I have for you a stunning deal, my shut in friends! Kayanna at Stitch Together Studios has sourced this really soft 490 yard skein of fingering weight superwash merino, is dyeing it in just her tonals (and a couple of the not-seven step dye process variegated colors she does) and is able to sell them for much to us for much less than you'd normally see her yarn. For just $22 a skein, you can knit a gorgeous skein of Frugal Fingering!
Color is Knitting with a Chance of Wine on Frugal. I also have it on Swanky and Singles.
I'm unsure how long she will be offering this. I'm assuming as long as she can get the yarn at this price from the mill and as long as she has time to offer such a deal. But I'll take it! Because, dang, she dyes the most dynamic tonals.
Color is Double Click on Frugal Fingering. Also available on Stitch Smooth, Singles and Swanky.
If you want her more variegated hues, those are available on Stitch Smooth, Stitch Singles, and Stitch Swanky. Some of her colors require such a labor intensive layering process (say that four times quick!) to achieve that they aren't available on Frugal Fingering. But if you want expert coloration for a heck of a deal, get some now. I've already grabbed two skeins for myself but I haven't decided what I want to knit yet. I'm stuck right now on super easy patterns like Sockhead Cowl and plain socks. But I really think this yarn would excel in Stalagmite Socks, or the Hedera Socks. I knit these Hedera's like 14 years ago and it's a wonderful and free pattern to show off your tonal sock yarn.
Yarn on this sock is Fleece Artist Merino Sock in Ruby Red, and yes we still offer this color 14 years later! It's popular and awesome!
And now I want to cast on the Hedera again. DANG IT! Rabbit hole!
I hope this day finds you all well. Yesterday we all finally had a chance to enjoy the outside for more than a quick walk. It was more like four hours! It was nearly 60 degrees here in NE Indiana and it could be similar again today before the rain starts. On a day like this (if we weren't staying at home) we would usually take the kids to a park and get ice cream after. Instead we took a long walk, the kids built a little damn of rocks in a tiny creek close by, and then we got out the basketball hoop and played some ball. I'm learning to really enjoy this change and extra time with the kids (24 hours a day with them is quite a change). At first, they were adjusting too, but now after nearly two weeks of this we have settled into a new normal and it's less stressful and more joyful. It reminds me of having a baby- when you get used to a stage and then you think "I've got this! I can do this" and then the baby changes and, for example, has acid reflux and cries all the time and then you have to adjust. I know this won't stay the same and I'll just need to keep adjusting to how things are, but I'm a bit more confident that I can do it for months as needed.
How are you doing? Are you healthy? It's the start of allergy season for a lot of us, so the sniffles are for real right now. Pollen is not our friend here in NE Indiana. Next week everything will be covered in a dusty layer of green.
*Just a reminder that I'm committed to blogging every day during this time (instead of the typical 2-3 times a week) to connect with others. Please do comment and share with me here if you like! You'll see the typical yarn updates and shop tidbits, but likely also a bit more family and personal stuff.
Honestly I am feeling useless. I have a Masters of Public Health in epidemiology and worked as an epidemiologist at my state health department for eight years. I left in 2011 when my then-baby boy was diagnosed with a serious chronic health condition and so was I.
I reached out to a past supervisor who told me there's a hiring freeze, but yesterday, the Director of Health said they are looking for "disease detectives" to add to the team. I reached out to HR by email this morning after perusing job listings (all four of them) at the state health department, local health department (zero), hospital systems (anything data, safety or infection related required an RN or JD).
Otherwise, pollen gets me, too. All of the pollen! Central Ohio has a lot of tree pollen right now.
I continue to work from home as a copywriter and wrangler of my three school-age children in the meantime.
I can barely focus to knit or crochet because I'm so anxious and agitated.
Posted by: Jessica | March 26, 2020 at 10:15 AM
I'm right there with you on the spring allergies! I'm primarily allergic to tree pollen, so all the budding now is starting to affect me, as it does every year.
But this year, every time I have a tickle in my throat, I think "Is this a dry cough? Do I feel warm? Should I get the thermometer to see if I have a fever?"
Strange times...
Posted by: mellenknits | March 26, 2020 at 10:37 AM
I thought I was adjusting ok to the new normal— have managed to create my own daily routine, connecting with friends and family via Facetime and text, taking a bike ride or a long walk/hike each day to be outside (albeit at least 6’ away from everyone else). I live alone, which normally I like as I have my introvert’s need to recharge, but it’s hard to only interact with people virtually now.
Then, yesterday on my walk, I managed to trip over nothing and have badly sprained my ankle. At least I hope only sprained; the last place I want to go right now is an ER or urgent care.
I’m so mad at myself...and now I’m dreading these next days and weeks of not just staying at home alone, but not even having that outlet of bike riding or long walks. Argh!
Posted by: Megan | March 26, 2020 at 12:18 PM
Oh Megan, I'm so sorry! I definitely understand that you wouldn't want to go to an ER right now. I had ankle issues much of last year that kept me in a boot on and off. I highly suggest just going to the drive thru window at Walgreens and getting an ankle brace. They will give you things through the drive thru now and the most important thing for soft tissue injuries is to keep them immobile so they can heal. At least that's what my ortho said. I hope it heels quickly!!!
Posted by: Allison | March 26, 2020 at 12:32 PM
Megan, you can also order a boot on Amazon, delivered to your door. I ordered one last spring when I broke a bone in my foot.
Stay safe and stay in.
Posted by: Sue | March 26, 2020 at 01:46 PM
Allison, what is the name of the yarn that is 4 ply, with one ply that is twisted in the opposite direction???????? Looking to try that yarn next.
Posted by: Susan | March 26, 2020 at 01:51 PM
Megan, maybe a telehealth visit with your PCP?
Posted by: Jessica | March 26, 2020 at 03:59 PM
Hi Susan
It's Vrinda Yarn. I have it in Pada Sock or Shakti DK. Definitely knitworthy! https://www.simplysockyarn.com/vrinda-yarn/
Posted by: Allison | March 26, 2020 at 04:00 PM
Darn it! Just when I had my Monday Simply Socks shopping list decided, you introduced the beautiful yarn in today’s post lol! Now I have to rethink the whole thing lol! Stay healthy and safe - I really look forward to and enjoy your daily blogs!
Posted by: Jody | March 27, 2020 at 01:44 AM
We are home with our two daughters. Cooking and baking. We are assisting our girl's teachers with the transition to online learning. Keeping busy. Also finding time to put a shawl on my needles.
Keeep blogging and stay safe,
Stephanie
Posted by: Stephanie LaBerge-Luhnow | March 27, 2020 at 01:29 PM
My husband says I need to quit cooking and baking so much. Apparently that’s how I cope with staying home and the two of us can’t eat it all. Knitting is still my therapy and is the best stress reliever for me. Walking every day helps too.
Posted by: Shirley Plummer | March 27, 2020 at 01:52 PM
I haven't been great at staying away from the market. I went to the corner store yesterday to get lemons, garlic, canned tomatoes ... and a cold coffee. We made pasta putanesca last night and are making chicken piccatta today.
I've been working on a project from last March called Fuse which is not very addictive, but it is pretty when it's finished. I have maybe six hours of work left on it I started a Mountain Majesty sweater last week from Stephen West that is VERY addictive. I have probably three days work left on it - maybe four days. Even odds to what I finish first.
Outside of the store, the last place I went was on 3/14. We went and got BBQ for my anniversary.
I have had the worst allergies this year! All the sinus drainage and runny nose reminds me that I don't have a fever and a dry cough. It's funny that feeling sick reassures me that I'm not actually sick.
Posted by: Holley | March 27, 2020 at 01:59 PM
I’m a teacher and finishing my second week home from school. Our district hasn’t started distance learning (NTI) yet and this coming week is “spring break” so my kids and I have been playing outside, playing board games and baking and doing crafts for two weeks. On April 6th, work will begin again providing distance learning. The grocery situation here has been rough and I’ve ended up at the grocery about once a week or week and a half, only because many things we need aren’t available due to panic buying. I’m going at low traffic times to avoid crowding.
Finally, I’ve been knitting more than usual. I have two friends having babies in early summer so I’ve been working on hand knit gifts for both.
Posted by: Katherine Ballard | March 27, 2020 at 02:11 PM
Hello! I just want to say what a difference your yarn shop has made for me. In the past, I struggled to stay engaged in my knitting & crocheting hobbies because I hated the yarn from Michael’s. I fell in love with hand dyed yarn. You are one of the only shops that has kept the amount of dye lot stock in store for me to be able to make projects I truly love. Litlg & Hedgehog are two of my favorites. I am working on a sweater out of the DK LITLG forest bathing. I covet my cardigan out of LITLG amethyst. I made my first ever wearable with my first purchase ever from your store: LITLG Treebark. You have become my go to shop because what I couldn’t find in my local yarn shops, you always have in stock while also taking the time & care to photograph & quantify the different dye lots so people from anywhere can know exactly what they are getting with the gorgeous yarns you carry. This care & attention not only makes hand dyed yarn accessible to people who might not be able to get it otherwise but it gives your shoppers a TRUE, genuine local yarn shop experience online. It’s really special. It’s made you my go to yarn shop for years now. Thank you for what you do. You made my corner of the fiber arts world a much better place. ❤️
Posted by: Lindsey | March 27, 2020 at 02:22 PM
Hello y'all! What are we doing? Husband and I are holed up in Pensacola, FL with my 96 year old mother, his 87 y/o mom, and my 70 y/o sister. WHOLE lots of stress baking, started a sourdough starter named Will, taking lots of walks and MOST IMPORTANTLY, knitting. so. much. knitting. So many socks.
Posted by: Laurel Hicks | March 27, 2020 at 02:36 PM
Coming spring here in so. mo. Busy in greenhouse and garden.At 72 I am staying home on the farm for y health. Lots of knitting going on !
Posted by: Diana Smith | March 27, 2020 at 04:54 PM
I'm going through my photos on my iPad that cover the last 8 years or so. Pictures of trips to Europe, road trips, visits with family, friends, our beloved dog, garden shots, summer activities. They all give me joy. It's good to be reminded of what we had and what we'll have again. Just hang in there!
Posted by: Marilyn | March 30, 2020 at 11:47 AM