Monday, May 11, 2015

Call Me Mohair



It's Day 1 of this year's week-long blog-a-palooza, and we're supposed to pick a fiber that represents our personality.

Well alright - this was easy-peasy for me: I must be mohair. Mohair, mohair, mohair. How do I reflect thee? Let me count the ways, people.

The beginning of a Flying Blanket worked up in gloriously
lightweight, warm and versatile mohair.

Mohair is versatile: from the catwalk to elite interior design showrooms, you'll find mohair because of its light weight and ability to insulate in winter and keep things cool in summer. It also can achieve multiple gauges for various effects. Want to see a different side to its personality - just change your hook or needle size.

Mohair is lustrous: whether dyed or au natural, this fiber has sheen to spare.

And speaking of dyes, mohair takes dye beautifully. Look at the wonderful blues above, and that's only two colorways from my stash. I think I've got mohair in almost every color except yellow and black.

Mohair is durable: basically, it takes a licking and keeps on going, and going, and going. 

Mohair plays well with other fibers: I love to work it with a strand of wool or silk (the fiber with which it's most commercially spun).

And let's face it - mohair has a unique personality. There is no other fiber like mohair. Its grand halo makes it instantly recognizable (ok, cue the angelic voices, like, now). 

While it might be slightly difficult to undo mohair fabric, who exactly appreciates being undone? This is a fiber that knows who it is and expects to be treated with respect. What you get in return is gorgeousness that will make you look good for a very long time. 

How can I not be the diamond fiber, mohair? 


Monday, May 4, 2015

It's Bloggy Tour Week!


Yes, it's a fact: Leather, Lace, Grit & Grace is on its very own blog tour. Visit these most awesome blogs, leave comments for a chance to win prizes in my end-of-May giveaway (as well as the chance to win one of your very own e-books at several of the tour stops) and, more importantly, get to know further the wonderful designs in this collection. Here are the tour stops:

                  Monday, 5/4        Dream in Color
                  Tuesday, 5/5       Crochet Queen: Royal Ramblings
                  Wednesday, 5/6  January Yarns
                  Thursday, 5/7      Neighborhood Fiber Co.
                  Friday, 5/8           Wonder Why Alpaca Farm, LLC
                  Sunday, 5/10       Wooly Cakes and Wooden Spoons
                                          (Stefanie of Knitspiring Odyssey's brand spanking new home)

See you out there on the tour!


Saturday, May 2, 2015

Well, It's a Fiber Arts Friday Post ...


... on Saturday. That's just the way yesterday went for me. 

Nevertheless, this is an update on Voie de Vie's Spring Flingy Thingy, in progress through the end of May (and OhMyBob, it's already May!!!!). I've definitely been elbow deep in fiber, and have many WIPs to show for it, although no additional finished projects just yet.

Progress on my Frosted Espresso Cardigan
In my two public tests, here's where I'm at with both projects:

(1) On my Frosted Espresso Cardigan, I'm almost half way through the shrug, but I now need to wait for additional LB Collection Silk Mohair to make its way to me, since I can only purchase it online through the Lion Brand website (since I'm not in Gotham City). I'm loving both the yarn choice and working up this lace cardi - the main lace pattern is easily memorized so it makes for great night time crocheting - at least until I get to the front portion, but that's a little way off.

(2) I am super thrilled with my progress on my test version of the Autumn Leaf Shawl. Not only am I enjoying seeing the post stitch "veins" of the leaf work up, but people in the test are using such wonderful yarn - so far, Fyberspates Gleem Lace and Madelinetosh Lace - both in yummy colorways. I'm also thrilled with the fact that I get to use up lovely yarn from stash. Oh yeah.

The summer leaf version of my Autumn Leaf shawl design - aren't
those leaf "veins" great?

Now on to the main event of the spring flingy thingy - the Leather, Lace, Grit & Grace a-long. Since I started on two cardigans (yikes!) from the book's collection it's going, but slow and steady. Initially, I am now on the back of my own Definitely in Africa Cardigan. This also is an easily memorized lace pattern, and since it's worked in pieces, this will now become my travel project. In fact, I took it with me to my eye exam last week. Do you know how difficult it is to work on a crochet project when one is waiting for the eye pupil dialating drops to kick in? Ask me how I know. :) Nevertheless, I am farther along on the back piece than is showing in this photograph. I also switched up my edging yarn to something that is far more subtle than the cream I originally had chosen. This is turning into a cardi with a distinctly fall feel.

My current version of the Definitely in Africa cardigan. I don't know if
you can read the notations, but the first front piece is on the bottom of
the pile (notated at top left), the first sleeve is front and center (notation
mid-left) and the beginning of the back piece is at top right.
See the two different cream yarns
playing together nicely

My Nichols Cardigan is working up creamy good. I've got more motifs done than in this photo, and the shrug is also about half done. Initially I thought this project would take longer than the Definitely In Africa cardigan, but nope. I am whipping right through these pieces. I'll be thrilled once I make the strips for the lower portion of it and start the final construction. I'm definitely aiming to wear this sooner rather than later.

Speaking of these cardigans and Leather, Lace Grit & Grace, don't forget that its bloggy tour is set to start this coming Monday, May 4th. (Go here to see all the stops.) Several bloggers on the tour have been spending time and energy on their respective reviews, and I really appreciate the effort. This book is a little (ok, well maybe a lot!) like my child - I have put so much effort and heart and soul into it. The fact that these bloggers are taking such a considered approach to its review is a gesture I appreciate far more than I can convey in mere words. I hope everyone will take the time to visit each blog stop and give these amazingly talented bloggers some time as well. I will also tell you that the first stop - Dream in Color's blog - got a little help from me, since they are in the midst of a major move. I hope you all enjoy the design anecdote I share, which you'll only read there. On Monday. 

And don't forget, everyone who leaves comments on along the bloggy tour route will be entered into my give-away at the end of the Spring Flingy Thingy for a chance to win yarn, books, and even a Scenic Tour Flight of the Puget Sound in a seaplane! How amazing is that? (And of course, disclaimer: you'll need to get your awesome self to the Puget Sound on your own if you're not local in order to take advantage of this prize so, like, what are you waiting for?)

Ok, is that enough update for one blog post?