The Colors of the Year 2012

I've only recently become aware that Pantone,  a renowned authority on color, announces its annual color of the year in the early fall.  Just recently announced, the  2012 color of the year, Tangerine Tango, is a truly bright and vibrant shade of orange, ready to re-energize you.

Pantone's 2012 Color of the Year!

And, then, last week, I read that Benjamin Moore, my favorite maker of paint, announced its 2012 Color of the Year, Wythe Blue, a soothing medium blue.  It's grouped in Benjamin Moore's  Earth & Sky Color Trends to assist you in creating a perfect relaxing color palette!

Benjmain Moore's Earth & Sky Color Trend Includes Wythe Blue

Of course, it's easy to find ways to use both of the colors around your home.  Throw pillows are a great (and affordable) way to give your home a color boost!

Another fun way to add the 2012 Color of the Year to your life would be to include it in your landscaping plans this spring...I'm thinking a little Tangerine Tango in the garden:

What about knitting with these beautiful colors of the year?  I found a few skeins in my stash which are close.

Since I'm trying to use yarn that I already own instead of rushing out to buy new yarn, I'll stick with these shades when trying out the 2012 colors.  Show here:  MadelineTosh Merino Light in Magnolia Leaf, MadelineTosh Vintage in Saffron, Pagewood Farm in Mississippi Mud, The Loopy Ewe Solid Series in Serenity Green, Madeline Tosh Sock in Mica and Royal Alpaca in #708.  

So, what do you think of the 2012 Colors of the Year?!!

So Many Knitalongs!

Have you been keeping track? So far this summer (well, since mid-May, which is almost summer around here!), I have joined five knitalongs! Plus one more knitalong queued!  First, I joined SubwayKnits Rose Lace Stole Knitalong....check, project complete, waiting to be blocked.  Second, I joined Camp Loopy Ewe Project 1 Knitalong...Andrea's Shawl...check, project complete, waiting to be blocked.  Currently, I'm knitting The Loop Entrelac Tank in the Sweatshop of Love Summer Sweater Knitalong, (I'm a little behind but think I will catch up soon!)  The Camp Loopy Ewe Project 2 (a ginormous thank you to all that chose Irish Hiking Mittens as their cable project! I'm knitting them too! And I should finish on time!) and NotGoingToSockSummit Socks.(Alas! I am still on sock numero uno!)  Coming up BmoreCrafty's Small Project Knitalong which started August 1st! (I'm hoping to join in later this week). Whew! 

So, what's the appeal of a knitalong? Knitting with someone! Talking through yarn selection, pattern selection, swatching, problems, alterations etc! And seeing everyone else's projects as they progress! Knitalongs keep me inspired!  

Have any terrific knitalongs that you've really enjoyed?  Share here!

Dream In Color: Classy

I love this yarn! It is so soft and smooshy! Dream In Color Classy is a Hand-dyed Superwash 100% Merino Wool Worsted Weight yarn.  Skeins are approximately 4 oz and 250 yards.  That is a lot of yarn! More than enough for most one skein projects! Gauge is 4 - 4 1/2 stitches per inch on US Size 7-8 needles.  I love that it's a Superwash yarn....machine wash then lay flat to dry or tumble dry (I use the low setting) and remove while still damp.




Dream in Color Classy in Beach Fog from

© The Loopy Ewe

  I just bought this Gorgeous Skein of Dream in Color Classy in  Beach Fog from The Loopy Ewe in St. Louis.   I love the the blues and light purples in this colorway.  I'm going to use it for my 2nd Camp Loopy Ewe Project - from Sheri's Blog:

"Project Two is called “Hiking in the Mountains”. Doesn’t everyone have to go on a hike when they’re at camp? I know that it’s not always in the mountains, but it always felt like you were dragging yourself up a steep hill/mountain, by the very end of the hike, waiting for it to be done. (Or was that just me?)  For this project, the challenge is to knit or crochet either a pair of socks or a pair of mittens or a pair of gloves, in an adult size. (No fingerless mitts this time around.) The other part of the challenge is that the pattern you use needs to contain cables, which are always fun to do!"

As you can guess, I am going to knit Irish Hiking Mittens and I have been so thrilled to see that some other people joining in the project are knitting them too!  Thank you everyone!

Summer Camp

This summer, I am going to participate in The Loopy Ewe Camp Loopy Ewe (Project 1).  
Check out  Sheri of The Loopy Ewe's Blog: for details.  Today (June 10th) is the last day to get 20% off yarn that you purchase for your project.  Plus, if you finish on time and post a picture on the Loopy Ewe website, you can get extra Frequent Shopper Points that accumulate for an extra savings down the road. My yarn Just arrived yesterday....(I only ordered on Monday)...they get their shipments out fast, fast, fast!

It's Blue Sky Alpacas in Alpaca Silk, a 50% Alpaca/50% Silk fingering weight yarn.    The colors are Kiwi (#131) and Peridot (#148).  I can't even describe how incredibly soft it is.  I'm going to knit Andrea's Shawl, which will be the first time I will try knitting a shawl with two colors of yarn.  I haven't decided which color should be the primary color though.  What do you all think?  Should the shawl be dark with light stripes or light with dark stripes? 

And don't forget, today is the last day to qualify for the 20% off Camp Loopy Ewe discount!

Knitting & Crochet Blog Week 2011 - Day One

I just found out about Knitting and Crochet Blog Week 2011.  It runs from March 28th  to April 3rd 2011 and is a week of fibre-arts related posts where many members of the knitting and crochet community worldwide blog daily together on the same subjects and topics.  Wow! Sounds like fun! The BIG question is, think I can keep up?  We'll see....

So today's topic is....A Tale of Two Yarns

My absolute favorite yarn is Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport.  Socks and Shawls knit up quickly with this yarn.  And it is soooo squishy and soft using a size 2 needle.  Colors are great and I have found it at Jimmy Beans Wool, The Loopy Ewe and Eat, Sleep, Knit...three of my favorite online yarn stores.

River Rapids Sock in Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport in Midway

And then what could I say about Malabrigo worsted that hasn't been said by everybody else?  Soft, soft soft to the touch.  Again, I found some at all of the three yarn stores listed above.  Sadly, most of my local yarn stores do not have much in the way of either of these yarns.  However, one local yarn store has been much better lately about stocking all the pretty yarns that I love to find online.

Brattleboro Hat in Malabrigo Worsted - Verde Esperanza

Brooklyn Handspun

Yes, more new yarn. to love...and, again, from The Loopy Ewe.   It's so pretty and incredibly soft.  It's called Aquatic and it's dyed up by Marie in Brooklyn, NY. The yarn base is called "Soft Spun Plus".  At about 375 yards, it should make a beautiful pair of socks for me...I love the blues and greens combined with the coppery shade of brown.  It's 100% Superwash Merino and, did I mention, so so soft.

"Aquatic" from BrooklynHandspun

Think I'm going to use this to knit Spring Forward Socks  which appeal to me not only because of the beautiful Spring weather we are having right now in Georgia but also because the pattern is very, very pretty and (I'm hoping) easy to memorize.  Can't wait to start!

Yarn Love

I'll admit, I am addicted to yarn.  Just addicted. Love it.  Love to look at it.  Love to knit it.  Love to find new yarn so I love all of my fellow yarnies' blogposts and tweets about new yarn. I could look at yarn websites all day long. Last week, my husband might say I spent a little too much time looking at The Loopy Ewe, one of my fave, fave, fave internet yarn stores. This time, I found some beautiful, new to me yarn,  Yarn Love.  in the colorways, Nirvana on the left (one of my son's favorite bands) and Belle on the right (my daughter's middle name).  Guess I was missing my kiddos while they were at school that day!

The yarn itself is called Juliet, its a sock yarn, 80% superwash merino and 20% nylon, 420 yards.  I can't wait to start knitting my kids some more socks! Guess who gets which socks!