Playing around

We all know how easy it is to get into a rut, even when doing something that is generally considered a creative endeavor.  I don't know that I've been playing with fabric long enough to have found myself in an official "rut," but I did decide it would be fun to try doing some patchwork squares that consisted of smaller pieces sew together, rather than bigger blocks made of a single fabric like I have been doing.  I found some instructions for making wonky nine-patch blocks (oh, you quilters, with your "wonky" and your "scrappy") and gave it a go.

I wasn't able to master the trick of shuffling the blocks around so that each block has one square of every different fabric, but it was still really fun to end up with pieced blocks.  Wonky pieced blocks.  Wonky AND scrappy pieced blocks.

Trying something different with fabric got me thinking the next time I was dyeing yarn.  I have always loved creating really saturated colorways, but lately I have been seeing a lot of yarns featuring more dappled colors, with more variations in how the colors take and more colors peeking through in layers.  I don't know if I'm being clear -- it's hard to verbalize this kind of thing -- but I figured I would play around with some different techniques and see what happened. The last batch of yarns I did (some Superwash Merino Classic Worsted and Cashmerino Sock) includes some of these skeins:

The top photo shows some of the dappled colors, and the peach one what happened when I played with overlapping colors.

These are two of the CashSock colorways that came out especially striking.  These are all in stock in the Black Bunny Fibers on-line shop.

Don't forget: there are still a few more days to participate in the Go Knit In Your Hat Summer-Search Fundraiser! The prizes are wonderful and we're SO VERY CLOSE to my goal of raising a thousand dollars for Summer Search:

See the list of fabulous prizes here..... -- including knitting books! yarn! roving! and other goodies!!!

Okay, let's get this raffle started

A couple of weeks ago, I posted about a fundraiser I wanted to do to benefit Summer Search Philadelphia, a fabulous organization that helps high-risk teens stay in school, get into college and graduate from college.  You can read my post here. My husband has been working with this non-profit group for a while now, and we have been so impressed with both the kids who are part of the program, and the staff and volunteers who help make it happen.


I'm ready to begin the raffle and I have been so grateful for the outpouring of support from all of you. Check out the amazing prizes that have been so generously donated so far in support of Summer Search:

• A signed copy of Wendy Knits Lace, donated by Wendy Johnson

• A selection of patterns from StephCat, donated by (of course!) Stephannie Tallent (her Ravelry pattern page is here)
• A knitter's goodie package full of handdyed yarn and patterns, donated by Black Bunny Fibers

Representative skein shown; I'll select for you based on your color preferences and available inventory

• Lovely-to-spin shetland/mohair/silk roving, donated by Puff the Magic Rabbit
• A spinner's goodie package full or handdyed roving, donated by Black Bunny Fibers

• A copy of Hunter Hammersen's upcoming book full of beautiful patterns, The Knitter's Curiosity Cabinet, in either PDF or printed form (expected publication date spring 2012)

Crocus Sock (from The Knitter's Curiosity Cabinet)

• An advance signed copy of my new book, which will be published this fall (target date October 2) by Lark Crafts -- I will give you one of my author copies as soon as I get them and sign it for you.

• An accessory handknit by Somebunny's Love
• A selection of 5 PDF patterns from Sailingknitter/Liann Originals (link to her Ravelry pattern page is here)
• A selection of PDF patterns from the Lady Wyvern (link to her Ravelry pattern page is here)
• Goodies from Ancient Arts Fibre Crafts....
• A gift certificate to WEBS, generously donated by Caitcreates
• Three skeins of gorgeous Brooklyn Tweed Loft yarn in the winner's choice of color and the Sakura shawl pattern donated by Loop Yarn in Philadelphia

Brooklyn Tweed's Sakura Shawl

• A wonderful Delicious Hors d'Oeuvres Wrap kit, designed by Lorna Miser and  donated by Universal Yarn (features six lovely Fibra Natura yarns! and pattern with skill-building techniques)
• A prize to be announced, donated by designer Chrissy Gardiner of Gardiner Yarn Works
• A prize to be announced from KnitCircus magazine
• A signed copy of Knitting Knee-Highs, by Barb Brown

• A copy of "The Fine Line," a beautiful pattern booklet by Grace Anna Farrow

To be eligible to win these prizes, all you have to do is make a donation to Summer Search Philadelphia. For each five dollars you donate, you will get one chance to win. So if you donate five dollars, you get one ticket in the raffle; ten dollars gets you two; and so on.


To try to maximize participation, there are 3 ways you can donate money. The best is to go directly to the Summer Search Philadelphia website right here and use a credit card to donate directly. When you receive your email confirmation, forward it to me at summersearchATblackbunnyfibersDOTCAHM and I will create your tickets and put them in a Safe Place until the drawing.


If you would prefer to send me a check or even cash (although I cannot be responsible for anything getting lost in the mail), email me at summersearchATblackbunnyfibersDOTCAHM and I will provide you with my mailing address. I will give the money to Summer Search Philadelphia and put your tickets in the raffle.


If you are a Paypal person, please shoot me an email at summersearchATblackbunnyfibersDOTCAHM and I will provide you with the email address associated with my paypal account. Once again, I will give that money to Summer Search Philadelphia and put your ticket(s) in the raffle.


I will check the special email addy several times a day so I can respond quickly but if takes a couple of hours, please be patient!  


If you can't donate but would like to help, please don't overlook the best, most important thing you can do:  SPREAD THE WORD.  Link to this blog post on whatever social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) you use, tell your blog-readers about the raffle, post the link in appropriate Ravelry groups, tell your knitting, crocheting and spinning friends, and so on.  


The raffle is open as of the time you read this post, and to be eligible for a prize, donations must be received by midnight, EST, February 29th, 2012.


Thank you from the bottom of my heart (and the bottom of crusty old Mr. Go-Knit-In-Your-Hat's heart) for your help with this!

Let's get the thermometer going up, shall we? I've set a goal of a thousand bucks.  Can we hit that?  Might we even top that?