Name That Sock Yarn

Kraemer Sterling - Hand-Painted by SIOz

Supersocke Silk in SIOz Pretty Good Green

It occurred to me as I started running the new sock yarn lots that I needed a name for the yarn. I've labeled it Stranded Sock, my catch-all name for regular sock yarn. But I really need a name for this one.

Wanna win some new sock yarn? Just join the Stranded In Oz group on Ravelry and offer your suggestions on the Name That Sock thread. You might just get your name chosen. I welcome a healthy debate on names. Best name wins! Who decides? The group should take care of that for us nicely! SIOz knitters aren't a shy bunch.

Here's another peek at the new yarn, in a run of my Winter Florals.

100% Superwash wool -- spun for socks
This yarn needs a name!

The green yarns shown above are lone hanks I ran last week. The Supersocke Silk is a test hank -- of the new yarn base from Cherry Tree Hill. The Sterling was the last of the lot I had and it said it wanted to be green. Really!

It's back to the needles for me. Mel

Not sick of sock knitting. Nup

Foreground: Stranded Sock 100gm/360m superwash wool
spun for sock knitters

Greetings from Oz central, otherwise known as the place where 100gm hanks of superwash woolly goodness threaten to bury the inhabitants.

That's right -- Mr. Delivery D00D arrived this am with my much-anticipated boxes of socky fun. Only problem? It came un-dyed. I somehow forgot to clone myself in an alternate universe, dye it, then ship it to myself over here. Ah well.

In the midst of the wool pile, I'm immersed in some sock designs - what else would I be doing right now?

I was thinking as I unpacked boxes -- I tend to design in my head doing other things -- that it's the minutia of knitting stitches that attracts my attention. Tweak this, swap that, and suddenly, the whole thing looks different. As you can imagine, I spend a lot of time doing this.

So this week, I have in front of me 2 very different projects -- a completely natural sock (I like to work in un-dyed yarn as a change of pace) as well as a decidedly oceany blue sock.

Ravelry: thank you to everyone who has joined us at Oz Central on la Rav. Some of you very clever knitters are already taking advantage of the Thanks For Joining SIOz on Rav discount of 15% off your next order. This offer is only good on regularly-priced items and is a one-time only offer. No additional discounts apply. And yes, it's good on Namaste, Inc. products, thanks for asking.

Want to join the fun? Join Rav, the SIOz group, then email me at melissa AT strandedinoz DOT com and I'll send you the handy discount code. Most of the time I can figure out who you all are, but sometimes your fun Ravatar names don't immediately connect to your 'real' names.

Winter Chill Down Under -- we love it

Ocean Blues Superwash Sock Yarns -SIOz

The first blast of cooler air has finally hit Adelaide and I, for one, am loving it.

Fun and games this week for me here in the workroom. What arrived? Well, many kilos of... the wrong yarn. From the mill. *sigh* Lemons from lemonade you ask? Yes, well... since the cost of shipping it back were ridiculous and decidedly UNGREEN, I've negotiated a way out of the headache on this end. Not ideal of course, but at least I can put the Panadol back in the cupboard! LOL Here's a piccie of the new ooopsie yarn:

I ran a lot in a darker version of Forbidden City. It positively glows!

What's at the Port Markets this week?

Mixed lots of special yarns -- when I say mixed lots... I grouped individual yarns by type and dyed them in the same lots.

Ocean Blues (above) -- haven't run this one for a while, so was pleased to do so this week. Didn't think they would dry in time, but hey presto -- all superwash sock yarns went into this lot. Make a pair of socks in SIOz Ocean Blues for winter. There are hanks of Kraemer Sterling, given the SIOz treatment, as well as some Louet Gems, and some ltd edition Italian Sock (my fave high twist yarn for socks, far too dear to run very often). The photo was taken before I finished processing the hanks -- just had to snap a colour shot right away!

Rome Purple from Stranded In Oz

The purple run was a test of a new colour I'm torturing myself with called ROME. Purple. What else? And the photo on my screen just doesn't do this shade justice. My screen a yarn much bluer than in person.

I've been in search of the ultimate purple; and just when I think I've got it, it eludes me. This search has meant a lot of mixing and remixing -- emailing dye houses, and all manner of colour mania. Dare I even say I think I've got it? The truth will be in the knitting.

Come out this Sunday and grab one of the few test hanks in ROME. Who knows, I may go back to the drawing board yet again. I am looking forward to the feedback on this colour. In this lot was a hank of Green Mountain Spinnery Mountain Sock -- a base they don't wholesale, as well as a hank of my beloved Merino 4 Natural. Sooo soft, so luxurious. And yes, I don't want to part with either, but out they go.

MORE banana palm silks and So Sari:

So Sari in Light Olive from Stranded In Oz

Banana Palm Silk in Kansas from Stranded in Oz

Banana Palm Silk in McLaren Vale from Stranded In Oz

The diehard SIOz addicts know that I don't run the McLaren Vale in BPS very often. This lot is divine and features another new purple -- it's rather grapey and rich as well as my fave dark eggplanty purple I use in this colorway.

Pattern restocks -- there's been a run on sock patterns at the Markets, so I've printed up a new batch. If you purchase online, be sure to ask in your notes upon ordering if you'd like a free pattern with purchase.

CU online and at the Markets, M

Online, Really!

In the midst of deadlines, the usual Autumn yarn and design rush, I've been playing catchup on the online shop. Whew!

Unrelated to the workweek, above and below, please find a photo of my beloved hank of Bronze Goddess, spun by Vellan. I've now wound it into a ball and still can't bear to knit it yet. Sooo lovely.


The photos don't do the colour justice -- a bit of olives, bronzey rust, and a lighter shade of the same. It's organic merino -- simply fab.

BIG SIOz NEWS? Weeeelll, Adrienne T. in SA has won the 40% off voucher via a mystery mini-hank she received in her mail order! Well done Adrienne, who has recently been bitten by the toe up sock bug!

Still want some kewl discounts or fun prizes? There are a few mini-mystery hanks left and loaded online. Missed out for Easter at the Port? Clever crafters have asked, can I order online for the Port and still get my mystery hank? Yup -- just pop the mystery hank in your cart and choose Store Pickup for delivery option. :)).

I'll be posting shop updates on the shopblog later in the week-- In brief, the Nepal Handspun products have been updated and sorted for easier browsing. I've also loaded Tofutsies in the sock yarn category -- the stocks change frequently for that yarn at the Port, so I've been reluctant to load them -- just in case one sells while I'm vending offline, but I've loaded a safe amount on the webshop to make it easier to get your hands on this incredible sock yarn. There are some hand-painted Tofutsies hanks loaded as well.

In the meantime, if you're a RAVELRY fan, check out the new Stranded In Oz group -- started by spinner extraordinary, Vellan. Thank you V for the new group!

Admission: I'm a reluctant Raveler. Not because I have any feelings about social networks, it's just a lack of time on my part. I'd rather paint, spin and knit than read about it, so my time online, when it is available, is devoted to updating blogs, editing photos and corresponding with customers via my website.

When I've asked my customers about Ravelry many say they aren't interested in social networks. Perhaps it is a demographic issue, not sure. I look forward to hearing about, no matter the medium, what people do with the yarn and fibre once it leaves here. And judging from what I see every week, I must be doing something right, as the knitting and spinning is really inspiring. Thank you for that!

Inspirational KNITTER! Jenice came by last weekend -- it was lovely to meet her. After a diagnosis of Parkinson's as well as lung cancer surgery, Jenice decided it was TIME. Time for what? Time to get out of the house and buy SOCK YARN! Her visit was so inspiring. Talk about a dedicated sock knitter. Anyway, she's off knitting socks in new Infatuation and of course, couldn't resist the Tofutsies. I can't wait to see her socks. Whatever minor grumping I had going on in my head has completely vanished after meeting Jenice.

Plans are in the works for all sorts of activity SIOz-wise (new yarns, new patterns, and more). For now, it's back to the needles and dyework.

melissa

Easter Hunt and FO report

FO report and some gorgeous photos from Rockleigh on Ravelry:

A huge thanks to everyone who came by on Sunday – some to pick up club packs and show their FO's.

Alison showed off her magnificent BHM! Tofutsies socks – they are so fab and I am very jealous of her feet. The pair I've got are for shop samples and I can't wear 'em! She wore hers with a cool pair of Mary Janes to show off the lacy bit on the foot. GAWJUS!

A big hello to Raph, who's crocheting his way around a magnificent pair of house shoes, crocheted in SIOz hemp and wool in the recycled green. I'm really looking forward to seeing them as they develop and sharing a photo or two. There is nothing like this yarn – with its strength from the hemp (60%) with the wool, which takes the colour. Combined together they make an earthy tweedy handspun that is inspiring to work with. Raph recommends the 4mm crochet hook for that yarn.

Kaz stopped by with some handspun merino/lyocell in a mix of Woodland Creatures and the Garden mix. She's knitting a 2-ply version of the SIOz Milk Can bag in her beautiful handspun. It looks and feels amazing.

Thanks to Adrienne, who emailed with a query for the new club sock pattern, the Woodland Creatures sock – she's off and running now and if you knitters have a query, please feel free to contact me. I will try to update the site with comments this week, but it's a very crammed schedule I must admit.

And here are Rockleigh's mitts! She was the recipient of some Stranded In Oz ltd edition cashmere/merino dk (50/50) luxury blend. I ran some special Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show lots last year and she snarfled up the FREE pack that was the Ravelry Door Prize at the Saturday Brekkie. Aren't her mitts knitted beautifully? The colourway is Martha Stewart's Vegetable Garden.

Speaking of cashmere and spinning and all things SIOz, check out the SIOz shopblog for the update on the Easter Hunt 2011. This weekend, along with the annual 'egg' hunt, SIOz is having a special on hp cashmere yarn, just in time to make a quick Mother's Day giftie. :-)

Back to the deadlines, Melissa

It's a Club Day today!

Merino 3 Premium 200gm hanks from Stranded In Oz

Whew! It feels really great when the club packs go out. Bye bye yarn and fibre! Go to your happy new homes. Given next week is a holiday week (mega) I figured it would be wise to send out the packs 1 day ahead of schedule. Some will arrive at their destinations tomorrow -- others on Monday, of course depending on the distance it must travel. I will post photos once the packs have been received. No spoilers.

That out of the way, it's a further WHEW now that I now my latest overseas design arrived safely at its destination. No peeking, sorry, as it isn't published yet. All I can say is it's an heirloom shawl project in one of my favourite yarns. :). I am rather sad I had to part with it. *sniffle*

For shoppers, there are new yarns to go up at the online shop and some already there. Temptation photos:

Merino Laceweight 100gm hanks in Winter Floral Red
(it's a wicked, bluebloody red~)

Merino 10 Premium Winter Floral Pinks Purples II 100gm hanks from Stranded In Oz

I was in a florally mood last time I painted. I feel some greens coming on... and more Robin Hood Colours. Hmmmm.

Also, just arrived are the re- and expanded stocks of Riveting, the recycled blue jeans yarn. This has distracted me to NO END today, as I face another deadline project. My reward for finishing is a new garment in Lava Riveting.

For updates regarding SIOz at the Market and online, check out the shopblog, which I will update shortly. Included will be more information regarding the now ANNUAL Stranded In Oz Easter Egg Hunted (well, it's actually hunting for mini-hanks of wool that contain prize or discount vouchers).

Catching up on fibre and knitting in April

Time to spin? I've posted some recent results on my spinblog. Hard to believe how little spinning time I've had recently, but no matter; a few minutes here and there still added up to a nice hank or two!

This week is filling with special orders, including a few people who've been patient waiting for banana palm silk. The Robin Hood colours had to wait until the banana silks were going. Why take so long Melissa? Weeeellll....

As with all things SIOz, I like to do things right. The banana silk is a personal mission on my part. Thanks to Michelle Moriarty, who got me hooked on the stuff, I've been working with this yarn for a while and have come to the conclusion that if I want it to be worth working with, I have to process it myself. WHY?

First, it comes from Nepal in need of a wash. I buy it directly from the spinners and ask that they don't dye it or do anything to it before I get it. Yes, it has been washed, but it has a long way to go, is sometimes stored for periods, and, well, it needs a professional scour in commercial-grade textile detergent. So that's my first step. If you've ever scoured fibre, you have an idea of the process. This stuff gets scoured in a very hot wash, by my own hands.

Once that is accomplished, I set about the dyeing process. After a lot of experimentation, I've gotten a process I can live with -- lower water use, longer curing time. The whole process takes a coupla days. If the weather cooperates, the yarn is dry is a reasonable amount of time. That said, I'm at the tail end of the sunny weather, so am hurrying to get my lots done before the grey weather approaches.

OK, sure, you could buy your banana palm silk from other stockists in Australia and beyond. But it won't look or feel like SIOz banana palm silk, hand-painted or vat dyed by yours truly, right here in Oz.

Here's my fave from last week:

Banana Palm Silk, hand-painted by Stranded In Oz - Parroty

Then there's a water colour (with 2 more being processed this week):

Banana Palm Silk, hand-painted by Stranded In Oz - water

These colours are available already online.

Designs from SIOz -- there are two new ones -- a shawl and a wrap -- on the way -- from a fave yarn company. Will post when available. Until then, the latest club happenings go out next week. NO PEEKING! Only hint this week: autumn colourways. The yarn? Well, it's Merino 4 Premium, low-micron wool ready for socks, scarves, shawls, and all sorts of lovely knitted things for the winter.

Not a member of the knitter's club? Waddayawaitin' for? Come on and join the fun! Questions? Feel free to email me at melissa AT strandedinoz DOT com and I'll be happy to get you started. I've been inspired by some of the FO photos in this colourway previously and can't wait to see the 2011 version.

It's back to the needles and the occasional peek outside to check the dyelots. CU online and at the Port Markets, melissa