My Newest Yarn

I didn't realize I purchased so much yarn in the last month or two until I looked at my ever-growing stash.  Because I love to share (probably more than you would like to hear about!) I snapped some photos of the newest additions.

 Calliope by Moxie Blu - this is slightly brighter in person.  It's kettle-dyed on bulky Gaia (so soft!) and I think it will make a lovely Springtime in Hollis sweater.

Shalimar Breathless yarn, Corfu colorway - a super soft merino/silk/cashmere blend, fingerling weight.  This will be a teacher gift for Josh's teacher - either a hat or a cowl (I saw many beautiful cowls at the Sheep & Wool Festival today).

 My most recent purchase, the colorway doesn't have a name but is dyed on Licorice Twist, one of my favorite bases, by The Wool Garden.  I was lucky enough to find this on a sale table at the Sheep & Wool Festival today.  It was hard to capture with my camera, but it is actually purple in there, not dark blue.

 

Popsicle Dark by Love Ewe Yarns - after my best friend drooled over my original Popsicle yarn, I purchased this custom as a gift for her.  Also on Licorice Twist and the colors are super bright and stunning in person.

Finally, this isn't new but I recently balled it and took this photo.  This was custom-dyed by Vedilli Yarns on Kona Superwash Merino.  I love the softness and weight of this yarn.  This is currently on the needles as a hat and diaper cover photography prop set.

Prettiest Rainbow Dress

I know I'm a little biased, but I'm pretty sure this is the most gorgeous rainbow dress that I've ever seen.  I love the customer's idea of blending the colors into one another and I think the rainbow colorway as the top and ruffle with natural trim was also awesome - so much thanks to Katy for this beautiful design!  I cannot wait to see action shots of the dress on her daughter.

In case you missed the other posts on this dress, the yarn is "Autumn Rainbow" scrappy set by Lollytree Yarns on Cestari Superfine (which, surprisingly, I enjoyed knitting).  Katy then purchased an additional skein of bare Cestari to use as trim and for the coordinating soaker.  The pattern is the Cali Cargo Dress by Dakine Knits.

Time for pictures!

 

 the dress was hanging on the wall in my room while I knit the soaker... I am sure my husband enjoyed our new artwork!

 

Thanks again to Katy for letting me knit this set, it is definitely one of my favorite knits yet!

Current Customs List

If you have any questions or concerns, or would like to be added to my customs list (no deposit necessary until I begin your project) please e-mail me: rdsonntag@gmail.com and I will try to respond within 24 hours.

April (currently in progress and I hope to finish by the end of this week or next)
-Katy: Cali Dress
-Wendy: Charlotte Dress

May
-Closed for customs

June
-Cat
-Kristen: something for Evan

July
-2 Customs Open

August
-2 Customs Open

September
-Jill: Something matching for the girls

Ongoing
-Lauren: Photography props

Last-Minute Shrug

 

Late last week I received an e-mail that there were some new modifications for the Something Beautiful Shrug by Dakine Knits.  There was an adorable photo of the a new version of the sweater with the button lowered and on Friday morning I decided my daughter needed one to go with her Easter dress.

The woman at the yarn shop actually said (sarcastically) "Good Luck!" when I told her my plan.  Was that a challenge?  I think so!  I purchased some beautiful Manos del Uruguay Wool Clasica yarn in color #27 (Petrol).  Wool Clasica is a handspun, kettle-dyed wool and is the same yarn I used for my Godson's Legacy sweater a few weeks ago.  I love the thick and thin texture and the subtle color variation.  I started the shrug on Friday night at 11:00 (we got home from church at 9:30 and by the time I got the kids to bed and the laundry in the wash, it was pretty late).  I knit for two hours before I called it quits, and picked it up on Saturday afternoon around 12:45.  By 3:45 I was finished the body and spent another 90 minutes knitting the sleeves and weaving in ends, for a total of 6.5 hours from start to finish.  I'm definitely NOT the fastest knitter so if I can do it, you can too.

If anyone is interested in either the original Something Beautiful Shrug (which is in my gallery in lime green yarn) or the new modified version (below), please send me an e-mail: rdsonntag@gmail.com. 

 

 Just because I think they're pretty adorable, here is an action shot of the sweater on my daughter (23 months) hugging her big brother (4).

What's on the Needles? {week of 4.18.11}

I have two beautiful dresses on the needles right now.  I usually have more than one project being worked at the same time to keep me from getting bored.  You already saw a photo of the beautiful Cali Cargo(less) dress, but here are a few more that I snapped this morning.  This is being done in Lollytree Yarns Autumn Sunset scrappy set.

I am having so much fun with this dress!  I love the natural trim, it makes the colors really pop.  It's hard to tell because it's squished onto my 24" circular needles, but it has a very full (200+ stitch) skirt. 

Next on the needles is a Charlotte Dress (by Blissful Knits) as a trade with my friend Wendy.  The colorway is called Candy Hearts and dyed by Retro Baby.  I am loving this too!  If it turns out well, I plan to buy a license for this dress.  If you are interested in having one for your daughter, please e-mail me: rdsonntag@gmail.com.

I love how nicely the skirt is striping.  I was going to try and make it a bit fuller, but I don't want to mess with the lovely pooling.  Fortunately, Wendy's daughter will be potty-training this summer so she won't have a diaper to fit around.

I am taking the month of May off from customs so that I can work on some projects for my daughter.  I plan to finish her birthday dress and knit her a top with this beautiful yarn from Love Ewe Yarn. 

I can't wait!  I will also be working on perfecting my diaper wrap pattern, which will be available as a free Ravelry download for personal use with an inexpensive seller's fee.  I also have a few more photography props to finish for my neighbor and I hope to list those for customs in the near future.  So much to do, so little time! 

Please e-mail me if you are interested in getting on my customs list.  I have 1 slot available for June and two each for July and August, just send an e-mail to rdsonntag@gmail.com so we can talk about your project.

Have a wonderful week!
-Rachel

WIP - Cali Cargo(less) Dress

Isn't this lovely?  I can't take credit for it, the customer came up with the plan for this scrappy set by Lollytree Yarns.  I'm having so much fun knitting it and had to share!

Photography Props

This is something new that I'm gradually adding to my customs list - photography props.  I love the idea of making affordable, high-quality knit items for photographers, particularly work-at-home mom (WAHM) photographers.  This hat is a modified version of the Keely hat, written by Amanda at A Beautiful Skye.  The diaper cover is an original design that I hope to list on Ravelry in the near future (it will be available as a free download for personal use with a seller's license available at a minimal cost).  This beautiful yarn was custom-dyed by Constance at Vedilli Yarns on super soft Kona Superwash. 

I can't wait to see this on a newborn!