Fiber Friday Spotlight: Yarnie goodness!

4 11 2011

It has been quite a while since I’ve posted a Fiber Friday Spotlight but thought today might be a good day to share a few lovely yarns and fibers that you might want to add to your stash.  Yes, I’m enabling today!

For those of you who are Madelinetosh lovers, did you know she has an Etsy Shop?  I discovered this little secret a short time ago and every now and then, she has awesome deals, including free shipping.  Be sure to favorite her shop and to stay informed on all the latest deals, colorways, etc… be sure to join the Madelinetosh Lovers Group on Ravelry.

Courtesy of Madelinetosh - Colorway Logwood

For those of you who love to knit shawls in lace weight, which that is really becoming my thing of late, I want to share with you  an Indy Dyer that has beautiful lace weight yarn.   Dale’s Light Brown Hare .  You will find a beautiful array of gorgeous dyed lace weight yarns in a yummy blend of kid mohair and superfine merino wool.

Courtesy of the Light Brown Hare - Colorway: Chasing Sky

For those of you who love knitting socks or using fingering weight sock yarns for shawlettes, check out Plum Street Fiber Art.  This Indy Dyer has a wonderful collection of hand-dyed fingering weight yarns in blends and superwash merino wool.

Courtesy of Plum Street Fiber Arts - Eggplant on Devine

 

For the spinners, there are so many fantastic dyers, but I really love the colorways and blends from Three Waters Farm.   This Indy Dyer features a large selection of blends for spinning,  as well as  beautiful hand-dyed yarns ready for knitting.

Courtesy of Three Waters Farms - Couture

 

For those of you who like to support the farms and knit with wonderful wools, you must visit Solitude Wool.   This online shop has a variety of wools for knitting, including Border Leicester, Shropshire, Tunis/Alpaca, Dorset  and more.  They also carry fiber for spinning.

Courtesy of Solitude Wool - Border Leicester Sport

 

I hope I inspired you all a bit and that you learned about a few new Indy Dyers.  Until next time, happy knitting, crocheting, spinning and crafting!


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Fiber Friday Spotlight: Indieway Yarns

19 08 2011

Today’s Fiber Friday Spotlight  features  Wendi, the owner and operator of of Indieway Yarns located in the northeast corner of Minnesota, in the region commonly referred to as the “Tip of the Arrowhead”.

Wendi offers a nice selection of 100% superwash Merino Wool fingering weight that comes in skeins of  400 yards  and a blend of 80% superwash merino wool 20% nylon fingering weight comes in skeins of  390 yards.  Both weights have a suggested US needle size 1 to size 3.  Wendi also offers 100% SW Merino Wool in worsted weight that comes in 210 yard skeins and sport weight  that comes in 275 yard skeins.

Eco-conscientious knitters will be happy to know that Wendi only uses professional acid dyes from Greener Shades Dyes, a non-hazardous, non-chrome, low impact, heavy metal-free acid dye, for all her lovely yarns.

I recently purchased two skeins of Wendi’s hand-dyed 100% superwash wool.  This yarn is extremely soft and the colors are stunning!  I was very pleased when I received my package to see that the colorways matched perfectly together and that Wendi’s photos are true to color.  This lovely yarn is destined for a special project that I can’t wait to start knitting!

Courtesy of Indieway Yarns - Turquoise Mine and Deep Chocolate Caramel

 

If you are an Indy Dyer and would like to be featured on my Fiber Friday Spotlight, please contact me at peacefullyknitting AT yahoo DOT com.

Until next time, happy knitting, crocheting, spinning and crafting!

 


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Fiber Friday Spotlight: New Yarn Stashed

5 08 2011

About a week ago I stopped into Jessica Knits in Scottsdale to see what had changed with the shop since a new owner too over.  Loved what I saw and was very excited to see a few new brands in the shop.  Like any knitter, I could have spent a small fortune but I controlled myself and purchased only what I needed for two projects, which was two skeins of MeriSock Hand Painted sock yarn in a blend of 95% washable Merino wool and 5% Poliamid,  and two skeins of Manos Lace, a gorgeous blend of 70% Baby Alpaca, 25% Silk and 5% Cashmere.   I’ve never with lace weight yarn and now I’m in search of the perfect pattern!

MeriSock Hand Painted Yarn

Manos Lace

As mentioned in an earlier post,  my hubby and I took a road trip which lead us through the town of Jerome, which meant a stop in at Knit 1 Bead 2.  If you live in Arizona or if you ever visit and plan a trip to Jerome, you must stop in at this yarn shop.  It truly is a wonderful experience and a major color overload that is quite intoxicating.   This shop is laid out by color, not by brand or by fiber, which gives it a uniqueness all its own.  For me, as a designer, it gave me a huge range of possibilities.  I would never have thought about mixing various fibers in a project until I saw them arranged by color.

With that said, I purchased 4 skeins of Plymouth Yarn in Zino, a lovely 75% superwash wool and 25% nylon blend that is very soft and is 436 yards per skein.  This  self-striping sock yarn has amazing color tones and I could not resist purchasing two different colorways, color #9, a mix of browns and color #10, a mix of greens.    With the subtle transitions in color, this yarn is not only perfect for plain stockinette stitch for socks, but would be perfect for lace projects such as scarves and shawls.

Color#10 Color #9

Now my thought process for a design started as I noticed next two these skeins was a lovely mohair blend by Rowan.  Kidsilk Haze is a very soft, very light and airy blend of 70% Super Kid Mohair/30% Silk that is available in a large array of colors.  I fell in love with the browns and the greens that matched perfectly with these two sock yarns and will be incorporating them into a design.  I can’t wait to get started!


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Fiber Friday Spotlight: Briar Rose Fiber

29 07 2011

Today’s Fiber Friday Spotlight features Chris, the owner and operator of  Briar Rose Fibers, who has been offering gorgeous  high quality “hand painted” yarn, and fiber, in wool and wool blends, as well as handcrafted buttons and patterns,  since 2004.   Briar Rose Fibers rich vibrant colors reflect seasonal palettes in a variety of tones and colorways that is sure to please any fiber enthusiast.

For those of you looking for hand painted fiber for spinning, be sure to check out Chris’s  Roving and Top selections featuring  BFL, Cormo, Merino and Polwarth, and available to purchase in 1 ounce, 2 ounce, 4 ounce or 6 ounce weights.  There are many gorgeous colorways available, making it very hard to decide exactly which one to choose,  but it’s all the more reason to keep coming back for more.

I recently had the pleasure of spinning 3 oz of Polwarth that I absolutely love!  This will be spun into a single and then knitted up in a lovely scarf or a pair of fingerless mitts.

For those of you looking for scrumptious blends of yarn, there is a large variety of weights, fiber and tempting colors to entice you.  You will find quite a few patterns on Ravelry that have been designed using Chris’s yarn, especially by Anne Hanson of KnitSpot.

Patterns include:

You can find Briar Rose Fibers online at Facebook and online at Ravelry.

 


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Fiber Friday Spotlight: Cupcakes anyone?

15 07 2011

I love the pure joy of buying a cupcake and slowly taking the wrapper off to enjoy every morsel.  This decadent little desert to me is pure satisfaction for one’s sweet tooth.  But what does cupcakes have to do with fiber?  Something totally unique in marketing that makes your mouth water just like the real deal.

Today’s Fiber Friday Spotlight features The CupcakeFiber Company. Joan, owner and purveyor of wonderful fiber creations,  started her spinning adventure in 2009 when your husband purchased her first spinning wheel.  She realized she loved dyeing fiber and blending batts on her drum carder, and started a shop with a very neat concept.   Displayed inside a cake box looking just like those tempting little cupcake treats, is rolled  batts of fiber in solids, mix colors and a variety of blends.

I recently purchased the Superwash BFL and Nylon, a blend that is 88% Blue Face Leicester mixed with 12% Nylon in the colorway Winter Lake.   I love Joan’s way of providing just the right amount of fiber to achieve a 3-ply sock yarn in two skeins of equal weight.  Inside each box is six 1 oz batts that is either a solid or three different colors.  And yes, your fiber truly comes packaged as seen on Etsy, like a box of cupcakes!

 

In this shop you will find:

Courtesy of The Cupcake Fiber Co.

These photos feature Superwash Merino/Nylon Sock Fiber Batts 6 ounces in a Trio Set in the colorway, Sweet.  They almost look good enough to eat!

Courtesy of The Cupcake Fiber Co.

You can find Joan online at Etsy, The Cupcake Fiber Company,  her personal Blog , Twitter, FaceBook and be sure to check out her group on Ravelry .

Happy knitting, crocheting, spinning and crafting!


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And the winner is …

4 07 2011

Thank you all so much for entering my little giveaway that I posted for the 4th of July holiday weekend.  I know that I said I would announce the winner on Tuesday, but I wanted to announce the winner this evening!

The winning entry is #9, Babs who said …. “I love the color! It makes me think of crisp autumn days.”

I agree with you Babs, it reminds me of that too.   I you enjoy your skein of 100% Superwash bulky weight Merino Wool that has been hand-dyed in the colorway Firefly: Mal by Christina Marie Potter of Woolen Mills St Yarn.

100% Superwash Merino

Just a reminder that Christina carries both fiber for spinning and yarn for knitting, so be sure to visit her shop online!  You can find many of  Christina’s patterns online at Ravelry and her website, and be sure to follow her online at Twitter and FaceBook.


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Fiber Friday Spotlight: Woolen Mill St. Yarns

1 07 2011

Today’s Fiber Friday Spotlights features Christina Marie Potter of Woolen Mills St Yarn.   This Indy Dyer loves science fiction and names many of her colorways from her favorite shows like Battlestar Galactica, Dr Who, Star Trek and Firefly.   In this shop you will find a variety of hand-dyed yarns,  as well as beautiful fiber to spin.

I just received 4 oz of Corridale that is dyed in a rich brown, rust and gray.  This colorway was inspired by a quote from the commercials for the new season of Dr. Who, where one character  says “Stetson’s are Cool.”

100% Corridale Fiber

Christina is not only a wonderful Indy Dyer, she is also a designer with patterns being  published by Interweave Crochet magazine and Tahki Stacy Charles.   You can find many of  Christina’s patterns online at Ravelry and her website, and be sure to follow her online at Twitter and FaceBook.

_______________________________________________________________________________

I love Christina’s yarns and fibers very much and feel like celebrating fall early by giving away  100 yards (1 skein)  of 100% Superwash bulky weight Merino Wool that has been hand-dyed in the colorway Firefly: Mal.

With the fall  soon approaching, these colors are perfect for a quick knit hat or cowl.

100% Superwash Merino

To enter this giveaway, simply leave a comment , one comment only,  along with a means of contact, for example your Ravelry ID or Twitter ID.  Please note that this giveaway is open to U.S. Residents only.

Deadline to enter is Monday, July 4th  at 5:00pm Arizona Time, with the winner being selected by a  random number generator.    The winner will be announced on Tuesday, July 5th .  Please note that the winner will receive their yarn directly from me.

 

Thank you for entering ~ this giveaway is now closed!


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Fiber Friday Spotlight: Beesybee Fibers

24 06 2011

I discovered that when I hold a skein of yarn I have spun, I get a feeling of conclusion, and the knitting process becomes almost secondary to me. I like to think about the histories intertwined in a skein of yarn. The people, the animals, the places even the weather and my thoughts. All becomes present and important while I prepare the fiber before I spin it. ~ Patricia

Today’s Fiber Friday Spotlight features Patricia of Beesbybee Fibers.

This native of Yucatan, Mexico discovered working with wool as a matter of necessity when she moved from the warm tropics to the cold weather of the north and soon began dyeing wools and blends.

Courtesy of Beesybee Fibers

With an eye for color, this Indy Dyer brings spinners a collection of fibers in warm, rich tones, with a few that are often vibrant.   In Patricia’s shop you will find a wonderful collection of hand-dyed wools in BFL, Corridale, Merino and Polwarth.

If you enjoy spinning  blends,  you will like the  blend of 60% Merino and 40% Bamboo and if you want to try something new be sure to check out her Milk Fiber.

Courtesy of Beesybee Fber

If you are not a spinner, Patricia does carry  hand-dyed sock yarns in a blend of 80% Superwash Merino and 20%  Bamboo that are available in gorgeous colors with skeins measuring 420 yards.

You can find Patricia online at Etsy, FaceBook, Twitter and you can follow her fiber adventures online at Beesybeefibers Blog.

I just purchased a very soft blend of BFL and Tussah Silk that I hope to spin during the upcoming Tour de Fleece!

BFL and Tussah Silk Blend


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Fiber Friday Spotlight: Black Trillium Fibre Studio

10 06 2011

Black Trillium Fibre Studio is a one-woman operation. I love knitting, and I consider wool to be one of the most ingenious materials in the world. Dyeing seemed like a natural extension of all that sock knitting. ~ Melanie

 

Today’s Fiber Friday Spotlight features Melanie of Black Trillium fibre studio.

For those of you who love to spin, Melanie carries a nice selection of hand-dyed rovings in blends of Merino wool and Bamboo, as well as Superwash Merino and Blue Faced Leicester.

If you enjoy knitting socks or shawls, you will love the collection of sock yarns in scrumptious colorways with an average of 437 yards for Merilon Sock (75% superwash Merino 25% Nylon), 370 yards for Trinity Sock (80% superwash Merino, 10% Cashmere, 10% Nylon), 380 yards for Pebble Sock (100% superwash Merino), 400 yards for BFL Sock (100% superwash  Blue Face Leicester Wool) and 430 yards for Lilt Sock (85% superwash wool and 15% Mulberry Silk).

Melanie also carries lace weight with an average of 990 yards in Merino Wool and 430 yards in 100% Baby Alpaca.  Her worsted weight  has an average of 215 yards in 100% Wool, 240 yards in a blend of 60% Merino Wool and 40% Silk, and 220 years in 100% superwash wool.

I just received 8oz of Blue Faced Leicester roving in a gorgeous colorway called Columbia.  This mix of blues, greens and a slight rusty colors are awesome and the fiber is super soft!  I can attest to the fact that the colors viewed in Melanie’s Etsy shop are true to form and you won’t be disappointed.

Blue Face Leicester

Melanie has a summer sale going on now until June 14th!   Be sure to use the “Summer30″ as the coupon code to receive 30% off at checkout!  This is a great time to stock up on hand-dyed roving  for Tour de Fleece and yarns for socks, shawls, mittens or scarves!

You can find Melanie online at Twitter and on FaceBook.

Enjoy and Happy Fiber Friday !


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Fiber Friday Spotlight: At Bullard Farm

3 06 2011

Since moving to our beautiful Bullard Farm, in rural Massachusetts, I have become a fiberholic! I knit, spin, dye or play with wool of all kinds every spare moment.   Hopefully I can share my passion with you through Etsy! ~ Andrea

Andrea is not only a fabulous hand-dyer of yarns and fibers, she’s also a very dear online friend who has been very motivational and inspirational.   Without her giving me a gentle push to try new fibers,  I would not quite be where I am today when it comes to spinning!   With that said, today’s Fiber Friday Spotlight features Andrea Frost  of At Bullard Farm.

Andrea offers a variety of  gorgeous hand-dyed yarns in lace weight, fingering/sock weight and DK/Sport weight, as well as fiber for spinning that includes BFL (Blue Faced Leicester) Wensleydale, Falkland, Alpaca, Silk and Cashmere mixes.    Andrea hand-paints her fiber using professional acid (vinegar) dyes that create remarkable colorways.   I can honestly say that the photos provided by Andrea are true to color and the fiber is incredibly soft.

Violets and Peacock - 100% BFL Wool

Like many spinners, BFL is one of my all time favorite Long-wool breeds to spin due to the quality, sheen, drape and of course softness.  Like many wools, BFL also is wonderful to use for any type of felting projects.  If you are a new spinner, BFL is perfect for you to learning spinning with.

You can find Andrea online at Etsy and you can follow her online at  Twitter .

I know that many of you are gearing up for the much anticipated 2011 Tour de Fleece on Raverly and due to this, I thought I would start reviewing scrumptious fiber that can be found online to satisfy your spinning needs.

Until next Friday’s Fiber Friday Spotlight, happy knitting, crocheting and spinning!


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