Without realizing it, I listed 2 new colorways this week that resemble animals! Aren’t they CUTE?! Up first is this gorgeous black and white superwash merino wool sock yarn, called CHINCHILLA:

Here is what it looks like knitted up into some garter stitch:

Love. It.

And up next, BETTA BELIEVE IT : Superwash Merino Wool Sock Yarn in a 3-ply …

It changes colors slowly as you can see:

So anyhoo… I hope you love the new colors!  This is my all-time favorite thing!! I love listing new colors for you. It’s really too exciting.

Thank you for reading and let me know what you think of the new shades!
~Chandi

These crocheted booties are possibly the cutest I’ve ever seen. Ever.

As such, I’ll keep my words to a minimum and shower you with loads of pictures.

The yarn is my Macaw worsted wt wool (takes 3 skeins).

The pattern is by Bonita Patterns (love her stuff!).

I loved making these! I highly recommend the pattern!

Aren’t they CUTE?!?!

Do DO let me know what you think about them!

Until next time… Chandi

I am a. HUGE. fan of blocking your finished items.

They can go from crumpled up blobs of weirdness to amazing, professional, eye-popping wowness, just by blocking.

I’ve done some posts before on how to block hats and how to wet block shawls, but today is about steam blocking!

It’s so simple. You’re gonna love it.

You can use this technique any time, but it’s especially great for those times when you’ve finished something and want to wear it immediately! That’s usually how it goes with me. HA!

I really love it for wool… it will work for most natural (animal or plant) fibers, but not synthetics, like acrylic. For info on fibers that will block, just read the post linked above on how to wet block shawls.

So. How to steam block if you don’t really need your item to be a specific shape; rather, you just wanna give it a wee bit of structure/shape and open up the stitching a bit:

1. Lay out your beautiful new item.

2. Plug in and turn on your iron (you’ll need one that steams)

3. Being super careful, stretch your item over your ironing board (I don’t have one… shows you how much I iron = never) or on your carpet like me, into the position you’d generally like it to be… then being sure not to blast your fingers (OUCH!), pump the steam button onto your item.

4. Magically, you’ll see the fibers soften and loosen and begin to open up and stretch out.

5. Continue to shift, tug, pull gently here and there to loosen up the stitches and keep working your way down the scarf until you’re all done.

6. If you have points, or sections where you’d like a little more definition and you can’t hold them with your fingers or you’d burn yourself and end up in the emergency room, hurting and cold because you don’t have your finished scarf with you… then use a long pointy object, like, I dunno, a KNITTING NEEDLE or a CROCHET HOOK (HA ha!) and use that to poke around bits of your scarf. It works really great for the ends.

And done. TA DA! Model your gorgeous scarf.

Things to keep in mind when steam blocking. 

•You can pin your item out in any manner you choose and then steam block it. For pinning, though, I really prefer the wet method, so you can get a gooood streeetch.

•Don’t actually touch the item with your iron! Just hover the iron above your item, and blast with steam.

•You can use a steamer instead if you have one. Lucky you!

•It’ll feel a little bit like magic… it’s okay to be amazed.

So what is this scarf, what yarn is it and how do you make it?

Pattern: Peaks Island Hood by Ysolda Teague (one of my fav knitting designers)

Yarn: COFFEE AND CREAM Spectrum Wool (it takes 3 skeins… order now to get 10% off for 2 or more per shade!)

Needle Size: Whatever the pattern recommended.

Difficulty: It was super easy… I’d say an established beginner could do it without issue. It had LOTS of seed stitch, which I love… but I have to say I got a wee bit bored making it. I literally had to force and bribe myself to get it finished and if it weren’t for you guys wanting to see it, it would probably still be stuffed somewhere, unfinished…and lay forgotten for the next 3 years. You saved it from a fate worse than death! Thank you!

Finishing: It needs buttons still. I don’t feel like sewing them on. So I’ll do it later. He he…  (that means it probably won’t get done).

I wasn’t too sure I was in love with it until we took these photos and I felt like a 50′s gal. So yes, now, I love it.

Anyhoo… if you have any other suggestions on steam blocking, just let us all know below! Thank you and have a fabbbbbulous day, dahling.

Yours in yarny bliss…

~Chandi

I have been BLOWN away by the response to these hat box full of yarn giveaways the last two months… WOO WOO!

Thank you SO much for taking the time to enter!

I’m doing it again for you!

Yep! I’m giving away another hat box full of yarn!

This month’s hat box has a scrumptious selection of pinks and purples, just itching to get to their new home. It COULD all be yours for free!

And also included is some gorgeous roving!

•The wonderful Ashland Bay Co has so kindly offered some beautiful gray Shetland wool roving (8 oz!) for spinning, felting, thrumming, or what-have-you!

So, HOW TO ENTER:  (You must follow all the steps to be entered!)

1. Type your name and email address here: (If it says you’re already subscribed, then move on to steps 2 and 3)

Okay, done that? GOOD! Next:

2. Share this contest on facebook or twitter:

Click to Tweet!

3. Comment below that you did both Steps 1 and 2 and tell me what you’ll do with this yarn if you win it.

And then you’re entered!

This giveaway is for the month of June 2013, so will be over June 30th, 2013.

So who won the May Giveaway?

Wellllll…..

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Sara Ann!!! YEEHAW!! You’ve been emailed already! YAY!

Thanks to all who participated!

I’m loving these contests so much. If you have any other ideas for them, just shout them out in the comments below!

~Chandi

I’ve got a simple, beautiful, easy, beginner-level, but still-looks-fancy-like-you-really-know-what-you’re-doing Spiral Crochet Scarf Pattern for you. And it’s free! Who doesn’t love a free pattern? YAY!

My mom designed this pattern and made a scarf out of each of my Spectrum wools for you. Thus, we’re calling it “Through the Spectrum.” I’ll be posting pictures of all the different options, but for now, here is the scarf in PEACOCK DEWDROP, using 1 skein.

It hangs in a spiral like this:

Here I’ve got it curled up all fancy like, but when worn, it hangs open like the photo directly above…

My mom is a DEAR! We’re talking, ANGEL, GODDESS, adorable, loving, wonderful little bird of a flower pod. And I tell her everyday!  We talk all the time about our current crochet projects. She’s, in fact, the one who taught me how to crochet, way back when I was 9 years old! LOVE YOU, Mama Pumpkin Flower!!  (We get a bit gooey with the lovey dovey names!)

Yarn: Expression Fiber Arts Spectrum Wool, 1 skein, in Peacock Dewdrop. 

Hook: Size H

Pattern:  Ch 222.

Row 1: Sk 5, (dc, ch 2, dc) in next st. *Sk 2 ch, (dc, ch 2, dc) in next st. Repeat from * across. Turn.

Row 2: Ch 3. *(dc, ch2, dc, ch2, dc) in next ch2 sp. Repeat from * across. Turn.

Row 3: Repeat Row 2.

And that’s it! Pretty simple, but looks UH-mazing.

And if you want to keep going and repeating those rows, you can. Your scarf will just get thicker and more spirally and ruffly. GORGEOUS!

And now for some more beautiful scarf photos. Here it is wound into a flower looking thing. So pretty!

And again stretched out, like it will hang when worn:

So there you have it. A gorgeous, delicious spiral crochet scarf pattern fo’ free, baby! Woo ya!

So let me know what you think of this! Are you a scarf maker?

Until next time…

Yours in yarny bliss,

~Chandi

I have a saying I use a lot. It’s something that just came to me one day. And I’m reminded of it frequently.

“You love what you love for a reason.”

It resonates so deeply within me that it’s one of those things I just know is true on a soul level.

You love what you love for a reason.

You don’t always know that reason.

Sometimes the truth is only revealed after the fact. You look back and realize, “Wow. Now it makes sense.”

I was thinking the other day about my knitting and crocheting. If you’ve been reading my blog for any length of time you know I love yarn. I have such positive associations with it that a gorgeous, rainbow skein can make my heart feel like it’s growing bigger and shooting off sprinkles of glitter and sunrays.

But I’ve been in a sort of crafting funk lately.

I’d been forcing myself to finish long, boring projects and I didn’t understand… Why had crocheting and knitting lost their joy?

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It was because I wasn’t being me.

I have this urge in me to create vivid, bold, beautiful things. Quick things (my patience wears thin pretty quickly if the color or something about the pattern isn’t keeping me interested).

And yet I kept choosing projects that were practical. Things I knew I’d wear. Things that would match other items in my closet.

I longed for colorful. Instead I would choose plain and sensible.

I longed for brilliance and bold and even unusable… just beautiful things. And I would choose to make a gray scarf instead. Nothing wrong with gray scarves. Nothing wrong with making them. I love them.

But what about a glorious, rainbow pair of mittens? What about a pile of crocheted motifs with no purpose that I can just look at and make into anything I want? Sachets? A pillow? Anything.

I was sacrificing what I love in order to be sensible. To make things I knew I would wear.

Well, I’ve said pooey on it.

It felt like a piece of my heart was gone.

Where did the little 12 year old me go? The 12 year old that made pink doilies for no other reason than the sheer joy and delight of it?

Where did the 14 year old me go that simply had to have the huge 5 pound cone of rainbow yarn at Salvation Army?

I’m here. Deep inside. And I’d like to come out now.

This isn’t to say I will never make a gray, functional item again. I’m sure I will.

But I realize it’s okay to be me.

It’s okay to crochet a purple tea cozy even if I don’t own a tea pot. It’s okay to knit a lace baby dress even if I don’t have a baby to put it on.

It’s okay to just let my heart soar, my eyes light up with the joy of a new, discovered pattern, grapple for the yarn, scrounge for the right hook or needles and settle in with my coffee and stitch until my lil’ heart’s content.

It’s okay.

And that feels good.

I’m not sure why I restricted my joy by not making things just for the fun of it.

But you can be sure I’m going to be making more fun things. Things that make my heart go boom boom.

Things that bounce off the screen and make your eyes widen in awe.

Color speaks to me. It lights me up inside.

“You love what you love for a reason.”

And it’s okay to do it. It’s a good thing to have those times, those moments, when you just snuggle up with yourself and forget the world exists and you play for awhile with your yarn.

I made this hat last Saturday. And loved every delicious minute of it.

It doesn’t fit me because I didn’t bother with gauge. And I don’t care.

I have a very special person I’m sure will love it.

I adjusted the pattern as I went along and didn’t pay attention to what I did too much. I loved the whole, freeing process. I blessed it. I felt good about it all.

And isn’t that what it’s all about?

(In case you may be wondering and might ask:

The yarn is new and here and in limited supply.

The pattern is by the amazing (one of my inspirations!) Charissa of Mad Mad Me. 

It takes one skein. I used a size I crochet hook and made the women’s large. I had to do quite a few more rows than the pattern called for. This is the amount of yarn I had left:)

What type of knitter or crocheter are you? Do you make items for function or for fancy? Projects that take months to complete or those that are finished in a few hours? I’d love to hear what you have to say.

Here’s to sheer joy in your craft,

~Chandi

Free patterns for you today! Who doesn’t love a gorgeous, free pattern? We all do!

I’ve got some knitted ones and some crocheted ones, depending upon your preferred craft. 

Did I design these? No. But I found them online and I hope you LOVE them!

I wanted to share these with you because I’m getting a TON of requests for project ideas using all the new sock yarns I’m getting listed in the shop (like the beautiful AFRICAN VIOLET shown above)

Any yarns listed in that category that say “chameleon” in the title change colors SLOWLY. So the patterns below are for sock yarn (fingering weight yarn), that changes colors slowly. So there ya go! Perfect!

So without further ado, here are some gorgeous free sock yarn patterns (that aren’t socks!) that look great with slow-color-changing (gradient, ombre) yarns.

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Metalouse by Stephen West

Is this GORG or what? I want one SOOO bad!

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Now in a minute by Brenda Dayne

HOLY goodness! So beautiful! I want this too.

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Wingspan by maylin Tri’Coterie Designs

I shared this one on Facebook a few days ago and everyone loved it! I’ve seen it around the web on various knitting blogs and it’s just so beautiful. You simply must click through to see all of the variations people have made. Breath-taking for sure!

Now for some crochet sock yarn patterns!

Nancy’s Waves Scarf by Cori Dodds

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Bohemian Oasis by DROPS

OMG. I. Must. Have. This. It’s beyond ridiculous. Too beautiful for mere words. Drool.

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Magic Shawl – Hat with Squares by DROPS

Oh, golly. I really. REALLY. Want this hat and wrap. GOSH. Do you ever get so overwhelmed with all the many pattern options? Sometimes me thinks my brain will explode!

…..

So there you go!

Some stunning knitting and crochet sock yarn patterns that aren’t socks, using slow-color changing yarns like our new “chameleon” sock yarns! (Remember, only the sock yarns that have “chameleon” in their names are slow color changing. The others are variegated)

CLICK on over now to check out the current colors! Right now I’m giving 10% off for 2 or more per shade (the shopping cart will automatically do this for you) and FREE SHIPPING for US orders of $50 or more. Woo!

IMPORTANT: These sock yarns are limited edition. We’ve already sold out of one color. I keep getting emails from disappointed peeps who waited too long to order and now can’t get the color they want. If you REALLY must have a particular color, you’ve got to nab it while the iron’s hot, or it may be sold out the next time you check. Some colors sell out within a few hours, some a few days. You never know!

ENJOY SO MUCH!!

YAY FOR YARN!

~Yours in yarn-loving-bliss,

Chandi

Did you know sock yarn doesn’t count as stash? Or so I hear.

I have these new GORGEOUS sock yarn shades for you to drool over.

EMERALD FOREST (green) and AFRICAN VIOLET (pinkish purples).

Are they beyond gorg or what?

These two colors would look sensational together as a shawl! OHHH WEEE! The options are endless!

 These sock yarns are so cool because:

•They are slow color-changing. As you knit or crochet, they slowly and subtly change colors. YAY for cool effects!

•They’re a 3-ply, which means SOFT, baby. YEAH! No itchy wool here!

•Merino wool means… SOFT again. Oh, yeah.

•437 whoppin’ hoppin’ yards so you can easily make a pair of sockaroonies.

•Limited Edition… once these sell out, we’re out! Your finished projects will be like rare gems! (Make sure to order enough to finish your project!)

•Fingering weight (so you can make nearly anything: mittens, gloves, hats, scarves, socks, shawls, bags, baby clothes, need I go on?)

•Machine-Washable, sugah! So you can throw your socks or whatever you make in the washer and dryer. I still recommend hand-washing, though, to extend the life of your product.

•Smashingly delicious colors to make your eyes tickle and pop with glee!

I could go on. You get the idea. These are amazing and scrumptious and you’ll just want to hold them and love on them and sleep with them.

It’s okay. You’re not alone.

ENJOY!

Just CLICK HERE to go take a look and remember 10% off for 2 or more per shade AND free shipping for US orders of $50 or more.

~Chandi

I’m giving away another hat box full of yarn!

I enjoyed SOOOO much doing this f-r-e-e hat box full of yarn contest last month, so we’re doin’ it again!

This month’s hat box has a beeeautiful range of blues and greens… it’s got: Wools, Silks, Ribbon yarn, 2 of my HAND SPUN yarns, including cashmere (oohhhh!!).

And guess what else?

There’s MORE!

Also included in the giveaway are these two items from some lovely sponsors:

•The lovely Lindsay from Pen and Paint on etsy (OH MY GOSH, I LOVE HER STUFF!!) has been gracious enough to offer a $30 credit to her shop.

I received some of her artwork and nearly fell out of my chair with glee. Even her business cards made my brain feel all tickled and delighted.

Okay, okay, we’re not done.

•The wonderful Ashland Bay Co has so kindly offered some beautiful wool for spinning, felting, thrumming, or what-have-you!

The winner will receive ALL of this stuff! A hat box full of yarn, a $30 shop credit to Pen and Paint and this 8 oz bundle of soft, creamy, delicious roving from Ashland Bay. WOO WOO!

So, HOW TO ENTER:  (You must follow all the steps to be entered!)

1. Type your name and email address here: (If it says you’re already subscribed, then move on to steps 2 and 3)

Okay, done that? GOOD! Next:

2. Share this contest on facebook or twitter:

Click to Tweet!

3. Comment below that you did both Steps 1 and 2 and tell me what you’ll do with this yarn if you win it.

And then you’re entered!

This giveaway is for the month of May 2013, so will be over May 31st, 2013.

So who won the APRIL Giveaway?

Drum roll please!

Drum drum drum

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Dani Wiginton! WOO WOO WOO!

Congrats, Dani!!

Thanks to all who participated!

This is too much fun.

As I was winding up these new skeins for May, I was just so content inside, knowing someone special would receive this in her mailbox in about a month… Too fun. Really, I get too much glee out of this.

ENJOY!

~Chandi

Time sensitive! Please read right away!

I wonder…What is going on in my brain? I just keep giving yarn away.

As you can imagine, owning a yarn shop has its perks. One of those perks is I end up with TONS, scads, OODLES and boodles of various yarns… limited dye runs, colors that are left over if I miscounted inventory, test shades, samples, etc.

And as much as I would personally LOVE to knit and/or crochet them ALL and be super selfish and hoard them in a massive warehouse and sleep in it all and roll around in it and jump on it and sing to it and call it my own… I feel it would be happier with you.

So.

I am giving away some yarn for the next 5 days ONLY!

Place a $40 + order on the site today through Saturday (that’s April 30th, 2013 – May 4th, 2013) and add this product to your shopping cart and you will receive a F.R.E.E surprise skein of yarn. I can’t make any promises or guarantee any particular color, but you WILL receive a surprise skein of yarn in your order!

So HOW do you take advantage of this?

1. Go shop on the site and add at least $40 into your shopping cart.  You know you want those colors you’ve been eyeballing for awhile and have resisted!  After all, life without yarn is kinda… pointless!

2. Add THIS PRODUCT into your cart as well to receive your surprise skein and VOILA. I will include it for you. I hope you LOVE LOVE LOVE it!

Thank you so much in advance for giving these lonely extra yarns a wonderful, nurturing home to live in! I’m grateful. They’re grateful. You’re grateful. We’re all grateful!

Have a most beautimus and blessed day and know I’m sending lots of lovey doves your way!

~Chandi