Woolly wool

Woolly wool is the term I use for my favorite type of knitting yarn.  It is also referred to as being sticky.  A close-up of my current project, the Croft Hoose Hat illustrates the wonderful characteristic of this type of yarn.  I am using Alice Stanmore's Hebridean 2-Ply given to me by a friend before she moved, thank you Becky!  If you look closely, you can see all the colors that make up the yarn.  The yarn is not soft until the project is blocked.  I find that when blocking a project made with this type of yarn the fabric gets better when worn and washed numerous times.  The stranded floats on the inside mesh together making the fabric warm by filling in the spaces.  Icelandic wool does the same thing.  I also love that the fabric develops a halo.  When I wet block my stranded knitting, I pull and stretch out the fabric before wet blocking.  The project goes into a tepid bath with wool wash for a soak for about 20-minutes, and then the water is squeezed out.  Depending upon the size of the project, I roll it in a towel and step on it to remove excess water or it goes into the washer's spin cycle.  I spread some towels in an out of the way spot and let the smoothed or pinned project air dry.   Beating the knitting with a yardstick (or I have been known to use a large wooden spoon) is another way to even out those stitches.  The first time I heard about beating the knitting I thought, "These people are nuts."  Later I learned that it is just another blocking process.  When knitting samples for a yarn company, it was in my contract how to block the project and beating the knitting was part of the process.  I have since purchased a "whapper," which is a large yardstick from Sheepy Yarn Shop.

The stash!

The colors appear warmer than in the photo above.

Each wisp of fiber is a different color and creates visual interest to the fabric.

Shook Hat, one of my favorites knit with Jamieson & Smith 2-ply jumper weight.  The fibers have meshed together to make the hat softer over time.  Below the inside of the hat, the floats are nicely matted down. 

A new sample project for Amazing Threads, is the Gretta Hat.  It is from Lux Adorna Yarns, and comes boxed with nine mini skeins.  The pattern is downloadable with a code on the inside.  The yarn is cashmere and while not my favorite type of yarn, I was pleasantly surprised at the result after wet blocking.  The hat is very lightweight, soft, and warm.  

A trendy slouch hat.

Anoka Fiber Works and Amazing Threads

Throughout our marriage (38 years this year) Jim and I moved around the USA and in Germany.  Some places we liked better than others.  After Ben was born, where we lived became more important.  From 1996 to 1999 we lived in McKinney, Texas.  We lived in a nice neighborhood with lots of young families like ours and there was an amazing shop called Woolen Works.  It was a place to gather, to learn, and to experience all things fiber.  I sat in with a Wednesday group of spinners--I was the knitter.  They were so friendly and welcoming.  Fast forward to 1997 and the purchase of Louie, the Louet S10 spinning wheel...I learned how to spin and never looked back.  In 1999 Jim interviewed for a job in Minnesota, which meant another big move.  It was difficult to leave the friends we made and for Ben to change schools, but we were up for the adventure.  I continued to spin, although I missed the Texas Twisters.  When I began teaching knitting, I was able to add spindle spinning classes and later wheel spinning classes.  My attempts to start local spin ins was met with some success, but it was not until a group of women began a co-op in an Anoka yarn shop.  It was wonderful to see the wheels and the fiber for sale.  Wanting to expand, the group moved the co-op to another location and Anoka Fiber Works was born.  Talented fiber artists sell their wares (finished items, equipment, and fiber), there are classes, field trips, and most of all it is a gathering place to meet and share the love of all things fiber.

I have a couple of classes coming up at Anoka Fiber Works.  The Felted Amulet Bag is a wet-felted project.  To make the class sample I dug through my Lake Superior rocks and found a perfect size.  Last evening I worked up the sample and I am pleased with the outcome.  It's  a perfect size to wear around the neck and hold small tools or perhaps some emergency chocolate!  The class is June 12, from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm.

Wet felted Amulet Bag and the rock I used

The other project is a shawl pin with a polymer clay topper.  The samples I made are simple--a  figure (sheep), a bead covered with slices of canes, and then a wrapped bead.  Dawn gave me a couple of sticks to use and they worked well with a bit of sanding and finish.  The shiny finish on two beads is added on after baking and made for polymer clay.  It is supposed to be a satin finish...mmm...I don't think so...

The Poly Clay Shawl Pin class is on July 8, from 6 pm to 8 pm.

Clay bead covered with cane slices, wrapped bead, sculpted bead.

I am fortunate to be part of the teaching staff at Amazing Threads.  It is a great place to teach!  One of the upcoming classes at Amazing Threads is a skill-builder for illusion knitting.  Strategically placed knits and purls using contrasting yarns create a picture when viewed at an angle.  A circle is a simple shape and works up relatively quickly.  Once you learn how to read the chart it is easy.  There are some amazing examples and patterns on Ravelry of projects worked with the technique.  This class is June 14 from 10 am to 12 pm.    

Now you see it...

...now you don't.

Bobbi and Angel returned from Market recently.  It is always fun to see what is new in the fiber world.  I chose the Teggala Hat kit to make for a shop sample.  The yarn is a blend of cashmere and possum down (yes, possum down) from New Zealand.  Light and lofty, super soft, and a dream to knit with this little project has it all!  It comes beautifully boxed with the pattern and three 10-gram skeins of Zealana AIR yarn.  This will be the perfect finished project or just gift the kit.  It will be exciting over the next few weeks to see the new yarns arrive!

Luxury in a box.

I love the packaging and presentation of this kit.

Charcoal, red, and natural baby skeins.

I marked the spot for the centered double decreases and between the design repeats.
It is much easier to keep track of where I am in the design.

I am still on the circular needles and will switch to double points when the decreases get closer together.  It fits nicely and is so nice and light.  The fiber is so soft with a lovely halo.  Can you tell I really love this yarn and project?

Playing with sticks and string

Anyone that knows me knows I love color.  I bought some Ella Rae worsted wool and have had some fun knitting small projects.  Just to keep it interesting I also whipped out the Kureyon Kozy.

Tablet Cozy--a good pattern for learning how to do stranded knitting.
Pattern by Kristin Nicholas

The perfect project for that stray skein of Noro Kureyon (Kureyon Kozy).

Both projects are upcoming classes!