#takepicsmakeknits

There's something so satisfying and exciting about the potential in a new skein of yarn. I've been looking forward to this set arriving, because I love gradient kits and I love mini kits, so I don't have to commit to buying big yardage to make something pretty! This gradient kit is from @swoonfibers is a 4ply DK weight, 75% SW merino wool, 25 % nylon and needless to say, gorgeous. I can't wait to make this into something just as beautiful!

I got a yarn swift and ball winder, y'all! It's so exciting!  After hand-winding my skeins for a while, I'm excited to switch over to being able to cake my yarn without the big mess that hand winding creates. On my next day off I am finally going to cake up my sweater quantity of this yarn so I will finally have zero excuses to start the daunting task of finally taking on my first sweater. If I cake up some skeins does that means I can replace that space in my storage with.... new skeins? Is that how it works? Bahahaha. 

When I saw this yarn on etsy in the shop "Forests and Meadows" ( @forests.and.meadows ) I knew that it had to be mine. This is a Lithuanian yarn dyed with tansy, which grows prolific in Lithuania as well. I've been very interested in natural dyes and rustic yarn, and I can't wait to find the perfect project to use it.

I've been working on this way too long, and ripped it back at least 5 times. I have resigned myself to that I don't mind if there are a few too many mistakes, I just want to get it done... this is my first shawl and it doesn't have to be picture perfect, I just want to be able to wear it before it is too warm here in Iowa. This was originally a free shawl pattern from Red Heart yarns, but I didn't like the lace pattern in the original, but couldn't decide what I wanted instead. I finally settled on something and I think I like this much better. It certainly took several tries, but it actually looks better on this yarn than the practice swatch I did with the same pattern but different yarn.

I am flat out obsessed with this colorway. It reminds me of a spring rainstorm, with rays of sun pushing through clouds. The perfect colorway for a one skein project. This is another gorgeous product from @yarngeekfibers, and one from my haul from the Shepherds Market from last Saturday. I would have bought more of this colorway, but it was the last one and I actually have no idea what the name of it is, it didn't have a tag! If anyone recognizes it and knows the name, let me know, I couldn't find anything online.

I've never before knit a sweater, and it has been high on my to-do list of knitting accomplishments, but I have been waiting for just the right yarn. Saturday at the Shepherds Market fiber fair I met my sweater yarn. This beautiful 3-ply fingering weight Corriedale wool and nylon blend in the colorway Sarah Guppy from @yarngeekfibers is going to make a splendid first garment. I have a couple other projects to finish before casting on, but I can't wait!

Just a couple more rows.... so close! Then I can work on my asymmetrical shawl again! This is inspired by the pattern "Blue Blanket" by London Leo, but with a lot of modifications.

Is it really artisan bread if you don't take artsy-fartsy photos of it before you cut into it? 😂 Swipe to see the crumb! This loaf is so tasty! Letting the flavor develop for a whole day before cutting into it really helps fill out a beautiful sourdough profile and it's well worth the agonizing wait. This loaf will make an excellent sandwich bread. While larger holes are often a sought after feature of rustic country loaves, large holes do not accommodate sandwiches very well. This on the other hand should be a wonderful vessel for a grilled cheese. What is your favorite type of bread? Drop a comment below!