'50 pairs from 50 shops' - Moon Light Llamas

aren't these cute :)

'50 pairs from 50 shops' - Moon Light Llamas

This weeks feature is brought to you by special guest... Tilly the Llama ;)


She's the lovely gal striking a pose while standing... isn't she just a doll?

Jan of Moon Light Llamas (Tilly's Llama Mama) sent me the cutest little hank specially hand spun (and hand dyed) from Tilly's fleece just for Hooking :D



The yarn is 100% Llama in two ply sport-ish weight yarn form and is incredibly smooshy soft :D The pretty true blue colorway with hints of fuchsia and purple complement the soft halo of the yarn's natural characteristics very nicely.

I'm using a size "G" hook for the shoes pictured above which are currently a "WIP" with finishing up planned for tomorrow night.

Tilly was the first llama born on Jan's farm (14 years ago) and provides fiber for Jan's own brand of uber cute bunny baby booties. Jan's shop also features hand made felted hats, teddy bears, felting kits and supplies.

Her fiber skills are top notch and I feel very honored (as I do with all my donors) to receive one of her hand made endeavors for use in the Hooking for Charity fund raiser.

For more information on Tilly and her other Llama mates (and Jan too ;) ) please visit MoonLightLlamas.com. To purchase items featured on the Hooking blog please visit MySweetiePeas.etsy.com.

Have a great night everyone.

'50 pairs from 50 shops' - Yarn Hollow

Y is for Yummy Variety :D

Need to add a little variety to your stash? Check out Yarn Hollow's Shop...

Bulky, super bulky, boulce, mohair, alpaca, tussah silk, yarns, rovings and more all hand dyed using fiber reactive dyes in flowing sophisticated shades.

Rita of Yarn Hollow has loaded up her shop with large quantity runs (around 8 oz. each) of her warm toned yarns so there's plenty of each dye lot for your larger projects.

So far I've worked my way through about 1/3 of the box she sent to Hooking (more finished items coming in May). The finished shoes, created from some fabulous single ply, are now also available for purchase via the etsy shop http://mysweetiepeas.etsy.com

"Crayon" features bright and cheery peachy gold, perwinkle, magenta, pink and muted minty green swirled together in short burst of color while the "Seattle" colorway (first pair) is more subtle with sea tones of barely there green and a range of soft pretty blues.

The unique texture of the single ply matched up perfectly to each colorway producing cute and super cozy baby shoes :D

For more images of the finished items please scroll down to read previous post ;)

Check back tomorrow for more information on upcoming hooking for charity '50/50' shops & shoes.

With that being said, I think we are in fact back on track lol *crossing fingers*.

Thank you to everyone for checking in and to my etsy gals for all the great donation that have kept me on my toes the last few weeks. I've honestly felt like a kid in a candy store working through all the pretty yarns which have crossed my path so far and the next few weeks will be no exception.

As always if interested in helping with the hooking for charity project please contact me via ravelry (username: katkoe) or on etsy (mysweetiepeas.etsy.com). Have a great night :D

'50 pairs from 50 shops' - Yarn Hollow

Below is a preview of this weeks featured etsy shop. Rita of Yarn Hollow sent a huge box of goodies.


Yarn is 8515 in Crayons, hand-dyed by Yarn Hollow




"Seattle" is a soft, hushed blues single ply sport weight hand dyed 100% wool yarn



More info will be posted later this week. Thank you to everyone for your patience with me. I've apparently caught 99% of the flu bugs going around this year :P

Thank you also to all the great etsy gals for all your support. See you on the blog soon.

'50 pairs from 50 shops' - sharing.etsy.com

All size newborn, in way cool baby boy colors. Check out http://sharing.etsy.com

for unique colorways. Sure to rock your sock yarn stash.

Remember to let me know of your purchases from Karen's shop. All purchase equal two entries into the special stitch marker contest on hooking for charity :D

'50 pairs from 50 shops' - sharing.etsy.com

More Photos of Karen's Sock Yarns :D

some days you step in it...

I've made my way through sampling all the pretty yarn's Karen of http://sharing.etsy.com sent into hooking.

4 skeins of light weight sport and sock yarn dyed in beautiful and unique colorways. All featuring intense saturated hues, perfectly spaced.

(pictures coming soon)

These little guys finished just in time as I've been gifted with a crappy flu for the past few days. Achy joints just don't equal productive crochet (trust me I've tried).

With that being said the 50/50 project will be taking the week off, minus a few photo updates here and there.

Have a great week and hope everyone had a nice holiday weekend :)

'50 pairs from 50 shops' - midweek update

I'm learning as I go...

here is my one sad (still pretty to look at) almost finished shoe.


Not quiet sure how to organize this week in the blog so that it's easiest to read. Hope this doesn't throw too many wrenches in the works dear readers.

It's about 10:30 pm and I'm dragging through the week. The weather is icky... it is Ohio after all (read... hot, cold, hot, rainy, freezing, hot, cold) which is probably to blame for the most part.

I love this yarn (again thank you Karen), it's soft and perfectly dyed... even running the shoes through single strand using sock yarn is working up beautifully with a springy light weight feel to them, and the single strand method is producing a more defined tiny stitch. very cool.

So tomorrow or Friday night I will be caught up with any orphaned shoes.

Have no fear little shoes I will prevail... (with or without feeling completed defeated).

Each misfit shoe will eventually receive it's perfectly matched mate and in time a warm home all it's own to go to instead of the current cozy accommodations they share with 50 other pairs of shoes.

Thinking of the week ahead (all two days of it) ugh... though if I ever became an organized, even tempered and/or rational person ... I just wouldn't be me.

Special Weekday Long '50 pairs from 50 Shops'

Kinda of a unique opportunity this week. Karen of sharing.etsy.com kindly donated 4 skeins and skeinlets for this weeks feature.

soo... check back everyday this week for a new shoe variety made from her brightly dyed creations in sock and sport weight. I'll have additional details on the colorways soon.

For now here's a preview shot :)


and a few shoe photos...




Great light weight base yarn (between light sport and fingering wt.) crocheted up beautifully with smooth stitch definition. The colors are bright pink, true red, smokey gray and little bits of bubble gum pink. Perfect for spring.

Karen also sent a more boy'ish version of this colorway which will be coming up in the next few days. (message posted 3/18/2008)

Check out the 50/50 section of http://mysweetiepeas.etsy.com for more details on the shoes

Also check out http://sharing.etsy.com for project bags in feisty patterns... perfect for hooking projects ;)

'50 pairs from 50 shops'

Like a blur of city lights through the hard summer rain, the moody jewel-toned hues rhythmically working through my fingers...


In all actuality it's freezing here and a good hour drive to the nearest "city" through the middle of farm country. Smooth, flat, open land.

But enough about me, let's talk shop ;)

This week's yarn was purchased from Unwind Yarn Company.



The colorway name struck my fancy right away 'Cirque Barnum'. This yarn was very dark in appearance so I wasn't sure what would exactly be arriving in my post box.

What arrived was a 100% super wash merino wool dk weight hank of dark chocolate mixed with brief spots of natural yarn and pure colors, ranging from sapphire to golden citrus. Just pretty.



The yarn is an extremely soft merino and the dye work is complex and bright.

Dana, owner of Unwind, also offers playful brights and earthy blue/green colorways in her shop along with finished items and soon will also offer self-designed patterns. She keeps a great blog with updates on her current projects so be sure to check out "my tangled-up life" too.



An added bonus from this week's shop is a Coupon just for hooking blog readers :D
Unwind is chipping in a great coupon, 20% off the price of each hank purchased from their shop using the special hooking for charity code "HFKETSY".

Be sure to include this code in the buyer notes when purchasing from Dana's shop.

To purchase any of the shoes featured in this blog please visit my etsy shop at http://mysweetiepeas.etsy.com.

And now for the first ever 'hooking for charity blog contest'.
Enter by leaving a comment in the hooking blog, buying a pair of 50/50 shoes or purchasing yarn from any charity donors' shops. The prize is a set of "Oops" and "Crap" stitch markers (crochet or knit style). Winner will be drawn from the first 15 to enter (purchases count as two entries, so please let me know). Best of Luck, have a great evening.

'50 pairs from 50 shops'

All the pretty colors...

Sharon of Stitchjones graciously donated a yummy skein of Gelateria Worsted Wt. Merino yarn for this week's feature.

I first contacted Sharon about purchasing a stray skein for the hooking blog (hate to break up a set), she replied back with a picture and a offering :D




As soon as the skein arrived, I balled it up and began working through the soft, warm colorway.




The classic ice cream combo of vanilla, strawberry and chocolate is perfect for baby and toddler shoes and the quality 100% merino wool base yarn slipped right by making these some of the fasted shoes I've completed so far.




Stitchjones' shop http://mymommadethis.etsy.com is chucked full of playful hues, bright brights and cozy muted skeins.


Most of her freshly listed skeins hark back to the 80's bands for colorway names. (My fav colorway/name is 'Gene Simmons' it's a red, black and natural white mix.)

Sharon also offers PowerTrios Sock Kits which include a full hank of variegated yarn with 2 half hanks of coordinating single hues. Enough yarn for 2 pairs of design-your-own socks, plus a free vinyl/canvas carrying case all for $45 bucks!

As always please check out Stitchjones' shop for additional information or to purchase some great yarn ;)

To purchase any of the shoes featured in this blog please visit my etsy shop at http://mysweetiepeas.etsy.com.

And now for the first ever 'hooking for charity blog contest'.
Enter by leaving a comment in the hooking blog, buying a pair of 50/50 shoes or purchasing yarn from any charity donors' shops. The prize is a set of "Oops" and "Crap" stitch markers (crochet or knit style). Winner will be drawn from the first 15 to enter (purchases count as two entries, so please let me know). Best of Luck, have a great evening.

New Post and Contest Details

StitchJones at mymommadethis.etsy.com will be this weeks feature.

Complete article will be posted tonight along with details for entering Hooking's first blog contest.

Thanks.

'50 pairs from 50 shops'

If you want to destroy my sweater...

Okay, aside from the Weezer reference... this week marks another first for me: shoes from recycled yarn

Molly of Crafty (http://www.craftyyarn.etsy.com) donated a super soft skein of natural colored lambs wool yarn. The lovely full size hank of worsted weight yarn (183 yards at 1.75 oz.) is plenty of yarn for several pairs of shoes.


The neat part is that the yarn was retrieved from a thrift store sweater which she disassembled, washed and skeined herself. Now that's dedication.



This particular yarn (check Molly's shop for more) with it's wide loose twist (almost ribbon like) provided superb stitch definition with a unique texture I think only reclaimed yarn could provide. From looking at these shoes one would assume that the wool was not soft but ridged. However it is very soft much like a vintage t-shirt would feel.



Crafty also provides plenty of tools (yarn) for finding unique ways to reuse everyday items. Whether looking for lace weight or super bulky, cotton or lux fibers Molly's shop carries them all in a variety of beautiful found colorways. Very much worth the destruction of a few old sweaters.




Prices start at $4-5 dollars a hank with very reasonable and speedy shipping. Another neat feature of this well appointed shop is the store credit option.

Molly accepts certain sweaters and will issue store credit for items sent her way. She will also test yarn for felt-ability before purchase. For more details on Crafty's special features please visit her shop at http://craftyyarn.etsy.com.

For additional information or to purchase any of the shoes featured in this blog please visit my etsy shop at http://mysweetiepeas.etsy.com.

And now for the first ever 'hooking for charity blog contest'.
Enter by leaving a comment in the hooking blog, buying a pair of 50/50 shoes or purchasing yarn from any charity donors' shops. The prize is a set of "Oops" and "Crap" stitch markers (crochet or knit style). Winner will be drawn from the first 15 to enter (purchases count as two entries, so please let me know). Best of Luck, have a great evening.

New Post and Contest

CraftyYarns.etsy.com will be this weeks feature.

Complete article will be posted tonight along with details for entering Hooking's first blog contest.

Thanks.
Kat

'50 pairs from 50 shops'

Hands On Kinda Gal.

This week's Etsy Shop is Lil' Bit of Heaven Fibers.

Linda of Lil' Bit of Heaven Fibers sent a super-generous massive 300 yard/6.6 oz. hank of 70% Llama/30% Shetland love my way this week :D


Having never worked with Llama fiber before I was very curious to give it a try and quickly balled up the aforementioned skein into a large ball of light coco and cream two tone yarn.

The yarn seemed a little course for baby shoes at first but quickly turned silky soft as I crocheted creating a finished pair that was cuddly and cozy.

The colors and texture came together perfectly too. Even the slight fuzziness of the yarn added to the cute factor of this pair of shoes.


About Lil' Bit of Heaven Fibers:
Linda cares for and sheers her own happy herd of Llamas and Shetland sheep making sure only the best stuff goes to the mill for processing. Some of the rovings even list which llama they came from for that extra personal touch to your project.


You'll also find knit and crocheted accessories, custom dyed yarns and rovings made with various wools that she found from small fiber farms and business. All accessories, yarns (including handspun) and rovings are unique and one of a kind and may not be duplicated so get them while they last :)

Please visit Lil' Bit of Heaven Fibers for more great products at amazing prices (free shipping too!). Also keep an eye out for Linda's blog which is coming soon. There you'll be able to learn about all the wonderful animals on her farm (http://lilbitofheavenfibers.blogspot.com).

For additional information or to purchase any of the shoes featured in this blog please visit my etsy shop at http://mysweetiepeas.etsy.com.

Thank you again to all the wonderful Etsy Shops participating in the 50/50 project. Your donations, support and kind words are greatly appreciated :D

'50 pairs from 50 shops'

sushi grade yarn at fish stick prices


Tako Yarn's slogan is very fitting to the yarn Christine carries in her etsy shop.


The colors are prue, well spaced and produced on excellent quality yarn (100% superwash wool or 100% Alpaca).

'Smarties' is the colorway that I have, inspired by halloween and all the candy the holiday brings, this cheery little skein is the perfect baby color combo of skyblue, lemon and medium rose pink.

Tako has one 1/2 skein (110 yards) of this left in stock and at $4.50 + $2.00 shipping it probably won't last long.

The yarns come in three sushi inspired themes (Christine is a trained sushi waitress after all): Sake - 100% machine washable merino wool in fingering weigh, Wasabi - 100% alpaca in worsted weight and Marguro - 100% superwash wool in DK weight.

Most yarns are sold in skeinlet size (half skein) at very affordable prices. Which brings up a good point don't let the the fish stick prices scare you, this yarn is the real deal. Expertly dyed and all.

Check out takoyarn.etsy.com for more fingering - worsted weight yarn in smooth colorways at great prices :)

To purchase the shoes mentioned above please visit mysweetiepeas.etsy.com.
At least $13.00 of every '50/50' shoe purchase goes directly to
http://www.directrelief.org - no strings attached (well... you know what I
mean *smile*.)

For more details about contributing to '50 pairs from 50 shops' please leave
a comment or convo me on Etsy at http://mysweetiepeas.etsy.com Thanks and
Have a great week.

'50 pairs from 50 shops' - Ravelry Group

New group on Ravelry just set up:

http://www.ravelry.com/groups/hookingforcharity

Enjoy :)

'50 pairs from 50 shops'

Well...

Okay so this is kinda an interesting dilema for me. The 3 skeins of yarn I ordered a few weeks ago have still not hit my post box sooooo...


Minus my base yarn and the featured shop's yarn we'll just take a look through my already hand-dyed bits in the form of 'kool-peas' colorways (Strawberry and Pickles):


The fun part about using kool-aid drink mix to dye these already crocheted shoes is my kids get to help out some. My daughter and son take turns pouring in the mixes and picking out the colors and I use the kiddy shampoo to wash my finished shoes in.


Pickles wasn't the planned name it just kinda happened once I realized the green shoes I was working on happened to be located in the labled pickle jar. I'm planning on creating other colors and experimenting with multi-hue combos in the future.



Thanks for reading this week's side-track hopefully next week we'll be back to the normal routine.

For additional information or to purchase any of the shoes featured in this blog please visit my etsy shop at http://mysweetiepeas.etsy.com. Etsybaby (I'm a memeber) is having a promo this month and bow-bear is hiding out in the team members shops including the 50/50 section of mine. Once bow-bear is found you'll receive a special free gift with your purchase. Happy Hunting :)

'50 pairs from 50 shops'

For those who prefer a softer color shift in their projects this week is for you :)

Jessica Elliot owner of Zweena Yarns (zyarns.etsy.com) kindly sent me a whole skein (220 yards, in center-pull ball form) of her Sky Blue Worsted Weight yarn to work with.

Having experience with her natural base yarn I was thrilled when Jessica replied to my convo about using one of the beautiful colored yarns in her shop for the 50/50 project.

After much consideration, I choose the aforementioned Sky Blue for it's gentle shifts between a bold turquoise blue and natural wool. Sky Blue is a very fitting name for this yarn.

About Zyarns:
Happily married and located in Denver, this etsy shop owner has a keen sense of nuance when it comes to yarn dyeing. Her yarns offer soft shifting colorways in single and multi-color combinations. The characteristic saturated vs. natural provides an impressive balance allowing the colors to show their richness and dept without being overpoweringly one color or the other.



Per Jessica's etsy site these subtleties in appearance are due to the fact that Zweena Yarns only uses natural dyes and earth/people friendly processes in there hand-painted/dyed yarn production. The end results are just awesome and meld well with the strong stitch definition supplied by the multipurpose 100% Peruvian Highland Wool her yarns are made from.

These yarns are well suited for next to skin or outdoor accessory type projects and come in a wide range of yarn weights.

To purchase the shoes mentioned above please visit mysweetiepeas.etsy.com.
At least $13.00 of every '50/50' shoe purchase goes directly to
http://www.directrelief.org - no strings attached (well... you know what I
mean *smile*.)

For more info on Zweena Yarns and her natural dye colorways, please visit
her http://zyarns.etsy.com to see for yourself.

For more details about contributing to '50 pairs from 50 shops' please leave
a comment or convo me on Etsy at http://mysweetiepeas.etsy.com Thanks and
Have a great week

'50 pairs from 50 shops'

Multi-craftual, that's how I'd describe this weeks Etsy Shop owner Catherinette aka Katie Stack. She's most well know for her ultra cute hand made pin cushions which include forest animals, monsters, an anatomically correct human heart and um... a swimmer... yeah a swimmer.


She's also creating hand bags with plastic bags and learning to spin. One busy gal, I'd say. The skein Katie sent me spent half it's first day being randomly oogled because it is so squishy soft :) It's colorway is a rich mix of periwinkle blue, plum and chartreuse (lime green).


Katie also sent a little nugget of yarn equally well dyed in a chartreuse, deep red and plum colorway. I'm sure the project this was from turned out smashingly.


Check out the specs below for a bit more detail: 95 yards 55% Superfine Alpaca 23% Silk 22% Merino

The good new is there is another skein just like this for sale at her shop :) (cheapo shipping too!)

Swatch Round Up: So I've come to the conclusion that my shoes are actually just a unique way of swatching yarn, that being said the pair this yarn worked up was just '2!' stitches away from being identical, which is an incredible feat for variegated yarns on such a tiny project. There will probably be enough yarn for two pairs from this skein... we'll have to wait and see.



To purchase the shoes mentioned above please visit my etsy shop. At least $13.00 of every '50/50' shoe purchase goes directly to http://www.directrelief.org no strings attached (well... you know what I mean *smile*).

For more info on this awesome chic with a natural skill for the crafty, please go visit her blog and shop to see for yourself.



For more details about contributing to '50 pairs from 50 shops' please leave a comment or convo me on Etsy at http://mysweetiepeas.etsy.com Thanks and Have a great week