Pile of Colorway Swatches

SOOO very sorry for not posting more in the last week but I am bewitched by my dye pots (and crock pots ... I dye in those, too)!!!  Very appropriate for this time in October.  =)

I'm crocheting with this one right now ... the color blending is out of this world!

 

Which one is your FAVORITE and what would YOU make with it?

Love ... Erin
XoXoXo

Sushi Roll ... or Chevron Scarf?

I actually crocheted a scarf just so that I could take an artsy picture like this!

Shepherd's Wool  from Stonehedge Fiber Mill. 
They are located in Michigan ... I like supporting their Economy.  =)

No two skeins are a like ... they ply their Mill Ends with a strand of alpaca.

The result is scrumptiously soft yarn for a bargain basement price.  

Pattern is free on Raverly - One Skein Chevron Scarf 

(mine actually took two =) )

I'm looking so Happy because I'm ready for a Cold & Snowy Pittsburgh winter.

So, for those of you living in the Northern Hemisphere ... what are YOU knitting/crocheting/sewing for the Coming Cold?

Love ... Erin
XoXoXo

For Today ...

Outside my window ... it is wet and cold and cloudy.

I am thinking ... I'm glad I remembered to send Abigail to school with a hat on her head.

I am thankful ... that we live in a Small House here in Pittsburgh rather then the Big Box in Delaware.  We can keep the heat set higher and still save money on our Utility Bill!

In the kitchen ... not much is happening today.  I cooked up some Taco Meat a few days ago so I can fix an Easy Supper.

I am wearing ... a favorite outfit.  Jeans, black light weight turtle neck, and comfy shoes.  No hand knit socks today as they are all in the wash.  I should remedy that by either staying on top of the laundry or knitting a few more pairs.

I am creating ... more beautiful hand dyed yarn.  I can't wait to share pictures with you but that will have to wait until next week.

I am wondering ... is it possible to finish all my WIP's by the end of the year?  Wouldn't it be nice to start the year with Fresh Projects?!

I am reading ... the book of Joel for Bible Study.  Good stuff in the Minor Prophets.

I am hoping ... Abigail is having a good day at school.  I sure do miss My Girl during the day. 

I am looking forward to ... teaching a Yarn Dyeing Class in November.  =)  If you live near Hudsonville, MI you should sign up at the Library.

I am hearing ... the familiar sound of the clock ticking.  It was my Grandparent's clock and I remember sitting at their house when I was a little girl hearing the same sound.

Around the house ... lots and lots of crocheted blankets.  One in the Front Room, two in the Back Room, one on each bed.

One of my favorite things ... listening to Good Music  on Pandora. 

Happy Friday and Enjoy the Weekend!

Erin

Should this go to the Pillow Frog Pond?

I was so tickled to find Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Chunky in the sale room of my LYS for a bargain basement price.  The colors called out to me ... bring me home!  

I decided a pillow or two would be nice and crocheted up this beauty.  What an experience to work with this yarn ... it flowed effortlessly over my hook ... sigh.  =)

I turned the square each time I joined a new color but it still turned out Wonky.  The Wonkiness is accentuate by the plump pillow form.  =( 

There is enough leftover yarn to make new pillow fronts.

Little squares perhaps?

I could salvage the two squares and use them as backs.

What do I do?  

Am I being too Fussy? 

Opinions Please!

Love .. Erin

Monday ... with a Side of Yarn =)

We had a LOVELY time in Michigan ... so GOOD to see Family & Friends!

XoXoXoXo

But the rest of the week was very strange ... a Holiday can do that to oneself.

I was off by a day thinking Tuesday was Monday, Wednesday was Tuesday, yada yada.

Very discombobulating to the household rhythm.   

So I decided to dye yarn instead.  =)

I am going to teach a yarn dyeing class at the local library of my hometown in Michigan the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  

Whenever I visit Painted Trillium Yarns I make Wonderful People and Nifty Things like that happen!

So I decided to dye 2 or 3 hanks a dozen hanks of sock yarn to flex my yarn dyeing muscles. 

Each one is SO BEAUTIFUL ... I can hardly believe these colors came from 

Kool Aid and Wiltons Icing Paste.  

And a few more hanging outside to dry.

On a side note ... I wore my Forest Canopy Shawl to church yesterday and received many compliments.  =)

Love ... Erin

Gading About ... Again =)

Visiting family in Michigan over the Columbus Day Weekend.  =)
See you back on Tuesday!

Love ... Erin

Not a Lace Flunky Anymore!

I can't KNIT lace but I sure can CROCHET it.  

=)  =) =) =)

I used a hank of hand dyed sock yarn from my stash.

The color is such a lovely green ... like a forest canopy with sunlight filtering through softly.

Or it looks like an over-fertilized yard!!

The pattern is from Ravelry (free of course!)

South Bay Shawlette

Slightly modified as I ran out of yarn for the border (doesn't that always happen!)

Self-Portrait

I love this shawl and have already made one for Abigail's teacher.  =)

If you have a favorite shawl pattern, please share it with me in a comment!

Love ... Erin =)

Additions to My Stash & Hook Information

I went to Lancaster this weekend and stopped in Zook's.

 Somehow these Lecien prints came home with me.  =)

They are whispering to me that they would like to become a new table quilt for the dining room.  =)

Monday I was at Joann Fabrics and this sock yarn hopped in my basket.  =)
It is a nice wool/bamboo blend and I'm looking forward to spending some time on Ravelry finding just the right shawl or stole pattern.  

There were a couple comments on the crochet hooks in the Giveaway.
I made them myself using "unbranded" fimo clay from Michael's.
I was very pleased with the results and sad that I'd used Boye hooks ... I don't like Boye hooks.  

Go Figure ... Erin =)

PS - My sister found the oops in the Autumn Jewel blanket!  Look at the sofa picture ... the border at the bottom ... turns from blue to purple.  =)  I ran out of yarn and "made do" with what I had.