Where do you find inspiration?

I find this so interesting. I’ve been playing with yarn combinations over the past week or so looking for pairs of yarns to use in a Stephen West shawl. I even dyed some new darker tone yarns so I could create more contrast between the pairs. I left the pile of yarns out on the table and moved them around every few days, trying this and then that just to see what it looked like at different times of the day and with different lighting. I finally decided to use Misty Morning in So-Soft-Sock and Embers in Silky Sock.
This morning I looked out my backyard window and saw this! Just what I had put together on the kitchen table. It wasn’t a conscious connection but I’m sure I was influenced by seeing the Trumpet Vine blooming against the aged teak bench and pebble patio.

Fall Newsletter

Here it my Fall Newsletter in case you missed the announcements – I love having all the news listed together –

What’s New for Fall 2010:

Handwerks Classic Dk was recently featured in the Fall 2010 issue of Twist Collective (http://twistcollective.com/2010/fall/magazinepage_049.php).  Designer Faina Goberstein used Handwerks Classic Dk in Tropical Seas in her gorgeous Crown of Leaves hat.

 Independent designer, Hunter Hammersen , released “Gramercy”, a lovely lacey sock, in Handwerks Sock Plus 8 (formerly Sport Sock) in London Fog  on http://www.violentlydomestic.com/

 The new”Knitting Knee-Highs: Sock Styles from Classic to Contemporary”, by Barb Brown, from Krause Publications is now available for pre-orders on Amazon.com.  Brown’s book features several Handwerks yarns in sure to be favorite sock patterns.

 Sock Plus 8, formerly “Sport Sock” is coming in new larger 400 yard/120 gram skeins, the perfect size for one pair of socks.  With the new larger skeins, will be a newly expanded color line.

  Silky Sock is on its way to being a favorite staple for many Handwerks customers. New colors in this versatile 50/50 silk/merino yarn will be coming this fall.

 Handwerks is available for Trunk Shows and Custom Orders.

Cowls

I’m really enjoying knitting cowls. I still love socks but I’m taking a short break and knitting neckwear. Cowls are fun in that you just need to knit one, and they can be made with so many different weights of yarn and patterns. This one is in Silky Sock with a strand of commercial yarn run along. I used 1/2 a skein so I have enough to make a second one as a gift. Its the same pattern as the Salusalu Scarf just knit in the round. Fun and easy, perfect summer carry along project.

Sock Progress

I finally finished one – just one of the pair- of the Vilai socks I am working on from Sock Innovation by Cookie A. 

Its in Silky Sock, colorway Monterey Cypress. The lustre in this yarn really shows off  the intricate  patterning.  I have 8 new colors of Silky Sock waiting and ready to be knit up into socks to pamper your feet.  One skein is enough for most pairs. 

I played off the color forecast for some of the new colorways and some are just colors I like.