skitter skatter knitting

Harmonia Again, for the First Time

2011-07-08T10:17:00.000-07:00

A most exciting development!

After many requests (and in some cases, begging and pleading), I have developed a tunic sweater based on the popular Harmonia's Rings cowl. The tunic begins like the cowl (and the yoke has identical structure), but the pattern has now been engineered to fit seven sizes. The yoke creates a perfect cap sleeve shape by virtue of its construction. In addition, the drape of the yoke contrasts beautifully with the close fit of the shaped body. The pattern is knit entirely in the round, every single blessed stitch. Every knitter who has seen this sweater wants to make one!

This is only the current installment in a series of Harmonia patterns. The next will be sleeved versions of the sweater, now in testing.

See details on my website here.

And on Ravelry:

The model is actually the beautiful and brilliant photographer Vivian Aubrey, who consented to be a model one day, in the middle of her class on photographing knits at Twisted Yarn Shop in Portland, OR.

Huge, huge thanks to my tech editor, the incomparable Jeane deCoster of Elemental Affects Yarn, who patiently endured hours of teaching me spreadsheet math, and my many lovely and hardworking test knitters, long may they hold yarn and needles in their blessed hands.

It's About Time

2011-05-17T11:18:00.000-07:00

Gee.. so many weeks have flown by! I can't fight tempus fugit, so I won't try. But much wonderfulness has come and gone.. forgive me if I list the ways..

In March, I attended an Island Retreat for Curious Knitters with Cat Bordhi, and it goes without saying that it was indeed a retreat in all of the best senses of the word. I emerged refreshed, renewed, restored, and very well fed!! Cat is expanding the number of island retreats she is offering to six per year (3 in spring, 3 in fall), so take note.

In April, I taught at the first Columbia Gorge Fiber Festival.. what fun!! The event was sponsored by Lavender Sheep, and Yvonne did a marvelous job of putting the marketplace and classes together. I would have loved to hang out for hours with all the yarnies and spinners, but darn, I had to teach!!

Later in April, Midwest Masters Weekend in Neenah, Wisconsin, sponsored by Yarns by Design, was simply delightful!! Casual and intense.. and that's just how I like it! I had fabulous students. I am looking forward to going back to Wisconsin in November to give a talk to the Madison Knitters Guild, and do some more teaching.

So.. time to look forward now! Here are the upcoming events for 2011, because I know you want to know!

Continuing classes and drop-in clinics at Twisted Yarn Shop in Portland, OR
Drop-in clinics are Thursdays from 3-7 pm. Please see Twisted’s website for other classes and details, or call the store at 503-922-1150.

Lace Design Workshop at Twisted Yarn Shop in Portland, OR, May 29, 2011
This is an all-day workshop. Please see Twisted’s website for details, or call the store at 503-922-1150.

Moebius Workshop at Knitting Bee Yarn Shop in Portland, OR, June 4, 2011
This is a three hour class, from 1-4 pm. Please see Knitting Bee’s website for details, or call the store at 503-439-3316.

Heart to Heart Beaded Scarf Workshop at Serial Knitters Yarn Shop in Kirkland, WA, June 18, 2011
This is an all day class. Please see Serial Knitters’ website for details, or call the store at 425-242-0086.

Fibre Week at Olds, Calgary, AB, Canada, June 24 - July 1, 2011
See Olds College website for registration and more information.

Sock Summit!!, Portland, OR, July 28 - 31, 2011
I am teaching classes on Blossom Dearies Beautiful Baby Bootees and Aquitaine Beaded Gloves. See Sock Summit website for registration and more information.

A weekend of workshops at Churchmouse Yarns and Teas in Bainbridge Is, WA, August 13-14, 2011
Please see Churchmouse’s website for details, or call the store at 206-780-2686.

Knitting Cruise with Serial Knitters, September 11-17, 2011
Alaskan cruise departing from Seattle to points in Alaska and Victoria B.C. Please see cruise details here, and contact Serial Knitters for registration and details.

Lace Design Workshop at Maiwa Textile Symposium 2011 in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, September 24-25, 2011
Please see Maiwa’s website for details. Registration opens June 20.

A weekend of workshops at Yorkshire Yarns in Lakewood, WA, October 22-23, 2011
Please see Yorkshire Yarn’s website for details, or call the store at 253-589-YARN.

Lace Design Workshop for the Fort Vancouver Knitters Guild, October 29, 2011
This is an all-day workshop. Please email Molly Stanton for details at mstan30311@aol.com.

Guild talk at Madison Knitters Guild, Madison, WI, November 14, 2011
See Madison Knitters Guild website for details.

A weekend of workshops for the Knitters Guild, Broken Arrow, OK, December 3-4, 2011
Topics TBA. Please email Kat Lefevre for details at lefevrek@cox.net.

Madrona Recap

2011-02-25T20:12:00.000-08:00

I haven't yet written a proper recap of my Madrona experiences, largely because I forgot to bring my camera (bad bad me), and also because it's so incredibly hard to capture the fabulousness that is Madrona in so many prosaic words. Madrona, that event that some of us pine for 51 weeks out of the year. Madrona, that some of us love and adore to a ridiculous degree.

Fortunately, I don't have to now because Franklin Habit just posted an end-all description of Madrona in his blog, the Panopticon. Do please give it a read.

And yes, I am so enjoying my 15 minutes of fame, thank you for asking.

Fluency

2011-02-11T20:11:00.000-08:00

I just had to release the pattern for the Fluency Gloves before the weather starts to warm. The flowing, sinuous ribs create a delicious hug for your hands that is also very stretchy.

Watch the ribs part to show the hidden beads glimmering when you stretch them over your hands, and don’t miss the special twisted stitch pattern that adorns the thumb.

Pattern fits a wide range of hand sizes. Gloves are fingered or fingerless. Beads are prestrung before knitting, but it’s so worth it!

Bead requirement: 96 size 6/0 beads for the pair.

The yarns I chose for this project are very special, and I am very picky indeed about what fibers contact my hands because they are so sensitive.

Abstract Fiber's Soprano is prime in the softness and strength department, with its mix of silk and wool. I chose the Turquoise colorway for my first pair of the gloves, and the Abstract Fiber folks dyed it just for me!! What a thrill!

Plucky Knitter's Merino Alpaca Silk Worsted is as cozy as cozy gets, and feels wonderful! The fingerless gloves you see here are in the Satin Slippers colorway, so subtle and shimmery.

I do hope you enjoy this special winter treat. The pattern is now available on Ravelry and soon, on my website and all around, thanks to my lovely pattern distributors, Up North Fiber Art Supply.

Photos by the wonderful Vivian Aubrey. Please do go take at look at her masterful work on her blog.

Next: getting ready for Madrona! If you are going, see you there!

Finally, Charts Made Simple!

2011-02-02T21:56:00.000-08:00

I have in my hands a treasure: an advance copy of JC Briar's new book, "Charts Made Simple: understanding knitting charts visually."

I didn't know it, but I have been waiting for this book for a very long time.

Every time I have ever taught lace, which is a frequent occurrence, I have wished for some sort of reference to offer my students who are unfamiliar with charts. Since I ask my students to become very intimate with their lace work.. even beyond "reading".. it is essential that they wean themselves off of the long strings of word descriptions and onto pictorial charts to follow.

This is a tortuous process for many knitters, and there are various learning styles to consider as well.. some of us are aural learners, some of us visual, and some spatial.

But enough about me and my teaching style. I want to talk about JC's book, which appeals wonderfully to almost every style of learner and feels so good in the hand. A small, beautifully organized compendium of common sense and wise knitterly advice, it also ventures into previously uncharted territory as it exhorts us to go beyond the obvious, not even taking a chart at face value. Each chapter ends with a summary and a set of test questions, making it an ideal self guided learning experience.

As most designers who have had the great fortune to have worked with JC in her previous career as a tech editor par excellence, JC knows just about everything there is to know about knitting, and there has never been a tech editor with a sharper eye or a friendlier tone. "Charts Made Simple" is a wonderful opportunity to glean chart pointers from a master.

Order online from Amazon. You'll be glad you did.

My Day, and an Update

2011-01-27T21:37:00.000-08:00

It's my birthday! So, since I am probably unlikely to be wined and dined in a manner befitting a woman of my vintage, I am celebrating by wishing each and every one of you a wonderfully peaceful and happy day.. May all of you glow with the joy of creating something beautiful today.

AND, here is an update of all the teaching I will be doing between now and September, and it's quite a list! I hope you can join me in one of these classes on knitting, beads and other creative explorations (I throw a little of everything into my classes!)

Keep in mind that schedules do change sometimes.. please inquire of the venue in question if you are interested in coming to a class.

A reminder for those of you who live in or around Portland, OR: I offer frequent classes and workshops at Twisted Yarn shop, and I host drop in clinics on most Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays in the shop.

The list of workshops:

Knitting Bee Workshop, January 29, on Lace Design (Portland, OR)

Madrona Fiber Arts Retreat, February 16 - 21. Still space in my class on Harmonia's Rings and the mini workshop on hooking beads. (Tacoma, WA)

Fort Vancouver, WA Workshop, February 26 on Heart to Heart Scarf (Vancouver, WA)

Knitting Bee double header (2 workshops on beads), March 12 (Portland, OR)

Knot Just Yarn Retreat and Workshop on Heart to Heart Scarf, March 18-20. Still 3 spaces left! (Burlington, WA)

Serial Knitters, 2 workshops on beads, April 2 (Seattle, WA)

Millstream Knitters Guild, workshop topic TBA, April 9 (Salem, OR)

Columbia Gorge Fiber Festival, workshop on Aquitaine beaded gloves, April 16 (Mt Hood, OR) Still space available!

Midwest Masters Weekend, a weekend of workshops! April 29-May 1 (Neenah, WI)

Olds Fibre Week, a week of workshops! June 24-29 (Calgary, AB, Canada)

Sock Summit, a week of workshops! July 28-31, August 1 (Portland, OR)

Knitting Cruise to Inside Passage and Alaska, with myself, Samantha Roshak and Annelie Wallbom, Sept 11-17 (Seattle to Alaska and back)

Maiwa Fiber Symposium, workshop on Lace Design, Sept 24-25 (Vancouver, Canada)

Hope to see some of your shining faces in my classes!!

Spoken! and Gifts!

2011-01-20T12:45:00.000-08:00

I SO appreciate all of your help in this new venture.

And, as promised, I have chosen names from the list of commenters, using a random number generator. Five lucky folks will be receiving gifts from moi in thanks for your time and energy in sending me your thoughts about my clubs.

As this is a Blogger blog, however, I don't have access to email addresses nor do I have a way to look at many of your Blogger profiles. So, here's a plea: Will pencraftco, asimpleknitter, Lisa, Robin, and Hinkie please email me at siviaharding at clear dot net to claim your prizes?

So now more about the clubs. They will be pattern only, and I am working on a secret plan with a few chosen outlets to provide kit options for the lace club, since many people enjoy receiving a club package that includes pattern, yarn and lovely beads too.

Designs are in progress and I am getting more excited every single day. One is out being tested by trusted test knitters right now!

OK.. now I must get ready for a big workshop this weekend at Serial Knitters in Seattle, where I am teaching Lace Design to a nice group on Saturday. If it happens that you are in the area and that you may be interested, please consult the Serial Knitters website for registration details, or call the store at 425-242-0086.

Speak!

2011-01-13T11:04:00.000-08:00

If you have ever wanted to weigh in with a designer (me!) on forthcoming designs, here's your chance!

For several years now, I have contributed to many clubs, online magazines, and publications and books authored by others. I have been thinking more and more and more about establishing my own club.. or clubs.. in order to gather a community of my particular fans. My ravelry group does a fabulous job of this, of course. But this will be different.. and offer opportunities to give special offers, discounts, and other goodies to the groupies.

I have some firm ideas for these potential clubs, along with some designs in varying stages of completion, but it would help me greatly to have some input.

Right now, I can see two separate clubs on two separate themes happening, each with 5-6 exclusive designs and running concurrently. One will be mainly beaded lace work, but also will include other accessories such as gloves and cowls (beaded of course). The other theme will be Moebius, which I am developing in some very interesting ways at present. Similar to Harmonia’s Rings, which is my most popular pattern, some garment shapes will begin as Moebius and develop into other structures, and some will remain Moebius, but all will start with the Moebius cast on no matter where else they end up. This club will potentially include cowls, wraps, and scarves, but may go as far afield as shrugs or even sweaters. The sky is the limit really.

These two themes mirror my two passions: Beaded lace, and unusual, innovative garment shapes.

So.. want to cast a vote?? Let’s try a poll:

1. Which club would you be interested in joining, or both?
2. Would you like an option to purchase individual installments at a slightly higher price per pattern?
3. What price range do you consider a good one for this type of club?
4. Do you have any special requests for either club? Anything you are dying to see and knit from yours truly?
5. Any things that you DON’T want to see.. sick of triangle shawls, or ?

I would like to offer a gift for your trouble. Using a random number generator, I will be offering gift certificates from my ravelry pattern store to a few lucky responders.

Rolling into the New Year

2011-01-04T10:28:00.000-08:00

Lots to report here! I am planning some fun things over the coming year, and I would be so pleased to see each and every one of you at one of these events.

Here's the current list.

Guild talk at Fort Vancouver Knitting Guild, Fort Vancouver, WA, January 12, 2011. Contact Molly at mstan30311@aol.com for information.

Workshop at Serial Knitters, Seattle, WA, January 22, 2011
Workshop on designing top-down triangle lace shawls. Please see Serial Knitters website for registration and details.

Workshop at Knitting Bee, Portland, OR, January 29, 2011. Workshop on designing top-down triangle lace shawls. Please contact Knitting Bee for registration and details.

Madrona Fiber Arts Festival, Tacoma, WA, February 17-21, 2011
Workshops: Saturday, Bead Your Socks!; Sunday, Harmonia’s Rings. Please see Madrona Fiber Arts Festival website for registration and details.

Fort Vancouver Knitting Guild, Fort Vancouver, WA, February 26, 2011
Workshop on Heart to Heart Beaded Scarf. Contact Molly at mstan30311@aol.com for information.

Columbia Gorge Fiber Festival, Hood River, Oregon, April 15 - 17, 2011
Class on Aquitaine Beaded Cuffs on April 16. See Columbia Gorge Fiber Festival website for registration and more information.

Midwest Masters Weekend, Hood River, WI, April 29 - May 1, 2011
Classes to be determined. See Yarns by Design website for registration and more information.

Fibre Week at Olds, Calgary, AB, Canada, June 24 - July 1, 2011
See Olds College website for registration and more information.

Sock Summit!!, Portland, OR, July 28 - 31, 2011
Classes to be determined. See Sock Summit website for registration and more information.

Knitting Cruise with Serial Knitters, September 11-17, 2011
Inside Passage Alaskan cruise departing from Seattle to points in Alaska and Victoria B.C. Please see cruise details here, and contact Serial Knitters for registration and details.

Guild talk at Madison Knitters Guild, Madison, WI, November 14, 2011
See Madison Knitters Guild website for details.

And don't forget my ongoing classes at Twisted in Portland! And now I am hosting personal drop-in help clinics three days a week at the shop: Monday, 1:30 - 5:30 pm; Wednesday, 12:30 - 4:30 pm; Friday, 10 am - 2 pm. Please check the Twisted website for my current class schedule.

The next post will be a rundown of the upcoming clubs, patterns, and other design delights for 2011.. soon!

Putting the Year to Bed

2010-12-31T18:59:00.001-08:00

And what a year it's been. I don't care to elaborate on the stresses and strains that have populated my life over the last 12 months. Fortunately, there have been good things too.

Careerwise, it hasn't been bad at all. I have traveled to several cities in the US and Canada to teach camps, lead retreats, give workshops, talk to knitting guilds, and meet wonderful knitters everywhere I go. We cover the world, folks!!

I have been a part of books, various knitting clubs, had a design published in Twist Collective, posted on their blog, and published a few of my own too. I have taught lots of classes at Twisted and elsewhere around Portland and gotten to know some of the very talented knitters and designers here. I feel welcomed and at home.

Next year is right around the corner! So much to look forward to. I promise to deliver some especially delectable new things to knit over the next 12 months. Please stay tuned for the latest and greatest.

And now, having just returned from my sweet second home, Vancouver B.C., let me give you a few parting shots..

These three pictures show a very windblown me in Jericho Park in Vancouver on a winter's day, just a few days ago in fact. The last picture contains a well camouflaged heron hiding in the brush by this beautiful lake. It was a lovely day for a walk, but br-r-r-r-r, really cold and windy.

Burt and I wish you an open hearted, warm, joyful and fulfilling year to come! May we all help spread the love!

Scarf Sale!

2010-11-28T11:48:00.000-08:00

Get your holiday knitting on!

In honor of the magnificently giftable qualities of knitted scarves, I am having a sale on selected scarf and shawlette patterns in my ravelry shop!

Purchase two of the selected list of scarf patterns, and receive 25% off your total price! This is like getting the second pattern for 50% off!

Choose from: Gothic Leaf Scarf, Knotty Scarflet, Angel Pearls Beaded Scarf, Confluence Shawlette, Due Amori Gloves and Scarf, River Rock Scarf, Wings of Song, Butterfly Wrap and Victorian Shoulderette.

Just in time for your last minute holiday gifts.. so get moving! This will be in place until the end of the year.

Happy holidays, Sivia

Inkberry

2010-11-14T23:43:00.000-08:00

Once again, here I am in Twist Collective, the pinnacle of knit publications. Once again, I have to pinch myself.

Before Inkberry was sent off, I had the pleasure of seeing it on Sorren, co-worker at Twisted, and Vivian Aubrey kindly snapped some pictures. I think they are lovely.. see what you think!

I think Inkberry came out to be a lyrical piece, romantic and flowing. Hope you like her!

The Confluence of Ideas

2010-09-11T08:07:00.001-07:00

Confluence is a sweet little shawlette, a play on my favorite theme of a center panel with neck shaping inserted into a top down triangle shawl. It is mostly garter stitch, which is so pleasing, except for the lace panel which is stockinette lace with a few well chosen beads. Simple and charming.

I promised a release a couple of days ago. Obviously, Confluence is not out yet, and for a good reason.

For a good while now, I have been receiving occasional letters from sight impaired knitters who thank me for taking the time to write out line by line instructions in my patterns.

If you think about it, it makes perfect sense that sight impaired or blind knitters would need written instructions in order to knit lace, or to knit anything for that matter. As I understand it, there are readers available on many computers for this purpose, and if not, some knitters will engage sighted people to read the pattern to them as they knit, or record the pattern instructions for later playback, an ingenious idea! I am reminded of Lucy Neatby's recent writing about how hard it is to keep your attention where it belongs, on your knitting, while at the same time trying to focus your eyes on multiple things (chart, pattern, knitting) and all the while, manage to knit a complicated pattern. Lucy recommends recording yourself reading the lines of the pattern instruction at the speed you like to knit so you can keep your eyes and your attention on your knitting. Brilliant.

Anyway, when I get a letter of this sort from a knitter I generally respond with apologies that not EVERY pattern can be written out line by line. And this is true.. Shetland Garden, for instance, would be a book-length pattern if it had written instructions. But these communications give me a good kind of reboot as I consider what the world would be like without all different sorts of knitters with all the different life experiences we bring to the craft.

It still blows me away that there are blind and sight impaired lace knitters out there. If you are one of those brave and fearless knitters, I bow my deepest, most humble bow to you.

As much as I love knitting from charts, and as many times as I have cajoled and begged and even ordered my students to knit from charts, all of that pales in the face of knitterly courage that will not accept limitations.

So, come time to release a new pattern, I must assess whether to bite the proverbial bullet and write everything out "longhand" as well as provide charts. Sometimes, like for Shetland Garden, I feel it would confuse and not enlighten, so it is left out. Sometimes it is the right thing to write it out.. and then there is always the worry that with more words on the pages, there are more possibilities for published errors, every designer's nightmare.

All this is by way of explanation of the lateness of Confluence's publication. I promised it would be out two days ago, but here I am. I hope the new written instructions will be worth the wait for those who need them in order to knit.

Two down, one to go

2010-09-08T22:06:00.000-07:00

It doesn't rain but it pours. And now it's pouring.. not just figuratively. It is the beginning of the rainy season here in the Pacific Northwe(s)t. I am watching it more carefully now that I am trying to walk every morning, and I am gathering up some assorted rain gear so I can keep walking even through the coming damp weather.

OK.. weather aside, what's pouring???

Things have been building up for a while now, and it is time for several designs to come out.. some new, some that have come back to me after being published elsewhere, and some that are under wraps for a while until their time comes to be revealed.

Finally!! Three patterns are ready to be born, two that were just let out today and one that will emerge tomorrow.

First up, Aphrodite.

I love that picture so much, taken in Vancouver by M. Scott Ault, with Jamie Bowen modeling.

You may remember Aphrodite from the esteemed Twist Collective, where she held a spot in the Summer 2009 issue.

Now she is mine.

I deliberated quite a while before I decided to publish her in my own line of patterns. After all, she will be up at Twist for perpetuity, or at least I hope so. But I am becoming more sensitive to the needs of yarn shops to have patterns that are available for purchase right there in the shop, for yarn support. And I want Aphrodite in all her glory to be part of my own trunk show that is building. So, here she is.

Second, Tallulah.

Tallulah of the whispering pines and falling water. Tallulah was inspired by a wonderful family reunion that took place in July 2010 near Tallulah Falls in North Georgia, and the first sock was improvised and finished on the plane trip home. The first pair was a gift for my mother and her pair contain no beads, but my pair had to have them! The beads, inset into the openwork rib pattern in the front and around the top rim of the sock, give an impression of sparkling water drops that catch the light now and then.. a lovely effect.

And now, with beads.. here she is.

Thanks to Vivian Aubrey, who is becoming my photographer, teacher and friend, for these lovely shots. Please do look up Vivian's photography blog here. It is exquisite.

Tomorrow, Confluence!!!

Tallulah on my Mind

2010-07-16T14:49:00.000-07:00

The place: Tallulah Falls, Georgia.

Balmy southern nights, steamy days. Welcome to the Albert-Evans family reunion.. the first within memory. It is quite something to see cousins, aunts, uncles and others that last seen, were kids like me, and are now going gray, like me. It was a bit surreal but wonderful to see everyone again. Unfortunately, no pics were taken of the event itself.. I forgot my camera. But I do have a remembrance sock.. Tallulah.

These short but very sweet toe-up socks begin with my newly favorite round toe and feature a beaded openwork rib, a sculpturally fitted back, and just a hint of beaded ruffle at the top. The first sock was improvised and finished on the plane trip home. The first pair is a gift for my mother and her pair contain no beads, but my pair (yet to come) has to have them! I am hoping that the beads, inset into the openwork rib pattern in the front and around the top rim of the sock, will give an impression of sparkling water drops that catch the light now and then.. a lovely effect.

I am also including instructions for working heel stitch over the toe-up heel turn, and making length adjustments based on the individual knitter's row gauge.

See Tallulah's emergence here.. soon!

With Sprinkles on Top

2010-06-28T18:55:00.000-07:00

I have had the pleasure of working with quite a few indie dyers now, and the Pico Accuardi Dyeworks folks are among the very nicest. They share space with Lantern Moon in a warehouse near Portland, Oregon, and recently on a visit to their digs, I came away with a very interesting skein of Acid and Weed sock yarn, which results from a dye process that involves acid overdyes on a ground of natural plant dyed yarn.

Meet Sprinkles. Now part of my new Jack in the Pulpit Socks. Photos are the lovely work of Vivian Aubrey.

Folks who are part of the Pico Accuardi Dyeworks sock clubs (two) will be getting this kit this year. Otherwise, you will have to wait until June of 2011 to get your hands on this. Acid and Weed sock yarn is available in other colorways now. Check the Pico-Accuardi website for retail outlets.

And watch for the August retreat. Deb's family owns a legendary Italian restaurant here, and I have heard that there will be wonderful food!

Black and Other Sheep

2010-06-21T13:02:00.000-07:00

Oh lord, it has been a long blog silence. I seem to have a difficult time with day to day fodder. Oh blog readers, can you forgive me?

There are no lace or beads in today's post. Please excuse. However, last weekend I was incredibly fortunate to visit the legendary Black Sheep Gathering in Eugene, Oregon. Out of the dog house and into the sheep house.

I adore sheep faces! So now, lucky readers, you get to see a few of the sheepy personalities I saw at the gathering.

This young man obligingly allowed me to photograph his back. The answer is obviously "YES!"

First, to get my cute quotient just as high as it can possibly go, here is a baby kitten that someone had in the sheep area. Awwww.

And here is the requisite bunny. He was, according to his owner, asleep with his eyes open. So sweet, and apparently so relaxed too.

Another blissfully sleeping baby amidst the din and b-a-a-a-a-h-ings.

A young Jacob, raring to go.

This fellow almost looks like he should be sporting a unicorn!

Thank you for indulging me in my sheepy obsession.

I met so many wonderful folks at the gathering, and saw so many old friends. I did feel dorky asking people if I could take their picture though. Must get over that.

I did come home with a few choice booty items. I hope you agree that I exercised enormous restraint.

Left to right, a Jenkins Turkish Delight spindle (I got a tiny itsy-bitsy Jenkins too.. it stole my heart), a luminous glass shawl pin (actually a laying tool) from the wizardry of Sheila and Michael Ernst, and three skeins of precious yarn from Blue Moon Fiber Arts: a Seduction in a particularly lovely colorway and two STR skeins in new vibrant reds that had to come home with me.

And here, six precious balls of Elemental Affects shetland fingering weight yarn that will be part of a Plum Frost cardigan if all goes well. The plain part of the sweater will be Imperial Stock Ranch's Tracie fingering weight, which I am hoping will blend beautifully with the shetland.

May you all have sheep around you in plentiful quantities.. either in four footed or fiber form. We heart sheeps everywhere.

Cattywampused

2010-04-19T07:39:00.000-07:00

I am at a very mythical place... Blue Moon Fiber Arts sock camp, also known as Camp Cattywampus. Mad, crazy things are happening here, and I am teaching classes on knitting with beads to the lovely campers here.

Dr. Seuss is the reigning muse this year, and Tina Newton and Stephanie Pearl-McPhee are the reigning geniuses as ever.

A few pictures follow of the lovely surroundings, a happy group of campers in my bead class, and some of my fellow "camp staff"!

Tomorrow I depart from this magical place and travel up to B.C. where another workshop takes place shortly, near Kamloops B.C.

For today, I am still happily Cattywampused! A happy Suessical day to all!

Ophidian

2010-04-10T22:39:00.001-07:00

Introducing Ophidian, a new bit of loveliness that will be debuted at the Twist of Fate retreat this month.

Ophidian is a top-down triangle shawl that combines garter stitch with beaded lace, a mix that I have been exploring lately with great delight.

She is shown here in Hazel Knits fingering weight in the hazelnut colorway and Socks that Rock Heavyweight from Blue Moon Fiber Arts in the Vancouver Violet colorway, two very different yarns in two very different weights.

I will allow her to speak for herself... photos by Alex Tinsley, modeled by Vivian Aubrey, both co-workers at Twisted yarn shop in Portland. Thanks, guys!!

As always, click for bigger, and in this case, the whole picture!

Rosalind, Wherefore Art Thou?

2010-03-01T22:38:00.000-08:00

Why, here!

I am celebrating Rosalind's release to the world today.. won't you celebrate with me?

Rosalind was originally published as part of the Shakespeare in Lace club in 2009 from Wooly Wonka Fibers. As of today, she is mine.. and yours.

From the pattern: A tale of loves lost and found again, mistaken identities, royalty hidden away in the forest.. and one of the greatest heroines put to paper.. this is Shakespeare's comedy, As You Like It. In this garment, I tried to capture Rosalind's trials antd tribulations as she strives to rescue her kingly father and gain the love of her life, while disguised as a boy. The yarn is humble enough, a fingering weight shetland, but the design is comfeaturing cables, lace, beads, and a labyrinthine center panel. I hope you will agree that althoumay go far afield, all comes right in the end, and with a regal beaded flourish too!

I made Rosalind in a Shetland fingering weight yarn that has heft enough to cable well, but you can substitute any yarn you fancy. If you have extra yarn at hand, you can easily size her up by adding more repeats of the body and center panel charts. As written, she will require 1200 yards and 780 beads, which are placed using the crochet hook add-as-you-go method.

You can find her here on my website and here on Ravelry, where some folks in my group will be starting to work on her shortly.

Take a walk down memory lane with me

2010-02-21T08:23:00.000-08:00

The wonderful Knitmore Girls have released the interview that we did at Sock Summit 2009. You can hear them on iTunes or their podcast page. And please don't listen too carefully. Be kind, and take the extraordinary circumstances into consideration, won't you?

Jasmin Canty is the best interviewer ever, and Gigi is lovely and so charming.. what a great mother and daughter duo!

Postcard from the Mountaintop

2010-02-06T10:13:00.000-08:00

Hello from beautiful Friday Harbor, WA!

I am here with mentoress Cat Bordhi and assorted other luminaries of the knitting world at the self publishing retreat that has happened every year for the last six years. I am destressing, thinking, knitting and sketching new designs in a rather mad fashion. I feel there is so much to do and so little time, but here in this timeless beautiful place life goes at a different pace and to a different rhythm.

I am here until Wednesday, then on to Madrona Fiber Arts Retreat, where I am teaching a class on Diamond Fantasy. I will be testing the waters by presenting some new ideas about "intuitive" knitting. .That's all I can say for now, but I am looking forward to seeing how the class receives my new ideas and methods.

The Diamond Fantasy was one of my first patterns and is still one of my favorites. It has a lovely rhythm and a very satisfying structure that has enough variety and enough sameness to keep a knitter's interest indefinitely. I wish I had time to knit hundreds of Diamond Fantasies.

May all of you find your knitting rhythm today...

The Recap

2010-01-02T13:13:00.000-08:00

What a year it was!

I never could have foreseen all the changes, all the highs and lows, all the paths that joined or were parted. Looking back over the events of the year, I truly feel I have aged years, and those who have seen me lately know that I am looking it too.. I am no longer hiding my silvery locks. It feels as if a rather heavy dose of reality has come down to roost around me. And as these things go, it is now time for a little backwards look, a fond farewell to 2009, and a glad turning to 2010 and whatever it may hold.

Some of you know (and probably many of you don't!) that for the last 10+ years, I have been happily residing in Vancouver, Canada with my dear husband Burt, and Mooshie, the famous cover model cat.

That has come to an temporary end, as I now have a home in Portland, Oregon with my son Ari, who is grown but unable to care for himself at this time. Living with someone who is in constant pain is such a lesson in humility as I witness daily the courage and strength of my son. It is truly a privilege to be able to support and care for him at this time.

Actually, it all started at Sock Summit, which was an incredible high, as everyone knows... Sock Summit forced me out of my comfortable anonymity in Canada and broke me out of my reclusive lifestyle, probably for forever. While the experience was fraught with a certain anxiety, experiencing the nirvana that was SS09 was the high point of my life, and my life has changed forever as a result of being there. I am sure I am only one of many who can say the same.

After Sock Summit ended in August, I went from the heights to the depths as I traveled to California to take care of my son. I stayed there for several weeks, then went on to Portland, my chosen destination, in order to make a home there for the two of us.

I could not have chosen a better place. Portland is wonderful and it has embraced me with open arms. I am so grateful for the friends and acquaintances who have helped me get a foothold here, and of course for the folks at Twisted for giving me a home base.

Yes, so much to be grateful for.

Now that I have landed and have an address, I can do lots more designing than I could when I was living out of a suitcase.. isn't that amazing?? And the designs have been flying out the door at a rather amazing rate. I think those of you who watch my work will be pleased when they begin to come out on ravelry and other places. I will also be traveling and teaching from my new home base, and I hope to meet many of you as I appear at the various fiber events and classes.. please do check my website soon for details.

Thank you, dear readers, for patiently waiting for posts here, and for your support, as always.

Happy, happy New Year to all of you!

Postcard from Portland

2009-10-15T19:45:00.001-07:00

Help! I've been kidnapped by a bunch of crazy Irish musicians and am being held captive in Portland Oregon!!!

The lovely Nancy Conescu, her husband the legendary Mike Doolin, and friends. It doesn't get much better than this, folks!

Yes, the rumors are true. I now am a resident of Portland. See my apartment?

My mother, who knows me well, says that I have always wanted an apartment this empty and she may be right. I would like to have a nice knitting chair though.

And no, I have not moved out of my place in Vancouver. I still am happily married to my Canadian husband and my stuff is all still there with him. I am here in Portland to make a new home for my son Ari, and I am awaiting his arrival soon. I hope that a new situation will bring healing to him on many levels. All good wishes are very much appreciated at this time.

Knitting is happening too. I have a lot to catch up on as I didn't have a lot of internet access while I was in transit over the last few months. More promised soon!

Dog days

2009-08-26T14:01:00.000-07:00

Yes, we are in the dog days, and here in San Diego it is beastly hot. The impulse is to be lazy and do absolutely nothing... Yet, work continues in a rush after the high of Sock Summit, and in its aftermath I follow the muse to wherever she is leading...

I have several as-yet secret projects that will be revealed in their good time, and in the meantime here are some lovely links for you:

Aphrodite on the Twist Collective Blog!!! Somehow things all look more beautiful on this site.. please do take a peek at Sparklefaerie in her glory...

Joy of Sox is now out! My project is called "Afternoon Delight" and the book is a gorgeous and sensuous delight. Please do check it out...

For this design, I used Sundara FSM in robin's egg, one of my favorite colorways ever, and I can't say enough lovely things about this yarn and especially how it is with beads.. splendido!

Hoping coolness will return soon...

After the Epitome

2009-08-15T15:47:00.000-07:00

I was there... I was there. In years to come, this will be a legend.

And as was the case for many at Woodstock, I don't actually remember much. I taught, I knit, I hobnobbed with the greats.. and I missed so much. I did not get much sleep. I did not attend the Sock Hop in favor of knitting a few more samples for my bootie class the next day. I did not meet everyone I had wanted to look up in the Marketplace.

But in the end, I saw that it was all perfect. And that everyone's experience of SS09 was different from everyone else's.

I didn't take too many pictures, but here are a few to add to the huge number that have already been posted around the internet:

At the opening ceremony, Judy Becker (foregraound) sitting at the table with Barbara Walker.

The teachers' dinner was highlighted by Stephen Houghton knitting with whatever was handy...

Yes.. those are tampons.

Cat Bordhi in the Convention Center lobby the evening before Day 1.

The marketplace vendors setting up for business.

Stephanie and Tina cracking each other up in the opening remarks.

Right to left, Abby Franquemont, Ann Budd, and Denny McMillan. Having a blast.

Fabulous Jasmin and Gigi of Knitmore Girls fame, after our podcast interview.

The Luminaries: From the left, Lucy Neatby, Cat Bordhi, Deb Robson, Anna Zilboorg, Priscilla Gibson-Roberts, and just a tiny glimpse of Nancy Bush on the other side of the podium where Stephanie and Tina were keeping things in check.

Wow. Just wow.

Skylark's Fashion Extravaganza

2009-07-29T07:30:00.000-07:00

You know Sharon if you have ever visited my ravelry group, Sivia Harding Knits. Sharon (skylark on ravelry) is the behind-the-scenes mama figure moderator who greets each and every new member with warmth and panache, and even trolls the new projects lists to find folks who might want to join the party.

At a risk of embarassing Sharon and making all of you jealous, she is an unparalleled helper, never complains about the work load, and even test knits for me from time to time - and she is an amazing knitter! You should check out her projects. Really.

Her latest enterprise is the Fashion Show, a growing compendium of photos of people's versions of my shawls. It is a magnificent thing to do, huge in scope, and I am starting to worry about whether Sharon has time to eat and sleep in the face of it all.

So, just to make it a little easier on Sharon, if you have posted pictures of yourself or a friend modeling a Sivia Harding shawl, send a link or leave a comment. We'll add it to the list, and we thank you.

Now back to previously scheduled insanity.. getting ready for SS09!

To Socks and Beyond

2009-07-24T21:48:00.000-07:00

Someone told me recently that my two new patterns, which will be debuted at Sock Summit 09, are “way beyond socks.” I just love that phrase. In a way, it was a great complement, as socks are rather prosaic knitted items and I strive for the unique and well, special. But functionality is key too, as for all sock-like knitted items that are expected to perform well and look awesome.

Form and function.. both so important, don't you agree?

So here, without any more ado, are my two newest creations.

Continuum, so named because my inspiration for the cable design was the Tibetan never ending knot that symbolizes the interconnectness of all beings. Continuum is a cabled and beaded series of leg warmers in three lengths, in dk weight yarn. Here again I thank my friends Sparklefaerie and M.Scott, her able and willing photographer.

The shortest version, cuffs that are meant to go over boots or knee socks.

The longest version, thigh high and bell bottomed leg warmers that drape beautifully.

And these shortie leg warmers, so cute on Sparklefaerie, that warm your knees when your boots aren't quite high enough.

Next, Blossom Dearies, beaded baby booties that are meant for the most angelic of little feet. I named them after one of my favorite singers as a tribute to her tiny but perfect, angelic voice.

Thanks to Zoe Gee, mother of the little angel in this picture, and the angel himself, Teijo Tso.

These patterns will be found at the Sock Summit vendor area at the Carolina Homespun booths and at WEBS. And after Sock Summit, elsewhere of course.

Happy journeys.. to socks and beyond!

Fiddling Around

2009-07-20T12:27:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am on a crazed sock marathon. Yes, I am counting the minutes, hours and days until Sock Summit.

Yes, I have a new sock pattern.. first seen in Dye Dreams' Four Seasons Sock Club this year, and the lovely Dye Dreams folks have generously allowed me to publish it myself just a few months after their club had it.

So.. here it is folks, with another brilliant M.Scott photo to grace the pattern cover. Those are Sparklefaerie's feet inside the socks too, in case you wondered.

Pattern specs:

Toe up gusset heel sock in three sizes with high instep option for all sizes. Beads are included (of course!) and I used the crochet hook add-as-you-go method for this one. So much fun!

In addition to the Dye Dreams' Panda Sox, a new bamboo blend which knits up beautifully, I have used Curious Creek Fibers' Wasonga, which has a very silky feel.

You can now purchase the Fiddlehead Sock pattern on my site and on ravelry.

If you are coming to SS09, you can see them in person! Yay!

Pure Enchantment

2009-07-20T11:17:00.000-07:00

We never know the hidden talents of folks we see every day.

For instance, I knew Jamie from our working together at Three Bags Full where she is assistant manager, and I had met her husband in passing. I even knew that he is a photographer, but that is as far as my knowledge went.

Fate, or perhaps just the openhearted generosity of Jamie and M.Scott, threw us together to solve a problem: How to get some photos of my silk Aphrodite while it is still in my possession? Having kept one of the two Aphrodites that were part of the Twist Collective trunk show when they visited Three Bags Full recently, I knew that I wanted, no needed some new photographs of this piece. Jamie and M.Scott came through in a flash, and what a flash it proved to be! They are a brilliant team. This is just a taste of what was filmed that day, with more to be seen soon on the Twist Collective blog, and on the cover of several new patterns to be released soon.

OK, here is another taste:

Please click for bigger so you can see all the lovely detail.

Jamie (known professionally as Sparklefaerie) can be seen at sparklefaerie.com; M.Scott at altphotoart.net.

Color Riot, or Forgive my Teal

2009-06-30T13:09:00.000-07:00

I am in full pre-Sock Summit obsession.. projects crowding around like little mewling babies, all craving attention and all wanting to be made before SS09.

As most of you know, probably to the point of nauseating repetition, I love beads and use them in almost everything I make. A growing number of people share my fascination with beads and how they can enhance (in my humble opinion) knitting designs.

It is however, rare when I find the right bead for the right yarn right away.. usually it takes some shopping around and that can be a process when you mostly order your good Japanese beads by mail order.

So.. regard. This is my latest order from Earth Faire, and EVERY BEAD IS PERFECT! I don't think it is my masterful decision making ability either, because I forgot what I ordered right after I ordered them, and besides I didn't have these skeins of yarn in my possession when I ordered. It has to be serendipity, or grace, or maybe synchronicity. Take your pick.

So take a look, and dream of the socks that will emerge from these yarns and bead combinations...

Because each of these is so wonderful in its own right, here follows a photo of each project.. more for my journalistic desire to record what I mean to do next than anything else.. and nothing is carved in stone, mind you. No promises.

But today, this is my happy color dance of potential bliss...

Oh Mama! STR lightweight in My blue heaven and Turquoise, with mint julep aqua and silver lined dark aqua beads. Yes, this is all one project!

Sweet sweet sweet! Blue Moon Fiber Arts Seduction in Rose Quartz, with sparkling cranberry lined amethyst ab beads.

Be still my heart! STR lightweight in Corbie with sparkling aqua green lined crystal ab beads.

Oh lordy - I hear the angels singing! STR lightweight in Quilla with dark peach lined crystal ab beads.

Splendiforous! Sweet Georgia Superwash Sock in Turquoise with glacier blue lined crystal ab beads

Elegance! Sweet Georgia Speed Demon in Teal with teal lined lavender beads

OK.. enough of this.. I'm going to wind up some yarn, yeah baby!

Sweet Visitation

2009-06-18T08:34:00.000-07:00

Last Tuesday I had a sweet little visitation with one of my "children".. Aphrodite, now part of the Twist Collective family.

The occasion was the Twist Collective traveling trunk show which landed at Three Bags Full and took over the shop for the evening.

The shop was quite transformed for the show.. cleared out, lined with chairs, and filled with excitement!

The models began to circulate...

And then my little creations, both of them, came out to play...

A splendid time was had by all. It was thrilling to see these garments in person.. so much better than in pictures.

Phoenix has Risen

2009-06-10T22:59:00.000-07:00

So many people have written to me over the last year asking when the Phoenix Rising shawl would be available after its stint in last year's Year of Lace 2008 subscription club.

After much reworking and in a gorgeous new yarn, here she is on my website, and here on ravelry. Please do take a peek.

You will notice some differences between last year’s version and this new one. I have added beads into the flame-like center lace panel, and a brand new beaded lace edge that I feel is a perfect finish. I hope you agree.

The yarn is Sweet Georgia Yarns’ Cashsilk lace, a wonderful blend of 45% cashmere, 50% silk that is truly sinfully soft. Lovely Felicia Lo, whom you see modeling the shawl, dyes a wonderful yarn.. I used her boysenberry colorway. Yum!

Happy lacing and beading to all,

Sivia

Aphrodite Revealed

2009-06-01T11:56:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

Just to let you know that the Summer 2009 Issue of Twist Collective is now up. If you are not yet familiar with this beautifully put together online publication, you can read all of the many articles and features for free, and of course see the gorgeous photographs of all the patterns. If you would like to purchase a pattern, you can do so on the shop page. All patterns are available as pdf downloadable files only.

Have I mentioned how thrilled I am to be a part of this publication, in the company of so many other great designers?

I hope you like Aphrodite... She is on the cover of the magazine, and on page 10! Please do take a peek!

If you are on Ravelry, you can favorite or queue the pattern, and also see what everyone else is doing with theirs. The Ravelry library page for Aphrodite can be found here.

There is also an Aphrodite knitalong just getting started on my Ravelry group.

Now forgive me if I indulge myself by posting these *homemade* blocking pics of both versions of Aphrodite, complete with blocking gremlin!

Lace Conquers All

2009-05-24T20:53:00.000-07:00

I saw a preview of Twist Collective's summer issue today.. I am on the cover! Please take a peek...

and let me know what you think!

Sivia

The New Phoenix Rising

2009-05-22T10:03:00.000-07:00

Yes, it is almost here! Phoenix is about to rise again.. with a few little changes.

Notice the beads that now grace the center lace panel? I hope you do... there are more changes to follow.. stay tuned for those.

I love this yarn.. allow me to sing the praises of Sweet Georgia, whose cashsilk lace yarn this is, in the boysenberry colorway. I swear that several folks at the Three Bags Full knit night last Wednesday evening were swooning when they touched it.

My picture does not do justice to either the super saturated color or the intensely pleasurable feel of this yarn.

I close with a few shots of San Diego, where I was when I started this version, and where a very pretty springtime is to be found.

In Praise of Patternfish

2009-05-21T09:50:00.000-07:00

If any of you haven't yet heard of the Patternfish phenomenon, please get up to date already!

This smart and fun site offers you thousands of pdf downloadable patterns, with great ways to search and save your faves, intelligent rundowns of each and every pattern, great service, and even better yet, it's Canadian!

Julia Grunau is the mastermind behind the 8-ball. She writes a mean blog post. And my Harmonia’s Rings is their best selling pattern in Germany.

For all of you designers out there, Julia is soliciting, so go over and get yourself signed up! You will be in fine company indeed.

There and Back Again

2009-05-20T15:11:00.000-07:00

Most of you know that for the last two months I have been away looking after my son.

I am back now, a little sleep deprived but all in one piece. Internet access was not always available to me, so there is a lot to catch up on!

Thanks to all of you who offered their wishes for my son’s recovery. It is so hard to see a child hurting, even if he is no longer a child. My son, Ari, has sustained nerve damage from a surgical procedure that went wrong. He has a long road ahead as he continues his rehabilitation, and every prayer and wish is appreciated.

Although we were able to find him excellent health care, the support in California for people in need is not the best and he does not have enough money to meet his bills, especially since he lost his health insurance along with his job a few months ago.

I will be hosting a blog event soon to raise some funds to help with his medical and other expenses. I will be sure to post all the developments here.

In the meantime, I have been busy knitting and designing. Here are some new things you can look forward to seeing:

The June issue of Twist Collective will feature a new beaded shawl pattern. See the Sneak Peak page here.

Also in June, the Fiddlehead Sock pattern, already published as part of Dye Dreams’ Four Seasons Sock Club, will be available from my website and here on ravelry.

The Embrace the Lace Club from Woolgirl, loosely based on the Seven Heavenly Virtues, is now featuring a new beaded lace shawlette pattern along with hosting a charity event in honor of the theme (my virtue: Charity). Please see the blog to join in the event, which will benefit Autism Speaks.

I am working up a new version of the Phoenix Rising shawl that was first seen last year in the Year of Lace 2008 Club. The new version is in a glorious yarn by Sweet Georgia and now includes more beads and features a different edging than the original.

And last but not least.. I am getting ready for Sock Summit!!! New designs and new classes.. oh my.

Please stay tuned for more developments, and thank you again for being such a worthy audience…

Love to all,

Sivia

Fiddlehead Socks... the teaser

2009-04-29T19:33:00.000-07:00

Hello dear readers, who must think I have permanently fallen off the blog wagon.

I am currently in San Diego, land of cactus and persimmon flowers, taking care of my dear son for a while.

Mostly I am knitting up a storm, but finding time to design too.. and this is the latest off my needles, the Fiddlehead Socks:

Pictures were taken in the back yard garden of Kristine Brooks, of Curious Creek Fibers fame. I am indeed lucky to be here in this enchanted spot.

The Fiddlehead Socks will be released in May as part of the Four Seasons Sock Club from Dye Dreams, then in June you can look for the pattern under my name. Lucky sock club participants will be receiving the pattern and the luscious bamboo blend yarn in lovely Fiddlehead teal, which was dyed for me according to my specifications.

Thank all of you who have sent get well wishes for my son Ari, who helped me take the pictures of the socks that you see above.

The Event called Sock Summit

2009-03-30T16:45:00.000-07:00

OK.. is there anyone out there who still hasn’t heard of Sock Summit, the event that “takes sock knitting almost too far”?

For everyone who hasn’t drooled over the possibilities yet, Sock Summit takes place in Portland, OR on August 6-9 of this year. You can see all the wonderful details on the website, where the class listings were posted for the first time recently.

And very excitingly for me, I am getting to teach at this fantastic event! Truly, I feel as if I should be the one paying them for the privilege. Once you look over the list of teachers and classes (not to mention the 150 vendors in the marketplace) I know you will agree.

If you would like to take a peek at my class offerings, here are the links to those (and yes, they will be all beads, all the time):

http://www.socksummit.com/classes/beaded_cables/

http://www.socksummit.com/classes/beautiful_beaded_baby_bootees/

http://www.socksummit.com/classes/hooked_on_beads/

I hope you can join me there, in spirit if not in the “socks”!

Clubbed

2009-03-30T13:25:00.000-07:00

This must be the Year of the Club for me.

Last year, I had a magnificent introduction into the Mysteries of the Club when Phoenix Rising was the kickoff design for the Year of Lace 2008 club.

The success of that design led me to go.. hog wild comes to mind.. when I started getting requests for designs for this year's club docket.

Already this year I have had two club releases, with several more to come.

Forgive me if I indulge myself with a list of past and present offerings.

The first one was for the Seven Deadly S(p)ins club sponsored by the Unique Sheep. My sin was Envy, and this was my initial design:

The yarn is House Blend from Unique Sheep, a lovely dk-weight alpaca blend. The final design was much prettier... in envy green with beads, of course. Sorry I don't have any pics of the final one to show, but you get the idea.

The next was an installment of the Rockin' Sock Club, a design called the Queen of Beads, or as Tina lovingly embellished the title, Queen of Beads Singing the Blues. I became part of the Notorious Sock Knitters World Domination Tour with that shipment and I must say that this has been the highlight of my year in knitting so far.. Blue Moon does rock, and rock well...

And what's up next, you may ask?

I had to balance the Seven Deadly S(p)ins with something, and this is what it was: The Seven Heavenly Virtues of Lace, sponsored by Woolgirl. Can't expose the work in progress to the public eye as yet, but it will be heavenly, at least I hope so. My virtue is Charity, and we are planning an event along with the installment that will bring out this quality in the best way.

Next up is Dye Dreams' Four Seasons Sock Club, for which I am pleased to be the representative of Spring. Do check out the lineup of designers.. I am flattered indeed to be included in this list of luminary sock designers!

I was given the choice of fibers and best of all, colors in this club, and here is the gorgeous color (and beads) I chose:

Next? Why, the Year of Lace 2009!!! For now, suffice it to say that my design will be the summer installment of this prestigious club.

And last but not least, the Shakespeare in Lace Club from Wooly Wonka Fibers. I have my Shakespearean theme, and the gorgeous yarn and beads in hand for the shawl that shall be the December installment of the club. I do hope that it will be bard-worthy.

Here is the lineup for the rest of the year.. I don't know if subscriptions are still open, but do check it out:

March: Miriam Felton of Mimknits is kicking off the subscription kits with a nod to Othello. She’s taking her design theme from Desdemona’s handkerchief, a strawberry motif, done in a drapey merino blend laceweight dyed the color of (what else?) crushed strawberries.

June: Judy Anderson has chosen a lovely soft periwinkle blue silk/merino laceweight for her A Midsummer Night’s Dream project, a triangular lace shawl knit in fairy lace motifs and sprinkled with sparkling beads.

September: Anne Hanson of Knitspot will be chiming in for her interpretation of Macbeth’s Burnham Wood, with a rectangular stole covered with tree and woods motifs in rich earthy hues on a laceweight cashmere/silk yarn.

December: Sivia Harding has agreed to round out the year for us by taking a cue from As You Like it, following the twists and turns of the plot (which resolve neatly in the end!) in the shawl’s lace patterning, and creating a Faroese-shaped shawl knit in a slightly heavier, fingering weight yarn dyed in a deep blue-black ink color.

I think that rounds out the year quite nicely, what say you?

Design your Heart Out.. Announcing The Spring Workshop!

2009-03-18T13:48:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone,

It's almost Spring and lace is blooming! For any of you who may in the
neighborhood (Pacific Northwest), or may be interested in traveling here, I have
a new workshop offering that will take place this May on beautiful Vancouver
Island. This one is especially for lace knitters who have always wanted to
design your very own lace shawl… but weren't sure where or how to start.

Here are some of the details:

Creating Lace Filled Triangles
with Sivia Harding
May 14 - 17, 2009
Cobble Hill, BC, Canada

I will walk you through the design process in an inspiring, safe, and supportive
atmosphere. Bring a variety of yarns that you love, and any stitch dictionaries
that you may own.

The Location
Sage's home is so beautiful and we are very lucky that she is opening it up to
us to share for the weekend. The air is sweet, the view stunning and the
Cowichan Valley area is full of delightful surprises. You may wish to add a few
days to your trip and give yourself time to enjoy the region.

(View from Sage's Porch)

Accommodation
Once you've registered we will give you tips on where to look for places to
stay. There are many lovely bed and breakfast options very close by – several
are within minutes of Sage's home. There are also "budget" accommodations
available, too.. contact Sage for details.

Registration – Don't Wait!!!
Space is limited, so please contact Sage right away if you are planning to
attend. Leave a message at 250-733-2999, or email her

Questions?
Most of the answers can be found by downloading the original poster:

http://www.siviaharding.com/Spring_Workshop.pdf

Or by contacting Sage…

See you in May!!!

The Excitement Builds...

2009-02-20T18:02:00.000-08:00

For those of you who for some weird reason have not yet heard about the Sock Summit, which promises to be the knitting event of the century, you can get up to speed here.

The unholy three, Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, Tina Newton of Blue Moon Fiber Arts, and Cat Bordhi, have been planning this incredible thing under wraps.. until today.

The wraps are off! Now it can be told.. the most amazing collection of knitting teachers EVER. Including Barbara Walker, Anna Zilboorg, Priscilly Gibson-Roberts, Meg Swanson, and on and on. See the entire list and their bios (yes, thrillingly to include moi) on Yarn Harlot's blog and the Sock Summit website.

HEHE!!! The fun is set to start August 6, 2009. Get your socks on...

Screen Queen

2009-02-17T13:40:00.000-08:00

Some of you may know that I am the designer behind the latest Rockin' Sock Club offering, Queen of Beads. From where I stand, this is kind of like being the mother of a famous child star. I just looked on the Ravelry pattern startup page and this is what I saw:

My pattern is second after a gorgeous and free lace shawl KAL. Wow. I don't know.. does this mean I have "arrived"????

Having just arrived home from knitterly jaunts to San Juan Island and the Madrona Fiber Arts event, I am tired but elated. And now this.. somebody pinch me.

More to come as I sort through all the photographs, papers, and patterns from my trip...

Happy Gloves to You!

2008-12-23T17:25:00.000-08:00

The Rolling Thunder Glove pattern is available as a free ravelry download. Some of you already found it on my website as a freebie, but now the rest of the knitting world will be discovering it!

The Rolling Thunder glove is an offshoot of the Rolling Thunder sock pattern that was published in Knitty.com in the Spring 2006 issue. The gloves came about because I wanted to make a new pair to replace the samples that walked away with my mom after she visited me last fall, but I just couldn't quite make myself do the pattern as written... hehe. This familiar to any of you? No, I thought not...

There will be a class featuring these gloves at Three Bags Full knit shop in January, so be sure and sign up for that if you are here in town and you thnk you may be interested... it is a fun glove pattern with a hemmed cuff, beads, and a nicely shaped thumb.

May your holidays be peaceful and filled with joy! All wishes for a happy season of light, from snow blanketed Vancouver...

I Created a Monster

2008-12-17T11:10:00.000-08:00

Sometimes teaching people how to make socks is like sowing seeds in the wilderness.. This picture from Susan, brought to me via another student's Blackberry, was one of the best presents I have ever received!

And here's to sockoholic bliss!

Buried Treasure, Unearthed

2008-12-12T11:33:00.000-08:00

What is it about cables and beads that is so magical together?

Many of you have been asking about the Buried Treasure Socks pattern that appeared in Yarn Magazine last year, as the magazine is hard to find here in North America.

Good news.. the pdf pattern is now available for purchase on my website and on ravelry!

When I designed this sock, I had wanted for a long time to make intensely cabled socks, and here they are... elegant socks with cables galore, plus a “buried treasure” of glittering beads. The cables cause the leg to draw in more than usual, so the number of leg stitches has been increased to compensate. These extra stitches are then decreased in the gusset with a special technique.

The yarn I used for this pair is Sweet Georgia's Handpainted Sock, and the pattern requires approximately 226 (254) size 8/0 beads. The socks are sized for women’s medium and large. Retail price is $6.00 and download is immediate from either source.

I actually added this pattern to my projects a couple of days ago but ravelry was having a little trouble with accepting pattern uploads then... happy happy, all is fixed now...

New Year, New Lace

2008-12-10T23:17:00.000-08:00

Harbour Lights has some new fans over at the IcelandicLaceShawl group on Yahoo. They voted to start a KAL featuring my pattern on January 1, 2009. I have become a member of their group and they are a very enthusiastic bunch over there!

You too can join them if you have been hankering to knit this shawl...

What a great way to start the year...

Rings of Harmonia

2008-12-02T20:51:00.000-08:00

Harmonia's Rings is now available!

This newest addition, a warm and graceful cowl design, was born during the One World Moebius knit along that started right before the US election in November.

This is reflected in the name of the cowl, “Harmonia’s Rings," after the Greek goddess of contentment and harmony. The spiral shape of the center and the outlying rings of the cowl look exactly like the ripple effect that happens when a droplet falls into a pool of water…

Thanks to all for their encouraging remarks about the project so far! I love this piece which is quite sculptural and very cozy and warm. It is made in rings of telescoping pleats that arrange themselves cozily around your neck, and the cowl can also be stretched up over most of your head if desired, making it a sort of honorary wimple.

I used two yarns for these samples, Blue Moon Fiber Arts' Peru in Valkyrie (the purplish sample modeled by Christa Giles) and Berrocco Ultra Alpaca in Tanzanite mix (the tealish sample modeled by me). I believe any soft, warm worsted weight yarn would work for this design.

You may notice also that the design features a beaded picot bind off at the edge of the spiral opening. I couldn't resist adding beads, although there aren't many.. but I reserved a place of honor for them.

This is a design that will perplex your knitting (and non-knitting) friends, and I guarantee that no one will be able to figure out how the thing was constructed!!! It will be our little secret. The actual knitting is easy and suitable for beginning knitters. You will need to know Cat Bordhi's Moebius cast on. But you will be a better person for learning this... you can thank me later.

May contentment reign...

More Mystery

2008-11-19T17:19:00.000-08:00

It's finished!

Soon, soon, soon... the pattern will be available.

And in other news,

Some of you will have noticed that I have started to design for subscription clubs like the Year of Lace 2008. I had a very good experience with that one, and that has encouraged me to do more this year.

One such club I that will be contributing to in 2009 is the "Embrace the Lace" club from Woolgirl, who is planning a lineup of lace beauties for your knitting pleasure.

The club will run from March 2009 to March 2010, and features a total of 8 shipments, 8 well known lace designers, and 8 different handdyed yarns with custom colorways, all based upon the theme of "Seven Heavenly Virtues" of lace, which include Faith, Hope, Charity, Fortitude, Justice, Temperance, and Prudence.

Enrollment has been very good, according to Jennifer (Woolgirl's owner), and there is still a little bit of time left if you would like to sign up for the club. Enrollment is open for two more weeks so be sure to investigate the club if you think you may be interested.

I think it has been said that you can never have enough lace projects in the queue...

New Mystery

2008-11-16T12:25:00.000-08:00

What happens when you combine a luscious yarn, a highly textured self-pleating pattern, and a mysterious Moebius structure?

Well, this! (Shown in its current, half-completed state...)

It's a Moebius cowl/wimple/neckwarmer with a mysterious beaded spiral in the middle! I am quite pleased with how this version is coming out. (A previous, much smaller version had been distributed to students in my Moebius Knitting classes at Three Bags Full over the last few months).

Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Peru in the Valkyrie colorway. Beads: matte raku blue/purple iris 6/0 seed beads from Earth Faire.

I have been so inspired by the response to the One World Moebius KAL on ravelry. Please keep those pictures and posts coming! So wonderful to see you all in Moebius land. If you haven't looked us up, do join in if you have half a mind to do so, and happy knitting wherever you are...

One World

2008-11-08T10:40:00.000-08:00

Come and join the One World Moebius KAL, now in progress over on Ravelry here. All are welcome...

And here is my newest Elegant Arrows, in Noro Silk Garden Sock yarn, with a beaded picot edging. The picture was taken by my hubby as a rainy Vancouver dusk was falling outside. How nice to have a new bit of bright color in residence!

With enormous gratitude to Cat Bordhi, who brought us the gift of Moebius knitting... thank you Cat!

As the Moebius Turns...

2008-11-03T14:26:00.000-08:00

So turns the world.

Tomorrow the US will have a chance for a new beginning, and I truly hope that the healing can then begin. Read on for a way for all knitters to join in together and help in this process! I have a little *prize* at the end for all of you as well.

I just received a wonderful message from Cat Bordhi about a way to heal ourselves and our very disturbed and torn world through the humble act of knitting a Moebius scarf or wrap... which is one of my most loved and cherished things to do, and I know many of you share this feeling.

For those of you who have always wanted to knit a Moebius but didn't know how to start, Cat has generously provided a video explaining the cast on, which you can view here.

Now I hand the *microphone* over to Cat... please read!!!

November 3, 2008

Heal the Election Wounds and Embrace Humanity with a Moebius

By Cat Bordhi

I awoke this morning realizing that publicly knitting a beautiful Moebius scarf as I begin to float (I live on an island), drive, and fly toward Stitches East on Tuesday would be a beautiful and profound public expression of my hopes and dreams for the world, as well as a symbol of the healing that our country will need after the election.

If you want to follow along, I recently made a Youtube video which will clearly teach you how to knit a Moebius whether you have my books or not. Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVnTda7F2V4

So - here is why the Moebius is a perfect expression of the best of humanity, and the healing of the fractured country and world that I trust is coming:

1. The Moebius *appears* to have two surfaces and two edges - ie, polarities such as black and white, right and wrong, good and bad, Republican and Democrat - but when you follow the surface around you will run right into your starting point without ever having changed to the other "side." For there isn't one. Everything flows into itself. Polarities are an illusion. What lies beneath the apparent polarities is oneness, beauty, and grace. In a Moebius you can see it, hold it, be awed by it. Once the frenzy dies down, hopefully those with opposing views will slowly rediscover their common humanity.

2. Like the surface that flows into itself, so too does the Moebius's single continuous edge - thus everything is recycled. In fact, I would not be the least bit surprised if the ultimate alternative energy involves a Moebius form or dynamic. By the way, the recycling symbols (2 are in common usage, one with a single twist, the other with 3) you see everywhere are actually Moebii (too hard to say Moebiuses - try it!). I think we are all hoping for significant and effective new discoveries in alternative energy - and the Moebius would be a great symbol for this global effort.

3. Once you complete the first ring (it takes 2 rings to make a round - watch the video) of your Moebius, you are in for smooth and happy sailing. All you have to do is to knit the stitch in front of you, then the next stitch in front of you, with not a care in the world for what came before or what has shifted into the "future". You'll look at the mysterious shape on your needles and wonder how "those stitches" can ever come to you . . . well, they will, without your needing to understand how. And they will all come in perfect sequence, resulting in a beautiful and graceful Moebius. The Moebius rewards your faith in its mystery with the easiest knitting you will ever do. And the result is always graceful - for this is the very nature of the Moebius. You can knit along while you watch the election results, while walking, while standing in line at the store, wherever you may find yourself during these days to come. You will be knitting the graceful healing and ease that I believe is flowing toward us, requiring only of us that we stay true to the powerful sense of loving kindness that resides in the center of every person. No one could ever possibly understand enough to make the healing happen, but if we all just knit the stitch before us, as they come, marveling at the innocence and sweetness of it all, with our oh so familiar continuous strand of yarn, the healing will happen. We need not understand either one fully - the Moebius or the world. They both operate with inherent grace.

4. I looked through my stash and chose a luminous yarn in deep watery colors from Blue Moon Fiber Arts - LSS (Luscious Single Silk), and did not realize until I looked at the label that the colorway is absolutely apropos: Lunasea. Tina no doubt named the colorway after the moon and the sea - and after lunacy. So let the lunacy of the election months give way to Lunasea - the grace of the moon, the sea, the Moebius, and the beautiful heart of humanity, of all people, the "us" and "them" who merge into one. I shall be winding the skein on the ferry tomorrow, then knitting all the way to Baltimore. I hope to see many, many of you there.

With love from Cat Bordhi

Note: If you alternate sets of knit and purl rounds, you will have purl ridges all around. Then your Moebius will not curl along the edges when you are done.

Now back to me...

In honor of Cat's generosity and the importance of the day, I am releasing a Moebius scarf pattern for you all to enjoy as a free download. I call it Elegant Arrows, and it features a lovely and graceful herringbone rib that showcases many yarns, from simple and elegant (like the one pictured) to colorful. I also include full instructions in the pattern for doing a beaded picot edging, which is a favorite way to bind off a Moebius as it accents the crossing point so well.

Download the pattern from my website here

or from Ravelry here.

I am now doing one in Noro's Silk Garden Sock and I am very happy with how beautiful it is to knit a Moebius and watch the colors changing en route... pictures soon.

I hope all of you decide to join Cat and me in this worthy event, starting tomorrow... Happy Moebius knitting to all!

Lace and Shakespeare

2008-10-19T16:05:00.000-07:00

What do these two have in common, you say?

Well, more than you might ever think!

Here is a big, big hint... Design is now is progress!

Yes, that's right, another subscription lace club for 2009! This is another gem, folks, so get over and reserve your spot if you enjoy my designs, and the other stellar lace designers that are slotted for the club in 2009.

I had Great Fun deciding which Shakespearian theme was to be mine, but there was really no contest. I love Rosalind, my favorite heroine in the works of Shakespeare. The new lace shawl will have elements of the best of the story, complicated but with a neat resolution (just like the Bard's plays)...

You articulate, well-read knitters, leave me a line if you love W.S.!!!

Uno Amore, Up Close and Personal

2008-10-09T21:38:00.003-07:00

Kristine asked for a closeup of the scarf, so here it is... ask and you shall receive!

Click for bigger.. hope this fills the bill.

She also asked for information on how the beads go into the design. Here is a description of sorts.

First, the beads go across the beaded purl edging. After the edging is complete, the pattern separates into several patterns across the row, of which two are beaded: the right and left cables and the Fan pattern, which only contains 3 beads in itself but after 20 rows becomes the Beaded Center Pattern which features one centered bead every fourth row of the scarf. Most of the 500 beads go into the beaded cables, and you could still get the impact of beads by just beading the center stitch in my opinion. Hope that helps you sort out your bead priorities!

In other news, I have written a draft of the Rolling Thunder Glove pattern but still need someone to test the larger size. Is anyone up for that??? Please contact me here or at my regular email address, siviaharding AT shaw DOT ca.

In other non knitting news, I have taken up learning the ukelele! Hehe... more on that later, perhaps MUCH later...

Happy almost Canadian Thanksgiving, everyone!

Two Lovers

2008-10-07T11:40:00.000-07:00

Now available: the Dué Amori Gloves and Scarf.

Two Lovers... Lace and beads provide sinuous lines in this poetic glove and scarf duo. Fan and Leaf lace motifs are framed by twisted ribs in the gloves and mirrored beaded waving cables in the scarf. The gloves are in two lengths, sized for women’s small, medium and large.

The Dué Amori Gloves and Scarf Set is designed for fingering weight yarn and requires 400 yards of yarn for the scarf and 180 (300) yards for the shorter (longer) gloves. I used a US 2-3 (3 mm) needle for the scarf and US 2 (2.5 mm) needles for the gloves, which are knit in the round. The gloves are sized in two lengths for women's small, medium and large.

The set shown above is worked in Blue Moon Fiber Arts Seduction (50% merino, 50% tencel, 400 yds/100 g) in the Quilla colorway. The set required two skeins. The pattern features beads as a prominent part of the design. The scarf requires approximately 500 size 6/0 beads; the shorter gloves, 114 (122, 130) beads. The longer gloves require 134 (142, 150) beads. For the samples, I used off-white pearl finish seed beads.

Below, the longer gloves are worked in Seduction in the Tanzanite colorway with silver lined amethyst beads. The longer pair requires one skein of yarn.

Thank you, Jamie and Francesca, for the modeling, camera clicking and pinch hitting all around!

And especially a huge, huge thank you to my test knitters, Carin and Kat, who are my saving angels and I bow at their feet...

The pattern is available for sale (so far) on ravelry, my website, Patternfish, and the Knitting Zone as a pdf download. More soon I hope!

Happy knitting to all... enjoy.

An Unexpected Pleasure

2008-09-28T12:33:00.000-07:00

I just spent most of the weekend in the company of one of the knitting world's most treasured teachers, Susanna Hanssen. And what a pleasure it was.

The West Coast Knitters' Guild sponsored the weekend, and it was superbly organized by their president, the lovely Holli Yeoh and her staff, and well housed in a setting with plenty of natural light and great food.

But the main attraction was, of course, Susanna. She is a great teacher. Now I know what my friends who go to Madrona are going on about when they rave about her. Friday evening was an overview of Norwegian knitting, which has always intrigued and fascinated me. I am considerably more informed now than I was before Susanna's talk, and came away with a wonderful flavor of the past and present traditions. Susanna is a very entertaining speaker, and we were treated to many anecdotes and stories along the way.

Yesterday was the true prize though... a whole day's workshop on the Bohus Stickning company and the legacy it left, crowned by the opportunity to actually view and touch (with white cotton gloves, natch) about ten of the original vintage Bohus garments and accessories. We even got to knit a little wristlet in yarn and colors that are certified to match the *real* Blue Shimmer. Be still, my heart.

Susanna, in her wisdom, allowed us to get right into the knitting first, knowing that as knitters we would be figety unless we could be doing something with our hands. We over ambitiously, as she put it, dove into the tiny skeins and wound them into tiny balls. I looked over and Mel, my workshop mate, had wound hers into the most perfect little balls I had ever seen, so I had to take a picture:

As pleasurable as the knitting was (and it was VERY pleasurable), it was ecstasy to fondle the Bohus garments. Susanna encouraged us to mentally take the sweaters apart and figure out how they were constructed, which wasn't always easy. Those Bohus knitters did things in ways that were designed to be haute couture, not knitterly. But mostly, it was so much fun to imagine the hands that knit the sweaters and other items, and the people who had purchased and worn them. Some of them had been altered by their owners, or replaced parts of them when they were worn out. It was evident that they had been very loved.

I know... sigh. It was heaven.

What's left to do but knit one? I will saving up for a while to do this myself, but you can go here to order your own beautiful Bohus sweater kits containing the same gorgeous merino/angora yarn that we had for our little wristlets, handdyed to exacting specifications in Sweden by Solveig Gustaffson. We also found out that Susanna volunteers her time to translate the English patterns from their original Swedish. If you would like to "pay it forward" in honor of her dedication and selflessness, you are asked to give a donation to Knitters without Borders.

We also learned that there will be a magnificent museum exhibition about the Bohus tradition next year (2009) in Minneapolis. Do go if you can.

The parting feeling for me was awe in this wonderful company, which schooled knitters in their techniques and left us with an enduring legacy of beautiful, artfully designed and executed garments. A tradition which I can only hope to continue in my own way...

Oh and by the way? I finished the first opera length Due Amori glove...

Sock Summit

2008-09-24T13:47:00.000-07:00

You are all now officially invited to the Sock Summit!

If you knit socks or have ever wanted to, this will be THE thing to do next year, hosted by the amazing trio of Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, Cat Bordhi and Tina Newton of Blue Moon Fiber Arts. The unholy trinity of Knitting Out of The Box. Need I say more????

And get a load of this:

Hehe.. more on this as the news breaks!

Progress and More Progress

2008-09-20T17:13:00.001-07:00

So... just to catch up, since I have been back from the retreat, most of my time has been spent visiting with my Mom (she went back home a little over a week ago), answering emails and such, and working at the shop.

But a few things have been getting knitted too.. and here is a little progress report on those.

First, the Dué Amori items now include a pair of long gloves in the works as well as a pair of shorter (gauntlet length) gloves, and the scarf is close to being finished.

The scarf, like the shorter gloves, is being done is Blue Moon Fiber Arts Seduction in the Quilla colorway, with 6/0 pearl beads. More pictures promised when finished... it promises to be one of the nicest eye candy lace pieces yet, if I do say so myself. Here it is shown about one-half blocked, one half unblocked, and still on the needles for the rest.

The longer gloves are in progress too, and they are lovely in Blue Moon Fiber Arts Seduction in the Tanzanite colorway with silver lined matte amethyst beads that Nancy gave me during the retreat... thank you my dear! They are perfect for this yarn! Here you see the Fan Pattern that begins all of the gloves, and then the beaded lace pattern that continues up most of the length of the glove to culminate in the leaf pattern on the hand, which I promise to show when it's done!

This shows the decreases on the back of the long, opera length glove. I think this view is quite elegant actually...

And here is actually something JUST FOR ME! Yes, I DO knit for myself sometimes, strangely enough! I picked up this beautiful Rowan Felted Tweed yarn at the Beehive when we passed through Victoria on the way to the retreat, and I truly love working with it. The Leaf Yoke Pullover pattern is from a Classic Elite Summer booklet but it will be very fall-like by the time I am done. I love the in-the-round top-down construction and it is a perfect foil for the detailed knitting I am doing otherwise. I am making several mods of course, starting with the leaf cable, which if you can tell is a bit fatter and rounder than in the pattern. What can I say... it's probably pathological the way I just can't do a pattern as written... ahem.

And here is something I had to start, with a great new yarn we are carrying at Three Bags Full, Malabrigo Sock. Hehe... my mom literally walked away with my only samples of my Rolling Thunder sock pattern so I just had to start another pair... right? This one is working up beautifully (if I do say so myself) in the Tiziano Red colorway with some amazing Toho triangle beads. I am really enjoying the knit, even though the most interesting part is done and now it is just ribbing and regular top down sock stuff, which makes it my designated car and bus project for the next little while. Here is a pic of the sock top so far:

I guess I am getting the Fall Knitting Bug...

The Retreat!

2008-09-20T12:30:00.000-07:00

Here is the report on the Retreat over the weekend of September 5, long long overdue...

First, a few words about the enchanted and magical spot where the retreat was held. The house of Sage and Linden is situated right on the ocean, in a little community called Cobble Hill, between Victoria and Duncan on Vancouver Island. I hope I am describing this accurately, as I am the worst in the world at directions, maps, etc. Anyway, here is a view from the porch, which Sage and Linden get to see from their bedroom window... Note the treetop level view and the ocean peeking through the trees. I saw eagles and ravens circling BELOW, which was amazing.

The house itself is graciously proportioned and perfect for a retreat. Here is our workshop room:

and another view of the lovely, spacious room:

We had three days of fun, which included a visit to a nearby Alpaca farm. One alpaca really wanted to check me out, and it looks like she was whispering in my ear. They were such lovely, sweet animals.

The farm owners allowed us to feed them and even wander around in the girls' pen, which was great, and some of us got a bit mobbed.

That is Sage in the midst of an alpaca mob. Sage has a special relationship with one of the babies too:

I think she makes a lovely alpaca mommy.

You all probably know by now that the subject of the retreat was the new pattern, Dué Amori, which is a glove and scarf set. Some chose to start the glove and some the scarf, and I hope all had a great time and learned some things too.

I must say that I think I learned the most from getting to know these talented and ingenious knitters. I certainly enjoyed them all! Hi to everybody!!!!

And now I am ready to do another one, as long as Sage and Linden don't mind another swarm of knitters at their eagle's nest of a setting...

You can see the whole pictures set on Flickr here. Enjoy...

Dué Amori Unveiled

2008-08-27T12:03:00.000-07:00

I think it's time for a little unveiling... this is the first glimpse of my new design that will be released soon, right after the workshop that will be happening on Vancouver Island in early September. It might be a little premature because the patterns are not completely ready, but I just couldn't wait any more!

The Dué Amori Glove in its shorter version, medium size. There is also an opera-length version, and two more sizes available.

The start of the Dué Amori Scarf, unfinished and unblocked. Note the beaded cables and lovely little cable needle... more on that later.

The Dué Amori Glove and Scarf set is shown using a stunning yarn in a new and very ethereal colorway: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Seduction in Quilla, one of the brand new Spirit Colorways. I feel so privileged to be working with this yarn... it is literally angelic in look AND feel. I am using size 6/0 pearlized seed beads, which lend a sweet Victorian air to the design.

I do hope you like them so far... more progress shots promised soon.

In other news, a big thank you to all who expressed such delight in the new stole pattern, Midnight Lace Stole from Alt Fiber. I have now added the pattern to Ravelry so you can queue it up! Go over and do it right now!!!

And a little word about a beautiful knitting tool from Leslie Wind, the sinuous, lovely cable needle necklace in bronze. I don't have it on a necklace as I prefer to keep it stowed in my knitting tool box, so forgive me Leslie! I love the heaviness of the bronze which makes it stay put while you are doing your other manipulations, and the squat shape of mine (each one of her cable needles are completely unique in size and shape) is perfect. Leslie will even customize your cable needle for the size of yarn you use most. What more can you ask for????

You can go here to view a video of the cable needle necklace in action and purchase your own. I was fortunate enough to get mine in person at Three Bags Full.

Happy knitting to all...

And now for something dark and silky...

2008-08-12T17:52:00.000-07:00

It's out! It's out!

What, you may ask?

Why of course, Alt Fiber: 25 Projects for Knitting Green with Bamboo, Soy, Hemp, and More, Shannon Okey's newest knitting opus, which includes a stole design by yours truly!

And what is the stole like, do you say?

Well, as a matter of fact, it is a not-completely-rectangular type of stole, which in this case means that it includes the lovely little back panel treatment that I have been exploring lately in all my designs. Here is the schematic that I submitted to the book folks in the beginning (in case you are at all interested):

I have found that adding a little shaping to the back of a shawl or stole helps tremendously in the ability of the garment to feel comfortable and stay on the shoulders.

This particular design felt like a real departure from "the norm" and I walked on eggshells until I saw that it was indeed going to work out, quite well indeed as a matter of fact. Wearing this stole (which is really more of a wrap) is a lovely experience, and the long side panels look and feel like wings. Really nice to wrap and wrap and wrap around yourself.

The yarn is sea silk in the Midnight colorway. A sensuous experience in itself.

Here are a couple of (rather bad) pictures of the final product:

I really can't wait for the official book pictures to come out so I can salvage some self esteem and look good again, in print anyways...

From the Book Summary:

Twenty-five projects to knit and crochet using environmentally friendly plant fibers from a popular craft author, teacher, blogger, and shop owner.
Although DIYers have been using salvaged materials for years, the fastest growing trend in knitting and crochet takes reduce-reuse-recycle to a whole new level. In ALT FIBER, craft author and teacher Shannon Okey presents 25 patterns for sweaters, wraps, socks, hats, pillows, bags, and more using non-allergenic plant fibers. From the seaweed-derived Seacell yarn, which transmits vitamins and nutrients to the skin when worn, to soy-based yarns made from tofu manufacturing waste, alternative fibers are readily available, easy to care for, and good for the environment. And because these fibers work up, drape, and wear like no other yarns, Okey teaches crafters of all skill levels about each fiber's properties, how to incorporate them into existing patterns, and how to hand-dye them. Knitting green has never been so easy.

I haven't actually seen the book myself yet, but I have high hopes that the book truly delivers what it promises to. Please drop me a line and let me know what you think!

New Wave, or Further Adventures in the Land of Pink

2008-07-25T18:22:00.000-07:00

First, thank you for everyone who has queued or favorited my little sock thong... it is wonderfully fun to see those numbers go up and up!

Next, here we go back in time, to a design that just begs to be reworked again and again... gee, I hope that's the hallmark of a really great design and not the opposite!

This version of the Waves in the Square came about because I seem to be trying all of my patterns, one by one, in lace weight yarn. The latest lace yarn to tempt me is Misti Alpaca, just lately available in the Vancouver stores. It was a big surprise to me that I really wanted to try this corally pink, normally a stay-away color for moi. You will have to tell me what you think about the end result when you see the pics below...

Now for the story of the new version! This was to be a store sample for Three Bags Full, where I teach most of my classes and where I work one day a week. Francesca, owner and boss extraordinaire, allows us shop girls to knit during times when the store is slow, and this has been my shop project of choice for a couple of weeks now. Since I haven't been working on it at home, having multiple deadline projects to do there, it has been sort of dragging on and on, and the knitting hasn't been adding up to what I would have hoped, being tiny yarn and needles and all. So, not to make too fine a point of it, I stopped short: a little middy shawl that just covers the shoulders. And I added beads into the lace. And I love the results. Hehe.

Pictures and specs below.

Yarn: 1 skein of Misti Alpaca Lace in Color CD43, with which I used 3.25 mm Addi turbo lace needles and size 8/0 silver lined crystal beads. Finished size after blocking: 27" wide across the back, 12" long at center back.

I placed the beads with a crochet hook wherever a “yo, k1, yo” occurred in the pattern, on the k1 stitch. I followed the pattern up to row 86, after which I skipped to row 168 with the following changes:

Row 168 had 321 stitches, not 561.
Row 170 had 323 stitches, not 563.
I ended with 324 stitches, increasing 1 st as the pattern says to do for row 179.
The beaded picot edging was done exactly as it says to do in the pattern.

Just a note about that: In the beaded picot instructions, I omitted the part about transferring the last bound off stitch to the left needle before casting on the 2 additional stitches. I know most of you will have the sense to do this anyway, but I must apologize to anyone who has been confused and/or unable to follow these instructions because of my omission.

The instruction paragraph should read:

*CO 2 sts using knitted-on cast on method, place bead on last st made with small crochet hook, BO 6 sts. Transfer last stitch on right needle to left needle. Repeat from * across row. End with picot, then pick up and knit 1 st at bottom corner of picot, BO 1 st. Cut yarn and draw through loop.

I think this version may be an ideal summer lace item... drop me a line and let me know if you agree.

Well, at least somebody is happy... my blocking gremlin, Mooshie, gets this way every time I block something!

Happy summer lace knitting, everyone...

Flippancies, as promised

2008-07-20T22:20:00.000-07:00

Here is the Merriam-Webster entry for "flippancy"... in case you ever wondered:

flippancy

Main Entry: flip·pan·cy
Pronunciation: \ˈfli-pən(t)-sē\

Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural flip·pan·cies
Date: 1746

: unbecoming levity or pertness especially in respect to grave or sacred matters

Now, God forbid that I be flippant or pert about a grave or sacred matter. But somehow, these new sockies just make me want to smile.

So, without further ado... here is Flippant!

Someone came into Three Bags Full a couple of weeks ago wearing some thongs (on her feet) with little socks underneath, and they were SO CUTE that I had to make my own version. I have done the pattern in three sizes and two lengths, but I would recommend that you make them with some negative ease, especially the shorter one (pictured above and below). See the previous blog post for pictures of the longer version.

It is such a little project, you can use little leftover bits from other sock projects, like the above sample, which is done in Sundara's Fingering Silky Merino in Robin's Egg. Ahhh.. so very, very nice. The other sample is done in koigu, which is nice too, but silky merino? Mm-hmm. Hands down sweet.

Please forgive my unretouched feet in the photos. I didn't have time to search out someone with a pedicure, so here is proof that I am not vain, about my feet anyway.

Click here for the pdf file of the pattern. And have a giggle on me.

Hey, so what's with all the pink?

2008-07-19T15:57:00.000-07:00

Those of you who know me know that I am not a fan of pink. Pink in my book is, well, soft, lighthearted (not that there is anything wrong with lighthearted) and sort of namby pamby. In general, I much prefer strong colors with a bit of drama or depth to them. It's just my personality, what can I say. I like to dwell just a little (and sometimes more than just a little) on the dark side.

Maybe it's that summer has finally come to us in Vancouver, but lately I have been entertaining pink in my environment, and it ain't half bad. I think I could learn to live with certain pinks... like these:

Blue Moon Fiber Art's new colorway, Quilla. A poem of vintage-y, angelic, almost-not-there pink.

Pink Granite Sheep to Shoe spinning fiber, also from Blue Moon Fiber Arts... the pink part.

Misti alpaca lace yarn in a corally pink. I find this so yummy.. maybe it's just the texture I find so delicious though.

And what's this????? I know the yarn, koigu KPM in an almost-solid deep magenta, but what the _*&$! is the knitted thing?????

Does this help? Any guesses now????

Next time... my latest little confection for the feet... look for a free pattern right here, soon!

Fibre Ecstasy

2008-06-24T15:03:00.000-07:00

A few hardy bloggers have already documented the weekend...

So here is my take on things to add to the pile.

Marilyn G. started things off with a bang on Friday night with the fashion show at Med Grill, a posh establishment on Fort Street in the Mosaic Bldg. No photos unfortunately, but I did get to wear the Harbour Lights shawl in public for the first time, and I got to see what the other fibre folk in Victoria have been up to. I saw some lovely, lovely pieces and met some wonderful knitters.

Saturday, again no pics, in the afternoon I gave a class on the beaded necklace design that I did a couple of years ago that I still regard as my play therapy project. You simply cannot remain in a bad mood and do this piece. It was a rather jolly class, thanks to all the glorious, sparkly beads that people brought to swap with their classmates. Beads do bring out the little kid in all of us, don't they??? To take advantage of the nice sunshine that was very kindly with us, we took our stuff outside and had our class right there by the marina. I wish I had kept an audio of the ships horns that seemed to echo from one side of the water to the other. It was really atmospheric.

In the evening, I gave a little talk to some lovely knitters, about life, knitting, and my incredibly fortunate career. I say that because I have only been a knitter for a few years and I still need to pinch myself to see if it's real that I am lucky enough to be working in the field I have come to love above all else. My audience was very kind, especially since it was my first time speaking about myself rather than just teaching folks about knitting, which I feel quite relaxed about and do quite often.

Here are some of the sweet faces I saw looking back at me, most holding their knitting:

The talk was given in the old part of town, near this bridge:

And near this square of interesting little shops, Bastien Square, where we found a great restaurant, ReBar. Here is the square and a couple pics of the interesting mosaics inside the place:

Sunday I checked out of the hotel, sorry to say goodbye to my little balcony overlooking a running fountain, which I particularly appreciated. We headed over to Saxe Point Park by the sea, a lovely spot for a fibre festival. Others have posted nicer pictures, but here are some high points that somehow made it into my camera:

My friend Annette, who was a guardian angel for the first leg of the trip...

My friend Mel, who found the elusive yarn she had been looking for to do a lovely Lyra...

My table at the Community Knitters.com booth...

...and spinners and knitters and yarn galore, along with beautiful views of the sea.

I had a wonderful time talking about lace, knitting, and fibre among the spinners, knitters and yes, miniature llamas. They were wonderful, happy creatures with long, long eyelashes.

And here is Mary Kozicki's highly original version of River Rock, which I love. It uses very fine yarn and tiny beads, looking more like a waterfall than a bubbling stream full of rocks. I appreciated her vision - so refined and beautiful. Please click on the picture and look at it bigger to get the full effect.

I am glad the day was wonderful because the trip carrying loads of stuff home without a vehicle (thank you forever and forever, J!) was, well, less than fun. But I am safe home now and recovering from the highs and lows of the weekend, waxing a little nostalgic about it all.

The best of all is that Harbour Lights is now officially available to all. Go here or here for more information about purchasing the pattern. And bless all of you for your letters impatiently looking forward to its release date!

Easier Done than Said

2008-05-21T10:56:00.000-07:00

Heeeere she is... the Norwegian Woods scarf in peridot sea silk with 8/0 silver lined crystal triangle beads.

And a closer picture of the beaded scallops..

Sorry I couldn't get a modeled shot, but it was just me taking the pics this morning. The black chair had to do.

Now to answer the excellent questions from the last post...

Query: Why did you choose to pin the scallop points with individual pins, rather than threading additional blocking wires through the points, and gently curving those wires? This is an honest question, not a critique! The shawl is stunning, and I hope to make one of my own.

Kristen, this is such a good question and one that I have given a lot of thought. I have tried blocking with wires, once, briefly, but found unfortunately that my blocking wires (you may have more flexible ones than I do however) did not bend to the extent that I needed to form the rather deep scallops. I could have used them if I wanted to bend them forever to that shape.. hmm, that is a thought!

As the Moonshadow has somewhat the same shape edge to block, I did try several alternate methods of blocking those scallops. The best "run-through" method turned out to be fishing line, which makes the edge more substantial, but I STILL had to use pins to get the shape to stay properly round. Lesson learned.. this time, only humble pins, which seem to get around the curves the best of any method, as far as I am concerned. You could certainly use blocking wires to line up the edges of the curves into a straight line, but I feel that this might give your scallops a pointy look if you aren't careful.

I like the very organic looking curves I get with pins. But please... experiment with other methods, and please report back to me about what you find. This is all about learning, after all.

jenknits, I did leave out the part about endless pinning and repinning to get the darn thing symmetrical! Now you know... the secret is out.

Happy scalloping day to all...

Scallops for All, and All for Scallops

2008-05-20T13:55:00.000-07:00

Several folks have asked me how I get the edge of Norwegian Woods to have such nicely rounded scallops, and since I just finished my knitalong scarf, I thought I would post some photos of the blocking process.

Let's see... am I ready to start? Finished scarf, check. Pins, check. Wires, check. Helpful gremlin, check. I think I am ready!

Another pic of the crumpled Norwegian Woods, for comparison and because I love crumpled up lace.

I don't show the next step, but you can picture me dunking the scarf in a warm tub of water with a little Eucalan added, then lifting out the shawl (complete with seaweedy aroma... don't you love sea silk?) and rolling it in a towel to semi-dry.

The first step is to anchor the top of the shawl, which is very conveniently done with blocking wires. These particular wires are actually TIG welding rods, and you can see the little flat place near the tip that "real" blocking wires won't have. However, since I got a pound of these for less than $10, I have decided that I do not mind the little flat place near the tip.

To use, simply thread the wire in and out of the eyelets that line the top border. You can do the same with fishing line or weed whacker line if that's your preference.

If you need to use two wires for the width of the piece, just overlap by putting both wires under the same thread, then continue.

Now stretch the top widthwise over the wires (or line), and at this point, do measure to see if they are even on both sides of the center seam. Blocking truly is nicer when symmetrical! I put pins along the top wires to hold them steady for the next step.

Now, stretch the piece lengthwise. A good rule of thumb for triangle shawls (or scarves) is length is approximately one-half of total width. But this is not a hard and fast rule... you can monkey with this if needed.

You can see the bottom point held with one lonely little pin.

Now go around and stretch out all the little points that shall become scallops. You are trying for evenness, not perfection at this stage. Try to get the points in a straight line, and do measure to see if you are stretching the sides out evenly. Allow some time for this step. It always takes more time than you think!

Close up of the pointy bits that will be scallops.

Now... make scallops!!! Using the center pin as a place holder, spread the sides of each point into rounded loveliness and use one pin on each side of the scallop to hold it there. I like to pin the sides downward and at a slight angle, as you see here. Again, strive for organic roundness, not pinpoint perfection. Unless of course that makes you happy...

Here you can see the rounded, pinned out scallops all the way around.

... And an aerial view of the same. Now wait until it is dry.

Tomorrow... the finished Norwegian Woods scarf!

Sneak Peek

2008-05-12T21:25:00.000-07:00

Harbour Lights... she is now finito. Wanna see ????

Model: Christa Giles of podcast fame. Thank you, Xta!

The shawl is basically a top down triangle shape with a slim center lace panel, meant to portray a lighthouse, with the beams (seen above beaming over lovely Christa's right shoulder) shining down all the way to the waves playfully dancing at the edge. Beads are placed throughout the shawl with the crochet hook add-as-you-go method, and perhaps best of all, the shawl takes only 750 yards of fingering weight yarn!

I used a gorgeous fingering weight alpaca yarn from Alberta Rose farm (in Alberta, interestingly enough!), carried at Three Bags Full yarn shop in Vancouver. Shelley Mackie of Fun Knits has some amazing cashmere/silk yarn that is destined to be kitted up with this shawl pattern... so do look for that at the FibreFest/Knit-Out that is happening in Victoria in June.

A Great Start

2008-04-28T12:37:00.000-07:00

My Yahoo group just got started on Norwegian Woods yesterday, and since I have confused some poor knitters with my description of the beginning rows of this shawl, I would like to present a little picture tutorial of the process.

The upshot: we make a tiny garter stitch rectangle and pick up stitches on two sides to make a vaguely horseshoe-shaped piece of knitting, which forms the center back of the shawl.

Here we go...

1. Cast on 7 stitches using your favorite cast on method. I used long tail cast on.

2. Knit 5 rows, creating a little garter stitch rectangle.

3. Keeping the same side facing you, i.e., without turning the piece onto its back, turn it 90 degrees clockwise, so the needle points upward.

4. The picture doesn't actually show me doing this, but next you pick up and knit three stitches from the narrow side of the rectangle (the one closest to the point of your needle). You are welcome to fudge these three stitches in any place you can. Now you can see 7 + 3 = 10 stitches on the needle.

5. Now turn the piece onto its back and get ready to knit across the 10 stitches.

6. I have now knit across the 10 stitches.

7. Keeping the same side facing you, i.e., without turning the piece on its back, turn the needle 90 degrees clockwise. Sound familiar?

8. You guessed it... we are now going to pick up 3 stitches from the other narrow side of the rectangle. 10 + 3 = 13 stitches.

9. I have turned the work over (actually the right side of the shawl) and I have worked across the 13 stitches, placing markers as the pattern asks. The markers show the beginning 3-stitch border, the first panel, the center seam stitch, the second panel, and the last 3-stitch border.

That wasn't so hard, was it? Now, go forth and knit...

10. The little start will form the center back of the shawl.

Happy shawl knitting, everyone!

A Great Pin is Worth a Thousand Words

2008-04-19T11:10:00.000-07:00

And here it is...

This elegant bit of loveliness is Leslie Wind's Spiral Pin, available in sterling or bronze, shown here in sterling. The pin is held ingeniously in place with two opposing tabs on the back. As Leslie says, the trick is to make sure there is enough fabric to have the tension right between the tabs (which is easy enough to do). It can be worn either vertically or horizontally.

This pin is light and beautiful and so easy to wear, and I am looking forward to wearing it often. The scarf modeling the pin is the Norwegian Woods scarf in bobby blue malabrigo lace yarn.

Lights in the Harbour

2008-04-16T18:17:00.000-07:00

Introducing... the Harbour Lights shawl, currently at its halfway point.

The story of the shawl: After inviting me to be guest speaker at this summer's FibreFest in Victoria B.C., certain people had the brilliant idea of unveiling a shawl design as a focal point in the proceedings. They left the field wide open as far as the shawl design went, wise folks that they are. Even I never know how and where inspiration will hit...

What I love most about Victoria is the watery brilliance of the coast and the beautiful quality of the sky above the water. So... not even knowing that two lighthouses flank the harbour, I apparently channeled lighthouse vibrations and the beacon-like central lace pattern arrived. I wanted to include the old "Candlelight" lace pattern because it conjured fond memories of nighttime ferry passages over the Georgia Strait. After some swatching and several attempts later, this design was born. The central beacon is mirrored in the centre of both side panels, flanked by Candlelight, which looks uncannily like waves crashing against rocks where it merges with the beacons. The beads are inserted at points with a crochet hook. I know you hookers will be happy that I finally came up with some beads that aren't prestrung.

Here are the actual lighthouses within view of Saxe Point Park in Victoria. First, the Fisgard Lighthouse:

And here is the Trial Island Lighthouse:
And here is my little knitting gremlin, checking out the floor shawl action.

For my sample, I am using Alberta Rose natural fingering weight alpaca yarn, which is just lovely and takes beads nicely too. The "final" piece will be in cashmere silk yarn from Fun Knits. Beads are size 6/0 silver lined crystal seed beads. I tried to use smaller beads at first and I liked the subtlety, but it was just a bit of a struggle to fit onto the yarn. I think either size would work fine, depending on the look desired.

The pattern should be ready by June... more updates before long!

River, River, Rock, Rock

2008-04-05T19:36:00.000-07:00

It's out... my version of the River Rock Scarf. I included not one, not two, but FOUR designs in this pattern, plus multiple ideas for play.

I hope people go nuts with this. It is one of my favorite designs ever.
This design was first seen in No Sheep For You, which came out last year. But I thought it had other possibilities and I couldn't help exploiting those possibilities.. thus the four new charts for this beaded scarf, which can be done using almost any yarn from sport to worsted weight, and any amount of beads from minimal to ridiculous.

In case anyone is bead phobic, or convinced that stringing beads is dorky, or that it can not be as good as hooking beads on with a crochet hook, I have provided information on how to make this a fast and fun knit, including hints and tips on what I call “bead management”.

You can find it on my website here, on Ravelry here, and other places soon. The rumor is that Ellen over at Earth Faire is going to be offering kits! Yay!

And last but not ever least, thank you to Kristina of Brouhaha fame, for her wonderful brain.

New Things Emerging

2008-04-04T18:22:00.000-07:00

Yes, it's true. New things are emerging chez Sivia. In no particular order, here they are.

First is the debut of my Year of Lace shawl design, Phoenix Rising. I dare not display a full picture for fear of spoiling the surprise for those who haven't received their kits in the mail. The yarn is Silk Lace from Claudia's Handpainted Yarns, and the color??? Sivia's Hot Orange Brick, of course! Here is a little tiny teaser swatch:

Amazingly enough, some of the subscribers have already almost finished the shawl, as you will see if you follow the threads on Ravelry.

Second up is the debut of the wonderful and much-anticipated book, More Big Girl Knits. It is big, it is beautiful, and it has two Sivia Harding designs inside. More later with pictures.

Third is a new version of the pattern that was first seen in the book No Sheep for You, the River Rock Scarf. My version has more information about making this design an exercise in stream of consciousness knitting and contains not one but two scarf templates.

More... so much more. New shawl and new sock designs are in the works. Stay tuned for those...

And to all who contributed to my father's charity fund. The contribution has been made, a total of $2,341, which went to MSF. Blessings and thanks to all, not just to those who made monetary contributions, but to all the folks who sent love and condolences, and to those beautiful people who shared their own stories with me.

Ready for the Wrap

2008-03-25T16:18:00.001-07:00

This auction has buoyed me through some difficult days. Not just the bids, but all the letters, emails, thoughts and prayers I have coming at me are just overwhelming.

If this isn't love, what is?

I have received all but a few of the bids. There are still some outstanding, even though I have emailed everyone who had a winning bid. So, if you have not responded to the email or invoice, please do at your earliest convenience. It will feel so good to get the donation to DWB delivered (along with all of the goodies that folks have purchased in the auction!). And a good thing too.. I have been to the post office twice with a dozen parcels in hand each time, and I think the staff is starting to be a little afraid of me.

One more thing... if your name is Ruth and you had a winning bid in the auction, your emails have been bouncing. Please contact me, ok?

With gratitude to all who placed a bid, sent their condolences, or just spread the word... thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

Sharing the Love...

2008-03-18T22:56:00.001-07:00

The response during the first day of the Auction has been amazing. You are all so wonderful!

Today I have reached even deeper into the recesses of my stash and have added some more things to the list, so take a look at the previous post, to which I have added new items #45 - #51. Included are some discontinued Handmaiden and Sweet Georgia yarns, more sock yarns, and a beaded sock kit featuring one of my designs.

For those of you who are not on my yahoo list (they got the link earlier today), here is a glimpse of my dear dad through pictures taken over the years by family and friends, in a short film collage put together lovingly by my half brothers, Seth and Lorin Cushman. I miss you, Dad, and I will always love you...

The Auction!

2008-03-15T20:02:00.000-07:00

Thank you all in advance for opening your hearts and your wallets. In contributing to such a great cause, you are helping many, and honoring the memory of my dear father.

Caution... picture-heavy post ahead.

There are lots of goodies here, and I hope, with your help, to raise a nice amount for Doctors without Borders. For everyone's information, the money that you donate through your bids for the items in this silent auction will be donated IN ITS ENTIRETY to Doctors without Borders. No tax receipts will be issued, as DWB does not officially recognize donations in exchange for goods. However, you will have the thanks of me, my family, and all those around the world who are helped by this worthy organization. Please contact me with any questions you may have about your donation. For my part, I will be donating the yarn/fiber and whatever it costs to ship the item(s) to you.

Here is how the auction will work: Go shopping down the list of items up for bid, and email me at siviaharding AT shaw DOT ca (delete spaces and caps before emailing) with your bid and the item you want. There is no minimum bid, but please be generous. I will post the high bid and initials of bidder twice a day or as I am available to post new bids. The bidding will continue for one week, ending at midnight PST on March 23, 2008, Easter Sunday. Winners will be notified by email. Payment must be made by cash funded Paypal. The donation will be sent to DWB as soon as possible after the completion of the auction.

The final donation will be made in memory of my father, Raymond Cushman. The amount of donation will be posted here after the auction is complete.

Good luck and happy shopping!

1. 501 100% pure wool superwash, 137.5 yds/50 gr ball, 1 ball plus 2 partial balls, color 210. High Bid: $15 LR2. Schaeffer Anne sock yarn, 60% merino wool superwash, 25% mohair, 15% nylon, 560 yds/4 oz, 1 skein wound into a ball. High Bid: $50 SW
3. Elann Peruvian Baby Cashmere, 80% baby alpaca, 30% merino wool, 10% cashmere, 109 yds/25 gr ball (fingering weight), 11 balls plus partial ball, color 1321. High Bid: $60 AS
4. Elann Peruvian Baby Cashmere, 80% baby alpaca, 30% merino wool, 10% cashmere, 109 yds/25 gr ball (fingering weight), 10 balls, color 2699. High Bid: $85 AS
5. Fleece Artist Blue Faced Leicester braids, 50 g, 2 full braids and 1 almost full braid, in lovely greens. High Bid: $100 MD
6. Cascade 220, 100% feltable wool, 220 yds/100 gr, 3 full skeins of coordinating colors wound into balls. High Bid: $40 SG
7. Cascade 220, 100% feltable wool, 220 yds/100 gr, 3 skeins beige, color 8021. High Bid: $25 CO
8. Confetti self-patterning sock yarn, 75% superwash wool, 25% nylon, 210 m/50 gr, enough for two pairs of socks, or stripes of nicely coordinating colors. High Bid: $30 DH
9. Louet Euroflax 100% linen sportweight, 270 yds/100 gr, 1 skein in crabapple blossom. High Bid: $35 KB
10. Novelty yarns - 2 balls Crystal Palace Whisper, 1 ball Funny. Nice for edging your felted kitty beds! High Bid: $5 LAR
11. Vintage German fingering weight pure wool yarn, 200 m/50 gr, 4 balls plus 1 partial ball. Dye your own sock yarn! High Bid: $48 FR
12. Fleece Artist sock merino, 350 m/115 gr, 1 skein, discontinued colorway. High bid: $55 DC
13. Fox Fibre Cotton, Coyote/Camel Breaker Sliver, 45 gr. This rare color-grown fiber is now impossible to find. High Bid: $15 ES
14. Fox Fibre Cotton, natural sliver, 46 gr. High Bid: $10 JR
15. Fox Fibre Cotton, Breeder's Mix organically grown Sliver, 47 gr. This rare color-grown fiber is now impossible to find. High Bid: $15 ES
16. Fox Fibre Cotton, Green Card Sliver, 49 gr. This rare color-grown fiber is now impossible to find. High Bid: $18 LAR
17. Fox Fibre Cotton, Coyote Card Sliver, 40 gr. This rare color-grown fiber is now impossible to find. High Bid: $18 LAR
18. Handpaintedyarn.com handspun 100% feltable wool kettle dyed yarn, 135 yds/100 gr, 2 skeins purple grapes, 1 wound into a ball. High Bid: $30 RG
19. Indigo Moon 100% merino wool superwash handpainted sock yarn, 185 yd/50 gr, 2 skeins northern steppe paisley. High Bid: $100 LM
20. J.Knits superwash me - sock, 75% superwash wool, 25% nylon, 420 yds/ 100gr, 1 skein Nebraska. High Bid: $55 MK
21. J.Knits superwash me-sock, 75% superwash wool, 25% nylon, 420 yds/ 100gr, 1 skein Amesbury. High Bid: $50 MK
22. Jo Sharp Soho Summer 100% cotton dk, 109 yds/50 gr, 3 balls carmen. High Bid: $50 AT
23. Koigu Premium Merino 100% merino wool, 175 yds/50 gr, 2 skeins 113. High Bid: $40 CB
24. Blue Moon Fiber Arts Laci, 100% extra fine 80's merino, 1,750 yds/8 oz, 1 skein Ms LaRock wound into a ball. High Bid: $105 KB
25. Rowan Linen Drape, 55% linen, 45% viscose, 109 yds/50 gr, 1 ball pearl. High Bid: $25 LR
26. Louet Gems 100% merino wool fingering weight, 185 yds/50 gr, 2 full skeins (1 wound into a ball) and 1 partial skein mustard. High Bid: $50 LK
27. Malabrigo Lace Yarn, 100% baby merino wool, 470 yds/50 gr, 1 skein velvet grapes wound into a ball. High Bid: $50 LK
28. Mirasol Hacho sportweight sock yarn, 100% merino wool, 137 yds/50 gr, 2 skeins blue ocean (1 wound into a ball). High Bid: $25 MM
29. Handpainted 100% mohair roving in brillliant jewel tones, predrafted and very soft, 100 gr. High Bid: $25 RL
30. Hand dyed 100% mohair roving in natural pokeberry, 31 gr. High Bid: $10 KG
31. Handpainted 100% mohair sliver in light raspberry shades... by moi! 121 gr of fiber. High Bid: $30 KAO
32. SWTC Phoenix, 100% soy silk, 175 yds/100 gr, 5 balls rose. High Bid: $55 LSC
33. Assorted fine rayon yarns, great for crochet or knitted jewelry. Very soft and pretty. High Bid: $20 MY
34. Charbotté French ribbon yarn, 100% nylon, 147 yds/50 gr, 5 spools black. High Bid: $40 KW
35. New Zealand Romney fiber, hand processed and very soft, 5 bumps, about 180 gr total. High Bid $20 CD
36. 100% Samoyed fiber, very soft and easy to spin. This fiber has been washed once, but you will need to wash it again. Beautiful and well worth the trouble. I have tons of this from a dog owner friend... I am dividing the fiber into 10 lots of 100 gr each. High Bid: 2 lots $15 each AS, 6 lots $12 each LK, 2 lots $16 each LAR37. Seacoast Handpainted Yarns 100% superwash wool, 480 yds/100 gr, 1 skein shadows on snow. High Bid: $45 NE
38. Berger du Nord Belle, 100% silk, 136 yd/50 gr, 3 balls color 9039 (more red, less pink than it appears). High Bid: $50 LK
39. Silk Tree medium silk singles yarn, approx. 200 yd/50 gr, 1 ball mulberry. High Bid: $50 LK
40. Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Lightweight, 360 yd/4.5 oz, 1 skein love-in-idleness. High Bid: $60 MM
41. Wool Pak 8 ply 100% feltable New Zealand wool, 525 yd/250 gr, 1 skein royal green. High Bid: $50 JO
42. Fleece Artist Blue Face Leicester, 100% wool, one-off colourway, 1,000 yd/250 gr (fingering weight), 1 full skein plus 427 yards left from another skein from the same lot. High bid: $75 DD
43. Tangled Skeins Yarns wool/cashmere (unknown proportions but yummy soft) hand dyed yarn, 220 yd/50 gr, 2 skeins. High Bid: $100 LM
44. Elann Peruvian Collection Baby Silk, 80% baby alpaca, 20% silk, 109 yds/25 gr (fingering weight), 5 balls Butter Pecan colour #3423. High Bid: $55 FR
45. Rowan Kid Silk Haze, 70% super kid mohair, 30% silk, 229 yds/25 gr (lace weight), 1 ball color #597. High Bid: $20 MB

46. Sweet Georgia Yarns Handpainted Sock, 100% merino wool, 420 yds/112 gr (fingering weight), 1 skein coffee bean wound into a ball. This yarn is no longer available, and it is lusciously, decadently soft! High Bid: $60 SR

47. Sweet Georgia Yarns Handpainted Sock, 100% merino wool, 420 yds/112 gr (fingering weight), 1 skein viola. This yarn is no longer available, and it is lusciously, decadently soft! High Bid: $50 WJ

48. Handmaiden Angel Hair, 70% kid mohair, 30% nylon, 800 m/100 gr (lace weight), 1 skein bronze wound into a ball. This yarn is no longer available. High Bid: $53 KB

49. Handmaiden Angel Hair, 70% kid mohair, 30% nylon, 800 m/100 gr (lace weight), 1 skein burgundy wound into a ball. This yarn is no longer available. High Bid: $45 KB

50. Waterlily Socks Kit featuring my Waterlily Socks pattern, 2 skeins of Nature's Palette vegetable dyed fingering weight yarn in ice blue (100% merino wool, 185 yds/50 gr) wound into balls, and beautiful faceted blue beads to match. I have even strung the beads onto the yarn for you... High Bid: $70 JS

51. Lucy Neatby Celestial Merino, 100% premium merino wool, 320 m/100 gr (fingering weight), 1 skein seashell. High Bid: $50 CC

Blessed Release

2008-03-13T15:19:00.000-07:00

Dear readers, thank all of you for your thoughts and prayers. My dad passed away last night, or early this morning after a long illness.

As difficult as this day has been, and although I love my dad dearly and miss him very much, I am sure many of you will understand my feelings of relief and joy that he is no longer suffering and in pain. I feel enormous compassion for those who are still in pain and struggling for survival.

In honor of his passing, I plan to have a charity giveaway to benefit Doctors without Borders, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning organization that helps needy people in embattled and poor areas throughout the world.

I will go through my stash and post yarns, etc. You see what you might like, in exchange for a charity donation, and make me an offer. I will hold a silent auction over one week, with the highest bidder getting the goods at the end of the week. After I receive your donation in the form of Paypal funds, I will mail you your goodies. All proceeds will go to this very worthy charity, so please be generous.

With gratitude to this very caring community of knitters and their families...

Comfort Knitting

2008-03-10T15:58:00.000-07:00

Thank you all so much for your wonderful outpouring of support... it all really helps, and I feel an enormous hug coming at me from all corners of the universe...

The response to the Norwegian Woods has been very gratifying too. Looks like we will be starting a KAL on the yahoo list in a couple of weeks, if anyone would like to knit the shawl in concert with others.

I have been working on what I call my Happy Knitting. These are not my "own" projects, which tend to be involved and fraught with detail, but little things for the shop or for family and friends. Here is the first thing, a Moebius wrap that I started during a class on Moebius techniques I taught a few weeks ago, about the time when I found out my Dad was in Intensive Care. I knew that I needed to make something beautiful and soft, and I thought if it turned out well I would give it as a comfort shawl to my stepmother, my Dad's wife, who is being incredibly strong these days. I just wove in the ends yesterday.

For this wrap, I threw in all the most precious fibers at my disposal: blue sky brushed suri alpaca, noro silk garden, kid silk haze, koigu. I experimented with Cat Bordhi's short row undulation technique (from the first Magical Treasury book) on the edges and I liked how organic it looks with the picot bind off. I thought the wrap turned out a mite big but I think that will be forgiven... I am sending it off today by express post.

Then there is a Babies and Bears sweater for the shop.. a trés cute pattern that can't let a smile turn upside down for long. Yarn is Dream in Color Classy in happy green (the colorway is called Happy Forest) and purple.

The latest news of my Dad is that he is peaceful and resting. I hope all of you are close to your loved ones today, in spirit or in person...

Victory and Defeat

2008-03-07T20:41:00.000-08:00

The best and the worst sometimes happen at the very same time. In case you, dear readers, are wondering whether Sivia (and the Norwegian Woods) have dropped off the face of the earth, never fear. The reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated, in the words of the immortal Mark Twain.

The good news: Norwegian Woods is now OUT! Sized for scarf or shawl, yarn requirements are 470 yards for the scarf, 900 for the shawl. Beads, if you choose to use them, are size 8/0 seed beads or the equivalent. You will need 179 (251) beads for this pattern, which really isn't many, so splurge on some really pretty ones. I used beautiful Toho 3x3 cubes that I got at Earth Faire. You can see all the details and purchase the pattern on my website, so go have a look.

Thanks to Shirley Su for modelling, Three Bags Full yarn shop for allowing the picture of their lovely store in the picture and for many, many other things I will not mention, and last but never least, my superb test knitters, Kat and Joanne.

Now, in case you have two skeins of sea silk (like the pictured scarf, in the periwinkle colorway) and are wondering whether you can squeeze a shawl out of your 800 meters of precious yarn, never fear. The shawl is designed for ease of modification: each of the three lace patterns can be repeated more OR fewer times and you will still be in perfect coordination with the next pattern. Keep in mind that your yarn and bead requirements will change... in this case, to accommodate a slightly slim yarn cache, but you could also easily upsize the shawl to a bigger width and length in this way.

Chances are, a KAL on my yahoo group will be starting sometime in the near future. You are welcome to check in with us at SiviaHardingKnits, where a Moonshadow Stole KAL is now in progress.

Now for the un-good news: My dear father is dying. He was moved into a hospice facility today where he lives, far away from where I live. I cannot travel to him at this time for multiple very good reasons, and this is very painful. My family, who are all gathered at his bedside, has forgiven me and continues to forgive me, for which I am so grateful. I have been preoccupied with all the things that happen to you when a dear family member is on the verge of passing - an enormous amount of prayer, emotion, and grief has been pouring out of me. I comfort myself with the knowledge that my dad will have a peaceful passing, surrounded by love and proof of his lifelong goodness. Really, who could ask for more?

I love you and always will, Dad. This one's for you.

Periwinkle Forest

2008-01-04T12:32:00.000-08:00

I finished and blocked the Norwegian Woods scarf last night. Even though she is still damp and pinned, I had to show her to you in all of her beauty.

Periwinkle sea silk... mmm, yeah. The scarf took about 470 yards, which makes it perfect for one skein of malabrigo lace, but unfortunately just slightly over one 100 yd skein of sea silk. For beads, I used size 8/0 silver lined crystal triangles from Earth Faire. The pattern is mine... to be released sometime in the very near future.

Happy New Year

2007-12-30T12:13:00.000-08:00

The holidays have been going on for the whole month of December chez Sivia, ever since my classes wound down at Three Bags Full (they will start again in January). I have been really enjoying just hanging out at home, watching endless old movies in my jammies, and of course, doing a lot of knitting. Most involved projects I can't talk about yet... but there is something to brag on. Yesterday, this came off the needles:

Voila - the Norwegian Woods Triangle Shawl. I am pleased with the final result. The yarn is malabrigo lace in the purple mystery colorway, and the shawl took only 2 skeins (about 900 yards). Beads are purple iris 3x3 cubes from Earth Faire.

I had an immediate impulse to do a smaller version (the shawl is 66 inches across, 33 inches long at center back) and have started a scarf sized Norwegian Woods in periwinkle sea silk. This is serious yum, folks. Pics soon.

I just want to mention my test knitter who excels beyond all praise. Thank you, Kat! You are simply the best.

With a little luck, the pattern will be forthcoming soon.

Happy New year everyone! May your hearts sing and fingers fly with knitterly joy in the coming year...

Mysterious branches

2007-12-09T10:55:00.000-08:00

I blocked out the Norwegian Woods triangle so far, consisting of the Winter Branches lace pattern.

Is it just me, or do the branches look like inverted fern fronds at the center seam? Again, LOVE the asymmetry of this.

And the yarn, malabrigo lace, is just delicious. Whoever named this color Purple Mystery was totally right.

I am so knit happy today.

Lolling around

2007-12-08T11:33:00.000-08:00

I have been working hard lately. Very very hard. Probably too hard, y'know???

The good news is that things are getting done, and amongst all the other projects that I can't talk about, the Norwegian Woods shawl is progressing nicely.

And... guess what? The folks who voted for a triangle shawl are about to get their wish. Here is the start, partially blocked at the very top:

I know it looks humble, but try to see what's making me excited about this... how asymmetrical the lace pattern is when it meets at the center seam. I really, really like how this is working up. Yarn is malabrigo lace in the purple mystery colorway. Yum. More progress shots are promised soon.

And while I am thinking how overworked I am, someone else is at work reminding me of the importance of just lolling. Please enjoy...

On a Cat Bordhi Roll...

2007-10-30T15:15:00.000-07:00

I hope all of you are aware of Cat Bordhi's newest book, New Pathways for Sock Knitters, Book One. I am in love with this book, and all that it implies. Cat's genius has led her to an amazing fact - that socks can fit beautifully with infinitely varying structures. I fully plan to explore the possibilities of this at some time when I have no deadline knitting in sight, unlike the present!

But for now, I am having a great time with some of my favorite sock patterns from the book...

The Slip Stitch Rings sock (Cedar Architecture): my version is done in two colorways of koigu, one handpainted and one semi-solid.

The Cables and Corrugations sock (Riverbed Architecture): my version is done in Nature's Palette yarn in the walnut colorway.

The Tibetan Sock (Coriolis Architecture): my version is done in Koigu Kersti, which knits up at a perfect 7 stitches per inch and sure makes a beautiful sock.

The Coriolis master sock: my version is done in Indigo Moon fingering weight sock yarn, available at Three Bags Full Yarn Shop.

The Hearth and Home Eyelet Sock (Ridgeline Architecture): my version is done in Cascade 220 Handpaints.

The Ocean Toes sock (Cedar Architecture): my version is done in Mountain Colors Weavers Wool in ladyslipper. Yum. You can also see this sock in the book.

The Milkmaid Stocking (Upstream Architecture): my wonderfully decadent version is done in Blue Sky alpaca & silk. Mmmmm. Unfortunately, no picture but you can see it in the book on page 76.

Needless to say, the fit of these extraordinary socks is exquisite and *huggy*. I hope all of you can experience this firsthand sometime soon. And do check out Cat's videos on YouTube.

I love these socks and I can't seem to get enough of them. Anyone else on a Cat roll?

Back to the Woods

2007-10-24T12:45:00.000-07:00

Remember the Norwegian Woods shawl? I forgive you if you don't. It was a long time ago that I posted a swatch and promised more... but didn't deliver. Bad, bad me. Here is a recap of that swatch.

Since the Moonshadow came off the needles (and thank all of you very much for such a great response since it has been out!), I have resuscitated the Norwegian Woods. It is in an intermediate-but-getting-close-to-the-end stage - you know that stage when you are getting a bit tired of knitting but a bit excited to get to the end and block it all out to see what you've got?

So, hoping to kill (stun? much better word in my estimation) two birds with one stone, and also as it happens, needing a lace thing with which to demonstrate blocking to my beginning lace knitting class at Three Bags Full last night, I put the delicate live stitches of the Norwegian Woods shawl-so-far on holding strings and blocked it.

Notice how the pooling in the center section looks like shifting sands? I love that. And the lace pattern is so birch-like somehow. Ivory sea silk... what more need I say?

The picked-up edges have a bit of a wave due to the sinuous waving lace that emerges from them. I like that too.
The initial square piece, which began with a provisional cast on, flows seamlessly into the waving lace pattern. I really, really like that part.

In case you were wondering, the shawl has a little ways to go before it is really finished. There are two more lace patterns yet to be added (the swatch has been expanded). The good news is that in the process of doing this big-in-the-round knitting, I found a great method for doing big-in-the-round projects that is actually making this a fun knit. When I put the shawl back on the needles, I will share that with you along with some pictures.

I thought some of you might like to see how I use string or sometimes fishing line to block long straight edges, so I have a picture of that process too.

If I were going to block a bound off edge, the string (in this case, sturdy dk-weight mercerized cotton yarn) would be passed through the outermost row of bound-off stitches with a yarn needle. Here you see live stitches with stitch markers still in place so don't be confused. After you put the string through the edge stitches, tension is put onto the string by tying each end to a pin which is deeply dug into the blocking surface (in this case, a really ugly carpet). With tension in place, it is an easy thing to put a few pins down the line to make sure everything is square and straight, and bob's your uncle. This is a nice way to block long, long edges, and I seem to like it better than using wires (which I love for shorter edges).

Some of you might remember the discussion about whether this design should be a square or a triangle? Well, the squares seem to have won, but that's just for now. I have decided that the triangle idea deserves equal attention, and I already have the yarn... vermilion malabrigo lace yarn. Yum. Test knitting, anyone????

To celebrate, I got a new Lantern Moon knitting basket and I love it so much. This will now hold my back and forth projects safely, and it is a huge improvement on the open shopping bag I used before (I know... horrors!) Here is the new basket, which doubles as a Mooshie play environment. He particularly likes it when his daddy makes it into an elevator. Going down:

Going up:
Ain't we got fun?

It’s Out!

2007-10-18T16:05:00.000-07:00

Happy birthing on a suitably gray, rainy day, Moonshadow! Pictures courtesy of the very talented guerrila photographer, Yee Jee Tso and the Three Bags Full yarn shop.

The top two pictures are the color correct ones. The yarn is Leili from Liisu yarns in the Moonshadow colorway. If you haven't heard of this gorgeous mohair/wool blend fingering weight yarn yet, you should seek it out. It is soft, strong, and behaves beautifully with lace and beads. Liisu yarns only sells wholesale, but you can find her beautiful yarn sold here, here, and here. Hopefully, all will have kits of this stole available soon.

Beads, as usual, are from Earth Faire. I used frosted crystal megatamas for this one. Drooling yet?

For now, you can find the pattern for sale here in both print and pdf formats. Happy, happy knitting to all...

Moonshadow Up Close

2007-10-08T18:11:00.000-07:00

Coming very, very soon.

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving, all you wonderful Canucks!

Swarm of Stuff!

2007-09-17T14:23:00.000-07:00

Bimonthly blogging... what a concept. Thank you, thank you to those intrepid readers who still check in here from time to time. I have no excuse for not posting, so I won't bother with any inanities.

I will try to catch up on all the new stuff, in no particular order. There has been lots of knitting in the meantime. Warning: picture-heavy post to follow.

I finished Lacy Waves, which I love. I scored the Rowan Linen Drape yarn from Urban Yarns, who sometimes gets lots of discontinued yarn and sells them at a big discount. Modifications? You bet. I added hems to the body and sleeves instead of ribbing. I incorporated body shaping and bust darts. I think that's all. I really, really like the results. I don't have a pic of myself wearing it so this will have to do for now. Detail shots:

Here is a partway done Tibetan Sock from Cat Bordhi's book, New Pathways for Sock Knitters, Book One. I have only wonderful, wonderful, wonderful things to say about this book (there is a bit of affiliation in that I tested a couple of the socks before publication). This book will turn sock knitting on its head... or heel... and remove the need to slavishly follow patterns, forever. A plus... studying Cat's excellent tables has given this knitter new confidence in knitting... and designing... toe-up socks. It can do the same for you. There are cuff-down socks in the book too, by the way. This sample is a Coriolis architecture, which gives the sock a great spiral across the foot that is not only a design feature but shapes the foot up to the heel. Simple and remarkable.

I have a lot of new samples of designs that have been out for a while. Here is a new version of the River Rock scarf from No Sheep For You done in Noro Cash Iroha in very, very dark indigo (looks black, doesn't it?) and topaz/berry ab beads from Earth Faire.

Two new Diamond Fantasies with beads:

Lovely Francesca of Three Bags Full models a DF scarf in red koigu with magic copper lined red beads from Earth Faire.

New in-between-scarf-and-shawl-size DF with silver lined crystal megatama beads, in Nature's Palette Odd Duck No. 4, a colorway that seems particularly suited to lace and is quite subtle and forest-y to my mind.

Now... mystery items. Can't give details on these at all... but feel free to guess.

Some new jewelry creations:

This one is swag, brand new and available from Earth Faire as a kit.

Beads on the Vine, a beaded I-cord necklace with a graceful and sexy dangle in the rear, available as a kit from Earth Faire.

Same necklace, a different colorway. I love experimenting with the pointillism of beads on yarn.

Matching earrings, light, bouncy and fun. Also available as a kit.

A new stole pattern is being finalized. I call it the Moonshadow Lace Stole because yes, I love Cat Stevens, and you can see the perfection that is the special handdyed Moonshadow yarn that Kelly Eells of Liisu Yarns is doing for this project. It is so beautifully midnight-in-the-moonglow! The beads are frosted matte megatamas from Earth Faire, of course. In this picture of the unblocked and in-progress stole, you can see the beaded side edges which remind me of dewy droplets shining in the moonlight.

Another colorway, not my favorite but you can see the beaded border, which goes lengthwise at top and bottom in this blocked version:

Lastly but certainly not least, I have been spending hours on Ravelry updating my notebook with pictures and details of all of my designs, including all the ones in print elsewhere besides my website. Finally there is one spot where you can see it all! If you are on Ravelry, drop me a line and let me know.

And happy, happy fall to all. What knitter could wish for more?

Moonrise

2007-07-19T22:18:00.000-07:00

Long time no post, yes?

I am very grateful to those blog readers who are STILL LEAVING NICE COMMENTS on blog posts that are more than a month old. You are so great, all of you... you know who you are.

So. What's been happening since June? Lots really...

One of the nicest things I have to show is this little beauty:

The Moonrise Neckpiece was inspired by a gorgeous bracelet kit I purchased from Earth Faire a little while ago. I wanted a knitted neckpiece that matched the densely beaded bracelet... and a few short rows later, the perfectly circular Moonrise Neckpiece was finished...

Just like Ellen Sandin's brilliant Bead Stew bracelet pattern, the beads are strung in a completely random fashion before the knitting starts. The beads are placed on wrong-side rows: knit one stitch, pull up a bead close to the right needle, then knit the next stitch (the piece is all garter... so easy). When you turn the piece over to do the next right-side row, it is a lovely surprise to see the patterns emerging from the beads that were strung so randomly. It is always beautiful and always changing, row by row by row. Doing this piece was the most fun I have had in a long, long time!

For now, you can get the Moonrise Neckpiece kit on Earth Faire's website here. I am getting inspired to do a whole series of knitted neckpieces and matching earrings... yes! earrings!!!

Ok... twist my arm, here is a preview of an earring:

The fun continues...

Gray Day and Pearls in the Sea

2007-06-05T12:29:00.000-07:00

Ever have one of those days when nothing quite works out?

Today has been that for me... and a weird weather day to boot, with gray skies, cool temps, hail and rain and then some sort-of sun. Not exactly June-ish even for Vancouver. This does affect me, truly it does. Maybe because I am doing a rather intense "spring cleanse" with herbs and a restricted diet too...

Then, there is the sock, a *secret* sock for the Blue Moon sock club, which has been a long time coming, what with the show sample knitting and all. Finally finished last night... just to find that the trusty little postal scale tells me that the leftovers won't be quite enough to make its mate. Grrr. Back to the frog pond for me, at least for a little while.

The good news is the quickie Diamond Fantasy I made for a dear friend who attended TNNA and who wanted a new scarf for the occasion. This pattern is kind of a restful knit for me actually. I have knit it many times and I am always pleasantly carried along by the rhythm of the lace. Such a nice knit... and this time, I made it with beads. I don't know if you can see them very well, but they gleam when the light hits them right. I did something different with the pointy edges.. put the beads one stitch in from the edge, kind of subtle-like.

The scarf's recipient calls it "pearls in the sea". Yarn is Sea Wool by Fleece Artist, one skein of Capri. Beads are 4mm silver lined crystal megatamas from Earth Faire.

I gave myself the finger

2007-05-28T11:28:00.000-07:00

I saw this on Nathania's blog today and couldn't help myself...

You Are a Pinky

You are fiercely independent, and possibly downright weird.
A great communicator, you can get along with almost anyone.
You are kind and sympathetic. You support all your friends - and love them for who they are.

You get along well with: The Ring Finger

Stay away from: The Thumb

What Finger Are You?