Be Brave!

Einer meiner Lieblingsfilme von Pixar ist Merida (im Original: Brave). Irgendwann nachdem ich ihn das erste Mal gesehen hatte, habe ich Merino, Alpaka, Bluefaced Leicester und Angelina kardiert, um ein Garn zum Film zu spinnen. Tatsächlich bin ich dann mit den kardierten Rolags umgezogen. Ich hatte ein bisschen Angst, dass meine Spinnfasern Opfer von Motten werden könnten, aber ich hatte Glück und bloß Mottenbefall in einer Backmischung, die aber eingetuppert war und so blieben die restlichen Lebensmittel verschont. Kleidermotten sind eh andere Viecher, sodass da keine Ansteckungsgefahr bestand.



Jedenfalls habe ich die Fasern letzte Woche dann mal versponnen, nachdem ich kurz vorher den Film noch mal gesehen habe. Eingesponnen habe ich Streifen von "Schott*innenröcken". Die Stoffstreifen habe ich irgendwann mal aus einem Tauschpaket behalten. Ich bin recht zufrieden mit dem Ergebnis. Ich hab wirklich lange nichts mehr gesponnen und bin sehr langsam geworden. Ich hab auch immer noch nicht die perfekte Technik, um Stoffstreifen im Garn zu fixieren, obwohl ich sehr oft solche Art Yarns spinne. Durchs Verstricken kann später natürlich nichts merh verrutschen, deswegen ist das an sich nicht tragisch.

Blümchen-Schal

Ich Schlaukopf hab gerade erst gesehen, dass es zu meinen letzten beiden Postings Kommentare gibt - ich habe die Kommentare letzte Woche auf moderiert gestellt, weil ich mittlerweile gerne das Opfer von Hatern werde, aber ich habe nicht eingestellt, dass ich auch Mail-Benachrichtigungen bekomme m) Jetzt ist aber alles richtig und ich merke auch, wenn sich hier was tut. Sorry an die, die auf Freischaltung gewartet haben.

Wie versprochen zeige ich euch heute einen Cowl, den ich... äh... vor fast einem Jahr gestrickt habe. Das Garn habe ich auf der Tour de Fleece 2012 gesponnen, es ist eine Mischung aus Merino, Leinen und Angelina mit eingesponnenen Blüten.
Da das Garn doch eher auffällig ist, habe ich drauf verzichtet, ein kleinteiliges Muster zu stricken, da werden sich sonst Garn und Muster gegenseitig nicht gerecht. Ich mag den Schal jedenfalls sehr gerne, denn ich habe eine kleine Schwäche für die Kombination aus weiß und Blautönen.
Beim Blick in Ravelry fällt mir wieder auf, wie unfassbar lieblos ich die letzten 1 1/2 Jahre meine Aufzeichnungen gemacht habe. Teils nämlich gar nicht.



Derzeit stricke ich an zwei Paar Socken herum: Das eine Paar reiste diese Woche mit mir nach Dresden, wo ich einen Vortrag gehalten habe, das zweite stricke ich immer, wenn ich im Bett liege und Orange is the New Black schaue. Jedenfalls werden beides Geschenke und deswegen kann ich die hier erstmal nicht vorzeigen - DIY-Bloggen in der Vorweihnachtszeit ist irgendwie ein Eiertanz.

Undine

Back in Garnfoto-Business bin ich erstmal massiv genervt von meiner Kamera, die es nie schafft, Farben vernünftig einzufangen, wenn mal nicht strahelnder Sonnenschein ist (also fast immer). Und meine Fotobearbeitungskünste sind ja eher so mittel.

Na ja, ich wollte euch mein neuestes Garn zeigen. "Neu" - haha. Das ist besagtes Art Yarn, dass ich irgendwann 2013 zu spinnen anfing, im Sommer beendete und diese Woche von der Spule holte. Es ist sozusagen schon etwas abgestanden...

Schön ist es jedenfalls trotz alledem! Ich habe Merino, Mohair und Angelina zusammenkardiert - keine Dreingaben, keine Verzwirnung. Mir fehlen hier wieder die Aufzeichnungen, aber ich glaube, damals wollte ich das Garn Undine taufen.
Petrol, dunkelpink-lila und weiß finde ich eine sehr schöne Farbkombination und ich glaube, ich stricke mir daraus Stulpen, die zu meinem petrolfarbenen Cowl passen (den ich auch noch verbloggen könnte).

WIP Wednesday: Frogging

One of my big knitting procets for this year was my Colour Spectrum Scarf. Last year I had the idea to start a big and wide scarf for me. I wanted to knit it from handspun art yarns in a colour spectrum and sometimes blogged about it.
After so much time I'm not pleased any more - I didn't want to finish the project and frogged it.
Now there are four little balls of wonderful art yarns and I don't know what to do with them...

But this was only the first project I frogged after long time.

In March 2011 I started to knit the Cartridge Stitch Neck Warmer (it was a free pattern last year, now you have to pay for it) out of a special yarn (merino, alpaca, soy silk). I had to pause it because I run out of yarn resp. out of undyed light apaca fibre. I searched for the fibres and in summer I got a package from Cheshire Cat who found the right alpaca.

Now I spun a new ball of yarn and after finishing I noticed that the propotions of alpaca and soy silk in the new spun yarn is different than in the one I spun nearly two years ago. And I also can't stand the pattern any more. It's to big and not "special" enough.
I'm a little sad that I don't like the project any more because it was so complicated to find the fibres. But I don't want to knit something I won't wear and so I'll look for a nicer pattern. For the new project I'll try to rotate the two yarns and so I'll able to use it for the same object.

The second half of year 2012 seems to be the right time for removing old and unloved projects - in all kinds of life situations.

Romantic Scarf by KathiKaffee

KathiKaffee sent me some pictures of the wonderful scarf she made from one of my yarns. If you are interested in pictures of the yarn, have a look at my older blogpost. I think I have to spin a twin of this yarn for myself...

The scarf was a Christmas present for a friend of hers and I am sure she will love the scarf - it's so beautiful, I think. Kathi had some kind of knitting marathon before Christmas. We know it all - you want to knit presents for friends and family and time runs so quickly.

October Romance

This art yarn is spun for Kathi who wanted to knit a Christmas present. She ordered a red and sparkling yarn and left me free to be creative.
I spun the yarn from different shades of red merino wool and spun in angelina fibre, little red glass beads and my favourite sequins which look like leaves. I love how it turned out because it's a real autumn yarn.

I hope Kathi will get the package today and likes the yarn as much as I do. Maybe she'll send me some pictures of what she knit. I'm curious if she'll knit the present or keep the yarn for her own ;-)
Because this order was a swap I got a new spinning book (hope to receive it today) and a book coupon - thank you, Kathi, for this great barter!

Super Duper Super Coils

I have to show you the pictures of my first super coiled art yarn - I really really love it and so I won't sell it :-) I will keep it and maybe combine it with some black yarn and knit a hat or something like that.
I also love super coiled necklaces...

Super coils are a little stressful to spin (not quite mindless than other yarns) but they turn out so beautiful, I think.

Alban Elved

Alban Elved

163 m / 178 yd

99 g / 3,49 uz

merino

After two months (*blush*) without any shop update there is a new art yarn for you. I spun it weeks ago but didn't manage to take any photos. I have so much to do with my other jobs and political commitments.

Alban Elved is the celtic/wiccan autumnal equinox and I think the colours match great for it. Yes, autumn is one of my favourite seasons and I love to spin fitting yarns. The bat I used for this one was carded by Fibre Stash.

I hope you can find the yarn in my shop this evening.

Blueberry Cowl

 

Some weeks ago I knitted this cowl as a present for my cousin.
The yarn was carded by TrashQueen and spun by me. Its name is Blueberry Muffin because of the great colours. It is my first coiled art yarn and I was very interested in knitting it.
I love the cowl's structure and how the coils turned out. You don't need any pattern when you knit with coiled art yarns and want to have a cute knitwear.

WIP Wednesday: I started the big project!

Today I want to show you the first pictures of my freshly started Colour Spectrum Scarf.
I wasn't sure about the pattern. Actually I wanted a drop stitch scarf but now I decided to knit it plain and simple. I love love love the little tea cups of the Mad Hatter Art Yarn and am very curious about the result.

Stockholm Berry

 

Finally I finished the Stockholm Scarf I started last month. I had to change the pattern a little and I knitted only one piece and sewed it together. I hadn't enough yarn for the whole pattern but I am totally happy with my scarf.
The stitch pattern was so much fun to knit. It is easy but brilliant and goes with my handspun yarn perfectly.

Lavender Cupcake

 

 Lavender Cupcake

147 m / 160 yd
98 g / 3,46 uz 

merino

This weekend I was at a spinner's meeting in Bonn. I was a little tired and only spun one yarn: Lavender Cupcake. This yarn is inspired by delicious vanilla-lavender cupcakes I ate some weeks ago. The fibres were carded by Cheshire Cat.
Find the new yarn in my Etsy shop!

Vegan Passion

 

Vegan Passion

70 m / 62 g

linen, ramie, sari silk

photo (c) by Pseudoerbse

Two weeks ago I spun my second vegan art yarn (the first one was The Little Bumble Bee).
The yarn was a birthday present for my dear Pseudoerbse who is a vegan but loves to crochet. So I spun a yarn from linen in one of my favourite shades of red and added white ramie and sari silk. I didn't spun with sari silk for ages, but why? The effect is super! And I love the big beads.

Pseudoerbse said she hasn't the courage to crochet the yarn. But I hope she will make something nice out of it and will share the photos with us. Yarn is for using and you can't misdo something! ;-)

WIP Wednesday: From Stockholm to Milky Way

  

I started to knit the Stockholm scarf from my own handdyed and handspun art yarn. The scarf is super beautiful and after some little problems with the pattern, it's really easy to knit.

If I were not so tired every evening, I could finish it much sooner...

This weekend I spun two art yarns. First is English Tea Rose - a handdyed yarn. It is super soft and gentle and I think a perfect Mother's Day present.

The second one is in the shop since today: Milky Way. This yarn is midnight blue with tiny beads and white ribbons and the next one for my "space tourist" shop section. I planed to spin more yarns for this theme.

So - have a look at my Etsy shop :-)

Yvaine

 Yvaine

handdyed merino wool

coils, sequins

178 m / 194 yd
119 g / 4,2 uz 

Finally a new Neil Gaiman art yarn - handspun from my handdyed merino wool.

Yvaine is one of the main characters in Neil Gaiman's "Stardust". She is born as a star but transformed into a beautiful woman. While Tristran and Yvaine escaped to Wall, they fell in love with each other.

The handdyed pastel-blue merino wool stands for Yvaine and her being as a gentle and star-like woman. The fibres are super soft and spun into bulky and fluffy coils. There are also sparkling teal sequins. All in all this would be a perfect yarn for a hat.

WIP Wednesday: I'm on Fire

 This week is the last week of semester break, I have to go back to university on Monday. The weather is so wonderful the last two weeks so I try to enjoy my last days of freetime between two seminar papers.

Today I spun a new yarn for my big colour spectrum project. It is spun from merino and alpaca and my second coiled yarn. 

It is the third yarn for the scarf and I think I can start to knit the next days.

Weather was perfect for spinning on my balcony and listening to an audio book. I love sitting there in the afternoon sun, watching the sunset. The yarn fits perfect on this setting and was inspired by a song of Train - She's on Fire.

Oh, I can see my own reflection in the screen - you too? :-)

Undine - Special Offer!

Undine

79 m / 86 yd
79 g / 2,79 uz 

merino, bamboo, shells, silk ribbons

If you buy this yarn with another one, please send me a message. 
I'll give you 5 € off!

Find it in the shop :-)

Undine is a beautiful water nymph from Paracelsus theory. The fairy is said to be able to gain a soul by marrying and bearing a child. In the night they sing wonderful songs and maybe you can hear them near rivers and seas.

I made this art yarn from my own hand carded fibres in light blue, navy and teal. I also partly hand dyed the merino and bamboo wool. Wonderful little shells and different kinds of silk ribbons are spun in.

Diana

 

Diana

102m / 80g

merino, alpaca, angelina

This week I received a parcel from my friend Cheshire Cat. She sent me delicious Swiss chocolate, handmade potholders, alpaca fibre, incense and two handcarded batts.
I had to spin the green batt immediately because it was so beautiful. Woody art yarns are perfect! I combined the merino and alpaca wool with gold and green sequins and various little beads.

Now I have to look for a fitting pattern. I think about a hat (I had to give a way my last knitted hat, it wasn't my style). I have no idea which hat pattern is best for me. Most time I wear my hear braided over one shoulder and most hats look best with loose hair. Do you have a hint for me?

Rough Sea Cowl

My mother is an enthusiastic knitter - especially her knitted dresses are great! Sadly they don't suit me.
My Mum is a little shy and unsure with internet things. It made a lot of work to persuade her for a Ravelry registration - but here she is!

I gave her one of my favourite art yarns for Christmas: Rough Sea. She knitted a wonderful cowl / scarf / whatever out of it and you can admire it on Ravelry now.
Maybe you like to give her some hears and comments :-)

(Did you discover her wooden earrings? They are selfmade, too!)

Colours of December

Lst weekend I restarted spinning art yarns. I didn't spin for a long time because there was so much chaos in my life. I'm in my new flat since October but here is still a lot to do. I didn't unpack all my boxes, I have less furniture and had to wait for my money. So I was in a bad mood and uncreative.
In November everything became a little more positive and so I'm back! :-) As you can see I'm in love with colourful yarns and prefer flowers and glitter.

The red yarn is my favourite, it's simple but so beautiful. It was really hard to decide if I want to sell this yarn. I'll spin a similar art yarn for me, I think. You'll find all yarns in my shop soon (the firs ones are already there).