A knitter in love

When you fall in love with a knitter, your life will be much easier if you can remember a few simple things.

1. You will live with lots of yarn. Some of this yarn was acquired merely because it was pretty and she wanted it and she may do nothing but look at and pet the yarn when she feels like it. Fighting this will just drive her desire for yarn underground, where she will have things delivered to her office, squirrel them away in the trunk of her car, or hidden in the far reaches of a closet so you won't notice.

2. Some projects are begun and never finished. This is acceptable. Do not presume to make suggestions, however gentle, about how her hobby should be pursued.

3. When yarn is brought into the house and she asks you to touch it and look at it and admire it, your interests are best served if you can muster up an appropriate degree of enthusiasm and admiration. Even if it's just colored string to you. If she wants you to feel how soft it is, for the love of Pete, do it immediately. And say something like, "Wow, that is really soft. That will be fun to knit with!" Even if you don't care. Even if you can't tell that it's soft. If she asks you to admire the softness, assume it is soft and beautiful and worthy of praise.

4. Yarn will have to be relocated to various places in the house at any given time. If there is suddenly a basket of yarn on the floor in a doorway, it's there for a reason. Step over it. Even if it means your wedding photographer will document the basket.

5. You'll have to accept that your beloved may want to knit all five of her bridesmaids shawls for your wedding. Admire her handiwork. Say things like, "Wow, I am so impressed by your skill and dedication. I'm cooking you dinner so you can have more knitting time."

6. When you look at your wedding photos, be sure to comment on the shawl each bridesmaid is wearing.  It would also behoove you to make note of the bouquets, and to admire how nicely the colors she selected go with the shawl and dress. Someone spent a long time picking out just the right thing, and you might as well compliment her on it.

7. Take note of things like how even though each shawl is slightly different, they all suit the wearers and make your wedding seem more special than everyone else's wedding. Got that? More special than anyone else's.

8. Ask questions like, "Where did you find those amazing shawl pins? My ________________mom/grandma/aunt/cousin would love one."

9. Say things like, "The beading on the hem just adds something extra. How do you even get the beads on there? It blows my mind." The compliment phrased as question: work it to full advantage.

10. A little something like, "Each one of these shawls is more amazing than the last," would certainly not kill you dead.

11. Of course, it goes without saying that your knitting bride is the MOST radiant, MOST beautiful bride of all time, otherwise you would not be marrying her. And her dedication to her craft jut makes her all the more attractive.

12. Say that. Every day, if possible.

I'm sure Charles doesn't need my advice, because Katie describes him as the "coolest guy EVER."

They were married last November in bucolic Glyndon, MD, and Katie really did manage to knit five lace shawls (and a sweater for herself) before the big day.

Lavender and chocolate: I approve.

Katie wore the same crown her mother wore at her own wedding 51 years ago.

This wedding party looks significantly happier than many I've seen. I'm sure it's the shawls. I know I would be grinning pretty broadly if that were part of my bridesmaid ensemble.

The lace edging and the flowers on this cardigan are just beautiful, despite the tomfoolery happening in the background with the wedding party. (Note: I'm bringing tomfoolery back.)

A getaway car and reception venue befitting a knitter of this caliber.

I love the homemade canned goods as wedding favors! Those will be enjoyed much longer than a bag of Jordan almonds. And the label reads "Expiration date never: Katie and Charles"

Some more deets for the curious:

-- Shawl yarn: Lilacs (a club exclusive) on McClellan. The bride wore a barely-there version of the colorway.

-- Shawl patterns: Celes, Samovar, Seascape Stole, Astilbe Feathers, and Peacock Shawlette

-- Despite the fact that the groom's house burned down three months before the wedding (while the bride was there! knitting!), all the knitting was saved and the wedding went off without a hitch.

 And they knit happily ever after.

I don't know why

I don't know why bad things happen to the nicest people in the world.

I wish I did.

I don't know why natural disasters strike or mamas have to lose babies.

I know that I can't fix everything.

But I can do something.

I made this colorway.  It's not everything, but it's something. It's something I know how to do.

A longtime customer and friend lost her baby Charlie much too soon.  It's in her honor that I am donating 20% of the sales price of this colorway to Share, a not-for-profit organization that provides support and resources to families who have lost babies.

You Are My Sunshine symbolizes the storm of emotions felt by families who are impacted by the loss of a baby, with deep grays, violets, greens, and browns that are chased with glimpses of sunshine and the return of bluer skies.

Last year we raised $2,500 for Share, and with your help, I hope to be able to send even more this year.

If you're not a knitter, or you don't need more yarn and you want to help in some way, I'll be happy to send this directly to someone on your behalf.

Some people find knitting to be meditative or spiritual. Some people pray as they knit each stitch. Some people find knitting to be a welcome diversion, a retreat from their hectic lives.

Some need to be surrounded by small objects of beauty, by quiet reminders that the sun will return -- for even just a few moments -- from behind the dark veil of sadness.

This colorway will be for sale through the end of March 15th.  I will make the colorway for you -- or someone you care about -- on your choice of nine yarns. 

If you'd like us to send this as a memorial gift to someone, please let us know in the comments at checkout, and we'll wrap the yarn and include a card with your message.

If you're not a knitter and don't know much about yarn, but want to send a gift to someone, I'd recommend Springvale Worsted. It's a soft, easy care, versatile yarn. Every knitter (or crocheter) can find a use for it.

 So much sadness exists in the world that we are all under obligation to contribute as much joy as lies within our powers.     --John Sutherland Bonnell

This is my one small thing, my tiny glimpse of sunlight.

Want to read more or make a purchase? Click here to get started.

Baby Shamrock (and a winner!)

We got a peek at Baby Shamrock today. And we discovered right away that

She is beautiful, with a sweet turned up nose, long legs, and chubby cheeks. (She is also healthy, which is the most important thing.) And she was not shy at all. She wanted me to know immediately and unequivocally that she is of the girlie inclination.

This will bring our familial total to one boy, three girls, and two female horsedogs. My poor husband and son  are so outnumbered. But think of what a great husband my boy will be someday -- he will know all the things girls like.

My sister also has one boy, three girls, and up until recently, two female doggins. (One passed away due to old age and illness not long ago.) I swear these things are not planned.

While I was posting this picture, I also drew the winner of contest. I eliminated all of you who guessed boy (sorry, peeps!), and randomly selected Anne.

Anne, I'll send over your $25 gift certificate!

I've been waiting for this day for months! Girlie babies are awesome! Hooray!

knitting projects + a giveaway

Hey, guess what? I'm going to have a baby in a few months!

This is so very exciting. And so very nerve wracking. What if I knit all the wrong things?

Is that even possible?

You know, now that I think about it, I don't think a person can knit all the wrong things. Babies don't care if something accentuates their love handles or pot bellies. They don't even care if something is an unflattering color or obviously the wrong gender.

So, never mind. I'm crossing that off my list of things to worry about.

I did knit a couple of gender neutral things to tide me over until I know if Baby Shamrock is a boy or a girl.

I  made this adorable Small Things Bonnet. In green. Shamrock and his or her mama like green. In case that was a pressing question that was keeping you from sleeping.

And because Baby Shamrock is not here yet and I am out of Happy Birthday balloons, I used a skein of yarn wound into a center pull ball as a stand in.

I love this pattern. The newborn size is so fast to make, and the results are just too darn cute. I've made the alternate version included in the pattern for baby Ceci.

The green bonnet was knit from a partial skein of Geneva on Glenhaven Worsted.

I also made this sweet Magnolia Onesie. I finished the sleeve and wove in the ends during yoga class this week. That's how amazing I am at yoga. Or how terrible, depending on your perspective.

I still need to add buttons to the neck and bottom, but thought I would wait until I know a little more about Baby Shamrock before I do that. If he is a he, I might use some bamboo buttons. If she is a she, I might use something pink or purple.

Either way, I'll probably sew them on while I'm supposed to be working out.

I knit this newborn size (which I think is a pretty generous newborn size, even considering my history of big babies) with about 3/4 of a skein of Bamboo Cotton Worsted, dyed in a one of a kind colorway.

I plan to make more of these in soft wool with long sleeves in the next sizes up, as winter is long here in American Siberia.

Which brings me to my giveaway.

I get to find out (providing baby is cooperative) if baby is a boy or a girl on Monday. I'm far too excited for my own good.

Here's all you have to do to enter the giveaway: leave a comment guessing whether you think Baby Shamrock is a girl or a boy. After I find out the correct answer, I'll randomly choose one winner from the people who guessed right. The winner will get a $25 gift certificate. No strings attached.

One entry per person. You do have to leave your real first name and email address (email addresses are not visible to the public) so I can contact you if you win.

I will be sure and update as soon as I know something! Let the games begin!

Carpe Yarnem: the club

Our Carpe Yarnem: Seize the Dye colorways are some of the most popular things we make. These colorways, which can never be replicated because we don't keep the recipes, are stocked at random on our website and sold via our trunk shows at festivals and local yarn shops. We love creating them, and they're so fun to knit with, because the serendipity involved is always entertaining.

I've been known to stay up late just to see how a colorway will knit up.

The downside to these stockings: you have to be fast enough to catch the colorways on our site, or you have to be able to trek to a trunk show. Both options are fun, but limited in scope. What if you're at a doctor's appointment during a stocking? What if you leave in rural Norway and can't fly to Minnesota to get some yarny goodness?

We've decided to create a club option for those of you who love these super exclusive colorways. Every month, you'll get a new Carpe Yarnem shipment in your mailbox. The colorway and yarn base will be a surprise, but we will rotate among all of our luscious yarns, from small farm-raised merino to cashmere blends.

There are two options for our CYSD clubs: Wild and Mild. Yarnista's Wild Ride will include our most imaginative colorways, while the Walk on Mild Side option will include earthier and more muted (but still stunning) shades.

Here are some examples of what I consider our Wild Colorways: (Please note that these are not the actual colorways you will receive, these are just examples of our previous work.)

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And here are some examples of our past Mild colorways: (Please note that these are not the actual colorways you will receive, these are just examples of our previous work.)

In addition to choosing between Wild and Mild, you'll have the option to choose from HEAVY or LIGHT packages. Heavy packages will include two skeins of yarn each month that range from DK to bulky weight. We will occasionally tuck a fun treat into the club packages, but the focus will be on the amazing yarn, not swag and patterns.

Light packages will include one skein of yarn that ranges from lace to sport weight. Again, we'll occasionally include a fun treat, but this club will not include regular patterns or extras.

Subscriptions to Wild and Mild clubs are limited to ten members each. When the ten spots are filled, we'll create a waiting list for people interested in future club availability.

Payment can be made upfront for a slight discount or monthly for easier budgeting. Shipping is included, and packages will be sent in the middle of each month, beginning with March 2012.

Ready to get started? Click one of the icons below for the Wild Ride club. Please select your package weight and your payment option.

Yarnista's Wild Ride has sold out. Please use the contact form in the upper right to be added to our waiting list.

 

 

Walk on the Mild Side has sold out.  Please use the contact form in the upper right to be added to our waiting list. We'll contact you should someone else drop out.

   

   

Here are some answers to what I anticipate will be the most frequently asked questions:

Q: Will I get to see previews of the colorways before they're sent to me?

A: No, this is a true Seize the Dye opportunity. People tell us all the time how they didn't think they would like ______________ (fill in the blank with whatever you like, orange, brown, turquoise, pink, silk, alpaca, etc), but now that it's in their hands, they've fallen in love. And if you don't care for something, there are plenty of destash opportunities in our Ravelry groups. Just sayin'.

Q: Can I buy extra skeins of a colorway?

A: Because we don't keep the recipes and the colorways will never be recreated, what you get in the mail is what we have. There are no do-overs in CYSD! We can, however, help you find a coordinating solid to go along with something, if you like.

Q: How long is my membership good for?

A: If you pay in advance, the payment covers three months of shipments. At the end of the three months, you'll have the opportunity to renew, or to let us move on to someone on our waiting list. If you're paying monthly, payment will be automatically deducted every 30 days until you cancel.

Q: When will shipments be sent?

A: Shipments will go out in the middle of every month, beginning with March 2012.

Q: Can you accommodate a fiber allergy?

A: In some cases, yes. If, say, you're allergic to alpaca, we can work around that. If you're allergic to all wools, that is a bit more problematic. Shipments may sometimes include our non-wool yarns, but soft merinos and merino blends are the staple of our repertoire, so we won't be able to entirely eliminate them for you.

Q: Can I buy more than one subscription?

A: Sure.

Q: Will everyone in the Wild or Mild clubs get the same colorways?

A: Sometimes yes, sometimes no. It depends on what kind of mood the Yarnista is in. :)

If you have more questions, feel free to use the contact button in the upper right to drop us a line!