tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47164303932943496632024-02-19T05:05:16.130-05:00Jill Draper BlogsJill Draper Makes Stuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274510976339175945noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716430393294349663.post-63800568318181254872015-04-10T09:42:00.001-04:002015-04-10T09:42:14.623-04:00Save Our Stags<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrBXCrg8pKJLMe0i__BeE18W3bg17LozlxvO3GdvRyFp96hYYdgx5olwA5BKAB3JjuMOPW8iCk6NqvRB_bi0Y0eeHAZLqzKUyXALAaZ9CYj0_NFI3wvyuk048m8CYT8FAzSB7ltC5WJCI/s1600/Screenshot+2015-04-10+08.51.21.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrBXCrg8pKJLMe0i__BeE18W3bg17LozlxvO3GdvRyFp96hYYdgx5olwA5BKAB3JjuMOPW8iCk6NqvRB_bi0Y0eeHAZLqzKUyXALAaZ9CYj0_NFI3wvyuk048m8CYT8FAzSB7ltC5WJCI/s320/Screenshot+2015-04-10+08.51.21.png" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Early Spring can be such a stark time of year, it's tax season, here in the Northeast Winter still grips us with icy fingers, snow is dirty grey icebergs instead of fresh fluffy piles, we've eaten our share of stews so we dream of fresh corn & tomatoes.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I hear from the farmers I work with about daily lamb births and some of the sheep have already been freed of their year's growth in service of next year's yarn, so I know Spring is here whether she shows her face or not. Here at JDMS Spring means ordering yarn for next Fall & Winter, working on new kits & experimenting in my studio.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I've spent lots of time thinking about this business & how happy I am that other people seem almost as excited about the yarn as I do. Part of what I love so much about what I do is being able to make something that isn't finished until YOU add your creativity to it. I can't tell you how special it is to see the things you make with the yarn. I am so grateful for your support that I'd like to offer you a token of my appreciation. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWtdIDtkbueDhF3OsrFHbOi4w6UWkZTb_aaPWxc76Jn_MoMOo1h_rqgd-37uZmE5Fb6pt4OA4APa_z2uJne9BFsI5Qql-fONsp0OIEz6dMeox6B8XhM9vyNmk81zSOah6LlnBMXElVUOQ/s1600/sos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWtdIDtkbueDhF3OsrFHbOi4w6UWkZTb_aaPWxc76Jn_MoMOo1h_rqgd-37uZmE5Fb6pt4OA4APa_z2uJne9BFsI5Qql-fONsp0OIEz6dMeox6B8XhM9vyNmk81zSOah6LlnBMXElVUOQ/s1600/sos.jpg" height="320" width="248" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Save Our Stags </span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">...---... </span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">As you work up your skeins of JDMS yarn, cut the stag off the left hand side of the label & affix it to the sheet available for download <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0By1mVeHa8eG0ZVBBMGYxT3VBckE/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">here</a>. Once you have collected 20 stags mail both pages (stags affixed to their page please) to us </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> and we'll send you a digital gift certificate for $25 to use on jilldraper.com</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The labels can be from any JDMS yarn and may have been purchased anywhere. For obvious reasons all 20 stags need to be the actual piece of the label, not a copy and must be attached to the page provided. Within 30 days of receiving your completed pages you'll receive a digital gift certificate to use on<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/jilldrapermakesstuff?ref=hdr_shop_menu" target="_blank"> jilldraper.com</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
It's your yarn and you can do whatever you want with it but I hope this is an incentive to <b>use</b> the yarn you have in your stash. I plan on running this program for a while so please don't feel like you need to rush to your craft room & cut the labels off yarn you aren't using yet. I like to think JDMS yarn is pretty great in the skein but it really doesn't reach its full potential until it's been made into fabric.<br />
<br />
I have a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/jill-draper-makes-stuff---and-so-do-i" target="_blank">Ravelry group</a> and I'd love to see what your making with the yarn or answer any questions you may have about this new program.<br />
<br />
I hope Spring is just dreary enough to help you stay inside to finish any WIPs, for me that means adding pockets to <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/JillDMakesStuff/rockwell-stripe" target="_blank">this</a> languishing Rockwell sweater. Pocket linings are the only thing missing, and if you went to Stitches West, yes, I wore this with pocket 'holes' and all.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv6ef5Q3rKTXv1KyuX90Xmfd6mSnFvP-AO4jIx-WSJrpBdyD3IkCTCrVE-wLh9leTFDSM9MvuaLQzzuu8S1szN_KaRg2ZND3jvAixVvvPX1rcm2ss6c7vwWk0bTzGbElNZRcBvHrxHOtE/s1600/Screenshot+2015-04-10+09.39.23.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv6ef5Q3rKTXv1KyuX90Xmfd6mSnFvP-AO4jIx-WSJrpBdyD3IkCTCrVE-wLh9leTFDSM9MvuaLQzzuu8S1szN_KaRg2ZND3jvAixVvvPX1rcm2ss6c7vwWk0bTzGbElNZRcBvHrxHOtE/s1600/Screenshot+2015-04-10+09.39.23.png" height="320" width="318" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Jill Draper Makes Stuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274510976339175945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716430393294349663.post-74248713248704103392015-01-23T13:27:00.001-05:002015-01-23T13:27:33.291-05:00New Year, New Yarn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/219291141/rifton-spun-to-stripe-580yds530m?ref=shop_home_feat_4" target="_blank"><img alt="https://www.etsy.com/listing/219291141/rifton-spun-to-stripe-580yds530m?ref=shop_home_feat_4" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4irI4dkTtumC2KyPMyrglbWEpowGEoiTxM9oQLdwIqdzFpKRpIIxum3aWlmIz-TmxztlqC88Ta-xwpqyz2FfbsoJVYgLmsSO097hgk7WBLb0S47iUG-bh_KuYTEk_uxjAKQ2Z8IYTLgg/s1600/close_close.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span id="goog_1941618676">One of the best things about this job is the ability to make my own yarny daydreams come true. This doesn't come without a ton of work, sometimes a little heartbreak and the help of some amazing collaborators. I'm so happy to share the story of one of my fibery dreams come true.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span id="goog_1941618676">The first new Jill Draper Makes Stuff yarn of 2015, is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/jill-draper-makes-stuff-rifton" target="_blank">Rifton</a> and it has been a long time in the making.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiaMUEI1naCP_c-If5HNuVBqUA3iptm-yS469xi9lBoMzmt7F4pwbSIwaH8P66wfb0FhNCVT4PJ3Y6kUGad2rNVWCkr_LIVOf6mTtbOsNSPYipqmA3YcIm7j0Cpe7RuGTAZ03YdHr2W_w/s1600/rifton_bobbins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiaMUEI1naCP_c-If5HNuVBqUA3iptm-yS469xi9lBoMzmt7F4pwbSIwaH8P66wfb0FhNCVT4PJ3Y6kUGad2rNVWCkr_LIVOf6mTtbOsNSPYipqmA3YcIm7j0Cpe7RuGTAZ03YdHr2W_w/s1600/rifton_bobbins.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span id="goog_1941618676"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/219291141/rifton-spun-to-stripe-580yds530m?ref=shop_home_feat_4" target="_blank">Rifton</a> started out like most of my yarns, with me dreaming of an imaginary yarn that would be perfect for an also at the moment imaginary project. I love the self-striping & ombré yarns but felt there was something that I could do differently. I love naturally colored wool, the number of shades it comes in will never ever cease to awe me! I wondered how it would look if a dyer (that's me) and the sheep truly collaborated on a yarn. </span>To that end I decided to make a spun to stripe yarn that used dyed in the wool by me brights & blended those with natural undyed sheep shades.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMaMS3pLtu7Tc6EeKxkk8acQ1yUwmMwKgItXIoBBP8d8f3ZzlYHqqJMVW24F9-f67sQ5e3sbM9NGepjhYRi4GZwYQT7gD_LcXq3ra-LMcNAbZ1Qw0CI4C_42A_1fAOcSpkvqPke62A1JA/s1600/laury.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMaMS3pLtu7Tc6EeKxkk8acQ1yUwmMwKgItXIoBBP8d8f3ZzlYHqqJMVW24F9-f67sQ5e3sbM9NGepjhYRi4GZwYQT7gD_LcXq3ra-LMcNAbZ1Qw0CI4C_42A_1fAOcSpkvqPke62A1JA/s1600/laury.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'm lucky enough to have found great collaborators in <a href="http://www.spinnery.com/" target="_blank">Green Mountain Spinnery</a>. Besides having a business model I love, they are a worker owned co-op, they are easy to work with and willing to try almost any crazy idea I can cook up. I spent a day there, working & laughing alternatively. Maureen & I dumped wool into the carder under the watchful eye of Laurie, who was in charge of running the machine, reminding me to watch my fingers and providing levity at every opportunity. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1YBKlM9z_u91l5VBTkmDLeytbNQLYexln5Dl5Btq5hs4an7nKxdzfoOfIBPSabbcR_HdfPPk-_yn0fXw1rr3L1euVkRhzIPx_G1YgUMshXl1Kq44P19w5oN2G0yucK2THkLv0cFte40/s1600/rifton_unsteamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1YBKlM9z_u91l5VBTkmDLeytbNQLYexln5Dl5Btq5hs4an7nKxdzfoOfIBPSabbcR_HdfPPk-_yn0fXw1rr3L1euVkRhzIPx_G1YgUMshXl1Kq44P19w5oN2G0yucK2THkLv0cFte40/s1600/rifton_unsteamed.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">One thing you will notice when you visit Green Mountain, or if you ever get the chance to work with them is how into making yarn everyone is. Everyone there cares about what they are producing, the farms raising the animals, the knitters and crocheters who will use the final product and I think it is obvious in the yarn the produce.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3PmnlPiD-jNvklvvv-xlhEuSe43wS6nUCX66BQecRzGoUKK-WCmMftzP_uFExUWpv5oWq4X3hyphenhyphenW2-8pZ_pn8y74gyszXboc2p3MdSXpssU5txChvc9Hf8V9ld1mC6-v5Df5TG9pr1tE/s1600/rifton_lineup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3PmnlPiD-jNvklvvv-xlhEuSe43wS6nUCX66BQecRzGoUKK-WCmMftzP_uFExUWpv5oWq4X3hyphenhyphenW2-8pZ_pn8y74gyszXboc2p3MdSXpssU5txChvc9Hf8V9ld1mC6-v5Df5TG9pr1tE/s1600/rifton_lineup.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We only made two colorways of Rifton for this small experimental run. I called them Winter & Autumn, for reasons I don't think I need to explain. Because of the experimental nature of this run, there are skeins of many different lengths. Each skein is labeled with its yardage & priced accordingly. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The final <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/jilldrapermakesstuff?ref=hdr_shop_menu" target="_blank">shop update</a> of this run of Rifton will be this weekend. I could not be more pleased about the reception it has received. It is something I have had in my head for a while and hoped other people would be as excited for this as I am. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1N1KzSCA4oUipfIL0f42BEevimL-R2cPNVPGpRbyn9iuD2AmgnkGONOEnYfekyC48sBKuIVGN8COOd6S2pNbqrwaXR5yHric-Aq2Ae5zfeKHEw-W7yn_T4lsk03l44tit_X84Kr4OPo/s1600/new_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1N1KzSCA4oUipfIL0f42BEevimL-R2cPNVPGpRbyn9iuD2AmgnkGONOEnYfekyC48sBKuIVGN8COOd6S2pNbqrwaXR5yHric-Aq2Ae5zfeKHEw-W7yn_T4lsk03l44tit_X84Kr4OPo/s1600/new_1.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9iTOd_-ci0Igi-xK0Nc6HNK2YSx2WHUl4swRzmVKi5hJj-ZHT9jwvoy6vif7vaRrpy49b-vHQiEIoo0EAb_MxF-22-MbcNg3lSwBuHPElnYqckT7gTLFh6syEVRcM-KYJpJpSzAEk8U/s1600/rifton_autumn_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9iTOd_-ci0Igi-xK0Nc6HNK2YSx2WHUl4swRzmVKi5hJj-ZHT9jwvoy6vif7vaRrpy49b-vHQiEIoo0EAb_MxF-22-MbcNg3lSwBuHPElnYqckT7gTLFh6syEVRcM-KYJpJpSzAEk8U/s1600/rifton_autumn_3.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Though we have almost reached the end of this first batch of Rifton I think I can close with a sort of clichéd year book quote and let you know not to worry, this is only the end of the beginning.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSc0I2d5rMz7nPCKTXekEgYG6xIPkJ4UeOtP53kkd1nsbu7D4qlheEW7il6y_hrEWJpFnpTtTs8eI1tOgEGIFRFb8PXA-I_06Ji9JxwMkPFIM_H4oTXL9_d91TH1VM_A2vziE-b5JUxug/s1600/knit_up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSc0I2d5rMz7nPCKTXekEgYG6xIPkJ4UeOtP53kkd1nsbu7D4qlheEW7il6y_hrEWJpFnpTtTs8eI1tOgEGIFRFb8PXA-I_06Ji9JxwMkPFIM_H4oTXL9_d91TH1VM_A2vziE-b5JUxug/s1600/knit_up.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Jill Draper Makes Stuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274510976339175945noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716430393294349663.post-6583867209828542842014-09-08T11:46:00.002-04:002014-09-08T11:46:53.172-04:00Falling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6GaD1ueiCBoTAis-fTjwjv0-Bvan7fjsV2RO3vqNVr69DKlcxGDG95r9t4FmPF1TPlAyYciZ8MaMWJ9oqDZw816XOtogM15bGskIuyJ-G8QA4CcMXnWH_rwFilROVK5259ehKMDiRds/s1600/rockwell_rainbox.jpg" height="320" width="320" /> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I can hardly believe Fall and maybe more importantly Fiber Fest season are just around the corner! I'll be updating the shops lots of the next few weeks. The first big update is for a yarn I really love and think is pretty special, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/jilldrapermakesstuff?section_id=13517346&ref=shopsection_leftnav_5" target="_blank">Rockwell</a>. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/jilldrapermakesstuff?section_id=13517346&ref=shopsection_leftnav_5" target="_blank">Rockwell</a> is a marl yarn. What that means is the yarn is spun with plies of different colors to give a marled effect to the finished project. The plies can be anything to qualify as a marl, but in the case of <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/jilldrapermakesstuff?section_id=13517346&ref=shopsection_leftnav_5" target="_blank">Rockwell</a> we use 3 naturally colored shades of wool. I work with local farmers, collect colored fleeces and then the people at <a href="http://www.spinnery.com/" target="_blank">Green Mountain Spinnery</a> & I sort the fleeces by color, from lightest to darkest. We even out the yields and they spin three different shades that we refer to as light, medium and dark. Each shade is really made up of dozen of colors from the many shades of fleeces. The end result is what you see in the skeins of Naturemade.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdCH6vtHgbgq_HBeqI4vrHx1Ph1ZIiY8LE3MfZKlRF5GuYtn8INsAmcRAitWUYhUDKRCWal6zd8Mu8s5xz2UvRRJW0vYnLwNqGuu4ODCZVJNQksNiGH2z3HdPdaOMGbonNt3cflw8XTC4/s1600/rockwell_naturemade_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdCH6vtHgbgq_HBeqI4vrHx1Ph1ZIiY8LE3MfZKlRF5GuYtn8INsAmcRAitWUYhUDKRCWal6zd8Mu8s5xz2UvRRJW0vYnLwNqGuu4ODCZVJNQksNiGH2z3HdPdaOMGbonNt3cflw8XTC4/s1600/rockwell_naturemade_1.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I then overdye some of the skeins to make the rainbow of shades you see at the top of this post. I love this yarn because it allows for an "even" variegation. The resulting projects have a lot of depth without dissolving stitch patterns the way multicolors can.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1HiUeQ54ELu8-t9Lfr-jnhJ55Sd9Gv94iaY0xEgvCXQf7AuC5xOJLLKlw8XmxznVCTW8GebTqG0NdLECW6rxlI5jSt81a5VNrS7STBMT-fHOA4VoeQUmPTmLTLiIcUVemxyJ9wmEPQk/s1600/marled_granny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1HiUeQ54ELu8-t9Lfr-jnhJ55Sd9Gv94iaY0xEgvCXQf7AuC5xOJLLKlw8XmxznVCTW8GebTqG0NdLECW6rxlI5jSt81a5VNrS7STBMT-fHOA4VoeQUmPTmLTLiIcUVemxyJ9wmEPQk/s1600/marled_granny.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTiNKIM0bKdTzjY7ltR46RcAv0c6CWy6kMWqWfEuBqNJr-ACTDG3Dcnck5Zv_q9UXYgUqWZ7vTqr5oj5ZG1Ua2oaJV7k_9Wp2gAiNnBBNMCIPbFd-HJ6CxfEZW3TdMY9jo8PMi_ET0F1k/s1600/marl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTiNKIM0bKdTzjY7ltR46RcAv0c6CWy6kMWqWfEuBqNJr-ACTDG3Dcnck5Zv_q9UXYgUqWZ7vTqr5oj5ZG1Ua2oaJV7k_9Wp2gAiNnBBNMCIPbFd-HJ6CxfEZW3TdMY9jo8PMi_ET0F1k/s1600/marl.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/jilldrapermakesstuff?section_id=13517346&ref=shopsection_leftnav_5" target="_blank">Rockwell</a> is great for giving depth to stockinette stitch as well as adding some interest to cabled or textured stitches. I'm making my Rhinebeck Sweater out of <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/jilldrapermakesstuff?section_id=13517346&ref=shopsection_leftnav_5" target="_blank">Rockwell</a> and truly loving every second of it. You can check out my progress on <a href="http://instagram.com/jillmakesstuff" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/jilldrapermakesstuff?section_id=13517346&ref=shopsection_leftnav_5" target="_blank">Rockwell</a> uses all New England wool and is spun in Vermont which makes me really proud of its environmental footprint.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9MUbZe6v0IDQedxobAvzRlAc9xnPXM-2xS9H9K8gf-Ak5W3PipafsIIs28asYXYXRF3TD1gi3_332ntFgdxM-uDfPWlQ7uSZ6YcOa5zY5Oa_um_cP4IvbTJrJ4UBuB7dtzab-ohfnFTE/s1600/fancy-tiger-jill-draper-cal-patch-rhinebeck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9MUbZe6v0IDQedxobAvzRlAc9xnPXM-2xS9H9K8gf-Ak5W3PipafsIIs28asYXYXRF3TD1gi3_332ntFgdxM-uDfPWlQ7uSZ6YcOa5zY5Oa_um_cP4IvbTJrJ4UBuB7dtzab-ohfnFTE/s1600/fancy-tiger-jill-draper-cal-patch-rhinebeck.jpg" height="255" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I'm wearing an easy granny square poncho made out of Rockwell in this picture with <a href="http://hodgepodgefarm.net/" target="_blank">Cal Patch</a> & the ladies of <a href="http://www.fancytigercrafts.com/blog" target="_blank">Fancy Tiger Crafts</a> from Rhinebeck last year. I realized this may be the only picture of the poncho (how'd that happen?!) so I'll make sure to get some new shots this year!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
You can see some of what others have made with Rockwell on <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/jill-draper-makes-stuff-rockwell/projects" target="_blank">Ravelry</a>.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Have you ever used a marled yarn? What do you think the perfect project for Rockwell would be?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Jill Draper Makes Stuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274510976339175945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716430393294349663.post-86622049166796576442014-08-14T09:38:00.000-04:002014-08-14T09:38:04.751-04:00Summer wanes, wool waxes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQV2zt0srIfQOQxIinh7dbaQiXGsNUTbFA7nZ3ZTSQiBdN2ExcQvkYQL_71s1pGJOOVT_l68GTXHt2wPiaZ_N2StNp-9aPHmSafbcw-u-4wsc7qIBJtD0QgkpH6FscIP2DQiezFuQsp9o/s1600/rambo_babe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQV2zt0srIfQOQxIinh7dbaQiXGsNUTbFA7nZ3ZTSQiBdN2ExcQvkYQL_71s1pGJOOVT_l68GTXHt2wPiaZ_N2StNp-9aPHmSafbcw-u-4wsc7qIBJtD0QgkpH6FscIP2DQiezFuQsp9o/s1600/rambo_babe.jpg" height="290" width="320" /></a></div>
It seems impossible that Labor day is only a few short weeks away which means cooler, shorter day are on the horizon. I woke up this morning to the first really cold morning air. Which is bittersweet, always. I'll miss the long Summer evenings, grilling and those tomatoes from the garden I've been feasting on. But I'm looking forward to a super busy, fun Fall and of course sweater weather!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5Xi0RRW7RSy18vDd2NCFU_nFuzmWBlG7HLfuluM5afjxwhXWty9dFMLrve9aEM9gz7Tt8qAVwZ6z4uK6InmZcDIloCUfH-ciCmqaAzx0vCnnyEUskc7q-woY3SqT4YO-F_iw9Obz9_U/s1600/vertices_sect3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5Xi0RRW7RSy18vDd2NCFU_nFuzmWBlG7HLfuluM5afjxwhXWty9dFMLrve9aEM9gz7Tt8qAVwZ6z4uK6InmZcDIloCUfH-ciCmqaAzx0vCnnyEUskc7q-woY3SqT4YO-F_iw9Obz9_U/s1600/vertices_sect3.jpg" height="320" width="312" /></a></div>
My big summer knit has been <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/vertices-unite" target="_blank">Vertices Unite</a> made with almost all the bases from my line. You can read all the specific details on my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/JillDMakesStuff/vertices-unite" target="_blank">Ravelry project page.</a> I'd finished the knitting a while back but I made the large version (and even larger because I used US6s to accommodate some sportweight inclusions) so it just got too big & hot to have on my lap in the humid mid-Summer heat. Now that it has cooled a bit I've been slowly finishing the I-cord bind off. I love the look of I-cord edging but it is quite slow going. I use a DPN for I-cord bind offs, I find it SO much easier to maneuver a short DPN with some much moving back & forth of stitches.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHMvHqawYF38q_5jJtZM5Z8CcoBnOYkYyPaKzvM7GmYk2yyCECM01P8pypCpdIUz0wsFb2lDdbGP3Bhwc3LLzWisTYZY4aeNegnH_e4_Ypj89Ox3BNuRR7YaIRAL_KfKvndlMOiMPyJKM/s1600/fall_mohonk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHMvHqawYF38q_5jJtZM5Z8CcoBnOYkYyPaKzvM7GmYk2yyCECM01P8pypCpdIUz0wsFb2lDdbGP3Bhwc3LLzWisTYZY4aeNegnH_e4_Ypj89Ox3BNuRR7YaIRAL_KfKvndlMOiMPyJKM/s1600/fall_mohonk.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
I've been busy in the dye studio, you WOULD NOT believe the quantity of yarn here. It is truly staggering. I've amped up production on a few of the favorites so hopefully the stocks will last longer, but that being said the yarn that uses local wool has a finite amount every year. Because I work with farms directly for some of the bases once we've gone through this year's shearing, there just isn't any more wool until the following year. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_C04sLItHgl0Hf95HkMItfrKD7ENh0-pfdIsuKHQX8IeOMKRVtbatERXnlro3o3pQw6Jzo6G-XB7oUldXXRAnhYgN9teT0172xlLJPw09h1UI2UVkt09WlwB0j9D_DYv0GuEH5KEoNI/s1600/empire_1_14_color3_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_C04sLItHgl0Hf95HkMItfrKD7ENh0-pfdIsuKHQX8IeOMKRVtbatERXnlro3o3pQw6Jzo6G-XB7oUldXXRAnhYgN9teT0172xlLJPw09h1UI2UVkt09WlwB0j9D_DYv0GuEH5KEoNI/s1600/empire_1_14_color3_3.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/jill-draper-makes-stuff-empire" target="_blank">Empire</a> is about to make it's reappearance and I know that when it ran out last year I heard from a bunch of you disappointed not to get your hands on some. I use a local flock of Rambouillet, to which, this year we have added a large quantity of western grown wool to hopefully meet demand. I'll be adding it in batches to my shop over the next few months & it will also be showing up at shops across the US and one in Canada.<br />
<br />
Which shops you ask? Well, I have a handy list <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/jill-draper-makes-stuff---and-so-do-i/pages/Empire-FAQs" target="_blank">here</a>. This yarn is not at these shops yet but if one of these LYSs is your LYS you can keep your eyes peeled for it in September.<br />
<br />
That's most of the news for now. This Fall & Winter will bring lots of new patterns, kits and even a yarn or two. I'm so excited to start sharing all this stuff with you guys, but first. I have a few more tomato sandwiches to eat.<br />
<br />
Don't forget about my <a href="http://jilldraperblogs.blogspot.com/2014/07/empire-state-of-mind.html" target="_blank">Instagram contest</a>! There are some great entries already & I can't wait to see even more! Did I mention there are $100 JDMS gift certificates for the winners? There are!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Jill Draper Makes Stuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274510976339175945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716430393294349663.post-50387801654649170362014-07-17T17:14:00.001-04:002014-07-23T12:24:26.681-04:00Empire state of mind<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It has been a hot & humid start to Summer here in the Hudson Valley. I've been trying to squeeze in gardening & grilling all while doing tons of prep for Fall. You wouldn't believe (or maybe you would) how much behind the scenes work goes into this yarn line. I'm so excited about a couple brand new things I'll be releasing, but you'll have to wait just a little bit longer for those.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk32BcnRcIjkUMc-QLbaHA77C21nHKc_f4opdQ2H4bpSyu1JJWFOrY15h5SlNRbz_yBEPTsHt1k405yOX0N3JadY_fey0zUOmJFyx9TlbENmC8BOKB3ovfhVXvaej44WL4RKyeLt6vkdE/s1600/J_T_Big_Mike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk32BcnRcIjkUMc-QLbaHA77C21nHKc_f4opdQ2H4bpSyu1JJWFOrY15h5SlNRbz_yBEPTsHt1k405yOX0N3JadY_fey0zUOmJFyx9TlbENmC8BOKB3ovfhVXvaej44WL4RKyeLt6vkdE/s1600/J_T_Big_Mike.jpg" height="307" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A couple weeks ago I dropped the last of this year's Rambouillet fleece off at <a href="http://www.spinnery.com/" target="_blank">Green Mountain Spinnery</a> for them to work their magic on & turn it into <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/jill-draper-makes-stuff-empire" target="_blank">Empire</a>. Empire is made with Rambouillet wool from a local flock in Albany county as well as some from out West - only because we've exceeded the output of the family farm I've been using! Empire is aran weight & put up in giant hanks of 1280yds, enough for a sweater in many cases and is also standard sized skeins of ~4oz 213 yds.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BARy_9CWsZplk2grssi9JujRcaQWB0LurhZcjVdiwCy7Y9ujLKlP_sDNq8tzbGcs_8Gs3dOJnzSFQ6FpcJ01Fe6LwjnKxIhnC1j1DIcD0DPQluAwBY7PmF3rekkV72TbMAWrYj_QG58/s1600/empire_2012_17_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BARy_9CWsZplk2grssi9JujRcaQWB0LurhZcjVdiwCy7Y9ujLKlP_sDNq8tzbGcs_8Gs3dOJnzSFQ6FpcJ01Fe6LwjnKxIhnC1j1DIcD0DPQluAwBY7PmF3rekkV72TbMAWrYj_QG58/s1600/empire_2012_17_a.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">You can read about my start in dyeing, Empire & a bit about the farm that raises the sheep in <a href="http://ysolda.com/" target="_blank">Ysolda</a>'s book <a href="http://ysolda.com/books/the-rhinebeck-sweater" target="_blank">The Rhinebeck Sweater</a>. Also included is the fab pattern <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/artichoke-french" target="_blank">Artichoke French</a> from <a href="http://www.nelkindesigns.com/index.cfm/page/index.htm" target="_blank">Laura Nelkin</a>.</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZdUpAV0MmQSFP3K4V3HqB6hkI6eCuCem-i-ca7VPEQ4BeZhYm26ym4JxWEuCzAu1X7_V5RZ3_oZWitIE846Tue43SBZbPNtNry3yfRKwIGgHZfJE5mWA6LlSOA90lmgQBFunY5DtUdoc/s1600/a3761a2fe77032286a09f4317b6426a4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZdUpAV0MmQSFP3K4V3HqB6hkI6eCuCem-i-ca7VPEQ4BeZhYm26ym4JxWEuCzAu1X7_V5RZ3_oZWitIE846Tue43SBZbPNtNry3yfRKwIGgHZfJE5mWA6LlSOA90lmgQBFunY5DtUdoc/s1600/a3761a2fe77032286a09f4317b6426a4.jpg" height="320" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anna from <a href="http://www.toltyarnandwool.com/" target="_blank">Tolt Yarn & Wool</a> with her Empire last year</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggesLCL7dMzqz9k9c0Qpi2BJWBDWGnzThMHpi6R4TbsjqBo2RVPglDBa7lZ-byluHamIhri8NfAh3BmwB817hWfwWhuSK1sB0bLChcGW-liwdAUG771_tcohXZL6S6ntolVJICpKmjSL0/s1600/rhinebeck+sweater-123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggesLCL7dMzqz9k9c0Qpi2BJWBDWGnzThMHpi6R4TbsjqBo2RVPglDBa7lZ-byluHamIhri8NfAh3BmwB817hWfwWhuSK1sB0bLChcGW-liwdAUG771_tcohXZL6S6ntolVJICpKmjSL0/s1600/rhinebeck+sweater-123.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laura & I both wearing (and holding!) Empire shot by Ysolda</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There is just something about Empire that makes it quite photogenic & fun to hug, <a href="http://knittersreview.com/article_yarn.asp?article=/review/product/121011_a.asp" target="_blank">some</a> even tend to treat it a bit like a "yarn baby"... </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I love seeing what people do with their Empires both before they get used & after, I've also been loving Instagram lately. It is a fun way to share pictures & see little snippets of people's lives.</span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So, I was thinking how about a little Instagram contest?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's super simple:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">* Post a pic of your Empire skein, your finished Empire project or if you haven't gotten you hands on Empire yet maybe the 'empty space' Empire would fill</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">* Please use the hashtag #jdmsempirestateofmind so I can find all the beautiful pictures!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>ETA: I added JDMS to the front of the hashtag because I should have realized that lots of JayZ fans would already be using #empirestateofmind, but I didn't :) if you @jillmakesstuff I'll be sure to see it!</b> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">* That's it really it, be funny, be creative, be yourself! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Oh, I almost forgot...you are probably wondering what you will get for sharing & tagging your lovely pictures? I've wrangled a few impartial judges with widely different tastes & they will each pick 1 picture to win a $100 gift certificate for Jill Draper Makes Stuff Yarn which you can redeem online or at a fiber fest that I'm vending at. The contest will run from now until Labor Day, so you have plenty of time to play with pictures. There's no limit to how many you can enter, just start shooting!</span>Jill Draper Makes Stuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274510976339175945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716430393294349663.post-63254887369136759502014-03-05T19:00:00.000-05:002014-03-13T11:44:04.496-04:00Plotting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi77RuRzaaXwWUQFceB0gOGJMgT-yF4pwnS3ByEu7YVVmiKSS_YiYb3VaGbIQrwD50Zc-XfkTvfYIz52OwAzOIVxsSTURX0Je0k_NQI82kszA7T8wsgYdHq-QR7L4Eo1RKS2pYQ-IylJCo/s1600/baby_tomato_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi77RuRzaaXwWUQFceB0gOGJMgT-yF4pwnS3ByEu7YVVmiKSS_YiYb3VaGbIQrwD50Zc-XfkTvfYIz52OwAzOIVxsSTURX0Je0k_NQI82kszA7T8wsgYdHq-QR7L4Eo1RKS2pYQ-IylJCo/s1600/baby_tomato_1.jpg" height="287" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I see so many metaphors between gardening & knitting. Maybe it is because both things occupy a fair amount of my brain space or maybe there is a true correlation.<br />
<br />
The way I see it gardening & knitting both take a great deal of care & time for an end result that on the surface isn't so terribly different from what you could "just get at the store". Neither is an inexpensive or quick-resulted. I think the slowness of the process might be what I enjoy best about both. I love eating fresh tomatoes as much as wearing a wool sweater in February but I equally love sitting in warm dirt in May or feeling yards of wool slipping through my fingers as I knit.<br />
Both practices slow me down, give my fingers a task, allowing my mind to wander to the quiet, dark spots in the back.<br />
<br />
I've been thinking more about gardening as the days lengthen slowly and the seed catalogs pile up on the chair by the fireplace. I think the whole Northeast is collectively willing Spring to arrive. I hope it works.<br />
<br />
I saw a post on Facebook from my local farmer's market about an <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/kingston-ymca-farm-project--2" target="_blank">indiegogo</a> campaign for a community education garden at the local YMCA. I've been thinking about it ever since. I live in a city, not a big city like New York but a place where the majority of residents are apartment dwellers without any green space of their own. I think it is so amazing for children to get the chance to grow vegetables, dig in the dirt and see the literal fruits of their labor. Besides the time spent outside & the healthier eating it promotes, it is just an awesome feeling to grow something.<br />
<br />
I knew that I wanted to donate to the campaign and then I had an idea sparked in part by a great discussion going on in my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/jill-draper-makes-stuff---and-so-do-i" target="_blank">Ravelry group</a> about what they (and you too if you want to join the discussion) want from me. I heard there and have heard many other times that people would love the chance to custom order <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/jill-draper-makes-stuff-empire" target="_blank">Empire</a> colors. Well, really all the bases, but let's stick to Empire for a moment...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/jill-draper-makes-stuff---and-so-do-i/2870318/1-25" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/jill-draper-makes-stuff---and-so-do-i/2870318/1-25" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvH3fhSVDOA4cDSNdWA3hu6hxF5IfSUzsbfhpv7JkVKKb1Txd9sJFXuW3JPVyv3poSmLAJ99TADkn33HSq3OicvbjrW_EiG-M9LHzxVfu1RK_nCdWEbEmNgzzOWbxldTmupl5sfeQxpbQ/s1600/empire_b&w.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I decided to list a really limited number of <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/jill-draper-makes-stuff---and-so-do-i/2870318/1-25" target="_blank">custom color Empire hanks</a>. I'm releasing just a few at a time over the next 4 weeks, I'll release them at different times of the day and days of the week with no announcement until they go up. I think this is the fair way to give everyone a chance. The custom colors will be an additional $15/hank and all of that will go to the Kingston YMCA Farm's indiegogo campaign. I may open custom colors up again later in the year but if I do they will be more expensive than this and without the warm fuzzy feeling you'll get from doing good for some local kids.<br />
<br />
If you aren't interested in Empire custom colors, you could just donate <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/kingston-ymca-farm-project--2" target="_blank">directly to the campaign</a> if you still want a good deed done.<br />
<br />
Now, the sheep are still wearing their coats so delivery of the yarn won't be until late Summer but by purchasing one of these custom colors you'll be getting the very first Empires of the season, these will be the very first out of the dyepots! You can pick any semisolid shade from my line, for the closest match I suggest using Empire or Mohonk colors. When you purchase a skein you do not need to know what color you want it to be, yet. If you know for sure which color you'd like, feel free to add a note to your order.<br />
<br />
Thanks for helping me plant seeds, both literally and metaphorically this time.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Jill Draper Makes Stuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274510976339175945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716430393294349663.post-41661215384173172552014-02-26T12:24:00.001-05:002014-02-26T12:24:12.022-05:00Our wool could be your sweater...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwX_2JTpDkUB7YusNPCu-x8A4jVnRPZNAd9TWHQzw8sRBshxFDwBFUqMLFi2iYKlxsQgo1piJr96_tXdMG4hNhku_N659nxxzxdrA6-mPOkSP7SVh0p1fN2CxXFzShNre2F7EzLKj5b3o/s1600/flock_shot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwX_2JTpDkUB7YusNPCu-x8A4jVnRPZNAd9TWHQzw8sRBshxFDwBFUqMLFi2iYKlxsQgo1piJr96_tXdMG4hNhku_N659nxxzxdrA6-mPOkSP7SVh0p1fN2CxXFzShNre2F7EzLKj5b3o/s1600/flock_shot.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">...silk longjohns, smart wool socks, handknit wool socks, Carhartt overalls, cotton thermal, wool & angora sweater, wool sweater, quilted vest, handknit wool hat...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">No, that is not a list of all the Winter gear I own, just what I put on yesterday am before heading to shearing at <a href="http://www.catskill-merino.com/" target="_blank">Catskill Merino</a>. It was a really fun & inspiring day but, man, was it cold!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYgR251hEhnjvDCpTi6QyIydvwNPfNAsgFHd3hoNEUegFUlj3Usrj6RGdTJ7QM8Ln8i-O1jKoMCnYD76vD7_Z__Arebco180B6wmBKECwXbOjqu3vjdPztDZ1Tay2WWI_KDLQcvAi9rY/s1600/me_eugene.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibYgR251hEhnjvDCpTi6QyIydvwNPfNAsgFHd3hoNEUegFUlj3Usrj6RGdTJ7QM8Ln8i-O1jKoMCnYD76vD7_Z__Arebco180B6wmBKECwXbOjqu3vjdPztDZ1Tay2WWI_KDLQcvAi9rY/s1600/me_eugene.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Eugene & I were introduced by the fine folks at <a href="http://www.spinnery.com/" target="_blank">Green Mountain Spinnery</a> a couple years ago when I was on the hunt for more locally grown wool and I have been using his crossbred flock for <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/jilldrapermakesstuff?section_id=12577865&ref=shopsection_leftnav_3" target="_blank">Mohonk</a> ever since. If you followed along with <a href="http://www.knittersreview.com/default.asp" target="_blank">Clara Parkes</a>' Great White Bale you might recognize Eugene...</span> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA2a9EPQ65G6F0Y5VuA5DN0i1DO0B6ofvzUNONjfYz3sccrCFKfNXM-kEU-fXLYjG4srbsvpUGjFHDUnY1yKurY3lh5pLxukEaezzfXr0yBtU9jkPoiscbUMPULlM5kalg-s0_qvinlFA/s1600/lock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA2a9EPQ65G6F0Y5VuA5DN0i1DO0B6ofvzUNONjfYz3sccrCFKfNXM-kEU-fXLYjG4srbsvpUGjFHDUnY1yKurY3lh5pLxukEaezzfXr0yBtU9jkPoiscbUMPULlM5kalg-s0_qvinlFA/s1600/lock.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This is a lock of the wool palmed from one of the MANY huge bags packed to the top with some of the most gorgeous fiber I have laid eyes on. I have Mohonk spun into a soft & spongy 2-ply sportweight, which I think takes best advantage of its squishy crimp and almost velvet-y texture.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/triad-2" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/triad-2" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTfk49g3qZnwj9JoyUhm4guJmwSg-nKGlz8fKuOtOXSXgkw7Bez7j1Xco4qjEUXeY3eJiLtSCWUrVH9cBBW0ar_yTqflhYokP9-EjF-9J6gWcLaxHzLKpoFYG8QG_FXsPtcXcB39Xtixc/s1600/triad_full_medium2.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Triad - made with Mohonk</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJdpX8JqxhLXEAg1ydNAkSMN3WhikhF_MnD7mymXe5uxDEqFf5PVUDFzERw4Ie0rSeJh9tFjPyTJyewrB82JmSecU3RV_fbtxRT96gGKG1nIQ2uUQk314ivguvOuVSXgw2tp-IZG9fzA/s1600/each_stitch_elbow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSJdpX8JqxhLXEAg1ydNAkSMN3WhikhF_MnD7mymXe5uxDEqFf5PVUDFzERw4Ie0rSeJh9tFjPyTJyewrB82JmSecU3RV_fbtxRT96gGKG1nIQ2uUQk314ivguvOuVSXgw2tp-IZG9fzA/s1600/each_stitch_elbow.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Each Stitch sweater made with Mohonk</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I realize to most people the thought of spending a totally frigid day outside standing in poo might not have qualified as one of the most inspirational days. But to me it was. I <b>love</b> being able to spend time with some of the people who raise the wool I use to make my yarn. It warms the depths of my soul to see people shearing at lightening speed with incredible care. I am so proud to play a tiny part in keeping this cycle of growing/shearing/spinning/making whirring along. It makes me humble and awestruck to think of these creatures giving up their coats on a cold February morning so someone can wrap themselves in cozy yarn in September.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3QFLIT2ewl8DOQFMMMcX7uKrqH7PXuY2oTHaKywuhW-wsYWtjK86-h68IBdNQo26AnZ4yfSTX0SDO94yRFgyPRvA8bPtf-a2Z754ugb_Kz-MmbTvuf-7utWZjLHIRbcAFqPjrJPwijs/s1600/shearing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju3QFLIT2ewl8DOQFMMMcX7uKrqH7PXuY2oTHaKywuhW-wsYWtjK86-h68IBdNQo26AnZ4yfSTX0SDO94yRFgyPRvA8bPtf-a2Z754ugb_Kz-MmbTvuf-7utWZjLHIRbcAFqPjrJPwijs/s1600/shearing.jpg" height="320" width="217" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Driving home from Goshen all I could think about was how privileged I am to be a single step in the chain of making. I send a partially finished product out into the world and YOU turn it into the thing it was meant to be. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgto6GljMuJFw6SU0p_Pobeov8Gqn5s56-CuY5AvC_qq-C-TLM3NhD9VnZOPYA-Jbeg5hBuE6hqATSyWQwuEGay9rjkkeDr0MH15l9cDRYhGOgF68eP7wzSmuHsMNJ1A1oyVCrPi3tw-QE/s1600/corrie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgto6GljMuJFw6SU0p_Pobeov8Gqn5s56-CuY5AvC_qq-C-TLM3NhD9VnZOPYA-Jbeg5hBuE6hqATSyWQwuEGay9rjkkeDr0MH15l9cDRYhGOgF68eP7wzSmuHsMNJ1A1oyVCrPi3tw-QE/s1600/corrie.jpg" height="294" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The yarn
is so deeply special to me, knowing, liking and respecting so many of
the people involved with the processes makes it feel so close to home
& so right. </span>Knowing the animal participants are well cared for & healthy means the conscientiousness that goes into knitting, weaving or crocheting has its start waaaay back at the very beginning of the process for JDMS yarn.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXL1coduR-e1YdO1wuIlJer4yPvn4VDG0-OWeh0qCg-NwfzyBO22wQfNDPieoRBBglHgT_9KH5oXhTIB-9-oTPoslx2aWPL4C-nNNNvpgoonhCtdnNaXhLF8UujOjOeXXaRbyj5iIuYg/s1600/skirting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEXL1coduR-e1YdO1wuIlJer4yPvn4VDG0-OWeh0qCg-NwfzyBO22wQfNDPieoRBBglHgT_9KH5oXhTIB-9-oTPoslx2aWPL4C-nNNNvpgoonhCtdnNaXhLF8UujOjOeXXaRbyj5iIuYg/s1600/skirting.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">a fleece flipped onto the skirting table to remove dirty or short pieces</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Now that the sheep have been sheared comes the waiting. Tom Petty is totally right, waiting IS the hardest part! Before re-emerging as gorgeous squishy Mohonk, the wool travels to be baled, scoured, spun and will finally make its way undyed and ready for color back to the Hudson Valley. It is a process that takes a few months, is not inexpensive and requires collaboration with lots of people. The results are SO worth it though. It should arrive at just the right time as I just opened the last undyed box of Mohonk from 2013's clip (though I've heard there may be a mislaid box or two still at the mill)</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtXl6XE_eOypAexYTLQwNNUWo0JuLlfVEEZfhoIxbZk4uAbEdlor-8yFJyvNh8YFvgEWRC4pXfM3_lb90VKLoG769czObPMQJ44I_GbEo7bmuP-cg6FMCEDJ5OOMFvnD56fmPq0xSAS0/s1600/merino_ram.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtXl6XE_eOypAexYTLQwNNUWo0JuLlfVEEZfhoIxbZk4uAbEdlor-8yFJyvNh8YFvgEWRC4pXfM3_lb90VKLoG769czObPMQJ44I_GbEo7bmuP-cg6FMCEDJ5OOMFvnD56fmPq0xSAS0/s1600/merino_ram.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Besides the crossbred flock that I use to make Mohonk, Catskill Merino raises some of the most fine (in both a "that's mighty fine" and a low micron count fine) Saxon Merino I've ever seen! You can see it for yourself Saturdays at the Green Market in Union Square in NYC or <a href="http://www.catskill-merino.com/content/17679" target="_blank">buy it online</a>.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNyQLBFsxY-WFGZHqwAh-HmnBewNNlGvZdpMlzpKDrnYaqhyu5miWGpwH7X1QMPdZ3fzWMndvNbUpALq6oq_E9v4FKXsq_Wjem6EBsF0Dbl0obUX-5mlJCjtmx8hjRdjJF6uBTkSpUxZg/s1600/sheepy_huh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNyQLBFsxY-WFGZHqwAh-HmnBewNNlGvZdpMlzpKDrnYaqhyu5miWGpwH7X1QMPdZ3fzWMndvNbUpALq6oq_E9v4FKXsq_Wjem6EBsF0Dbl0obUX-5mlJCjtmx8hjRdjJF6uBTkSpUxZg/s1600/sheepy_huh.jpg" height="320" width="295" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">I'm so grateful to everyone involved with making the yarn and to all of you for appreciating it. </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Parenthetically (without the parentheses - well, except these) if you are a wool grower or know one looking to sell a whole clip please feel free to email me jillATjilldraperDOTcom</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Jill Draper Makes Stuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274510976339175945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716430393294349663.post-30461974223487751922014-01-28T14:51:00.002-05:002014-01-29T11:54:25.962-05:00New Year, New Sweater<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQKON5AE0894oXGGxWsyPbNItn1985IfrgTMvYQzWckzHlRo8b4jXaKLw-F4ME1oQEGtBFMV5QI9lF1sUy1ziveUqSydXnCk9vD7qJ1L8XLgJYXyakpMBc3pZiKGs5idUavAHnVNTwFok/s1600/jatf_wip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQKON5AE0894oXGGxWsyPbNItn1985IfrgTMvYQzWckzHlRo8b4jXaKLw-F4ME1oQEGtBFMV5QI9lF1sUy1ziveUqSydXnCk9vD7qJ1L8XLgJYXyakpMBc3pZiKGs5idUavAHnVNTwFok/s1600/jatf_wip.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you follow me on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jill-Draper-Makes-Stuff/20912791235" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="http://instagram.com/jillmakesstuff" target="_blank">Instagram</a> or <a href="https://twitter.com/JillMakesStuff" target="_blank">Twitter</a> or if you're in my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/jill-draper-makes-stuff---and-so-do-i" target="_blank">Ravelry group</a> you may be sick of seeing pictures of <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/JillDMakesStuff/jenny-at-the-fair" target="_blank">this sweater.</a> I can't help it! I'm in the "new romance" stage of making this sweater and I just can't knit on it often enough. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The pattern is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/jenny-at-the-fair" target="_blank">Jenny at the Fair</a> designed by <a href="http://maryjanemucklestone.com/" target="_blank">Mary Jane Mucklestone</a> for <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/the-rhinebeck-sweater" target="_blank">The Rhinebeck Sweater</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I knew when I first saw the book that is had to be the first sweater I knit from it. The factors were all in its favor; I love knitting colorwork, I've had a design crush on Mary Jane ever since seeing <a href="http://maryjanemucklestone.com/2011/01/" target="_blank">this blog post of hers</a> before attending my first <a href="http://squamartworkshops.com/" target="_blank">Squam Art Workshop</a> and I am in almost dire need of a slightly oversized cardigan. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My mom wanted to make one too, which lucky for me, meant I got to pick two different colorways & 2 sets of <a href="http://www.jenniethepotter.com/" target="_blank">Jennie the Potter</a> buttons!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9hunohcKednQNtH-tacwQOU3cuQ5M_OSZOtQp6xgCitK0C6S-IYwBzndEPUIiAWRsq3OcwzeIyx7J_3TWRIFbPGNPWR7JATXLA-83M-kp5fGN_2w5r-MEyoCAHBz8AKmGuPKqYnVpxc/s1600/fbf36b1bde829487bc5083155ed8d9d9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9hunohcKednQNtH-tacwQOU3cuQ5M_OSZOtQp6xgCitK0C6S-IYwBzndEPUIiAWRsq3OcwzeIyx7J_3TWRIFbPGNPWR7JATXLA-83M-kp5fGN_2w5r-MEyoCAHBz8AKmGuPKqYnVpxc/s1600/fbf36b1bde829487bc5083155ed8d9d9.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you don't know, picking color combinations out is one of my favorite things! I've gotten lots of questions & compliments about my sweater and I thought I'd share a couple suggested combinations with all of you, in case you're inspired to make your own (you totally should!). This sweater, even with all the colorwork is flying off the needles using worsted weight, super squishy & soft <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/jilldrapermakesstuff?section_id=14361468&ref=shopsection_leftnav_8" target="_blank">Windham</a>. Windham is completely sheep to skein made in the US using 21.5 micron Merino. The round 4-ply construction makes it great for sweater knitting!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I needed 4 skeins of the MC and you'll need 1 skein each of the 4 contrasts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0ubQUvJuRMwnNt4UhQmc4L1oPrUxFm6P_LrJfL-Mm5jJZ5KSV1-VCvYixJ5J3noj9upSO-I-tWOnSVjm4G1k0JcPlQa5C97g5AFcLwey7VaRmUYl_1PxgzNWuv6_DZLxlhJNzB8MXxc/s1600/jatf_brown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ0ubQUvJuRMwnNt4UhQmc4L1oPrUxFm6P_LrJfL-Mm5jJZ5KSV1-VCvYixJ5J3noj9upSO-I-tWOnSVjm4G1k0JcPlQa5C97g5AFcLwey7VaRmUYl_1PxgzNWuv6_DZLxlhJNzB8MXxc/s1600/jatf_brown.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/177192372/merino-hand-painted-worsted-weight-220?ref=shop_home_active_10" target="_blank">Cinnamon</a>, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/165772917/merino-hand-painted-worsted-weight-220?ref=shop_home_active_3" target="_blank">Bottle</a>, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/165773119/merino-hand-painted-worsted-weight-220?ref=shop_home_active_2" target="_blank">Harvest Gold</a>, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/165764174/merino-hand-painted-worsted-weight-220?ref=shop_home_active_19" target="_blank">Blood Orange</a>, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/177197612/merino-hand-painted-worsted-weight-220?ref=shop_home_active_6" target="_blank">Murky</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpU96tn0zRFqzo-TcRxARzK_vjUOPq2UDOa7ND5EhlzAlHkt44T-PDE1nHyeqi8Ki2Ec_7WYDQgb6WwtRMPM2p42kR8MFrxI0SMaVH0ORKZm5p2sVwQBXLI6uXannH-Jocm-ojGQQ4zOY/s1600/jatf_green.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpU96tn0zRFqzo-TcRxARzK_vjUOPq2UDOa7ND5EhlzAlHkt44T-PDE1nHyeqi8Ki2Ec_7WYDQgb6WwtRMPM2p42kR8MFrxI0SMaVH0ORKZm5p2sVwQBXLI6uXannH-Jocm-ojGQQ4zOY/s1600/jatf_green.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/177200777/merino-hand-painted-worsted-weight-220?ref=shop_home_active_8" target="_blank">Lichen</a>, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/177207065/merino-hand-painted-worsted-weight-220?ref=shop_home_active_4" target="_blank">Cape Cottage Cedar</a>, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/165771513/merino-hand-painted-worsted-weight-220?ref=shop_home_active_15" target="_blank">Phthalo Blue</a>, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/177196999/merino-hand-painted-worsted-weight-220?ref=shop_home_active_12" target="_blank">Heritage Tomato</a>, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/177195553/merino-hand-painted-worsted-weight-220?ref=shop_home_active_13" target="_blank">Petal</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDndEZX3QP_zl43qbWQk-OQk2vRU35yKrlNoXVbplRRK5DVbIryVUBWSPbpRtwpXQhc_g8rIC6EzaPJRxofjAsAf_emacOeTNV7qc4RfyyyAW6kZA0M4HuHY2tNI6eXiPN1A1OH6GSECY/s1600/jatf_plum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDndEZX3QP_zl43qbWQk-OQk2vRU35yKrlNoXVbplRRK5DVbIryVUBWSPbpRtwpXQhc_g8rIC6EzaPJRxofjAsAf_emacOeTNV7qc4RfyyyAW6kZA0M4HuHY2tNI6eXiPN1A1OH6GSECY/s1600/jatf_plum.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/177206785/merino-hand-painted-worsted-weight-220?ref=shop_home_active_5" target="_blank">Empress Plum</a>, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/165772917/merino-hand-painted-worsted-weight-220?ref=shop_home_active_3" target="_blank">Bottle</a>, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/165764362/merino-hand-painted-worsted-weight-220?ref=shop_home_active_20" target="_blank">Cranberry</a>, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/165765824/merino-hand-painted-worsted-weight-220?ref=shop_home_active_18" target="_blank">Sandstone</a>, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/177201865/merino-hand-painted-worsted-weight-220?ref=shop_home_active_7" target="_blank">Cypress</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">These are just a few of the many possible color combinations for Jenny at the Fair. I'd love to see what colors YOU put together. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Do you have a current project crush? I want to hear about it! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Jill Draper Makes Stuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274510976339175945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716430393294349663.post-43737176207346652692013-11-22T10:47:00.003-05:002013-11-22T10:47:34.170-05:00What a blur!<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Fall has flown by in a blur! Which is always the way it is for me (and I suspect many other yarny types). Since <a href="http://www.sheepandwool.com/" target="_blank">NYS Sheep & Wool</a> I've been to Chicago for <a href="https://www.vogueknittinglive.com/ehome/index.php?eventid=45793&" target="_blank">Vogue Knitting LIVE</a> and Canandaigua, NY for the Knitter's Review Retreat not to mention NYC for a couple of classes at <a href="http://www.purlbee.com/classes-at-purl-soho/" target="_blank">Purl SoHo</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I have pretty much no photographic proof that I was at these events but I swear I was!</span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8D5TyIb4IIGEmCO-ziSGintSJgW6gQUvWZQeOGr51Wl6o1RkmHQ9Eyrt1Y-zOltXpDn0FVpvd0Lf2wI-LtfwVxjD_J2tZZuASShbEQhA6uED08uBL4Mc-lUseRXPwPtdFekjJCIt0OTw/s1600/me_kristen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8D5TyIb4IIGEmCO-ziSGintSJgW6gQUvWZQeOGr51Wl6o1RkmHQ9Eyrt1Y-zOltXpDn0FVpvd0Lf2wI-LtfwVxjD_J2tZZuASShbEQhA6uED08uBL4Mc-lUseRXPwPtdFekjJCIt0OTw/s320/me_kristen.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This is me & Kristen who came to help out in the booth while <a href="http://ysolda.com/blog" target="_blank">Ysolda</a> was signing her new book <a href="http://ysolda.com/books/the-rhinebeck-sweater" target="_blank">The Rhinebeck Sweater</a></span>. <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Because, let's face it 90% of the fun at fiber fests is sweater spotting, I'll tel you I'm wearing <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/JillDMakesStuff/eps---elizabeths-percentage-system-sweater-2" target="_blank">Each Stitch</a> in <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/jilldrapermakesstuff?section_id=12577865" target="_blank">Mohonk</a> and Kirsten is wearing <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/party-mix-2" target="_blank">Party Mix</a> in <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/jilldrapermakesstuff?section_id=7186671" target="_blank">Hudson</a></span>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4xmrKSpV_bktklWWlSxQDjV_QJbOzKLZABeFU2_mf-wRT_kkfLpqaOkdiANhNYdAdU8Dk1b66ddoVQ9LL5xdwhMFPxmFeLEwCjHjSmeZy1IFIjBVvgx-kflIdxxsApTZE2BfD2ArZCYI/s1600/me_ys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4xmrKSpV_bktklWWlSxQDjV_QJbOzKLZABeFU2_mf-wRT_kkfLpqaOkdiANhNYdAdU8Dk1b66ddoVQ9LL5xdwhMFPxmFeLEwCjHjSmeZy1IFIjBVvgx-kflIdxxsApTZE2BfD2ArZCYI/s320/me_ys.jpg" width="238" /></a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And here is a pic (obviously from almost the same moment) of me & Ysolda, she's wearing <a href="http://www.nelkindesigns.com/" target="_blank">Laura Nelkin</a>'s <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/artichoke-french" target="_blank">Artichoke French</a> from The Rhinebeck Sweater made with a skein of <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/jilldrapermakesstuff?section_id=12501081" target="_blank">Empire</a></span>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'm back home and busy shooting all sorts of yarn plus working on a couple secret projects I can't quite tel you about yet</span>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But I can tell you that I'm super psyched that <a href="http://www.leethal.net/" target="_blank">Lee Meredith</a> designed a hat (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/unbroken" target="_blank">well, actually 2</a>) in Hudson for the latest <a href="http://www.hollaknits.com/blog/" target="_blank">Holla Knits</a> collection.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3YvhIefWn4zRPPxWp7aEbXQyOV5QZJRGmTOKuQGiCKktqxoqv1mN0lxV_AHrovmScHRg5BKfVcPs4fm0Z4YrS1S8OiVdF3L9DPzh_ETpjpC0u-jyYhN09GhNet1tgPj4pFNkWGZmsu8M/s1600/UnbrokenLeeMeredithJillDraperHollaKnitsAccessories2013.8_medium2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3YvhIefWn4zRPPxWp7aEbXQyOV5QZJRGmTOKuQGiCKktqxoqv1mN0lxV_AHrovmScHRg5BKfVcPs4fm0Z4YrS1S8OiVdF3L9DPzh_ETpjpC0u-jyYhN09GhNet1tgPj4pFNkWGZmsu8M/s320/UnbrokenLeeMeredithJillDraperHollaKnitsAccessories2013.8_medium2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I have been a huge admirer of Lee's designs for a long time, especially since <a href="http://hodgepodgefarm.net/" target="_blank">Cal Patch</a> wears her <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/vortex-2" target="_blank">Vortex</a> EVERYWHERE.</span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">One skein of Hudson makes both versions of the hat so you don't even need to decide which on to make!</span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Allison has a skein to giveaway if you pop over to <a href="http://www.hollaknits.com/blog/" target="_blank">her blog</a> and make a comment you're in the running.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The accessory collection is quite beautiful, I an especially enamored with the <a href="http://www.hollaknits.com/blog/store/products/no-gloves-no-love-knitting-pattern-by-claire-sandow/" target="_blank">heart cut outs on the gloves</a> & <a href="http://www.hollaknits.com/blog/store/products/ka-pom-hat-knitting-pattern-by-mari-chiba/" target="_blank">the colorwork hood</a>. I'm so proud to have played a small part in this collection!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMEDJEKLIkbS07tNii_qagtWN2UN8mZyJlHuBwWEd2efc5mrxQOA-EUiURRqTXHUNFzt93cQJFSF2NqGwXzAkz7Bg_wBGGqYe0f0bErb-O48gZ-dT32Mfs11rKar6jlHNOFbhnBlrtks/s1600/HKA2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMEDJEKLIkbS07tNii_qagtWN2UN8mZyJlHuBwWEd2efc5mrxQOA-EUiURRqTXHUNFzt93cQJFSF2NqGwXzAkz7Bg_wBGGqYe0f0bErb-O48gZ-dT32Mfs11rKar6jlHNOFbhnBlrtks/s320/HKA2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">What's on your needles & hooks these days?</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Jill Draper Makes Stuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274510976339175945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716430393294349663.post-14003684589490775002013-10-23T08:20:00.000-04:002013-10-23T08:20:05.470-04:00Rhinebeck Wrap Up<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Well... </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">NYS Sheep & Wool flew by in a blur of beautiful pottery, friendly faces and amazing yarn creations of knit & crochet variations. Seriously a BLUR. I took exactly 0 pictures, bought almost nothing, mostly because I barely had a chance to leave Jennie's booth. I did manage to score a bottle of <a href="http://www.soakwash.com/" target="_blank">SOAK</a>, some gorgeous buttons from <a href="http://www.jenniethepotter.com/" target="_blank">Jennie</a> and just a couple skeins of yarn, but they are for something gifty so they'll be my secret stash for now.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I got so many compliments on my sweater on Saturday, which as we all know makes a knitter feel GREAT! I made it for <a href="http://www.opositivefestival.org/" target="_blank">O+ festival</a> in Kingston, and if you haven't seen it yet, here's a pic.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYdRXmwjL-Hpep8-blIwSC8dTqSn0wLY3s0zV5adU99T2BG4PfSFIynpRHWQuG3Qb5__Nr4hl-GUFA9o98FGwef0A1BbbrRL85ISCFhzkJP63gyo7bcLCQVkuxT3X34STz-e5aWEJPyE/s1600/each_stitch_down.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYdRXmwjL-Hpep8-blIwSC8dTqSn0wLY3s0zV5adU99T2BG4PfSFIynpRHWQuG3Qb5__Nr4hl-GUFA9o98FGwef0A1BbbrRL85ISCFhzkJP63gyo7bcLCQVkuxT3X34STz-e5aWEJPyE/s400/each_stitch_down.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I made it with <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/jilldrapermakesstuff?section_id=12577865" target="_blank">Mohonk</a> in North Atlantic, Rust and a sort of renegade batch of Petunia and used (basically with a few teensy mods) <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/seamless-yoke-sweater" target="_blank">Elizabeth's Percentage System </a>and it kept me nice & cozy!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/165271744/mohonk-hand-dyed-sport-weight-nys-wool?ref=shop_home_active" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_shIlqluiENYHkB0VyxUaNcr0uXnGTH7a2dtl5fiANJLX1fzOjEcaBHOV4GhEagbYqNEIfFmxQ3f1ueDBUTFmXIuoarr_T9H0-GaNtDNiWQY9BIy1ez11s1v6uOZeIYrVTx_YHjT78Nc/s320/fall_mohonk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I saw SO many good sweaters, and shawls & accessories. I loved seeing <a href="http://www.nelkindesigns.com/" target="_blank">Laura Nelkin </a>wearing her <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/artichoke-french" target="_blank">Artichoke French</a></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">and apparently so did lots of other people, because I ran out of Empire in semi-solid shades!</span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There are more coming out of the dyepots everyday but your next chance to snag one will be at <a href="http://www.vogueknittinglive.com/ehome/64526" target="_blank">Vogue Knitting Live</a> in Chicago</span>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRp-zn_5d8xyaIC9eveuC4_jJlVEsyCYB1xwIUSCqry18SrFyd4dAZcfvE9gXQ01pRyInLNLslcajGLA7peU7JoRcS9MGiaNf4Ua3RbhnQD1EXYY9DNauMirPiRdMJUe_VnYcpY1fI2Ro/s1600/rhinebeck_sweater-117_medium2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRp-zn_5d8xyaIC9eveuC4_jJlVEsyCYB1xwIUSCqry18SrFyd4dAZcfvE9gXQ01pRyInLNLslcajGLA7peU7JoRcS9MGiaNf4Ua3RbhnQD1EXYY9DNauMirPiRdMJUe_VnYcpY1fI2Ro/s320/rhinebeck_sweater-117_medium2.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">At Vogue, I will have lots of both semi-solid & variegated Empire hanks and I'll also have copies of <a href="http://ysolda.com/blog" target="_blank">Ysolda</a>'s <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/the-rhinebeck-sweater" target="_blank">The Rhinebeck Sweater</a>, which not only has Artichoke French but includes 11 other beautiful sweaters (I kind of want one of each)</span>. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Even better? The lovely Ysolda herself will be doing a book signing from 12:30-1:30 on Saturday 11/2 in my booth.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I've got a lot of dyeing to do before heading to Chicago so I better sign off for now</span>!<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Before I go I'll mention I have a few <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/166637370/twister-cowl-knitting-kit?ref=listing-shop-header-2" target="_blank">kits</a> left for <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/twister-12" target="_blank">Twister</a> and more coming to Chicago with me. A KAL is starting in my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/jill-draper-makes-stuff---and-so-do-i/2730095/1-25#16" target="_blank">Ravelry group</a> 11/15, it is a fun and pretty simple knit, I'd love for you to join us!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs0L5HeumLMNttfU2fwXM2HR3FmDgdmW1bJ6yZbcLWApgxwKpAR1kb90yKhkwctaPm-VE42iU43uuwWS4dyaa2uRT4BeDNiiMDceiVifFfQv1Ptu2WAFpIRa-SHKRiDtj205H2ch_5KkA/s1600/twister_13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs0L5HeumLMNttfU2fwXM2HR3FmDgdmW1bJ6yZbcLWApgxwKpAR1kb90yKhkwctaPm-VE42iU43uuwWS4dyaa2uRT4BeDNiiMDceiVifFfQv1Ptu2WAFpIRa-SHKRiDtj205H2ch_5KkA/s320/twister_13.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Jill Draper Makes Stuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274510976339175945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716430393294349663.post-84141743067319636972013-09-12T15:55:00.002-04:002013-09-12T15:59:29.001-04:00Sweater Season KAL - Be preparedThat's what the scouts say anyway. I think when beginning a knitting project especially, a large project like a sweater almost all the hard work is in the preparation.<br />
Lincoln has been quoted as saying "Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I'll spend the first four sharpening the axe".<br />
I guess what I'm saying is start with a sharp axe...<br />
I've learned most of these little tips and tricks the hard way, although they do seem a bit obvious on reading through them. Sometimes we all just need a reminder to eat our veggies.<br />
<br />
First and most important, you CANNOT make yarn & a pattern match by sheer force of will. I know I have been guilty of this, and I bet some of you have too. You have found THE perfect sweater, the one you see in your dreams, the one you will wear every single day all Fall long and you are itching to cast on...but all in your stash yarn the color you picture it in and have almost the right amount of yarn for is the wrong weight. Within reason you can "push" the stated gauge on the ball band a little but you need to understand what the does to the fabric.<br />
<br />
Using thinner yarn than suggested will make an airier & drapier fabric. This is usually a better option than using a thicker yarn than suggested which will give you a more dense and stiff fabric. Of course you still need to get the gauge listed on the pattern if you plan on following it exactly.<br />
<br />
Another thing to think about is same gauge doesn't always mean same fabric hand. The swatches below are both the same gauge but the left is knit with<a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/jilldrapermakesstuff?section_id=10855445" target="_blank"> Nimbus</a> held singly and the right it is held double. Besides the look being different the drape of the fabric created is totally different. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5wjhnzsYLQGWKWiqGBAQb3K9LHQcZt6o34kS0J0odP7ibUiEi-gxkJKPTn0iAJ7rBx3sx3AyiKjMvxzcZC1GXhk4MuJV-9-F6mYr7imbGNvMlMXENY_Yqu8h9y5gOPbczXz_V0LRPiG8/s1600/gauge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5wjhnzsYLQGWKWiqGBAQb3K9LHQcZt6o34kS0J0odP7ibUiEi-gxkJKPTn0iAJ7rBx3sx3AyiKjMvxzcZC1GXhk4MuJV-9-F6mYr7imbGNvMlMXENY_Yqu8h9y5gOPbczXz_V0LRPiG8/s320/gauge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The last little tip about preparedness I'll share is REALLY use your swatch! What I mean by this is try the ribbing or an unfamiliar technique out on this tiny piece of knitting before moving on to the real thing. If you've never picked up stitches from the side of a piece of knitting, trying on your swatch is a low risk way of perfecting your method. Then, when you are ready to pick buttons, you can bring your swatch with you to test for size rather than dragging the whole sweater along. I recommend not banding your swatch in garter, although I know many knitters like to for 'prettiness' but I think it can slightly distort your gauge, so unless you are making a cardigan trimmed with garter, resist the urge!<br />
<br />
This probably could go without saying but, I'll say it anyway: wash & block your swatch if you intend to wash & block your sweater, the gauge may change and it is the safest way to test for colorfastness.<br />
<br />
I've had such a hard time trying to decide what sweater to make for Rhinebeck this year. My mom emailed and said she was really wanting to make the <a href="http://www.purlbee.com/the-purl-bee/2013/3/17/lauras-loop-the-sweatshirt-sweater.html" target="_blank">Sweatshirt Sweater</a> from Purl Bee and I realized I could REALLY use a utilitarian sweater just like that. She's making hers with <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/jilldrapermakesstuff?section_id=12577865" target="_blank">Mohonk. </a><br />
And I was totally set on doing that too<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNuPRS8gD-QkSiOi79lky2-_C7IkPIndWbxhwKhQZKyhieFZT0FFMyqzIzS4QZnc_-b16rTMXc3DhjU33iA7AQUhioaXKnLFYyPx-FcoGlMXSOMGUoQC-YsLoVG4cxHi9Vcm29hv6uTA/s1600/sweatshirt-sweater-600-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNuPRS8gD-QkSiOi79lky2-_C7IkPIndWbxhwKhQZKyhieFZT0FFMyqzIzS4QZnc_-b16rTMXc3DhjU33iA7AQUhioaXKnLFYyPx-FcoGlMXSOMGUoQC-YsLoVG4cxHi9Vcm29hv6uTA/s200/sweatshirt-sweater-600-4.jpg" width="139" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweatshirt Sweater from Purl Bee</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
...and then I did last week's post with all the beautiful sweaters from my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/jill-draper-makes-stuff---and-so-do-i" target="_blank">Ravelry group</a>
and had a moment of indecision. While "idling" through new patterns on
Ravelry I also stumbled across the perfect in its simplicity <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/crows-nest-cardigan" target="_blank">Crows Nest Cardigan</a> by Amy Christoffers and got to thinking how gorgeous that would be in <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/jilldrapermakesstuff?section_id=7186671" target="_blank">Hudson</a>, done in stripes of a multi and contrasting solid color...<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jiAjAYahNMCGFnQ5cZo8lHDDlTBQHpC3972FExZdQe5eYcC1GK7bCjsuCvKq2bhJ7LsLobErLeHrX4as3FMDujc-NCS0ZtbrGgzKfoKnxf1FJZUUv2x0TK5NNg77d0tF727ZIqo0kWQ/s1600/IMG_6245_small2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1jiAjAYahNMCGFnQ5cZo8lHDDlTBQHpC3972FExZdQe5eYcC1GK7bCjsuCvKq2bhJ7LsLobErLeHrX4as3FMDujc-NCS0ZtbrGgzKfoKnxf1FJZUUv2x0TK5NNg77d0tF727ZIqo0kWQ/s200/IMG_6245_small2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crows Nest Cardigan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Or maybe <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/strokkur-3" target="_blank">Strokkur</a> by Ysolda Teague made in <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/jilldrapermakesstuff?section_id=12571393" target="_blank">Valkill</a>
which is a DK weight so there would be a bit more air in the knit than
if I used Aran weight but the Cheviot fiber will hold it's structure really
well and had a twist similar to traditional lopi yarns. I'm imagining it in <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/117237967/valkill-hand-dyed-dk-weight-nys-wool-252?ref=shop_home_active" target="_blank">Cloud</a> with the colorwork done in <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/116397810/valkill-hand-dyed-dk-weight-nys-wool-252?ref=shop_home_active" target="_blank">Dark Roast</a> and <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/122527310/valkill-hand-dyed-dk-weight-nys-wool-252?ref=shop_home_active" target="_blank">Paprika</a>...<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKkn5PwsdarAmsbl906aBh-YH8xKFKHon6nLCsYhlt8q99WxlnmugKE447Sqhk7j0Dm-yGgEFNlgzYYydl2MsoG20hw9nzR8F7AdIrEk4Bf3vXt7AW7fFW_1RgtwE_nlFxaJEkwrzDC8/s1600/9356456671_67b3cf5efc_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKkn5PwsdarAmsbl906aBh-YH8xKFKHon6nLCsYhlt8q99WxlnmugKE447Sqhk7j0Dm-yGgEFNlgzYYydl2MsoG20hw9nzR8F7AdIrEk4Bf3vXt7AW7fFW_1RgtwE_nlFxaJEkwrzDC8/s200/9356456671_67b3cf5efc_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3ZzvdEK4IErhmsN654VYED-NbwadsJsJOMON3m-td_FHuJ9UTUSUfKhGDcNKofq6mBrwYsuTDMNi56r_MoT-n_vLp5pIzfLRRvKQdF8C0abPa8MWHuq-8Sd0e0UBmhW6MD2V9GjQ_-k/s1600/strokkur_colors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3ZzvdEK4IErhmsN654VYED-NbwadsJsJOMON3m-td_FHuJ9UTUSUfKhGDcNKofq6mBrwYsuTDMNi56r_MoT-n_vLp5pIzfLRRvKQdF8C0abPa8MWHuq-8Sd0e0UBmhW6MD2V9GjQ_-k/s320/strokkur_colors.jpg" width="135" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
But you can never have enough cardigans, I like the super low neckline of the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/delancey-cardigan" target="_blank">Delancey Cardigan</a> and it would be perfect in <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/130362072/rockwell-hand-dyed-dk-weight-wool-260?ref=shop_home_active" target="_blank">undyed Rockwell</a> with a <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/130366064/rockwell-hand-dyed-dk-weight-wool-280?ref=shop_home_active" target="_blank">bright overdyed shade</a> as the stripes<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfjaPuFP-nyA9gMj_lO44bX6cLUaC_tXUDtE34QFNsMkDoc4-oZ81yiJd3XW9vCjTQVnqrGxbfwWqrvsmntFpOs4OYSbYUlE7bSiG-zWp9lCKnA_eyO-ZGS2WEfNQDHCECO3_3G6OQDs/s1600/picture4-web_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimfjaPuFP-nyA9gMj_lO44bX6cLUaC_tXUDtE34QFNsMkDoc4-oZ81yiJd3XW9vCjTQVnqrGxbfwWqrvsmntFpOs4OYSbYUlE7bSiG-zWp9lCKnA_eyO-ZGS2WEfNQDHCECO3_3G6OQDs/s1600/picture4-web_small.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
So it looks like I haven't really narrowed my choices down at all! Luckily there is a lot of yarn here to choose from so maybe I'll just swatch for a few of these options and have a think for another week.<br />
Have you started a new Fall sweater yet? I'd love to hear what you're making! Maybe it hep me decide - or if nothing else help grow my Ravelry queue to even more epic proportions...Jill Draper Makes Stuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274510976339175945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716430393294349663.post-28853323203906101852013-09-06T09:15:00.000-04:002013-09-06T09:15:11.513-04:00Sweater Season<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's cold this morning. Like, SweaterWeather cold. I love it!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If you read my <a href="http://jilldraperblogs.blogspot.com/2013/09/spinning-sweater.html" target="_blank">blog post</a> earlier this week, you know I've had sweaters on the brain. I might be a bit biased but to me, almost nothing is better than wearing a hand knit or crocheted sweater on a cool Fall day. In my new sweater daydreaming I took a little stroll through the finished sweaters in my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/jill-draper-makes-stuff---and-so-do-i" target="_blank">Ravelry group</a> and WOWSERS was I impressed. It did not help me settle on which sweater to make as my brand spanking new Rhinebeck sweater for this year but it certainly was inspiring! I thought I'd share (with the maker's permission of course!) a tiny selection of some really beautiful sweaters:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/knitosaurusrex" target="_blank">Knitosaraurusrex</a> (what a user name!) seems to be pretty prolific in her making and we seem to share a taste for color and a bit of quirkiness. She made the sweater below using(ish) the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/zuma-tunic" target="_blank">Zuma Tunic</a> pattern and three colors of <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/jilldrapermakesstuff?section_id=12501081" target="_blank">Mini Empire</a>.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkSm2g9VkWQvrFKw6_-NnupMT9c0Wc0hfBI65qbYWjywXMAj0Kx_U60Mg-YbxlFK8vqACY0PBwxyyektkaO3pLRmmRqttgT9LOfYp9Q_GsliypKiWP1ZCMGlbjg9UgMaZgyg2q93hqgOk/s1600/CIMG3016_medium2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkSm2g9VkWQvrFKw6_-NnupMT9c0Wc0hfBI65qbYWjywXMAj0Kx_U60Mg-YbxlFK8vqACY0PBwxyyektkaO3pLRmmRqttgT9LOfYp9Q_GsliypKiWP1ZCMGlbjg9UgMaZgyg2q93hqgOk/s320/CIMG3016_medium2.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Knitosaurusrex's Forest For the Trees</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Krisnicole made <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/krisnicole/party-mix" target="_blank">this</a> insanely beautiful version of <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/party-mix-2" target="_blank">Party Mix</a> using some variegated <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/jilldrapermakesstuff?section_id=7186671" target="_blank">Hudson</a>, for everyone who is afraid of variegated sweaters I think this is a perfect "gateway" sweater. Toned down a bit by the semi-solid contrasts it is really a showstopper!</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizboGDfMotJyGs1WFJ6PV0qy7F5kS-QzxpflKWcuBOjeyPrAu3q73b7tqpfXot_3v_p0kP1LnCuHjODj2PN-XEol-gqmoEfkSIf5ISZYUOek9tr-sBoYdyfkQUQFURHQvTsHhM3yjRTUY/s1600/document_upload20701-1_medium2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizboGDfMotJyGs1WFJ6PV0qy7F5kS-QzxpflKWcuBOjeyPrAu3q73b7tqpfXot_3v_p0kP1LnCuHjODj2PN-XEol-gqmoEfkSIf5ISZYUOek9tr-sBoYdyfkQUQFURHQvTsHhM3yjRTUY/s320/document_upload20701-1_medium2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">krisnicole's indian corn & candlewick</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> Empire sweaters abound!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Myself, I love a variegated sweater, and here are a few people who obviously feel the same, these sweaters are all made with Empire - which by the way</span>,<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> is getting prepped to make its first appearance of 2013 in the shop <b>soon</b>, you can join my email list up on the right hand side of this blog to be among the first to know when it does.</span>..</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/queenofquitealot" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Queenofquitealot</span></a> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">went with the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ladies-classic-raglan-pullover" target="_blank">Classic Ladies Raglan</a></span>, <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">which seems like a perfect choice to "tame" the wildly variegated colors of her Empire skein</span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">and <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/alisamcr/perfect-crochet-cardigan" target="_blank">Alisamcr</a> started with a crocheted cardigan pattern but ended up heavily modifying it for a more flattering fit, the result is a perfect & very wearable cardigan!</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhVGZPlvNJzD6W2uv0BLsyucx4IFt3K43SI9KrM_lIDGpnbsIMi-ros5IATzvmaUKMUS19OPJvIJ1YCv8s_uLTD5PCO49NuhJvYM6hcbRloczM_CFD4wjgCIICXJIwTtTBqGgGae-hDE/s1600/3-17-13_009_medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhVGZPlvNJzD6W2uv0BLsyucx4IFt3K43SI9KrM_lIDGpnbsIMi-ros5IATzvmaUKMUS19OPJvIJ1YCv8s_uLTD5PCO49NuhJvYM6hcbRloczM_CFD4wjgCIICXJIwTtTBqGgGae-hDE/s320/3-17-13_009_medium.jpg" width="271" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Queenofquitealot in a classic knitted in Empire</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh51qX32WrY0YeWSn-Qxhg-HtTirJa3vbpYElX6FT_xv50whBSkMdMF8exLtvlwTUg_0FkHWR23VnsiF9kN_0GyCWaq1Jx-tgg6LyQv4h7XwITpv2TyKfDcYX1cmSurgZGZcdyRQI3Nst8/s1600/IMG_0345_medium2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh51qX32WrY0YeWSn-Qxhg-HtTirJa3vbpYElX6FT_xv50whBSkMdMF8exLtvlwTUg_0FkHWR23VnsiF9kN_0GyCWaq1Jx-tgg6LyQv4h7XwITpv2TyKfDcYX1cmSurgZGZcdyRQI3Nst8/s320/IMG_0345_medium2.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alisamcr's crocheted cardi</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Then there is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/JillDMakesStuff/empire-sweater" target="_blank">my Empire sweater</a> which I think encompasses everything about Autumn in Upstate NY, changing leaves hues in a cozy cardigan with some of the <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/INGUTE?ref=search_shop_redirect" target="_blank">best wood buttons </a>I've ever found, they are apple wood, what could be more Upstate NY?! <span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(I know you'll ask, and I'm sorry to tell you there isn't a pattern, yet. I improvised it so I'd have something to wear to Rhinebeck and have been meaning to get the pattern together but that just hasn't found its way onto the schedule yet)</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_RC6ByvaGYQHuz3ZS6BpXwqfN88FnGeEbXMAGCc4eHy_Rh4Vfn5VNhjTbeRxyTXQnZJr4ovehbX2iqjZnanH3Tx9ijvNFL0R3o2fwjcDuB19Bs1CEgCfJ0-avL_saq3gxRPnGgUT8qY/s1600/empire_sweater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv_RC6ByvaGYQHuz3ZS6BpXwqfN88FnGeEbXMAGCc4eHy_Rh4Vfn5VNhjTbeRxyTXQnZJr4ovehbX2iqjZnanH3Tx9ijvNFL0R3o2fwjcDuB19Bs1CEgCfJ0-avL_saq3gxRPnGgUT8qY/s320/empire_sweater.jpg" width="229" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Upstate NY Autumn in sweater form </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7M8AKXbu5nxzpYbMBkTcV0EQNpzvg80dwi6WwfB3rd-M1vGuV5smOo6CKUb4mVNRCVOl1U-UPHkEX4XZXO2BJBp0_b33JPe0kfiU-6zpnscTNihNvsjBUD7Hn9PxpsvphLocQeB2CGs/s1600/P1090369crop_medium2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7M8AKXbu5nxzpYbMBkTcV0EQNpzvg80dwi6WwfB3rd-M1vGuV5smOo6CKUb4mVNRCVOl1U-UPHkEX4XZXO2BJBp0_b33JPe0kfiU-6zpnscTNihNvsjBUD7Hn9PxpsvphLocQeB2CGs/s320/P1090369crop_medium2.jpg" width="195" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My postergirl Cal Patch sporting (almost) head to toe JDMS</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">You probably know the picture above is my BFF (Best Fiber Friend) and sewing guru, </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://hodgepodgefarm.net/" target="_blank">Cal Patch</a></span> in full fiber fest gear she's wearing her own design <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/88870117/wingfeathers-pdf-crochet-pattern?ref=shop_home_active" target="_blank">Wingfeathers</a> crocheted with <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/jilldrapermakesstuff?section_id=6756416" target="_blank">Splendor</a>, a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/laurel-6" target="_blank">Laurel</a> headband knit in some commercial yarn (BLASPHEMY!) Just kidding, it is Noro if you can't tell by looking. In my opinion the pièce de résistance and according to a cursory Ravelry search the ONLY one of its kind (how can THAT be?!) of this amazing outfit is her <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/hodgepodge/eps---elizabeths-percentage-system-sweater" target="_blank">crocheted EPS sweater</a> made from an Empire hank.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4aGNjoR16OXC0TKi6fNHP4OwJx8DdHCh-Xs3SjlhVGKHVkPYvpjmlQJ5jduDBKKXP7uKkig0reQKB_UX-GAPEDB8hYWGp0hQBMMQBSyQ3W9b-A2JLjDx_qf9rCOihpMti7WHX2-jrzs/s1600/9525657192_940f5387cd_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4aGNjoR16OXC0TKi6fNHP4OwJx8DdHCh-Xs3SjlhVGKHVkPYvpjmlQJ5jduDBKKXP7uKkig0reQKB_UX-GAPEDB8hYWGp0hQBMMQBSyQ3W9b-A2JLjDx_qf9rCOihpMti7WHX2-jrzs/s320/9525657192_940f5387cd_z.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laura Nelkin ready to pick peaches in raspberry</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The most recent sweater added to my rav group pool is <a href="http://nelkindesigns.com/" target="_blank">Laura Nelkin's</a> modified <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/beach-street-park" target="_blank">Beach Street Park</a> made in <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/jilldrapermakesstuff?section_id=12577865" target="_blank">Mohonk</a> she squished and squished and cradled at Vogue Knitting Live last January - I was so glad to see it finally as a sweater! You can find all of her mod notes over on <a href="http://nelkindesigns.blogspot.com/2013/08/a-chill-in-air.html" target="_blank">her blog</a> obviously it gets colder out by the Finger Lakes earlier than it does here, I wasn't quite ready for a sweater a couple weeks ago...</span><br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgba_zqRcgS4nJ4oPS0AlSGw_BMN6ouXBI-3CeyroCfiIXkPcTa1LbLArDryIpNpY6-T2AsLLTYYb9M_Cl_EmXLyKM3lyotW70m5M_jxGEtKzE7ScUlkYcIRQ6GHDqhIJ27pMcjITiS4us/s1600/blithe_etsy_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgba_zqRcgS4nJ4oPS0AlSGw_BMN6ouXBI-3CeyroCfiIXkPcTa1LbLArDryIpNpY6-T2AsLLTYYb9M_Cl_EmXLyKM3lyotW70m5M_jxGEtKzE7ScUlkYcIRQ6GHDqhIJ27pMcjITiS4us/s320/blithe_etsy_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Above is a sweater I knit - and there IS a pattern for this one made out of <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/jilldrapermakesstuff?section_id=10855445" target="_blank">Nimbus</a>.</span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Because <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/blithe-5" target="_blank">Blithe</a> is knit with lighter than air laceweight it is diaphanous but because that laceweight is a blend of 70% angora and 30% silk it is the absolute warmest thin sweater you can possibly ever wear. I love that it is a big, cozy silhouette but you can still see hints of you shape underneath so you can be warm without adding lots of bulk.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'm ready to knit about 16 new sweaters, think I can squeeze them in while prepping for Fall fiber season? Maybe not 16, but I am hoping to make at least 1 new sweater for Rhinebeck.</span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I started a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/jill-draper-makes-stuff---and-so-do-i/2687489/1-25" target="_blank">thread</a> in my Ravelry group for moral support and will be posting some tricks I've found for making sweaters come out the way you envision them over the next bunch (six to be exact) of weeks. Are you ready for sweater season? Please join us over on Ravelry and let's all encourage each other along to finish some new sweaters!</span>Jill Draper Makes Stuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274510976339175945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716430393294349663.post-87511777374349205242013-09-04T12:13:00.000-04:002013-09-04T12:13:05.373-04:00Spinning a Sweater<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I've been dreaming of sweaters almost non-stop since I woke up on the first morning that had a cool breeze blowing through the windows. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUmzTkEAud1Zgpb1o-w8kQ1QcK424MmsWh3zewmAB0NDE5FpHgj3rvatrGQSRsWvmL0lD0SSBP_Ha89nRsZNeVB8yfZ5ub2Y5IyrjZtk5G6I_xxJU_FL2OUDlhiAz7gUcmz9X_tEiIOg/s1600/spinningasweater2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUmzTkEAud1Zgpb1o-w8kQ1QcK424MmsWh3zewmAB0NDE5FpHgj3rvatrGQSRsWvmL0lD0SSBP_Ha89nRsZNeVB8yfZ5ub2Y5IyrjZtk5G6I_xxJU_FL2OUDlhiAz7gUcmz9X_tEiIOg/s320/spinningasweater2.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I have had a couple incredibly beautiful fleeces that have been slowly getting washed and carded over the past couple years (yeah...) but finally they have made it to the spinning stage! I could not be happier. They are both lovely naturally colored fleeces from <a href="http://www.localharvest.org/elihu-farm-M58441" target="_blank">Elihu Farm</a> and I've carded in gobs (two plastic "salad" containers worth if you need specifics) of angora from my mom's bunnies that I dyed in super hot shades, pinks bright & pale, flame orange, bright purple...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I kept the two fleeces separate in the carding and have been alternating between the dark & the light sort of randomly while spinning. My plan is to Navajo ply them so I get thick & thin stripes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmebhBK028FbGOLHITBfLhx9v-1KdIeAIUR8SMTXTZT4MthIJ0AV6y8EuIcOFaEuBLwoh2t9KGLLQmX1dAbxTHntYPO4TJqrjWDgFl-0iVxvhr87u53X0u_OghViXtzjpWbu3ALZpYNGg/s1600/singles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmebhBK028FbGOLHITBfLhx9v-1KdIeAIUR8SMTXTZT4MthIJ0AV6y8EuIcOFaEuBLwoh2t9KGLLQmX1dAbxTHntYPO4TJqrjWDgFl-0iVxvhr87u53X0u_OghViXtzjpWbu3ALZpYNGg/s320/singles.jpg" width="213" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Why on earth did I start this project last weekend, just before my busiest season starts? Madness? Masochism? Distraction from the inevitable? A little gift to myself? Probably a smattering of all of those. I haven't 100% decided what sweater pattern this will get knit up into. It will depend on my finished WPI and yardage, both of which I'm terrible at determining beforehand. I do have almost 2 pounds of batts so I figured that should be enough for my options to be pretty open. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Have you started dreaming of sweaters yet? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Have you ever spun for a sweater? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Should I seek professional mental help? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'd love to hear your answers to any of the above questions!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>Jill Draper Makes Stuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274510976339175945noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716430393294349663.post-80169911912060849902013-09-01T09:34:00.000-04:002013-09-01T09:43:07.134-04:00I'm not having a HUGE AMAZING WHOA NELLY Labor Day Sale<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I know.... what a downer, right? </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhBdM_-NY9Oza1ojztY_Jom1P7iCJGfja399YM5HiTFY9OA40-Th-K6QZHHb209cDDRy8zGSBE8j4bR9AZ5Rpw502LQiq3Q71NJ1aMQdAiaM-2AxEFzdrlCYWLJk1Z8hVfDJOpXanfQ4/s1600/sale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibhBdM_-NY9Oza1ojztY_Jom1P7iCJGfja399YM5HiTFY9OA40-Th-K6QZHHb209cDDRy8zGSBE8j4bR9AZ5Rpw502LQiq3Q71NJ1aMQdAiaM-2AxEFzdrlCYWLJk1Z8hVfDJOpXanfQ4/s320/sale.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Isn't this the weekend when everyone who owns a business tries to talk you into buying tons and tons of stuff at rock bottom blowout prices? I guess it is now. I'd like to ask you to spare a moment or two to think about Labor Day, not the last weekend at the beach-barbeque on your Monday off-back to school sale Labor Day but the "real" one.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Labor Day celebrations were started as an act of defiance. Laborers taking a non-paid Monday off listening to speeches and marching for fair wages and safer work conditions. Here is this country, where we are so rich in so many ways it is easy to forget how many people working in this country still have to go to work on Monday and still probably aren't making a fair wage. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I went to <a href="http://worlddominationsummit.com/" target="_blank">The World Domination Summit</a> this Summer and heard from many amazing speakers & business owners. One of the speeches that stuck me the most was Bob Moore from <a href="http://www.bobsredmill.com/" target="_blank">Bob's Red Mill</a>. He talked about growing an equitable company. A company that pays workers fairly, has them work in a safe environment and has grown on the strength of all of their work. On his 81st birthday Bob gave away the ownership of his company to his employees. He divided the stock of his now multimillion dollar company up by shares based on how long people had been working for him. He had been doing profit sharing for the company's whole history, even when the profit sharing checks he wrote were 2 figures.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"Put people before profit. Share with those who helped you build it.” - Bob Moore in his speech at WDS.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'd ask instead of trying to find the cheapest backpack at a big box store this weekend, try to find a local company making things that will last past October and spend your money with them. </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.aurorashoeco.com/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ICx7Xr05PzaV3PlBok_two1JvTZKX8Lukm3OZoSOFyU8O-u5QiN3exFjXeW6GQnwgDqYC8uQfyAL6_FWUQPCDnaAvV0tnllZrW6oRMGp3ZuUHWND5bmxwvHaSsURBAYqYw4NSIhCFz0/s320/6142472_large.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.aurorashoeco.com/" target="_blank">Aurora Shoe Co. hand made in Upstate NY (and my favorite shoes)</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It is good for your community and your heart. The more we spend on things produced with care and high ethical standards the more sustainable those things become. The downtown of your small town can only stay (or become) vibrant
instead of a sprawl of shopping centers that could be picked up and
dropped in any part of the country without looking out of place if YOU
shop them.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If you don't want to eat food produced with the use of GMOs and chemicals, shop at your local farmer's market, big corporations have way less care for your health than your neighbors do.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ride your bike to your local bookstore, I know Amazon is SO convenient and Barnes & Noble has a 25% off coupon but someone in your town lovingly picks out the books in their shop, they can probably make actual recommendations based on what you like, as opposed to the person working in the book department of a box store because the guy who normally works in that department called in sick and tomorrow they'll be back in kitchenware.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">You know how much you appreciate it when the LYS owner helps decipher a pattern that has had you cursing at you knitting? They'll appreciate you even more if you buy your needles from them instead of waiting for the big sale online.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I think the only way to wrestle the American economy back from the brink of collapse is to buy <span class="st">conscientiously. We are never going to make the cheapest t-shirts again. We may be able to make the best, most ethical, produced without the factory workers getting brown lung t-shirts. Trying to do this does mean having less in number but better made things. I'm certainly not perfect in this (or any!) regard but I'm trying.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="st"><br /></span></span>
<span class="st"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Don't let what you consume consume you.</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Jill Draper Makes Stuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274510976339175945noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716430393294349663.post-54588389641561298642013-08-09T15:33:00.004-04:002013-08-09T15:33:36.168-04:00Close to home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG03kVswxUtM9ZrKAOI0risTnJlQ6Qfd_uW6Vrqs-i-WluZBZO-tMIXz0hyphenhyphenZbNYXbEuEACWMCO4vAPWnmdFJkKtNDhc9L7cUvLWEH81fH3mPAQQtH-1CeZkU7c_gt_Py0t-WMe26drgMc/s1600/goat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG03kVswxUtM9ZrKAOI0risTnJlQ6Qfd_uW6Vrqs-i-WluZBZO-tMIXz0hyphenhyphenZbNYXbEuEACWMCO4vAPWnmdFJkKtNDhc9L7cUvLWEH81fH3mPAQQtH-1CeZkU7c_gt_Py0t-WMe26drgMc/s320/goat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This sweet face plays a big part in the first of the new yarn I'm adding to the <a href="http://www.jilldraper.com/" target="_blank">Jill Draper Makes Stuff</a> line. She is one of the three angora goats living at Sweet Dreams Farm. This yarn is closest to my heart of all the new yarn, so it seems natural to introduce it first. If you were lucky enough to attend <a href="http://www.squamartworkshops.com/" target="_blank">Squam Art Workshops</a> in June you might have seen <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/jilldrapermakesstuff?section_id=14027331" target="_blank">Hoosic</a> at the art fair Saturday night.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The reason <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/jilldrapermakesstuff?section_id=14027331" target="_blank">Hoosic</a> is so dear to me is because of the woman who raises these goats, along with a couple dozen chickens, a few bunnies, barn cats and a Golden Retriever.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This hobby farmer is the kindest, strongest, most generous, non-judgmental, caring and probably my favorite person in the entire world.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXaVh7Vedu8XjdJg0-49KJvwOuV7fl-kx_c9mm3Vqv8BnUG3SEFlyDXEWASiTD7tVBGVlGUKRWqsSAhzOfUE05cIAntpac0hij4993wOs0to3piMh9X__WVMe-7_wlE1nHo504bcEAbXs/s1600/mom&me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXaVh7Vedu8XjdJg0-49KJvwOuV7fl-kx_c9mm3Vqv8BnUG3SEFlyDXEWASiTD7tVBGVlGUKRWqsSAhzOfUE05cIAntpac0hij4993wOs0to3piMh9X__WVMe-7_wlE1nHo504bcEAbXs/s200/mom&me.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8AnU1RhMhridlZtpClyNx53-Zvt4C3RD4wKXAtMzLAXs1VNaZvADLBaUu5SOhAjm4jxKj-j-5Hh8ua7qrNntVfw2_w4espoe9J0gyBhsZ8aTH8gc4hQdejkAttOjXLXASEFrMDSUuHJQ/s1600/me+&+mom+vintage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8AnU1RhMhridlZtpClyNx53-Zvt4C3RD4wKXAtMzLAXs1VNaZvADLBaUu5SOhAjm4jxKj-j-5Hh8ua7qrNntVfw2_w4espoe9J0gyBhsZ8aTH8gc4hQdejkAttOjXLXASEFrMDSUuHJQ/s200/me+&+mom+vintage.jpg" width="149" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Here are a couple shots of us together, a couple decades ago and a couple years ago. It should be pretty obvious by now, she's also my mom. If you've come to Rhinebeck or Vogue Knitting in NYC, there is a pretty good chance you've met her and most people who do don't forget. She has an absolutely radiant smile and almost immediately upon meeting her people feel the desire to hug her. She's just one of those people. I think she brought enough picnic </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">lunch </span>to the last NYS Sheep & Wool to feed a small army, including egg salad from her chicken's eggs. I'd call her a hippie, but she corrected me once and said she's a folkie, so there you go.</span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> She has a full time job and just raises the animals for fun, and I can tell you from experience anything she loves gets the best care around. The goats often go on the evening dog walk, along with one of the barn cats, around her property on the NY/VT border. She is awe-striking in so many other ways, ways that I'm jealously keeping all to myself, for the sake of brevity here, but everyone whose life she has even a passing influence in knows how amazingly special she is.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsYPQtadIu_zzFd8-JkIqFkHGXBQ_BJzBJ_3J5Tn3lqqchThHaltnGarGa9WXqpndepmWOnZopa1hRg9bAIU7kfnxr2kEZYlcsnL0_xSGFnWlgoWxZCTn9enVM9w83WyhquQl9fv2BiA/s1600/e&e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsYPQtadIu_zzFd8-JkIqFkHGXBQ_BJzBJ_3J5Tn3lqqchThHaltnGarGa9WXqpndepmWOnZopa1hRg9bAIU7kfnxr2kEZYlcsnL0_xSGFnWlgoWxZCTn9enVM9w83WyhquQl9fv2BiA/s320/e&e.jpg" width="253" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">After the mohair was shorn from Evie, Elijah & Pearl it made a short trip, following the Hoosic River, to Putney, VT. In Putney some other kind people at <a href="http://www.spinnery.com/" target="_blank">Green Mountain Spinnery</a> combined it with a blend of Suffolk, Columbia and Targhee wool. It is a 50/50 wool and mohair blend, at 400yds/4oz I'd call it sportweight although with the mohair content you can knit it at a much larger gauge without the yarn losing body & becoming droopy. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/159161591/hoosic-hand-dyed-sport-weight-wool?ref=shop_home_active" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSVSAd6xFyXE31yID4Nk0ZBqq3Pz3_3W6gmZ2klsfeHTBlXcoOSauXtx_vZQoLgLzHpOtpMdWqdJqMptvELguDX6Dzc8PUS0KYnD9DkWYfzxGX_9kcnLSBqec2oJhgMGFNqzTRsgIgjNY/s320/hoosic_bering_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This is <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/jilldrapermakesstuff?section_id=14027331" target="_blank">Hoosic</a> dyed in a semisolid called Bering, and I didn't have to ask but I know if she had her pick, my mom would say this color was her favorite. I picture Hoosic knit up densely as <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/search#craft=knitting&weight=sport&view=captioned_thumbs&sort=recently-popular&pc=hands" target="_blank">mitts</a> and super loosely in a lace stitch as an almost year round <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/search#sort=recently-popular&pc=shawl-wrap&view=captioned_thumbs&craft=knitting|crochet" target="_blank">wrap</a>, or at gauge in a modern take on the classic Gansey sweater.</span> <br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My mom being who she is won't take any of "my" money for the mohair she has so lovingly raised so I thought maybe you all could help me with that. I'd like to donate $2 from every skein sold to a cause I know is dear to her heart as a health care provider, <a href="http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/" target="_blank">Doctors Without Borders</a> or MSF for my non-American readers. She'd never take ask for or accept something for herself, so instead this is my tiny way of paying her back by paying it forward. There aren't a ton of skeins of this and when it's gone it will be a while before we make more, it took a few years of shearings to get the few hundred skeins we have.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If you like the yarn and see me walking a fiber fest arm & arm with what looks like a much better dressed, more elegant version of myself don't be shy about telling her. Folkies love that.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>Jill Draper Makes Stuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274510976339175945noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716430393294349663.post-48947265184296923482013-07-30T18:10:00.000-04:002013-07-31T08:17:05.541-04:00Change is good!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMi16Ve1iuKBegdyRhyphenhyphenDTcJSn0kTVHQnlKh0MhzsC971kpl8yZYdlxJrP1kUeiB_XCk4LtUL1jGBpUkJFH9SV4ywEvWGrM9I2ZGwYw1FxF6GBlwemwA-TwPfe3zZOcI58q1KONc26N3Dg/s1600/triad_sheep_snuggle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMi16Ve1iuKBegdyRhyphenhyphenDTcJSn0kTVHQnlKh0MhzsC971kpl8yZYdlxJrP1kUeiB_XCk4LtUL1jGBpUkJFH9SV4ywEvWGrM9I2ZGwYw1FxF6GBlwemwA-TwPfe3zZOcI58q1KONc26N3Dg/s320/triad_sheep_snuggle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I am terrible at blogging. Well, maybe not the actual act of blogging (I'll leave that for you to decide) but the keeping up with it part. I run a business, mainly alone, and spend many hours of many days just doing the stuff that NEEDS to get done.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Don't get me wrong. My job is the best. I love it, a lot. Most days. It is incredibly hard, terrifyingly uncertain, amazingly satisfying, and on the good days really, really, really fun.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Being the owner of a small business means making the hard decisions all on my own and writing all the checks out of my own bank account. I worry. Will they (you) like it as much as I like it? Will someone wash a yarn in dog shampoo and then post an unkind comment on Ravelry? Will the mill deliver the yarn we've agreed on, in the time frame that has been decided? In truth, the answer to all of these questions is: perhaps, and I really have no control over any of it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Running a hand dyed yarn line is worth the struggle when someone walks up to me at a fiber fest holding some precious item they've created and tells me it's their favorite shawl/sweater/pair of socks/Cthulhu, or when I get photos in my inbox of some adorable smiling baby snuggled in handknitted love.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Why am I telling you all of this? I am because it is important to me that you know. I've made some decisions about where <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/jilldrapermakesstuff" target="_blank">Jill Draper Makes Stuff</a> is headed and as proud and excited as I am, I am also scared.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Starting this Fall/Winter, all Jill Draper Makes Stuff yarn will be US sourced & spun. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUM9HPnSOcE70xEhticKPHhiZXGR1THYrdTjWVB1yoRWpu93GZcYN8O_LnoFO9nnzdlP64B1Y5jBNEwMLC8EsIhyAXqN5IlPEKmhcUFEHVQy6ooeTPE5rmbArF13o7olAuKU6OKPjKzZ8/s1600/Tom_BigMike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUM9HPnSOcE70xEhticKPHhiZXGR1THYrdTjWVB1yoRWpu93GZcYN8O_LnoFO9nnzdlP64B1Y5jBNEwMLC8EsIhyAXqN5IlPEKmhcUFEHVQy6ooeTPE5rmbArF13o7olAuKU6OKPjKzZ8/s1600/Tom_BigMike.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The picture above is Tom, the farmer who raises some of Rambouillet that goes into Empire, me & his ram, Big Mike. I hope you can tell who is who.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I love working with the farmers I buy wool from, the people who make the mills run and knowing that my business plays a small part in helping those businesses succeed. One of the things I never expected to feel is the pride in watching my income help not only my business but other small businesses to grow. I get so much fulfillment out of working with mills to develop yarns I feel serve the fiber best and will wear well for years to come. I'm not going to lie, I cried when I read Clara Parkes' <a href="http://www.knittersreview.com/article_yarn.asp?article=/review/product/121011_a.asp" target="_blank">review</a> of Empire last year. It's as if she saw everything I was trying to do with it, appreciated all the things I spent time on and probably drove the kind people at the mill mad about tweaking until it was perfect.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1rCiN7HKjtZ7psPFgryXsugJzt1sgXHvJB3e9R2OT8rrFz-Zi7t2QIAKR5Vk4wNIaOeZhqDOEhAD02fNhrtKn-nix1pLw35VqhkwwSwlkL5KhEF_yBfI7ZHWlBRmix0pLXdBPMUfJz3I/s1600/empire_2012_12_close_a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1rCiN7HKjtZ7psPFgryXsugJzt1sgXHvJB3e9R2OT8rrFz-Zi7t2QIAKR5Vk4wNIaOeZhqDOEhAD02fNhrtKn-nix1pLw35VqhkwwSwlkL5KhEF_yBfI7ZHWlBRmix0pLXdBPMUfJz3I/s320/empire_2012_12_close_a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">What this change means for the current line is that this is the last year that a few of the current JDMS yarn options will be available. <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/jilldrapermakesstuff?section_id=6756416" target="_blank">Splendor</a>, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/jilldrapermakesstuff?section_id=10366395" target="_blank">Aurora</a> & <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/jilldrapermakesstuff?section_id=10855445" target="_blank">Nimbus</a> have varying stock amounts left, I expect them to last through Fall but when they are gone, that will be the end of them. There is more of all of these bases waiting for color, besides what is in the shop now and as I type shipments are heading to & scheduled for some amazing LYSs. So pretty, pretty please for my sanity and yours make sure to buy sufficient amounts to finish your projects. Emails that end in sad face emoticons make me have a sad face, especially when there isn't anything I can do to help.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'm still proud of these yarns, think they are as lovely as ever and hope you'll help me give them a great send off. I know some of you will be disappointed to see these yarns go. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Please know, these yarns are leaving to make room for some new and truly, in this yarn lover's humble opinion, beautiful new yarn I'll be releasing one style at a time over the next few months. Yarn that is made here in the US from sheep (or goat!) to skein. Yarn that not only will help my business flourish, but will do their tiny part to keep mills here in the US running, truckers driving wool across the country and sustain the farmers that raise healthy, well cared for animals by doing the (almost literal) yeoman's work required.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Thank you all for all your support over the last five years and for taking this journey with me. I could not do what I'm doing without you. I hope you love the new yarns even half as much as I do.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUu1whz04akziEM0UbmEYb-kjTX1Rg0RDClg3blTRD47pNeO0SXETwvmVaThZWEVf7pd-GwWt-ZYgu_xY8SJDhs5px_A7qoAYC8v4GyjuCB8lyDsshw_NBAJK-VL4_MZRVZCT4KYEhm6c/s1600/IMG_7052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUu1whz04akziEM0UbmEYb-kjTX1Rg0RDClg3blTRD47pNeO0SXETwvmVaThZWEVf7pd-GwWt-ZYgu_xY8SJDhs5px_A7qoAYC8v4GyjuCB8lyDsshw_NBAJK-VL4_MZRVZCT4KYEhm6c/s1600/IMG_7052.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Jill Draper Makes Stuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274510976339175945noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716430393294349663.post-39300794966735315472013-02-02T14:32:00.004-05:002013-02-02T14:32:59.250-05:00New Stuff (even on Groundhog Day)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrXxXMdzq1YrEojxO7pOEYZ16jIQiTe0UbKOfaGTCfohXuCTbx6_xamhJcMLQh2jk61NKETH7S8-oBgm2GaUVngbN5L-Ht2yp1H0fY-RISBvNXsgUCsgeTEOKggdsJ1zuOfMnIE0VHHg/s1600/cassiopeia_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdrXxXMdzq1YrEojxO7pOEYZ16jIQiTe0UbKOfaGTCfohXuCTbx6_xamhJcMLQh2jk61NKETH7S8-oBgm2GaUVngbN5L-Ht2yp1H0fY-RISBvNXsgUCsgeTEOKggdsJ1zuOfMnIE0VHHg/s320/cassiopeia_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Shameless, I know. Who can resist a post that starts with a tiny lamb face? This lovely creature is Cassiopeia and she was born a couple weeks ago at <a href="http://whitebarnsheepandwool.com/" target="_blank">White Barn Farm</a>. I had the chance to meet her and some of her flock last week when Paula kind enough to loan me and some friends her lovely pastures as back drop for a photo shoot. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiajQ0vdwgVZS830ZigK76kQaf_CbXY8OLvUS915KZIC6QztcYEL4wSOr1JVdj7ni7_WXXNg6mzsHNkJkNx7FViSIN5wAODKL45aPmG7W8b701qQDwJGQ4uOzH2D5w7AsIbW3J0kSzFu0/s1600/diesel_photobomb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiajQ0vdwgVZS830ZigK76kQaf_CbXY8OLvUS915KZIC6QztcYEL4wSOr1JVdj7ni7_WXXNg6mzsHNkJkNx7FViSIN5wAODKL45aPmG7W8b701qQDwJGQ4uOzH2D5w7AsIbW3J0kSzFu0/s320/diesel_photobomb.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Diesel, the newest ram on the farm getting his 15 minutes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><a href="http://www.theacoughlin.com/" target="_blank">Thea Coughlin</a> came down from Albany to shoot a new shawl I finished along with some other projects that aren't mine and still under wraps...It was a cold but super fun day, I love being at White Barn and it was such a nice treat to see Thea in between <a href="http://www.squamartworkshops.com/" target="_blank">Squam Art Workshop</a> sessions!<br />
<br />
The pattern for the shawl, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/triad-2" target="_blank">Triad</a>, is now available and even enjoyed a some time in the Top 20 on Ravelry! I made mine with 3 skeins of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/jilldrapermakesstuff?section_id=12577865" target="_blank">Mohonk</a> in Mourning Dove, Straw Into Gold & Rusty.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-XqUP-c1SFYQ7-blxUTBVkjmFYzCRnXbpsW_thQ9LGtcY5Bm8nV0stb2VwjjsX8FizgU2WqD94Sq7BgQD0heeRHNlM4CMhmfNrK8zX5rRXK9eM1yyDVxMdIJXQvakBXfuLhyphenhyphenpAUwv68A/s1600/triad+colors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-XqUP-c1SFYQ7-blxUTBVkjmFYzCRnXbpsW_thQ9LGtcY5Bm8nV0stb2VwjjsX8FizgU2WqD94Sq7BgQD0heeRHNlM4CMhmfNrK8zX5rRXK9eM1yyDVxMdIJXQvakBXfuLhyphenhyphenpAUwv68A/s320/triad+colors.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Because combioning color is one of my favorite things to do, I thought I'd put together this little chart of possible color combinations I think would be great. All of these work whether you read them across or down.<br />
<br />
I can't wait to see what everyone making the shawl chooses for their colors! Are you making Triad? What colors did you pick?<br />
<br />
If you missed <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DoubleKnotStudio?ref=ts&fref=ts" target="_blank">the announcement</a>, I am super psyched to be heading off to Portland to spend the Rose City Yarn Crawl (3/1-3/3) at one of my favorite far away LYSs <a href="http://happyknits.com/" target="_blank">Happy Knits</a>, if you are in the Portland area, please come & say hi!Jill Draper Makes Stuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274510976339175945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716430393294349663.post-60191018656594833172012-11-20T08:47:00.000-05:002012-11-20T08:47:24.397-05:00Introducing...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcoPrtEQO0AIc6kAAubE-jr91m9WDX5btk9V3Lqpid3xyw58dB9o5aZ4gc7FiyYDOJzfj-3ufTAvd2p-XDGWHoqVLFZUY8irE69r3Httc1tDAS9rTz-sbXMyaGPFZ9xvCwwDOLsUWnwMQ/s1600/derek2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcoPrtEQO0AIc6kAAubE-jr91m9WDX5btk9V3Lqpid3xyw58dB9o5aZ4gc7FiyYDOJzfj-3ufTAvd2p-XDGWHoqVLFZUY8irE69r3Httc1tDAS9rTz-sbXMyaGPFZ9xvCwwDOLsUWnwMQ/s320/derek2.jpg" width="297" /></a></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/jilldrapermakesstuff?section_id=12571393" target="_blank">Valkill</a></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">252yds/230m 4oz/113g</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">5-5.5sts/in on US #5-6/3.75-4mm</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">100% NYS Cheviot Wool</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">One of my two newest yarns made from locally sourced wool, spun for me in New England. <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/jilldrapermakesstuff?section_id=12571393" target="_blank">Valkill</a> is a hard wearing yarn made from Cheviot. Derek, the fine example above is one of the many sheep who shared his fleece for this yarn. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Valkill is spun in a way reminiscent of Icelandic style yarns, a hearty single ply appearance made with Cheviot fiber. I find this Cheviot to be soft enough to wear against the skin but it is definitely a toothier feel than the more fine-fleeced <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/jilldrapermakesstuff?section_id=12501081" target="_blank">Rambouillet</a>, or Merino. The first run of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/jilldrapermakesstuff?section_id=12571393" target="_blank">Valkill</a> has been dyed in bright shades of semisolid colors. I'm picturing this yarn worked in bold colorwork patterns, modern takes on <span id="taw" style="margin-right: 0;"><span class="spell_orig">Lopepesaya or Cowichan</span> </span> sweaters and scaled up granny sqaures.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/115531214/valkill-hand-dyed-dk-weight-nys-wool-252" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0xbx_rkAE0w3NfVdctr4b-3qH60RnZ-QGcbmkSAsVIxntZ7mO8qY45TF2iDx5ZAsrdsdIUXORmLFDqLkYy8UACPIktReUzMfkkFELRrnkOimlkknaEy1cNS6HEgcdZQYrnU6VPTBzZU/s320/valkill_grape_hyacinth_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1gIItIfQsOeGhtr2glBYtLhICFT4NJ7_GtNO_qrKxeFnLKkrrc6DILCkb5pQxsmcOG3Pb9xtNKA5byirtUgNC_OO3nZYopK8qBIBtc1xfjyCi-ZpTow5eWzEOvw3evm5UKs9y6SSYO4/s1600/valkill_north_atlantic_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1gIItIfQsOeGhtr2glBYtLhICFT4NJ7_GtNO_qrKxeFnLKkrrc6DILCkb5pQxsmcOG3Pb9xtNKA5byirtUgNC_OO3nZYopK8qBIBtc1xfjyCi-ZpTow5eWzEOvw3evm5UKs9y6SSYO4/s320/valkill_north_atlantic_1.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/115530079/valkill-hand-dyed-dk-weight-nys-wool-252?ref=v1_other_2" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLafRW_pMlux4fDvG8Ua7m6K5BpETYIoX0wG22FiHoUYZLY7yvwjSbWo4P7WI3vFvGL-iOppyWoTqyUfCfukltYgSTzEiQV1iLDVUNiLd20GceyKsj0-sX1YCF4QxG0oJM-4S9q5RL28/s320/valkill_leaf_1a.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/115529606/valkill-hand-dyed-dk-weight-nys-wool-252?ref=v1_other_2" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_IhQlBm-b8FOS_ZuCKze34SRNXG60uZ9dTNi05QfBBmL2g0ICDUuFgafOvA7KFYN43RsmJOTxiHin3zeOApN8CCfd5XgdEypCVPK3S3DoozDn6vjwfn4F6VMbJ_isWHWw6OdBQUQXfaY/s320/valkill_lemon_drop_1d.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/115527385/valkill-hand-dyed-dk-weight-nys-wool-252?ref=v1_other_2" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8DALqWtMaOOszIMEZeG7f_yOx1zh5jFZOXdZhXUYau_v-KZi01VITayZnb4IsCTXPtBD2TDOFANepvlAyQQQYlV2AsRbzEZpn59lRKovXzriVv8KMWfqzj_pglVtlE3G8khPRtiFFnFo/s320/valkill_brick_1b.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/115525191/valkill-hand-dyed-dk-weight-nys-wool-252?ref=v1_other_2" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFNUO92sV7VJ-fU5N8yWL0a8nRx9h1YC0HZKhfOM7QQPknyrvEib94qpEoI2QLGxp4OFkBYlekDYQpdwKLDwiPHmb2YZn48_RwxHLAELba-zYCFquptNu_GkfLSIwyDaq6uLErEnuW1-4/s320/valkill_rosy_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/115522587/valkill-hand-dyed-dk-weight-nys-wool-252?ref=v1_other_2" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1LSrtJ3SBvMwHsWVdbpnJrdZWmz0U43jWhiC-iQjhZcwYvUBKy_kosOnWfReEdm1_W6en2inJjjR4lgeB7A37dFc6YhcwP2ITH8SNEboEVJRk_my8DMxG_QVwNDG_98bMzBo2nF0n0B8/s320/valkill_sand_1a.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">What can you envision Valkill growing up to be? I'd love to hear your ideas in the comments!</span>Jill Draper Makes Stuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274510976339175945noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716430393294349663.post-16465603147866011072012-10-16T11:41:00.001-04:002012-10-16T11:41:29.354-04:00Rhinebeck viewed from across the riverI'm getting ready for <a href="http://www.vogueknittinglive.com/ehome/index.php?eventid=41215&" target="_blank">Vogue Knitting Live</a> in Chicago 10/26/8 but first I have a weekend of fun planned at <a href="http://www.sheepandwool.com/" target="_blank">NYS Sheep & Wool</a> right across the river in Rhinebeck. I don't have a booth thus year so I get to have all the fun and none of the stress!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjakiHRtE05UQMZrr37jRBhCd9EGzP-KxwOKKvbHtC7C83AEoieWlwMuqy6rkg3dtuFtLUe8kUUmwm_KwDuoxMqkuSmDPREkKftncjTpC0gwZHDrrdH-haHXteimbFFPfikJEyWrEEK1pw/s1600/eating+grain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjakiHRtE05UQMZrr37jRBhCd9EGzP-KxwOKKvbHtC7C83AEoieWlwMuqy6rkg3dtuFtLUe8kUUmwm_KwDuoxMqkuSmDPREkKftncjTpC0gwZHDrrdH-haHXteimbFFPfikJEyWrEEK1pw/s320/eating+grain.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I love Sheep & Wool, it is, in part, why I chose to move to the Hudson Valley from Brooklyn. I know knitters, crocheters, spinners, weavers, felters and fiber lovers of every kind are heading to Rhinebeck this weekend and I thought I'd share some tips from a local this week so you don't miss any of the awesome stuff my *neighborhood has to offer.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Local Yarnie events</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Thursday & Friday 5-9pm</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.hudsonvalleysheepandwoolco.com/" target="_blank">Hudson Valley Sheep & Wool</a> is having evening open houses both nights to welcome fiber lovers from near & far into the shop to hang out, work on a project, eat and enjoy the company of others in town for the fest as well as the local crowd. HV S&W carries lots of yarn & undyed roving, including handspun art yarns and yarns made on the premises from their own flock of Icelandics. Added bonus: there is one of the sweetest Pyrenees you will ever meet "guarding" the door and you will be forced to give pets before entering.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Friday 4pm-6pm</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.yarnandteashop.com/news/sheep-wool-festival-weekend-happenings" target="_blank">The Perfect Blend</a> Saugerties NY</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The gals from <a href="http://www.kelbournewoolens.com/" target="_blank">Kelbourne Woolens</a> are signing their new book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/November-Knits-Inspired-Designs-Changing/dp/1596684399" target="_blank">November Knits</a>. I just met them at Interweave Knitting Lab and they are lovely, as is the book! The Perfect Blend carries a great selection of yarn (including mine) and teas. The shop is staying open late all weekend if you need to pick up last minute notions or just want to cozy up & knit or crochet after a day wandering the fair grounds.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.clotheshorsemag.com/library/tapestry-fall-2012/15826455" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPoJReipy_T5EXgJs-pR-99fC_8g4_yEcR2pwy1TTJH8WodJs46UWCvh1r1SoQdvUjthrz4FM4AhVjkCaXxe3zKxvCRpFncTtfl7F2kCebaJk1olqUvLxjztYJgJbJDpApX6kBVfwQmwQ/s320/2012-fall-hestia.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Fall 2012 Clotheshorse design using Splendor Sock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Saturday 7pm</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/events/army-of-knitters--clotheshorse-trunk-show--soiree" target="_blank">White Barn Farm</a> New Paltz NY </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.armyofknitters.com/" target="_blank">Army of Knitters</a> & <a href="http://www.clotheshorsemag.com/" target="_blank">Clotheshorse</a> Trunk Show</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Local pal Heather Dixon of Army of Knitters & Clotheshorse is hosting a trunk show at White Barn Farm. You can try on some of the garments & enjoy an evening hang with refreshments at a shop devoted to showcasing the work of many local artists. White Barn Farm has lots of locally dyed yarn & roving, some from their own flock of Cormos (lots of my yarn is here too!), hand spun yarn and even finished garments. If you haven't been, it so worth the drive. Oh, and if you go to New Paltz DO NOT MISS <a href="http://www.lagustasluscious.com/shop/" target="_blank">Lagusta's Luscious </a>seriously, the best and most interesting chocolate you have ever tasted lives here. Just make sure to save <a href="http://www.lagustasluscious.com/shop/chocolate-of-the-month/october-2012-chocolate-of-the-month-apple-caramels" target="_blank">some of these</a> for me.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Saturday 7pm</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://wingandclover.com/" target="_blank">Wing & Clover</a> Rhinebeck NY</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/336015663159601/" target="_blank">CoOp Press Party</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Shannon & Co are throwing a little post S&W shindig at Wing & Clover, a great local workshop space where you can find classes with me, <a href="http://hodgepodgefarm.net/" target="_blank">Cal Patch</a> or <a href="http://jennyleefowler.com/" target="_blank">Jenny Lee Fowler</a> often in the roster. The party is pay what you want and every dollar gets you a chance at what I'm sure is some awesome swag.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And a couple other "things" that I think you shouldn't skip if you're visiting:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.tuthilltown.com/" target="_blank">Tuthilltown</a> a local distillery that makes small batch spirits that are perfect for warming up on cool nights. You can find their products at many local liquor stores and <a href="http://www.tuthilltown.com/store/distillery-shop" target="_blank">their own shop</a> in New Paltz. A great souvenir for the non fiber lover you go home to.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.keeganales.com/" target="_blank">Keegan Ales</a> a local micro brewery that recently opened a craft beer supply shop across the parking lot from the pub. So you can stop in for a pint or bring the supplies to make your own home with you!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.deisings.com/" target="_blank">Diesings Bakery</a> The Front Street one is the only one to go to in my opinion. It is a weirdly old fashioned diner with walls covered in cuckoo clocks and a strange bar seating area that I love. Homemade doughnuts and pastries are amazing, not fancy or artisanal but super sweet and comforting. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I hope you love visiting the Hudson Valley as much as I love living here! I'd love to hear what local gems you come across when you're in town.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">*Please note: outside of cities neighborhoods extend to a much wider range of around 20 miles</span>Jill Draper Makes Stuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274510976339175945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716430393294349663.post-90886036160829197392012-10-10T10:59:00.000-04:002012-10-10T10:59:51.524-04:00Contests <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
<img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywsU43znkMTJ0AfDXo2hgtLj3Y3NrXlMPFK74zIqJ8w6y6DnmyWqiJvez19bo9ruxWaJx7nvHDKffDDt5bzlx0gz0OWXf84QQAqGNX2D6mzZ8NJ2FOI2mjPJYn8F8dQ2TsfwbGYUORwA/s200/sunflower_1a.jpg" width="200" /> </div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgONY362f4jym8IvIuUZHtsCMiAltu0iA_1kLhFbQXObjGirbWa7nlZSopcTDn3teC5wvFk1cWln7JBdqtNgtc6CpSBG-TLcYX3HSnrQ3ry8AlhLNMMV8m6aGiHe5RSmrCu_YIcaO2OwzI/s1600/catskill_strawintogold_1b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgONY362f4jym8IvIuUZHtsCMiAltu0iA_1kLhFbQXObjGirbWa7nlZSopcTDn3teC5wvFk1cWln7JBdqtNgtc6CpSBG-TLcYX3HSnrQ3ry8AlhLNMMV8m6aGiHe5RSmrCu_YIcaO2OwzI/s200/catskill_strawintogold_1b.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Hi friends!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It is the busy season over here at Camp JDMS. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Yarn is in just about every stage of the process here, raw wool waiting to go to the mill, yarn soaking, yarn in dyepots, yarn drying, yarn waiting for labels and labeled yarn waiting for a new home (yours maybe?)</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEaP-_XH9ceOZQeL953cJjMNkS6tCTobTPNhjCVGnal9UsY6NkcOFR8uCmr2ySgVVsiBqbt2Bw8yFFMOJvPsK7HrgHfStInSQUC385SIWtXoM6PRGoKOJDkqI6ibtG1W4DZfM5SmIJyHo/s1600/lemon_quartz_1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEaP-_XH9ceOZQeL953cJjMNkS6tCTobTPNhjCVGnal9UsY6NkcOFR8uCmr2ySgVVsiBqbt2Bw8yFFMOJvPsK7HrgHfStInSQUC385SIWtXoM6PRGoKOJDkqI6ibtG1W4DZfM5SmIJyHo/s200/lemon_quartz_1a.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Thanks to everyone who entered the contest to win a 3 month subscription to <a href="http://www.creativebug.com/" target="_blank">Creative Bug</a>! There are so many things you all want to make! The winner (chosen at random, thank you random number generator!) is Kelli who has been contacted and will be getting a hank of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/jilldrapermakesstuff?section_id=12254017" target="_blank">Catskill</a> to make her practice swatch and a hank of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/jilldrapermakesstuff?section_id=6756416" target="_blank">Splendor</a> to knit a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/a-little-something-2" target="_blank">Little Something</a></span>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2nELDUs0aTPscxhyRuwdh5XM-vLr8qc2FZYtxshJvBvgsyh56a_7MCqZRD1JOlxwTIFpBofwH0IMk1GYG60VCgt7C_e8a-RcWzLdEvrPY4DLV-u19cmWXkyCgh6_I4UI1wgXjd9mB1c/s1600/57632070202784009_lyRn2WJH_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm2nELDUs0aTPscxhyRuwdh5XM-vLr8qc2FZYtxshJvBvgsyh56a_7MCqZRD1JOlxwTIFpBofwH0IMk1GYG60VCgt7C_e8a-RcWzLdEvrPY4DLV-u19cmWXkyCgh6_I4UI1wgXjd9mB1c/s320/57632070202784009_lyRn2WJH_c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Creative Bug (like most of us) is obsessed with <a href="http://pinterest.com/jillmakesstuff/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> & is running a Pinterest contest with a serious grand prize and some pretty awesome "runner up" prizes too. All the details are on <a href="http://blog.creativebug.com/i-made-this-contest/" target="_blank">their blog </a>so if you didn't win this contest you have another chance and EVEN if you don't win the new contest I think a subscription is a great deal, you can take as many classes as you want for one price! And the roster of teachers is a pretty impressive group that I'm humbled to be counted among.</span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If you aren't on Pinterest yet send me an email jill@jilldraper.com and I'll send you an invite. It's pretty fun and a great way to collect all those bookmarked projects into one place.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Back to the dyepots for me! Hope you're having as lovely rainy Wednesday as I am!</span>Jill Draper Makes Stuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274510976339175945noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716430393294349663.post-56315644145021026392012-10-02T16:48:00.003-04:002012-10-02T16:48:34.084-04:00Overwhelmed, awed, amazed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Friends, I can't begin to thank you enough for all your votes & shares during the craziness of the voting for the <a href="http://americanmade.marthastewart.com/" target="_blank">American Made Award</a>!<br />
<br />
First, to even be selected as a finalist among thousands of businesses making things here in the US was such an honor. Then, to see the quality of things being made, I felt even prouder. Finally, to have all of you; customers, colleagues, old friends, the best family in the world and even my personal favorite <a href="http://www.mergerecords.com/" target="_blank">record label</a> getting in on it and trying to help me win what could be one of the most amazing prizes awarded to a small business has been utterly and completely heartwarming.<br />
<br />
I spend most days alone, head-down, working away to bring you the yarns I've always wanted to knit with. High quality, ethically sourced and hand painted or kettle dyed with love and attention to detail. <br />
<br />
Sometimes working alone like this it's hard to remember why I'm doing this. It's all of you that remind me, every one of you who *squee-s* in my booth at a fiber fest or sends me an email with your finished project, comments on yarn pics on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jill-Draper-Makes-Stuff/20912791235" target="_blank">facebook</a> or joined my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/jill-draper-makes-stuff---and-so-do-i" target="_blank">Ravelry group</a>!<br />
<br />
The good news is it's not over yet!! The winner won't be announced until 10/8 (I know! I'm dy(e)ing too!) and apparently it isn't all about votes! Your part is over and for all your active participation I can't begin to thank you enough. It was truly humbling, awe inspiring & heartwarming to see this little (one woman!) company stay among the top vote-getters day after day. <br />
<br />
Everyone keep your fingers & toes, knitting needles & crochet hooks crossed for me. Without you Jill Draper Makes Stuff wouldn't exist and my life would definitely be much less awesome than it is.<br />
<br />
From the very bottom of my yarnie heart...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">THANK YOU!!</span></div>
Jill Draper Makes Stuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274510976339175945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716430393294349663.post-54247749142144217312012-09-18T13:00:00.000-04:002012-09-18T13:00:27.064-04:00New classes sprouting<link href="file://localhost/Users/TheStable/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>129</o:Words>
<o:Characters>739</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Jill Draper Makes Stuff</o:Company>
<o:Lines>6</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>907</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
</style><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.creativebug.com/instructors/jill-draper" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWlvYij5QGrvqgkTOxZtgVFEXeYKJsLoi708sLIPun69pr1w42bv1gPFehsgNqDpcEbamYStHZnUlVBXS3ww8ktpF8FXfxi0yn_dNvixrN2TfsVKZ7KIbZTo7WVW0Hufm_mSZ_9NhZ3XE/s400/jill_facebook-banner.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<!--EndFragment-->
<link href="file://localhost/Users/TheStable/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>65</o:Words>
<o:Characters>374</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Jill Draper Makes Stuff</o:Company>
<o:Lines>3</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>459</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-size: small;">You may have heard – since I’ve practically been shouting it
from the rooftops – that I’m teaching classes online for the fab crew at
<a href="http://www.creativebug.com/" target="_blank">Creative Bug</a>. I feel so
honored to have a place among teachers & makers I really respect like <a href="http://www.creativebug.com/instructors/cal-patch" target="_blank">Cal Patch</a>, <a href="http://www.creativebug.com/instructors/rebecca-ringquist" target="_blank">Rebecca Ringquist</a>, <a href="http://www.creativebug.com/instructors/diana-fayt" target="_blank">Diana Fayt</a> ... I could go on forever!</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Here's a sweet video they made to introduce yours truly to the world. It feels extra special because the music for it it is done by <a href="http://www.richardbuckner.com/" target="_blank">Richard Buckner</a> (how lucky am I?!) </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<!--EndFragment-->
<span style="font-size: small;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/43222052?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=606ca1" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="400"></iframe></span> </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://vimeo.com/43222052">Jill Draper Creativebug Trailer</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/creativebug">Creativebug</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<link href="file://localhost/Users/TheStable/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/msoclip/0/clip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>86</o:Words>
<o:Characters>493</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Jill Draper Makes Stuff</o:Company>
<o:Lines>4</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>605</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<style>
<!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Cambria;
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;
mso-font-charset:0;
mso-generic-font-family:auto;
mso-font-pitch:variable;
mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{mso-style-parent:"";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria;
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
@page Section1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;
mso-header-margin:.5in;
mso-footer-margin:.5in;
mso-paper-source:0;}
div.Section1
{page:Section1;}
</style>
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">It has been super fun working with Creative Bug and I’m
excited for even more classes to launch.
As of now, you can <a href="http://www.creativebug.com/workshops/learn-to-knit-basketweave-scarf" target="_blank">Learn to Knit</a> – English & Continental style, or for
those who have the basics down; take an <a href="http://www.creativebug.com/workshops/intro-to-lace-knitting-a-little-something" target="_blank">Intro to Lace</a> class with me and learn to
make a Little Something...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1JDYDOnKnB4c3m7ab1sZQzJkUv4N2gJw6eUcfgMF5XHeZO-hnLV8JjUmuTq1spPsHU6t7C5o-H9jorPXcsZnY81wlmp-H_PpNwJClt_yUL4R8QTLEOlBGIf54ecOV5WJGkfE36h2jtQ4/s1600/etsy_ls_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1JDYDOnKnB4c3m7ab1sZQzJkUv4N2gJw6eUcfgMF5XHeZO-hnLV8JjUmuTq1spPsHU6t7C5o-H9jorPXcsZnY81wlmp-H_PpNwJClt_yUL4R8QTLEOlBGIf54ecOV5WJGkfE36h2jtQ4/s320/etsy_ls_2.jpg" width="297" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Today a <a href="http://www.creativebug.com/workshops/intro-to-double-knitting-sprout-cowl" target="_blank">new class launches</a> and it‘s one of my favorite techniques to both knit and
teach,
double knitting.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/49411720?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=606ca1" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="400"></iframe></span> <br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://vimeo.com/49411720">Double Knit Sprout Cowl with Jill Draper on Creativebug</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/creativebug">Creativebug</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Double knitting
is way to make a reversible fabric with stockinette on both sides and
because
of the way it’s made, colorwork is a breeze with no ends to weave in and
no
floats on the “wrong side”. I’ve
been teaching this class in person and LOVE seeing the finished cowls, I
can’t
wait to see what color combinations my online students pick! You can check out some lovely finished cowls on <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sprout---double-knit-cowl/people" target="_blank">Ravelry</a>.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">To celebrate the newest class
launch, Creative Bug has agreed to generously give away a </span><b style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">3 month
subscription</b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> and I'm sweetening the pot a little by including some Jill Draper Makes Stuff yarn for whichever class of mine you decide to take first!</span> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_6R7kLyMZedVqZiAUoj9fxJpLWLPCCpeIFRw9jWGPnwUG35PrU8Lkrs8_5gtm2P6hzs9qabdl3BrSzk9b11wR5NhN2V6EsmbnutReWJEztnFs1qpHi3-U18gN8IMmtqu5XQTxHWudcg/s1600/daydream_1b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj_6R7kLyMZedVqZiAUoj9fxJpLWLPCCpeIFRw9jWGPnwUG35PrU8Lkrs8_5gtm2P6hzs9qabdl3BrSzk9b11wR5NhN2V6EsmbnutReWJEztnFs1qpHi3-U18gN8IMmtqu5XQTxHWudcg/s320/daydream_1b.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Just
leave a comment below with which
class you would love to take and why and then go <a href="http://creativebug.us5.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=bcb9d670804e1cfa12b910e6a&id=0faee564ed" target="_blank">here</a> and enter
your
email address. Easy, right?!</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<!--EndFragment-->
Jill Draper Makes Stuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274510976339175945noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716430393294349663.post-19046116326198250602012-09-10T12:42:00.001-04:002012-09-10T12:42:17.372-04:00Awesome AboundsI am surrounded by the most amazing people in the world.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUu1whz04akziEM0UbmEYb-kjTX1Rg0RDClg3blTRD47pNeO0SXETwvmVaThZWEVf7pd-GwWt-ZYgu_xY8SJDhs5px_A7qoAYC8v4GyjuCB8lyDsshw_NBAJK-VL4_MZRVZCT4KYEhm6c/s1600/IMG_7052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUu1whz04akziEM0UbmEYb-kjTX1Rg0RDClg3blTRD47pNeO0SXETwvmVaThZWEVf7pd-GwWt-ZYgu_xY8SJDhs5px_A7qoAYC8v4GyjuCB8lyDsshw_NBAJK-VL4_MZRVZCT4KYEhm6c/s1600/IMG_7052.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpw_zLNlj5JOUB9o9EnNdyHokImq5AVbO9a168AptDF7gcw1GnmpUHGIQjm0hzH1Egy7bFi_8GmEWjRZVI5RPsTWA_OZYgmhRCxNIJZvxnnOb3GPNQAlaPbasqjQfPTE9q0-TOvSQYNs/s1600/colorway%236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<br />
<br />
That is just a fact. I've known this for a long time but it has been
proven in a huge way over the past couple days. On Friday, I was
shocked and thrilled to tears to find out Jill Draper Makes Stuff has
made the finals for the Martha Stewart American Made Audience Choice
Award. <br />
<br />
You can vote every day until 9/24 and the
winner is decided by simple numbers, whoever gets the most votes wins
$10,000 and a feature in Martha Stewart Living. This is a huge honor and
winning it could really help me take the
company to the next level. <br />
<br />
I've had so many friends, colleagues, customers and shop owners share
the voting link (<a href="http://americanmade.marthastewart.com/profiles/jill-draper-240" target="_blank">it's right here by the way</a>) that I am simply
overwhelmed by kindness. The yarn community is truly one of the most supportive groups anyone could hope to be a part of!! Where else would other companies that in traditional "business" would be your "competitors" be rooting for you?! Nowhere. We yarnies are in it together.<br />
<br />
I started dyeing yarn as a way to combine my love of color &
painting with my new obsession (at the time) of hand knitting. The serendipity of the
middle mixtures between colors and the resulting unexpectedness in the
hand knitted garment only made me fall more head over heels for hand
dyeing. It has changed from a pastime into my full time job and I
couldn't be more happy. In case you didn't know, I dye all my yarns from 5 primary colors (cool red, warm red, yellow, cool blue and warm blue) mixing each to get the exact color I want.<br />
<br />
Running my own small business has meant lots of sacrifices. It has
meant missed BBQs and dinners out with friends. It means skipping lots
of little luxuries to invest more in growing my business. It means
working the equivalent of a couple full time jobs without paid holidays, weekends off or "benefits". <br />
I love every day though. <br />
I am so proud of where JDMS has come from and what lies ahead. I work tirelessly to source new wool and find mills to work with in the US. This takes a lot of time and a pretty large investment that takes months before I'm able to recoup any of. There have been high points and super lows over the past 5 years.<br />
<br />
All of this is WORTH IT though. <br />
<br />
Every time I get an email from a knitter or crocheter with a picture of their newly finished garment or someone asks if they can hug me at a fiber fest (you can, but at your own risk, I might be sweaty by the end of the day or weekend ;) I know I've picked the right path.<br />
<br />
Thank you so much for walking this path with me. I appreciate your support more than you could ever know. Winning this award could make even more of my dreams come true. It could mean being able to hire some help and set up a studio outside my house so I have even more room to work and won't have to share a wet studio with my laundry. <br />
<br />
Even if I don't win, knowing I have all of you standing beside me is kind of like winning anyway.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRcnPfTKoiREQRuFNXhfya_rAp2ZSFHYqkV1me4g24sN7_SMS9rMRgAV8GdQYl4fbciaYfl81qOHD62H_cEkPE2Zvap3OTkXuDxQRhVswzHntB88NYr7rVRu84PXDTvnkOb4-oLxFnDco/s1600/lamb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRcnPfTKoiREQRuFNXhfya_rAp2ZSFHYqkV1me4g24sN7_SMS9rMRgAV8GdQYl4fbciaYfl81qOHD62H_cEkPE2Zvap3OTkXuDxQRhVswzHntB88NYr7rVRu84PXDTvnkOb4-oLxFnDco/s1600/lamb.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Jill Draper Makes Stuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274510976339175945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716430393294349663.post-64581170981325389192012-09-07T09:23:00.002-04:002012-09-07T09:23:56.916-04:00What I did on my Summer VacationSo, yeah, my last blog post was in late May. I wish I could say I was touring the world and living a life of leisure. Not quite the case.<br />
<br />
I did have a lovely Summer, but a working Summer. I thought I'd give you the quick sum up:<br />
<br />
I went to <a href="http://www.squamartworkshops.com/" target="_blank">Squam Art Workshops</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWLAOGs1sFWORzz84Mkn-SpuvDU1PBIMxBQAi08Cnfu49mrxY1uREYGdOTnNJw9lrgvOcKCNehRiwhnVlTDSnDRHGpVDC0LpnHHqPylntDxODw2XFs0W9ok_lo3YP8DDD2ZXZOihUA18s/s1600/IMG_6709.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWLAOGs1sFWORzz84Mkn-SpuvDU1PBIMxBQAi08Cnfu49mrxY1uREYGdOTnNJw9lrgvOcKCNehRiwhnVlTDSnDRHGpVDC0LpnHHqPylntDxODw2XFs0W9ok_lo3YP8DDD2ZXZOihUA18s/s320/IMG_6709.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Which as always was a lovely week of teaching & learning, connecting with far flung friends and meeting new ones. Recharging my batteries this time in a cabin filled with other people who make their living the same way I do, little by little, carving out their space in the world. It was utterly inspiring and just what I needed.<br />
<br />
I had a visit from my mini BFF<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpoSUeFpHpetava9IPrPDTdmnqFnOfmmznsu485BIXgpmKPH787QVH9pDNX0v1lwy_w-laZ4z3bkPiCtDneJbMD5XYTwFEjYTHOQLzodgU_IwYug9mWnz2YUr6ol8iNnRyFsl0HrIIzxw/s1600/tattooing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpoSUeFpHpetava9IPrPDTdmnqFnOfmmznsu485BIXgpmKPH787QVH9pDNX0v1lwy_w-laZ4z3bkPiCtDneJbMD5XYTwFEjYTHOQLzodgU_IwYug9mWnz2YUr6ol8iNnRyFsl0HrIIzxw/s320/tattooing.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
Yes, this is me "tattooing" her with markers. They are washable and it's Summer. Don't judge me. <br />
<br />
I've been dyeing up a storm for a hand dyed collection for <a href="http://tahkistacycharles.com/" target="_blank">Tahki Stacy Charles</a> you can find <a href="http://tahkistacycharles.com/t/yarn_single?products_id=1809" target="_blank">Cora</a> this Fall at your LYS (if you're lucky, it's a limited run!)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTefElJLiBAYQDGu8ZtXAb4Vdg5IIF9x_w560UEukbH2mgpO72pWjeV8cYcUPPlJ0LZs0vSmZ0hKUIT7lUrvYmeIDhpaql38r4unUPRRWHhn5gBs49rOjuWUIEfDFlj5nx7vMszFvUtNA/s1600/coracolors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTefElJLiBAYQDGu8ZtXAb4Vdg5IIF9x_w560UEukbH2mgpO72pWjeV8cYcUPPlJ0LZs0vSmZ0hKUIT7lUrvYmeIDhpaql38r4unUPRRWHhn5gBs49rOjuWUIEfDFlj5nx7vMszFvUtNA/s400/coracolors.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />I went to San Francisco and filmed a bunch of new classes for the fantastic crew at <a href="http://www.creativebug.com/instructors/jill-draper" target="_blank">Creative Bug</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
What will <b>you</b> make today?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYcVn8tbGNEbQgKt3GOyaJ_CEBkrsV50M-UtILicoZlJbmZNXTaKGxoKM2AHg20ZN6gs5k-LCOx6etDQ_E4ezz8-R8dUEfPubYuZ-D__vbvWR3Griv62UOxKKoOHp93isH12pU_F4InmA/s1600/photo-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYcVn8tbGNEbQgKt3GOyaJ_CEBkrsV50M-UtILicoZlJbmZNXTaKGxoKM2AHg20ZN6gs5k-LCOx6etDQ_E4ezz8-R8dUEfPubYuZ-D__vbvWR3Griv62UOxKKoOHp93isH12pU_F4InmA/s320/photo-13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Currently you can <a href="http://www.creativebug.com/workshops/learn-to-knit-basketweave-scarf" target="_blank">learn to knit</a> (Continental or English!) or get an <a href="http://www.creativebug.com/workshops/intro-to-lace-knitting-a-little-something" target="_blank">introduction to knitted lace</a> with me. Look for more classes coming this Fall. Not to mention all the other amazing instructors you can take classes with, like pals <a href="http://www.creativebug.com/instructors/rebecca-ringquist" target="_blank">Rebecca Ringquist</a>, <a href="http://www.creativebug.com/instructors/cal-patch" target="_blank">Cal Patch</a>, <a href="http://www.creativebug.com/instructors/courtney-cerruti" target="_blank">Courtney Cerruti</a> and oh, so many more! It's such a joy to work with Creative Bug and I'm so proud to be among such a talented group of instructors!<br />
<br />
I collected and dropped off at mills more wool than any one human should every have in their possession at once.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9d3J0AhmOfqnpcrc_0EYThTH4JwpdJ0mGvPYIZsE6KSd2aJwQ1HnfO6_Cw_8vEDsrUXzu6hcWGplrPhkLQC0i06SAh9tJrVxpPBrY7isuN8TmhzOswRa6GxikU_6qvHnksG4XSbt_cuA/s1600/sheepyvan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9d3J0AhmOfqnpcrc_0EYThTH4JwpdJ0mGvPYIZsE6KSd2aJwQ1HnfO6_Cw_8vEDsrUXzu6hcWGplrPhkLQC0i06SAh9tJrVxpPBrY7isuN8TmhzOswRa6GxikU_6qvHnksG4XSbt_cuA/s320/sheepyvan.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
By the time you see this again it will be spun into yarn and dyed in a rainbow of shades by your truly.<br />
<br />
I had a dye party with <a href="http://hodgepodgefarm.net/" target="_blank">Cal</a> & <a href="http://fibreperson.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Alisa</a>. There was lots of laughing, some dyeing, a teensy bit of gossip and a truly lovely day. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_p6UvzzARzVfcLeLTbvR7T-j2ylDjW4J66Jm6THXRoCuxdgmHUUW8MT1nSvBKpi_DpSXDtKhQ3hHvxsM3HDt73Cq118BawcRYZDZKcKyDfEc8AZSbR8IGhRiK7cBAULNiP9GPrymzHE/s1600/IMG_7738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_p6UvzzARzVfcLeLTbvR7T-j2ylDjW4J66Jm6THXRoCuxdgmHUUW8MT1nSvBKpi_DpSXDtKhQ3hHvxsM3HDt73Cq118BawcRYZDZKcKyDfEc8AZSbR8IGhRiK7cBAULNiP9GPrymzHE/s320/IMG_7738.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
My '<span class="st">Pièce <em>de</em> résistance' is the brick red in the middle. I tied about 9,000* split peas and pinto beans into some linen I picked up last time I was teaching at <a href="http://www.purlbee.com/classes-at-purl-soho/" target="_blank">Purl</a>. Now I just need to figure out what this yardage wants to become...</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="st">* this may be a slight exaggeration</span></span><br />
<br />
Well... that brings us to September. I'm here, as always, in galoshes & army shorts dyeing like crazy to get ready for the first of Fall fiber fests, <a href="http://www.gvhg.org/fest.html" target="_blank">Finger Lakes Fiber Fest</a> in Hemlock NY 9/15 & 16. <br />
<br />
I hope your Summer was as productive as mine and that you too are ready for cooler temps and lots & lots of knitting!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvl_7BxHbykztzXbw7GEy8LbejvUzWqL-igvGtIMYVko2vZdAnZjCEEuXHqcXuOiARvUWpB_ilc0uHnTYXgsg_MRSYHI2Joe5nRoZnUDWm_XgbFhtNC7nXe4mVuAGMqdzTfA4QKdv5Q3w/s1600/cora+paint+25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2hiN29qUOSvJI_dvXhdAtp-zhr6Hw6oGEYF-3HhgwnxbDnoQRua1FwWYQtB1Dw8bfG7GhjJ-yAbfnrK73Up0Sarep_RvQskhmQdAD0jcrPoBYsj3FFAdROjxFvJneir9B2xshYNHsks/s1600/cora+paint+26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Jill Draper Makes Stuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274510976339175945noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4716430393294349663.post-91968432092553111902012-05-21T15:32:00.000-04:002012-05-21T15:44:31.881-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr9h_e5ZLVd9Q7j1SSaqoUBRtuWvdJaCfzzKnuMcTQQYy3c4g9l2O8fRoI_7SD0PzREZZa3e9J3hw2DZGNmeC_Rw70XgGotUGk_0Xk1P9jlwBvbrr1qN1E2HR2mmyYT0G4jsfY3vB6X_A/s1600/my+french+press.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr9h_e5ZLVd9Q7j1SSaqoUBRtuWvdJaCfzzKnuMcTQQYy3c4g9l2O8fRoI_7SD0PzREZZa3e9J3hw2DZGNmeC_Rw70XgGotUGk_0Xk1P9jlwBvbrr1qN1E2HR2mmyYT0G4jsfY3vB6X_A/s1600/my+french+press.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
I realize if this is your first or second time reading the blog I might seem a bit footwear obsessed. But I'm not, really!</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I am however, comfort obsessed...maybe because I spend pretty much all day everyday on my feet so good shoes & slippers play major parts in my life.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'm getting ready to head to <a href="http://www.squamartworkshops.com/" target="_blank">Squam Art Workshops</a> in just a few short weeks and I can't wait! There is a thread on Ravelry which always inspires & panics me in equal measure. It's titled "<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/squam-art-workshops/1980936/1-25" target="_blank">Things to make & wear to Squam</a>". Knowing I'll be surrounded by makers I want to be able to show off a bit. There is probably no where else in the world that your handmade wardrobe will be so appreciated (okay, maybe <a href="http://www.sheepandwool.com/" target="_blank">Rhinebeck</a>) so it's the perfect time to pull out all the handmade stops.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I know <a href="http://frenchpressknits.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Melynda Bernardi</a> will be there teaching her lovely <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/french-press-felted-slippers" target="_blank">French Press Slippers</a>, something I've had on my 'knit list' probably since they were released, and I figured NOW was the time to finally make them.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijjx7tqJSG7XV3ubsZM1sd6iwHe4JsQthRp_YzvRJVd9c_bAo1eZ2ECc4KeOmJQjTLeSqaOSQEC39bZymARdhJ8EOPmnzZV8_5sRrqLLyl7aKN_-AgvimkA07ioJSbAeUQXg3nYJaJrTw/s1600/my+french+press+before1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijjx7tqJSG7XV3ubsZM1sd6iwHe4JsQthRp_YzvRJVd9c_bAo1eZ2ECc4KeOmJQjTLeSqaOSQEC39bZymARdhJ8EOPmnzZV8_5sRrqLLyl7aKN_-AgvimkA07ioJSbAeUQXg3nYJaJrTw/s1600/my+french+press+before1.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">They knit up unbelievably fast, mostly in one evening with the seaming the next evening. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I have to admit here, until this I haven't fulled/felted much of my knitting. For most of my knitting life I lived in NYC with a laundromat as "my" only washing machine and they kind of frown on messing with the cycles...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So I was a little nervous pre-felting</span>. <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">They were comically huge as you can see in the pic below with my actual feet next to the slippers.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNQJfEpbKgXY6SyKln1ktJ4FqZ_v26kOpjj4ZWHlDug9JloZEzF6BtoYAPVuniOnLloTT1x0WPN75J2BSZx84eM5knA4H4WKbVZpE9vUz0mrlptsDbIMF7OErV2oJx6kOTbX2oTO8QgY/s1600/my+french+press+before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNQJfEpbKgXY6SyKln1ktJ4FqZ_v26kOpjj4ZWHlDug9JloZEzF6BtoYAPVuniOnLloTT1x0WPN75J2BSZx84eM5knA4H4WKbVZpE9vUz0mrlptsDbIMF7OErV2oJx6kOTbX2oTO8QgY/s1600/my+french+press+before.jpg" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
I bravely followed Melynda's written felting directions, well, almost. I don't have tennis balls laying around (do most people?!) but I did have some plastic measuring cups I figured would serve the same purpose so I threw those in the washer with the slippers. I checked every 5 minutes as directed and good thing because the change from not at all felted to totally felted happened in one of those 5 minute spaces!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7GdFSGPX4z8Bb95Y_ZSDqfHxwVH0raRv0bAaFwXnC8SrUqF2l0wQzoRCBnm-2aee2Q8QvCAqLgGEqyDDGWcgftTn7mysh_NTx0RW73oHQvsiYUmi2CC_Z5eccflr0lj0GHoXoxzTjZ4/s1600/my+french+press1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7GdFSGPX4z8Bb95Y_ZSDqfHxwVH0raRv0bAaFwXnC8SrUqF2l0wQzoRCBnm-2aee2Q8QvCAqLgGEqyDDGWcgftTn7mysh_NTx0RW73oHQvsiYUmi2CC_Z5eccflr0lj0GHoXoxzTjZ4/s320/my+french+press1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
I used my own hand dyed <a href="http://shop.happyknits.com/collections/yarn/products/jill-draper-catskill" target="_blank">Catskill</a> (2 skeins, with 77g remaining so 3 skeins would make 2 pair) a 4ply Merino and these fab, snap-on vintage buttons.</div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I am so thrilled with the way they came out!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOafOUoE0yirgt9QHI5pABwAR2cf6ORM6LLYwuQfr3b3tttGLWLMeoR2ZeH5NO8Vztp1C3yf2YYE5tr6eTDLxtueADzvBchf9vU8mcNr4wl5lpStaoIz21zeoznHpX6YaqOJ8uOlKvsHc/s1600/my+french+press2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOafOUoE0yirgt9QHI5pABwAR2cf6ORM6LLYwuQfr3b3tttGLWLMeoR2ZeH5NO8Vztp1C3yf2YYE5tr6eTDLxtueADzvBchf9vU8mcNr4wl5lpStaoIz21zeoznHpX6YaqOJ8uOlKvsHc/s320/my+french+press2.jpg" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I can't wait to wear these by the fireplace at Squam! Although I'm enjoying them quite a lot in my studio on a rainy Monday too...</span><br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
This project totally made me remember the joys of just knitting from another designer's pattern, not calculating or thinking ahead, just blindly following well written instructions. I am going to try to knit from a pattern at least once a month from now on to remind me how much I love knitting.</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">What's next on your "must knit" list?</span>Jill Draper Makes Stuffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03274510976339175945noreply@blogger.com1