beanie pattern!

finally  a beanie pattern that I happy with. I have tryed many different configurations of needle size, stitch etc. This one is simple and easy and only takes about 80 gms of my yarn.

Instructions:

Using 9mm double -pointed needles and super-bulky sofTrope yarn, Cast on 40 stitches.

Place marker to mark beginning of the round if knitting in the round.

Rib pattern:

All rows: Knit 2, purl 2, until end.

Work in pattern until about 20cm or length desired.

Shape crown:

Next row: k2tog, p2tog until end. (20 stitches)

Next row: k1, p1 until end.

Last row: k2tog until end (10 stitches remain).

Finishing

Cut yarn, leave a 20cm tail if knit flat. Using wool needle, thread through remaining 10 stitches. Sew in ends. If knit straight seam piece together using a flat seam.

 Make & attach a 20cm pom pom from remaining yarn,  if desired!

cloudscapes

  I am continuing to spin up the natural coloured roving that I used in my supernatural range. These are lovely fat skeins and this wool is divinely soft and lofty.  It is super fat yarn, best knit on size 20+ needles I think.  I was arbitrarily making poms poms the other night and think they look sweet here. Might make some more!

new yarn range

bulky weight, single ply yarn. Spun from merino x wool sourced from local breeders in Victoria and Sth Australia. lovely natural colours ranging from chocolate, fawn, silver grey mid grey and cream (organic).  Knit up best on 10 -12 mm needles. Will list in the shop this weekend.

greener shades dyes

First time using greener shades dyes. They are made in the US and are non-heavy metal acid dyes and comply with the  criteria for organic processing. This means that if I use certified organic yarn I can use these dyes  if I want to dye with acid dyes, and sometimes I will, even though I am aiming to use primarily plant extracts,and still create a product that will comply to organic standards. I am really happy with the bright clear colours, all of which I achieved with just  three primarys and black. I used very little dyestuff; my usual palette is much more subdued then the above, so I will have to experiment to achieve more subtle results. But so happy I can get rid of my heavy metal dyes!

natural dyeing - eucalyptus

 

Super bulky thick an thin organic merino. After I spun it I boiled it up for and hour with some fresh picked eucalyptus leaves which resulted in a felted yarn that is still extremely soft. I really love it.

walking home

sour sop from the footpath, eucalyptus bark from the park. Heading for the dyepot on the weekend.

natural dyeing - eucalyptus

 

This is the results of my first attempt with eucalyptus leaves. At top organic merino and below some mohair locks. i was suprised as I expecting the russet tones that eucalypus typically produces. These are beautiful, silvery tawny greens. I can only speculate which variable produced these tones..perhaps the species, time of year, ph of my water etc.