I'm still only halfway done winding the second kilo (curse you, fragile wrist!) but I just couldn't wait any longer to show off Pretty Rickey. This is one of my favorite colorways so far, and not just because I'm obsessed with the color peach and managed to mix very nearly my favorite shade for this yarn.
Seriously, I have several nail polishes, lipsticks, scarves, blouses, and dresses all in this color, and it was the main color for all the flowers of my wedding earlier this year. I <3 peach!
Click ahead to see previews!
Showing posts with label part deux. Show all posts
Showing posts with label part deux. Show all posts
Pretty Rickey Previews!
December 2, 2013
Now that Alaskan Ice Tea has begun its migration to freaking everywhere, it's time to look toward the new colorway mailing out January 1: Pretty Rickey!
The yarn is a soft blend of lush peach tones, from blush to light apricot, with pops of rich cherry red and bright lime green. Overall the colorway is very delicate and feminine, with the lime green providing a strong contrast that keeps the yarn from becoming too "girly" (think of the Pink Nightmare from A Christmas Story). The cocktail itself is a blend of tequila, elderflower liquer, lime juice, and muddled maraschino cherries, with a little bit of club soda to make it sparkle and fizz.
Within each shipment you will find:
If you go for the 2 month option, you will receive:
January: Pretty Rickey - pale peaches and pinks, rich cherry red, and flecks of lime
February: Tequila Sunrise - a smooth gradient of sunny yellow to orange to pinkish red
Each month is $25 for US customers, with the 2-month option being $50 - it includes everything listed above plus shipping costs. International customers, please select the international option from the drop down menu. All yarn goes out on the first of each month! Sign up soon, as only a limited number of skeins are available!
The yarn is a soft blend of lush peach tones, from blush to light apricot, with pops of rich cherry red and bright lime green. Overall the colorway is very delicate and feminine, with the lime green providing a strong contrast that keeps the yarn from becoming too "girly" (think of the Pink Nightmare from A Christmas Story). The cocktail itself is a blend of tequila, elderflower liquer, lime juice, and muddled maraschino cherries, with a little bit of club soda to make it sparkle and fizz.
Within each shipment you will find:
- 100g (approximately 463 yards) of soft, durable, and machine-washable fingering weight yarn in a blend of 75% superwash merino and 25% nylon.
- A peek into the process with dyers notes about how the cocktail's ingredients translated into the colors used, and funny anecdotes ... and, yes, me drinking the inspiration.
- Learn an interesting new technique (such as fun cast-ons and edge finishes).
- Learn to make the signature cocktail yourself - the recipe is right inside the yarn label!
- I am addicted to candy, and you should be, too. Allow me to enable you.
If you go for the 2 month option, you will receive:
January: Pretty Rickey - pale peaches and pinks, rich cherry red, and flecks of lime
February: Tequila Sunrise - a smooth gradient of sunny yellow to orange to pinkish red
Each month is $25 for US customers, with the 2-month option being $50 - it includes everything listed above plus shipping costs. International customers, please select the international option from the drop down menu. All yarn goes out on the first of each month! Sign up soon, as only a limited number of skeins are available!
Alaskan Ice Tea: Migrating everywhere for the winter
I walked into the Post Office like a bag lady, dragging 3 enormous shopping bags full of shipping boxes. I walked out of the Post Office like a goddamn ribbon dancer, trailing a receipt of tracking numbers well over a yard long.
Alaskan Ice Tea made for the best month yet, outselling even White Russian in its first month! Woohoo! White Russian does remain a favorite, though, as the best-selling yarn in stock. I guess you guys like cocktails reminiscent of cold places..?
US Customers should expect their yarn by Thursday or Friday; international customers should have theirs midway through next week.
Stay tuned for info on the January mailing of Pretty Rickey!
Alaskan Ice Tea made for the best month yet, outselling even White Russian in its first month! Woohoo! White Russian does remain a favorite, though, as the best-selling yarn in stock. I guess you guys like cocktails reminiscent of cold places..?
US Customers should expect their yarn by Thursday or Friday; international customers should have theirs midway through next week.
Stay tuned for info on the January mailing of Pretty Rickey!
November 12, 2013
After a painfully long drive up from SF to Portland yesterday, hubby and I arrived home to an extremely happy kitty. She followed us around all night, purring and demanding belly rubs, and meowed very loudly whenever one of us would leave the room. As I type, she is sitting next to me on hubby's computer chair, pretending to nap but really keeping one eye open to make sure I don't leave the house again.
While I'm being held hostage by kitty snuggles, I've updated the gallery post to include pictures of Blue!
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| She thinks I can't see her if she hides behind her tail. |
November 7, 2013
This is a first - posting photos of the yarn before giving a little summary of the dye experience. Truthfully, at this point, I'm not finding any major revelations with each dye any longer; mostly it's just small refinements of technique and resolving minor annoyances. For example, this month, one of the colors just did NOT want to go into the yarn and I wound up using twice as much dye as usual. My ball winder also committed suicide, resulting in some pretty horrific tangles that took up to five hours PER BALL to fix. But now I have an excuse to get a bitchin' new ball winder, a million times nicer than the dinky plastic one I've been using, so that's a plus at least.
Despite its resistance, this yarn turned out beautifully. The main blue is bright but cool, nearly a perfect match for the finished cocktail and reminiscent of a glacial lake. The darker blue provides a subtle lowlight, the color of an arctic sea, while the streak of lime-lemon-and-orange gradient creates an engaging highlight.
Words can't really describe it, so I'll quit wasting bandwidth and just show you some pictures. Click the cut to see more :)
November 1, 2013
Now that those cute little hanks of Blue are winging their way across the globe to their new homes, it's time to look toward the next colorway: Alaskan Ice Tea!
The yarn is mainly a cool, bright blue reminiscent of a glacial lake; a deep arctic ocean blue forms a small area of lowlight, while a streak of gradiated lime, lemon yellow, and bright orange creates a bright and lively contrast. It's like a Bob Ross winter seascape you can knit with. The cocktail itself is a variation on the classic Long Island Ice Tea, using blue curacao to give it its signature color and flavor, and a splash of lemon-lime soda to make it sparkle.
Within each shipment you will find:
As with previous colorways, only 20 will be produced in the first run. You can choose to receive just the Alaskan Ice Tea, or sign up for 3 months and get one ball of new yarn each month until February! If you go for the 3 month option, you will receive:
December: Alaskan Ice Tea - see above.
January: Pretty Rickey - pale peaches and pinks, rich cherry red, and flecks of lime
February: Tequila Sunrise - a smooth gradient of sunny yellow to orange to pinkish red
Each month is $25 for US customers, with the 3-month option being $75 - it includes everything listed above plus shipping costs. International customers, please select the international option from the drop down menu. All yarn goes out on the first of each month!
Sign up soon, as only a limited number of skeins are available!
The yarn is mainly a cool, bright blue reminiscent of a glacial lake; a deep arctic ocean blue forms a small area of lowlight, while a streak of gradiated lime, lemon yellow, and bright orange creates a bright and lively contrast. It's like a Bob Ross winter seascape you can knit with. The cocktail itself is a variation on the classic Long Island Ice Tea, using blue curacao to give it its signature color and flavor, and a splash of lemon-lime soda to make it sparkle.
Within each shipment you will find:
- 100g (approximately 463 yards) of soft, durable, and machine-washable fingering weight yarn in a blend of 75% superwash merino and 25% nylon.
- A peek into the process with dyers notes about how the cocktail's ingredients translated into the colors used, and funny anecdotes ... and, yes, me drinking the inspiration.
- Learn an interesting new technique (such as fun cast-ons and edge finishes).
- Learn to make the signature cocktail yourself - the recipe is right inside the yarn label!
- I am addicted to candy, and you should be, too. Allow me to enable you.
As with previous colorways, only 20 will be produced in the first run. You can choose to receive just the Alaskan Ice Tea, or sign up for 3 months and get one ball of new yarn each month until February! If you go for the 3 month option, you will receive:
December: Alaskan Ice Tea - see above.
January: Pretty Rickey - pale peaches and pinks, rich cherry red, and flecks of lime
February: Tequila Sunrise - a smooth gradient of sunny yellow to orange to pinkish red
Each month is $25 for US customers, with the 3-month option being $75 - it includes everything listed above plus shipping costs. International customers, please select the international option from the drop down menu. All yarn goes out on the first of each month!
Sign up soon, as only a limited number of skeins are available!
October 15, 2013
Now that the last ball of KdR is safely in the hands of its new owner (be sure to feed and water it regularly and take it for nice long walks!), I've updated the official gallery post. I'll be putting KdR as well as the other colorways from Round 1 up for sale in a shop early next month.
I've also spent the last few days dividing and skeining Blue. I'm about halfway through the second kilo now, and haven't made the labels yet, but this colorway is just too pretty not to share.
Although the cocktail for this month is called "Blue," the actual finished color of the drink is mostly a strawberry pink, a result of the pale blue of the blueberry liqueur mixing with the natural orange of the OJ. Since strawberry is also a dominant flavor in the cocktail, I made a soft pink a dominant color in this yarn. I also spent a long time experimenting with this one, trying to mix just the right shade of blue to represent the blueberry element of the cocktail, and I think I finally got it. It's a navy blue with faint purple undertones, almost the exact same shade as a ripe blueberry. The transitions between the navy blue and pink fade to this really lovely lavender color that reminds me of summer sunsets - very fitting, considering that this cocktail basically tastes like summer in a glass. I kept the orange and lemon yellow elements rather small, with a smooth gradient between them, further reinforcing that sunset feel.
Without further adieu, here are some pics of the yarn!
I've also spent the last few days dividing and skeining Blue. I'm about halfway through the second kilo now, and haven't made the labels yet, but this colorway is just too pretty not to share.
Although the cocktail for this month is called "Blue," the actual finished color of the drink is mostly a strawberry pink, a result of the pale blue of the blueberry liqueur mixing with the natural orange of the OJ. Since strawberry is also a dominant flavor in the cocktail, I made a soft pink a dominant color in this yarn. I also spent a long time experimenting with this one, trying to mix just the right shade of blue to represent the blueberry element of the cocktail, and I think I finally got it. It's a navy blue with faint purple undertones, almost the exact same shade as a ripe blueberry. The transitions between the navy blue and pink fade to this really lovely lavender color that reminds me of summer sunsets - very fitting, considering that this cocktail basically tastes like summer in a glass. I kept the orange and lemon yellow elements rather small, with a smooth gradient between them, further reinforcing that sunset feel.
Without further adieu, here are some pics of the yarn!
October 11, 2013
The second kilo of Blue is steaming away happily on my stove, and the first is nearly completely dry and should be all skeined up by Tuesday. I've said it before and I'll say it again: each time I dye yarn, I get a little bit better at it. Here are the things I've learned this time:
1. When I'm all alone in my garage, my furnace is the scariest thing ever. Remember in Home Alone, where little Kevin is terrified of going into the basement because of the monstrously terrifying furnace down there? I sympathize. Mine is a much more modern furnace, but it still roars like the bejeezus when it comes on, and therefor scared the crap out of me about 4 times.
2. Cough medicine + empty stomach + long hours of dyeing = no fun at all. I mentioned before that I'm getting over a cold, and was still all hopped up on Dayquil while dyeing the first kilo. I don't really feel hungry when I'm sick, so I guess I hadn't eaten enough that day because I started to get super dizzy and nauseous. Miraculously I managed not to cough, sneeze, or vomit on any of the yarn. You're welcome.
3. There is a new love in my life, and his name is navy blue. I am totally in love with the dark blue used in this month's colorway. Some blues get so dark you can't tell what they are, but this maintained its blueness very well even in the darkest areas. It also fades beautifully into this lovely twilight lavender color, which made for some really cool transitions into the strawberry pink. I'm considering dyeing a few balls of worsted yarn with this dye and making a blanket or something.
4. Some of these colors change dramatically when they hit the yarn. That same blue above looks positively purple when it first touches the yarn; similarly, the berry pink starts off with a strong orange undertone. But both of these colors change significantly after a few moments. I don't know if it's a reaction with the protein fibers, or maybe with the acid agent, but it's really cool to watch. It's also why you ALWAYS DO SWATCHES. Because the color of the powder doesn't equal the color of the dye, which doesn't equal the color on the yarn, which doesn't always equal the FINISHED color on the yarn.
5. The more I like a color, the more of it winds up all over me. My nails have navy blue dye under them, my forearms are stained blue, and there's even some in my hair. I have no idea how any of this happened, but I'm okay with it.
I'll be updating the gallery post on Monday with pictures of Kir de Reddit (which all US customers have received by now), and then stay tuned for preview pics of Blue!
1. When I'm all alone in my garage, my furnace is the scariest thing ever. Remember in Home Alone, where little Kevin is terrified of going into the basement because of the monstrously terrifying furnace down there? I sympathize. Mine is a much more modern furnace, but it still roars like the bejeezus when it comes on, and therefor scared the crap out of me about 4 times.
2. Cough medicine + empty stomach + long hours of dyeing = no fun at all. I mentioned before that I'm getting over a cold, and was still all hopped up on Dayquil while dyeing the first kilo. I don't really feel hungry when I'm sick, so I guess I hadn't eaten enough that day because I started to get super dizzy and nauseous. Miraculously I managed not to cough, sneeze, or vomit on any of the yarn. You're welcome.
3. There is a new love in my life, and his name is navy blue. I am totally in love with the dark blue used in this month's colorway. Some blues get so dark you can't tell what they are, but this maintained its blueness very well even in the darkest areas. It also fades beautifully into this lovely twilight lavender color, which made for some really cool transitions into the strawberry pink. I'm considering dyeing a few balls of worsted yarn with this dye and making a blanket or something.
4. Some of these colors change dramatically when they hit the yarn. That same blue above looks positively purple when it first touches the yarn; similarly, the berry pink starts off with a strong orange undertone. But both of these colors change significantly after a few moments. I don't know if it's a reaction with the protein fibers, or maybe with the acid agent, but it's really cool to watch. It's also why you ALWAYS DO SWATCHES. Because the color of the powder doesn't equal the color of the dye, which doesn't equal the color on the yarn, which doesn't always equal the FINISHED color on the yarn.
5. The more I like a color, the more of it winds up all over me. My nails have navy blue dye under them, my forearms are stained blue, and there's even some in my hair. I have no idea how any of this happened, but I'm okay with it.
I'll be updating the gallery post on Monday with pictures of Kir de Reddit (which all US customers have received by now), and then stay tuned for preview pics of Blue!
October 9, 2013
And you guys are gonna love it. It took me way longer than usual to dye the first kilo - because no amount of cough medicine is helping at this point - but it was definitely worth it. The first kilo is drying over the bathtub right now, and I'm hoping to finish the second one this week so I can put up preview pics on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Now back to my blanket cave and kitty snuggles.
Now back to my blanket cave and kitty snuggles.
October 1, 2013
With Kir de Reddit sent on its merry way, it's time to open up subscriptions for the first colorway of Part Deux: Blue!
As was the case with Part One, your shipment will consist of:
Each month is $25, with the 4-month option being $100 - it includes everything listed above plus shipping costs. International customers, I'm afraid shipping costs have gone up recently so it's no longer feasible for me to cover the difference in shipping costs; please choose the international option from the drop down menu.
Despite its name, this cocktail is actually a fruity strawberry pink, which will be featured strongly in the yarn. There will also be a large swathe of deep blueberry and highlights of lemon and orange. This yarn is a nice balance between dark and light, making it perfect for simpler lace and cable patterns that show off the yarn without overpowering the stitch.
Sound good? Great! Here's the button!
As was the case with Part One, your shipment will consist of:
- 1 100g skein (approx 464 yards) of hand-painted yarn in a colorway inspired by the cocktail of the month. The yarn is a fingering/sock weight in a 75/25 blend of superwash wool and nylon that is SUPER soft but has enough strength to make for a good sock. And because it's superwash, it's machine washable, which was a must for me as I was shopping for yarns. (I loathe and despise handwashing.) The yarn compares most favorably to KnitPicks Stroll Fingering.
- Dyers notes about how the cocktail's ingredients translated into the colors used, and funny anecdotes about the dyeing process which, yes, includes me drinking the inspiration.
- Instructions for an interesting technique (such as fun cast-ons and edge finishes).
- The recipe for the inspirational cocktail, which will be printed on the yarn label.
- I am addicted to candy, and you should be to. Allow me to enable you.
The cap remains at 20 subscribers per month. You can choose to get one month at a time or sign up to receive one ball of yarn each month until February! If you choose to sign up for the 4-month option, you'll receive packages for:
November: Blue - see description below
December: Alaskan Ice Tea - aqua blue with highlights of pale yellow, lime green, and bright orange, and a bit of darker blue thrown in for fun.
January: Pretty Rickey - pale peaches and pinks, rich cherry red, and flecks of lime
February: Tequila Sunrise - a smooth gradient of sunny yellow to orange to pinkish red
Each month is $25, with the 4-month option being $100 - it includes everything listed above plus shipping costs. International customers, I'm afraid shipping costs have gone up recently so it's no longer feasible for me to cover the difference in shipping costs; please choose the international option from the drop down menu.
Despite its name, this cocktail is actually a fruity strawberry pink, which will be featured strongly in the yarn. There will also be a large swathe of deep blueberry and highlights of lemon and orange. This yarn is a nice balance between dark and light, making it perfect for simpler lace and cable patterns that show off the yarn without overpowering the stitch.
Sound good? Great! Here's the button!
September 29, 2013
Hey everyone. Sorry for the lack of updates this week but I was dealing with a personal matter. I'm back now, just in time to remind you that there's less than 36 hours left to sign up for Kir de Reddit! Shipments will be going out first thing on Tuesday, October 1, which means that orders for it close at 11:59 pm on September 30 - TOMORROW!
To make sure you get yours, either click the "buy now" button at the top of the blog or head on over to THIS POST. Preview images (if you don't mind spoilers!) can be found HERE. There are still 11 unclaimed skeins - won't you please give them a good home?
This is also your last chance to get 5% off when you sign up for Round Two of the Tipsy Sheep yarn club. This subscription will run for four months (from November through February) and includes colorways inspired by Blue, Alaskan Ice Tea, Pretty Rickey, and Tequila Sunrise cocktails. Signup info can be found HERE. As of October 1, the price goes back to $100, so act fast! Still 16 spots left!
To make sure you get yours, either click the "buy now" button at the top of the blog or head on over to THIS POST. Preview images (if you don't mind spoilers!) can be found HERE. There are still 11 unclaimed skeins - won't you please give them a good home?
This is also your last chance to get 5% off when you sign up for Round Two of the Tipsy Sheep yarn club. This subscription will run for four months (from November through February) and includes colorways inspired by Blue, Alaskan Ice Tea, Pretty Rickey, and Tequila Sunrise cocktails. Signup info can be found HERE. As of October 1, the price goes back to $100, so act fast! Still 16 spots left!
August 28, 2013
I'm just about to start dyeing the final colorway, Kir de Reddit, and if the samples are any indication, this is going to be an awesome yarn. I'll be posting details for it after the White Russian mailing goes out, but I thought this would be a good opportunity to introduce the next round of Tipsy Sheep subscriptions!
Based on the voting post, the cocktails you all most want to see made into yarn are the Alaskan Ice Tea (7%), Tequila Sunrise (7%), Blue (6%), and Pretty Rickey (6%). So congratulations, you've just picked the four colors for the next round of yarns! This one will run from November through February with mailings on the first* of each month, on the following schedule:
November: Blue
December: Alaskan Ice Tea
January: Pretty Rickey
February: Tequila Sunrise
As with the first run, you'll be receiving 100 g (463 yards) of 75/25 superwash merino/nylon fingering weight yarn, as well as a few juicy extras like dye notes, instructions for fun techniques, and tasty treats to snack on while you're working up the yarn!
Seeing as how the first mailing of the new run won't be until November, I thought I'd give you loyal readers a chance to get in on it early AND save a little money doing so. Normally, each individual month is $25: $20 for yarn and $5 to cover shipping costs. (This is already a discount, since when the yarns hit the Etsy shop they'll be going for $22 plus shipping.) So a four month subscription would be $100. However, for early subscribers, the cost will be $95, which is either free shipping one month or 25% one ball of yarn, however you prefer to think of it.
The normal $100 cost will return when the month-to-month option becomes available again in October, so if you're sure you want all four colorways, please sign up now! There are currently 16 slots available. Here's da button:
Tipsy Sheep Part Deux: Four Months!
* First non-Sunday, non-US holiday day of the month. So the actual mailing schedule will be November 1, December 2, January 2, February 1.
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