opening tomorrow

hi neighbor!

this week i'll be helping friend and fabulously talented craftswoman karida of neighborhood fiber co. get her webstore off the ground. she's an independent dyer of all yarns bright and beautiful. and she names her super saturated colorways after communities in towns that she's lived in.

nfc is some of my favorite wool to work with...and it pops up in all sorts of chickadee projects. here are a couple of recently stitched pieces made with this sublime stuff:

pattern: kerrera (by gudrun johnston)

yarn: neighborhood fiber co. studio worsted (shaw)

pattern: scroll lace scarf (by ysolda teague)

yarn: neighborhood fiber co. maisonette DK (hampden)

pretty soon you'll be able to snap this stuff up from the comfort of your own couch. stay tuned for webstore updates from the neighborhood. in the meantime, you can see it for yourself on the shelves of fibre space in alexandria.

going to extremes

this chickadee has declared the knitting year of 2011 to be the year of the extremities. time to tackle those toes, handle the hands and bring flair to all sorts of phalanges. that means that mittens and socks are on the menu. and to spice things up a bit, why not throw in a new technique or two?

so here are two chickadee firsts in two chickadee projects...first pair of mittens and first stranded colorwork. followed quickly by the second pair of mittens and second attempt at stranded colorwork.

many more attempts/failures/successes/otherwise to follow!

fraternal mittwins


pattern: herringbone mittens with poms (elliphantom knits)
yarn: cascade 220




canary in a coal mine



pattern: birdcage mittens (also from elliphantom knits)
yarn: fiberphile hand-dyed super squish worsted (love!)

spring thing

all quiet

this chickadee will be participating in a blogger's day of silence tomorrow to honor the people of japan. no posts, but lots of loving thoughts and well wishes for recovery.

if you are a blogger and want to get involved, go here to find out how.

if you are looking for a way to help, you can follow this link to donate to shelter box. they are a UK based non-profit that delivers containers packed with much needed items like tents, blankets and cooking equipment to people who have lost homes, clothing and means of feeding themselves and their families.

dear japan,

this chickadee loves you.
hope that you are better soon.

xoxoxo

wistful thinking

these project bags are thinking spring. are you? they'll be landing in space today. the perfect place to put that new seasonal accessory that you are about to cast-on.

truffle shuffle

for a few delightfully sweet days, it seemed like spring was right around the corner. but overnight, winter snapped back and showed that it still the season in charge. while sad for the sprouting buds, it is perfect timing for one of the newest yarns at fibre space. victorian bulky is a lovely thick and thin yarn dyed by chickadee fave neighborhood fiber co.

it look less than one skein and less than two hours to put together this cuddly cowl. the pattern, neck truffle, is a free ravelry download. it is a simple stitch pattern that shows off the texture and color of the yarn. the piece is pulled together with some perfect ribbon from hanah silk.

stop in at fibre space to see the sample for yourself and to pick up some supplies to make your own late-winter neck and shoulder warmer.

action shots

here are those large project bags stuffed full of yarn and sitting in the sunny corner of a comfy couch. exactly what they were intended for! they'll cuddle your presently incomplete cabled sweater so that it can be carried to any sunny spot that you choose.

livin' large

project bags of the large/drawstring/internal pocket variety have already hit the shelves at fibre space. go check 'em out!