Sneak Peek- August's Shawl!!!

I know I don't typically let you see the next month's shawl until I have a live model. But...I just couldn't help myself. Before I show you, though, I have a bit of a digression to go through. I am a self-confessed yarn snob. No, it's true. It wasn't always that way. I, like many crocheters, was raised on good ol' Red Heart Super Saver. When I became a spinner, I began to shun many of the mainstream, what are considered "craft yarns". Handspun gave me the bias I never had before, what with alpaca, angora, silk, extra-fine merino....you get the picture.

But now? Well, I am going to have to get off my high-horse, ya'll. I have had a yarn epiphany! While at the recent Knit & Crochet Show in Manchester, New Hampshire, I had the opportunity to handle some of the new Red Heart Boutique yarns. I gotta tell ya'll........this ain't the Red Heart you're thinking of! The folks over at Coats & Clark have really raised the bar with the Boutique line. I was privileged to be granted three skeins of one of their yarns, "Unforgettable", in the Tidal colorway. It is listed as a roving yarn, but really, I felt like it was more of a subtle thick/thin singles yarn, loosely twisted, with these LLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGG color changes, which work so much better for crochet than spotty, short color changes. The hand of the yarn is nice while working with it, and because it is essentially a worsted weight, this month's shawl worked up quickly. Hit it with some steam (Or "kill it", as my friends Amy and Donna over at Crochetville like to say), and it becomes lustrous and silky! I will tell you the name of the shawl in a future post, during the "official" debut. But I just had to take some pics on the mannequin, just to tease you a little bit!

As you can see, I took full advantage of those long color changes! Go visit my friends over at Red Heart, like their facebook page and stop in and say "Hi!" over at Crochetville  and like their page too, while you're at it! By the way, Red Heart is having a "Christmas in July" sale, good until 7/23/2012, where you can save a whopping 15% on your order of $30 or more. A great chance to get stocked up on "Unforgettable" in several colorways before this pattern comes out! In case you're wondering...you'll need three skeins. Stay tuned!!!

CGOA was fun!

I had the great privilege of helping Amy Shelton to emcee Saturday night's fashion show at the CGOA annual banquet. It was a lot of fun, and Amy and I got to hand out prizes. This night is always a lot of fun, because everyone dresses up and shows off their crocheted finery. I don't often have a reason to dress up, so I always look forward to this night.

Thursday afternoon, I helped Amy and Kathleen (with Red Heart Yarns) to set up their booth. I also helped them break it down on Sunday. Here are Tammy Hildebrand, Andee Graves, Kathleen Sams, Amy Shelton and Susan Lowman, all hard at work packing up, so the young man in the background can put it all on a truck and ship it back to Coats & Clark.

It was a very busy week, and I have lots more to share! It was especially fun to feel all the new Boutique Yarns from Red Heart...if you think you know Red Heart, you might have to think again. They have so much more than Super Saver! As soon as I actually get home and unpack, I will share exactly what I am talking about!

12 Shawls in 2012: July- Summer Storm

Well, well, well. I must say it has been a VERY BUSY  week for me at the Knit and Crochet Show in Manchester, New Hampshire. In all of the hustle and bustle, I did not forget that today is the first of July. Which means, it's time to debut July's shawl, right? So without further ado, take a look at this month's offering, "Summer Storm".

Worked in Madelintosh Tosh Light in the colorway "Steam Age", The gray with overtones of pink, teal and lavender reminded me of storm clouds in the summer sky.

 My heartfelt thanks goes out to my capable and willing model, Amy Shelton. Amy is the current CGOA President, co-owner of Crochetville, and one of my very dear crochet friends. She and I have a lot of fun (getting into trouble) together at Chain Link! Thanks again, Amy! I can hardly wait for next time!

 

By the way, stay tuned for more crochet adventures from this past week. I have a few more pictures to share, but in the meantime, I am going to bed to rest up for my travels home tomorrow. 

Corner View Post- Imagine

This week's CV title theme is "Imagine". I thought of several ways I could go with this. Those of you who have been reading here know that I have been going through some stuff for some time now. So, in the interest of imagination, I offer a song montage.

First, this is how I felt, imagining life as half of a couple...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPIP0tieWWI

Then, this is how I felt when some of the outrage began to take over...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8v_4O44sfjM&ob=av2e

Now, this is more how I feel...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xn676-fLq7I&ob=av2e

And when I imagine my new future....


I smile.

12 Shawls in 2012: June- Hanging Out by the Pool

 Here it is, on the cusp of teetering into June. I was a bit tired of working with super-fine yarn. So I made an executive decision to create June's shawl from a lovely worsted weight, Debbie Stoller's Bamboo Ewe. Made from 55% viscose and 45% wool, it's both warm and slinky, but not TOO warm to be comfortable on a summer's evening. Or morning. Or whatever.

 Last month when I was in St. Augustine, I spent one day lounging by the pool, in the shade of the palm trees. I thought, "Palm leaves....crocheted palm leaves!" After swatching several individual leaves, none of which I actually liked, I remembered this vintage piece of antique lace I had here at home, and how I once thought to myself how stunning it would be to make it in a heavier weight yarn. Stunning it is, don't you think?

 If you want it, and I know that you do, clickety-click the button to follow the link so that you, too, can be Hanging Out by the Pool!
                                                                             

Corner View- "In the Sky"

This weeks CV theme is "In the Sky"

I have seen several things in the sky, or at least outlined by the sky recently on my trip to Florida

The Bridge of Lions

 Dolphins in the sky...

 A lifeguard platform on the beach. I love the contrast of the red against the blue sky.

...a tern flying over the ocean...

 ....and the sun rising over the Atlantic on Vilano Beach.

...and finally back home, to take a picture of the "Super Moon" outside my bedroom window.

Corner View is a weekly appointment with bloggers from all over the world. Visit Francesca at Fuoriborgo to visit other corners with other views.

Corner View- On the Ground

Today's CV theme is "On the Ground". What's on the ground at my house today?

Wool. It's sheep shearing time again.

Corner View is a weekly appointment with bloggers all over the world. To see more CV's, visit Francesca at Fuoriborgo.