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!

getting back into the swing of things

 

  This week (is it Friday...I think so) has passed at a remarkable pace. I've been busy doing lots of little things. The sort of things that you think won't take any time at all, and then hours have gone by...there are so many ends to tie up for Kickstarter, whilst trying to carry on with the main task at hand (dyeing yarn!) Needless to say, things have been bonkers. Still a good and exciting type of bonkers, but I truly have no idea what day it is today.

I've started to send out backer surveys. So anyone who pledged in the Kickstarter campaign will be hearing from me soon if you haven't already. It's been so much fun to hear back from you about your colour choices. I always love to know who wants which colour! I forgot to mention in Kickstarter that 'Soft' is listed as the colour option in a few rewards, but I've shown Wild Rose. This is  my fault...there was a time when I was going to switch them, and I FORGOT! So There's a big picture of Soft at the top of this post, on Mooresburg DK. I dyed up lots of Soft yesterday, on Sock too...beginning of the kits! 

There has also been rather a lot of painting and drawing. I am so happy with the way my sticker illustrations have come out. I love stickers, I always want them even if I don't stick them on anything at all. I don't want to spoil the surprise, but here's the original of my favourite sticker design. It's all about the socks around here, don't forget!

I've been running around so much that knitting time has been rather hard to come by. Don't worry, my sock addiction is showing no signs of waning, just paused for a moment. As I am still knitting the last of my test socks, ironing out any kinks in the Favourite Sock Pattern, so all spare time has gone into knitting those guys. When some time frees up though, I'm casting on with the Mooresburg colourway for a pair of socks for me. I simply could not resist a skein of this colour - I love it more every time I look at it!

 There are a couple of other projects waiting in the wings too...

 

I've had my eyes on the Karusellen hat from Pom Pom issue 14 for...well, since it came out. I've seen a few in person. Loved them all. It's time I knit my own! Whilst trying to focus on something less exciting, these 2 skeins of Mooresburg DK announced that they would be the perfect hat and that now was the time to cast on...I cannot argue.

And then there is this...I've kept it quiet because it features something new(ish) and very exciting. A bit of a surprise...MOHAIR! I'm knitting a shawl for my mum. She requested a very plain and simple, no nonsense, Tasha Tudor-like shawl. I'm doubling Ghost Merino Lace with some old Viola Mohair Lace. This is just about the most dreamy thing I've ever met. It is so soft and warm and substantial, but light and delicate all at the same time. I think it's also a great way to use lace weight yarn in a non-scary way. I'm using 5mm needles and the knitting is going by super quick. Anyhow, the big reveal won't be far off...

Last, but not least, here I am in my Speckled Mist creation. It's been neglected of late, due to busyness and indecision. Now that I'm getting back into the knitting groove, I've returned to contemplating my options here...how long should it be? One friend (you know who you are) has suggested that I knit it super long, like to my KNEES. I just have no idea where to stop. Transitioning from rust to purple was lots of fun, although I do not want to think about all the ends in there...

So I've been wearing the partially knit jumper/dress/thing around all afternoon (right now, as a matter of fact) just to get a feel for it. Who knows what it will become...I certainly don't, but I love it all the same!

i almost kept this...

Sharing the yarn that 'I almost kept' has become one of my favourite things about shop updates...suppose I just love pretty pictures of yarn. Don't we all?!

Today's shop update is very exciting, because it features the return of SOCK yarn! I've mentioned this already, I know, but I just love it so much. As a very serious sock knitter, I did stockpile a lot of Viola sock before I went off on my little break, but it was running low (and I was getting a bit panicky). Just in the nick of time, Viola Sock is back and I've managed to NOT keep it all!

Winterwood Sock

Bronte Sock

Wild Rose Sock

Black Lodge Sock

Truth be told, I want all of the sock yarn. All of it. But I cut myself off at 4 colours, gotta reign in the sock craziness!

There's lots of lovely Merino Lace as well and this rich green Eclipse is hands down my favourite!

Runner up is another Eclipse on Merino Lace. There is so much going on in this colour, I've spent more time that I should just staring at it!

And last, but not least, Cosmic Merino Lace. This colourway is quickly becoming a favourite of mine as well. Each skein came out quite differently on this base, but each one is seriously cool too!

Hope to see you today @ 4 pm EST for all this and more great yarn too!

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!

 

a finished shawl and the beginning of a studio

Here it is at last, my finished Quill shawl! I rarely work on one project at a time...not sure that I've EVER worked on one project at a time before this. Anyway, it's happened. I put it down to the fact that I loved the yarn and the pattern, and the combination of the two of them together so much that I just was not interested in knitting anything else (like the gazillion important gifts that I should be knitting). 

I've loved this pattern from the very beginning, and when the beautiful Polwarth and Alpaca emerged from my dyepots I knew that it was meant to be. For a long time I had gone off of shawls entirely, or perhaps that was just the cold Canadian winter making me knit endless jumpers in an effort to survive. Whatever the cause, this project has brought back my shawl love!

The yarn is so light, soft and airy. Almost weightless, but completely cozy when knit up. I hardly even understand how such a wonder could be possible...and I ought to after working in the John Arbon mill for more than two years! I shall simply say it is some Arbon magic and not try to puzzle out this mystery any longer. 

I followed the pattern almost completely, initially intending to knit more stripes with more colours. When the time came to begin adding the stripes, however, I found that I loved the simplicity of the main colour I had chosen and opted to knit just 3 thin stripes around the very edge of the lace border section. I also chose to knit two extra repeats of this section, to ensure that I would have a very big and ultimately cozy shawl in the end. Success! The knit on edging was addictive and such a fun treat after miles of garter stitch. Phew, can you tell that I love this shawl?!

Just in case you're wondering where that lovely backdrop is, I shall tell you. It's the beautiful meadow at the store. My future home as well as the future headquarters of Viola. Pretty exciting stuff!

If you receive the newsletter, you may already know that renovations have already begun on the little shed that is to become my future dye studio. The week before last a little team of diggers helped to clear the old earth floor out and make way for the gravel that will eventually be covered by a new concrete floor. Who knew concrete could be so exciting?!

Much to my dismay, the digging did not revel any more buried treasures. It seems that the deer bones, rusty bits, old pepsi can and broken plastic comb will have to suffice. The only thing our weekend of digging yielded was a large hole and more rocks that I ever thought could possibly be in the ground. So many that I'm now distracted by wanting to build a stone oven! Anyhow, here is a silly picture of me with a pick.

The rather large pile of dirt that was removed from the shed is a satisfying reminder of all our hard work

And, here is the glorious hole that we dug! Doesn't look like much but by next week it's going to be a smooth concrete floor. To be honest, I didn't want the concrete and argued for keeping the charming dirt floor from the start. Turns out that there are some very sound reasons for all of this work, and I get to use a sledgehammer, so that's fun too.