I have been knitting since I was about 12 and though I never really ventured into complicated patterns or making sweaters (though that is something I really want to learn sometime!) knitting in winter is second nature to me. I am always on the lookout for pretty, high quality yarns from natural fibers. Apart from buying some wonderful rustic local yarn (which knit up into this), Etsy is great for yarn shopping and I love how I can get pretty, handdyed yarn from all over the world shipped to my little home.
I am absolutely, madly in love with this yarn from Etsy seller atreehuggerswife. It’s the charcoal colorway and wonderfully soft. She was so kind to wind it into a ball for me at no extra charge, which is great, because winding yarn into a ball by hand is so not my favourite activity. This yarn is on the needles right now to become a nice pair of socks.
Also on the needles and another “bus project” (yes, I knit on the bus on my way to work. I am old enough not to care what people think and I wouldn’t want to waste a whole hour of knitting time a day). It’s beautiful and incredibly soft alpaca yarn from the alpacas of the farm I stayed on in Canada for a few weeks in 2009. I am making a cowl with it and hope to finish it in a couple of weeks. I would my projects would finish as quickly as new ideas tumble into my head π
Another beautiful Etsy yarn, from seller onefatslug in Australia. Have I mentioned how much I love getting packages from all over the world? This year alone I have been getting packages from NY, Knoxville, Alaska and Australia, all from independent little businesses.
This sweet ice-blue knitting basket was found on a thrift store hunt and I love love love it. It is big enough to hold all of my current projects (in addition to the ones shown above there is always the odd other sock project and dishcloth on the needles).
And finally, cleaning out my yarn stuff from all the years I came across these wrist warmers. These were the first thing I ever knitted, at age 12 or 13, when my dad’s girlfriend taught me to knit. I don’t remember having had such style as a teenager but I love them and they still fit and now that I found them again I have been wearing them constantly. I remember knitting them like socks on 4 double pointed needles. A super quick project and they really keep you warm in winter and can be worn with just about anything.
Hey I crochet on the bus. Nothing wrong with that! Definitely can’t waste that time!
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Glad to know I’m not the only one doing that! People do look at you funny sometimes, but I am thankful for the knitting time, because I am usually to tired to knit when I get home in the evening.
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oooo….I really love the wrist warmers. I wonder if I can talk a family member into making me some. π
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Thanks Colleen! Can you knit? Because these are super easy. They would be great as a first project if you wanted to learn to knit on double pointed needles as well. You could really make them yourself!
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Oh heaven! This post was such a treat. Your impeccable taste in yarn and gorgeous photos have me swooning here!
And I don’t have a bus ride, but I knit in public frequently. I also have stopped caring what people think or say. I just appreciate the quiet time. π
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Aw, thanks Amber! Love that there are other people out there who knit in public. I’ve never seen anyone else knit in my area, it does make me feel a little weird π But I guess they don’t know what they’re missing π
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I don’t ride the bus, but I can always be found knitting in my car waiting for my son to get out of school! Wristwarmers are the first thing I knitted too, though only last year (I’m a noob), and they were tiny ones for my then-3 year old.
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Thanks Jena, isn’t knitting great to make use of that waiting time! Do you have pictures of your wristwarmers up somewhere? I’d love to see them π
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Ooh if you love etsy yarn shops then it’s worth checking out my favourites, http://www.etsy.com/shop/hedgehogfibres (ireland) and http://www.etsy.com/shop/Dyeforwool (germany) especially the merino silk – i’m using some just now in a deep purple and it’s fantastic stuff…
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Thanks Julie, that german shop looks amazing :))
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