Gazing...Twirling....Knitting

Views from the Peak......

Glorious Fall is here!

One of my favorite times in the mountains.

But one cannot spend all day gazing at the leaves with wistful expressions...sighing heavily. Ok..I really don't do this...but in my mind I'm dong the Sister Maria twirl on the mountain top. (Did I mention I love Fall!?!)

On My Needles... 

Actually I've spent some time working on my Elfin Tweed shawl...

Only two repeats...but moving right along.

So I'd better get back to it...gazing...twirling...knitting...

Varian
Brandon Knitting Designs
VarianBrandon
vbknits

Fiber Festival Enjoyment Plan

This past weekend I drove over to Asheville to the Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair...or SAFF.

Just as the name indicates...this yearly gathering is a combination of fiber and things made form fiber...

and animals.

Have you ever been to a fiber festival? You really should go at least once...

...and just in case you need a fiber festival enjoyment plan...here is a list of my favorite things to do at these wonderful fiber gatherings...in no particular order.

Buy fiber. 
Ok, no brainer, but it had to be said.

Meet with other fiber friends
I met with Misty of the Handmade Podcast, Ashley (Carolina Spinner on Ravelry), and Jen from FibroFibers.

I also ran into a number of friends from the Kanuga Knitting and Quilting Retreat

...as well as Sharon Bogenschutz and Karen Cross of Camelid Cottage, their fiber show hang out. These gals coordinate the Georgia Alpaca Fiber Festival when they are not operating their own fiber businesses. Busy ladies.

Watch the enthusiasm of other planned and impromptu meet ups. 
Fiber festivals are great places to people watch. I heard lots of excited squeals and "Oh, my gosh, I haven't seen you in years!" and "I was wondering if I was going to see you again this year."

Check out what others have bought.
You never know...someone may have found just the thing you cannot live without.

Talk with indy dyers.
I'll admit it...I'm probably never going to start dying my own yarn. There are too many fabulous dyers out there creating gorgeous yarns. But I have learned so much about what goes into dying,,,both on the production and marketing side...by just talking with these creative folks.

Misty of the Handmade podcast as well as Jen from Fibrofibers that I mentioned earlier are both dyers.

I also spoke with Sarah of The Copper Corgi and Gryphon from The Verdant Gryphon.

Talk with animal owners.
Each year at SAFF I check in with  the folks at Hidaway Farms who raise Shetland and Icelandic sheep. I learn a wealth of information by talking with Christine and her daughter Katie about the trials and tribulations of raising animals. It makes me feel closer to the fiber to have an inside look into where the fiber comes from..as well as an appreciation for the work that fiber animal owners do.

Other hints...wear comfortable shoes, set at limit on spending (you will be tempted), practice smiling...because you will be smiling a lot....and have a good time!

Here is a list of fiber festivals by region. Since it is now October...most have happened already..but you can make a note for next year.

New motto...visit a fiber festival and find a friend!

Varian
Brandon Knitting Designs
Ravelry
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To Be Vertical or Horizontal....that is the question.

I have been swatching away....and trying a different color arrangement for the chart for the Elfin Tweed shawl project.

Here's the swatch....

The bottom motif is the original color placement. The top motif is the adjusted color placement.

I'm thinking I like the adjusted one best.

The next question...

Do the stranded work "stripes" go vertically or horizontally? In other words, when you are wearing the shawl, are there short stripes that stretch the width of the shawl...or do the stripes go from end to end length-wise? 

For the vertical version, the knitter would cast on the width's worth of stitches (approx. 200 sts) and work from side to side 

For the horizontal version, the knitter will cast on the length's worth of stitches (approx. 500 sts) work from end to end.

The more research I do, the more I think I like the horizontal option the best, in spite of casting on 500 sts. Then again...

Maybe I'll just think about it some more.....while I'm work on the border.

Varian

website: brandonknittingdesigns.com

Ravelry: varianbrandon

This week on Elfin Tweed....

Elfin Tweed update...
(There will be a real name for this project...I promise.)

Previously on Elfin Tweed...

Step 1 - skeins

Since we last met, these skeins of Knit One, Crochet Too Elfin Tweed fingering weight (60% merino, 20% baby llama, 10% bamboo, 10% Donegal, 208 yards, 191 meters) became...

Step 2 - yarn cakes

Then I had a blast playing around with my source books and charting software and this swatch resulted.

Un-named Elfin Tweed project swatch 1

For the record...I kinda like the overall effect...but not sure about the exact color placement. Needle size - US 2 (2.75mm)....but I'm thinking I may go up to US 3 (3.25mm) or further for a bit more drape.

However, one of the reasons for a fairly dense fabric for color work is so the floats don't show from the back. So we'll see....

If you are wondering what the massive mess is at the bottom of the picture, I am swatching without breaking the yarn and just sliding from one end of the circular needles to the other which creates long floats across the back. This way I can make a number of swatches and still have enough to do the project.

So there you have it...yet to be named Elfin Tweed project...first swatch. What do you think?

Varian
brandonknittingdesigns.com
Ravelry: varianbrandon

Elfin Tweed and Bull Elk

Today...I have a slightly different type of inspiration...actually a detour of sorts.

Last week, my husband and I went with some friends to watch the elk in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park at Cataloochee. It was about a 40 minute drive from here is Saluda...but well worth it.

Adolescent male

Young male 

We watched a small grouping makes their way down the valley. They were lead by a huge bull who ferociously protected his females and young ones from a rather desperate younger male who wanted a wife. As a group, they were almost totally oblivious to the humans who were less than 50 feet away. So picture taking was fairly easy. At one point, I thought the bull and the interloping adolescent male were going to go at it right where we were standing. What an evening!

Bull elk

Females with young

Bull with group

Ok, thanks for letting me take that detour.

Now, back to knitting....we've talked about inspiration from past experiences and inspiration from other patterns. It's now time to look a little closer to home.

Since I am trying to get a direction for projects in the future, I have been looking at the designs I have currently in my Ravelry store.

By my count...11 cowls, 9 hats, 13 sweaters (5 vests, 2 cardigans, 6 pullovers) ..but no shawls.

So I'm going to try a shawl...

I've picked out some Fall-ish colors...

Knit One, Crochet Two Elfin Tweed

...and I'm on my way. I'll let you know how it goes.

Varian
brandonknittingdesigns.com
Ravelry: varianbrandon

A Romp Through the Inspiration Files

While I'm on the subject of inspiration, I was looking at my inspiration folder on Pinterest to try to get some ideas for a sweater or shawl design.

Here's what jumped out at me this morning..

When I step back and look at these selections, I see a couple of things.....

• Gradation of colors...more than one shade/tone of the same hue..which adds depth.
• Symmetrical placement of patterning...not a necessity, but adds an orderly rhythm to the design.
• Warm rich earth tones...which remind me of Fall!

What do you see? What patterns inspire you...either one of these ...or from your own inspiration file? 

Varian
brandonknittingdesigns.com
Ravelry: varianbrandon