Business Announcements - Knitting Notions

Summer 2013 New Colors

We are pleased to introduce you to our new colors in our lineup. Pictures are linked to the products on the website. :-)

It’s always interesting to see how the same colors look so different on the different bases isn’t it?

I am super busy this week getting ready for our travels beginning early next week. Therefore I don’t have much time for a long post today. I will try to write another post in a few days and catch you up on my reading and other various stuff. Not much knitting to report anyway. TTYL!

Posted on July 30, 2013July 30, 2013 by yarnmama — Leave a comment

New colors and a Bon Voyage SALE

We have the winners of the color experiments! I have the dye all mixed. The yarn is all skeined. Dyeing to commence in the next day or two.

Here are the finalists:

Below are the results of tweaking the purple and pink one final time. I decided on the ones on the bottom. They go best with the rest of our colors. I really like the pink one now. :-)

I haven’t picked out names yet but was offered a few good suggestions from Kristi (I especially liked Varying Violet). I think I have decided on the yellow one though. I looks so much like Summer Squash to me that I think that’s what it has to be. Peach sounds a little boring, even though that’s what it is. I will have to come up with something better than that. Maybe Southern Peach? hmm… I have nothing on the pink one. I will see what I think when I see the full size skeins I suppose. Feel free to add any suggestions for any of the colors in the comments. I will welcome any help!

On the slightly bittersweet side is the fact that adding four new colors means we must discontinue four colors. Rats! But on the bright side. for you anyway, is that we are marking all the discontinued colors half price until they are gone. What a deal for you right? The colors going “bye-bye” are Aubergine, Dark Rose, Red Grape, and Pear. To shop the sale go to the Hand Dyed Yarn and highlight the color you want from the dropdown selector. Sale prices are displayed after you do that. :-)

On to knitting progress minute though it may be. I can not believe this is the sum total of my knitting since the end of April. Sheesh. As you can see I have finally gotten to the home stretch on my small Sorrel. I have started the yoke at last. Yay!

Posted on July 16, 2013July 15, 2013 by yarnmama — 2 Comments

Sorrel pattern release

Well another 10 days have gone by in which I have neglected the Blog. :-( I appreciate each and every one of you who are still reading this no matter how sporadic it may get at times. Mwah!

So since my last post we have been to another show which I didn’t even remember to get any pictures while we were there. We were in Wooster, Ohio for the Great Lakes Fiber Show. This is a show that dates back for us to our earliest year of doing festivals and we look forward to it every year. We took Emma (8 year old daughter) so she could see the horses. I meant for the girls to get some pictures but we all forgot.

I do however have a few pictures for you today. I am still making ridiculously slow progress on the smallest size of my Sorrel pattern sample, but fortunately my test knitters are much faster than I am. They have both come through with theirs and I am ready to call this thing ready for public consumption. Yay!

This is my pathetic progress in what? three weeks? four? Gah!

The Tiger Lily one is the large, as mentioned last time; and the Tea Rose one in front is the middle size as is the Thyme one in the center.

One skein of Classic Merino Bamboo is all that is needed to knit any of the three sizes. I have the pattern listed on both my website and Ravelry for $6.00.

The traveling may interfere with knitting time, but it does give my more reading time. Bonus! Right before Mother’s Day weekend I treated my self to a new Nook HD+ when they added Google Play and put them on sale. I have used it quite a lot. I still use my e-ink Nook sometimes but I have found the Nook HD+ easier on my eyes that I thought I would. One advantage it has is that I can listen to music or my audiobooks while reading which comes in handy for blocking out distractions. I can use my phone or iPod but it’s nice to have it all on one device too. My Nexus 7 can do this as well, but I am liking the beautiful large screen on the HD+. :-)

I bought this sleeve to keep it in which I prefer to a cover.

I have been reading through all the Dan Brown novels in the Robert Langdon series before I read the newest one, Inferno. They are fun and interesting light reading. I am currently about one-fourth of the way through the third book, The Lost Symbol. My favorite so far is probably not surprisingly The Da Vinci Code. I am probably one of the few people who didn’t read it when it came out.

I think I will start my summer reading off when I m done with these by working through the Complete Sherlock Holmes collection.

I also got this book right before I left for Ohio. I had pre-ordered it in late January when I first became available and it finally came! I am savoring it by just reading a chapter a day. :-)

Posted on May 28, 2013May 28, 2013 by yarnmama — Leave a comment

New Pattern – Pillars

I finally got around to writing up the pattern for my infinity scarf this week. It also has a name too, Pillars. I have it for sale on Ravelry and on my website for $5.00.

I have only knit it up in this striped version, but it would be great in a single color too. The stitch pattern is fun, easy, and has a nice stretchy texture.

Here’s another little fun thing I set up to go along with the pattern release. I was originally envisioning doing this design as a kit. I was going to pick 6-8 color combinations and package appropriate amounts of yarn with the pattern so that you can make the scarf in stripes without the need of purchasing full skeins when you only need 20-25g of a color (you need 40-50g of the main color, but more on that in a minute), but I came up with what I think will be even better.

Build your own kits! I have made these adorable mini skeins of the Classic Merino Sport and you can buy what ever combination you want. If you want it the way I made mine with a main color and two contrasts, you will need one ball each of the contrasts and two of the main color. For a single color scarf you one 100g skein. Fun, huh?

This is just a few of the colors, but aren’t they the cutest things?

If you visit the link you will see that there are two skein size options there; 100g and 25g. Pick a color and a size and there you are. Then go put the pattern in the cart and you are ready to go. We will see how it goes and if people like it we may even expand the idea to other yarns. Oh, this would be a fun for my Classic Baby Cardigan too.

Okay enough with the self promotion stuff, LOL! I have some more progress on the wrap I am working on. It doesn’t look any different, just bigger, but I took a new picture anyway. I am close to the end of the first skein and have almost 20”, so my prediction of it coming out at somewhere between 60 – 64” for 3 skeins seem pretty good.

I haven’t talked much about my reading lately, but that’s not for lack of it. I have actually made good progress on my TBR list. I finished my re-read of the Lord of the Rings and it was a pleasure to read as it always is. I swear it just gets better every time I read it if that is possible. I was listening to the new unabridged Audible version as I think I mentioned before, and I will reiterate that is is very well done. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

As soon as I finished that I started on Gone Girl, because my number came up on the Overdrive list for the eBook. I can’t remember the last time, not counting books I listen to while on the road, that I have finished book in 2 1/2 days. Wow. It was very interesting and just pulled me in and didn’t let go. I was going back and forth between reading and listening to the Audible version, so that helped, but honestly I just could not put this down. I listened to it while I was churning out those mini skeins you see up there, LOL! If you are one of the few people who haven’t read this one I encourage you to do it. I am not usually one to read something just because it’s popular, but I think this time there is a good reason for it.

So after I finished Gone Girl I started Clockwork Angels because I am a total Rush geek and I simply have to read it for that reason. So far so good. I just started it last night.

Okay that’s all for today! Happy knitting and reading!

Posted on February 21, 2013 by yarnmama — Leave a comment

Design is coming along

When last I posted I had a partial swatch. I have since finished that and soaked and blocked it to get an accurate gauge. I then also swatched in stockinette before determining my final cast on number.

Here’s what I have so far…

I have almost 8” complete and I think that is about right for the border pattern. At first I thought I might make it more like 10-12 “ deep, but it is looking right to me now so I will probably make the transition. I am aiming for this to use 2 skeins of my Classic Merino Sport yarn.

Initially I had planned two stitch patterns; one on each end for a deep border and one for the main body. As I knit however, I begin to think I may want to add a third element as a small line between the two as a transition. I am going to pore over my stitch pattern books today and see if anything inspires me that will both harmonize with what I have going and will also work out in multiples of the stitch count on the needles. We will see if anything comes of it or if I proceed with my original plan.

Oh and speaking of new designs, my new website is up and running with only a few minor glitches. Yay! Glad that is done. I love it and hope you all will find it a much nicer experience than the old one.

One more big thing off my to do list is my federal income tax return. Whew! Man I hate doing it every year, don’t you? I try to get it over with ASAP and as soon as the website was done I decided to tackle the taxes so I could just focus on upcoming show preparations and my new design work.

I have one other design idea percolating and I started a swatch for it too. So far it’s just a little stockinette swatch in my Classic Merino Bamboo. I didn’t bother with a picture yet since I haven’t picked out the stitch patterns to embellish it with yet and so it’s not too exciting to see. I can tell you that it will be a little dress, inspired by my newest grand daughter to be born in May. More details in it as they develop.

Bye for now!

Posted on February 12, 2013 by yarnmama — Leave a comment

Cowl’s done and so is the website…well almost

Since my last post there have been a few exciting things going on.

First I finished my as yet un-named cowl/infinity scarf. Yay! I haven’t got any thing done towards writing up the pattern other than my notes I took on my phone. It is on my to-do list though.

I took a couple of hurried shots of it today and I apologize that they aren’t too great but I will get better one for the pattern release. I didn’t think you would want to wait that long for a look so this is what you get for now. ;-)

I think it is a nice uni-sex design too. Even my husband approved of it and would wear it which is saying a lot. He never wears scarves. The color possibilities are limitless and I bet it would even look good in a single color. I may have to knit one or better yet get a few test knitters going on some different color ideas. Well as soon as I have a working pattern that is. Heh.

I also got an idea for a textured stitch large scarf/stole that I started swatching for. It’s still in the early planning stages and I can already see where I am going to have to make a few changes but I am happy with where it’s going. Here’s what I have so far.

This is also in my Classic Merino Sport. I just love this yarn so much and I am hoping to encourage more knitters that sport weight wool is the new DK, LOL! That’s a bit of an inside joke. Sorry. I have just noticed a trend in DK designs and requests for that weight yarn but haven’t taken the plunge to add one to my line yet. I just know that as soon as I finally do it the trend will be over, LOL! So I am holding out and waiting for that to happen. I am attempting to start my own trend. So there, LOL!

Oh here’s something else fun and exciting! Meredith finally decided it was time to start driving. She has been saving her earnings and here’s what she bought last week. It’s a 2006 Toyota Corolla. It took her weeks and weeks to find the perfect car and I think she made the right choice.

Another bit of news is that we are nearing the launch of our fabulous new website! I can not tell you how happy I am with it and I can’t wait for you all to see it. This change was long overdue and I am kind of proud of it. My son-in-law is hosting both my old and this new website and he has worked as hard as I have on all the background server type stuff while I did most of the content, layout and design stuff. Anyway our hope is that if all goes well the changeover of the domain will happen at midnight on February the 9th. I added a little countdown near the top under my Ravelry profile link.

We had a warm up in the weather this week which made for good conditions to get outside and haul all the inventory out of the trailer and count it. It really needs to be done at least once a year. It’s big job but we managed to get it done just in the nick of time before the sun started going down. Meredith and Cassie did most of the work but Joanie and I jumped in this afternoon after the school, lunch and grocery shopping was done. You will be glad to know that most of the yarn was present and accounted for. :-) I even found some I didn’t know I had. LOL!

Okay that’s all I have time for now. Take care!

Posted on February 5, 2013February 5, 2013 by yarnmama — Leave a comment

We’re getting there…

Where to start? Since my last post I have made some small progress on my cowl/infinity scarf design, but not as much as I would have liked there to be.

It’s about 4” wide at this point and I didn’t have any definite width in mind before I started. I just figured I would knit it until it seemed like a good size, but probably at least 6-7” and possibly more.

My poor Boneyard Shawl hasn’t seen any action since I started the above cowl, but it did get to pose in one of our lovely new Yarn Bowls soon to be available on our brand new website. :-) We are tentatively planning for a Feb. 9 launch and I am so excited about it!

We are holding off several new products and some other cool stuff for a grand opening. Here’s some sneak previews of just a small sampling of the new Shawl pin Rings we are making.

Y’all they are truly amazing if I do say so myself, and I think I am entitled since I am not even bragging on myself here. My talented daughter Meredith who also makes the Shawl Pins, Nostepinnes, and Darning Eggs, is the genius behind these as well. If you have been to our booth at festivals, you have probably seen or met her. She is always with me.

Remember her?

Here’s some more to whet your appetite, LOL!

See? Fabulous, no?

Anyway I will give you all more details once we are sure it’s a go. We have had quite a few glitches lately but it’s all coming together and I am optimistic that all will be ready in time. Oh, you can also sign up for my Newsletter if you would like to get updates in email. It’s up near the top in the sidebar right under my Find me on Ravelry button. :-)

I haven’t given any reading updates lately. Let’s see, in December and the first half of January I was reading The Brothers Karamazov. My reaction to it was sort of underwhelming. I expected to be more impressed honestly. It is such a highly regarded work that I was left wondering what I was missing. I was not alone however in the Goodreads group I was reading it with. Many were left with the same feeling of “what is all the fuss about”? Have any of you read it? Can you educate me on what I missed? I would truly like to know what it is that made you love the book. I mean don’t get me wrong, I am glad I read it and there were some parts I found very interesting and thought provoking, like the part’s where Ivan is telling the story of The Inquisitor and his conversation with The Devil, but overall I was glad to be done and don’t see myself re-reading it.

I possibly impatient with it towards the end because I was badly wanting to start my re-read of The Hobbit and then The Lord of the Rings books. I just adore these and am immensely enjoying the new unabridged Audible versions along with my Nook copies. I like to immersion read sometimes and I am savoring every minute of these books. I read The Hobbit in 5 days and started The Fellowship this weekend. My only hang up so far was that when I started up The Fellowship, to my horror I realized that they didn’t start with The Prologue: Concerning Hobbits. To me an unabridged version should have included that. It is not optional to me. So I just read that part and started the audiobook when I reached the first chapter. I am currently at the point where Sam, Frodo and Pippin have reached Crickhollow and Merry and Fatty Bolger are preparing their second supper, LOL! I just love these opening chapters where the adventure is just beginning. It’s kind of like that time in a knitting project where it’s all shiny and new and full of promise.

Okay well that’s it for now I suppose. Keep you fingers crossed for the website launch!

Posted on January 29, 2013February 5, 2013 by yarnmama — Leave a comment

A little designing work

I am still keeping very busy working on getting the new website ready. We have hit a few snags with some modules we installed that have bad code or something. It’s rather frustrating waiting for the devs to get them fixed and hopefully it will be worth the wait. In the mean time I am putting some other finishing touches together.

I have the copy mostly squared away and the structure in place for information pages and product and categories. I am currently working on adding the new products and layout. Then we are starting to work on the rather large task of re-taking all new pictures.

For years I have been using rather primitive methods to get good product pictures with indirect ambient lighting and a neutral background. It is actually my front porch, LOL! While that does work okay, it is tricky and has many limitations. For one thing the weather obviously plays a limiting factor. For another the time of day effects the lighting so that you can only work for about 4-5 hours in the late morning to early afternoon. Taking pictures in the winter is even worse.

So, I decided we were long overdue for some better equipment. I bought a light box, a small tripod, and some photography lights. We can set these up in the dining room and work for as long as we need to in a climate controlled environment. Yay! I feel confident that this is going to make a worthwhile difference in both the quality of the pictures and the comfort and convenience of he photographers (meaning Meredith and myself).

The title of this post mentions designing and part of that is my website, but that is not the only design work going on. If you remember a couple posts back I mentioned a project I had in mind which I even did a swatch for. Remember this?

Well for get that one. It is history. LOL! I ran into a snag with it and abandoned it completely. But the good news is that I think what I replaced it with is even better.

This is the beginning of an infinity scarf/cowl.

I am much happier with this design and will see where it takes me. I am thinking I will do a hat to go with it.

Okay I need to get back to work for now. Bye for now!

Posted on January 17, 2013January 17, 2013 by yarnmama — Leave a comment

Busy time of the year

Not much knitting going on I am disappointed to report, but that is because we are super busy around these parts on many other things.

It’s not unusual for the start of the new year to be hectic. Even if we weren’t adding new products and re-doing the website, there is inventory counting, taxes, end-of-the-year record keeping, and the list goes on. I don’t know why I think every year as we close out the show season that I will have months of time to knit. Sheesh! You would think I would have more sense than that by now, but a knitter can hope right?

Anyway, I am very excited about how the new website is coming along and can’t wait to unveil it. It’s not quite ready for prime time yet but believe me you all will be the first to hear about it when it is live. :-)

Here’s some of the other stuff we are doing in the product creation line of the business. This is the time of year that we dye up the yarn for the spring show season so that has been happen as the weather allows. We have a few days of chilly but dry weather so we got all the solids dyed. The rain returned before we could get it all dry so we have been praying for a window of dry weather. Today is that day, since we are expecting partly cloudy skies and a high of 73 degrees, so out went the last two-thirds of it on the lines today. We are hoping that will do it since the cold and rain are returning tomorrow or the next day.

Meredith has been working full tilt on the new leather shawl pin rings and I believe ya’ll are going to flip for these. They are so cool!

Just before Thanksgiving we gave the workshop a MUCH needed facelift

and Jerry has been back at work in the newly perked up space making some new yarn bowls.

We have been out of stock on these for awhile but never fear, he has plenty planned. We are also learning some new embellishing techniques to add to many of them. I think they are going to be well received too. :-)

Okay I have GOT to get to work so here’s a few more parting shots of yarn and the little ones. :-)

Posted on January 11, 2013January 11, 2013 by yarnmama — Leave a comment

Many changes coming

I hope you all had a nice time over the Christmas holiday. We had the usual present opening madness Christmas morning, followed by a turkey dinner and lots of goodies. We watched A Christmas Carol (the new Disney animated one which is surprising good and accurate) and of course It’s a Wonderful Life. We always watch these on Christmas Eve and/or Christmas Day.

Three of my daughters made these awesome cards for a Christmas morning surprise. There was one for each of us with a personalized picture inside tailored to what we like. Mine had the actual elven lettering from the One Ring with the translation around the border. I would have shown you a picture but the light is terrible today and the camera just wasn’t doing it justice. But, the front covers that all make up the Charlie Brown Christmas scene is amazing, no? It’s all drawn freehand. Wow, right?

I have been busy since the rest of this week getting started on building a new website. I built my current one 7 years ago and while I have tweaked it and updated it I know it could be better. It is looking dated and really needs a fresh start. Since I am changing the cart system it is just easier to rebuild it from the ground up. It is a tremendous job and will likely take me several months before it is ready I am excited about it. I am sure it will be worth all the time invested.

I also have a few new product ideas up my sleeve. I am thinking about a design that I may write up and sell as a kit with the yarn to make it. If I stick with my current idea it will make more sense to do kits because it will involve color work and having kits will have the advantage of the knitter not needing to purchase multiple skeins to do the project when only partial skeins are needed.

I have picked out several color combinations I am mulling over and have done one of them up in a swatch.

Okay for my last bit of news, here is what Meredith made me for Christmas.

Isn’t it fabulous?! I love it! I have been using it as a barrette in my hair as well as a shawl pin. And yes, before you ask there will be more where this one cam from. It is a sneak preview of one of our newest products we will be adding to the store soon. Hand tooled leather goods! I am so excited about these! This is the first of many ideas we have coming in the next year.

Posted on December 28, 2012December 28, 2012 by yarnmama — 2 Comments

Category: Business Announcements

Summer 2013 New Colors

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New colors and a Bon Voyage SALE

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Sorrel pattern release

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New Pattern – Pillars

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Design is coming along

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Cowl’s done and so is the website…well almost

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We’re getting there…

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A little designing work

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Busy time of the year

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Many changes coming

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