mohair/angora bunny with glass beads

MIHAIR

Originally uploaded by CMHS yarn & designs (laurie wheeler).

One of my most popular yarns, subtle bling! Crochets up like a dream, ideal for weft, great for experienced knitters.

I just found the last two skeins (they were put away for safe keeping!)
Read through my blog to find the happy customer’s response to recieving this fabulous yarn!

Some helpful Crochet hints

I often muse when I go out to tend my herb garden, and today it struck me that I might want to give a few hints about crochet.

You see I’m so saddened that there are so many people who lack the confidence in their skills that they stick to either the same projects that are tried and true, or don’t think they deserve to work with better materials.

I know the feeling. Boy, have I been there! Once I tentatively stuck my toe into the wonderful world of yarn, and actually acquired some really fun, nice yarn, there was no turning back.

So, here is one simple trick for crocheters to remember when working with “different” or novelty yarns. Regardless of fiber type, hook size is all important. For a fuzzy yarn, or a yarn with tags/bumps/beads, go up a size from what is suggested (if there is a suggestion) on the label.

If you have really loose tension, use a smaller hook. If you have tight tension use a bigger hook.

Above all when doing a flat piece of crochet, such as the back of a sweater, or even a simple scarf, to keep your edges straight, always chain one at the end of the row and turn. That above all else is something that will save your projects.

Just a few helpful hints.

HAVE CONFIDENCE IN YOUR CREATIVITY! Really! You are better than you think you are!

Scrumblini Variety Pack

Scrumblini Variety Pack

Originally uploaded by CMHS yarn & designs (laurie wheeler).

Scrumblini Exotic Variety Pack

Scrumblini Exotic Variety Pack

Originally uploaded by CMHS yarn & designs (laurie wheeler).

Handspinning and Angora Goats Program At Camano Island State Park

My friend and I give a “nature” presentation at Camano Island State Park (Washington State) each year.

For three years we did “Where do my clothes come from?” Which focused on handspinning, natural fibers, and of course my friend Bec’s Angora goats.

We got bored with the tried and true presentation, and shook it up a little bit. Where as we still talked about other fibers, we really focused more where people’s attention tends to go… To the animal present. We called the program “Goats to Coats” this year, and featured mainly yarns and clothing articles made from that glorious fiber.

We had a great crowd! 110 people, mostly campers enjoying Memorial Day Weekend at a great park (My husband is the Area Manager for the parks on the island), and many from Seattle. A lot of children don’t get up and personal with farm animals any more, and most people have no clue about the clothes they put on their bodies.

This crowd was better informed than in years past, but we had a slew of children in that magical age of four-five years old, who were just delighted to meet Hera, a gorgeous almost 2 year old Angora doe.

I was really shocked to have at least 8 people want my business card, and several to have me design clothing for them! And another four wanted to come to our spinning group to learn to spin or just learn more about fiber arts in general.

All in all this was a lovely way to spend a saturday evening! Next weekend at Camano Island State Park, a group of Medieval Recreation Afficiandos will be doing a program on “Knightly Virtues”. This group puts on Ragnorak, a weekend of Viking Mythic Battles, culminated by a fight in a ring of fire. It’s really toooooo cool.

First Secrets of Yarn Class a Success!

I taught my first ever Secrets of Yarn class today. It wasn’t an easy crowd and I knew it wouldn’t be! These gals are old hands, old knitting hands, and believe you me, they can be a tough crowd! (I’ve encountered them in the shop many times…)

By the end of the session they were eating out of the palm of my hand! It was fantastic! In fact the group of six women comprised about every different kind of student (learning style) and demographic I’ve thought about in the writing of my book.

This part of the class is a yarn survey, and I wasn’t quite sure where I was going to go with it in the book. Now, I know exactly which direction to go in! I’ll give you a hint…the biggest secret to yarn… It’s all in the ply.

(Wink wink nod nod…)

This Week’s Yarn Review~Phildar Eponge

As promised here is this weeks yarn review. I decided instead of taking photos of the yarn with which I am working, I will place links. My main reason for this is I have a terrible camera, and my best attempts to photograph these fun yarns did not do them justice!

Phildar Eponge (eponge is the french work for sponge) has a terry cloth feeling to it. It’s essentially on the fine side of dk-ish weight and is a boucle. It’s got quite the blend of materials acrylic, polyamid,cotton, and elastine, which gives it a “drapey-bounce”.

My LYS has had some trouble moving the yarn, more or less because folks have been wondering what to make with it, so I have been given the charge of making a sock pattern. I am one footy into the sock pattern, and it’s turning out great! (My daughter is attempting to swipe the socks before they go into the store as an example piece!)

Currently I am using a clover d hook (only because I can’t find my c hook, and I have water tight tension!) to make the socks , it’s a fun, textured yarn, so I have kept my stiches simple. I am only using a half double crochet, decorative stitches won’t show up well due to the texture.

I chose to make footies (or anklet socks) because this is a great “sporty” look, it will be durable in the wear, it has a lot of stretch memory, but again it could drape well if used for a sweater.

Other possible uses I’ve thought of for crochet: Headbands, wrist bands, tube tops, light summer sweater (it would take a while given it’s a fine yarn).

The website for the Phildar company (based out of Belgium) has quite a few great knitting patterns for this yarn, sorely lacking for crochet (but don’t most companies lack the foresight to have us hookers in mind? That’s why we’re so creative!)

Will I choose to use this yarn again? Oh yes absolutely. It’s washable, it’s durable, it is a versatile yarn and comes in 22 colors!

Yarn Details:

Phildar Eponge (colors I am using are Clementine, Piment, and Primptemps, and Bermudes)

22 Colors

50 gr

142 yds

Needles: 5-6

Hook c-f

Machine Washable (air dry)

Affordable in the $6-$8 per skein range.

bec sock

bec sock

Originally uploaded by CMHS yarn & designs (laurie wheeler).

Comfy socks for ladies with more ample balancing agents (large feet).

These are really lovely to wear, comfy, soft, and easy peasy to whip out!

The pattern is available on my etsy site.

(And yes the yarn review is coming, I just have to photograph the yarn!)

Portland here I come

Ok this isn’t yarn related, well it is kind of, but I’m so excited I get to go “home” this weekend. Portland, Oregon is where I was born and raised, and I love going back. (If I weren’t married to a WA State Park Ranger I’d still live there )

Officially it’s a trip to see my mother and grandmother, taking the kids and gonna eat copious amounts of frozen cream with bits of cookie dough…aka ice cream. Unofficially I’m gonna take a few hours to hit some of the great independant yarn stores in the Portland Area and see some coollllll stuff!

Looking forward to the trip! See ya all after the weekend! Enjoy your weekend!

Hook on…Stitch ON!

The Secrets of Yarn ~ Some musings

In the next two weeks I’ll be teaching my first ever classes on The Secrets of Yarn.  I have the class outlined, and I’ve rehearsed to my cats a million times. (Since they are feline yarn addicts they found the subject matter fascinating…)

Yet, I’ve been thinking, how do I write my blog about a subject I am turning into a book, without giving it all away. I really love to share what I know, and it has been pointed out to me that being compensated for that is important; Thus my writing a book, and project guides, and teaching classes. I get it making money isn’t a bad thing. In fact with two growing kids it’s really important.

So, what can I write here, that won’t give it all away but will still be of use? I’ve been pondering, musing, thinking… Then it came to me, when it comes to commercial yarns, I am not even going to begin to get into all of them in a book. I plan on covering types of yarn in general, not just size but styles.

So, I will add a yarn review to this blog. Of course I’ll continue to post my own handy dandy creations. But, my lys, Granny’s House in Stanwood  WA, has been very generous and supportive of me, as I have launched myself. From wandering in to buy some odd crochet thread, or begging them to get in a certain brand…(Come on guys stock it and I’ll keep you in business!)

So, I’m going to pick a yarn a week from their store to work with and tell you what I think of it. How it handles, drapes, washes and wears, and how it crochet’s versus knits up.

I can knit enough to do a small swatch, and it is truly dedication to you all that makes me bind off those darned stitches. If you are a knitter, I praise you, but as far as I’m concerned everytime I pick up a pair of needles I realise why I use one hook.

So stay tuned folks, in the coming days I will be posting a yarn review.

Tell your friends, and please feel free to post comments, or questions, respond, complain, offer suggestions. Please, it all helps contribute to the process!

Thank you.