Indigo Magic

Here is the progression of the indigo process:

Yarn before dying. 

Yarn soaking in water. 

Yarn drying just a bit. 

Putting processed indigo crystals into hot water. 

Water with just indigo. 

Water with indigo and sofa ash added. 

Water with indigo, soda ash and Thoreau dioxide added, gently stirred and let to sit. 

Close up of the beautiful indigo crystals. 

The next two photos are of the yarn being moved through the dye. Note the green hue below the water and on the yarn.  Indigo only turns blue after it is exposed to air... Magical!

Yarn changing color to blue on the drying rack. 

Yarn at its final indigo-ness. 

This past weekend I spent the day with friends learning how to dye with indigo. What a magical experience. It makes me realize the brilliance of our ancestors to unlock the deep blue mystery of the plant that is indigo.  The process today is easy compared to the way it was done in the past, and is still being done in places around the world. Thank you 'Colors' yarn shop in Claremont California for offering this enlightening class, and dear Angie for teaching it. Explore!

Knit up some warm confidence.

Get A Backbone shawl

Get A Backbone. A shawl pattern.

Here is the pattern for Get A Backbone.  A lovely shawl that can be knitted in any yarn to any size.
This link currently goes to ravelry.  I will be posting the pattern here soon.
It is an easy enough shawl, with just a bit of fun in the center with the cable.  A gentle cable, great for cable newbies or experienced cable-rs alike.  

Fast on size 11 needles with bulky yarn.  I hope you enjoy it!
If you leave a comment, please leave your email address so I can get back to you, or send me an email at the address listed above, or on ravelry. 

Get A Backbone, a shawl.

Need a bit of a shore up?  Just not feeling able to put up instead of shut up?  Legs a bit shaky?  Well have no fear, a backbone is here. Yes, a knitting pattern for your very own portable backbone. 

I have had this pattern clanking about in my head for much too long, now it has finally come out. I used a lovely BFL yarn by Feederbrook Yarns, Entropy, blue faced leister. Still working on it at this post, but it will soon be published on ravelry, free even. 

Strength and warmth, what a great combination. 

A rough road

I am currently writing a new ebook of knitting patterns. Hoping to take it to print as well. It has patterns that are portable and only take one or two balls of yarn. Some if the patterns have attention level options from easy to intermediate.

The title? Stoplight Knitting.  Yes we can see a theme.  

Here is a sneak peek at one of the projects. This one is 'rough road' lap mat. 

I am looking forward to showing more sneak peeks soon. 

You can find me on ravelry as hestiasfire to keep out a closer eye.  

Instagram: hestiashands. 

Weaving!

Took a class at Alamitos Bay Yarn Company. Got a cricket rigid heddle loom and have been weaving ever since. The rhythm of the shuttle and heddle is so soothing. Even warping this loom is easy and relaxing. Weaving is a great stash buster as well. Having the best time with my new delicious loom.

Neapolitan baby

Several friends are having babies for which I love to knit. New mom"s color choices just add to the fun. Here is a baby blanket and matching dress I knitted for a coworker who is due soon. I used Classic Elite 'sprout' for the blanket and 'seedling' for the dress. 100% organic cotton and wonderful to knit with. The blanket is 'baby sunshine' and is a semi-circle.  Brilliant for so many reasons, it is my new 'go to' baby gift.  The dress is a modified version of 'orange creme', a simple and fast top down that whipped up in an afternoon...delicious. 

a delicious looking baby blanket

this little dress makes me want to get ice cream!

scarf in 225

That one skein of gifted yarn, lovely, alone.  I had one of those (I actually have many, but let's focus) in a delicious cranberry color, waiting.  It is still summer here in Southern California so a heavy project just would not do.  I searched for a pattern, I do not generally wear hats, so I came up with one for an airy scarf.
scarf in 225 (yards of worsted/aran yarn that is).
a link to the ravelry.com page:   scarf in 225.


Here is the pattern:

225 yards of worsted or aran weight yarn, I do suppose you could do it with less but it would then be shorter, or you could make it wider or thinner if you choose, simply add or subtract stitches by 2's. 

I used size 10 needles.

Cast on 24 stitches, knit 2 rows.

Row 1: slip first st, k1, *yo, k2tog* repeat btwn *'s  to last 2 sts, k2.
Row 2: slip first st, k1, purl to last 2 sts, k2.

repeat these 2 rows until you are almost out of yarn, knit 2 rows, bind off.

I added a crochet chain loop of 15 chains and a button on the opposite side of the scarf.
this is optional...of course.

Now...go knit.......delicious.

hair bites

keeping hair tidy with a yarn bomb.

Yarnivore likes biting bike racks.  Long Beach California has so many to choose from in a wide variety of shapes and sizes.  My most recent target is the bike rack that looks like a ...wait for it....person riding a bike! (how novel). Now the 'person' riding this bike (rack) has hair that is blowing back in the imaginary wind.  Well this just won't do.  Yarnivore needs to tidy that up a bit so I knitted some lovely little triangle head scarves to help them out. There are many of these but my main target bike rack is on PCH (Pacific Coast Hwy) and Loynes Drive near the 'Local Spot' coffee house.
One bright Friday morning the scarf was applied and off to work I went.  It lasted two days.  Not the quickest removal of one of my yarn bombs, but pretty quick I will say.  I plan to re-bomb it today.  I thought it looked adorable...and delicious. 
Photo credit, Judy Kilpatrick/Alamitos Bay Yarn Company

yarnivore bites!

The yarnivore bites 2nd street, Belmont Shore in Long Beach CA, June 11th, 2011.
It was misting in the sleepy beach town at 5:00 a.m. when she arrived with yarn b*mbs in hand/trunk to spread yarny goodness to all who may notice.   Jamba Juice employees just showing up for work and a few pups being taken for early morning walks were her only company.  This was a lonely venture for the yarnivore, after days of solo crocheting, it was time.  The day had arrived, International Yarn B*mbing Day, 2011!  Hurrah!
Several parking meters offered up their stems to be covered in crochet as one crosswalk button and a street sweeping sign became yarn graffiti targets.  
Where will the yarnivore bite next?
Veni, Vedi, Acubus Texui.

parking meter bitten by the yarnivore

a flowery yarnivore bite

yarnivore bites the street sweeper sign

a pink yarnivore bite left for a hair salon

button, button, who's got the button?

Buttons are big, some really are big. Doing good things for the environment is big, crafting is big, found objects are big. Here we have some found wood buttons. They are all quite big and command a special spot on a purse, shawl, wrap or sweater. Alamitos Bay Yarn Company just got them in and I had to take a little photo of them. They really are beautiful. So if you need some big buttons.....here is the place to feed that need!

my summer job

So,
things were a little slow at my day job, teaching at Hope University. We had so many students taking
time off for the summer that I got to take off an extra day too! I decided to get a 'summer job' working in a yarn shop! Not just any yarn shop but a beautiful shop right on Alamitos Bay. Yes, cool ocean breezes, beautiful views of sailboats on the water and happy customers enjoying our Wednesday 'Knit & Cruise' boat trips. Here are a few photos of the shop and surrounding area. If you are ever in Long Beach you should stop in, the water is fine! Sunshine, ocean views and yarn...mmmmm, delicious!

My Fiber Tribe

This Wednesday evening past was my knitting groups first (and hopefully annual) holiday party. Replete with potluck to die for, secret Santa's and the honor of being surrounded by my amazing knitsibs. When we lived in small towns or villages we had women around us, older and younger women. Women who taught us and women who learned from us. Women to who we could turn when we needed advice and others to show us the way on this women's journey. I so often remark on how as we become embroiled in life it becomes more and more difficult to make new friends and find those women. I have found them, they are my tribe, the tribe of fiber. Huzzah! to all of you wonderful ladies.

I have a special thank you to my secret Santa Carol for my lovely gift of luscious merino....so beautifully served up in a sundae glass! I was so excited about the yarn that I took it all apart before photographing it. I felt bad about missing that photo op so I set up these, Yarn Portraits! Could this be a new niche market? I must say that this merino sat well for me and followed direction well. hhhmmmm.....a thought....yarn portraits...delicious.