seed stitch. beyond k1, p1 giveaway

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"Ribbing, moss, seed and garter are all balanced and combine the yin and yang of knitting" 
-Stephanie Pearl-Mcphee

Well, that is just so true.  In life, it's all about balance.  Even with/in our knitting.  
In this book Seed Stitch, Beyond knit 1, purl 1, Rosemary Drysdale uses seed stitch and incorporates it into color work, cabling, geometric patterns and more.    It's pretty amazing to think of all the combinations that can be made from using the two stitches we all know;  knit and purl.
There are over 60 swatches of show you what combining different textures and patterns can do for a project.
Drysdale has an introduction in the book that explains the beginning of our beloved passion.  I'm shocked I have never taken time to learn more about the history of my love!  I learned that until the early sixteenth century, the knit stitch was the only stitch used.  Working in the round with every round knitted produced the "stockinette stitch" pattern.  Purl stitches first appeared in the mid-sixteenth century and earned its name because their stitches represented beads, or "pearls".
Combining stitches Drysdale designed twenty-five gorgeous projects ranging from pillow and bags to cowls and sweaters.  I'm really thinking I want to add some knit pillows to our family room this winter!

The nice peeps over at Sterling would like to giveaway a copy to one of my readers.  If interested, please leave a comment here before Monday, October 2nd at 5pm EST, and I'll have the random number generator choose a number.

journey mitts

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These mitts truly are journey mitts.  Journey Mitts are made from a cashmere that works perfectly with cables or any other interesting stitch combination you would want to work with.  The yarn begins it's journey in Kyrgyzstan where it is gathered from goats of small family farms goats.  It then travels to Britain where it is finely spun.  From there it lands in Maine at the Saco River Dye House.  What a wonderful Journey it has had before it even lands in the hands of those who love to work with yarn! To me, it wasn't the typical cashmere "feel".  So, I decided to check in with the fine folks over at June Cashmere so that I could understand what this yarn was all about.  I reached out through email and a phone call (a little stalking happened) and received the most wonderful reply from Amy.
Here is what she said:

I'm happy to tell you about the yarn. We have the yarn spun in England and Scotland where care is taken to mill the yarn as tightly as possible. Being a short haired fiber (like cotton), we gain strength and durability in the yarn by spinning it tightly. This, along with the plying, add firm stitch definition that pops in cabling, textured patterns, and lacework. The garments we have made from the yarn spun in this manner have not pilled. I have noticed that other, more loosely spun cashmere yarn begins to pill even before knit, so this is a choice on our part to create a yarn to make heirloom projects that will last and last.

For dyeing, we choose organic dyes at the Saco River Dyehouse in Maine. Because cashmere is a short fiber, the yarn will still have the short ends along the yarn that we may not see but can feel. What we do not choose - but have been offered - is to have the Dyehouse finish the yarn with a chemical that will in essence smooth and 'fill in' those short fibers so that the yarn feels softer. We are opting for a product that is the most 'natural' that it can be. 

To answer your question, yes--when you wash your finished garment, it should bloom and soften and you should be able to own your garment for a long time.

 I wanted to share so that you, too, will know that this yarn is a cashmere that will show and hold the love and joy that went into each and every single stitch for many, many years.

Pattern:  Journey Mitts
Yarn:  1 skein  DK June Cashmere  in Slate.

woolfolk gradiant poncho

my knitting life
You guys!  I am in love with this yarn.  It is truly dreamy.  To me, it feels like cashmere.  Looks like cashmere.  But it's not.  It's 100% Orvis 21 Ultimate Merino Wool.
I'm making the Gradiant Poncho out of Woolfolk Far.  And I hope to be sporting it at this years Rhinebeck.  Anyone else going?
This is the first time I have ever worked with a yarn that has been wound like this. I am crazy about it.

Episode 2 of "a friend to knit with podcast" is up over on YouTube.  I am a work in progress. 😊

oils

diy
Just wanted to share a couple of things I have been putting on my skin.  
This exfoliating coconut scrub is so nice.  Exfoliating, moisturizing and refreshing.  It can be made with or without the lemon oil.  No essential oils?  Fresh lemon juice would be totally great, too.  And if you don't have lemons in the house... leave them out.  That would be great, too!
Coconut Scrub:
1/2 cup Coconut Oil
1 1/4 cup Sugar
10-15 drop Lemon Oil  (Lavender would be nice, too.)
I'm coming up on two years of using Young Living Essential Oils.  I still have SO much to learn.  But Ashley over on Story Oils is always there to help.  (She sells the oils, too!)
And speaking of Ashley, she posted a pic on Instagram of a cream she made.   I made it immediately.  I seriously put down my phone, grabbed my essential oils, the coconut oil, baking soda and started mixing.  It's amazing.  It really is the most gentlest exfoliator I have ever put on my face.  My skin is super sensitive and this did not make my skin react at all.  

For my body.             For my face.  

september knitcrate

knitcrate
So, I did a little Facebook live for Knitcrate.  Oy.  Nerve-racking to say the least.  And can you believe my phone tipped over twice while doing it?!   All I could think of the entire time was that it was going to fall again.  I don't think I got the point across that there was a giveaway for two of the September Knitcrates.  If you are interested in winning a September Knitcrate, head on over to Knitcrates Facebook page.  Look for the Live version of me🙈 (September 14) and leave a comment tagging a friend to enter.  :)  Both you and your friend will win!  Thats a win-win situation!  😍  You have until the 22nd to enter.  
September's Artisan crate was beautiful just like the others.  I just really love how these colors move me right into autumn.
The yarn ::  2 skeins Lorna's Laces Haymarket- 100% Bluefaced Leicester Wool  215yds.

The pattern :: Christine Marie Chen Westgate cowl (beginner) and Rocky Canyon Cowl (intermediate/advanced).

The extra :: An adorable Photo Holder by Think Pray Gift.  

As always, if you are interested in ordering, use the promo code FKW20  to receive 20% off your first crate.  And remember to head over to Knitcrates Facebook (look for my live video) and tag a friend to enter to win a September Knitcrate.  Make sure to enter by the 22nd.

Happy Saturday, Friends!

fading right along

my knitting life
First off, thank you SO much for the kind words you shared regarding my first podcast.  They honestly mean SO much and are SO appreciated.  :)  
I had the hardest time choosing a fade for the What the Fade KAL.  I was so happy when I stumbled onto Knit Picks site to find that they had a couple of fade kits put together.  Although my eye was caught by the brighter fade they offer (Sunstorm), I decided to go with the darker fade (Dark Mood) considering those are the colors I like to wear in the winter.
Although it took me three tries to cast on and get going (hello brioche!),  I did finish Clue #1 on time.  Still haven't cast on for Clue number 2 but plan on that happening this weekend.

Prayers go out to all of those in the path of Irma. I sure hope her strength weakens.

Happy weekend, friends.