Black Bunny Hop

Hurrah for Bamboo Lite

2008-01-18T12:30:00.001-08:00

Words fail me. I love this yarn. I don't even knit socks fast and I did this within the last 24 hours. Thank you Carol!

Tap tap

2007-12-31T05:56:00.001-08:00

Is this thing on or are we all on Ravelry?? In any case, here's what I did with the luscious Lagoon colorway of tussah silk/merino worsted that Carol listed right before Christmas. A quicky pair of fingerless mitts done on 3.75mm dpns (no idea what size that is in US terms). I intend to layer these over some cheap gloves for warmth and use on their own when the weather is above freezing in Boston.

Update today at 2 pm my time

2007-11-15T08:09:00.001-08:00

Sock yarns: alpaca/merino/mohair/silk blend, superwash merino and 2 skeins of merino/silk.

Fingering weight: 4 skeins of a new trial yarn, peruvian fingering weight, softly spun, good for lace (more colors next update)

and whatever else I manage to get skeined up!

Next update: laceweights, and rovings...

Thanks!

Spinners unite: roving update Tuesday

2007-10-29T15:46:00.000-07:00

Howdy everyone!
I'm trying to get back on track, and I've got 6 batches of lovely roving I'll be listing tomorrow (Tuesday, October 30th) at around 11:30 a.m. Here's what I've got:

One batch of Corrideale in golden and pumpkin tones;

Two batches of Blue-Faced Leicester, one in turquoise, cobalt and cream; one in bright greens (emerald, kelly, nearly lime)

One batch of Finn, in purples, deep rose, mauves

Two batches of a great Border Leicester/mohair blend, one is dreamy grayish blue, the other is deep rose, purple, plum, almost maroon with cream (I am spinning some of this blend in a different color and it spins like a dream! Easy for newbies, too)

Each is approximately 8 ounces, $18 plus shipping.

Next week, I'll be doing a big yarn update. I'm hoping to have more merino/tencel sock yarn (it has such a gorgeous sheen!), and I've got a few leftover skeins of the Rideau Arcott blend sock yarn from Canada. We'll see what else I can tempt you with...

Thanks! And don't forgot to post your projects -- I love seeing them!

Wildfire Hanami

2007-10-23T14:44:00.000-07:00

So what does a knitter do while sitting around waiting to see if she gets evacuated? She knits, of course!

I using a yummy, luscious silk-alpaca BBF laceweight (it's a lovely shade of deep pink) to work on Hanami. Did you know you can finish one basket weave lace repeat in just a few hours while watching video coverage of the helicopter dropping water on the fire on the mountain behind your house? Who knew!

I'll try to take a progress pic as soon as we find the camera where we buried it in the car in case we have to leave.

In the meantime, pray for or send good thoughts to all of us out here in SoCal.

Back to my lace!

I'm wearing my sofa

2007-09-18T17:53:00.001-07:00

Well, at least the colors.

Skater overtop from "Knitting Classic Style" by Véronik Avery, knit with Black Bunny Fibers Merino Lace Weight on 4 mm needles. (Gauge was spot on.)

Update coming tomorrow

2007-07-26T16:19:00.000-07:00

with superwash merino, some wool nylon sock yarn (the kind with the tighter twist, rather than the smooshier one), some roving (a red shetland, a blue/purple merino, and at least 2 more that I forget), and some of Barb's Canadian sock yarn (wool/mohair/silk blend). Also one plum-ish/fuschia-ish laceweight in alpaca silk.

It's been a rough month for me healthwise, but I'm feeling better now and I am hoping to get 1 or 2 more updates in before vacation time in mid-August.

Meanwhile, I'm still waiting for more silk....

Thanks for hanging in!

Finished Socks

2007-07-23T14:54:00.000-07:00

I'm slow, I admit it. These socks have both been done for a while, but I'm just getting around to posting photos. First up are the Senior Citizen socks I made for my hubby. He really loves them!

I also did some knitting for myself. I made a second pair of Monkeys using Fairy Wings. The colors are simply scrumptious!

I still have some BBF in the stash, so I'll be busy for a while.

I finished something!!!!

2007-07-10T05:48:00.000-07:00

I am horribly embarassed to say that this is my very first BBF finished object - the Montego Bay scarf from Interweave Knits Summer 2007. I can't believe it's taken me this long. I've been hoarding sock yarn and laceweight for almost a year but this silk is unbelievable. I started this on June 24th and finished it this morning. It's 70in long and about 9in wide (but both change dramatically since the pattern is stretchy). I modified the fringe from braided to loose & knotted. I love this scarf. I only wish it didn't make me completely overdressed on the pre-school run...

Diagonal Cross Rib Socks

2007-07-09T21:24:00.000-07:00

Diagonal Cross Rib Socks - Verbena Black Bunny

It has been awhile since I've completed a pair of socks and these may be my favorite yet. It could be the fact that I benefited from someone de-stashing on Ebay (I jumped on this yarn!), maybe it is the fit, it is probably because both socks are finished -yay! I just grafted the second toe while waiting for my daughter to get home from a late movie. Oh, I barely had a smidge of yarn left over - I was sweating it!

Sock particulars:

Pattern: Diagonal Cross Rib Socks - Favorite Socks 25 Timeless Designs from Interweave

Needles: Sz 2 for upper leg; Sz 1 for lower leg and foot

Changes: Shortened the leg from 8" to 7"

Finished sock 1 - 7/5/07

Finished sock 2 - 7/9/07-ish

Verdict - Winner!

2007-06-25T04:47:00.001-07:00

First, let me apologize to the west coasters. Even with the later starting time, I tend to hover on etsy whenever Carol does an update. I'm always poised and ready ('Shush kids! She's updating the yarn! I'll get you juice in 5 minutes.').

Now, this silk is gorgeous. The sheen is amazing, almost luminescent. The color reminds me of a glacier-fed lake in New Zealand that I saw nearly 18 years ago (and is still one of the most beautiful things I think I've ever seen). Combined, there is a fluidity to the yarn that is perfect for shawls, wraps and scarves. I'm making Montego Bay with mine. I started it on slightly smaller needles because they were the only ones free but I think it makes no difference. The yarn is twisted so it never feels like it will pull apart. I've had issues like this with Hipknits aran silk and Debbie Bliss Pure Silk. The yarn is super easy to knit and feels wonderful flowing through each stitch. It is slippery so I would recommend wood or bamboo needles for grip.

In closing, I'm going to be truly sad when this project ends. And that may be soon because it's flying by already. This only arrived late Saturday.

Still going!

2007-06-22T09:43:00.000-07:00

No, the Hidcote shawl didn't become a lost WIP. I stopped for nearly 6 weeks when I ran out of room on the straight needles. I bought some lace Addi's at the end of May (LOVE them) and started chart 4 (of 10). It doesn't look a lot different from the last photo and the yarn cake never seems to look smaller but the shawl IS bigger. I'm at 205 stitches now and have a sneaking suspicion that this thing is going to be huge. I just need to get through to chart 6 for some easier lace patterning...

New yarn tryout in next update....

2007-06-14T05:04:00.000-07:00

Hi loyal Bunny Hoppers!
Next update will be Monday at around 12ish. Got to give those West Coasters a chance...

I've got some roving, 1 or 2 worsted weight skeins, superwash sock yarn, a couple of wool/nylon skeins and three batches of a new yarn. I did these as a kind of trial, to see how they look and if you guys are interested in me dyeing more. Here's a little hint:

You'll have to be patient with me in the next few weeks -- I've got a major deadline and things are crazy here. I'm dyeing as fast as I can!

The first three times

2007-05-30T19:37:00.001-07:00

1. First time poster. Hello everyone!
2. First time finisher with Black Bunny yarn. Socks, of course.
3. First time FO presented. Here you go.

It's the colourway that Carol calls "Dreamy". The pattern is mine. The socks aren't anymore but gifted away. Thanks to Véronik I have a non-flurry picture to post for you to enjoy. I hope you will.

I enjoyed knitting with Carol's yarn a lot and I will do it again soon.

Next update: Friday

2007-05-23T14:08:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! Next update will be this Friday, May 25th sometime in the morning. I've got wool/nylon and superwash merino sock yarn. Lots of bright colors! So treat yourself before heading to the beach or parade for Memorial Day Weekend (for my American friends).

See you there!

That Fish is 'Fried'

2007-05-22T15:35:00.000-07:00

Second Sock Syndrome was getting me down, Man. I had to mellow out and finish my Pomatomus socks.

The colorway was '70's Dining Room'. I dig the groovy color blips of brown. No pooling, that dye job is outta sight!

I have a lot more Black bunny in the stash. Don't tell the Fuzz.

Buttercup Meadow

2007-05-06T15:40:00.000-07:00

along with a real buttercup!

Mindy was sweet enough to bring her BBF sock to show me at Maryland. It almost made up for being bitten by Tiny the goat.

Next update: mid-week, including superwash merino sock yarn, some wool-nylon, some merino/silk, as well as some roving (Dorset, Cheviot) and yarns (e.g. Cormo, Romney) that I picked up at Maryland.

Blooms and hurricane

2007-05-01T15:21:00.000-07:00

Hi all! I finally can post a pair of completed socks...they were for my Bloomin' Feet II swap. Carol dyed some fingering yarn specifically for a shawl but I broke out the yarn to use because the colors were perfect for my pal. The pattern is Rock the Stars by Stefanie Japel for Scout's Indie Swag I.

Next up are the in progress shots for my Hurricane Sock pal in true sock yarn in the Primavera colorway. Pattern is Circle of Friendship.

I turned on my knitting group to Black Bunny so you will probably be seeing some other posts from Florida folks.

More photos at my blog.

Finished socks & a preview

2007-04-29T05:58:00.000-07:00

I finally finished the second sock out of my Black Bunny superwash merino:

And a big sock yarn update is happening tomorrow morning, with merino/silk, wool/nylon, a few superwash skeins, as well as roving and these 3 small laceweight skeins:

Hope to see you there -- and, as always, thanks for your continued support!

Super-duper sock yarnapalooza on Monday

2007-04-26T07:19:00.000-07:00

I've got lots of sock yarns drying and I'll do an update Monday morning. I've got wool/nylon and merino/silk drying, and am hoping to get at least a couple of skeins of superwash merino done if my shipment arrives today. I'll try to get some preview shots posted this weekend. There are also a couple of laceweight stragglers and some roving.

The next weekend after this one is Maryland Sheep and Wool, and just like last year, I'm going to try to find some small producers of unbleached wool, particularly the rarer sheep breeds. Last year, people seemed pretty interested in trying some of these out, so I'll make it an annual tradition, dyeing up some one-offs and putting them in the shop.

Hope you're all knitting merrily away! I just turned the heel on my second sock in BBF superwash merino and I'm enjoying getting a chance to knit with my yarns instead of just sending them out to all of you!

I finished my socks!

2007-04-25T17:02:00.000-07:00

Pattern: Eleanor from Socktopia
Yarn: Black Bunny Fibers in Sapphire

I really liked working with this yarn, although it did pool a bit strangely in this mostly-stockinette 60 stitch pattern. I love my finished socks, though!

I'm on the heel!!!

2007-04-24T12:26:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I've made it through the pattern repeats. Actually I think I skipped a set of them. Anyway, I'm working on the heel of the first Ripple Weave sock. It's done in Eye of the Partridge. I'd never heard of it before but it's just doing slip, knit and then knit, slip on rightside rows instead of the usual heel flap.

Restocked today: laceweight

2007-04-20T12:24:00.000-07:00

Today I restocked the Etsy shop. As of about 3:30 pm, there were 3 hanks of alpaca/silk laceweight left, like this purple and indigo one:

and two skeins of Rideau Arcott/Lincoln/alpaca sock yarn, like this rose one:

and a couple of laceweight merinos (100g), like this red/orange/hot pink one:

Next update will be sock yarn. I'm working on some wool/nylon and merino/silk, plus I've got another shipment of superwash merino on the way. Happy knitting!

BBF or STR?

2007-04-20T06:20:00.000-07:00

I've been working on the Retro-Rib sock from Interweave's Favorite Socks book using the Light Bright BBF. The colors are really popping out with the pattern. I had it laying around when some sock knitters saw it. 'Is that a new STR colorway?' they asked. Being a huge Blue Moon and Black Bunny fan, I saw this as a great compliment. Fab work Carol!!

Icarus in Blues

2007-04-16T16:08:00.000-07:00

It's finally done! After nearing the edging once, frogging it completely, and restarting it a bit over two weeks ago, my Icarus shawl is done! I absolutely love it, and I can't wait to wear it out! Stop by my blog, A Tale of Two Needles, later for some more details!

Gorgeous scarf to check out

2007-04-13T07:53:00.000-07:00

If you'd like another idea for your sock yarn, check this out. She's one of the Knitsmiths in Boston but we're losing her to the west coast in June. On the bright side, at least I can copy the pattern and there won't be another one locally! Makes you want to buy more sock yarn, doesn't it?

Sockyarnapalooza tomorrow...

2007-04-09T14:58:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder: lots and lots of sock yarn going up tomorrow morning. (As soon as my kids are back in school, thank God. They've been off for over a week and it's killing me.) I've got superwash merino; wool/nylon, which is also superwash; and a new merino/silk blend. I'm still skeining so don't have any preview pics.

Thank you!

Bubble-Yum, Done

2007-04-08T17:00:00.000-07:00

Finished and delivered yesterday- whew!

This was done with her superwash merino sock yarn. I absolutely love this yarn- my new little nieces will definitely be getting sweaters out of this. (and blankets, and hats, and sockies, and...)

BBF Mailing list

2007-04-04T09:05:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!
Due to several requests, I'm setting up a Yahoo group as a sort of mailing list for Black Bunny updates. I'll send an email via the group telling you about updates as they are scheduled. So if you want me to add you to the list, please email me at blackbunnyfibersATattDOTnet with your email address. You'll get an email from Yahoo Groups after that with the group information. I'll still post the information here and on my Etsy banner, so it's up to you to use whatever method(s) you like best.

Next update is tomorrow, April 5th, Thursday at around noon. I've got 4 hanks of alpaca/silk laceweight that weren't dry in time for the last update. After that, I'll have more sock yarns early next week, including a new wool/silk blend. I'm also waiting on a small shipment of sock yarn from Canada that is all wool in a mix of breeds, so look for that in coming weeks.

As always, thanks for your enthusiasm and support!

Bubble-Yum Update

2007-04-03T15:37:00.000-07:00

Been working away on the baby sweater. I was trying to decided whether to do the whole thing in feather n fan, or do the bodice in st st. A friend set me straight. I believe she said something to the effect of, "YOU HAVE NO TIME LEFT!" Good point. So I've done a purl ridge right below the armholes, and a bit of st st and started the armholes (those were after this picture was taken).

I've also been working on itty bitty hats for my sister's twins. They are each not quite 4 1/2 lbs, beautiful, and very healthy. I'm using Carol's superwash sock for these hats, too. (they're on a regular piece of typing paper for size perspective) Size 2 needles. I love the way these feel, and I'm really happy with how the sock yarn is working for the Bubble-Yum sweater, too. For that I'm using a size 4 needle. The yarn is very soft, and spring-y, and the stitch definition is great. I'm definitely hooked on this stuff (just check my stash. No, wait. Don't. I'm not sharing.)

Worth the visit!

2007-04-02T06:27:00.000-07:00

No Black Bunny knitting of my own to show off (though some is underway), but I thought you might all enjoy looking at the gorgeous shawl a friend of mine made from some Black Bunny yarn. Visit Sue's blog, look for the April 1 post, and take a look.

Someday I hope I can create something this amazing ...

Back to Bubble-Yum

2007-03-30T15:36:00.000-07:00

While I was stressing that I only had 2 weeks until Easter, I realized I actually had 3. So naturally, I ignored the sweater for another week. I did finally swatch, then the other night I sat down to work out a pattern.

It was gorgeous outside, so I took my notes and yarn outside to cast on. And this...

is what happens when you try to knit while your goats are out mowing the lawn. Fluff just had to take his bite on the top- where all my writing was.

Moving past all that, this will be a little cardigan for an 18 month old. I'm knitting the bottom in one piece in feather and fan up to the armhole. I haven't decided yet if I will switch to stockinette or keep in feather and fan. So far I've got 2 1/2 inches. Barring goat mishaps, I need to make some serious progress over the weekend. Oh yea, and my twin nieces were born yesterday (healthy and beautiful) so I'm a tad distracted...

Update is done!

2007-03-30T10:28:00.000-07:00

With colors like Velvet Elvis and Apricot on Steroids, how can you go wrong?

p.s. to Knittah -- sorry for being so slow. Your package is finally on the way.

I finally started my socks!

2007-03-28T18:16:00.000-07:00

The yarn has been wound and sitting on my desk, but other projects and real life have gotten in the way. But I cast on for the socks in my Black Bunny yarn on Sunday.

Here's some progress as of the other day:

My cat is a good helper. ;)

More Hidcote

2007-03-28T09:22:00.000-07:00

It's been quiet on the KAL blog so here's another look at Hidcote. I've finished Chart 2 and I'm 4 rows into Chart 3. You'll notice that there are still no lifelines or stitch markers. It's not that they weren't great suggestions. I'm just lazy and don't own more than 4 stitch markers! Any hope of Wendy & Christina selling the ones they mentioned on the podcast last year?

Hidcote progress

2007-03-19T07:34:00.000-07:00

And that is all of chart one finished plus 7 rows of chart two. From now on it just gets harder as the stitch count grows. I was in the middle of a pattern row last night when my assistance was required. Ack! I can't stop in the middle of a pattern row! Finding moments of quiet to concentrate on this will be difficult. Do any lace knitters out there have any advice? I think I probably need to put some stitch markers in...

Bubble-Yum

2007-03-16T16:01:00.000-07:00

I received an order for an Easter sweater for a baby girl. The baby's mother and grandmother were in agreement- baby-pink. We decided on a feather-and-fan cardigan. I asked Carol for the equivalent of 4 sock hanks. I know it won't take that much, but I like pink, and I'm expecting twin nieces (that'll be a whole 'nother post sometime) so I figured too much would not be a problem. The beautiful pink yarn got here a week or so ago, I wound it (all the while craving Bubble Yum...) and stuck it in it's mixing bowl to wait it's turn. Only today did it hit me- ACK- Easter is in TWO weeks. Off to swatch and write...

My day

2007-03-15T13:15:00.000-07:00

7am - Look at dreary weather

noon - Mail!

12:01 - Yarn!

12:05 - Fondle yarn

12:07 - Download & print pattern for Hidcote Shawl

12:09 - Blog about how great yarn is and how amazing Carol is as a dyer

12:10 to 3:30 - Take care of children, do laundry, make Boxty for pre-school St. Pat's party

3:31 - Sit down, do my very first provisional cast-on, start shawl and do first half of Chart 1 (of 10 charts)

What started as a down day has been turned around by this gorgeous llama/shetland laceweight. Next time it turns up in etsy, I can heartily recommend purchasing! I love it and am scorning all other projects to move this along.

Finished!

2007-03-12T13:04:00.000-07:00

Yeah! Two days BEFORE Allison's Birthday are my specially dyed "Go Blue" socks.
Yes they're Maize and Blue, colors of my sister's almamater University of Michigan. She hasn't seen these yet, but I hope she loves them. I think they look amazing! Thanks Carol!

A new record?

2007-03-12T06:36:00.000-07:00

Sorry Mindy! Had to have the purples. I think it was on etsy for all of 30 seconds! Is that a new record??

Tomorrow's update: llama, wool/nylon and more

2007-03-11T09:11:00.000-07:00

Here are three of the skeins of llama that I have ready so far:

In addition to the reds, purples and teals shown above, I've got a skein of browns, one of true blues, and one of olive/golds. It's a laceweight blend of 90% llama and 10% shetland, and each hank is about 1300 yards, plenty for most shawl patterns.

Here are some sneak peeks of the wool/nylon sock yarn (in skeins of 400+ yds, 75% wool/25% nylon, superwash):

I've got some tone-on-tone colors, like the sage green and the browns, that will be great for showing off stitch patterns (and those two in particular are great guy colors), as well as some wilder multis.

You'll have to bear with me if I am slower to get things done; I'm not moving at my usual pace yet....

And as always, thank you so much for your support. It makes me unbelievably happy to see the bee-yoo-tiful garments that y'all make with Black Bunny yarns (and rovings!).

With apologies to Ogden Nash

2007-03-07T13:12:00.000-08:00

The one-l lama is a priest.
The two-l llama is a beast.
And I would bet a silk pyjama

that you're really going to love the new llama blend laceweight coming next update!

[Photos in a day or so.]

Ripple Weave

2007-03-06T12:34:00.000-08:00

I've made it past the ribbing! Hurrah! I've done 1.5 repeats of the Ripple Weave sock from last year's VK. It's a Charlene Schurch pattern similar to Pomatomus. The yarn is pooling a little more than I'd like but I still think it's pretty cool. You're supposed to start the heel after 7" but mine will begin earlier. The pattern continues all the way to the foot and I'm using 2mm needles. I have hopes to finish these socks before June for a present!

Sock patterns

2007-03-02T13:21:00.000-08:00

That was some update today, huh? It was hard to choose but I got the black with turquoise, green and fuschia. I can't wait to see the yarn in person! I'm thinking maybe Jaywalkers or the Cedar Creek pattern. Does anyone else have a favorite pattern to use with BBF sock yarn?

I'm also going to make a concerted effort to produce a pair of socks within the next 2 months, maybe by Tax Day. I've started 2 projects with BBF yarn and haven't produced a finished object yet. Terrible!

Teaser: Friday update

2007-02-27T11:37:00.000-08:00

More temptations

2007-02-16T11:10:00.000-08:00

Okay, sock yarn is up next. First, the wool/nylon blend. I'm bringing five skeins into Rosie's tomorrow and here are five others that are going up on the Etsy shop Sunday evening (there are no duplicates; even the two blues in this photo look a bit different in real life, the one on the left being a bit darker with a smidge of teal in it):

As soon as I get the superwash merino stuff ready, I'll add another photo. There are at least 2 batches of that (grays and dark blues) that would make good guy socks for the more conservative menfolk out there. And some funkier stuff for the more daring.

Late to the Party

2007-02-15T05:30:00.000-08:00

Once again I've missed the Etsy update until too late. Not only that but having problems even logging into Etsy! Probably a good thing though. The laceweight looked amazing! I'm still holding out for some pink/purple tonal yarns and the new LaceStyle book. Gives me plenty of time to sort out that password! Congrats to Carol on another wonderful batch of yarn.

Sneak preview: more alpaca silk laceweight

2007-02-13T11:44:00.000-08:00

Here's a quick preview:

The colors are a bit richer in real life, especially the brown one (a.k.a. "Table Leg").

I also have some rovings and a single solitary batch of superwash merino sock yarn (green) but don't worry: more undyed superwash just arrived so I'll be dyeing it this week and restocking it next update. Tomorrow mid-day I'll unveil the new stuff on the Etsy site. Keep your fingers crossed they don't cancel school.

Hey, Knittah -- send me an email with your address and I'll mail you a tote bag. You and yer croshayin' friend can arm-wrestle over who gets to keep it.

But don't worry, ~~Bathsheba~~ Bonnie: I have a soft spot for you. The shawl is gorgeous and I shall send you a little treatie sometime soon, too.

forest canopy shoulder shawl

2007-02-07T15:58:00.000-08:00

Not to go on and on about it, but more to prove that I did actually block it...here's one last photo of the shawl.

More photos, plus all of the details (my notes, pattern link) found here.

Don't forget tomorrow's update

2007-02-04T06:49:00.000-08:00

Including (from left to right) Algae, Hawaiian Shirt and Phillippe Floppe, all superwash merino sock yarns

and some small laceweight skeins.

day late, dollar short

2007-02-01T10:33:00.000-08:00

I know that knitting a shawl does not make a finished object. I have been reminded that lace is not lace until it is blocked.

I finished knitting the Forest Canopy Shoulder Shawl in BBF "Mexican Sunflower" over a week ago, but couldn't make the time to block it. I've been stalling for a whole host of sorry excuses, and it was visions of a new canvas tote bag that finally got me finish this baby once and for all.

Now I see that someone beat me to the punch. My shawl isn't even off the wires yet. But looook how prettttty:

No tote bag, but it looks like I'm still a winner. It's my first shawl.
Carol: Thank you for that last push....and, as always, for dyeing up gorgeous yarn!

I'm sure I'll bug y'all with one more post about her after she's dry.

Does This Count?

2007-01-31T17:01:00.000-08:00

Well, I don't know if this qualifies, Carol. It is Black Bunny Fibers, in the Ivy colorway to be specific. I purchased it at Rosie's a while back. But . . . .

I didn't make the socks. I sent the yarn to my friend Noricum, and she crocheted these socks and mailed them back! A good deal all around, from my perspective.

Hello? Anyone out there?

2007-01-31T12:27:00.000-08:00

The next person who posts with photos of their finished Black Bunny project (one that hasn't been shown in finished form before) will win a Black Bunny tote bag.

Anyone? Anyone?

Worsted weight fans: Unite

2007-01-25T11:16:00.000-08:00

And come to the update tomorrow morning. I've got at least 6 or 7 batches of worsted weight yarns, including Mixed Metaphor.

For sock fans, some more superwash merino sock yarn (fingering wt.), like Reckless

And for the spinners, a few more batches of roving, like Fruit Bowl.

So there.

More whining. But the yarn is lovely.

2007-01-18T15:54:00.000-08:00

+ Feather and Fan Shawl in nice yarn. From Meg Swansen's Gathering of Lace. Nice yarn. Did I mention I will be 8 decades old when this is done? What in the fine fur of frogs was I thinking? Nice yarn.
I have reached the 94th row of a 191 rows total. Nice yarn. I will be in NY for another 84 days, lets see, rows/days...hmmn. Nice yarn. Chambord has been purchased. I believe this will definitely make this a more enjoyable process.

Sneak preview

2007-01-17T10:24:00.000-08:00

Two shots of some 70% alpaca/30% merino sportweight I dyed up last week. Next update: Thursday, January 18 at around 3 p.m. EST. I've also got some more superwash merino sock yarn that I'll list then. In the meantime, I'm back to fiddling around with a special colorway in honor of Knitty D and the City...

Gorgeous Kimono Shawl by Jeanne

2007-01-14T15:40:00.000-08:00

I got a great email from Jeanne L., who forwarded this photo

of her Kimono Shawl (from the Folk Shawls book). She knit it in 2 skeins of BBF laceweight in a smoky blue colorway called Mountain Fog. Thanks for sending in the photo, Jeanne -- it's gorgeous!

Knitting creeping at snails pace

2007-01-14T11:28:00.000-08:00

I have finally reached the 93 of 191 rows of the Feather and Fan Shawl from Meg Swansens Gathering of Lace. I am learning alot.

For instance:
Triangle or rectangular shawls are more fun in that you can hold them up to see how much more you need.

Triangle or rectangular shawls can be blocked in the wild so you have an idea of how big they will be.

Triangle or rectangular shawls make better lap warmers.

Triangle or rectangular shawls can be bailed on and still have something (albeit smaller) useful.

Round shawls on the other hand start as a pretty thing like a dreamcatcher, grow to become a kippot, move onto the size of a beret, progress to a snood, and bog down looking like a jellyfish. If I wanted to admire it or take pictures of it, I would have to fiddle with many needles or thread it onto yarn and stretch it with Many, Many pins. No bailing allowed because unless it reaches its full maturation it's too small to be useful.

Sigh. Time to go to Carols Etsy and drool.

Shipment arrived.....

2007-01-12T17:48:00.000-08:00

Just received a box full of more undyed Alpaca/Silk laceweight.... and some more superwash merino arrived, too (in a different box).
Stay tuned!

Color names

2007-01-09T14:56:00.000-08:00

My husband suggested the following color names for Black Bunny sock yarns:

Tail Fin (as in 50s 2-tone cars)
Drag Queen
Figure Skater's Eyeshadow (light blue, natch)
Goth Chick
Bouffant
Home Perm
Vinyl Flooring
Woody Wagon
Fireflies
Hairspray
Major Appliance
Tiki Room
Fuzzy Dice
Doublewide
TV Dinner
Orange Espadrille
Phillipe Floppe (he is the Frenchman who invented beach shoes)
Leisure Suit

Anyone got any other suggestions?

Arctic lace

2007-01-04T12:29:00.001-08:00

It is impossible to photograph the beauty of the BBF alpaca silk laceweight. Carol's photo below does it justice but here's one after I wound it - blurry because of the lack of flash. I'm showing it because I had some distinct ideas about what I would do with the yarn before it arrived. Then I held it. I looked at its color changes. And then it was like one of the pictures where something becomes apparent after you stop focussing. This will become the Arctic Diamonds stole. The pattern is in Interweave if you don't have the Arctic Lace book.

Crazy-ass sock yarns coming

2007-01-04T12:23:00.000-08:00

Okay, I must have been feeling a little zany, because I've got some very brightly-colored sock yarns happening:

Tie Dye;

Algae; and

Pixie Barf (that one was named by my eloquent husband).

I'll probably be updating this coming Sunday, January 7th.

Howdee from Tampa

2007-01-03T08:17:00.000-08:00

I've watched over the weeks and been quite envious of all of the lovely Black Bunny that keeps hopping up on this site. And now I'm the proud owner of some yummy fiberlicious sock yarn of my own. 1,200 yards of blues, periwinkles and purple will be used for Maude and any leftover has been called by my 11-year old son (aka the Energizer Bunny) for a new pair of handmade socks. I will definitely post with progress pictures but I leave you with the yarn next to our 13-year old cat.

Enablement

2006-12-31T12:48:00.000-08:00

Just because shetland wool isn't as "sexy" a fiber as silk doesn't mean the 90% alpaca and 10% shetland laceweight isn't gorgeous. Case in point:

Cabernet, and

Pence.

See you tomorrow at 6 p.m.!

Charcoal announces the next lucky winner:

2006-12-31T09:02:00.000-08:00

of a Black Bunny Fibers T-shirt:

Wendy G.! [Now you have something to update your blog with, Wendy...]

Just ordered more alpaca-silk

2006-12-29T05:44:00.000-08:00

I'm glad everyone was so excited about the alpaca silk laceweight. I was, too -- and I'm ordering 10+ skeins more to dye up. This weekend I'm hoping to finish dyeing some 90% alpaca, 10% shetland (Faroese shawl, anyone?) from the same mill. So there are lots of lovelies to look forward to.

Lucky morning

2006-12-28T04:35:00.000-08:00

I scored the last skein of alpaca silk laceweight this morning! I had been thinking about it all night and decided I would get it if it was still there in the morning. Why was I thinking of it all night? Because my infant son decided to be awake for a few hours during what I would normally call 'sleeping hours'. Compound this with the fact that my husband and I stayed up late to watch Syriana. I mean really, there should be a warning on DVDs for women like 'George Clooney gets his fingernails pulled out in this one girls!' In my 20's I would have relished a gritty political drama but now I'm a bit soft. So to take my mind off that scene while I wandered around jiggling a small child, I thought about what I would do with the yarn. I'm thinking the Pewter Lace Shawl from Interweave Spring 2003. (Now don't everyone run for their magazine stash! It's here.) Although I may opt for a more openwork pattern like this.

Alpaca silk laceweight? YES!

2006-12-27T15:32:00.000-08:00

I sadly read the post about the missed pink. Luckily, my tastes run into the blues and greens and I was able to nab my very own laceweight! I really need a shawl..........

Dear Carol

2006-12-27T15:10:00.000-08:00

Please make more of that pink alpaca silk laceweight! Someone just bought it right out of my etsy cart while I was trying to log in!! I hope whoever bought it will post what they make with it!

Let me tempt you

2006-12-27T04:55:00.000-08:00

with visions of some lovely 90% alpaca, 10% silk laceweight yarn. It's really lovely!

Unbelievably soft, and the silk makes it take the color beautifully. I've only got five hanks of it (each is about 10 oz/1200 yds) but I'm ordering more this week since it's such a winner. I'll be listing the five skeins tonight (Wednesday, December 27th) at around 6 p.m. (EST). I've got some other new lovelies to play with, so I'll keep you posted.

Another giveaway!

Let's end the year on a happy note: I'll give away a Black Bunny T-shirt to a random Bunnyhopper on New Year's Eve. I'll draw a name at around noon.

Thanks for your support!

Stella!!

2006-12-16T19:39:00.000-08:00

Is the tentative name of this new lovely from The Smith Island Pattern Factory.
I know, I know. I had fallen off the Black Bunny wagon for a while, but I have finally figured out what I'm doing with this massive amount of INSANELY bright yarn. It was a painful process, but I have now mastered the 36 row repeat and the repeat and I are now friendly enough that I watched movies and knit at the same time today. It will have some sort of wide pointy edging around the side and something at the top...I just don't know what yet. But I have a deadline, so hopefully I'll have a better idea tomorrow.

My Citrus Socks Are Done!

2006-12-15T09:46:00.000-08:00

Toe: Magic Cast-on from Knitty.com
Reverse Heel Flap from the Diamante Socks in the Fall 2006 Knitty
Cuff - just your regular feather and fan.

I call them my Keuka Socks since my Alma Mater's school colors were green and gold. My fellow guild members call them my superhero socks since even a speeding bullet couldn't penetrate the tight-ass gauge on the feet. We're talking 11 1/2 stitches to the inch on 0s because apparently, I hate myself. I did the cuff on 1's to help it get over my heel a bit easier. Much frogging was done throughout the evolution of these socks. I thought the yarn was cursed. I thought I was allergic to it. (Thank you Carol for being so fabulous in trying to help me figure that one out!) I still haven't decided what I think of them. I finished them on Sunday, December 10th. Right before I had to bring my beloved cat, Morris, to the vet. That afternoon, I had to say goodbye to him. What started out as a great day for socks, ended up being one of the saddest days of my life. But they sure are pretty, eh?

New colorway: Elf

2006-12-06T11:33:00.000-08:00

It would make mighty nice Christmas socks....

And the winner is.....

2006-12-05T16:04:00.000-08:00

Jocelyn G.! Jocelyn, if you want to claim your BBF tote bag, please email me at blackbunnyfibers[AT] att [DOT} net and send me your snail-mail address...

There, now wasn't that exciting?

Don't worry, I'll do another drawing before Christmas. Thanks for hopping!

Postcard from an Axe Murderess

2006-12-03T08:14:00.000-08:00

Lovely Selma -- who is most definitely not an axe murderess -- finished these lovely socks

in the colorway called "Axe Murderess." [Don't ask; it's one of those personal jokes.]

They are the Potamus (sp?) socks from Knitty.com done on size 1 needles, in BBF fingering-weight superwash.

One Down...

2006-12-01T10:30:00.000-08:00

One to go. And I'm already turning the heel on the second one. I went with a simple Feather and Fan cuff. Toe-up with the Magic Cast-on from Knitty and the heel from Diamante.

I've been through an ordeal with this yarn. I really wanted to get the pattern right for it. I frogged the first sock or parts of it several times before getting the pattern and the fit right. But I know, when all is said and done, it will be worth it and they will be one of my favorite pairs of socks yet.

Time to kick it up a notch

2006-12-01T08:32:00.000-08:00

As a gesture of appreciation for all you loyal Bunny-Hoppers, I'm going to draw a name on Sunday and give the winner a free Black Bunny Tote Bag (and maybe there will be a surprise inside...) To be eligible, all you have to do is be part of the Bunny Hop by joining the blog. I'll draw the name from the blog member list (at the right-hand side of the blog).

No Leftovers!

2006-11-28T19:51:00.000-08:00

I finished my BBF Spice Cabinet socks a couple months ago. But what to do with the leftover yarn?

Meet Swatchy McSwatchypants, part of the Travels With Swatchy project. McSwatchy was my stand-in at the family Thanksgiving this year, and it looks like he did me proud.

Candy Corn

2006-11-22T16:28:00.000-08:00

I got a lovely email from Sonja, who won a skein of Black Bunny sock yarn in the Bitchin' Mittens contest. She sent this photo:

The pattern is the Child's First Sock from Nancy Bush's Vintage Socks (a great book, by the way). Didn't she do an amazing job? She calls them her "Candy Corn" socks.

Thanks for sending in the photo, Sonja!

Stitches Harvest finished

2006-11-18T14:56:00.000-08:00

Look at my delicious fingerless gloves. In Carol's Harvest wool and nylon yarn and the Natalya pattern. It was a simple easy pattern although there are no instructions for the pinky finger.

The Black Hole of Knitting.

2006-11-14T15:52:00.000-08:00

I swear by all that is holy I am knitting diligently, if not monogamously, on the Black bunny Feather and Fan. I am up to row 80, so could some kind soul please explain why it's not getting bigger? Or send a bottle of Chambord.

Bad, Bad Bunny!

2006-11-08T14:45:00.000-08:00

Oh I must confess that I have neglected you, my lovely bunny! But the psychotic orange Black Bunny stole is complete!
And isn't Tina a lovely model? Carol was right, you can put her in any ridiculous knitted item and she just looks great. Much love to T-bone who knit the stole and helped to design it. We have decided to call it the Hunter's Safety Stole and it's now a Rosie Knits pattern! How exciting! And only one skein of the BBF lace weight.

Re-start

2006-11-07T10:44:00.000-08:00

The starry night sock yarn has finally made it back onto the needles. Well, one needle. I had originally cast on using dpns but recently found someone to teach me magic loop. Just to make it hard for myself, I cast on both socks using one needle. I'm doing the ripple weave sock pattern from the Fall/Winter VK sock special. I'm hoping the pattern will create the swirly effect I'm trying for. And maybe doing both at the same time will get me matching socks!

Score at the Stitches East 2006

2006-11-06T09:19:00.000-08:00

Look at this yumminess that I picked up at Stitches East. After much pondering and a group discussion it was decided they will grow up to be fingerless mitts. Black Bunny Harvest. It was hard though, because Shag carpet was very tempting.

Stars on Ours

2006-11-05T14:52:00.000-08:00

The hat is done

This is that Asteriod BBF I spun with a strand of tiny star beads.

I love how the yarn striped a little bit. Beads in yarn may not be your thing, but I like the wee stars to brighten up the dark days to come.

Berried Treasure

2006-11-05T09:52:00.000-08:00

I finally got off my butt and determined how I was going to handle the beautiful Berry merino sock yarn that I got from Carol.

It's always been my opinion that hand-dyed yarns do very well with raised stitch patterns and I have used several, including double moss stitch, to great advantage with these yarns.

But raised stitch patterns can be a stone bore. So I wanted something that would keep my interest, be simple enough so that the yarn was the star, and yet be a bit different.

I'll try to post a detailed stitch photo at some point. But for now, this will have to do. My one caveat with knitting with merino is that it probably won't stand up to excessive abuse. So these will be indoor socks, for sure.

But ya can't have enough of those.

Finally Restarted

2006-11-03T07:11:00.000-08:00

And we have a Toe!

I'm knitting these socks on 0s, so I foresee this project carrying me through the holidays. I've settled on a simple feather and fan cuff, as I think it will show off the yarn off the best. I love the way it's knitting up at a tighter gauge. But wow. This is the first time I've worked with 0s and they feel so tiny compared to 1s even!

Lapis socks

2006-10-31T06:41:00.001-08:00

Yay! I wasn't sure if I would finish these by the end of October, but here they are!

Yarn: 1-4 oz skein Lapis merino sock yarn

For more information on these socks feel free to drop by my blog.

More Bunny Spinning

2006-10-29T14:30:00.000-08:00

I'm putting a lot of miles on the Lendrum this fall!

My first 'novelty' yarn I'm calling 'Satellite'.This is Falkland wool, 'asteroid' colorway from Black Bunny Fibers. Spun up thick and thin chaotic with some crystals and a few tiny little glass stars. Stay tuned for the reverse sockinette hat I have planned.

I liked the Falkland wool- it's a bit toothier then some of the really fine micron wools I've been using but still soft. I liked that actually. The staple was still good for a relative novice, too. It has a slight sheen too. I'm jazzed with trying more breeds of sheep!

Bad bunny

2006-10-24T11:54:00.000-07:00

I've been a very bad bunny hopper. I've had no further progress on the Baltic Sea stole and both sock yarns have been languishing. The Starry Night made it on to dpn's before they were unceremoniously ripped out to be cast on using magic loop. But then I was trying to knit both socks from the same ball (I knew it was fast & wrong at the start but did it anyway as all fast & wrongs go). The socks were ripped out again, yarn divided, and now wait next to the needles while I try to remember how to cast on by magic loop again!

A hat

2006-10-22T19:12:00.000-07:00

Another finished black bunny project.

This was supposed to be socks, but hubby wanted a hat, so I held two strands together, and a hat is is.

It's top down, with a plain crown and 'staggering fisherman' rib on the bottom.

Feeneeshed!

2006-10-17T10:50:00.001-07:00

My BB Spice Cabinet socks are finished! I'm in bed sick today, so you will have to excuse the photo angle. At least I cropped out the pile of laundry. But anyway, the yarn is an absolute dream. I have two more skeins of BB sock yarn in my stash, calling loudly to me. I think I will call these the SLE socks (Sock Learning Experience). The sock on the right is my first-ever sock. I followed the Yarn Harlot's vanilla sock pattern. There are ladders, and a hole at the top of the gusset, and I cast on too many stitches. The sock on the left is my fourth sock (yes, another pair intervened). The ribbing is a little too short, but no ladders at all. Even better, no hole at the top of the gusset! I followed the instructions from Sensational Socks (p. 25) to pick up two stitches at the top of each gusset and then decrease them in the next round. It worked perfectly.

I did some KIP last weekend as I finished up the sock. Several people commented on the lovely colorway, and I may have found you another customer, Carol! Thank you so much for the lovely yarn. (I drool over the etsy shop on a daily basis). And thank you for letting me hop-a-long!

Charcoal F.O.!!!!!!

2006-10-17T07:13:00.000-07:00

My beautiful Black Bunny fiber (Charcoal its very self) Has been transformed into delicious Eleonora socks (from Miriam of Mimknits and Icarus fame, recently interviewed by our very own Wendy).

Loooovely yarn to knit with, as I'm sure we can all attest, and really enjoyed the pattern, too. 3 pairs of socks, so far!

(I'm wearing my socks right now, and they are perfect!)

Oh, and I've shown a detail of the yarn for deliciousness-proof.

What next?

Black Bunny Meets Merike Saarnit!

2006-10-16T06:45:00.000-07:00

Well, I'd started my socks with my Citrus Sock yarn, and well, the pattern wasn't working. So I frogged. Lucky me, my local guild brought in Merike Saarnit (former owner of Liisu Yarns) and not only did I learn how to handpaint my own yarn, but some stitch patterns to make it work. Here's my BBF swatch.

So, after an inspirational weekend, I have a few ideas kicking around and I do believe I'll be designing my own sock pattern for this yarn!

The Flying Bunny

2006-10-15T19:12:00.000-07:00

I'm hopping again! This time I pulled out my Periwinkle laceweight in those gorgeous shades of blue. I never did find a shawl pattern I like more than Icarus, so I decided to try it out to see what happened. The BBF laceweight is perfect for my new project--all I did was graduate up from a U.S. size 3 to a U.S. size 4 needle. I think I'll make fewer repeats through the main body of the shawl to make up for the larger needle. I definitely want to have enough yarn to finish the border!

FYI, I'll be incommunicado for most of the next 3 weeks, because my homeroom class and I are going on a media fast which unfortunately includes the internet. I'll post updates when I can!

Socky Goodness

2006-10-15T08:58:00.000-07:00

I have 1 and 1/2 pairs of Black Bunny sock goodness.

Falling Leaves in Kiss are finished:

That's one of my dogs, Georgia, supervising the photography.

And here's a detail of Falling Leaves. I loved the pattern, but would use a more forgiving bind-off next time. The toe-up thing was fine, but I have a sneaking suspicion that I'm a cuff-down gal.

And here is 1/2 of a pair of Pomatomus (Pomatomi?) in Lagoon. As you might know from Cookie's description of the Pomatomus pattern, it fish-inspired, so I am going for a whole aquatic theme here with the pattern and the yarn. These are for mom for Christmas before she heads off to the Keys. I am LOVING this pattern. I would absolutely make these again.

For more, including a photo of Georgia shamelessly rolling on Falling Leaves, you can check out www.gonzoknitting.blogspot.com.

Black Bunny Sweater for Dulaan

2006-10-14T01:15:00.000-07:00

I actually finished this toddler sweater two weeks ago but just got around to posting the pic on here. It's a romney blend worsted weight yarn in "Plum Jam" colorway that waited a whole month for me in the Black Bunny etsy store. As you can see, it's a simple roll cuff raglan, but I just love it. I didn't have any little ones to knit for, so I made it to send to Dulaan Project. I have enough yarn left over, too, to make a matching hat to go with it.

Finished My Hop Along Socks

2006-10-13T16:32:00.000-07:00

My Pink Lemonade socks are done. Despite taking me over a month to complete they knit up very quick (I worked on other projects in between sock 1 and sock 2). I love the colors and the yarn worked up like a dream. Details are on my blog.

Black Bunny Hop

2006-10-13T07:31:00.000-07:00

Black Bunny Hop

See below for my amateur photography of BBF "Swimming Pool" gauntlet by the actual swimming pool. As all of you fellow hoppers already know, the yarn is fabulous and the colors are lovely. I took the easy route, using the bulky weight BBF and I am thrilled with the results!

WIP: BBF HAL socks in Lapis

2006-10-12T18:42:00.000-07:00

Look! Here is proof that both there was sun in the Boston area today and that I have been working on these socks. They feel like they are moving a little slowly since they are on US Size 0s. I liked the resulting fabric so much better than on the 1s I tried at first though.

They are such a joy to work on! I have decided the color makes me think of warm caribbean seas. The pattern is really a really simple stockinette one to highlight the great shade variation. I couldn't resist the cute little "seam" of increases up the back. I think I am just gonna knit until I run out of yarn, so these will be a little taller than most of my handknit socks. That will be perfect as the New England weather gets cooler though.