Happy Tofutsies Feet

Happy Feet -- everybody can have happy feet... if they are wearing a pair of socks like these! Isn't this a great photo! Some damned fine looking feet too. Good thing my dogs didn't have to model. A Sock For Helen is my new pattern in Yarn Mag Issue 9. Check out this issue, chock full of yarn happiness.

Hope to see some knitters this Sunday at the last Festival Centre Art Market for the season. Stay tuned for the new SIO location in April.

Knitters Prefer A Nice Cool Breeze

NOW that's more like it. Cool breeze in Adelaide. Get your needles ready people! Yarn Mach II is here. I've got copies hot off the press. And GOODIES to the first 5 customers who buy the new issue of YARN MAG this Sunday. That's right, I've got knitting goodies for Yarn Issue 9 Buyers.
If you're a subscriber, buy one for a friend.

Check out my new pattern, A Sock For Helen in this issue. In Stock: an excellent selection of Tofutsies for you to make a pair or two. That's Mallory next to Helen's Sock. The original pair was knitted in recycled jumper wool - a machine knit from China.


Dyepot Update: There are some reddish/brownish/pinkish fun skeins in 5ply Aussie wool. Because they asked to be dyed that way. Really they did. And a few random RAINBOW bright skeins, just for fun.

The banana silk has been topped up to include a warm, coppery brown and a fabulous rich green. Below you will find a picture of the soy dk on sale at the market. Most colours are available every Sunday. If something is sold out, I am able to take an order for that week.

Thank you to the customer from Queensland for your mitt order. I hope they get to you soon, as the holiday weekend may get in the way! Wear them in good health.

Above you'll find a nice shot of the banana palm silk. In the bg is the Gertrude's Garden Cardigan from Yarn Magazine. I have back issues on sale -- so buy some handpainted yarn and clear out your stash by making one for yourself or someone you love!

See you 'round the Market. Mel, still Stranded In Oz

Brave Yarn Addicts - I salute you

Please allow me to indulge in some gushing. Thank you to the brave knitters who came out in yesterday's stinking heat and actually bought yarn. By 11:00 our market customers had mostly bugged out to cooler locales, but that didn't stop my knitting sisters coming by and purchasing before the heat really set in.

And set in it did. I've managed to survive the last few weeks, but yesterday? Well, that one did me in folks. I'm still not sure how I got home with heat stroke, but I did.

Artyarn Update: I will update the soy yarn colourways, so have a look towards the end of the week, when photos and more dyeing become possible. More banana palm silk and some dyed aloo are on the whiteboard for this week.

I've supplemented the laceweight merino colourways with glorious marine-inspired hanks.

Artwear Update: As soon as the change comes through, more vests and bags are slated for the workroom. And a big thank you to the brave customer who tried on a vest in 40 degree heat yesterday!

Stay cool Adelaidians! One more day!

Previews:

1) The new issue of Yarn Mag will be out shortly and includes one of my new sock patterns in Tofutsies. As soon as I get the issue, I will post availability.

2) If Sundays aren't the go for you, mark your calendars for the second weekend in April, when SIO will be at The Handknitters SA, Inc. Bi-Annual Exhibition, "Picture This": AT:

St. Peters Town Hall
Payneham Road
Sat and Sun 10-5

Gold Coin Donation and a fantastic raffle.

Come by and GET INSPIRED!

HOT KNITTING

In honour of the hot weather, I've mixed some kickass reddish/pinkish/wineish RUSTY ROSE soy in dk weight. I'm loving it. Along with Rusty Rose, there's more Celadon soy (a bit darker this week - must have been the heat!) and some fun soy colours -- went nuts with the green and fuschia for an experimental hank. Whee. No photos folks, as I'm not going outside to shoot em. No way, no how.

If you feel like braving the elements, come down to the market EARLY. We'll be closing at 3pm this Sunday only. I get there REALLY EARLY and don't mind an interruption when I'm setting up.

Stay cool. Think Autumnal thoughts.

Mel, still stranded in Oz

Soy Yarn = time for knitting

Thank you to all the brave knitters and crocheters who came by to purchase YARN in 40/106 degree heat on Sunday. It was great to see you enjoying Adelaide, Womad, and all that our city has to offer.

Artisan Fibre Update: There was a run on the new blue soy colour, which my friend Helen labelled Celadon. I promise I will try to brave the rest of the heatwave and make more. It's such a beautiful colour. The customer who purchased the Celadon also bought a hank of coordinating handpaint that I'm calling Semaphore. That's the blue/green/seaweed colour of soy yarn pictured below.

There are some precious hanks of 2ply Australian alpaca ($18.00 per hank/50gm) in autumn tones - 3 left. Just enough for a shawl or stole I reckon.

Artwear Update: I'll be taking a 1 week break on working more artwear pieces due to the weather, but have several new designs for the following week, barring more EVIL weather further in the month.

Take heart - when it's 4 degrees, we'll be wishing for warm weather.

Mel, in Addy

Blue Blue Blue

Since last week came out gold/red/purple-tinged -- for some reason, that's what kept leaping from the dye table -- I decided to cool off in this heatwave with some cooooooool blues. There's some glorious blue banana silk (think dark Cookie Monster) and some kettle-dyed blue soy. In addition, I painted a few special hanks -- 2ply Australian alpaca, and some mystery mill end fine laceweight.

For those customers who've been eyeing the INTENSE black sari silk, I've dyed some thin wool companion yarns to knit with the silk for scarves.

If you're looking for a knitter's gift, there are some gift kits available that include stitch markers, excellent-quality bamboo knitting needles, and a handy little bag. All ready to go.

Yes, it's HOT here in Adelaide, so dyeing had to happen very early this am. Back to the needles. If you can't stand the thought of the heat on Sunday, feel free to email orders to strandedinoz@gmail.com -- I wouldn't blame you.

Stay cool!

Mel, in Addy