Welcome 2012!

2012 is looking like it will be the year of dozens. 

12 sweaters in '12, 12 pairs of socks in '12, 12 anything knitted & finished in '12

I've decided to take on these challenges myself.  MY goal is to both knit 12 garments AND release at least 12 new patterns in 2012.

It's insane ambitious and maybe not possible but this gal is going to try her honest best to get it done!

January's sweater is already to the armholes and a sweater I started this Fall is finally shot  (see above) and a bunch of new patterns will be available for the first time this weekend at Vogue Knitting Live in my booth #2304 and there will be a new sweater kit available at Knitting Central's booth #2201.

Here's a little taste:

 

What are your ambitious undertakings for 2012?

Let's try to cheer each other on and make 2012 the year of doing!

November - I hardly knew you

Wow!  November seemed to arrive and leave in the same breath, during which projects were made and ripped.  My NaKniSweMo met with two disasters which proved to be two too many to overcome.  The yarn I picked is perfect, sunny shades, warm & lofty.  I tried a colorwork neck down yoke which I've never done before and something, somewhere went terribly wrong.  It ended up a size big enough for me and a friend to share and I'm still not exactly clear on why. Slightly discouraged, I heard the voice of my Favorite Knitter - Elizabeth Zimmermann whispering "Ah, well these are the things that happen sometimes with designs" and put it away and moved on.

That sweater has been set aside until a time I have a good movie and lots of ripping and detangling time.  I will make a sweater with the yarn, just not that one. Not yet.

The good news is my very own Empire sweater is finished and blocked and waiting for buttons to be sewn on this afternoon.  It is cozy and Autumnal and just plain old perfect.

Over at Double Knot,  Cal & I are working on some holiday hints, crafts, and favorites so you can check in over there over the next month if you're needing a little inspiration for things to make, eat, or buy.

Hope to be back soon with triumphant sweater pics and a few accessories that have been done for ages & just waiting to be shot.  New patterns coming soon!

NaKniSweMo -what?!

That crazy combination of letters either means something to you or you think I just suffered some sort of stroke. Don't worry. I didn't.

NaKniSweMo was thought up by Shannon Okey - maybe you know her as Knit Grrl or the face of Cooperative Press?  I could go into some lengthy explanation of what NaKniSweMo is but you should just go over & read the description on the Rav group.  I'll wait.

So...Cal said she was going to do it and so did cross border bud Natalie who claims to be making TWO! I've decided I can't resist the challenge of knitting something in a month that's not on a deadline for a publication.

Do you want to try it?  Well here's a tiny incentive to get you started.  Free shipping in my shop starting today and going until next Monday if you use the code NAKNISWEMO*.  BUT that's only the start...I want to see pics of WIPs and finished sweaters so, if you upload a finished JDMS sweater pic to my Facebook Group or Rav group - you'll be entered in a drawing to win a gigantic hank of Empire.

Yup, 1280yds of aran weight NYS Rambouillet wool. 

Oh, and I know the "real" NaKniSweMo is supposed to be 50,000 sts but I've never been a stickler for the rules so as long as the sweater is either made from JDMS yarn or from one of my patterns AND started & finished in November it counts.

*again, because of my dislike of strict rules, if you want to order yarn and not use it for NaKniSweMo and still get free shipping, that's okay too :)

Long time, no blog

I know, I know... it has been ages since anything new got typed in this space!  It's because I've been so busy doing things, I've hardly had a chance to photograph then or type about them!!

Let's see, after Sock Summit I ran head first into fiber fest prep.  I had a lovely time and came home with many goodies from Finger Lakes Fiber Fest, Southern Adirondack Fiber Fest and NYS Sheep & Wool (aka RHINEBECK) luckily I was also selling some stuff along the way.

In no particular order and without pics of everything because well, I don't want to seem like a yarn & notions hoarder (I'm not and I will swear that to you unless you have a trip planned to my studio). OH and some of it is for top secret present making :)

A cute elfin project bag from Stitched By JessaLu -

is it wrong to hope these guys do a little work on the project inside while I sleep?

Recycled Silk from Hampton Artistic Yarns

I *may* have gotten more than the one hank but it was the first time I got to see it in person! I've been coveting online for a while, now the question is what to make with it?!

Also a bag of crazy, tropical fruit batts (nope, not intended) also from Hampton Artistic Yarns, besides just plain liking Debbie, she makes some really lovely stuff. 

This pile of crazy might be my first hand spun "art" yarn.  I think these colors should keep me warm & happy on the most grey Winter day.

Also from a lovely Rhinebeck vendor who didn't label their hanks (please, please, vendors: label your yarn, I'm both slightly disorganized and a little overyarnwhelmed and I will never find the card I wrote your info on)

From what I can remember this yarn is 10-20% angora and the balance is Merino.  What I know for sure is, I bought a sweater's worth mainly in pearly grey and a few bright rose hanks and this sweater will be AMAZING and for ME.

Also irresistible was this rainbow hank of fingering weight SW Merino from Steam Valley Fiber Farm

Honestly, the picture does not do this beauty justice!  Phylleri creates fantastic colorways and I have no idea what this is destined for but it will be good!

Let's see... I also designed a window for Wing & Clover in Rhinebeck

Scheduled some classes at Purl SoHo, including a brand new class to make Fraternal Knee Socks from the toes up

Made pies, ate pies.  Knitted some, ripped more.  Started tweeting.  Saw friends new & old from near & far.  Made plans.  Dyed lots and lots and lots of yarn.

So that was my "Summer Vacation".  What have you been up to?

Sock Summit round up

Okay, I know, I have no socks on in this picture and most of you have already seen the shoes, but I love them!  Haven't seen them yet?  They are from the lovely Ren @ FairySteps and after wearing them all day standing on my feet for two days straight I love them even more!

I'm barefoot because the weather for the week Cal & I spent in Portland was absolutely dreamy!  Honestly the weather was the least "best" part of our week in Portland.  I could go on and on about how many kind and enthusiastic knitters I met.

The above picture is Lise and a dear knitter whose name I didn't write down & has gotten lost in my memory of new faces LeeAnn, both wearing the Summit pattern from Knitty - which I have been dreaming of knitting in my "off" time, knitted in fingering weight & DK.  I love when a pattern works in multiple yarn weights and one of the awesome things about Sock Summit, this was a totally chance meeting!

And crocheters too!  Let's not forget about the crocheters! The above pic is a close up of the MOST lovely freeform crochet I've ever seen.  Done by the equally lovely Bonnie Pierce.
I love her use of color, some freeform crochet can be a bit, well, garish and hers is so sophisticated & truly lovely!

The awesomeness of Stephanie, Tina, and their crew of henchmen (Natalie, Debbie, Rachel and all the rest) at putting together such a huge and perfectly run event really awes me.  Did I mention they did it all while smiling the entire time. They did.
 
I was going to post a pic here of the HUGE line to get in the first night but decided some of the tons (hundreds? thousands?) of knitters waiting anxiously to get in might not want to be revealed...
So instead I'll post a few pics of why Portland is kind of awesome:

Yup, a giant bike rack AND a sign that there is additional bike parking..IN THE GARAGE!
Love that!

Portland has its quirks too.  On my first day there I saw the *second biggest pile of pretzels* I've ever seen.  Just laying there on the sidewalk, a garbage bags worth of pretzels but not in a garbage bag.  I guess there was also a craft beer fest happening at the same time but the pretzels were the only evidence I ever saw of it.

Cal & I had one of the most delicious dinners I've maybe ever had at Biwa which I heard about thanks to a tweet from Grace Bonney the woman behind Design Sponge and luckily it was walking distance from our hotel.  To be fair, NYer walking distance but since Cal & I were at one time NYers we were happy for the outside stomping time.  I had one of the most delicious cocktails along with our shared meal of lots (and LOTS and LOTS) of little bites.  It was called the Community Garden and I don't exactly remember the make up but it included tequila, Pimm's and a heaping dose of fresh mint & cucumbers "growing" out of the glass. Crisp and much needed after teaching & vending all day!

I went to an amazing lecture given by Karla & Gladys aka "the pooling ladies".  I am tempted to ramble on about how inspiring and creative their work is but maybe you should just join their Ravelry group & see for yourself.  Basically they have figured out how to make hand dyed yarns behave in amazing and fresh ways.  Did I mention, they want all their pooling knowledge to be open source?  They do and that rocks.  Since attending the lecture I have started two pooling projects but both are gifts so they'll have to remain under wraps for now.

The quick sum up:

I had a booth. I taught classes to some of the nicest, most talented, not to mention FAST knitters.  I ate really, really well, even from food carts.  I got to see a few West Coast friends I see rarely and one I had never met in real life before. I was welcomed to Portland by attending the Teacher dinner surrounded by knitting luminaries I felt so lucky to be in the company of.  I did not make Cal want to kill me or if I did at least she resisted the urge.  I went to the beautiful and beautifully run Happy Knits - if you ever are in Portland, go visit, you won't be sorry.  I found out that Denny's (at least in Portland) has turkey bacon and it's pretty good.  I found out that Denny never ever tires of "put a bird on it".  I realized Stephanie & Tina are even bigger sci fi nerds than I am.  I remembered that no matter how fantastic a trip I have I am always more happy to come home to my house, my kitties and most of all my love. 
I know the next Sock Summit won't be for another 2 years but I'll look forward to it until then.


*this is a Get Smart reference for those of you non-nerds out there

I'd like to introduce you to....

(hopefully) a few new friends...

It has been a dog's age since I posted here - sorry!  but if you remember waaaay back in June I said I was working really hard on some brand new yarns.

Well, as you're reading this Cal & I are winging are way to Portland to SOCK SUMMIT the yarn is already safely there in booth #823 waiting for our arrival.  Luckily, it wasn't too camera shy before it left and I got a few pictures. 

Evie who thoughtfully shared some of her hair for this yarn.

Artemis - 70% NYS Romney Lambswool 30% Mohair 

Sport weight 337yds 4 oz

Why Artemis?

The ancient Greeks believed she was the protectress of woman & wild animals. This yarn is made, in part, from goats raised by my mom, sheared by a woman, milled at a female owned mill and dyed by your truly (who definitely qualifies as a woman or a wild animal) and all within the bounds of New York State!

 Aurora - 70% Wool 30% Silk 

Lace weight single 460yds 50g

 

Nimbus - 70% Angora 30% Silk

Lace weight 2 ply 435yds 50 g

 

And what of Earth is this?

Empire

100% Rambouillet Wool 

Aran weight 1280 yds 1.5lbs 

A mega hank of hand dyed Rambouilett Wool designed by me & made exclusively for Jill Draper Makes Stuff! Can you tell I'm excited?

 Even better this yarn is made from sheep to skein right here in New York State.  I couldn't be more proud of this locally grown, milled and dyed yarn, I hope you love it as much as I do!

If this isn't enough eye candy for you, I've posted a whole bunch of preview pics in my Flickr pool in the set Sock Summit Preview

I hope the July heat is, at least, treating your garden well and I promise to tell you all about Sock Summit when I get home.

Until then Happy Knitting!

There is nothing in a caterpillar...

...that tells you it is going to be a butterfly.

That is what Buckminster Fuller said, at least, and if he could imagine the geodesic dome he must have been pretty ingenious.

This picture is from my amazing, lovely, inspiring week at Squam Art Workshops. Without knowing it, I have recently been feeling like this little guy.  Working hard, chewing away a little bit at a time waiting for the day to emerge as a changeling, almost the same but not quite.

More on that in the weeks to come. For now, just know, it might not look like anything is happening but something (good, I hope) is in the works...

Back to Squam, the week started slightly rocky.  Cal, Carisa & I had a little trouble getting to Squam.  If you own a Ford Windstar I strongly suggest taking it to the dealership and having a real, true assessment of it, especially the rear axle. With no warning because of a recall I wasn't notified of, this happened:

And it was scary. Luckily all involved are fine; Cal & I now know what it's like to ride (and knit!) in a van on the back of a flatbed tow truck, so there's that...

Almost All my troubles disappeared though, once I entered the serene setting of Squam, met my cabin mates (Hi, Maple Shaders!) the wonderous Elizabeth and settled in for a beer on the dock.

This blog post would be pages long if I detailed every kind, creative, interesting person I met at SAW, I'll give you the short version and just say, if you have never experienced this, you should.  Every day at lunch & dinner, a table on the way into the dining hall would fill with works in progress, I was so impressed at the quality of work being produced!

And to top it all off, this ^ was the scenery outside my door! How could it be better than that! 

Well, there could be some gorgeous lady slippers in bloom scattered throughout the woods & along paths that looked something like this:

Or nightly, one could hear fascinating talks given by Stephanie Pearl McPhee, Ysolda, Thea Coughlin & Sarah Ahearn...
I could go on...and on...and on...

But, I'll try my best to finish this post up succinctly with 10 things I learned at SAW:

1. Everything they say about Canadians is true (wait, is what they say that all Canadians are talented, kind and hilariously funny? Yes? Then it is true)
2. There are lots of amazing LYSs I've never been to but absolutely need to go see ASAP,
Princess Animal, Happy Knits & Lettuce Knit I'm thinking specifically of you!
3. Tall, thin, blond, gorgeous women can be intelligent, fun, and interesting - what can I say, we all have our prejudices...Thanks Jen, Thea & Noel for showing me the light!
4. New Hampshire in June can have a 40 degree temperature drop in 24 hours
5. Kitchener stitch is named for a general who hated sock seams rubbing on his toes almost as much as I hate it
6. If you are going to SAW and really want to fit in you MUST have at least one Hodge Podge Farm garment to show off, it is perfectly acceptable to have drafted the pattern from Cal's book, made it in one of her classes or purchased one of the lovelies she makes herself - I have two of the three in my closet...
7. You can make monoprints with supplies from the grocery store & help from the fabulous Maya
8. Five days can seem like and eternity and gone in a flash at exactly the same time
9. It is perfectly normal to return home from SAW with 2 twigs, an acorn and 4 strike anywhere matches in your pocket as well as long list of blogs you need to start reading immediately
10. The most wonderful man in the entire world lives at my house and no matter what kind of craziness I put him through I can be sure to return home to a prepared meal, glass of wine & clean kitchen

Okay, back to the dye house for me (that's my basement for those of you in the know :) and hopefully off to a wonderful day for you filled with stumbled upon wonders and just a little bit of letting it all go for a while and soaking in the moment.