elliebelly – Page 7 – Elliebelly Knit & Dye Works

What Yarn Should I Knit With?

Posted on August 8, 2011 by Joyce Makes Art

I looked through my stash this morning, hoping to find just the right yarn to use for the Elliebelly Knit Along, which starts August 13 — next Saturday. And of course, I was immediately overcome with all the different possibilities. I forced myself to pull just a few out, and I'm going to spend the next few evenings looking at possible patterns for them so I can be all ready to cast on in time for the start of the Knit Along.

It was lots of fun doing a bit of stash tossing, and I thought I would share my candidates with you. I would appreciate any ideas you have about patterns they might work with, so please chime in with a comment!

I've got just one skein of this Silk/Merino heavy worsted weight yarn in Copper Patina. This was my first test skein for the colorway, and I love it — swatched it eons ago, but since I've just got the one skein, I've never found a good use for it. I'm not even sure what the base yarn is — I think I bought just the one skein from KnitPicks right when they opened. It's a nice yarn. I wish I could identify it! Possibly enough yarn here for mitts or a small baby/child item.

Next I found these four skeins of Premium British Merino in the Crayon colorway. This yarn is heavenly and I have never knitted with Crayon (one of those shoemaker's children going barefoot issues, I suppose). Perhaps a vest for Ollie, although I wonder if at almost 9, his dignity would be challenged by the bright colors and the purple? This yarn is definitely a contender.

Alpaca. One of the true loves of my life! This is "Eco" and I have about 3.5 skeins, having started to swatch it only to have the swatch commandered by Ollie who insisted on mitts. Maybe I should knit him a hat and a scarf to go along with the mitts, or a vest? This is a heavy worsted weight, so I don't think I've got enough left to do a sweater.

One skein of my favorite worsted weight Organic Merino, being held by one of my favorite people. This is likely enough for a newborn sweater, and I have a neighbor due with her third child this fall. It would also make a cute little shrug for a slightly older child. And, I love how the colors dance along this yarn.

This is a stunning, worsted weight blend of Silk and Seacell. It's dyed in the Paintbrush Variation of Crayon, which on this yarn developed as a soft, subdued colorway. It's been sitting on my desk since I dyed it a couple of months ago, because I couldn't bear to stash it away. I've got about 500 yards of this yarn — it's itching to become something beautiful and I can't wait to knit with it.

Here is my last option. Five skeins of undyed, aran weight 100% silk, waiting to be dyed. It could be anything from the most luxurious baby blanket ever to, well, I guess just about anything. I love how it feels. It would be an incredible pleasure to knit with.

There are the choices. What do you think?

I hope you will join me, starting next Saturday, as we cast on for the Knit Along. Use your Elliebelly yarn and knit any pattern you choose. You can find more info on my Ravelry Group or by following this blog, and, of course, you can always include any questions in the comments here. So, get your yarn and your pattern lined up, and let's get started!

Ellie’s Tiny Tea Leaves Knit Cardigan

Posted on July 2, 2011 by Joyce Makes Art

Here is the start of Tiny Tea Leaves.

It just couldn't be any cuter. I'm knitting this sweater, which is meant to be Ellie's fall cardigan, in Madeline Tosh's Vintage hand-dyed superwash Merino yarn. The pattern starts at the yoke, and is knit all in one with raglan sleeves.

Progress on this one is going to be slow, but it's so much fun to knit I'm going to have to make time for it. There are lots of beautiful examples of this sweater on Ravelry if you want to see it knit up without waiting for me.

P.S. – Make sure you check back in over the holiday weekend as I'll be posting a giveaway for some hand-dyed Elliebelly organic Merino yarn.

Changing Things Up At The Elliebelly Knitting Blog

Posted on June 20, 2011 by Joyce Makes Art

As several of you have noticed, thanks to the lovely Kelly at Seventeen Stone, I have a cool new blog design. Kelly was incredibly patient and seemed to intuitively understand what I wanted. She was so easy to work with! Thank you Kelly.

I hope you all like it as much as I do!

To celebrate, I'm going to do several giveaways between now and the end of July. Yes, there will be yarn. Possibly some of the Elliebelly "Melted Crayon" on Naiad Organic Merino I'm in the middle of dyeing for myself. Certainly some crackle-dyed Elliebelly Playsilks. I'm also planning to write up my Cabled Afghan pattern, and will offer it for free at some point during this time period. And any other cool stuff I decide to share with my friends. Maybe some art. So click the orange RSS feed bottom on the left side of the blog to add me to your reader, or remember to check back in a couple of times a week. Because of my crazy schedule, there is no predicting when or for how long I'll do this. Just a little bit of summer fun for y'all and a great way, in fact, the only way to score some Elliebelly this summer.

Knitted Swatch Complete. Gauge Perfect. Oh Joy!

Posted on June 20, 2011 by Joyce Makes Art

I am a good person. I will surely go to heaven when I die. For I have swatched. I have swatched and gotten gauge. Not only did I knit the full number of stitches called for, surrounded by a garter stitch border, I blocked my swatch after it was complete. Yes, surely I will go to heaven.

Even if I don't make it to heaven, I have high hopes that Ellie's fall sweater (the Tiny Tea Leaves Cardigan, knit in Madeline Tosh's Vintage Merino) will fit because my gauge is perfect. It's perfect after blocking. And this must be a good omen from the knitting gods that all is well.

I am fascinated by this yarn. I don't think anyone does single color variations as well as Madeline Tosh. I adore her yarns. This one is a superwash merino, and it has an odd texture, almost coarse but not unpleasant. The surprise came when I washed my swatch and it softened up nicely into something you would want to rub against your face. Hopefully I'll get to spend some time with Tiny Tea Leaves this week. I can't wait to get started, now that the swatching is done.

Enough (Knitted) Ruffles for Ellie

Posted on June 18, 2011 by Joyce Makes Art

Ellie kindly agreed to model the finished "Enough Ruffles for Joyce" scarf so you all could see her new short hair. And of course, I couldn't resist playing with Photoshop just a wee bit.

The scarf is, of course, still all blue.

I'm incredibly happy with the way it turned out. The cashmere is fantastic, the color just right, the pattern, as promised, enough without being too much.

I am as happy with the scarf with the tails worn long and hanging down as I am with it wrapped double around.

And, the scarf even appears to have magical powers. It knocked Ellie straight out asleep when she put it on after arduously playing the role of model for me.

Another Reason Knitting Is Good For Your Soul

Posted on June 12, 2011 by Joyce Makes Art

Knitting is good for your soul. Anyone who knits can tell you that.

And here is yet more proof for that proposition.

This lovely yarn is being sent to some wonderful knitters who sent money, generous amounts of money, to the Red Cross to support tornado recovery. To thank them for their thoughtfulness, they are receiving some of the newest Elliebelly colorways. Starting at the left side with the paintbrush colorway and moving clockwise, they include Good Day, Gulf Shores, P. Campbell, Kaleidoscope (not new, but oh so much fun for me to dye again!), Grapevine, and Steampunk.

Knitters always seem to be involved in helping others, and it's particularly gratifying to see this small amount of yarn turn into help for people who are trying to restart their lives. Thank you knitters!

Knitting A Scarf: Just Enough Ruffles

Posted on May 29, 2011 by Joyce Makes Art

I started Just Enough Ruffles yesterday. Laura Chau is a genius pattern writer, using short rows to curve the scarf inward and on toward the ruffled edge.

Having read the pattern carefully, though, I'm inclined to think that it was mis-named. It probably needs to be called Too Many Ruffles. I've just discovered that I'm going to be increasing three times in each stitch for a total of 600 stitches across the ruffled edge. 600. Really?

Although I am not looking forward to that cast off, the cashmere is soft and dreamy and the robin's egg blue color is very nice. Possibly my only real complaint about this one is that at least for now, I'm going to have to crank the air conditioning if I want to wear it. This scarf is going to have to wait for much cooler weather!