Ravelry

Are you a member of Ravelry? If you knit, crochet, spin or just love yarn, Ravelry is the website for fiber lovers. Thousands of patterns (lots of them free), projects, designers and information. Free to join and oh so fun.

Our patterns are available for immediate download in our Ravelry store:

http://www.ravelry.com/people/tlcpurls

Crochet Patterns Are Here

Finally written down and ready to share.

Two new simple crochet patterns have just been added to the shop. New patterns coming soon (I promise).

Both the bear and lamb patterns are quick and easy. They use worsted weight yarn and basic crochet stitches worked in the round. Make them tonight and you'll be able to wrap them up for someone special in time for Christmas.

Pick a flower pin

Pins now available for your favorite hat or coat. Makes the perfect stocking stuffer.

Custom Orders Now Available on Felt Hats

Now you can custom order a wool hat in your favorite color. More styles coming soon. Don't forget to add a flower pin or two.

A Handspun Fan

It always puts a smile on our face when a customer lets us know they are happy with their purchases. It's been especially nice hearing from one Etsy customer who is recovering from knee surgery and crocheting up a storm. I was thrilled when she sent pictures and even more excited when she said we could post them. It's always nice to see what crafters and artists are working on.




Thanks for sharing! Happy crocheting and knitting. I'm off to do a little of that myself.

Style Your Slippers with a Flower Pin

Fall Colors

Fall Colors, apple picking, pumpkin carving, cool nights and time to knit.

All you need now is warm felted slippers, your favorite chair and soft fun yarn.

YarnCon 2011

"The Wool Purl" Booth

Slippers Available at YarnCon

New Slip-On Style Available!

Ballet Wool Felted Women's Slipper Designed by Monique

Artwork of Artyarn - don't think too hard on it

Ready, Set, Almost Time to Go

Time is ticking, roving is dying, knitting needles are flying and the wheel is spinning. We're in show mode. Getting ready for YarnCon 2011. Just a little over a month to go and we've still got lots to do. My office is looking a little like a store and my neighbors are probably wondering when the sheep will arrive. Their getting used to seeing roving and yarn drying off my deck. It's a silly sight for anyone who doesn't knit or spin, but we do what we have to.

We're getting excited about the show and can't wait for you to meet you and show you what's new.

Is it to hot to knit or think about yarn

Don't know about where you live, but here in Illinois we are having a heat wave. For most people this would probably mean, no knitting and definitely not even thinking about yarn. For me...still spinning, still knitting, still thinking about what to make. In addition to getting ready for YarnCon in September, I'm trying to remember the holidays always sneak up on me and every year I tell myself, I'll be ready, I'll be ahead of schedule. Well...it's July (near the end of July actually) and I'm sort of feeling behind so hot or not, I need to knit or that special someone I have in mind isn't going to get those great socks I imagined and my daughter's mittens will never be done in time for the snowfall.

Lots of new yarns in the shop, think about those holidays and cold days ahead.

Getting Ready for YarnCon Chicago 2011

My deck looks like a fiber shop with hand dyed roving and hand spun yarns hanging everywhere to dry. My neighbors are probably wondering what the heck it is (I don’t think any of them spin or knit). I’ve been spinning, dying and carding like crazy to get ready (like I always do, only a little bit more than usual) so I can be ready to vend at the annual YarnCon Chicago show. Besides handspuns and batts I’d like to finish up some knit cowls, dolls and bags (if time permits and I don’t sleep much). So I’m off to see what gets accomplished today.

YarnCon Chicago

September 24, 2011
11am-6pm
Pulaski Park Fieldhouse
1419 W. Blackhawk
Chicago, IL 60622
www.yarncon.com

Time to Knit

When I sat down in my chair the other night and picked up my knitting needles (yep, I stop spinning every once in awhile), I realized it was already July and I know you don't want me to say it, but Winter will be here before we know it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to rush it, I can definitely wait for it, but I know that before long, I'll be thinking, "wow it's cold where the heck did Summer go." While I'm pulling out my sweaters and sweats, I'll also be wishing I had been knitting all those warm Winter things I've been dreaming of knitting while I was just sitting in my chair thinking about what I want to make.

So I got started and I'm determined to get some of those cozy Winter items finished so that you and I will be able to enjoy them this Winter.

Today I finished up a pink and green chunky cowl with fun matching fat flower pins.

I also finished a knit purple (eggplant, I think it's called) cowl that I love, but the pictures didn't show off the color very well so I'll try to get some better shots tomorrow.

I'm also working on a intarsia cowl with great shades of heathered purples (seems to be my color of choice these days). Hope to show that off soon.

Oh and of course, a new handspun yarn finished drying today. Fun hand dyed shades of yellow and orange, spun thick and thin. "Here comes the sun."

Off to knit or spin or something like that.

Wheels Worries for Nothing

As you can tell from all the fiber pictures, I'm addicted to spinning and was in love with my wheel in a matter of days. Soon I was spinning non-stop and reading about spinning when I wasn't spinning. Suddenly one night while trying to get beads into my yarn, I realized I needed a jumbo flyer (for you non-spinners, this holds the yarn bobbins. The opening if larger so you can use bulkier fibers and add more stuff to your yarn). I couldn't wait for Christmas (this was my original thought when I got my wheel). So, I logged into "The Woolery" and with credit card in hand was about to hit the purchase now button when I realized, there is no jumbo flyer for my wheel. What! This had to be a mistake. Nope, after more clicking and a quick email I was told they don't make a jumbo blyer for the Fantasia. Oh no, this wasn't going to work. There are just to many great beads and tiny treasures tempting me. I dream of the yarn these little things can be a part of. Nope, this isn't going to work.

I'm sure I had mentioned wanting a jumbo flyer when I was choosing wheels, I'm sure I was told there would be one when Christmas rolled around. So I called the shop where I'd purchased my wheel and lucky for me, the owners are wonderful. They agreed to let me exchange if the other wheel and pay the difference (of course, the other one is a little more money, aren't they always). Yep, no questions asked they said they would, but I'd have to wait a week until they got back from a trade show in Indiana. Now, for most people this probably wouldn't be a big deal, but I'm known for not being the most patient person in the world and the thought of not being able to spin for a week with my wheel in the corner of the dining room sort of looking at me was something I didn't know if I could do. I had to do it, I had to spin. So with extra care and a lot more gently then normal I spun through the week and kept trying to decide if trading in my wheel for the other one was the best choice. After all, Kromski said they were working on making a flyer for the Fantasia, but when would it be out and what if they didn't come out with one (remember the patient thing). My wheel treadles so nice, am I making the right decision, what if the other one is even more persnickety. I went on line to read which wheel was better, which one did Kromski wheel owners prefer. No help there, everyone seemed to love their wheel and pros and cons were pretty much equal for both wheels.

Finally, it was time to decide. I cleaned off my wheel loaded it the car (belting it in even) and headed to the "Wool, Warp and Wheel." They were great and let me treadle the other wheel while they listened to me go on and on about how I love my wheel, but I'm basically nuts and need a bigger flyer now instead of when and if it comes out. While sitting there, the decision seemed easier, I had liked the way this wheel looked more than mine when I'd first looked at them, I'd thought it treadled really nicely, but I remember thinking, it's more money, I'll be good and get the less expensive one. If I would have gotten the one I'd loved more that first day I could have saved myself this little bit of worry and you wouldn't be reading all this.

So in it's travel bag (an added bonus). I brought home my new wheel and planned on having to go through that "getting to know my wheel" stage all over again. Guess what...loved it right away, love that I switched and love that this decision making process is over and I can just spin.

2011 Midwest Fiber & Folk Show

Our annual outing started at Fred's (tiny diner in the center of Grayslake, Il). We ordered the same breakfast (2 eggs, bacon crisp, country toast and coffee). Another thing we have in common. Our coffees never got refilled, but we had to go anyway...there was yarn to see.

When we got to the show, the doors had just opened and there was a line of people waiting to get in. Let me say that again, "a line of people." I said it again, because my husband can't believe we fiber lovers will drive and wait to see beautiful yarn, but we will and we will.

Of course, there was lots to see, touch and ogle over. Several booths made me want to stay move in, we got asked if we were sisters (happens to us a lot), we agreed this year there were lots of sparkles, we touched, oh so soft yarns and we dreamed of what we could make and what we wanted to do. After visiting every booth, we headed back around to pick up what we were sure we were going to take home. Well, one of us picked up several items while the other only had to grab one (if you know us, you know one of us spent a little on something necessary and the other went over her budget).

There were a lot of really nice vendors (and a crabby one) and time flew by as usual. It was a nice day with an old friend (almost like a sister to me), surrounded by some of our favorite things.

Here are some of the treasures I brought home. Can't wait to spin with them.

yummy, recycled Sari Silk

merino solids and merino/silk blend

fun multi colored carded batt & hand dyed sparkles

vintage lace, trim and hand dyed curly locks

Looking forward to our next show

Just keep spinning, just keep spinning

Spinning and spinning. Wait...there was a break in there to finish a felted bag.

Hey, what's new? We've got Lots

Lots of new items were added to the shop today. Maybe you can find a minute or two to take a peek. You'll see hand spun and hand dyed yarn. Fun fiber samplers, a couple hand spun art yarns and some sweet, yummy smelling lavender pouches. If you love fiber as much as we do, don't forget to protect your favorites by tucking a little bit of lavender in with your wool. Of course, a great old cedar chest will work too.





Visit the Wool Purl to see what else is new. Wheel is spinning, needles are flying.

Spin, Spinning, Spun

I'm a spinning fool. Can't wait to add some of my hand spun and hand dyed yarns to our Etsy shop. I'm working hard to get them just right and hope you'll see them all soon.


More spinning, dying news at: http://www.bearsbyteri.blogspot.com

Yarn in the making

A new wheel and lots of dye. Hand spun fun art yarn is in the making. Still working on getting it just right, but having fun along the way.

Always plenty to keep busy with, but still taking on something new. How about hand dyed and yummy hand painted yarns. It's a little bit like magic.