What's happening at Stranded In Oz

Winter Floral Blues Merino 4 Premium

Wild McLaren Vale Merino 4 Premium

Winter Floral Reds/w Purple Merino 4 Premium

A big thank you to SACSOS for their hosting of the annual Fibre Fair at Mt. Pleasant. The rain didn't seem to dampen (sorry!) the spirits of those who made their way into the Hills for a fibrey day out. There was so much sheepy beautiful stuff there it was hard to know where to look first!

For this week: I'll be posting the 'rules' on the shop blog for the 2nd SIOz Hank Hunt -- this time a bon voyage --at the Port Markets this Sunday, 22nd Aug. I must admit it was fun watching you all dig around the yarn displays looking for hidden hanks. I'm rolling out more sock yarn, bags of bargains (seriously, there are some very nice yarns for Sunday to get ready for the warmer weather) and a new yarn for SIOz.

Brighton Organic and Healthy Living Market this Thursday, Aug 19th. This will be my last time for the winter that I'll be there. If we're lucky, Sunnydale Farm will be there! And perhaps Rita and her outrageous Greek pastries!!!!! Oh my god, it was torture setting up next to her last time I was there. But of course, I managed *lol*

See you at the markets and online, m

Thursday 5th and Sunday 8th August

Tomorrow, at the Brighton Market (Commercial Rd, in the Masonic Hall), I'll be featuring Fairy Fleece, 60% wool/40% sugar cane viscose. You have to feel this yarn to believe how soft it is, and because it's a viscose blend, it has fabulous drape and 3-season wear-ability.

Fairy Fleece Yarn from Stranded In Oz

For Sunday, which just happens to be my birthday, I'm featuring Karaoke (soy/wool blend from SWTC) Kits for the Milk Can Bag -- there are brights as well as darker colours to choose from -- at a ridiculously low price of $28.00AU per kit.

I've had this design in a work folder since first designing it in the US -- it was inspired by an antique milk can and available through a friend's US yarn business for a while. It just kept getting bumped out of the way here for other designs.

What I love about the yarn for this design is that if you want a felted version, the soy/wool blend won't shrink much -- but felts brilliantly! Like many of my designs, it is worked circularly, in a stitch chosen for its durability and how it looks in the yarn chosen.

Milk Can Bag Design from Stranded In Oz -- FREE Pattern with Project Yarn Purchase

Brighton Market 5th Aug and Mt. Pleasant Fair

Hello and thanks to the intrepid knitters who came by yesterday at the Port Markets. Esp. nice seeing all the lovely knitted things you are wearing this winter!

SIOz will be at the Brighton Organic and Healthy Living Market on the 5th (this Thurs.) and 19th of August. It will be my last month there before I head off to the US of A.

Mt. Pleasant Fleece and Fibre Fair, Soldier's Memorial Hall, Mt Pleasant, Sat. Aug 14. Doors open at 10am: I'm usually away for this show, but this year, I am happy to say SIOz will be there -- there will be Fair specials to get you thinking about spring and summer, including sock knitting yarns. If you are thinking of purchasing a Namaste bag or accessory, and would like to pick it up at this fair, please order online and tick Store Pickup or ring to arrange your order. Be sure to put a note on the order message system so I know when to deliver.

CU at the markets, m

Thank you to the HKGSA, Inc.

SIOz Fairy Fleece -- wool and sugarcane viscose

A big thank you to the Handknitters Guild SA, Inc. for all the hard work last weekend running their biannual exhibition. Thanks so much for the invitation!

All those knitters, wool, and knitting in one spot! Whew.

But now, it is onward with preparations for Bendigo and beyond.

Apologies: to the customers who came by the Port and hadn't checked the website! Mea culpa. I promise I will both at the Port (Sunday) as well as the Brighton Organic and Healthy Living Market (tomorrow) this week.

It is hard to believe Beth -- bitsyknits -- and I are well into preparations for the USA autumn festivals. But so it is.

Knitting this week: deadline jumpers and shawls... What's on your needles?

SIOz at Brighton Organic and Healthy Living Market

SIOz will be at the Brighton Organic and Healthy Living Market tomorrow, Thursday May 13th, from 9:30-12:30.  I was at this market last winter and since they were nice enough to request my return, I said of course! This is a smaller display than Port Adelaide, but is quite convenient for people in that part of the city. See you there -- at Commercial Rd, next to the Windsor Theatre, Brighton, just up from the nice row of shops and cafes near the beach.

m

thank you!

serendipity floral 8ply Aussie Wool

Thank you to everyone who came by to buy yarn and fibre on Thursday at the Brighton Market. Due to gentle pestering, I will make another appearance there on the 1st Thursday of July -- the last time I'll be there before Bendigo and pts beyond.

The winter floral colourways are coming along and there will be plenty for Bendigo and the SS. Pictured in this entry are a coupla teasers -- apologies, but they were snatched up as soon as I had them out for purchase. Not to fear -- there will be more.

Special thanks to the fab spinner knitter wearing the GORGEOUS banana palm silk vest!!! OMG -- it's fabulous. And of course, I was an idiot and left the camera at home. EMAIL piccies please and I will post them on le blog.

Also on show -- a v. cute little boy's hat, complete with pompoms. I stared at him as he walked around the market, thinking, gee, that hat is so cute -- wonder what yarn it is. And DOH! yeah, it was knitted in SIOz yarn. Honestly, I paint a lot of yarn, so excuse my brainfart. Damn, that hat is cute. It was knitted in a serendipity version of Way Over the Rainbow -- I took artistic license with the versions of the colours that day. Must paint some more!

I'm in full-on show-dyeing mode so if you have a custom colour request, ring or email me tout suite and it will get put on the whiteboard schedule.

The webpage will be changing in preparation for my show season -- as always, the latest photos will be posted on the blog -- including show product previews.

8ply merino in winter floral (bg) and

pure merino singles (front)

Happy knitting and as always, thank you for purchasing SIOz yarns, designs and fibres.

Fresh Yarn -- For a New Week

G'day and happy winter to you. Here are the latest photos of some new yarns in stock and ready to go -- see May 31st (prev blog entry) for all details on latest yarns and fibres for sale.

I'll be at the Brighton Organics and Healthy Living Market tomorrow (1st Thurs.) and the 3rd Thurs. of June. 

More photos later in the week, including the latest lot of Pure Merino lace singles, 8ply, and new sock yarn (Aussie wool).

hand-painted blues and greens -- premium 4ply sock wool $15.00 AU per 165m/50gm hank

This is 80%wool/20% nylon from a fantastic North American mill.

winter florals - blue greens and pink reds

HANDSPUN chunky wool (approx. 3sts=2.5cm/1")in Nepal and ethically-traded by SIOz $5.00AU per 50gm/25m 

2 hanks make a beanie :-) or a groovy pair of wristwarmers

great for freeform and felting

This week from SIOz

In addition to my regular Sundays at the Port Fishermen's Wharf Markets, I'll be at the Organic and Healthy Living Market in Brighton -- at the Masonic Hall, this Thursday from 9-12:30. There's a fantastic organic coffee service there -- so come have a look at the natural yarns I'll be featuring and have a great cup of coffee! Oh, and there's organic fruit and veg, earth-friendly stuff for your household, lots of stuff for babies and kids, and some fab products from Think Global (Hove). 

Thank you to everyone who came by for yarn and fibre yesterday -- I look forward to seeing what comes off your needles and spindles as the winter approaches. There are some incredibly talented people here in Adelaide. And for those who are just getting started playing with wool? Enjoy the first efforts -- they're some of the most fun! Yeah, you'll drop your spindle, your stitches, your hooks and needles, but hey, you'll also pick up plenty too. A special hello to Peggy, who came by to have a quiet browse and went home with some hand-painted wool to make her grandson, Thomas, a new jumper. She hasn't knitted in years, but she's BACK. Can't wait to see what she knits!

This week from the dyetable: more wool -- there's a war of extremes waging -- the thick beautiful handspun is arguing with the lovely merino thin singles -- dye me first each says! Guess I'll just have to dye both! It may be time to paint Semaphore, my oceany, mermaidy colourway. A version for winter is on the way -  Dark Semaphore. Same colours in deeper tones, with a bit of dark seaweedy purple in the mix.

Semaphore Colourway shown in Summer Soy Version

Also, more purples and reds to come. They have disappeared from the market somehow. Ooops. Can't forget the request for more floral colourways, so there'll be a few serendipity hanks -- for fun!

Enjoy the rain here in Adelaide. CU at the markets, M

Green. Again

two greens:

1st -- the Organic and Healthy Living Market is on for this Thursday -- April 2nd, at the Masonic Hall, 1 Commerical St, Brighton, next to the Windsor Theatre. 9:30-12:30. Bring your fruit and veg bags. 

2nd: green, as in green wool(s):

Serendipity Deep Green/Blue Handspun Hemp and Wool

Deep Greens -- first run of new 4 ply Australian Coloured Sheepwool

The coloured sheepwool doesn't take on its full charm until after the dye and dry process. It's absolutely soft and lovely -- with a sproingy hand. Hand-painted CWS is $10.00 per 50gm hank in any weight -- 2ply, 4ply, and 5ply in stock. 

Happy knitting, spinning, crocheting, and weaving. A special hi to the women from the spinner's guild who came 'round last weekend -- excellent people spinners and weavers. We discussed the benefits of a handmade face washer -- there are still some hanks of pure cotton chenille in stock for that purpose. Make up some homemade soaps and knit a washer -- pure luxury made with love. 

See you at the market(s) m

Thursday Market -- March 19th in Brighton

SIOz AT Organic and Healthy Living Market: 9:30am to 12:30 am at the Masonic Hall, 1 Commercial Street, Brighton. Entry is FREE.

SIOz yarns and fibres will be there -- so if you are finding it difficult the get to the Port Markets on a Sunday, come on by. And if there is something you are wanting in particular, ring me on 83410213 or email to make sure I have what you want on the Thursday. I won't have my full display as this is a once-a-month market at the moment. But there will be lots of GOOD FIBRE for sale.

Here's a peek: some nice and squishy premium dk merino in a purple/red colourway -- serendipity skeins. $10.00AU per 50gm hank.

Below is the first run of a new 2ply and 4ply Australian Coloured Sheepwool -- it's not treated with any chemicals, except for the acid dye process. The next colour runs will be in McLaren Vale (vineyard colours) and Semaphore (water colours): hank below is a 2ply (50gms, $15.00.

Semaphore Dark 2ply CSW

Thank you to everyone who came by the market on Sunday. Hello to the travelers from Sydney -- it was lovely to meet you. Hey to Kaz and her daughter, who are going to be spinning everything in sight soon! Wheeeeeeeee! Look out -- Kaz does amazing bobbin lace and plans to spin her own fibres for it. Wow.

A note about yarns and fibres from SIOz -- sometimes a customer will inquire for a yarn that I don't dye -- like plain solid colours. I love to dye semi-solids from time to time but for a fine quality solid-coloured wool, I recommend a trip to Barb's Sew and Knits in Byron Street, Glenelg. Barb has the new season's colours -- a wall of shelves full of new Zara and Zarina-- superb Italian wool. So if you are looking for a good 8ply wool that is worth your time and effort knitting, go to Barb's. And no, she doesn't pay me to advertise, she just has lovely wool and you know you NEED some!

I am particularly fond of dyeing hanks to coordinate with commercial wools (it's a dyer's challenge), so don't be shy -- bring your yarn and pick out a hand-painted hank to complete the project. I have designs specifically for this purpose. And if I don't have the right colourway in stock, I'm happy to dye to suit. If you like, I am able to hand-dye the same yarn, provided the undyed version is available. Prices depend on the cost of the yarn to be dyed.

The carded recycled sari silk fibre, $10.00AU per 100gm, continues to be popular. Spin it as is, or use it like cayenne pepper and add it here and there for effect. For felters and embroiderers, you have got to try it!

Artwear Kits: there are more available now -- all those pictured in previous posting have GOODIES in them. I mean, yarn surprises and other cool stuff. You'll seriously kick yourself if you pass one up -- customers have come back the following week to buy them after the first viewing. I DID warn 'em.

Colours available: hot red (pictured), floral (pictured), autumn (pictured), cool greens/blues (including some v. groovy alt. fibres you can't find in the shops here and hand-painted SIOz wool), and muted neutral kit with a touch of light purple and sedate green (it's a wowser). Prices range from $70.00 to $90.00AU depending on the size needed for garment and yarns included.

CU at the markets. m