I’m very lucky to have good friends. Some (most?) of those friends are on the weird side. Which may be why they are my friends. Chef to Cook forwarded this fun to me:

Click on it. Really. It’s a knitted mask, part of an exhibition in The Netherlands. There’s a whole series of masks like this; each one slightly weirder than the last.

This is the perfect example of why I’m a “fiber worker” and not a “fiber artist”. Only on a dare would I knit something like these masks. I’m so much happier knitting socks and sweaters. I am unimaginative and happy to be so!

Down at ye olde yarn store, we got in some amazing new yarns. Honestly, it takes a lot for me to be impressed, but I was so impressed that I immediately went looking for a pattern so I would have an excuse to play with this one.

It’s from Alchemy Yarns, but this yarn is so new it’s not up at their website yet. The name is “Migration” and it’s made out of 70% wool and 30% silk. The 50 gram skein is 170 yards, so two are enough for a nice scarf. It’s softly spun; reminicent of Brown Sheep Handpaint Originals (one of my old favorites). You’ll notice the name of the yarn matches the names of the colors. Here are the colors at the shop:

The Boss Lady said that the reason why we have the yarn was the luscious scarf that was shown off at the Last Big Yarn Show (I believe it was TNNA, but my memory is hazy since I didn’t get to go ;-). The pattern is called Homeward Bound scarf and it’s really (really, really, really) easy. There’s only one set of three stitches that are repeated on both sides of the scarf. What’s better? No purling! Here’s how far I’ve gotten in just a couple of days (one skien complete):

Here are the colors close up. This is done on size 7 needles. You can tell the stripes are pretty wide. I think this yarn would make a perfect hat or a decadent sweater.

Even just working on it every few days (while watching The Tudors, Raines, Blood Ties and Gray’s Anatomy) I should be done in a few weeks at most. You’ve really got to touch this yarn to believe it. Stop you by your LYS and check it out.

Yipee!

I found a place in Maine that carries all the dyes I like! And, it’s within easy driving distance of my house. Searsport Rug Hooking has Jacquard, ProChem and Cushing Dyes (all acid dyes). It’s womanned by smart, knowledgeable women; has tons of fabric for rug hooking (plus many other things for RH that I don’t understand); plenty of classroom space for the many workshops they host; and dyes, dyes, dyes.

In addition to the dyes, they also have dye swatch books for Cushing, Jacquard and ProChem. “What’s a dye swatch book?” you may ask. It’s a book filled with real wool samples dyed in various strength of color.

The also had something I haven’t seen before, but I found to be fascinating: Dye Cards with Formulas. You need to know how to make 75 different colors by mixing Jacquard dyes? This is your answer. The cards are written in straightforward formulas (1/2 tsp X and 1/4 tsp Y) and include a swatch on wool.

What a wonderful find! Well worth a drive in the rain. I had good company as well–PJ came along for the ride and fixed their serger while we were there. We seem to make friends no matter where we go. I’ll go back to Searsport Rug Hooking, and I’ll recommend people shop there as well.

My friend Petula*Darling has been raving about how great the tv show Friday Night Lights is. I ignored her, telling her that I just didn’t have enough time to start watching another tv show.

But I am weak and found out that the show is available on the NBC website. By the end of the first show I was hooked. I won’t go on about the show, but I encourage you to check it out.

Over about a week I watched all 22 episodes of the season and knit on this little sweater. Over that time I cried over Jason, fell in love with the stitch definition of O-Wool, rooted for the Panthers, and finished this little sweater.

The sweater is now hanging in the shop (right next to the O-Wool). I can’t say enough wonderful things about the yarn and the pattern, Minnowknits “China Doll”, was simple and fast. I plan to make something cabled out of the yarn in the future.

My friend, PJ, picked out the absolutely adorable buttons:

After six months the sweater is mine. I will change the buttons to zebras if there’s a new little boy on the horizon (one of my sisters has big plans ;-). I think these buttons are too girly for a boy though.

I was going to write about my new project for work, but I did some searching and found out that neither the yarn nor pattern are on-line yet (brand new products from Alchemy Yarns), so I’ll have to go take pictures of the yarn and pattern at the store tomorrow. I’ll write more about it then.

More specifically, lambs! I usually help my friends at Hatchtown Farm with shearing, and make a trip to see the lambs in the spring. The on-going storm this week has preventing me from making that trek, but a friend of a friend has some wonderful lamb pics up on her blog: Sheepgal. Click over there right now to see all her small furry friends (and one big, furry friend). There’s great info on the life of a shepherd during lambing season as well.

In the last two weeks I’ve almost completed the “China Doll” baby sweater from Minnowknits. I’m using Vermont Organic Fiber Co’s O-Wool and am completely in love with it. The feel of the yarn and the way it knits up are fabulous. I want to make something cabled out of it. This weekend (when it’s complete), I’ll post pictures–I need to pick out buttons and do some finishing.

This particular sweater is now known as my “Friday Night Lights” sweater. I’ll tell you all about that this weekend

The Los Angeles Times has a great story on the cheapening of chocolate today. Since I love my dark chocolate . . . and have been known to find new and innovative ways to eat it while knitting . . . I want my dark chocolate to stay the same chocolate! No vegetable oil instead of cocoa butter, no milk protein instead of milk. This article really lays it all out:

The courage of their confections
Two candy makers are asking chocolate lovers to protest plans to allow cheaper ingredients. Vegetable oil, anyone?
By Jerry Hirsch, Times Staff Writer
April 14, 2007

Calling all chocoholics. Put down the truffles and power up the PC. It’s time to weigh in on a fundamental question: What is chocolate?

Two of California’s oldest confectioners, See’s Candies Inc. and Guittard Chocolate Co., are battling an attempt to loosen government rules that dictate what ingredients go into the sweet stuff.

Legally, the candy that melts hearts and comforts the brokenhearted is made with cocoa butter and, in the case of milk chocolate, whole milk. But the Grocery Manufacturers of America, a trade group, wants to let confectioners substitute cheaper ingredients — vegetable oils and milk protein concentrates.

The rest of the article here.

So, it’s time to head over to the FDA and make your feelings known!

Here are the pictures I said I’d post. They are small, but if you click on them you can see the larger size. Beware, you actually get to see me in these

Worn around the neck . . .

Or, over the head.

Here’s a closeup. This was a fun, easy project that I’d do again. It really shows off the handpainted yarn!

Take a look at the right column! There’s a new completed item (the cowl out of handpainted alpaca). I’ll take some pictures of it at work tomorrow. There are new listings for “Free Patterns”–Ram’s Wool and Southwest Trading. I added a friend to my list: the Schooner Isaac Evans. She sails out of Rockland, Maine and is captained (and blogged) by Brenda Walker. You can see the Evans and her sailing schedule here.

Whew. But, a good whew.

I found a size 17, 29″ circular needle at Reny’s for $4.99. If you aren’t from Maine, you’ve probably never heard of Reny’s. It’s the store that means we don’t miss Target or K-mart; and the prices are better. For those of you local, the large needles are at the Camden store near the Poppycock (nuts only).

My family and I went to see Odiako New England Saturday night. Loud, lovely drumming based on Japanese drumming, taiko. The kids and I really loved the traditional songs; the contemporary ones were less thrilling. The concert was a fundraiser for the Japan exchange program at Camden Rockport Middle School, so it really was a win-win evening. Go see O.N.E. if you get the chance. It was entertaining and educational (but not TOO educational).

Today is Easter, though with over a foot of snow on the ground it’s a bit difficult for me to believe. I was raised in a place where they’ve been mowing their lawns for over a month already. We hunted for (plastic) eggs in the living room and ate the candy around the kitchen table. Because we didn’t make plans for dinner (hey, no family in town means that sometimes you just don’t think like that), we went out for Thai food at Tamarind in Rockland. The food was amazing. Each dish had its own special flavors. It was spicy and tasty. I got to see my kids devour green beans and ask for more (it helps when the green beans crunch and make your mouth tingle). Go eat there when you have the chance. Say hi to Mel, the owner and a woman I just taught to knit. She’s already on her second vest (a man’s small) and she just started knitting the middle of February!

I know this has little to do with knitting, spinning, or dyeing, but life just isn’t worth living without a bit of dark chocolate. I eat it when I’m knitting and spinning (though never when I’m dyeing). I eat it when I’m happy and when I’m sad. I like it dark, very dark–65% or higher. And, I talk about the mouth-feel and “high notes” like a wine connoisseur. I recently was introduced to gourmet chocolates that all come from one field; much like fine wines.

But there’s evil afoot. Some members of the chocolate producing community are trying to get the FDA to change the definition of chocolate. Don’t let it happen! Contact the FDA with the instructions at Guittard. It also explains the plans to use vegetable shortening instead of cocoa butter without notifying the consumer!

I’m participating in the Dye.no.mite swap (see the button in the right sidebar, under the webrings). I’m supposed to send my swapper a few gifts and a card or two. The point is to send things you’ve dyed. My swapper is a quilter (which I’m not), so I’m going to learn some new dyeing techniques. Specifically, I’m going to use fiber reactive dyes (as compared to acid dyes, which work for protein fibers–wool, silk and animal fibers). You need different additives for fiber reactive dyes, so, at this moment, there’s a pound of soda ash fixer being packed up and sent to me.

Like usual, I’ve ordered from Dharma Trading. They sell everything you need to dye anything. And, they sell tons of stuff *to* dye. I had a great person on the phone today and she completely understood that I was buying both acid and fiber reactive dyes. She even gave me some tips for FR when I told her I’ve never done it before. She said that the methods are very similar. Here’s a breakdown:

Acid dyes:
Use on wool, mohair, alpaca, silk, nylon
Use mild acid as fix (I usually use vinegar)
Need heat to set dyes
Fibers must be soaked in water and fix to get even dyeing

Fiber Reactive dyes:
Use on cotton, hemp, tencel, linen
Use soda ash as fix
Need time to fix (time while damp with fix and dyes)
Fibers must be soaked in water and fix to get even dyeing

My swap buddy likes reds and warm earth tones, so I bought two reds, an orange and a brown. Honestly, I chose by color name: Black Cherry, Red Wine, Tangerine and Chocolate brown. ‘Get the theme?

I bought some cotton/tencel yarn (Classic Elite’s Premier) and I need to track down some fabric to dye (or maybe I’ll buy some fat quarters). I’ve got some hand dyed Merino blend hand spun yarns that I’ll send. Oh, and a little, spring canvas bag, a Maine mug (”how to eat a lobster”), a lobster soap, and a bit of dark chocolate. I think that’ll make two nice surprise packages. Any other suggestions?