set to launch her online store on August 1st. One of the yarns she will be featuring online is my handpainted superwash merino sock yarn, which has proved to be quite popular. I will also be doing a trunk show with my handpainted yarns and patterns on Saturday, September 15th, at LPK, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
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