Yarn and Ewe Blog

Where you can find me:

 

Instagram @yarnandewe

Ravelry yarnandewegirl

Facebook Yarn and Ewe

Show notes can be found at www.yarnandewe.com

 

I now have a Yarn and Ewe girl Podcast page up on Ravelry! Currently there is a question thread posted but I’m planning on doing kal and having a drive for subscribers! My current goal is to hit 100 subscribers!! Once I hit that I will be hold a drawing for some sort of yarn goodness prize. Haven’t quite decided yet what that prize will be but there will be a prize for that!! So that being said make sure to subscribe so we can get that moving along. 🙂

 

On to finished objects:

 

Grown up Girl Cardigan: By Joji Locatelli

Yarn Malabrigo rios in the teal feather color

Needles US size 7 Hiya Hiya sharps

Here is a link to a photo of my finished cardigan

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B41UpxmnBCtYdHNpV0g5Y3dabWc/view?usp=sharing

 

I finished my Grown up Girl Cardigan last week!! So excited to have that done. I should have made it a little bigger though. I didn’t measure myself when I decide on the cardigan and made the 32 inch size. Thinking that was the size of my chest since that is the size of my bra band… however I failed to take into account the actual size of my chest and while it does fit it is a bit snug and doesn’t wrap as much as I’d like. Overall it was a fun pattern to knit I love the cable/lace bobble detail and may end up making another one down the road just a smidge bigger. I checked my gauge and it was 18.5 stitches per 4 inches. Which was right on, so the fault is totally mine in not choosing the correct size to make. Oh well. I also ran out of yarn. I finished the body and sleeves and didn’t have enough yarn to do the ties so I had to run out to find some. There are two local yarn stores in Vancouver, so I first stopped in at the one closest to my house called Urban Wolves, but they don’t carry Malabrigo. I picked up something there that I thought might work which I will show later, but then decided against it. When I went to the second shop in Vancouver I discovered that they do carry malabrigo and they had the color way and it was a great match altogether so I’m pleased with that.

 

Second finished object is a granny square wash cloth. I had these granny squares sitting around from a crochet lesson I had given to a coworker of mine. So I finally wove in the ends and joined them. They weren’t as even as I would have liked, but I am using them for purpose not fashion.

Yarn was sugar and cream cotton I had lying around and I think I used a size E crochet hook. Not sure.

 

Third finished object

 

Anna Dress (sewn)

Pattern by Hand London

 

Fabric is a cotton calico. Here is a link to my finished Anna Dress

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cvvNqjnoXsiCzfgAFLjYVS06R-C_k_-NBw/view?usp=sharing

This is my first actual garment I have sewn. I’ve made other things, project bags, halloween costumes but nothing that I actually planned to wear in public on a normal day. I am pretty pleased with it. I got lots of compliments when I wore it yesterday to my son’s first communion and I am definitely planning on making another. This time with a v-neck and maybe doing a gathered skirt. I saw some versions like that and thought they were very cute. I just want to give a quick shout out to Kristen of Yarngasm podcast for being such an inspiration. She has made a few of these dresses and she is really the one who lit the fire to get this dress going. So thanks Kristin.

 

WIPS

 

Biscotte’s Sheeps Sock Pattern

By: Louise Robert

Free pattern from www.biscottecie.com

 

I found it on Ravelry and there is a link from the pattern page to the website.

 

Yarn:

Main color: Natural Lorna’s laces Shepherd Sock

Contrast Color: Easter bunny barf by Me

Needles. US Size 2 or 2.75mm

 

Modifications: working from cuff down instead of toe up

 

New Design

By me

 

Yarn: Feza Sock color 2001

Needles Chiagoo US size 1 40inch circular magic loop method

 

Knitting inspiration: What to cast on next…

 

I finally started watching season 2 of Outlander on Starz. Little background info… I have read the first 4 books in this series about 6 times give or take, probably more. The first 4 in my opinion are the best. They got a little slow after that. I speculated with girlfriends for years about the possibility of them doing a movie or series and was so excited that they finally did that. That being said I stopped watching season 1 shortly about 3 episodes before the end. If you have read the books you know there is a scene toward the end of book one that is graphic and disturbing to say the least. I have read it and subsequently when I reread the book I tend to skip over that part. Once was enough for me. I was not interested in watching them visualize that scene in the series. So I just decided to skip ahead to the beginning of season 2. I don’t feel like I missed out, I know what happens and I’m fine just moving on. Anyway… The first episode of season 2 was very well done. And all the knitwear just makes my mouth water. That is one of the best things about the series for me. Anyway in episode 1 of season 2 Claire is wearing this great fitted vest with a large horseshoe cable running up the middle and 2 smaller ones running up the sides it is fabulous. Made me want a knitted vest. So I went onto ravelry and skimmed through patterns and decided on the Heliopath vest by Emma Welford. It is in the Unoffical Harry Potter knits ebook that Interweave put out a couple of years ago. The Heliopath vest is the one that is made with Luna Lovegood in mind. I love the cable detail on the vest but am not a fan of the drop stitches. I did see one that was done without the drop stitches and I really like how that turned out. I plan on making mine like that. I am going to use Imperial Columbia. I have a large stock in my shop and want to make something out of it. I’m think the wild iris colorway.

 

Acquisitions:

 

As I said before I bought an extra skein of Malabrigo rios from Blizzard yarn and fiber here in Vancouver to help finish off my grown up girl cardigan.

 

I also bought a sock blank there from puglove dyeworks color witches brew. Double stranded sock blank 75% merino 25% nylon 100gm

 

From Urban Wolves I bought some of there hand dyed yarn Kira Worsted in the moonscape colorway.

 

Papercraft shadow box from Simply Sine www.simplysine.com

Beautiful handcut, hand painted elephant shadow box.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B41UpxmnBCtYdHNpV0g5Y3dabWc/view?usp=sharing

 

Host: Janine

AKA: Yarn and Ewe Girl

 

Places to find me: Ravelry as yarnandewegirl

Instagram: @yarnandewe

Facebook: Yarn and Ewe

Finished Objects:

 

1.  Summertide Shawl by Helen Stewart of Curious Handmade.

Done in 1 skein of Solstice on the luna sock base in Colorway British Racing Green

1 skein of Squishy from Anzula yarn in Petals colorway. Both 100gm fingering sock yarn both 80/10/10 Merino cashmere nylon

 

I used Hiya Hiya Sharp US #6 or 4mm needles

 

Anzula skein was not a full skein and I barely made it.

 

Really enjoyed knitting, however it isn’t as deep as I would have hoped for, extremely long but not very deep and that could be just because of my row gauge being different than others. I have found that it is a lot easier for me to manipulate stitch gauge than row gauge. For whatever reason.

 

2.   Speed Bump Socks from Soccupied. Pattern by Deb Barnhill

 

Yarn is Nomadic Yarns on their Trusty Sock base which is 75% merino 25% nylon in the Rhinebeck Sweater Weather Colorway.

 

Knit with 2, 24 inch circulars US size 1 or 2.25mm Addi Lace knitting needles

 

3.  Yarny!!! I’m so excited about this. I know it’s not a traditional “knit finished object” but it did involve yarn. And it felt like a yarn bombing experience. First of all for those who don’t know Yarny comes from a video game called “Unravel” we got a new PS4 for christmas and in the aftermath traded in all our old PS3 games and console. With the money we got some new games. Mostly games for my husband and the kids. I’m not a huge video gamer I feel a bit like it’s wasted time, but while we were there at the store, I pulled out my knitting to pass the time. The shopkeeper must have seen me because the next thing I knew was my husband asking me to come over and check something out. The guy had told him about Unravel and thought that I would enjoy it seeing as it had to do with yarn. LOng story short we bought the game, cause I’m a sucker for anything to do with yarn. Plus the guy had given a really good review of it.

 

Beautifully done game!! Very engaging puzzle solving game. You are Yarny, this character made of red yarn and as you move along in the game the yarn unravels behind you, if you run out of yarn you can’t move. You have to make the yarn last to the end of the level. Picking up new bits of yarn along the way. According to the creator the yarny unravels the farther away he gets from the things he loves, he says the yarn is meant to represent love and the bond between people and Yarny is trying to reconnect this old lady with the things she has lost.

 

The scenery!  

The music!!

 

WoW!! Anyway my youngest son is into stuffed animals so he has been asking me to make him a Yarny ever since we got the game.

 

We also really enjoy playing little big planet 3, which is another game with knitted characters, but he has yet to ask me to make him a sack boy yet

 

I think I’m going to try to work out a way to make the Yarny actually knitted and stuffed. Instead of wires and yarn wrapped around. I just watched a youtube tutorial on how to make this guy. Quite simple if time consuming

 

What’s on the needles:

 

I am still working on my grown up girl cardigan by Joji

 

I have all of the body and one sleeve fully done. I still have to finish the second sleeve and pockets and do the tie at the waist.

 

I am using Malabrigo Yarn Rios in the teal feather colorway. Each skein is 100gms and approximately 210 yds

 

I used Hiya Hiya Sharps US #7 or 4.5mm knitting needles for most of the project expect the cuffs of the sleeves which calls for US #6 or 4mm needles. I also decreased one extra time in the cuff area to make the sleeves more fitted.

 

I’m making the smallest size. The thing about Joji’s patterns is that when you do your swatch you really need to block it and then check your gauge. Yarn grows a little in the blocking process. So at this point the sweater fits but a little snug, not too bad. I did a gauge swatch and blocked it so it should be ok once it’s finished and completely blocked out.

 

Next project is a pair of socks, The Biscotte’s Sheep socks.

 

Modifications, doing cuff down instead of toe up.

MC is Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock in Natural

CC is my own handdyed. Easter Bunny Barf

 

Using US size 1 or 2.25mm for cuff/heel/toe

US size 2 or 2.75mm for the fair isle portion

 

Purchases:

 

In Florida I visited 3 different shops, i think I’ll split my purchases up and talk about some today and some at the next podcast. Don’t want to overwhelm…

 

First stop was Gabriella’s Yarn shop in Winter Park Fl.

I bought Blue heron Yarns Rayon Metalic in the Blueberry Colorway. 550yd

She hand wound this for me. I guess the rayon is pretty slippery and gave me a lovely psuedo drop stitch scarf pattern that I think would be great to wear in summer.

 

Next stop was St. Petersburg Florida for some beach activity. Found a cute shop called Stash A Place for Yarn.

I met Kristin.

 

Bought quite a bit there…

 

Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Cotton in Toffee, Lotus and Shell 100gm, 150yds 100% organically grown cotton

 

Delicious yarns Sweets Sport in the Cotton Candy colorway. 100% superwash merino 100gm about 310 yds, love how the tag is like food

 

The Fiber Seed Yarn Co. Sprout seed pack 90% Superwash USA merino and 10% nylon 480 yd 2 ply fingering, local in Tampa

 

Shop number 3 was called Knit! In Longwood Florida

1 skein of Feza Sock: Colorway 2001 100% Superwash merino Sock weight yarn 440 yd

2 Skeins of Ella Rae: Lace Merino Chunky Colorway 200, Bulky weight 100 gm and 121 yd per skein

1 ball of Rowan Baby merino silk Dk in Emerald

1 ball of Rowan Baby merino silk Dk in Flower

1 ball of Rowan Baby merino silk Dk in snow drop

The Rowan is a 66% Superwash merino and 34% tussah silk 50 gm balls 147 yd per ball

Where to find me. Instagram: @yarnandewe, ravelry: yarnandewegirl You can also check out the shop at www.yarnandewe.com or my facebook page yarnandewe.

Finished objects:

Pair of socks for swap, pattern was 2luvcrew from Soctopus

Boy Elephant from little cotton rabbits

WIPs:

Grown up Girl Cardigan by Joji Locatelli yarn Malabrigo yarn Rios in teal feather

Socks from Socupied Speed bumps socks by Deb Barnhill

Planning to cast on the summertide shawl by helen stewart of curious handmade

 

What I’m wearing

Wearing my A trip with Stitches cowl free download, done in Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Bulky Colorway Ogden. 2 skeins, available in the shop.

 

Purchases:

 

Soft Horizons Fibre Eugene, OR

Malabrigo Yarn Rios Colorway Teal Feather

Malabrigo Yarn Rios Colorway Lotus

 

Knit Shop Inc

Plymouth Yarns Happy Feet 100 splash color 104

Mountain Colors Twizzlefoot Color Mountain Tango

Scrumptious 4 ply sport superwash Color 305- Purple

 

I love this fall weather. The air is brisk and the leaves are changing and I can’t wait to wear all my warm knitted gear. With this season change comes the holidays. This upcoming week Yarn and Ewe will be at the Tacoma Holiday Food and Gift festival! I’m so excited! This is our first year and our first booth and craft show experience. If you are going to be in the area we will be in the exhibition hall of the Tacoma Dome from Oct. 22-25th, so stop by and say “Hi”. We will have a ton of yarn to get you going on all your holiday gifts and projects.

One of my favorite knitted items is socks, I absolutely adore them. Even in the summer time you will see me in my hand knit socks. There is just something about them. They are quick to make, can be simple or complex and the variety of sock yarn available is amazing. I am so excited to be carrying Baah Yarns La Jolla Fingering. This yarn is my new favorite for my old favorite. La Jolla comes in a beautiful array of colors. Check out what’s available and start knitting your next pair of socks.

Just received a large shipment of beautiful yarn!!