A Breath of Real Fresh Air

The weather shifted late Monday night. For those who read this blog from where it's freezing (greetings!) it was so hot at the Market on Sunday, the electronic thermo read 50 degrees C. I felt as though my eyeballs were cooking like coddled eggs. Yup, left EARLY - the boss kicked us out. Apologies to A. and M. for not being there for you. I was looking forward to catching up with you!

Cool change, still not enough rain in South Australia. Never enough. 

Cool enough to take some photos of yarn and fibres. There's quite a few, so I'll post on several days.

First, some cotton 'lace'-- Kollage Yarn was kind enough to part with some cones of their now discontinued cotton "lace". It's more a 3-ply equivalent/light fingering. Tension is around 8-9 sts per inch on 2.25-2.50mm needle, bigger needles of course for lace knitting.  I've put this up in 2 colours at the moment -- purples and blues dominate in this run.

cotton 'lace' in wild mixes $10.00 per 50gm

This yarn is perfect for making lightweight shawls and baby's gifts.  It is just about the best quality cotton I've ever had in this weight. Here's to hoping Kollage comes up with something just as fab next time around. I have no doubt they will. 

Some mixed lots of another colour, this time purples and greens with a dash of light brown (couldn't resist a floral, right?). Below: cotton chenille (fine, 4-ply equiv) ($12.00AU per 50gm). This is pure cotton, not viscose and it is fabulous. The bottom photo is the natural cotton ($10.00AU) in the same colourway.

There's a wee bit of milk and cotton (80%/20%) ($15.00) in a very light weight, in the wilder mix. This is Kollage Creamy -- I couldn't resist adding this fibre to the mix:

I'll be loading these yarns onto the web shop after Sunday to give my loyal Adelaide customers a chance to fondle them before they go off into cyberspace. If you just... can't... wait? Email me at melissa AT strandedinoz DOT com...

Stay tuned for fibre photos...

Sunday Market in the heat -- oh yeah!

Whilst I hide in the shadows inside today, I'm labeling the new lots of cotton lace and other goodies to tempt your fingers during this hot summer season. Had a notion to go outside and photograph said hanks of yarn, opened the door and... Well, a wave of heat hit me like a wall. Door shut. Dog hiding in back hall on tile floor. Photos on hold.

The market will be open in the am, but I'm guessing it will close early. The manager often sends us home on extreme heat days!

Thank you again to all the fantastic fibre addicts out there who have purchase SIOz products. Keep those photos of FO's coming!

Melissa, wilting in the heat

Cellulose Season

The sun is shining and that means I'm putting down the needles, picking up the brushes and banging on the pots again.

For those of you who think summer is def. for knitting, the sock and lace knitting are the over-all faves. Got some yarn and don't know what to do with it? Bring your yarn and come up to the Port for some pattern chat -- lots of options at SIOz to choose from.   

Just restocked: Kollage Circular Square Needles in popular lace-knitting and sock sizes. Great for shawls and long circ sock knitting. 

 

misc. 2 and 3ply lace yarns

Dyelots this week include:

Knitting: hand-painted cottons, viscose(s), and latte/cotton. All are luxury yarns in serendipity colours, done in mixed lots. Each colourway is done in a mixture of fibres and textures to inspire your fingers and eyes.  

aran-wt/10py cotton/viscose summer yarn in 2 colours $12.00AU/50gm

Included: a non-mercerised cotton lace you won't want to miss! Great for crochet and knitting, and all manner of needlework.  This is a luxury cotton lace, hard to find, fab to work with.

While cellulose-based yarns are not as popular here in Australia as they are overseas, they are incredibly practical as well as inspirational -- the variation in texture and type, plus the drape that viscose yarns, in particular, provide help to create new and interesting ways to think about what's on your needles.  With the warmer weather Down Under, cellulose garments can be worn longer. Stay tuned for photos when the lots are finished and ready for sale.

New Lots of Soy DK Ribbon are available for summer projects. If you've read my blog, you'll know I'm mad about soy fibre. This yarn is my first choice for children's knits -- it's in fun colours and it's machine-washable! Made from re-purposed soy (a by-product of the tofu manufacturing process) and so easy to wear here in Oz. 

Knitting/crochet/weaving: 

New dyelots of handspun aloo (nettle) and hemp. The aloo is in a darker version of Puna (greyish purple) and the hemp? DEEP RED. These handspun yarns are hand-dyed and fantastic for reinforcing bags -- such as the Banana Smoothie Bag (SIOz design from Yarn Magazine).

 

banana smoothie kit 2010 in Semaphore Soysilk SIOz HP and hemp $45.00AU includes mag with pattern!

Spinning: 

The new lots of bamboo hand-painted top are curing at the moment. I'm dying (sorry!) to play with them, but am resisting. Just.

As always, spin, knit, and crochet in good health; and happiness to you and yours in the new year! m

Happy New Year and Thanks

Thank you to all the eager fibre fans who ventured North to the PA Markets this weekend. And a special thank you to my Sydney customers. It was lovely to meet the visitors from NSW. They've got the spinning bug up there too! 

The Nepal laceweight stockpile has been set upon by eager lace knitters and the new supply is on its way. ETA unknown at present, but fingers crossed, it should be here very soon.  If you have a craving for a particular colour, please email melissa AT strandedinoz DOT com and I will add your request to the dyelot list.

Greetings go out to Fiona, who went home with a new spindle -- may it give her hrs of happy spinning.  Nice to meet you!

I'm surrounded by mounds of yarn and fibre, all of which is heading for the dye process. 

Check back here for some kewl stuff for the New Year! Plotting and playing for some fibre fun in 2010. 

Hand-Painted Tofutsies -- shown in McLaren Vale $26.00AU per 100gm

The test lot of McLaren Vale has come through nicely. New lots will be posted online when they are read for purchase. The hot weather has done wonders for the bright purple!

CU at the markets and online, m

New Drop Spindles...

... with more on the way.

A big thank you to the knitters/shoppers who visited the SIOz Port Markets venue on Sunday. The market will be open this Sunday AND Monday, 9-5.

Special thanks to Raphael and Lesley, who ventured up to Port Adelaide for a visit.

Here's a sneak peak at some of the new spindles to be loaded to the online store:


Gothic Fairie mini drop spindle

features small gemstone whorl and pine shaft, finished with black, shiny paint $15.00AU

Primary Colours Chuppah Whorl Spindle $25.00AU

features Tasmanian Oak shaft, finished with natural wood oil

Another shipment of spindle gear is due to arrive after Christmas. More fibre will be loaded online as well, including more lots of organic merino. The new fancy pantsy fibre is in the workshop ready for dyeing in Jan. Check here for updates on some fab, hard-to-find stuff for the new year.

Thank you to the purchasers of the Roclans and Gurdy Run carded fibre! Worth the trip to the Port, no doubt about it. One person snagged the majority of the Jon Benet llama fibre and it is now officially GORN. I only see that producer once a year at Garden State and will be sure to bring back more next year. I have to factor in the time to scour the llama before I ship it back to Oz, so it's always a race against time, but it's the most amazing fibre -- bred to be without guard hairs! High-tech llamas -- very photogenic too.

To all SIOz customers, happy holidays to you and yours. M

Fresh 4ply Fingering Weight Low-Micron Merino

Vellan's Urban Decay II 4ply/fingering wt merino superwash

This yarn is fantastic for socks, shawls, gloves, baby's garments (yeah, it's superwash $24.00AU per 100gm/approx. 360m). Ready for the Port Markets tomorrow. Also in stock, some very soft and squishy Supersocke (80%wool/20%nylon, 100gm/approx. 400m, $28.00AU) in both a light mermaid mix (blues/greens) and a red floralish/berryish blend SIOz colours.

Handspun Part II:

Handspun Australian Merino in SIOz Way Over the Rainbow

First hank of 2ply lace yarn finished. I went a bit more random on the plying than I had originally planned, but I like the result.

Happy knitting, spinning, playing with wool. M

SIOz Shop Online

Right -- this online shop thingo? Wellll. It's taking longer than I could imagine. But the site has been updated today and the kits, as well as some yarns, have been loaded.
In the meantime, just email or ring as you all have been doing (THANK YOU!) and we'll get your yarn, etc... out to you asap.
As always, thank you to the people who continue to support my Real Life retail at Port Adelaide Markets. I look forward to seeing you all and esp. seeing what is on the needles, spindles, and wheels.
For XMAS: I'll have a stock of wrapping for people who'd like their purchases gift-wrapped. If you are ordering by mail, make sure you request gift wrapping in your notes on your order.
Cheers, and see you at the markets, Melissa