Great fun at...

...Yarnover!! It was an energizing day for me and has me refreshed to hit the dye pots again. My customers and fellow spinners and knitters know how to do this well :)

I started the weekend Friday afternoon at the hotel with my husband and kids. We were greeted at the hotel with warm chocolate chips cookies and knitters in the lobby. It's so fun to see knitters in public, it doesn't happen much for me.

We went for a swim, the kids love swimming and can't wait until Grandma & Grandpa open up the pool for the summer! I grew up with pool, so we love it that we still have one to go home to, especially since we don't have one ourselves (yet!).

My husband and I were up at 5 the next morning to get ready for Yarnover. Hotel sleep is never that great and I was probably too excited about the next day to sleep well anyway, it wasn't too hard to get up.

My dear husband put together all of the grid walls, really a mans job, even though I could do it, I really didn't want to. He was great help all around, thinking of things I wouldn't have.

I made connections with new yarn shops and I'm excited for the prospects with them. Watch out Twin Cities, it might be coming to a shop near you!

I met the wonderful and talented designers, Sivia Harding, Anne Hanson and Rosemary (Romi) Hill! Romi and I have some things cooking up for you! We are both very excited about it! She made me blush with her compliments.

I was able to see some of my drop spindle students and was tied up with someone else and unable to see their spinning progress, I missed seeing it and talking with you and sharing your excitement. Come to Shepherd's Harvest, I want to see you and what you've been up to!

 I love hearing my customers feedback and you have given me a renewed energy for dying, I sometimes get in a rut and you really help that! Thank you. It was so much to see old faces again and reconnect! I look forward to seeing you again at Shepherd's Harvest!
Angela

2 new...

...pattern releases in 1 week!! I impress myself sometimes :)

CASTLE GARDEN

KATYA'S CARDIGAN

As promised...

...but sorry it's so late! I've been very busy getting ready for Yarnover this weekend and Shepherd's Harvest in 2 weeks!

I intended to make this sweater for myself, but after blocking it grew severely!! About 2 sizes at least. I'm very happy that it fits my Mom wonderfully! At least someone can wear it well!

Lesson Learned: WASH YOUR SWATCH!!! As if I didn't know this - I know I should have, why didn't I? Too anxious to cast on and get knitting I guess, I over looked it, but will NEVER to do it again!!  So, get gauge, measure your swatch, wash and block and measure again. Then determine what size you need to make.

I used both my handspun and hand dyed.

I spun up 5 skeins of this yarn, fingering weight around 400 yards each!

I had planned to use it for a different sweater, but didn't like a thing about it, gauge was way too loose and I didn't really like the color! Believe it or not, after all that spinning I don't even like the yarn it produced!

I had to use it, so I began pairing it up and found this, Resplendence 50/50 merino/silk to be a great combination. I love the results.

 

The pattern is Tea Leaves Cardigan - if I knit this again, which I may for myself for real this time :) I will add some length to the yoke; we don't really like how wide the neck is.

Hot off the needles...

...are 2 sweaters in 1 month! I started my daughters last May and it got pushed aside for other projects that needed to get done. It turned out fantastic and we all love it! Katya is very proud to wear it!

The entire sweater is made with my own handspun yarn (spun on a wheel) and I'm very pleased with how it all turned out!

Here's the details:

Stay tuned for the next sweater...it's a drama in the knitting world for sure, at least it was for me, from the thought of it to the trying on!

Just 2 days...

...left to reserve your spot in the Tea Party! Find out more information here and here! The deadline is April 1st!

Blinded by...

...Science is the PhatFiber theme for March. Here is what I submitted for my samples to the box. Thank you all for your contributions via my Ravelry Group contest! It would not have been so easy without your help, I'm not much of a science fan. Although I was inspired pretty easily by the eye images. As a former Surgical Technologist I was drawn to the eyes! Fascinating don’t you think? I primarily worked in Neuro Surgery, but occasionally got to work in the eye rooms as well and I enjoyed it.

I hope you enjoy the fibers that were inspired by all of these fantastic images! Some are one of kind, get them while they are available here at AFLoY Shop!

The winner is...

...Sarah, who posted the following! Please contact me by Friday to claim your prize! 

angela@allforloveofyarn.com

Sarah Mar 1, 2012 06:05 AM

I love the colors you choose and the pictures are just gorgeous. I favorited your shop :)

I've got a...

...giveaway for you! I haven't done one in a long time I thought it would be fun! Up for grabs is a drop spindle, 2 types of fiber, 1 batt and 1 combed top coming in at 1.6 oz total. A scissors on a necklace and a knitted bag for your spindle and fiber. (I did not make the bag in case you are wondering.)

So, visit my shop, leave me a comment and let me know how I'm doing. What you like about it and what I could improve on.

Thank you; I learn the most from you! Winner will be drawn by random.org on Monday!
 Angela

Tea Party...

...Spin a long and Knit a long! Details can be found here in my Ravelry Group!

I hope many of you can join in on the fun!
Angela

Finally, off the...

...needles!! I had second glove syndrome with these! They are my Mom's popover gloves. She will be sporting them at Shepherd's Harvest to keep her hands warm when she is helping me at my booth. It is usually cold and we are in a non-heated fair-grounds building. She's the awesome checkout lady :)

It's my own design, but someone beat me to publishing it. I will have the cable pattern on my project page soon. I used AFLoY's Opulence (merino/cashmere/nylon) in Lover's Island.

I'm a little late...

...to the party, but here I am anyhow. The kids and I have been busy making these cookies!
I’m also anxiously awaiting the arrival of my Cherry Matchless spinning wheel due to arrive any minute now!



Here is where I found the recipe. Although I’m not impressed with the dough, it’s way too dry for rolling. I would leave out 3T of flour, since you add 3T of cocoa powder….filling is good!

How about some lovely fiber or yarn; 30% off just for you with coupon code: LOVE12 Expires at 8am tomorrow morning!

Happy Valentine’s Day!
Angela

I completed...

...this last fall and forgot to post it! I started with 2 batts, each 4 ounces. I made the lighter colored one and bought the other. I needed more to make the complete set for my daughter so I decided to spin them together! I love the results.

This is the best photo I could get of her, not very cooperative! I was going to make mittens, but as I was doing the cuff I just though I think this coat needs gloves! They are perfect and she loves them! The entire set sparkles in the sun! I made my son a set, too and will post it soon, it's really cute!
Angela