I'm excited to announce the Grand Prize winner of the Bijou Basin Ranch giveaway who has won the Pretty in Pink Knit Shawlette kit (yarns + pattern):

Ivy

In addition to this winner, I have a surprise two winners to announce!! When BBR read all the comments of folks never having tried or even seen yak yarn in person, they sent me an extra TWO swag bags from a recent event to giveaway to two additional followers. Each bag contains a skein and a complimentary pattern, so here are the lucky extra randomly chosen TWO:

skaro964 & mommieof4munchkins

Congratulations! Please contact me at yarnonthehouse@gmail.com to collect your prizes.

The holidays are just around the corner and I'm sure a lot of you knitters out there are scrambling to get all of your gift knitting in order and done in time. I've decided to throw gift knitting out the window this year! That's right. I'm not knitting anyone ANYTHING! Unfortunately, most of the important people in my life don't appreciate my handknits (sad, but true). My daughter, Jasmine, is now too cool to wear stuff her mom knits! My girlfriends are into brand named things, and my close family (mom, dad, and bro) either never remember they own handknits that I've given them or just choose not to wear them. There is an exception to these people that I still love even if they do not love my knitting as much as they should, my husband. He is my biggest fan! He loves his handknits more than his favorite pair of sweatpants and that says a lot. However, he recently received several handknitted items after verbalizing how much I do not love him, because I never knit for him. I of course rectified that immediately and knit him three hats and a pair of fingerless gloves in like a week or something. So, he may get something special under the tree, but everyone else is outta luck this year! The knitting is ALL FOR ME! Bah! Humbug!

With all of the ME knitting I've been doing lately, I recently got a chance to try out this giveaway sponsor's terrific yarn: Elizabeth and her yarn line Vice that she sells on Etsy. Read the fun written interview I did with her:


1. Please start by telling us a little bit about yourself and what you do?

My name is Elizabeth Inman, YarnluvinLizzy on Ravelry. I have been selling my yarn for the past year and I have been fortunate to have been received well in my local market. I am now at a point that I have started to expand. I am a knitter, crocheter, weaver, spinner and teacher. I have a passion for great fibers. The name of my yarn "Vice" is a tongue in cheek nod to this passion.

I bring a different point of view to my yarns, using luxurious fibers coupled with bright, saturated colors. I am inspired by my travels around the world and this country and admire those that are adventurous in their craft.

2. Your hand dyed yarns that you offer are beautiful. The colors are so vibrant and well layered. What's your favorite yarn or color that you offer?

My favourite to dye is Plain Jane which I make with 11 different colours which then co-mingle to add at least another 11 different shades. It is crazy, it is fun and it is my romp through the crayon box.

My favourite to knit so far is Paparazzi DK. Paparazzi DK is a merino/silk/stellina (sparkles) base that is so lush and tasty to knit. I dyed some in a raspberry colour and knitted a sweater. So far I am just dyeing this to order but I hope to release it in a broader way soon.

3. Can you talk a little bit about your dyeing process and how you got started dyeing yarn?

I am very picky about what I will knit with. I wanted the combination of high quality base matched with deep, vivid colours that just wasn't easy to find in my area. So I created them.

I dye with professional acid dyes, I use citric acid so there is no vinegar smell and I rinse the dyed yarns clear after they are steamed for 45 minutes. This makes the yarn colour fast. I use a variety of methods to dye the yarns but most are hand painted with a sponge brush.

4. For budding new yarnies out there, what's the one piece of advice you have?

It is hard, physical work that has vast competition and takes time and a lot of effort to break in to. Owning your own business means you get to work any 16 hours of the day you want to. But, if it is truly your passion, go for it.

5. What will be next for you? Do you have colorways in the works that you can share with us?

I am constantly developing new colourways (ok, sometimes by fluke). What is next is my new worsted weight yarns which will be available by Christmas.

6. Why do you knit?

I knit and crochet to create. It amazes me what can be made with a ball of yarn and some needles or a hook. Each skein of yarn is full of limitless possibilities.

7. When did you learn to knit and who taught you?

I have been knitting for four years and I am still learning. Sometimes I knit just to learn a new technique and never actually make an item.

8. If you were to knit and live anywhere in the world, where would you knit and live?

If I could coerce all my family and friends to move to New Zealand, that is where I would choose. I love it there.

9. What's been your worst knitting or yarn dyeing disaster?

Early on, I was dyeing with a completely different method which required the yarn to be scoured in soda ash first. I left it in too long and it melted. That was not good.

10. And last but not least, if you were enjoying a favorite drink while reading my blog, what would it be?

A dry, Bombay Sapphire Gin martini with 3 big fat olives. Please.


Elizabeth was sweet enough to send me over a gift skein to try out, and I knit up this gorgeous shawlette with it that I wanna share...








Pattern: Pettine
Designer: Corrina Ferguson
Collection: Sideways Shawlettes
Yarn: Vice Sockalicious
Colorway: Dirty Girl
My Rav project page here
Modeled by: Jane, my brother's very beautiful gf.


The yarn is Elizabeth's Vice Sockalicious, and what a wonderful sock/fingering weight yarn. It's a MCN combo (merino, cashmere, and nylon blend), which is one of my favs. The merino and cashmere are soft and luxurious, and the nylon adds strength and durability, but I'm sure most of you already know this. So, what's so special about this yarn?! It was hand dyed by Elizabeth and the colors are beautiful. She is a very talented yarnie and her vibrant hand dye job made this skein so lovely to work with. I'm the first to admit that variegated colorways are not my favorite, but this skein helped me realize how pretty tonal variegation can work in the right pattern. It was a lot of fun to see the colors change back and forth while I knitted this shawl. It kept the whole process very entertaining!

Speaking of just right patterns... the shawlette pattern that I knit up, Pettine, is definitely that! This shawl is per-FECT for the not so solid colorways of sock yarn I have tucked away in every corner of my home! (Side note: it's perfect for solid colors too!) The garter stitch body and lace edging along with the sideways construction would yield itself wonderfully well to your fun colored skeins of sock yarn you may have laying around. Plus, I don't know if it was the pretty color changing yarn, the great pattern, or the combination of the two, but this shawl almost knit itself with how quick it flew off my needles. I also think its neat soft triangle shaping (depending on your blocking at the end) makes the shawl more modern and perfect for holiday gifts for those ladies on your holiday lists that love scarves, but might like something new and different. Corrina, the designer, has a gorgeous selection of knitting patterns, and truly worth checking out when you get a chance.

Elizabeth has also been kind enough to send over two spectacular skeins of Vice yarn for you to have a chance at winning...





The funky multi-colored skein on the left is a called Chubbie (how cute!). It's a sport weight yarn that yields a whopping 342 yards of lovely superwash merino wool. The skein on the right is the enchanting Sparklicious Sterling and has silver strands spun throughout! Not lying! It's 63% SW merino, 20% silk, 15% nylon and 2% silver. Both are awesome and will be a whole lot of knitting fun for two winners!


I would like you to do the following if you would like to be entered into this week's giveaway:


1. Read over the rules if you have not done so already.

2. Leave a comment on this blog post by the end of Sunday, 12/4/11. Who are you knitting for this year? Is your holiday list of handknits a mile long or are you like me and only knitting for yourself?


I'll randomly pick the winners in 2 weeks and post the results along with the new giveaway, so be sure to check back. Good luck everyone.

Sincerely,

Ve

I had some time this morning to finally go through some pictures I recently took of FO's that have been off the needles for a loooong time. Let's not get into the details of why it took me so long to get pics done and posted. Simply said… I've been too busy knitting. Haha! Hope you enjoy the eye candy this morning…

Pattern: Tidal
Designer: Cecily Glowik MacDonald
Yarn: Madelinetosh Merino DK
Colorway: Wren
My Rav project page here
Modeled by: My sweet Jane.











Pattern: Tenney Park (FREE pattern!)
Designer: Elizabeth Morrison
Yarns: Crystal Palace Yarns Mini Mochi & Knit Picks Essential Kettle Dyed (which unfortunately is discontinued now)
Colorway: Mini Mochi = 119 colorway & KP's = Oak
My Rav project page here
Modeled by: My sweet Jane, again.













Pattern: Echo Flower Shawl (FREE pattern!)
Designer: Jenny Johnson Johnen
Yarn: flydesigns Cashmara Lace
Colorway: Violet (the most amazing bright ultraviolet color!)
My Rav project page here
Modeled by: Sweet, sweet, beautiful Jane"y"
Pumpkin designed and made by: My very talented daughter, Jasmine.



Have a great weekend, fellow knitters!

-Ve

The two winners of the Sosae Caetano giveaway who will each receive a lovely Fall colored skein of yarn are:

katherinelynn_04 & Sarah Bear

Congratulations! Please contact me at yarnonthehouse@gmail.com to collect your prizes.


I've been admiring this giveaway sponsor's yarn for a long time. I was enticed by the thought of a luxury fiber that is as soft as cashmere. Welcome Bijou Basin Ranch to our blog this giveaway!




BBR specializes in yak yarn and fiber (aren't they cute?!), and let me just confirm that this yarn is truly as soft as they say it is!! And, not only is it soft, but it's so sturdy and great to knit with. I'm not sure I can put into words how lovely this stuff is, but more on that later... check out the fun interview I did with BBR:

1. Please start by telling us a little bit about yourself and what you do?

We are a small yarn manufacturing company that specializes in fine quality yak fibers and yarns. We raise registered full blooded yaks that have superior glossy coats which are harvested annually. We also supplement the fiber we harvest from our yaks by buying quality yak fiber from other yak ranchers across the country and abroad. Our yak fiber is then processed into yarn at various mills across the country or abroad and sold under the Bijou Spun label.


2. I would love to hear more about the yak fiber that you use to make your yarn and what makes it so special.

Yaks have a dual coat consisting of a long coarse guard hair and a short, soft, downy undercoat. We have very strict policies about removing as much of the guard hair as possible. This results in a bit more loss of the undercoat during processing but the results are amazingly soft and luxurious. With a diameter of 14 to 18 microns yak down is rated as soft as cashmere. Additionally, yak fiber has a very short staple length which results in superior stitch definition when knitted.


3. I had a chance to work with one of your yarns recently (Bijou Spun Bijou Bliss) and I truly enjoyed every minute of it. It was amazingly soft, and the color and texture of the yarn was so beautiful and rustic! Can you talk a little bit about the different yarns and colors that you offer?

We currently have several yarns available. A lace weight yarn available in the natural brown color and a 70/30 Yak/Merino blend called "Himalayan Trail" available in natural brown & natural cream. Our "Bijou Bliss", the yarn you mentioned, is a 50/50 Yak/Cormo blend which comes in natural cream and brown as well as 13 other colors. Our sock yarn is called "Tibetan Dream" and is a 85/15 Yak/nylon blend available in the natural cream & brown as well as 5 variegated colors. And our "Lhasa Wilderness" a 75/25 Yak/bamboo blend, is available in the natural colors, the 13 semi solid colors and the 5 variegated colors. Lhasa Wilderness is by far our most popular yarn as the yarn takes the colors great and the yarn is a dream to knit with!


4. How did you originally get into the yarn business and what is like to run a yarn brand like yours?

A few years ago my wife and I were looking for an agriculture based business to do an "early retirement" into. At the time I was working as a veterinary technician for an equine vet and while on a ranch call I came across some yaks. I looked into the species, found that no one was doing a serious business with yak fiber and the next thing you know, here we are! So far this has been a very interesting, fun and exciting business to run. It is a lot of work with a lot of hours to put in between running the ranch, and the day to day business as well as traveling to all of the shows, be are constantly learning new things, meeting new people and generally having a lot of fun.


5. What will be next for you? Do you have new yarns or colorways in the works that you can share with us?

Without giving away any "corporate secrets" I can tell you that new colors are always on our mind. In fact we have started working on some already. Also new yarn blends. With the success of some of our more exotic "Limited Edition " blends such as "Gobi", a 75/25 Yak & Camel yarn, you can expect to see more high end exotic fibers coming into our line.


6. Can you tell me a bit about your yarn colors?

All of our yarn is available in the two natural colors that come from the yaks, which are brown and cream. In addition to those we have 13 hand-dyed semi-solid colors that are dyed for us by the wonderful people at Lorna's Laces! They also hand dye the 5 different variegated colors for us as well.


7. You mentioned that you raise yaks, what is that like?

It's a lot of work, and there are times, especially when you are out in a major snowstorm feeding them, when you say to yourself "What was I thinking?!?" but then there are times, like when the new crop of calves are born in the spring, that you think, "Oh,yeah, this is why we do this.". Overall the yaks are quite friendly and smart and are pretty easy to tend to. But they can be a lot of work as there is always something that needs to be done.


8. When did you learn to knit and who taught you?

It's actually kind of funny, but neither my wife or I can knit or crochet! The joke around here is that I deal with what goes in the front of the yak and what comes out the back, and what is wrapped around them is my wife's problem. But once it is spun, it's up to the knitter's do do something creative!


9. And last but not least, if you were enjoying a favorite drink while reading my blog, what would it be?

A decaf, Venti, 2 pump, skinny vanilla latte! I am seriously addicted to these since I went to vet tech school, and they are sooooo goooood!


Thank you so much Bijou Basin Ranch for visiting YOTH and being our gracious sponsor this giveaway! Before I announce what the wonderful folks at BBR have sent over for you followers to have a chance to win, I want to show you the fantastic project I knitted out of one skein of the Bijou Spun Bijou Bliss. Meet my hybrid Basic Gloves/Podster Gloves that I knitted up for my hubby...







Patterns: Basic Gloves & Podster Gloves (both free patterns may I add)
Designers: Harry Wells & Glenna C.
Yarn: Bijou Spun Bijou Bliss
Colorway: Natural Brown
My Rav project page here
Modeled by: Hubby (who needs a manicure badly!!)

I merged the two patterns together (more details on my project page), and unfortunately, along the way I had a few issues. I ended up having to rip out my work quite a few times and even after all that ripping and re-knitting, the yarn stayed as beautiful as ever. I really was impressed by the quality and luxury of this yarn. I plan on knitting a sweater out of the Natural Brown colorway in the very near future... would it be rude to gift myself a box of gorgeous yak yarn for Christmas?! I can just put a secret admirer gift tag on it, right!

Another thing I wanted to mention about this yarn, is how versatile the gauge is on the Bijou Bliss. It's listed on Ravelry as a sport weight, which is the gauge I knitted this yarn at, but I can defintely see this yarn being knit in the DK/light worsted range as well. I actually purchased two skeins of this lovely yarn and am planning to knit the other skein into a Helm hat (another ridiculously awesome pattern by Stephen West). The pattern calls for 170 yds of DK weight and I have a little over 150 yds and a husband with a small head. You know me... I like to live life on the knitting edge. I'm planning to knit the hat a needle size or two smaller than the pattern calls for. I'll let you know how it all turns out. Worst case scenerio: the hat will get frogged and the Bijou Bliss will still look as good as ever!

Now onto what you're really here to see! This giveaway's yarn goodness! Check out this beautiful bundle of yarn BBR has sent over:



One follower has the chance to win ALL three skeins of Bijou Spun Bijou Bliss and a copy of the Pretty in Pink Knit Shawlette pattern. This kit includes enough yarn and the pattern to knit yourself one of these luxurious shawlettes.


I would like you to do the following if you would like to be entered into this week's giveaway:


1. Read over the rules if you have not done so already.

2. Leave a comment on this blog post by the end of Sunday, 11/20/11. BBR would like to ask if any of the followers have used their yarns either in a project of their own or at one of their yarn tastings that they set up at various shows?



I'll randomly pick the winners in 2 weeks and post the results along with the new giveaway, so be sure to check back. Good luck everyone.

Sincerely,

Ve

I wanted to drop in and share what I knit up out of my gift skein of Sosae Caetano. The yarn was a real treat to work with. Everything a knitter like me loves… soft, yet sturdy superwash merino, and a semi-solid colorway to die for. There was just enough yarn to make two neckwarmers!

Pattern: Hydrangea Neckwarmer
Designer: Anne Hanson
Yarn: Sosae Caetano Superwash Merino/Nylon Sport
Colorways: Morel
My Rav project page here
Modeled by: Jane Yemanova





Pattern: se[ven]circle
Designer: Kirsten Johnstone
Yarn: Sosae Caetano Superwash Merino/Nylon Sport
Colorways: Morel
My Rav project page here
Modeled by: Jasmine

Happy knitting!

-Ve