Off to get my goats!

I'm off to pick up my goats *squealing in delight*

I'll post pics as soon as I can so stay tuned...

A big thank you to all my wonderful customers...

I just placed an order for 35lbs of bamboo this week. Because I was able to place such a large order, I was able to get significant savings. What that means for all of you is.... cheaper bamboo!!!

So instead of being $20 per 4 oz skein, I'll be able to offer it to you for just $16 a skein. That's 20% less. Yeah! I'm so excited. I'm really hoping this will allow more people to try bamboo.

Adding wool to the sale list

I've got some new luscious wool heading my way now and I need to make room for that as well so all my hand-dyed wool is on sale, 20% off. Located here:
www.hyenacart.com/adorabubbleknits

House Cleaning!

I need to clear my shelves. I want to dye up more colorways, but I need to make room. So, all in stock hand-dyed bamboo is 20% off at my etsy store.

1x1 Grafted Edge

Woohoo! Finally got this tutorial done. This makes a very smooth, clean and stretchy finish to a 1x1 ribbed edge or even a seed st. edge.



Written directions.

Cut length of yarn about 4 times the length of the edge you are binding off and place on a tapestry needle (you'll want a good strong one like a chibi).

1. Insert tapestry needle knitwise into the first stitch, pull stitch off needle.
2. Insert tapestry needle purlwise in the the second stitch from the end, leave on needle.
3. Insert tapestry needle purlwise in the first stitch, pull stitch off the needle.
4. Coming from the back, insert needle knitwise into the second stitch from the end (this is the trickiest part), leave on needle.

Repeat 1-4 until you get to the end. Voila!

Crossing over

I had this great idea this morning. My spreadsheet could easily be converted to crochet!!! So, I'm spending today crocheting! I haven't picked up a hook in ages.

So, it will have the same basic construction as the original britches with both a top-down and bottom up version. I really really like how they are turning out so far. Usually I'm not a big crochet clothing fan, but so far these are pretty cute. Will post pics when the first pair are done.

This will be my first official crochet pattern. Oh wait, I do have one already, the crochet hair scrunchies. This will be my first crochet garment pattern.

Home on the Range

My backyard. This picture was taken around 10pm. Unbelievable how long it stays light out!

Can you picture my goats frolicking through the pasture? That hunk of metal in the middle is an old Model T, cool huh?

Experimenting fun!

I've been experimenting with self-striping yarn lately and am having sooo much fun. Finally I get to put my knitting machine back in use. How brilliant is this (not my idea), knit a square on the machine, double stranded, dye the blank, let it dry, unravel it, wet it again to de-kinkify it, let it dry again and then voila, self-striping yarn.













I have a few up for sale at http://theknittingsiren.etsy.com and plan on offering the blanks for sale as well. Hopefully I'll get a little tutorial up sometime.

TB is coming along. Looks like I might have to rework the x-small one again because I had an epiphany yesterday on how to make it a tad easier. So, stay tuned for another x-small TB auction. I love this pattern, but it has been a beast to write up. I'm just going to have to write it out size for size. A very experienced knitter could probably figure it out knowing just the stitch pattern, but I want most knitters to be able to do it. It will get done, one way or another.

Welcome to my funny farm!

I would never have guessed that one day I would have a farm. I've always been a city girl, so I might be crazy to try this. We are getting chickens and a cat today. My 3 goats come the first week in July. Hubbie wants to get a calf as well.

Help me name my goats!

Aren't they cute?! These are the wether's. I'll post pics of the doeling when I get them. Ignore the earlier pictures. These are the ones I'm actually getting :-)





Suggestions for a farm name are welcome as well :-)

When does a hobby become an obsession?

When you stay up super late spinning plastic bags and paper together.

And then you wake up early to take pictures of it.

Recycling at it's finest! "Paper or Plastic"

What exactly is free time when your work is your hobby?

I have been on a major dyeing/pattern writing frenzy lately (I want to get my goats!) Hubbie woke up yesterday and I was already dyeing. He said, "I think this yarn thing is getting out of hand." I told him, "I think your flying thing is getting out of hand."

He tells me I need to set hours, but this is what I would be doing in my free time anyway. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. I love what I do.

Here is the fruit of my labor from the past few days.



I finally had success with the self-striping yarn. I can't wait to see how it knits up. I've got 2 more blanks soaking, but I'm forcing myself to do it tomorrow.

Progress finally!

I'm chuggin' along getting the pattern done.

Ms. Can't-work-on-one-thing-at-a-time is also working on some new gusset ideas. One of them I thought of a while ago, I just hadn't done it yet. The one I'm knitting now I LOVE!!! You can hardly see it at all! It has the same roominess as my normal gusset, just hidden. I think I'm just going to work this all into an actual book since that what this pattern is turning into anyway. Like I don't have anything better to do :-) Anyone want to trade knitting for housekeeping?

Me hard at work:

I need a kick in the pants!

Auction for a custom Turtle Butt, 2 days only starting at $7!!



http://www.hyenacart.com/adorabubbleknits

I am going to get this pattern written up. I am determined. To help me get going on it, I'm doing a auction for each size. I have to knit one of each size anyway to write down exactly what I'm doing and I want these TB's to go to a good home.

First auction is for size 0-6 months, your color choice.
Waist: 14-16"
Rise: 16-17"
Thigh: about 9-10"



Next week will be for the 12 month size.

Git Yer Goat Sale!

I'm cleaning house! FREE shipping on all in-stock items and patterns are all buy get one of equal or lesser value for free.

http://theknittingsiren.etsy.com
http://www.hyenacart.com/adorabubbleknits
http://adorabubble.etsy.com

GOATS!

I've wanted to own goats for the longest time. Even before I was a knitter. Now that I have my farm, I'm getting my goats!!!

I'm so excited! I found some beautiful Pygora goats from a farm in Oregon that delivers between there and Minnesota. They are making deliveries at the end of the month, so I have only 3 weeks to get ready.

Here are pics of my new girls:
The lighter colored one:

White one on the right:

And a wether, the carmel colored one:


Now I'm off to go mend my fences!