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!

a Knitting Party Success!

Oh my, it has been one heck of a busy time in the world of Viola these days. I can easily fill 7 days a week with full-time dyeing, but recently have been adding on studio work and planning, packing for my big move and a little yoga...just to keep me from going mad. It's all great fun, but most of the time I have no idea what day it is! This past Monday was a delightful highlight in my action packed life. It was the most heart-warming knitting party I've ever attended (and certainly, the only knitting party that I've ever thrown). 

 Kickstarter backers from the GTA area came out to pass a peaceful afternoon sampling Viola yarns, chatting about knitting and enjoying a very posh cupcake or two. Afternoon rolled into evening and even more lovely Torontonian knitters arrived to raise a glass (or two),  join in the knitting chatter and get some shopping in...more posh cupcakes were consumed!

Here, the lovely Natalie Selles (leeleetea) has just finished sharing the hat and mitts she's designing in Mooresburg DK. Can you spot them?

As an internet based business, I can spend great lengths of time staring at a screen, I rarely have the chance to MEET customers and talk to them for real, in person. I had the best time watching everyone shop, peeking at the colours and yarns they were picking up, chatting with them about their choices and generally hanging out. Sure beats the internet, heh?! The only way it could have been better would have been to have ALL the Kickstarter backers there. 

Miko and Jennifer!

As always, Jennifer and Miko of the Purple Purl were the most kind and gracious hosts. Generously providing their shop and services to the cause (thanks ladies!)

The party was a great success in the end. I am feeling very lucky indeed to know such fantastic people, and had so much fun sharing a bit of Viola with everyone who came out.

 Thanks again to all!

it's a PARTY

Seven days from now I will be happily planted in the Purple Purl, sorting and arranging the piles of Viola yarn I've been dyeing the past few weeks. So much yarn! The reason for all this? There is going to be a little party. A SHOPPING PARTY! Kickstarter backers, if you can get yourself to Toronto next week, I hope I'll be seeing you there!

polwarth + alpaca

Mooresburg DK

As I was snapping these pictures the other day, I realized that I've been dyeing some very springy colours. Seems that the seasons always influence me, and I only catch it once I'm staring at the finished product. Any which way, I'm loving the colours I've dyed up!

 I've already posted a few details, but here is the plan for the big day...which is next MONDAY MARCH the 7th...

4pm - 6pm: Backers who pledged $200 or more are invited to drop in for a Viola yarn sampling and knitting circle. Today, I'm gathering together samples of some of my favourite colours and Viola bases for you to knit away on. Test out stitch patterns, combine yarns and colours, change up needles, do what you like! Take your swatches home with you too if you like. It's all up to you!

little cakes, sweets, tea and coffee, and a goody bag to boot. It's going to be a good afternoon! This is a drop in, so you don't have to be there for the entire 2 hours. Bring needles if you have a specific project in mind that you'd like to swatch for, or a selection of needles if you just don't know what you'd like to swatch. I'll be hanging out, knitting and am looking forward to meeting you all!

Everyone who attends the yarn sampling is also invited to the shopping event that follows...

6pm-8pm: Private shopping party party! That's right, it's pretty much my favourite words ever. All backers who pledged $60 or more are invited to the private shopping party. I have been busy indeed dyeing up yarn for the party. I will have Polwarth + Alpaca, Mooresburg DK, Merino Singles 4ply, Merino Lace and even some fab eclipse colourways, there's lots of yarn you guys! 

There will be a complimentary glass of bubbly and more cake for all the shoppers. 

I'm really looking forward to catching up with knitters I haven't seen in ages, and meeting some new faces at the same time. Above all, can't wait to spend the afternoon chatting about all things knitting. Wahoo!

If all goes according to my plan, I'll be sporting a brand new jumper next Monday as well. I've been blasting through Anna Maltz's Humboldt Sweater pattern from her brilliant new book, Penguin Patterns. I can't stop knitting. If I hadn't mucked up the neck shaping THREE TIMES, it would have been finished on Friday. Anyhow, I think I'll get there by next week. I'm using the beautiful Mooresburg DK in Giant Peach and a natural grey Wensleydale spun by my good friends at John Arbon Textiles. Love them, love the yarn, love the sweater! Happily, Anna is having a penguin KAL over in her ravelry group, so I'm joining in there too. Always fun to knit with a group!

This is my first project with Mooresburg DK (brand new for kickstarter backers!) So I'll be doing my best to wear it into the purl next week. Also, it's driving me crazy that I'm not wearing it right now!

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...part 1...

I mentioned in my last post that it has been such a long time since the last etsy shop update. Crikey, it's been since November!! It's no wonder I'm looking forward to it so much (I always love etsy update time; I love seeing which yarns and colours are paired up, and where they go. I sound so nosy, but I'm just looking out for my little yarn kids)

I realized a few days ago that I want to keep quite a bit from the coming update. More than usual, that is! And so, this is part 1 of "I almost kept this". That's right, it's a 2-parter this update. I am out of control!

At last, the delightful Polwarth + Alpaca is back in the shop. This super light 4 ply yarn is a blend of 15% Natural Brown Alpaca, 15% Natural White Alpaca and 70% Polwarth. Because this yarn is naturally a light brown colour, the dyes combine with it is no so many interesting ways. Some of the regular Viola colourways look amazing on this base, and some just don't really work. I've done a lot of playing around with the colours this time round and really like the palette I've come up with. I am working on developing repeatable colourways on this base, but at the moment everything is one of a kind!

Sea Storm

Nutmeg

Sunflower

Dew Drop

Whisper

 I've been sure to include sweater quantities in most of the colours, so there should be lots to go round. One skein goes a very long way as well, with 500 meters per 100 grams, this yarn is bordering on a heavy lace weight!

 Recently I have felt quite drawn to warm and spicy colours. I'm sure that it's a reaction to the cool wintery palette outside my window AND the fact that a very good friend of mine talks about spicy pink colours all the time. It's as if I've been listening to a tape as I sleep at night telling me that I should dye everything in a warm, rich pink...which I seem have done.

These four together have been my favourites this week, and that pink is front and center. It's on it's way to becoming a Viola staple colourway...

Sunflower, Bluegrass, Whisper, Amaranth

I finished a Quill Shawl over the summer in Polwarth + Alpaca that has served me very well indeed this winter. It was truly lovely to knit the pattern and yarn together and is just the ticket for long winter walks...must take some more photos of it in action...

Tuesday's update also features the return of Mohair Lace! I go on about Mohair more than enough in my last post, so I'll just share my favourite colourways. Promise I am NOT keeping them...

Giant Peach

Cosmic

Dew Drop

Ok, but there is just this one SINGLE skein that I am going to keep...for an exciting project I'm about to cast on. Slightly secret at the moment...

Bronte

 

Another yarn that I can't seem to shut up about these days is my beloved Sock yarn. I'll lave lots of that coming your way on Tuesday as well and here are my top picks...

Amaranth

Grafitti

Ghost...oldie, but a goody!

Phew, and now you can see why I've made this a 2 part post. More coming your way tomorrow!

shop update!

At long last it is time for a SHOP UPDATE! 

Click over the the VIOLA etsy shop next TUESDAY, FEBRUARY the 2nd @ 3pm EST for the latest and greatest!

I know, it's been a while. The past few months at Viola HQ have been action packed, and the time has flown by since the last shop update. I'm really excited about the yarns and colours that are lined up for next Tuesday. I think They're well worth the wait, hope you do too...

Polwarth + Alpaca is back at last! It's been away for a while, so for those of you who do not remember, Powarth + Alpaca is spun by my lovely friends at John Arbon Textiles. It's a blend of 70% Polwarth 15% Brown Alpaca and 15% White Alpaca. The natural hint of colour in the undyed yarn gives the finished colours such richness and depth. The yarn itself is light as air, soft, squishy and warm. It's good stuff!

I knit myself a Quill shawl in Polwarth + Alpaca and it has seen a LOT of action this autumn/winter. It was a perfect yarn and project pairing! Recently, I've been dreaming of a fair isle garment knit in this delightful stuff. Still in the dreaming/planning stages with that project...

 
Perhaps the best bit of news, however, is that MOHAIR LACE is returning! In the olden days of Viola (pre England) I dyed a very similar base, and it was so dreamy. When I took up dyeing again last year, I struggled to get the same base again. Just when I thought all hope was lost, this stunningly beautiful yarn appeared! Talk about good fortune, I'm still jumping for joy! 

The new Mohair Lace is almost exactly the same yarn as it's predecessor. It is a blend of 72% Kid Mohair and 28% Silk. Each 50g skein is 420 meters long.

I've just finished up a shawl (a very late birthday present for my mum) using Mohair Lace doubled with Merino Lace. The Mohair is in Twig (light golden brown) and Merino is in Ghost. I cannot even say how pleased I am with this project. I often find it really difficult to knit something so simple...always wanting to throw in some crazy detail, cable, stripe, lace, all of the above. Keeping it simple really paid off this time round!

It's a standard garter stitch triangle with this picot bind off. I'm going to be borrowing this shawl ALL THE TIME...I'll have to knit another one...that's ok. For anyone interested in knitting their own Mohair Cloud Shawl (that's what I'm calling it) I'll have lots of Mohair Lace coming up in the update, as well as Merino Lace to team it up with.

I used a 5mm needle, 2 full skeins of Mohair Lace and just over 1 skein of Merino Lace. It's big enough to wrap every which way, and light soft and cozy to boot! I wore it the other day layered over my favourite Mohair sweater (knit a very long time ago, and worn all the time!) Wearing all those layers of Mohair, whilst sorting Mohair Lace was a great treat.