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Hey! Last year I decided to try my hand at spinning, so this year I decided to giving dyeing a whirl. Below I will share the process which was surprisingly not too hard, not too time consuming and not too messy (and believe me, this is important because I can make a MESS). We have sock yarn at the shop for dyeing so I picked the purple and blue dyes and "painted on the purple" in my kitchen sink - as you can see. And then I dunked the skein in blue in my crock pot (OK, those of you who know I am 37 know that it was originally my Mom's crock pot - that color avocado was only made in the 70s. Anyway, I let it sit in the crock pot for an hour and voila - a lovely skein of sock/shawl yarn. I haven't knit with it yet - it is hanging in the shop if anyone wants to check it out.
       (On the weekends, I double as a cow girl :) )          October 1:
We have had some yarn crawling at the shop in the past month and I know everyone is in the mode to do some knitting. The weather is feeling like we should cuddle up on the sofa with tea, a football game, and needles. I just finished my February Lady sweater out of Blue Heron silk merino - LOVELY!
September
Boy, am I a slack blogger or what. If you want to see my latest to do list, it is basically the September newsletter (go back to the homepage and you can see it). Our newest yarn, the Blue Heron silk merino is smashing to work with. I am almost finished the February Lady sweater. I will try to remember how to post a picture of it this week so you can see for yourself. If anyone is interested in a Knit a long for this project - let me know. I will happily start again:)
April 25, 2008
One week to go before MD Sheep and Wool! If you have a spare second before Friday, stop in to the shop because we have Noni bags (the real deal!). They are fantastic - you will have a heard time choosing just one:)
For the first time ever, we will have dye your own yarn kits. The yarn feels great and is superwash so at 560 yards there is enough for a lace scarf or big pair of socks.
Wow! We had a packed house for the first Chick Flick Night! Janet and Perri had a great night with all of our knitters who are well on their way to a fabulous lace scarf. Keep your eye out for the announcement of our May Chick Flick night - friends, fun, a knitting leesson, movie, and snacks all in one:)
April 4, 2008
I would love to say that I am ready to upload the pictures I have taken, but in lieu of that, you will just have to stop in and see Blue Heron's 2 new spring yarns. We have a petit raw silk that just softens more and more each time you touch it and the new soft twist rayon could not get any softer and drapier. If you are looking for the perfect lightweight project for spring, one of these will surely do you. Also, check out the latest Noni patterns. You might find one or six that you have to whip up. Ask to see the 3 Confections pattern. You can knit this bag in a day! (And the handles are on sale for April so it is a good month to do so). For the lucky reader who checks this blog - this will be the only place I post this message for 2 weeks - we are getting the last 7 Tofutsies collector editions packs for the spring. The company called to see if they could sell them to another store and we said "No" so you might want to check these out (they will be in stock probably late next week). Happy Day!
 January 22, 2008 - Try these needles on for size!First, I should note that my son, David, is modelling both his Christmas sweater that I made him (Mission Falls wool - which I love so soft and machine washable, a quick knit too) and these humongous knitting needles that my husband made for me. I read an article about using 7 strands of yarn at one time to create a very fast afghan. (This is a great stash buster if you have some yarn and are not sure what to do with it!) Anyway, this afghan just seemed funny enough for me to try. So, I bought the biggest dowels I could find and Frank got to work. He fashioned ends for them and sanded them until they are Oh-So-Smooth and finished them with a polyurethane. They are quite lovely. (He said if this sounds like a project you would like to try, he would be happy to make you a set for $45. They will make great art when you are finished using them.) Then, the fun began as I picked out 7 soft, scrumptious yarns to try. I cast on 50 sts (each st equals 1" and 1 row - how's that for a gauge?!) and just knit. Hilarious! I will be working on it tonight at Sit-N-Knit and Thursday at Lunch with Marnie if you want to give it a try or come laugh at the Dr. Seussical-ness of it.
January 21, 2008 - Crayon Box Class
Boy - today is the perfect day for knitting - and so we did. Plus, others joined us for a Crayon Box class. See some of their progress below.
   January 17, 2008 - Some of those projects to be checked off the list.
It is one of my new year's resolutions to keep the blog up to date. I have finished lots of my projects and want to share them with you - I just would rather knit that figure out how to edit this blog page (I am sure you understand.) However, I will do better. And, like all of my resolutions, I never try to go cold turkey, I just try to improve throughout the year so I am consistently better by the end (less guilt this way). Anyway, is a start.
 This is my dear hubby and his new hat. I managed to spin this yarn (and had it hold together so I could knit it).
January 16, 2008 - Happy New Year!
I just have to share my Christmas gift from my sister and her fiancee. We will have a new member in the shop - the Frivolous Fibers' girl.
 Chris (Karen's fiancee) is apparently quite the welder because he welded me a life size girl to model scarves, shawls, etc... We need your help - she needs a name. Tell us your ideas by e-mailing marnie@frivolousfibers.com or stop in and meet her for yourself and tell us what you think. (Note: She is currently having a base made so she might not be in until next week.)Dec 2, 2007 - It is December, time to check on Marnie
We interrupt this blog with 18 additional projects - okay maybe just one big project with 18 parts. I was called by Zeulika Ghodsi (an opthamologist in town) who wanted to do a mitten tree for the festival of trees but didn't know how to knit. ...So take a peek at the 18 pairs of mittens (Marnie) and 1 hat (Mary) that we did for the Hospice tree.
    I also have to throw in a photo of the simplest hat on the planet. Knit a rectangle, fold it in half and seam the sides. Edge the bottom and add 2 tassels and you have a precious elf hat.
 With no time to lose before Christmas those needles are flying. If you are looking for some quick knits for friends - these cute little scarves are just what you need (they take less than 2 hours and can be worn as a scarf, sash, tie, or hair band).
    As many of you know, I love quick knits and chunky yarn, so here are two of the projects I can check off my list. First is the soft chunky seed stitch hoodie. Second, this is the vest for people who want to try something new but maybe only know how to knit (this is not much harder than a scarf and the results are fantastic). I started this on Tuesday night and wore it to work on Friday!
    I also have completed Josie's Christmas sweater (now I just have to find her some pants to go with it because she is growing out of everything).
  Be sure to check out our December newsletter later this week as Mom has been cranking out some quick knits for last minute gifts as well.
Nov 4, 2007 - Meet Rita Heacock
In case you could not make it to the shop last Sunday for our Meet The Artist afternoon with Rita, here are some photos of the event. The lovely woman in the photo with Rita is her sister Benita.
   More For Foster Care
These great felted slippers and beautiful Orange Tote were knitted and donated by one of our favorite knitters, Mary Hopkins. These will be used for our Christmas gifts for the Foster Care Moms.
 November 3, 2007 - Marnie "Knitting Maniac" is at it again. If you check the Blog Archives from Feb 07 you can re-visit last years list of 17 projects. Well it is that time of year again and I just got this email from Marnie, I will let her fill you in on the details. If you would like to join the fun just send her an email at marnie@frivolousfibers.com.
At Sit and Knit Tuesday night, we had a discussion about UFOs (UnFinished Objects – in our knitting stash). I prefer to call them IPOs (that is – In Progress Objects –
I have a lot of them, but I do try to actually finish them). One of our new knitters, Kathy, will be having her first grandchild enter the world in January. At Sit and Knit, she finished her first hat (made with self-striping yarn) and finished a red sweater she had started 20 years ago. That is clearing out a UFO! This discussion reminded me that last year at this time I posted all of my IPOs and my progress on them. It was quite motivating for me (I love to cross things off a list), and I hope motivating for you as well. In my mind, it was a reverse New Year’s resolution. If I finish all of these, then I can start on my new batch of projects in January. So, here I go again with my list of projects. If anyone wants to knit along one or more of these with me, I’d love to have you. E-mail me or join us at Sit and Knit every Tuesday night. The List I have 2 projects that I just finished so I want to share. A. Taos sweater: (fast, fun, and very fashionable) 5 different colors of self-striping yarn, big needles, and shaping is accomplished with different stitiches. Cool.  B. Medium Carpet Bag: (from Noni) This is a great bag for beginners because you only have to knit. We are going to offer a class in January or February on finishing so start now so you are ready by the class because on Nora’s bags (the designer) the finishing does it! Those were my PCs (projects completed).   Now – on to the IPOs.
1. Soft Chunky Hooded Cardigan: seen on the cover of Vogue Knitting a few seasons ago and in the new bulky yarn pattern book Twinkles, this raspberry sweater looks and feels great for winter snuggling. 2.Soft Chunky vest with self-ruffling collar: So many of you asked for this pattern last year, I am knitting it again with a different collar. This vest is knit on size 17 needles at 2sts = 1” and can be vanished in 3 days (no joke!) – mine will be navy, but come feel and see all of the colors. 3.I have 3 self-ruffling projects – First, I bought baby blue fleece for $3.99 and I am trimming it with the ruffle. Quick and easy gift. 4.School spirit scarf # 1 5.School spirit scarf #2: I have been working with Talbot’s 2 high school principals- Kelly Griffith (EHS) and Helga Einhorn (SMHS). I am knitting each a scarf in their school colors (orange/black and red/black). 6.Sublime striped cardigan I knit my sister a striped cardigan for her birthday. I am knitting it for myself in Sublime (so soft and SO machine wash and dry- able).  7.Tahki – cotton classic cardigan – This striped and ribbed cardigan is so cute! I already bought jewelry to match. 8.SHH – I’m making Frank a hat for Christmas – here’s the catch – I’m spinning my own yarn. 9.Bobble-heart cardigan: Josie picked this pattern out of the Ella Rae Women and Children book and some fuschia Mission Falls cotton (machine washable). I plan on making this for Christmas. 10.Boys pullover: same pattern book as Josie’s, David chose a great pullover in navy Mission Falls Wool (one of my new favorite yarns). 11.Hooded Guernsey: out of the new Debbie Bliss Family Knits book for a friend’s grandson. 12.Hanne Falkenberg kit 1: The Dacapo  13.Hanne Falkenberg kit 2: The Pyramide: I bought these 2 kits during our trunk show. I am giving myself a year for these. Send us a picture of yours if it is In Progress.  14.Superior Modern Quilt Wrap: Come touch this yarn and see why it is called Superior (1 skein makes a nice sized lace scarf on size 6 needles).  15.Knitted Babes: For Christmas Josie will be getting a box of Knitted Babes. These adorable dolls are knit from the Knitted Babes book. They have patterns for the dolls, clothes, and accessories. On the plus side, the Groovy Girls dolls clothing and supplies (like camping tent, sleeping bag, and car) also fit these dolls perfectly.  16.Hat – I tried my first attempt at spinning and will probably turn it into a hat. 17.Cruise bolero: knitting with 3 strands at once, I am making the gorgeous bolero in Twinkles.  18.Ornaments: Knit Simple decorated Holiday balls in bright colors.  19.Noni pears: If you saw the Noni trunk show, you know that these felted pears are adorable (you can adorn your partridge in a pear tree).  There’s a start. Other things always pop up so I’ll report
back when they do! Happy knitting! November 2, 2007 - Generous Knitter for Foster Care
Every year Frivolous Fibers yarn shop sponsors community knitting projects, and every year we are amazed at the generosity of our local knitters and crocheters. Last years project resulted in 85 sweaters being donated to the Guide Post Magazine Knit for Kids Campaign. This year Talbot County Foster Care is the recipient of all the handcrafted items. We are coming to the end of the year and we thought it was time to take a tally of the many donations as well as say a special thank you to our most prolific knitter, Claudia Messick. Claudia knitted 18 sweaters for last years project and this year she has knitted 300 hats since January. The hats range in size from newborn to adult and come in all styles and colors. The most amazing fact is that all of the hats were made from donated yarn. If you have yarn that you don’t plan to use we are always happy to take those donations at the shop 112 N. Talbot Street, St. Michaels, MD, 21663. Along with the 300 hats from Claudia our knitters and crocheters have donated 3 handbags, 6 sweaters, 4 pairs of slippers, 12 scarves, 312 hats, and 15 lap blankets. We still have the month of December to go and we will gladly accept handmade items through the end of the month. Neighbors helping neighbors is the truest expression of community, and we are grateful to be a part of this community of generous people. If you are interested in learning more about the Talbot County Foster Care you can contact Teresa Bernard at tcss@dhr.stat.md.us.
 Claudia Messick along with Teresa Bernard of Talbot County Foster Care and Mary Robinson.
   October 31, 2007 - Time to say Thanks, again!
Once again our generous customers have donated wonderful handmade items for a good cause. The helmet liners and scarves were donated for our Support the Troops project and the pink scarves were donated for our Breast Cancer "Women Supporting Women" group. I wish I had the names of all these nice folks, but here are just a few: Lucy Clark, Sam Bartoo, Amanda Erickson, Penny Naylor. And the hat is from Shirley Taylor. Thanks to all of you.
     October 28, 2007 - Breast Cancer Project
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and we are partnering with our local Breast Cancer Support group, Women Supporting Women of Talbot and
October 3, 2007 - Finishing Update
I mentioned that Elaine Masso had declared the month of August "Finish It Up Month". Marnie took it to heart and here are more of her finished projects. The first one I showed you before but the picture does not do it justice. So, I have a close up of the detail so you can see the beads and the cables in this beautiful top made from Tili Tomas Asteriod beaded silk yarn.   These next three photos Marnie calls her "Meeting Sweaters" because she knit all three of them during meetings. That's one way to make a meeting productive. These are made from Blue Heron Chenille, Venezia and Zaza from Tahki Stacy Charles.
    And one more, this one was made from Katia's 100% Cotton yarn called Jamaica.
 October 2, 2007 - Sewing & Quilting Expo Show
We just returned from the Sewing & Quilting Expo show in Chantilly, Va. This is the first year that yarn shops have been invited, we are proud to be one of three shops who took part. I thought you might enjoy seeing some pictures from the show. It certainly was nice to have a large space to display all the beautiful Noni Bags. Nora Bellows, the designer of Noni Bags was there to do a Make & Take in our booth.
   
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