Ralvery - a knit and crochet community

Ralvery.com is a fabulous resource for free patterns and finding others interested in the same things you are when it comes to knitting and crochet. Seeing it is a community of people who post their designs and ideas on their own pages or within other group pages you can easily find a group you will fit into. You also can keep your inventory of needles, hooks and yarns or the projects you are working on with the progress you have made on the project.  You can find other people with the same yarns and ask if they would like to sell also.  I have found it a very nice community and love the flexibility of it. Also, if I am out and about buying yarn or needles...I can look up my stash online with my iPhone and see if I already have something or not. I cannot tell you how much this helps me! Check it out today!

Cowls are all the rage these days

Really, I have seen more cowls in the past year than I have in all my life! Big huge ones you can loop around your neck a couple times to small knit ones that fit nicely around your neck. All in different types of yarn from big thick yarn to sock yarn. Some even just over the shoulder or up over your head like a hood. I do like the versatility of the look and can see how they would be very nice to wear keeping you warm and snug on an outdoor day.

Now, I hear from some of my fans on facebook that they are interested so I am going to take a stab at this with my knitting needles. I do know I need to use circular needles and I will probably start out with a chunky styled one.  Seems simple enough. I might even give it a go on my knitting loom - the biggest one which I think is yellow. I'll have to dig that out, but basically instead of working back and forth like for a scarf or rectangular object I am going to work in the round. I use safety pins as markers so that way I know where my beginning stitches are (plus safety pins are a lot cheaper than markers you can buy in the store).

There are also several nice and easy patterns out there with Lion Brand Yarn and Ravelry. You might like to look around and try one for yourself. If you don't  know what Ravelry.com is then I suggest you go and find out! What a valuable too this is to do so many things from keeping track of your yarns, needles and such to finding patterns and groups/friends to connect with online.

So I'll be plotting and planning my cowls to knit over the summer as to have them ready for the cool weather in the fall. I'm sure they will still be around next fall and winter seasons. Usually things like this stick for a year or two. At least that is what I am banking on!

Welcome Spring - Welcome New Projects!

Oh, can you smell it!? Can you hear it!? Spring is coming. It really is! The birds are chipping, the breeze smells of light rain and the flowers are starting to push up through the Earth. It really is coming. FibersStudio is also adjusting to the warmer weather with new projects on the horizon.

I've worked out a new spring banner for starters for this blog and FibersStudio.etsy.com.  Projects like shawls are being worked on in knitting and charted for weaving. These are light and airy shawls being knitted in deep pinks and natural colors. Plus woven table linens for your home are in the works in the form of drawings. So much to do! Thank goodness the days are filled with more sun!

But before I get to the new projects I am enjoying finishing up weaving baby blankets for now.  I am weaving one that has a pink weft with muted blue, yellow and white warp stripes. The pattern I am using is an 8-harness twill woven with Simply Soft yarn by Caron. It's a 100% acrylic yarn and not your 1980's yarn either that was itchy. It is soft and flows well for the blankets.

The shawls to be woven are to be in three different colors: dusty pink, deep violet and cream for the loom. The yarns are rayon, cotton and flax for pink and violet and a cotton slub for the cream. Light weight and woven at about 2 feet by 6 feet I think. Tassels that will be twisted for a nice finished look and beads added where I will knot the warp threads to finish it off.

For knitting I am continuing to work on the deep pink ladder ribbon shawl-very open and light. I put this aside for months not meaning too. Amazing how things get shoved back and almost forgotten! It is a drop stitch pattern that is pretty simple over all, but finishes with an elegant drape to it. The ladder ribbon does feel like liquid fabric in the end.

I am itching to get to the table linens - table runners and place mats with possible matching napkins. I have a lot of Maysville Warp left over from years gone by. Plus I want to use up all the material and older clothes I have collected to use as rag. I don't particularly enjoy weaving rag, but I do like the possibilities of recycling materials and this is a great way to do it! I will cut all the materials down to somewhere between 1/2 to 1 inch wide and then sew all the strips together to form a nice long rag to weave with.

So much to do! But like I said the days are a little longer each day and that helps me to continue working longer. I need to build my inventory back up after having a successful holiday season. Enjoy the warmer weather, the birds singing and tackling new projects for the spring!

FibersStudio branches out to Children's Accessories...

Yes, it's true! I posted a fun children's scarf today on my Etsy shop. I had some left over yarns from other projects, not enough really for an adult scarf, but perfect for a child! This has been coming for a while and just finally finished up the first one.

"Purple Bling Scarf" is made from Fun Fur (Lion Brand Yarn) and combined with a nice silvery purple yarn called Glittalllic (Patons). Sparkles in the light and super fun for that imaginative little girl. This should be worn by a princess and host her own tea party. I would have loved to have such a fun scarf to play with as a child and make believe in. Of course it could be worn everyday for warmth too!

The width is approximately 2.5" and the length is approximately 64" (including fringe). I would say any little one from age 2-5 would probably be able to wear this.

I do have another one in the making with the same Fun Fur, but a little bit different purple yarn to combine with it. It should be going up tomorrow also on the Etsy site. Plus, there are several on the way in many color ranges & styles after that.  Keep checking back for more styles and many new items to arrive this year at FibersStudio. (FibersStudio.esty.com)

Thank you for all the support in the last 11 months!