Spring Is Here

It has been a warm day, today...73 degrees, by my calculations (weather bug;-)) And just look at my child...t-shirt and shorts. You can't see the bare feet! I walked around outside just to take in the fresh air...so nice!











This has been my little project, today....

This is from the new Crochet Noro Book. Definitely worth every penny, a feast for the eyes.  I'm not really making anything from it yet. Just trying out a few stitches. This is Noro Taiyo Sock in color #30.  I think it should have a name, though, like Iris and Daffodil...that's what I'm calling it.  So pretty...pure stitching magic!

CGOA National Crochet Month

A very warm welcome to Angelarae Knits! I'm Angela and have been crocheting for 16 years now and knitting for about 12.  I love to design and teach the needle arts! I am currently a crochet instructor at the uber-fabulous Downtown Knits in Apex, NC.  If you live in the Raleigh area, you must come by! You won't be sorry:0)

As a member of CGOA, I am thrilled to participate in this years NatCroMo Blog Tour, hosted by Crochetville. You can find all the blog links for this year's tour, here.  In honor of National Crochet Month, please consider donating to our sponsored charity, Project Night Night. This wonderful organization exists to provide bedtime care packages to homeless children across the country. They accept crocheted and knitted blankets as donations, so get stitching!

I would also like to offer a free pattern which I have designed especially for this event.  If you have read my blog before, you know I love to spin on a drop spindle.  Usually, I spin fine to super fine singles with wool or mohair and ply using the Andean method. In honor of CGOA and National Crochet Month, I spun up some soft wool top in a beautiful ocean green for my offering today, Handspun Baby Socks.

Fiber: Merino Top from Unplanned Peacock
Spindle: Top Whorl
Spun: Z
Plied: Andean method - S
WPI: 20 (sport)
Hook: D-3 3.25mm
Gauge: 6 sc and 6 rows = 1 inch
Size: 0-3 Months

*Commercial sport weight or baby yarn should be fine for this pattern.




Please use this link to download your free pdf as my 'Thank You' for stopping by.  I hope you enjoy these!  As with any of my patterns, feel free to contact me with questions or issues (or, just to say 'Hi')  I am available to you in the following ways.
Twitter: @yarnmaniac
Facebook: Angela Whisnant
Ravelry: Angelarae63
Email: arwhisnant@gmail.com

By the way, if you haven't stopped by Andrea's, LeAnna's, or Donna's, head on over. Next up, Andrea and Renee!

Lubina

Just wanted to share a picture of the Lubina Wrap, by Mary Beth Temple, that I crocheted for Downtown Knits Beginner Shawl class.  This was worked up with Manos Silk Blend and has such a wonderful drape. Honestly, it feels like I'm wearing velvet...

Forgive Me For Geeking Out....

...but I can't get over how much fun it is to create your own yarn from a large 2 oz. piece of lovely, creamy white, wool roving. I spun this clockwise (z twist) on my drop spindle and am not plying but knitting with it as a single. It is smooshy, and springy and I love it! The pattern pictured is the Swallowtail Shawl by Evelyn Clark, knitted with a size 4 circular.

Spinning...

I finally have about 100 yds on my spindle and I am itching to knit something with these singles. I was aiming for socks, so I cast on a pair...

But this yarn is too fine for socks. I spun this by pulling a long strip lengthwise from this fiber. I think I'll pull another strip just like it, spin the same and ply them, but opposing color direction to see what I get....  More later:0)

My Cup Overfloweth....

Here are some socks I've been working on for my husband.  He has short, but very wide feet, so I always end up making his socks a little longer than one might think they should be...

Next up...Some gorgeous BFL from Woolgatherings, with my new drop spindle from Spindler's Cottage.  I am loving both!!

And, finally,  a wrap for Downtown Knits. This is for a project class I am teaching in a few weeks. I'll show that off, here, when it is finished:0)

Just look at all this lovely, lovely yarn...better get to it!