Monday, May 19, 2014

Yarn Review: Sheared Bliss Fibers Superwash Merino Sock Yarn

It's superwash.  It's merino.  And it is hand dyed in Colorado, using natural plant dyes.

This particular ball was dyed with indigo and onion skins, in a two step process.  This yarn totally geeks me out - local, hand dyed, AND plant dyed?  Sign me up!  It is super soft, but still holds up to all my ridiculous frogging, which is always a good sign.  It's nice and round, with a tight twist, which is great for stitch definition.  Look at those cables pop!

The one downside I found is that it turned my hands blue, and made my tension hand itch.  That being said, I've used lots of other colorways of this stuff, and this is the first that has bled or made me itch, so I really think that both are just the indigo.  That being said, the finished socks didn't bleed in the blocking bath, and when I wear them they don't turn my feet blue, so the bleeding is not horrible, and again... if it bothers you pick an indigo free color.  On a related note, I may be allergic to indigo, and that pisses me off.

These socks (Aspen) are currently available for preorder in my Ravelry store!  They are also included in my new ebook, Home State Botany: Colorado.

Saturday, May 17, 2014

I am filled with good news.

As you may know, in December I had to suddenly move to Virginia.  This was terrible because Colorado and Virginia are far apart, we only had three weeks notice, and we don't know anybody in Western Virginia.  But it is wonderful because of this:

That would be my 100 year old farm house, with my pasture and my barn behind it.  You can't see the coop, but it's there, as well as more pasture in the front.  And we have a creek.  So totally worth it, because I love living here!

That does mean, however, that I have something of a backlog, especially in blogging.  First news: I started a new ebook!  This time I'm doing knitted socks.  It's a little bittersweet to now be publishing Home State Botany: Colorado, a collection of patterns in Colorado dyed yarn, inspired by Colorado dyed plants.  The first patter, Aspen, is in testing right now and is available for preorder.  As you know when I have a new pattern I like to do a review of the yarn I used, so those will be coming up soon, too.  First I need to go feed my ducks.