26 hours and counting...

With the update almost here, and I'm enjoying the last bit of time surrounded by these beautiful yarn mountains. So many yarn mountains!

As promised, I'm back with more previews of what's to come tomorrow. Without any more nattering, here I go...

Mustard Seed

There will be lots of Polwarth + Alpaca, which is a very good thing indeed if you ask me!

This is an Eclipse, but it's a colourway I'm playing around with at the moment. Could become a real something soon!

Garden Ghost

Sea Storm

Blot, which surprisingly emerged as this soft pastel. I love it!

A little bit of Mohair Lace is destined for the shop tomorrow as well. While I love every single skein of this yarn, there are (I think) a few stand out colours this time round...

Pink Clay

Asteroid

Golden Oak

Garden Ghost

And I've dyed up lots of sweater quantities in MCN Worsted! I love to look at the piles and think about the lovely garments they may be knit into some day. And I've managed to not keep a lot of great stuff too...

Blot

Sea Storm

Pink Clay

Golden Oak

Also keep an eye out for Merino Singles 4 ply,  Merino Lace and Merino Fingering. 

I'm off now to sort out a few little things in preparation for tomorrow!

I almost kept this...part 2...

As promised, I'm back today with even MORE yarn that I really want to keep all to myself. Today has been a busy day of labeling, photographing, tagging and me daydreaming about yarn and colour combinations...what else is new?!

In honour of the garter triangle I just finished knitting in Mohair Lace and Merino Lace, I've dyed up lots and lots of Merino Lace for tomorrow's update! I know how intimidating lace weight yarns can be; small needles (or hook!) tiny stitches, it all takes ages and is so delicate and... (I've heard all the excuses). I'm telling you, it's worth conquering your lace fears for this combo! Held together, the two yarns are not intimidating in the least. They produce a light-as-air soft, squishy and warm fabric that knits up super quick! So if lace weight yarn was on your 2016 to do list, now's the time...

These are my favourite Merino Lace colours coming up...

Amaranth

Mineral

Elephant

I love dyeing Merino Lace. Colours always come out rich, unexpectedly speckled and glowing. I've dyed up a lovely selection of neutrals, to provide lots of choice for holding double with mohair.  I've also dyed up a little more Grafitti, a colourway in development that I am getting really excited about...

Every colour is so complex on this base that no two skeins could ever be the same. I find myself undoing skeins to admire little sections of colour.

Eclipse Merino Fingering

There will also be a really fun selection of Eclipse colourways appearing tomorrow.  Pictured above is the exact colour I used to knit this little gem of a baby cardi...

pattern coming soon...

I seriously LOVED knitting this little thing. The colour was such a dream, and even I saw new wonders in it once I started to knit...and I made it for heaven's sake! There are 3 more skeins of this colour ready to find new homes tomorrow, along with lots more brilliant Eclipse colours in Merino Fingering, Polwarth + Alpaca, MCN Worsted and Merino Singles 4ply.

And last but not least, there will be sweater quantities of the beloved MCN Worsted! It was a late entry, which is the reason I have not mentioned it until now...but here it is...

Garden Ghost

Righto, These are my favourites, and it seriously was a struggle to part with them. Hope to see you for tomorrow's etsy update @3PM EST!

I almost kept this...

It's shop update time again. Always very exciting (and very busy) here in Viola-land. I'm really enjoying my new tradition of posting my favourite skeins from each update. So, without further adieu, here are the skeins that I almost kept from Tuesday's upcoming update...

Ok, oh man, this one was really hard. I'm just jumping in with my number one, ultimate, the best new colour. Phew. I'm calling it Cosmic...in keeping with the totally cosmic kick I've been on these days. This guy a prototype. There will be more, but it's going to change slightly next time round, so yeah. It's a big deal! The yarn is Merino Singles 4 ply and there are 9 skeins going into the shop. I want a saggy, oversized sweater knit in this...but I'm not keeping it ;)

Next in the ranks is this Blushy beauty, also on Merino Singles 4 ply. I'm calling this one an Eclipse as it's not close enough yet...but it's just about all of my favourite things all mixed together...dusty pink, coppery streaks and plum splodges. Phew, too exciting!

An old favourite. I can't figure out how it's taken me so long to return to Mineral, a colourway from the good ol' days of Viola. Here it is on MCN Worsted, and there's 10 whole skeins of it coming your way. cozy autumn jumper methinks.

I can't get away from it. I just love Ice Berg. Every batch I dye is captivating to me, it's only a matter of time before Ice Berg doesn't make it onto this list...Here it is on Merino Lace and there's lots to go round with 6 skeins total!

And last, it's Giant Peach. Yep, I'm back to this again. I've dyed it up this time on Merino Fingering, again, with lots to go round (10!) So get in there, this soft, subtle and warm colour is the favourite of all Viola team members...but we're be seeing you on Tuesday.

Tune into the etsy shop Tuesday, September 1 @ 4pm EST

Hope you enjoy!

 

I almost kept this

Things are busy around Viola headquarters today. Getting all the last minute bits and bobs in order for tomorrow evening's update (weee!)

So here's a little sneak peek of my favourite colours, because there are always a few that I almost keep...

 First up is a new colourway that I am rather excited about, Giant Peach in MCN Worsted. I keep having visions of a great big cozy pullover knit in this. I suppose it's the soft and warm colour itself that makes me want to bundle up on an autumn day...premature considering the weather at the moment, but it never hurts to be prepared!

 

And Garden Ghost in MCN Worsted. I'm still perfecting this colourway, but it is certainly one that will be sticking around as I seem to have planned an entire wardrobe knit in it... A variation of the Ghost colourway, I've added more speckles of all my favourite colours. If ever a ghost lived in a flower garden, this is the colour it would be!

While I often do not choose greens for myself, I love how light and fresh this batch of Lettuce Merino Singles 4 Ply is. I feel cooler just looking at it (and that's saying something because Toronto is a stinking hot mess at the moment!)

 Winterwood Merino Singles 4 Ply. I can't do anything about it, I just love brown. Especially cool, dark browns. This is another colourway that is still 'in development'. But there was something very lovely about this batch that meant it almost missed the update. It reminds me of dark tree bark after lots of rain.

And lastly, there are so many Eclipse colourways in Merino Fingering this time around that I am numbering them! Here is Eclipse # 4. I can't help but see a unicorn standing next to a pond with Monet somewhere near by. But that's a far too complicated name I'm afraid. 

All this and more is going to be in tomorrow's etsy update at 4 pm EST. 

Hope to see you there!

a shop update and an beautiful new yarn

I'm updating the etsy shop next week, huzzah!

There are lots of lovely yarns and colours appearing in the next shop update, which is scheduled for...

Wednesday, July 1 2015 @ 4pm EST

 Next Wednesday's update will include MCN Worsted, Merino Lace, Merino Singles 4 ply and a brand new yarn!!!

Luxury Merino Double Knit is the newest member of the Viola team. With it's soft, bouncy and smooth hand, this yarn is an absolute dream to knit. The fibre is certified by NewMerino Australia, a program that ensures sustainable and ethically raised merino fibre is coming out of Australia. I am so happy to know this yarn came from happy sheep! Read all about the program here. In my mind, the combination of this stunning yarn and my happy conscience makes this yarn a serious luxury.

Each 100g skein contains 225 meters (246 yards) and will be $31 / skein.

I've already been swatching Luxury Merino Double Knit in Barouni (above) and have selfishly snagged skeins in a few colours for...oh I don't know, I just wanted them!

Here it is again in Aurora Borealis!

I Almost Kept This...

It crossed my mind today as I was photographing yarn, that I truly do want to keep almost all of the yarn that I dye (suppose that's good thing!) So I've decided to start a little blog 'segment' that I am calling...

 'I Almost Kept This'

all of the following yarns that I almost kept are going to be appearing in the upcoming shop update!

Everyone who knows me, or perhaps even has just spoken to me for a few moments has likely heard me going on about how much I love pink. Well, I do. I love pink. And this colour of Polwarth and Alpaca was almost knit into a Quill shawl (by me), until I decided to knit the same pattern in a dark, truffle colour...equally beautiful, but not quite so pink. For anyone who is curious, I've called this colour 'PINK'.

A second colour of Polwarth and Alpaca that nearly missed the update is 'Lemongrass'. Perhaps I love this one because spring has arrived and reminded me that I love bright colours, fresh growth and warm days. I'm also thinking that as bright as this colour may be, I want to combine it with almost every other colour out there! I've held it up against all the other Polwarth and Alpaca colours from this update (because that's what I do when I'm supposed to be labeling) and I think it looks great with just about all of them.

Next up, Merino Singles 4 ply. it's a batch of 'Aurora Borealis'. A colour that I'm still playing around with a little bit - so that means each batch is a surprise to me. I did a little dance when that bright, speckly patch of rust and chartreuse and...whatever else emerged. How exciting!? The best bit for me is the way those bright colours jump out from the subtle and soft background of warm gray / mauve.

 

My last favourite from this update is a couple colours in  M / C / N Worsted. Oh my, these were the toughest to let go of. On the right is 'Ice Berg', or so it is called. I'm crazy about this colour! A soft, cool, icy base with bright hints of colour. Of course, I am imagining a slightly magical, iridescent ice berg here. As one does. And lastly, this purple/browny colour is called 'Space Dust'. I never can turn down a dark, moody purple colour.