In Between

It has been quite some time since the end of #SlowFashionOctober, and I have been busier than a bee with design stuff and the upcoming gift-giving maker event planning, that I have not had an opportunity to update the blog. Well, consider it time right now.














Initially, I want to thank each of the makers who worked up items right alongside me during my Flyings Sticks + The Poncho Escapade a-long. As evidenced from a sampling of the finished pieces, we indeed completed some lovely projects - and ponchos were definitely the item of choice. There was also a lovely mix of neutrals and jewel tones, which made for really outstanding looking finished items. I personally was really thrilled that two makers from the Southern hemisphere were in the maker mix. While almost all of the projects were crocheted (yah!), one person completed a knit project she had been working on for a while - you'll see her lovely orange version of the Coleman Embossed Muffler in the top right corner of the collage. It's worked up in the same yarn as the original sample, Lost City Knits' Twin Canyon Merino/Silk in the pretty penny colorway. It looks fantastic with that jean jacket, doesn't it? One of my Ravelry group moderators completed two versions of the Mixlace Poncho, one of which is in the collage (bottom left collage photo). Those colors look so stunning on her - she's going to gift one of them, and I hope it's not that one.

I completed a second sample of the Mixlace Poncho (seen above at right) in Knit Picks' Chroma Twist Bulky (which happens to be on sale right now, go figure!). I liked the colorways, and it was quite fine worked up, but quite honestly not as soft and cozy as the Lion Brand Scarfie used in the original sample. This second sample became the one photographed for my self-released version of the design, now that my rights have reverted back to me. 

Additionally, I worked up a Quimby Hooded Cover-up for moi, moi, moi. I love how the colors turned out and am super thrilled with the final piece. I am also about 1/2 of a sleeve and trim away from finishing up an Aviatrix Pullover in deep blue. As soon as that gem is done, I will provide photos. I really want to wear it now so, hopefully, very soon.

I must say I am pleased at how October has evolved to become my go-to month for me making. It is a perfect time of the year to spiff up one's wardrobe with handmade things. Well, ok, I suppose that could be every month for me!

And now that we are well into November, I am thrilled to let everyone know that I once again will be a participating designer in the Indie Gift-a-long hosted on Ravelry. Every year for the past five years (yes, it's the GAL's five year anniversary!), independent knit- and crochet-wear designers band together and bring all of their awesome designs to makers who make gifts-a-plenty for those worthy of handmade at the holidays. This will be my fourth year as a participating designer, third as a group moderator. We've been making lists and checking them twice now since the beginning of the month, so that the big participating designer reveal (set for next Tuesday, November 21st, at 8:00 pm EST) will be the best it can. You can check out the Ravelry Indie GAL group (with currently over 7,500 members, and growing!); also check out the GAL's Instagram account, where we have already posted our hashtag challenge prompts throughout the six weeks of gift-making. We've already started the GAL countdown there, too. 

This is my favorite time of the year for a reason, folks. I hope to see each of you there.

 

 

Yarny Prizes and a New Design - Yes, They're Connected!

Well, it's Fiber Arts Friday (although pretty much everyday is a fiber arts day at chez Voie de Vie), and I'm here with a new design. Fresh off the virtual presses at ILikeCrochet.com, I'm so thrilled to share with you my Springtime Decadence Shawl.

Photo (c)  ILikeCrochet.com and used
with kind permission

I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed designing and working up this shawl. Made with an incredible Shades of Jade gradient set in the Rustic Fingering base from Neighborhood Fiber Company (oh Karida and her most awesome dye pots!), this shawl is everything spring - glorious shades of green (and if you look at my photo background at left, you'll see some of those shades reflected), an easy lace pattern that just flows off the hook, and a shape that stays easily on the shoulders. This is a great piece to have on hand in transition weather.

And get a load of that awesome color!!!!

I must also take a moment to express my appreciation to both ILikeCrochet.com and Neighborhood Fiber Co. Both of these entities have been real supporters of my design career, and their continued support means a lot to me. I took a quick look at my designs catalog over at ILikeCrochet.com (and it's sister publication ILikeKnitting.com), and they have published over 15 of my designs since they started publishing in 2014, as well as several technique articles.

Additionally, I cannot say enough good things about Karida Collins and her team (well, ok, it's Kristen, but hey, she's amazing!) at Neighborhood Fiber Company. Some of my most beloved designs have used her wonderful yarn (and there will be more from her showing up in my designs later this year). There is something about Karida's saturated colors that just speaks to my color-loving heart. I put the Springtime Decadence Shawl up next to one of my paintings just to show the yarn's vibrancy. It absolutely stands up and says "Notice Me!" while still playing well with other colors in the sandbox. It doesn't get much better than that, my yarny friends.

And folks, this photo was snapped outside in the
middle of the day. That's how dark it can be here
in the rainy, springtime Pacific Northwest.

And now to the yarny prizes portion of this blog entry. As some of you may know, I will be starting a new Cowl-o-rama K/CAL in my Ravelry group on Monday (and people are already signing up - yeah!). I am super thrilled to reveal the prizes to be awarded in April at the end of the a-long, and you'll see the tie-in to the Springtime Decadence Shawl in just a moment, so wait for it folks.

First, I am so pleased that another indie dyer has donated this lovely skein of yarn to the left. Denise over at Lost City Knits dyes beautiful yarn. She and I have been virtual friends since our days hanging out in a rather large shawl group on Ravelry - she, a sponsor and me, the sponsor coordinator. Well, once I started designing for publication, Denise kindly supported the cause with a skein of her luscious Twin Canyon Merino/Silk fingering that I turned in my Embossed Coleman Muffler (originally published by, you guessed it, ILikeKnitting.com in April, 2015). So, to honor that yarny support, the first prize I'll be awarding in the Cowl-o-rama a-long is Lost City Knits Twin Canyon Merino/Silk fingering - 500 yards in the glowing copper penny colorway + a copy of the Coleman Embossed Muffler pattern. It's a great one-skein project, easy enough for beginner knitters, yet still has a lovely stitch pattern that will keep more advanced knitters happily meditating over their sticks.

And yes, you can thank Karida at NFC for this most
awesome prize - 1,250 yards of Rustic Fingering gradient
yumminess!

Finally, I am also so thrilled to announce that I will be giving away to one lucky cowl finisher a Shades of Jade gradient kit from Neighborhood Fiber Company! I think I'm almost more excited to give it away than those who might have the opportunity to win this yarny package. I cannot provide the Springtime Decadence Shawl pattern (darn those contractual obligations), but you can purchase an individual month of ILikeCrochet.com and receive the shawl pattern automatically on your device of choice.

See how this all ties together so neatly? Love that. 

Head on over to the Cowl-o-rama thread on Ravelry and
get in on all this yarny prize action by making a cowl
with us, alright?

On My Fiber Plate

Happy Fee-Fi(ber)-F.O. Friday, everyone! It's been a while since I've written a Friday blog post - it feels good to do so again. Of course (as most of you probably already know) I was absent from the blog in order to finish up Leather, Lace, Grit & Grace. I'll be hosting an a-long for the book in April and May (but more on that in a little bit). Now, I can get back to my normal, bloggy routine. 

The first thing: I have a new published design to show off! 

This is the Monochromatic Checkered Muffler from April's ILikeKnitting.com. I'm really pleased with the almost embossed quality of this super-simple pattern (but you'll be helped greatly with stitch markers cause there is some counting involved). There's ribbing on each long side and the fringe on each short side makes it just a little more elegant. I used one luscious skein of Lost City Knits Twin Canyon Merino Silk in the silver bells colorway. Love, love and love; this is a great one skein project which, btw, was inspired by the ladies of Leather, Lace, Grit & Grace, but I had so much material I made an editorial executive decision. It appears in ILikeKnitting.com's ode to spring and Mother's Day edition. Maybe you'll find a design in it to gift to a mother in your world.

Finally, I leave you with a photo of the fiber used in one of several projects I've been working on for future publication. The deadlines keep a-coming, but with gorgeous Noro color to work with, I almost don't mind.