Estes Vest

Even before the fall issue of Interweave Knits was out I was already dreaming about this vest from a sneak preview on the wonderful "Knitting Daily" blog by Interweave Press. I even ordered yarn from Berroco with the pattern in mind. As soon as the fall issue arrived I casted on, it didn't matter that I had 15 projects waiting to be finished, this was a priority. I am now 3/4 finished with the back and am still loving the pattern, it keeps you busy, while giving you breaks during some rows, plus with the bulky yarn and US #9 needles it goes fast! I love seeing progress, especially after a project like "the dress"...

It's not only the pattern that I love, but it's also the yarn. Berroco's brand new bulky weight of their popular Ultra Alpaca called Cuzco is a soft, silky, 50% Alpaca/50% Wool in a 2-ply is perfect for this pattern. It will be warm, soft, and it shows off the cables impeccably!

I'll keep you updated on the progress of this, but if you're interested in learning cables, we'll be having a class on this project Oct. 22, 29 & Nov 5 and 12 from 6-8pm. Cables are simple, they just look really complicated ;)

I'm finally able to Dye!

No matter how you put it, it sounds morbid. It is exciting though, for the past couple months I have been too nauseated with morning sickness to work with the dye pots, but now equipped with open doors and a mask I am back to work and just in the nick-o-time for the WI Sheep and Wool Festival. The past week i have been busy dyeing up everything white in the shop and even sent in a quick order for back up yarn! Think lots of beautiful dyed mohair, mountains of our special pre-balled sock yarns and much more! Yesterday was a big blues and greens day after being oddly pre-occupied with reds, purples and pinks. I am hoping after this month I will have the time to start some natural dyed sock yarns and maybe an organic worsted weight line much like our popular Bam-bino yarns.

Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival

One week from now Ewetopia will be it's second appearance at the WI Sheep and Wool Festival in Jefferson, WI. If you're a fiber artist or just starting out in the fiber crafts world I urge you to go to this great festival to check out the classes, vendors, animals, dog trials, and much more! While you're there check out Ewetopia's booth, we have been busy dying lots of new colors of sock yarns and much more, which may never be seen in the shop!
http://www.wisconsinsheepandwoolfestival.com/

New Needle Felting Kits

We've had people ask for needle felting kits, and yesterday when I was ordering I came across these little guys! They are adorable, even down to their egg carton packaging. Unlike other needle felting kits I have found, these are unique in that they come with a core "egg" already felted, hence the genius egg carton idea I suppose! We have sheep, bunnies and pigs coming in we hope by early September.

Living Crafts Magazine is Here!

We have decided to carry Living Crafts Magazine, it is full of wonderful fiber crafts directed toward children and parents. The fall issue is very exciting indeed, with patterns for felt crowns, gnome hats, wet felted pumpkins, a beautiful lace cardigan by well-known knitting designer Annie Modesitt, and a lovely hedgehog story and hedgehog family needle felting instructions by a fiber artist who many in the waldorf community have taken classes from - Suzanne Down. There is also a great article about making buttons from branches which I am now itching to try out!

Ewetopia is now testing out some new crafting mediums, of course sticking to our love for natural fibers, we found a source for some beautiful earthy hued thick 100% wool felt fabric. This will be perfect for felted crowns, felt gnomes, and as a canvas for needle felted paintings!

SOCKS

With a brighter days and crisper nights comes a new vision for Ewetopia's inventory... can i say socks and sweaters? The UPS, Fed-Ex and DHL deliverers think I'm crazy, how can a box of yarn be so heavy? Because we have so much gorgeous new yarn coming in that they are stuffed to their limit and are often tearing at the edges! Soxx Appeal, Berroco Sox, Kureyon Sock yarn, Silk Garden Sock yarn, Louet Gems in Fingering weight and Sport weight, Ultra Alpaca Fine and others that are still arriving daily will soon grace our new sock corner, which is already showing signs of needing more space! With the WI Sheep and Wool Festival approaching quickly (Sept. 5-7) the dye pots are going constantly and we hope to get in some large cones soon to create a special self striping yarn!

This has been a yarn I have had on order for 7 months now, a tell-tale sign that it is a yarn in high demand. I finally got the call that it was in and being shipped to Viroqua. Are you ready? This will go quickly! A blend of wool and nylon, a revolutionary strong single ply washable sock yarn, in a skein large enough for a pair! Of course it also has the amazing Noro striping effect just like its sister the regular Noro Kureyon.