the
9
lives of a ball of yarn
Nine lives of a ball of yarn. It started back in September when Mike and I went camping in South Dakota for our 10th Anniversary. Part of my vacationly mission was to find a yarn shop deep in the Black Hills. To find a skein of yarn spun with rich history and magic by a local resident artisan, but no. None to be found. Anywhere. I asked around at local restaurants and museums, older women at historical centers, and even a crafty looking woman at a gas station. "Sorry, I don't know of anyone who sells yarn." Humpf. Now I know this can't be true. It gets cold in South Dakota. I mean really cold. And I'm certain there must be someone, somewhere in the area who loves to warm their head with a toasty hand knit hat. Then we saw the barn! The maneuver Mike did with our Kia rental when I yelled, "YARN" was Hollywood movie worthy. The man who runs the little shop was so friendly and did you know that his father in law raises a flock of 100 sheep and his wife spins a bit of the wool for fun, but they don't sell locally anymore, because no one was interested. They did however, have a whole wall devoted to Lamb's Pride {aka Brown Sheep Co.} and when I saw the pile of Burly Spun in the perfect shade of Grassy Knoll, I bought the whole lot. I have six skeins total. 792 yards. 48 ounces. So began the task of writing up the sweater pattern I'd been dreaming of for a while. A coat, really. Top down with pleats, a tab in the back, giant tree branch buttons, and a pointed pixie hood. With a simple bit of math and a gauge swatch done, I was set to go. The gauge, btw, is 2 stitches to the inch! I knit the whole thing to the pleats three times {with variations, of course}. Each time, not really loving the way the fabric was draping on my body. I'm 5'2" and top heavy with skinny legs. I really should have known that a long coat with bulky yarn and pleats was not the way to go, but I assured myself that if I could just get the shaping right it would be flattering and slimming. {hindsight, I know.} Well, when I finally had it right, with a shape I could live with and the sleeves done, and the hood almost finished... I ran out of yarn. Of course I found what I needed online, but I was already into this coat for a small fortune and I just didn't love it enough to fork over the extra cash to finish it. And the hood was the best thing this coat had going for it, so I frogged it. Again. Now the obvious question: What in the world do I make with all that yarn? With some inspiration from friends, I thought it would be fun to put together nine small projects. Nine project that are quick, easy and fun! I hope you enjoy~
The Parker Hat fun and playful, wide seed stitch edge, crazy giant pom pom topper, one size fits most teens & adults
Renee a seed stitch cowl thick, warm, and a little bit pretty
Puck irresistible and mischievous, pointed top with pom pom
Boot Cuffs a little pick~me~up for those boring, brown mud boots
Soft Pillow a square pillow, knit in the round, finished with a seed stitch flap, closed with wooden tree branch buttons, soft and squeezable
Soap Sack a small pouch, a place to put all the slivers of soap, knit in the round, cinched with a drawstring
Fingerless Mittens something for the guys, knit in the round, rugged and warm
Door Snake for old houses with drafty windows and doors, knit length wise on a long circular needle
Fringed Ascot by request, a non~tradition twist on the formal neckband
To purchase knitting patterns in this series, visit: Website: www.thesittingtree.net Etsy: www.etsy.com/shop/thesittingtree Ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/designers/elizabeth-murphy