A Few Sheep Shy of a Farm

One of the best stashers I know is opening the fiber room and having a Destash sale!

Tall Gal Knits is making room to go shopping here: http://tallgalknits.typepad.com/tall_gal_knits_and_spins/destash.html

If I didn’t have sooooo much of my own stuff already I’d stop by for some of the boucle . . . I really need a boucle scarf this year, don’t you?

Over the past few days I’ve been reworking my plan for the business. As part of that plan I’m simplifying the number of yarns and colorways that I’ll have on Inspirations Yarn’s website. This is partly because now that I’m doing a second whole set of colorways to use for wholesale clients I feel I need to be more organized and efficient. So, in order to make room for the new colorways I’m working on I’m having a gigantic sale! Almost everything I have in stock is now 25% off! Quantities are limited and its first come, first served . . . I’ll update the availability as often as I can.

We’ve also just added a new heading under our pattern section. We’re now offering free patterns! To kick things off we now have a free, downloadable pdf version of the Fingerless Cabled Mitts, designed by Sheila Macdonald, that were previously featured as Mystery Kit #4. I’m also working on a pair of Toddler socks which will also be offered as a free pattern just as soon as I finish the 2nd sock and get it all written up etc, hopefully over this coming weekend.

And we’re working on converting our current IY patterns to pdf format so we’ll be able to send them to you by email instead of regular mail, though both options will be available if you still prefer a paper copy . . .

There are more things in the works so stay tuned!

I’m totally overwhelmed with the response to Midsummer! Both with the number of email requests for the pattern and with the comments on the pattern and the situation in general. To be honest, the whole thing had me rather down/upset but your comments and emails have completely turned that around for me. Thank you all very much!

I’ve made it to number 76 on the list so far in sending the pattern and hope to complete the list in the morning. I’ve already figured out how to make it easier next time I do something like this . . . and much, much faster.

And just in the past day or so I’ve had ideas for 2 more shawls! They are going to be a bit more complex and I may have to chart the stitches from scratch as I don’t recall seeing the objects I’d like to include charted before so that should be interesting . . . . I’ll keep you posted with how they are coming when I finally get started.

I’m also working on some fun little socks for the little guy, the first one is done and I’ve started the 2nd one, if I can I’ll take a picture tomorrow. I think the pattern is rather clever for toddler socks (but then I’m biased) and I’m planning to size it up and down a bit and post it as a free pattern on Inspirations at some point in the future . . . again, I’ll keep you posted.

Okay off to get a few loads of laundry folded and may be even sit for a few minutes before bedtime!

In honor of Independence day I’m going to do something independent! I had mentioned here and around that I had a pattern that was to be published in a certain knitting magazine online this month. For what ever reason, the editor chose not to use my pattern and has decided not to reply to my requests for an explanation.

Since I’ve been telling the world about my design, though without much detail and since I had planned for this to be a summer project; I’m going to present it myself.

Introducing Midsummer – A light, lacy wrap for those magical Midsummer nights, this shawl was inspired by the Elfin lace stitch in Barbara Walker’s A Treasury of Knitting Patterns. The elegant drape and simple repeating lace pattern provide the perfect medium for showing off those skeins of handpainted lace yarn in your stash. The version above was knit by Sandy and she did an amazing job! Here is a closeup that Sandy took after blocking:

And here is a shot I took of it from the back:

Everyone who has seen the shawl in person seems to really love it and I feel its a great design for working with handpainted yarns; the simple stitch doesn’t get lost in the color changes. . .

Edited 7/5: Thank you everyone for your interest in the shawl and your kind comments about it and the whole situation. At this time we’ve (more than) reached the 100 requests for copies of the pattern. I’ll be sending those out shortly. For anyone that missed the give-away but would still like a copy the pattern is now availabe for sale on my site either as a PDF which will be emailed to you or as a print version sent by regular mail. Thank you everyone!