Yesterday I Dyed

Dyed yarn, of course! I've a full 2 lines of yarn drying - or trying to dry amidst spells of heavy rain. I just love these colours and I always have fun dyeing new yarn bases the first time - so fascinating to see how a fibre mix will take the dye.

This is how we go...

......to the post office :)

When both kids are at home there is usually great discussion about what transport we should take to the post office. We live in the same block as the PO, so there isn't far to go. That's pretty lucky seeing as the little red wagon is popular, and happens to be QUITE loud - the whole village knows when we are on our way! (On this particular day S was dressed as a Snow Leopard - in a red wagon LOL!)

The WoolRoom

On a recent trip to visit family we stopped in at The Wool Room in Uralla. The shop is mostly garments, but they do have a large set of shelves full of skeins, mostly hand dyed. I scored some possum merino and a wooden wrap slide, not to mention some incredible handmade buttons!! I am most impressed with the buttons and often return to thoughts of what to knit next that could feature a button or two!

Dye Sessions

I've been indulging in quite a few dye sessions ahead of our trip overseas, so the shop is well stocked before we go. I have been working with some new yarn bases and some new dye techniques and I've been having a blast! Some of the yarn is up already, including some Organic Cotton and Tencel blend in 4ply. I'm itching to knit with this yarn, it feels so light and silky.I'm loving how the colours are bright but soft at the same time, no gaudiness with this yarn! There will be more instock soon.

Yarn Passions

I have been quite busy these past months dyeing large dyelots for one of my newer stockists: YarnPassions in Taiwan. Anita has a beautiful selection of yarns and very good taste in my opinion! If you are in her part of the world, don't hesistate to email or comment on her blog!

I have also been experimenting with some new yarn bases and techniques - so stay tuned!

Weekend Knits

A few projects off the needles this weekend ....

Jumping Sun by Suvi Simola on Australian Organic Wool 8ply in Vibe by evoke hand dyed yarns.

I have finally cast off on Sienna's tunic dress and after plodding along on it for so long I am so releived that she likes it. She was wearing it within minutes of casting off and named it the 'Storm the Lightning Fairy Dress'. If you're a parent with a child out there addicted to the Rainbow Magic Fairies, then you know who I am talking about! It was a good knit while the kids are playing with all that stockinette. I'm not sure I like the hip shaping and the short rows on the neck could have been written better - I altered them a little, otherwise I would have had areas of stockinette in amongst garter stitch. But overall I am happy with it and so is the girl, which is the most important thing!

Curly Purly Soaker by Marnie Ann Joyce

Jules was in desperate need for a new soaker so I knit a Curly Purly with Cestari and thoroughly enjoyed it, having never used the pattern or yarn before :) It's only the second soaker I have knit him, poor kid in hand-me-downs, and here I am finally knitting him some when he's almost starting to toilet train - typical!

And last, but by no means least, Clemence by Katya Frankel who has an awesomely cool sounding name in my opinion :) Knitting this cowl was pure bliss: Silk merino yarn (hand dyed by Dyelicious) in beautiful browns + lace = perfection! This one's definitely in the suitcase for Germany :)

The countdown begins

I realised a couple of weeks ago that we had a bit more than 10 weeks until we leave the country. We're going to Germany to visit friends and family and it will be winter - hence the mild anxiety. 10 weeks and too many WIPs and lots of knits that *need* to be knitted. There was only one thing to do to calm myself down - knit quick!

Handspun Ribbed Hat by Vintage

'Charcoal' Gradient on Shetland Chunky by Evoke hand dyed yarns

I went for a surfer look, down low on the brow with no fold-over.

Thick yarn and big needles sure do the trick :)

I made the hats for the kids up as I went along. I added short rows to J's so that point of the hat was at the back rather than at the top. This whole thing took less than an hour. The kids hats are knit with some great Handspun yarn from a local Fibre Artist - Kerry Heinzel - and I am so happy with how they turned out.

This is Sienna's one - this hat is SO thick and warm!

And the best thing is: she likes it!

I do knit....

I really do knit, it's just sporadic and usually while the kids are in the bath (this sure makes for interesting knitting) or in the car. Things are hectic at the moment, so the stress relief I get from knitting has been lovely!

Chinese Waves Dishloth by Margaret K.K. Radcliffe

I couldn't resist trying some Debbie Bliss Eco Cotton from Tangled Yarns.... and I've always wanted to knit this dishcloth. It was a brilliant knit: quick, fun and the yarn is fantastic!

Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf by Karen Baumer

I started this scarf an embarrassing 14 months ago... where does the time go?? This was my car knitting for a long time, but after the move I realised that I had better get cracking with my WIPs. There were simply too many around the place and too many other projects to cast on! I added a couple of buttons, one skein of yarn wasn't enough for a long scarf. I'm really happy with how it has turned out and the yarn (Merino Slub from evoke hand dyed yarns - now discontinued) created a beautiful soft rustic fabric :) I can see I will get alot of wear out of this, and it will definately be coming O/S with us for Christmas!

Something for your stash?

The new Spring Collection has hit the store :)

'Petal' (above)

'Violet'

'Mai'

'Fields'



'Fern' (My favourite)




'Apple'

Shifting

All has been quiet on The Yarn Cafe Blog. Just 4 days after I dyed the last skeins for the co-op, we moved house. It was a quick decision, and it all happened in just 3 weeks :) We are back in our favourite little village, and it's simply perfect.

I've been pretty tired, hence the zero blogging action, there is NO rest for the wicked I'm afraid! We are over the worst, almost everything is unpacked, my office is a workable space, the three teeth little J had coming through are here, S has made friends with all the kids her age in town, and everyone is well. Most of my custom orders are complete and the NEW spring colourways are outside drying as I type! How exciting ;)

Even though it has been absurdly HOT - try 37 degrees in WINTER!!! - I have been knitting. After at least a month where I had no time to even look at my projects (I was thinking about them though) I could stand it no longer. I've even started a new project, a small one for some much needed instant gratification. Photos to come :)

Happy knitting!