Saturday, February 4, 2006

Wine Country

I can't believe it - It's February - and Valentine's Day is fast approaching!

I just realized it's been almost two years since I've been able to go back home and visit. I grew up in Northern California - right in the middle of wine country. How I miss the rolling hills, the never ending rows of vineyards, lazing beneath the oak trees, and strolls along the beach or beneath the Redwoods. I could easily consider Northern California to one of the most romantic places in the US.

So anyway - I had some stray corriedale roving sitting around so into the dyepot it went - I tossed in a few of my favorite colors and put on the lid. When this came out of the dyepot I couldn't help but thinking about home. The way the colors blended made me think of grapes on the vine at harvest time. I imagined myself sipping a nice glass of Merlot - and the ambiance of one of the incredible historic wineries back home. So naturally the name "Wine Country" stuck.

To make the most of the colors I elected to go with Navaho 3-ply. I think it came out nicely, and the yarn conveys the richness of color that I was hoping to capture... Now, what to knit with it? Hmmmm...

I hope you have a Fun (and romantic) Valentine's Day!

Milk Chocolate Cherries...

I'm in the mood for Chocolate... And what better time than Valentine's day to enjoy some sweets.

Here I'm spinning a reddish and brown color combination in a rambouillet X. Let's call this blend... Milk Chocolate Cherries...? The colors were put on the drum carder in alternating layers, two brown and two red. The batt was not reblended after the initial layering, so the colors should be more distinct. It appears it will give a nice tweed effect. The wool is somewhat neppy, so there are some lumps and bumps in the yarn, but I think it will add to the final effect. I'll show you the finished yarn and a swatch once we're done.

Oh - and before I forget - Happy Valentine's Day!