news & events

Wow! I didn't mean to let a whole...*ahem*...more than two months slip by there...

Picnic in August went swimmingly - I sold a lot of yarn to very appreciative knitters, saw some good friends, and, most importantly, the weather was gorgeous. Not a raindrop to be seen! The hurricane was nice enough to stay away until the following day. Since then, I've been letting the yarn business rest a bit. I've listed all the stock that I didn't sell at Picnic and I have some new products that I introduced there - blank cards!

If you don't already know, I'm also a photographer. And, clearly, I photograph all my yarn for the shop. Well, people love yarn. People also love photos of yarn. So why not make up some blank cards with some of my photos on them? I did and people loved them! I'm just now starting to list the ones I have left in the shop. Check them out, if you're so inclined!

Hope you all have been having a wonderful fall so far!

the calm before the storm

If you don't know, we're expecting a hurricane. (If you don't know, where have you been?) But...

But!

Tomorrow's weather is suppose to be fine and dandy here in Portland, ME! And you know why that's awesome? Because it's time for Picnic! We're expecting some sun and clouds and mid-70s in our lovely town by the sea. What better way to enjoy it than to head downtown to Lincoln Park and peruse some fine handcrafted wares by myself and other crafters?

You can buy a bunch of yarn to keep you occupied on Sunday, when we actually will be dealing with a hurricane. Stay safe everyone!

Spam? No ma'am!

I'm starting up a new mailing list for Ye Olde Yarn Shoppe. If my attention to blogging here is any indication, there won't be a lot of activity. Which is nice for those of you who may like to get notice of sales and coupons and other goings-on, but don't want to be inundated with email. I can assure you that won't happen!

Click on over here to join up - the inaugural issue will be going out later today or tomorrow and I can promise you there will be a coupon code! *wink, wink*

Merchant Company

Calling all locals!

Or anyone visiting from out of town, of course. (Maine is a delightful summer destination!)

If you're interested in fondling some of my yarn with your very own hands, before you buy it, head over to The Merchant Company at 656 Congress St. in Portland, across from Local Sprouts, where there are mounds of squishy merino and silk (and even a bit of alpaca) just waiting for you to come enjoy them!

The Merchant Company is a new(ish) retail venue for us crafty folk to display and sell our wares. It has a great location right near downtown and loads of other art, craft and cultural points so it's easy to stop by and see what's new! The shop plays host to a myriad of craftspeople - you can find yarn, pottery, clothing, lamps, stationery, bath & body products, vintage items and more. They also have space for classes - always wanted to learn to sew or knit? Stop by and see what's being offered!

Personally, I have stacks of sock yarn in stock, both superwash merino sock and silky merino sock. There's also a basket of silky merino worsted and various random skeins of lace - alpaca, merino and silky merino. I've tried to keep a good mix of colors so there's something for everyone and I restock as needed, but I highly recommend snapping up yarn you love right away - there's no guarantee there will be more in that color! (In fact, it's fairly unlikely, due to the nature of small batch, artisan dyeing.)

They're open Tues-Sat 11-6 and Sun 12-5. Head over to their Facebook page and check them out. Then head on down in person and check out the whole shop! (While you're already on Facebook, click on over to my page and see what's new...)

4 skeins, 3 types, 1 dyebath

The above photo shows four skeins of three different types of yarn that were all dyed in the same dyebath. Pretty crazy huh?

From left to right: two skeins of silk lace, one skein of 100% silk, single ply DK and the aforementioned 50% silk/50% merino DK.

It's fascinating to me to see how different yarns take dye completely differently. Most of the differences come from how varying fibers react with the dye and how the yarn is spun. For example, I frequently dye batches of superwash merino sock yarn and silky merino sock yarn together. The silky merino always comes out much lighter and more muted than the 100% merino, while the superwash sock takes the dye in a way that is very vibrant and rich.

Another factor is just where the skein is, physically, in the pot while the dyeing is happening. Did it get poked and stirred a lot? Did it remain relatively untouched by me? Was is at the bottom? The top? Stuck in the middle somewhere? Skeins at the bottom of the pot tend to be much lighter than skeins at the top, so I try to rotate them frequently during the first part of dyeing, before the dye has had a chance to completely set.

Sometimes, who really knows why two skeins came out so differently! The two skeins of silk lace above, for example. Yeah, they're pretty close. But far from identical! This is why when a customer orders multiple skeins of one color from me, I make sure to go through the whole batch and pick the ones that most closely match each other.

I, for one, love the variation. Indie dyeing doing what it does best - being unique!

to stock, or not to stock...

That is the question!

Well, the question is this - would you rather pay more money for really spectacular yarn or less money for still-great-but-not-quite-as-great yarn? I encountered this question the other day when I realized I was considering carrying two types of merino/silk DK weight yarn. (Which totally throws off my naming schema, but whatever.) And I thought, "Do I really need to have to two types of merino/silk DK weight yarn?" They are very different. But...do I really need to have both?

So this is where you come in! I'm going to describe both yarns and if you could kindly pop over to the poll in the sidebar over there and let me know what you think, that would be fantastic!

Here they are! Please pretend like they are the same color. The one on the left, the greener one, is a 70% merino/30% silk blend. It is exactly the same as my ever-popular silky merino sock yarn, just thicker. The one on the right, the bluer one, is a really luscious 50% merino/50% silk yarn. I have never carried this yarn before but I test-dyed a batch and it is so nice. Like, I want to knit a giant blanket out of it and stay cuddled in it all day. (Or maybe that's just because it is freakishly cold today...) As you can see, they have completely different looks to them. They are definitely different enough that I don't mind carrying both.

Why don't I just do that?

Well...cost. The 50% merino/50% silk is quite expensive. As in, a finished skein would cost you, my loyal customer, approximately a full $20 more than a skein of the other yarn. Yep. You read that right. It's wonderful, wonderful stuff. But should I bother?

 Cheaper, though still lovely, yarn. This stuff is great. I'm currently knitting a sweater out of it.

 Expensive, frighteningly nice yarn. Gorgeous stuff. Were I not the dyer, I could never afford to knit a sweater out of this.

Aren't they lovely? So tell me what you think! If you don't see an option you like in the poll, leave a comment here!

simple things

I promised a while back that I'd share a project I knit with my superwash merino sock yarn. (A long while. Ahem.) It happens to be one of the same skeins of yarn that is pictured in that post - the wonderful grey/black color. I've been on a real grey kick for the past year or two, which means that most of my wardrobe is now grey or black. I love it, still, but I think I'm starting to feel ready to add some color... Anyway, this isn't it! But it's lovely nonetheless.

It's the Simple Things shawlette and the pattern is just delightful. It is, indeed, simple. I managed to knit the entire thing in...only...two and a half months. Which, honestly, is pretty darn good for me these days! Had I not had a wee babe to care for, I probably could have knocked the thing out in just a couple days. But it was perfect baby knitting - easy enough to pick it up and put it down due to the simple stockinette stitch. Even the eyelet motif was nothing complicated - an excellent introduction to a cute little lacy bit for beginners or a nice, easy, mindless (yet still cute!) bit for more experienced knitters. Or those with tiny children about.

The superwash merino sock yarn works very well with this pattern. It's super soft and has a wonderful drape. I wear it around my neck when it's cool but not freezing and it has never bothered me. It's quite stretchy and takes abuse well - my daughter has pulled on it multiple times and it doesn't get disfigured! The softly changing color ranges from dark grey to light grey to nearly white in places and matches just about everything I own.

Head over to see my project on Ravelry or check out some of my sock yarn!

sneak peek

Some "new" yarn I've actually had dyed for quite some time, but have only just been able to photograph! The stars and planets aligned yesterday and I managed to get a napping baby, sunshine and little else to do...all at the same time! Hallelujah. It's one of my favorites - the silky merino worsted - and in such a gorgeous color! I will admit that I was more than a little secretly pleased when I discovered a weird orange spot on one skein and had to keep it for myself. (Quality control is very important!)

blankets

This is completely copied from my other blog...but it had occurred to me that I hadn't posted here about it. So! Without further adieu...

Some of you may know that some friends of friends lost two of their beautiful daughters in a house fire a few weeks ago. I cannot imagine going through such loss and I know that simple knitted items can't possibly make up for it. But! My friend forwarded me this message about knitting and/or crocheting blanket squares for them and it would be such a lovely gesture. She said that the goal is to gather enough squares to make a blanket for each of the 6 remaining family members. Here's the message:
Handspun with Heart · A Portland, Maine nonprofit dedicated to fundraising and community building through fiber arts · handspunwithheart@gmail.com · Facebook: Handspun with Heart · (207) 332-6217
Patchwork blanket project for family in Maine
Please deliver or mail your squares by May 7, 2011
A family in Maine lost two of their children in a house fire in March 2011. We are collecting knitted and crocheted squares to be assembled into a blanket or blankets. Squares need to be delivered or postmarked by May 7, 2011. Questions? Email us at handspunwithheart@gmail.com or call us (207) 332-6217. Like us on Facebook for updates: Handspun with Heart. Please spread the word—thank you!
Making Squares
1. Choose a color or colors of yarn that suggest healing, peace, love, respect. Wool or acrylic, commercial or handspun, are all fine.
2. Knit or crochet one or more 5.5 inch squares in any pattern of your choosing. Finished dimensions need to be 5.5 inches square. A basic knitting pattern is included below if you need it. Have fun!
3. Send your finished square(s) by May 7 to Handspun with Heart, c/o JVW, 37 Westminster Ave, Portland, Maine 04103. You can also hand-deliver — place in bag on front porch marked “Patchwork Blanket Project.”
Assembly
Assembly will occur Saturday, May 14, 2011 starting at 10 a.m. If we receive enough squares we will make more than one blanket. We need volunteers to help with assembly--experience helpful but not necessary!
If you would like to volunteer please RSVP:
handspunwithheart@gmail.com / (207) 332-6217. We could use a few people with experience assembling this sort of blanket!
Easy Knitted Square pattern
You can use any pattern you enjoy so long as the finished dimensions are 5.5 inches square. Here is a basic knitted garter stitch square pattern as a starting place if you need it. Choose colors that suggest healing, peace, love, respect.
Materials: worsted weight wool or acrylic yarn; size 7 (US) needles, or needles needed to obtain gauge
Gauge: 3.5 stitches / inch
Pattern: Cast on 20 stitches. Knit every row for 38 rows or 5.5 inches. Bind off loosely.
Alternate for heavy worsted weight: Cast on 18 stitches. Knit every row for 34 rows or 5.5 inches and bind off loosely.
About Handspun with Heart: Handspun with Heart is a nonprofit fiber arts organization based in Portland, Maine, dedicated to the betterment of the planet by fundraising for local and international charities and building community through fiber arts activities. Like us on Facebook: Handspun with Heart. Email: handspunwithheart@gmail.com / (207) 332-6217

oh what a tangled web...of yarn

If you follow me on Twitter, you may have seen me mention this morning that I had a skein of yarn up for grabs! It's this one. It's the silky merino sock yarn in a lovely blue. My skein winder had a malfunction and I ended up with a misshapen skein that then got tangled. It's really only the end part - most of the skein (as you can see) is OK! Want it? I'll send it to you! If I had more time and/or patience, I would just untangle it. But I'm tired of seeing it sit there, crying plaintively to me..."Untaaaangle meeee..."

silky merino sock yarn

The second in a series of posts about my lovely yarn bases!

This yarn base is quite possibly my best-selling yarn ever. It's definitely a customer favorite! I think people see "merino" and think "ooh!" and they see "silk" and think "OOH!" and it's a fingering weight yarn, which every sock knitter adores. (I know I do!) The yarn comes in 100g/3.5oz skeins that have a silky soft 440 yards of 3-ply fingering weight yarn. It is a blend of 70% merino wool and 30% silk, so it is soft, yet sturdy, and with a beautiful shimmer to it. That silk! I tell you... It just adds the perfect amount of shine. Knit on size 1-3 needles it gets 7-8 stitches per inch.

It makes lovely socks - though be aware that this yarn is not as friendly with the washer and dryer as the superwash merino sock yarn. For this one, I always recommend hand washing and hanging to dry. (Make sure any gift recipients are aware of this! We would hate for them to inadvertently ruin your hours of hard work.) I have knit several pairs of socks from this yarn as gifts and they are still going strong! It is also a popular choice for other small items - hats, mittens, etc. - and is fun for colorwork too.

This yarn dyes up completely differently than the superwash merino sock yarn - the colors are often more muted than the same dyebath on the merino. Not a bad thing! And there are certainly examples of very vibrant silky merino batches - like this one or this one - but frequently the colors blend more gradually into one another and don't come out quite as rich or dark. It's an excellent base for dyeing pastels and soft-looking shades to tickle your fancy.

I only have three colorways currently listed in the silky merino sock yarn: a lovely variegated violet, a similar but solid purple and a particular favorite of mine - a slightly variegated latte-hued color, pictured above. But...there will be more soon! There are a handful of colors just waiting to be photographed and listed in the very near future.

superwash sock yarn

I'm going to be doing a little post about each of my yarn bases over the next...bit of time. (Month? We'll see.) In my Etsy listings, you can always see each yarn's vital statistics - the yardage, the weight of the skein, the weight of the yarn (worsted, fingering, etc.), the "ingredients" as it were - silk, wool, etc. And there are photos, of course! I include the recommended needle size, a range of stitches per inch and care instructions. But sometimes you want to know a little more, y'know? How does it feel? Is it soft? Scratchy? Flimsy? Stiff? How does it drape? Many of these questions will of course depend on how you knit but some of them can be answered!

These photos show my superwash merino sock yarn. It's a really lovely two-ply fingering weight yarn made of super soft, springy merino wool. Superwash, even! I knit some socks with this several years ago and they have held up very well. (Better, even, than some socks I knit with yarn from some other well-known indie dyers, much to my surprise. And pleasure.) This yarn seems to be on the lighter side of fingering. It comes in 100g/3.5oz skeins that have about 430 yards of wonderful wool that has a fairly tight twist to it. It gets 6-8 stitches per inch when knit up on size 1-3 needles, depending on your gauge. When knit up on smaller needles, it makes a lovely sock. The fabric is tight and durable but still drapes nicely. When knit up on larger needles, say a size 4, for a shawlette or some such thing, it makes an almost silky looser fabric with a beautiful drape to it. (I knit a small shawl from that grey yarn up there - I will have to photograph it and share it here!) This yarn is washing machine friendly, in cold water, and I have successfully machine dried my socks, but I wouldn't recommend it as a matter of habit, just to be on the safe side.

This yarn takes dye extremely well, allowing for a wide range of colors. I can get beautiful pastels, if desired, as well as vibrant, bold shades, oftentimes in the same skein! I sincerely love the way this yarn dyes up. It is a great pleasure to work with and it seems to glow in the dyepot as it soaks up all the lovely tones. I'm always thrilled with how it comes out - it's almost as if it has an inner light to it. Which is impossible, I know. But it just shines! Really. It seems almost silkier to me than some of my other yarn bases that do contain silk! I could go on and on about this yarn base because I really think it is my favorite.

If you're interested in checking out what I have to offer in this yarn, head on over here. (I carry two types of sock yarn - this superwash that I've been raving about and a silky merino sock yarn, that I will be raving about in the near future.) The lovely yellow yarn is available but I'm sorry to say that the other two gorgeous colors illustrating this post are long gone. If you have any questions about this, or any other, yarn, please feel free to ask!

January donation

As you may know, I promised that a portion of the sales from the entire month of December would go to a local charity! I didn't name the charity because I wanted it to be a surprise for the recipient. And, yesterday, it was! The money went to Catherine's Cupboard, a food pantry in Standish that is run by a dear friend of mine. She is doing some really great work over there and I am proud to support it! Food issues, particularly local food, is a topic that is near and dear to my heart. I hope you'll take a moment to be thankful for all that you have. Happy 2011 everyone!