Shayla Knits & Stuff

A good day to dye

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 21:17:41 -0500

Well, the house is filled with colorful, wet skeins of yarn. I did a good sized batch of Hogwarts colors as well as a couple that are from the prompts on Inspired Dyeing. I'm hoping to get them all posted by Friday.

I haven't knit a stitch today, which means I'm no closer to getting the Peace socks completed, but that's okay. I will finish them on time. Aside from Dyeing, I spent today cleaning up the hallway a little (it's just over five feet wide and I have been using it as a place to store empty boxes. Tomorrow I'll finish it up by putting everything into Anthony's old room. I still want him to know that it's his room when he finishes boot camp, but for the next twelve weeks it will be storage. Then I can hang hooks down the hallway and hang all my lovely yarn there to dry.

I am starting a new KAL of sorts. It's a traveling scarf and basically we all start a scarf and send it to the next person in line. They add a few inches then send it to the next person. When the scarf gets back to me it will have a little section from each person. I'm thinking about asking the club members if they would be interested in doing something like this. They have become more than just my "customers" and I would love having a scarf that they each put a little of themselves into.

I have a shipment with t-shirts and bags coming in early next week and I'll be able to get the gifts for the club members finished up. These will be the most extensive gifts so far and I know I won't be able to do something this personalized once I get more members. In a way the smallness of this fiberly (fiber family) makes it more intimate and creates a way for use to really get to know each other. I like that.

I've been playing with some new colors in the dyes. I will need to work out a lot of kinks with a sage green I got. Even when I mix it very well before adding it to the dyebath I still get blue spots. It's weird. And maybe people wouldn't mind, but I do. So, I've got to get it worked out.

Anyway, it's been a long, eventful day and I still need to update my thoughts blog. Happy crafting, everyone!

Staying busy

Mon, 26 Jul 2010 08:24:56 -0500

Last night as I was getting ready for bed I was thinking about the yarn club and what I would be dyeing for August's yarn. I already know the colors I want to use, but it's the technique that I'm pondering. Can I make it work? Will I end up with a tangled mess? Will it take a really long time for each skein? I'll be trying it out today and I think it will work. I'm just a bit nervous about getting all the kinks worked out.

I'm also working on getting my screen set up for the next batch of printing. For some reason I can not seem to find my screen cleaner, which means I'll have to order more. I've looked in every room in the house and all the most recent boxes. And the washing soda mixture I used on the old screens isn't working on this brand of emulsifier. Grr. Luckily, I have one blank screen that I can use until the cleaner comes in.

I'm getting closer to finishing my Peace socks. Last night I turned the first heel and later today I'll be turning the second. For now, I have yarns to get dyed. There are new prompts in the Inspired Dyeing group (on Ravelry) and I want to work on them. I was also given an idea for a tornado colorway. Perhaps that will help me work through some of the cruddy dreams I've been having lately.

I need to knit more!

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 06:52:17 -0500

I was looking in my cedar cabinet and realized that I have a lot of really beautiful yarn. There are yarns from Younger Yarn, Left Coast Yarn, Art of Xen, Enchanted Knoll and Gaslight Dyeworks. On the next shelf I have fibers waiting to be spun from Younger Yarn, Yorkieslave Artworks (she's out of the country right now), Enchanted Knoll, Mamajude, Forbidden Woolery and Corgi Hill Farm. Many of these were gifts from people that I've never met in person and only "talk" to on Ravelry. To me, that is an amazing thing.

So, I need to knit more. I need to get some of these yarns and fibers off the shelf and made into items that I can show and let these beautiful people know that I really appreciate the love they are sending out.

Today just might be that day. I have a little screen-printing to do with Brianna and a little more dyeing (one of the skeins from yesterday ended up looking a little pale) and then the day is mine. I think I'll put in my Two Towers dvd and knit for a while.

My cup runneth over

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 21:35:41 -0500

There really are no words to describe how I'm feeling right now. I've heard so many kind words today about my yarns and customer service that made me cry just a little simply for the kindness of these folks. I've also gotten some lovely gifts from some very loving ladies. From one beautiful soul I got some Spunky Eclectic fiber and a virtual hug. From another beautiful soul I got a skein of yarn that is lovely purple medley. And I feel a little overwhelmed with the goodness being sent out to me.

It is long past my bedtime and I'm still in need of a shower, but this just needed to be said.

Lots of knitting

Mon, 12 Jul 2010 08:44:34 -0500

I've been working on the scarves for Red Scarf Project and have two finished and one that will be finished by the end of today. I'm pretty happy with them and am looking forward to getting them shipped out. They ask that you only send five each year. I don't quite get that since the need is more than that, but I'll follow their rules.

My Evenstar Camisole is coming along nicely and I've finished about 30% so far. I'll really be focusing on it as soon as this scarf is finished. Once the camisole is finished I'll have to figure out if I'm going to line it or leave it as it is.

I'm participating in the Tour de Fleece on Ravelry and have been spinning a little each day. On my spindle right now is the Phoenix roving I got from Enchanted Knoll... 2 years ago. I'm glad it's spinning up so nicely and, though I'm not sure what I'll be doing with it, it looks really cool.

The yarn sales are still going well and I'm staying focused on making sure my customers are happy with what they get. The club this month is going to be a yarn that I don't normally carry, but I'm certainly thinking about it. It's a great blend of plant and animal and feels pretty smooth. Just right for summer knitting.

Well, my break is over and I need to get this scarf finished quickly. I hope you are all having a great day!

Trying to Dye

Sun, 27 Jun 2010 15:34:22 -0500

After several failed attempts at dyeing cotton yarns, I've got a few more trials to perform and I'm really hoping that one of them will work. Currently there is a pot in my back sink that will be soaking for a couple hours. I've got my fingers crossed that it will turn out this time. The biggest challenge I've had so far was the rinsing process. You see, most cotton fabric gets washed before you use it. Washed in the washing machine with agitaion and all that. That can't be done with yarn unless you are willing to spend days untangling it all.

The club is going well. I got one new person last month and am hoping to get more soon. I really enjoy thinking of the gift items and the colors and all that stuff. I've already gotten the gifts for next month from a woman on Etsy and I just need to get them wrapped up for everyone. I won't be dyeing the yarn until the last day for sign-ups happens. I think I need to get the sign-up date further from the ship date since that doesn't give me enough time to get the yarn here & dyed. So far it's worked, but still I worry. I'm hoping to use a different base for the next couple months since it's so warm. So, I'm looking for various yarns with bamboo, silk or tencel in them. Not always so easy to find wholesale.

There is a nice storm moving in this afternoon and I'm hoping to get lots of knitting done. I've got a couple more hours left to finish 2 projects and might get them both done by this evening. Then I'll have one more and I can focus on my OWL project. I am pretty certain I won't get to the 50 % mark on it, but I know I will finish it before the end of July.

Happy crafting, everyone!

What have I been doing?

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 09:44:19 -0500

Screen-printing. Oh, this is so much fun! I'm working on the gifts for my club members today and will use the same design to place in the shop after all the deliveries have been made.

I ordered another screen so I can have more than one design going at a time or even more than one color. I'll need to get some more fabric inks soon since I only have black & red right now. I can definitely see this becoming a regular part of Alina Shea Creations.

On the knitting front, I'm nearly done with a second Goddess. This one is a deep, garnet red and will represent the root chakra. I'm also working on the Evenstar Camisole and am hoping to get several rows done after the screen-printing is done. My Komet socks aremy traveling project and I should have them done by the end of this month. It would seem that I can complete a pair of socks each month. This will cut down on my stash significantly... as long as I don't add to it.

I miss my spinning wheel. YorkieSlave has it right now and will be working on it this summer. I know it will be fantastic once it's completed. For the time being, I'm using my spindles and am loving the extra time it takes to focus on the fibers.

I've even been weaving a little on a Brio loom. Yes, it's supposed to be a toy, but it's perfect for scarves and washcloths. Currently I have a scarf on there for the Red Scarf Project. I'm hoping to have that done by the end of the month as well.

The yarn club was shipped out and...

Sat, 22 May 2010 06:59:29 -0500

The yarn club was shipped out and was probably processed early Friday morning. Now I wait to make sure everyone gets their yarns. I kept one skein for myself and I'm looking forward to doing something with it. I won't even wind it into a ball, though, until the others get theirs.

I haven't spent very much time knitting lately and would like to remedy that very soon. I have a couple items that need to be finished on a schedule and They are nowhere near completion. Today is a light dyeing day since I'm waiting for the next shipment to arrive. Once it gets here, I'll be working on the Hogwarts kits and have had thoughts of larger House kits that would include two skeins, one in each color. I think the group might like those.

My spinning wheel is still in progress and there are days I miss it. I do realize it won't be done for a few more months, and I do love my spindles, but there are days I long for the soft sound of the wheel turning. I will wait, though, because I know it's going to be so very special when it's complete.

May you all have a creative day.

Catching up

Tue, 11 May 2010 06:08:03 -0500

It's been a little bit since I've written anything in here. To say the least, I've been pretty busy. Alina Shea Creations is growing slowly and I'm lookign forward to each shop update. I love the way people react to the yarns and fibers they get from me. I've seen the projects they make with my yarn and I can't help but but be amazed that I dyed that yarn.

On the home front, I'm helping to test knit 2 shawls... but they are on the back burner for a little while since I'm knitting small gifts to go into the yarn club charter members' first packages. I really want these folks to know how much I appreciate the faith they have in me.

The club... I've got this beautiful yarn on the shelf, waiting to go out... and, like most holidays, I wish I could send it now. My kids laugh at me because I have such a hard time waiting to give things. Ah well, it's fun.

Once I get the little gifts done, I'll be working diligently on the shawls. I'm still in the HPKCHC group and I'm sure I can use one shawl in a class, but not the other one (since I started it before May 1).

Now, it's time to start my other job (daycare).

Time?

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 12:07:12 -0500

I haven't been knitting much in the last couple days. Mainly because I've been pretty feverish and achy. Not a good combinations. Luckily we had chicken soup & lots of tea in the house and I'm feeling so much better.

I started trying out some new dyes from Greener Shades. So far the colors have been great and they even have a chart to show how to make other colors. I can already tell that I would need a lot of blue & black since that goes into nearly every color I made so far. I'm not sure if I'll be switching over to GS only, since there are colors that I can't quite figure out how to make, but it will certainly be something for me to consider.

In the meantime I will be working steadily to update my shop. So far everyone has been great about letting me know about the yarns they get and it makes me feel good that the products I put so much energy into are being appreciated. One idea I have is to create a yarn club. There are so many considerations to put into that and I still haven't found good suppliers for some of the yarns. So, I keep looking.

I'm nearly finished with Vivian and just might actually get it doen before the end of this month. I still have two classes to turn in, but one will be set by tomorrow (hand-spun yarn) and the other needs to be blocked.

It's a good thing my health is improving.