Jacquard Procion MX Dyes Now In Stock

I have expanded the dye selection so that those that love to weave or spin with cellulose fibers can dye their own color range.  Jacquard's Procion MX dyes fill that bill. 

This cold water fiber reactive dye is known all over the world. The undisputed king of tie dye, Procion MX is also one of the most versatile dyes available. This cold water concentrated dye, which you add to tap water, is the most vivid of all dyes for cellulose fibers. You can easily create a palette of colors ranging from light pastels to deep, vibrant hues. For best results on protein fibers we recommend using Jacquard Acid Dyes.

Typically, one 2/3 oz/19 g bottle will dye more than 1 lb/.45 kg of fabric. (Very bright colors will require more dye and pastel colors will require less.)

You will have to use Soda Ash to soak the fibers in before you do your dyeing.

Happy Dyeing!
Regards,
Karen
One Planet Yarn and Fiber

Something You Might Like-I Love Yarn Bombing!

Every week my twitter account sends me links to tweeters who I might want to follow.  This week I was directed to Knit The City.  This is a London based group that loves to yarn storm.  Here is their introduction to what they are about-

"Operating from a secret underground wool-lined bunker in the heart of the busy metropolis of London, Knit the City’s Yarn Corps spend most of their lives operating under assumed names and living their lives like every day people."

The operators of this group offer the correct way to yarn storm and even offer workshops.  They also have a book!

 

Happy Storming!

Regards,

Karen

One Planet Yarn and Fiber

Karen Sadow's Hill and Dale Scarf!

I've been working on this project for quite some time now.  I've even been teaching several classes for this scarf at The Fiber Factory.  I finally have become frustrated enough about not having the graphic designer available and my daughter to take pictures that I decided to make it available online.  

The pattern is available to purchase at One Planet Yarn and Fiber, Ravelry, Etsy and Craftsy.  Just choose your poison.  Please go by the Ravelry shop and add my patterns to your favorites!

I will be updating the pattern as soon as I have some great pictures, a graphic designer and I will make a video on how to do this pattern.  As soon as I get rid of this current round of viruses. 

Learn a new technique! This pattern is so much fun to make. The hills are very fluid, so don’t worry if you get the stitch count a little off. Just go with the flow and keep on knitting!

Finished Measurements- Approx. 63” x 6”

Materials:
1 Skein (2 if you are not changing colors in the middle) Fleece Artist Woolie Silk 3-ply in variegated (65%, 35 % silk; 251 yds/230m; 100g)
1 Skein Fleece Artist Woolie Silk 3-ply in semi-solid (65%, 35 % silk; 251 yds/230m; 100g)
Or
MC: 1 Skein (2 if you are not changing colors in the middle) any dk or worsted weight variegated yarn (250 yds/230m; 100g)
CC: 1 Skein solid color dk or worsted weight yarn in a complementary color (250 yds/230m; 100g)

US 8/5mm knitting needles or size needed to obtain gauge

Tapestry needle

Gauge not critical!

Happy Stitching!
Regards,
Karen
OPYF

Cocoa Is Really Blooming!

A quick update on City Girl's Fiber Farm.  Cocoa is doing well and growing a wonderful thick fleece.  I have spoken to several shareholders of the CSA and updated them on their status as to when to expect our first "crop".  Here are a couple of recent pictures of Cocoa from Mary.  She's the gal with the red tag in her ear.

In the meantime, I am getting over this nasty bug that keeps returning and using the down time to get some knitting done and inventory ordered.  Here are pictures of the furry crew, keeping me company on or near the couch I am using for my recovery period.

Ladybug in her hideout under my blanket

Hunter, trying to ignore the camera

Lily Bear, who will pose as soon as she sees a camera, even if it is too close to get a good shot

Ranger, begging to be on the sofa with the rest of us.

Happy Stitching!
Regards,
Karen
One Planet Yarn and Fiber

Broken Resolution Number 1

OK, I admit defeat.  I can't seem to get the swatches done well enough to continue knitting for the Master Knitter Level 1.  I really need to concentrate on my other projects and this one just seems to eat up time. But I have found a silver lining here.

Now that I am out teaching knitting, I realize that I have a powerful resource.  The swatches have all been tagged and labeled.  The are in plastic sleeves in a loose leaf binder and will make a great teaching tool for me.  My time was not wasted by tackling this challenge.

I have moved on to the next project on my to do list and finished it.  It's a new pattern that now just needs some tweaking from the tech editor.  And some photography. 

Happy Stitching!
Regards,
Karen
One Planet Yarn and Fiber

Finished Zosia Sweater

I finished my Zosia sweater and wanted to share the pictures with you.  Several rows were ripped down several times, but I am glad I put in the effort.  It looks great!

Happy Stitching!
Regards,
Karen
One Planet Yarn and Fiber

Karen Sadow's New Year's Resolutions

I saw a blog from my friend Tina Sanders about her knitting resolutions for last year.  I found it very inspiring to see how her year started and what she was able to accomplish in one year' time.  I've decided that I would like to do the same for 2013.  So here is my list of fiber art goals for 2013.

First Priority!
Finish my Level 1 Master Knitter's  swatches

Then, in no particular order, I need to finish-
2 pairs of socks
2 sweaters- my own pattern
a dog sweater- my own pattern
Shipwreck Shawl
handwarmers- my own pattern
2 scarves on different looms
Finish spinning and plying some BFL fiber

Now, add to this list my desire list-
Design a bamboo and silk waterfall cardi
Design a mystery KAL for The Fiber Factory and then the public
Weave at least 2-3 projects on my floor loom
Weave at least 2 projects on my rigid heddle loom
Learn to do Fair Isle by making the Woodsy Collection hand warmers and the sheep socks
Get back to dyeing roving and yarn for resale.  I miss my dye pots.
Learn to dye cotton yarn for weaving

Get over to Texas to visit Cocoa and get out the 2012 fiber shares, which are waiting for her spring shearing.  Add a new critter to City Girl's Fiber Farm while I am there.

Many of my WIPs will end up on the new Ravelry forum - wine & cheese wip along

What's on your list for next year?

Regards,
Karen
One Planet Yarn and Fiber

Woodsy Collection And Sheep Socks

I looked all through my stash and and shopped at my LYS looking for yarn for these 2 projects and ended up being unable to find exactly what I needed.  So, I went on to Knit Picks and placed an order.  These 2 projects are now in my queue to knit for next year.  I'm going to come up with a list of project resolutions for next year and share them with you.  Then, at the end of next year we can examine my progress.

What do you have lined up for next year?
Regards,
Karen
One Planet Yarn and Fiber

Just Some Random Pictures To Enjoy

These photos have been building up in my new images folder, so I decided to clean house and share them with you.

Regards,
Karen
One Planet Yarn and FIber

Hunter did not move when the placemat fell off the back of the chair

Lily Bear napping in my knitting bag while I was teaching a class

Bookend buddies

Holiday cake from the shop across the street.

Home made pop tarts at the shop across the street

Ranger deciding that he needed to tag daddy as "it".

Happy Holidays!

Something You Might Like- A New Ravelry Forum

Right before I left on my trip I was on Facebook talking with my friend Mary in Texas. We were having a conversation about UFO's (unfinished objects). Projects that were started and then relegated to the bottom of our knitting bags and closets. We realized we had a plan to unearth these buried treasures and get them finished. We started a forum on Ravelry called wine & cheese wip along.

We wanted to have fun and support each other through some of these fantastic projects that had been languishing for too long.  We started this group 2 weeks ago and there are already 58 members!  Feel free to head on over and lurk and then join the party with your story and we will lend you encouragement and advice to help you finish your UFOs!

My current project that I started over a year ago in October is the Zosia sweater.  It's a pattern from the Twist Collective website.  I am using some of my lovely Artesano Aran yarn in Rosewood for this.  I had knitted up a few rows when I bought the pattern, but put it aside in January when a pattern revision came out.  I thought I would get back to it, truly, I did. 

A few weeks back I was getting ready to figure out what to pack for my trip to Philly.  As I was doing this I realized that I didn't have a single fall/winter sweater that I had made and I remembered the Zosia. 

I was working on other things, so I didn't pick it up to start again.  Then, the conversation on Facebook happened and I knew I had to get this sweater made as my first UFO.  So, 2 weeks ago, before my trip, (in which I was only going to bring some socks to finish knitting and a summer top I knitted that needed seaming) I ripped down the few rows of Zosia and started knitting. 

I completed the back on my trip and started the left front last week. As I looked at the back I realized that I had made a mistake in one of the cables on the back.  I dutifully ripped down the 4 stitches that I knew were the problem.  I made it all the way down to the spot and realized the mistake was over 8 stitches, not 4.  So what is a knitter to do?  I RIPPED down to the problem, redid the cables and knit back up again.

As I was knitting it I made my increases for the chest and realized that I had made another mistake in the ribbing.  I finally was able to get it all reparied and now I am almost done the back again.  Just a few more rows and then back to the front.  Please join our party over on Ravelry.

Happy Stitching!
Karen
One Planet Yarn and Fiber

Airstream Photos

I've got my Airstream motor home up for sale and I have been asked to share some pictures.
Regards,
Karen

Crack, low in the windshield