It’s Not About Then, It’s About the Here and Now

11OctApril 14, 2015 By Stephanie

The other day, I was talking to an acquaintance and, when I mentioned knitting, he said, “It’s nice to see that people still do these old-fashioned things.” And I know he meant well so I smiled and nodded but — oh! — I was cringing inside. It isn’t the first time someone’s assumed that I knit to somehow embrace old-fashionedness or history or something equally off the mark, but it never ceases to surprise me that there are people out there for whom knitting and crocheting are so unusual that the only explanation can be something to do with the past. Whaaaat?!?

But it got me thinking about why I knit (…and why I dye, for that matter). I know some knitters and crocheters do it for the finished object but that, if I’m honest, that has never been me. And I know others who do it for the creative outlet: they modify patterns to put their own mark on them, or just skip that and create designs all their own. That’s a little closer to my reasons — I’m always coming up with design ideas, but I’m just not skilled enough to turn them into patterns.

But the real reason I knit has nothing to do with being old-fashioned …and everything to do with being in the here and the now. When I pick up my needles and begin that rhythm of moving stitches from left to right, I feel everything start to slow down. My breathing slows, my thinking slows… There is something about knitting that seems to just take over the part of my brain that is always fretting, nagging, analysing and instead occupies it with the simple acts of knit and purl.

And with that most pesky part of my mind thus quietened, I find I can think clearly. I can focus. Be it on the conversation when I’m with friends or the sound of the breeze when I’m alone, knitting changes the experience. It makes it better — and that’s why I knit.

But why do I dye? Because I truly believe the world would be a better place if everyone were knitting or crocheting. I mean, c’mon, you know it, don’t you? And nothing encourages that more than having beautiful, natural yarn in gorgeous, vibrant colours. So, dyeing is sort of my way of bringing about world peace …or at least, bringing a little peace into a few people’s lives. When I dye my yarns, I’m thinking of the person it will go to, and the quiet joy they will experience as the yarn moves through their fingers and the colours change before their eyes.

Oh, and it’s because I really love colour — really really love colour. There’s always that too.

The Pau Hana KAL starts in less than a week! And our KALers are swatching their yarns, pinning their ombre and gradient inspirations, and getting ready for cast on on Oct 17!

Most of the last pre-order kits are going in the post today, so there’s time for swatching and colour-play before the start date. But if you haven’t joined us yet, you can order a Pau Hana kit for custom dyeing, and we will get it into the dyepots for you as quickly as possible so you can join in the fun! Click here for all the details!

Oh, What to Cast On?!? Ombre Mini-Skeins!

04OctApril 14, 2015 By Stephanie

I had a little dilemma last week: it was knit night, but both of my current WIPs* were at either the point of dividing for the sleeves (that’d be my Vitamin D) or joining in the sleeves (that was my The Old Man and The Sea). I knew I wouldn’t really enjoy trying to do either whilst carrying on the kind of lively conversations we always have at knit night, so I needed to cast on something that was simple and would be fun to work on while nattering the evening away.

I wandered through Ravelry a bit (…a bit? Is it even possible to wander through Ravelry’s pattern library just a bit?), and asked for suggestions on Twitter. And though I found so many gorgeous patterns, nothing was jumping out at me as the perfect knit night cast-on. Maybe, I thought with a shrug, maybe I’ll just have to deal with it and do the sleeves at knit night.

And then, as I turned to go up the stairs, I suddenly spotted the extra bundles of our first ever Ombre Mini-Skein Club parcels and instantly knew what I needed to do.

Aren’t they gorgeous? The colourway is Tranquility**, which is a mix of deep purples, red purples, and a very intriguing splash of gray-purple. I’ve loved this colourway since the moment I pulled it out of the dyepot and, yet, I’d never grabbed a skein for myself. But I suddenly thought, now that all the Mini-Skein Club parcels had gone out… why not?

I have to tell you, I think they might be even more adorable once they’re wound into teeny tiny balls. Don’t you agree?

I needed another skein for the main colour, and chose Sliver, an incredibly gentle and ethereal gray that looks stunning against the dark purples and then almost disappears into the lightest purples. I know I could have picked something contrasting for more impact (Sage? or maybe even Fizz?), but I really liked that subtle synchronicity that Sliver brought to the Mini-Skeins.

And so I cast on… Leftie by Martina Behm — the perfect simple and fun knit night project! So straight-forward and so addictive… Just increasing along one side, adding leaves on the other, and counting quick progress stripe by stripe.

And I went off to knit night a very happy girl indeed!

We are getting super excited for the Pau Hana KAL starting on October 17! A gorgeous new design by Mel of Singlehanded Knits, Pau Hana uses the SpaceCadet’s Ombre & Gradient Kits to create a casual, laid-back sweater that’s perfect for chilling out when the work day is done. And the KAL is a fab opportunity to knit it in camaraderie and support of a whole community of great knitters! Want to join us? Click here for all the details!

*in case WIP is new to you, it means “work in progress” …and I usually have a lot more WIPs than FOs (“finished object”). It’s just how I roll.

**There’s also a colourway called Tranquility Blue. It’s much the same as Tranquility but, y’know… more blue. I was just playing with different colourways one day, and came up with them and liked them both so much I decided to dye more of each. But then I got confused somewhere along the line and called them both Tranquility. Oops. So I added “Blue” to one of them. It’s confusing, I know. But better than if I hadn’t added “Blue” and just let you all join me in my confusion. Right? …Right?

Announcing… Pau Hana!

20SepApril 14, 2015 By Stephanie

I have an announcement. But before the announcement, I have a little funny story that I want to share with you. My friend Mel, otherwise known as MSkiKnits of the Singlehanded Knits podcast (you watch it, right? because, seriously, she records on the beaches of Kauai)… Anyway, Mel has been busy designing a fantastic pattern with a SpaceCadet Ombre & Gradient Kit — actually, two patterns, and here’s where the funny bit comes in… because she hadn’t named one of patterns yet, so she kept referring to as “the sweater”. But when she said that, I somehow got the wrong sweater in my mind.

So she was phoning me up and asking questions about the kits and how they would work with the pattern. And I was happily answering her questions. And sometimes it all suddenly wouldn’t seem to make any sense to me and I’d paused confusedly… or sometimes she’d pause… But then we’d get ourselves back on track and everything would seem fine again.

And then the other week, she told me that the pattern was ready for release at last. Hoorah! But as she went on to describe the details, suddenly it all started to not make sense again. And so I finally owned up to my utter confusion and said, “Hang on, Mel. What… wait, what exactly are we talking about?” And that’s when she and I suddenly realised that the entire time we’d been talking — through all those phone calls — she’d been asking about one sweater, and I’d been answering about a comletely different sweater!

*sigh* …SpaceCadet indeed.

Not to worry, the pattern is gorgeous. The yarn works with it beautifully. You’re going to love this!

And now the announcement…

This is Pau Hana

Pau Hana is a beautiful Dolman style sweater by MSkiKnits of the Singlehanded Knits podcast, designed completely around SpaceCadet Creations Ombré & Gradient Kits, to capture one of the hottest trends in colour right now.

Pau Hana is knit top down,with a beautiful center panel pattern repeated in the cuffs and bottom edge detail. Front and back panels are knit side to side in parts and joined together in the round beneath the arms. After joining, a series of decreases gently shape the sweater to flatter all figures. Upper and lower bottom arm seaming is simple and enjoyable.

The positive ease in this sweater makes it perfect…for all sizes, all layering choices, all seasons.

Want to see this sweater live? Head HERE for a peek at it on Mel on the blog and in the podcast on the beach in Hawaii at sunset!

The Pau Hana Kit

And, hey, guess what? In celebration of the pattern’s release, I’m doing a limited number of Pau Hana kits! The kits are created with Lyra, the SpaceCadet’s gorgeously sproingy sport weight, and each kit includes:

either four skeins for size XS, S, and M (32″, 34″, 36″ bust)
or five skeins for sizes L, XL, XXL (40″, 42″, 44″ bust)
a FREE copy of the Pau Hana pattern with five pages of detailed directions
an instructional video, provided exclusively with each SpaceCadet Pau Hana kit purchase, which explains how to weigh yarn, join and transition most effectively.

To buy a Pau Hana kit, click the button below and then be sure to choose a colourway option that is marked “Pau Hana” to ensure you get the pattern and bonus video.

(These kits are limited in quantity but, if we run out, I’ll open the listing to pre-orders for as many more kits as I have yarn in stock. If you click over and there are none left, be sure to come back shortly to nab one of the pre-orders!)

The KAL

And look, if a whole bunch of you are grabbing a kit and casting on, we might as well make this a party, right? So let’s turn this into a Pau Hana KAL!

The Pau Hana Knitalong is a fabulous way to knit this gorgeous jumper in the company a whole bunch of other excited and enthusiastic knitters!

You’ll be able to share your progress, get support and extra instruction on the best way to use the intriguing colour changes of the Ombre and Gradient Kits, and enjoy the camaraderie as we all work through this beautiful project together. It’s gotta be the very best way to knit — c’mon and join us!

The KAL will begin in mid-October and run for about six weeks. Each week there will be benchmark goals to help keep you on track, but you don’t have to worry — everyone can work at their own pace, and the only requirement is that your share your progress and help us all cheer each other along.

Ready to join the fun? All the updates and information will be post on the SpaceCadet’s Ravelry page. Click here to join the group, and then say hello in the Welcome thread!

I can’t wait to get started, can you? Ok, who’s in?

Take a Look: The Latest Yarn Alliance Parcel

13SepApril 14, 2015 By Stephanie

I have so much fun dyeing for the clubs that, every time I send out the parcels, I’m always itching to give you guys a sneak peek. And I think most of the current Yarn Alliance members will have received their September parcels by now, so it’s safe to share some photos.

But if you’re in the Yarn Alliance and haven’t received your parcel yet, look away now if you don’t want spoilers!

Ok, here we go… Now, normally the process of dyeing club yarns starts with the inspiration for the colourway. But this time, it came about completely differently — this time, it all started with the gift.

The Capsule (the latest addition to the KnowKnits range) was making a big splash at TNNA (read Knitty’s review of it here) and I was immediately smitten. I loved its mix of practical functionality with funky fabric and bold stitching. And I knew straight away that I wanted to create a a special SpaceCadet Capsule just for the members of the Yarn Alliance.

To my delight, Jennifer Lippman-Bruno, the owner of KnowKnits, was as excited at the possibility as I was! We discussed colours and materials, and how to personalize the custom Capsule with SpaceCadet. Finally, we decided on on a clean black and white exterior, with a pop of bright turquoise for the interior, and that feisty orange KnowKnits tag on the side.

And here’s the thing… Once those sweet little Capsules arrived, I realised I wanted to use those same colours for the yarn as well. I mixed the dyes and tested the yarn… Ker-pow! The perfect mix of bold and exciting colour!

I can’t wait to see what the members of the Yarn Alliance make with it!

The Yarn Alliance will close to new subscriptions and renewals on Mon Sept 16, and there are just a few spaces left. If you’ve been considering joining, now is the time to grab your spot! Click here to get all the details.

This is the Way Every Work Day Should Be

06SepApril 14, 2015 By Stephanie

We are leaving shortly for a weekend of shows (details below) but before I leave, I just wanted to share this with you. This week, we packed up the September Yarn Alliance parcels on what had to be one of the most beautiful days of the year. The temperature was so mild and the breeze was deliciously fresh so, instead of hiding away inside, we set everything up on the porch.

First, we built a wall of boxes at one end.

Then, we began filling them with delicious SpaceCadet Yarn Alliance yarn. This colourway is a real eye-popper — I can’t wait to hear what the members think! (The image, of course, is black and white — can’t give away the surprise)

And working there on the porch, in the dappled light and cool shade of the trees, it had to be one of the most pleasant work environments I’ve ever experienced. Oh, for every day to be like that day!

Dying to know what that colourway will look like? Only the club members will find out! But the InterStellar Yarn Alliance is open for subscriptions right now, from Sept 1 to 16. It’s a fabulous club with gorgeous yarns and lovely little gifts. We’d love to have you aboard!

We’re doing two shows this weekend. If you’re in the Central PA or Baltimore area, please come and see us. You get the yarn in person, and we’d love to meet you!

Knitters Day Out
Sept 6 & 7
Central Pennsylvania College, Harrisburg PA

PLY Party (Peace, Love, Yarn)
Sept 8
at Lovelyarns
3610 Falls Road
Baltimore, MD 21211

Plus, I’m bringing all the new stuff I’ve been experimenting with lately, including a whole bunch of Ombre Kits, Mini-Skein Kits, those fab little Zoom Looms, and some gorgeous new colourways… including this one called Firewalker.

You’ll have to be fast to grab it. Hope to see you there!

Seven Weeks Later…

30AugApril 14, 2015 By Stephanie

I’ve just gotta share this with you because, this week, we have been doing the happy dance — a lot. As you may recall, we had a slight disaster midway through the summer when a big (biiiiiiiiigggg) storm rolled in and dumped approximately 25 feet of water in 15 minutes (or maybe a little less) which completely overwhelmed our drain and so the water surged in under the door instead and partially flooded our family room. If you never saw it, all the sorry details are here.

Fortunately, the damage didn’t reach the levels of a lot of lower lying areas around us, and I was able to get most of our stuff up and away from danger, but the carpet was a complete (uninsured!) write-off. And the asbestos flooring we discovered underneath it meant that the room was wholly unusable until the carpet could be replaced.

That was seven weeks ago. Seven weeks ago. And it’s taken this long to get the room dry, the carpet ordered, and the installation booked. But on Wednesday….

…on Wednesday, THEY INSTALLED OUR NEW CARPET!!!!!!! Wooooot!!!! I know it’s only our family room we were missing but, somehow, it feels like we have our whole house back again. Things that have spent the last seven months in the wrong place are finally able to go back to where they belong. And we are able to sit in the family room again of an evening, have a cup of tea, and discuss the day just like we used to do. I know we could do that anywhere in the house, but somehow it feels so much more right now.

And all I want to do, every time I see that lovely expanse of fresh, new, clean, lovely carpet is to cheer. Hoooooooray!!!!

Speaking of cheering, here’s something to make some noise about. If you’ve been waiting for the InterStellar Yarn Alliance to reopen for subscriptions, your wait is almost over. The SpaceCadet’s premier yarn club opens this Sunday Sept 1 (actually, midnight on Saturday) until Sept 16. Spaces always go really quickly, so be ready.

And for those of you who’ve clicked here and got yourselves on the Yarn Alliance mailing list, I may just open up subscriptions a wee bit early for you. …Such are the perks of reading all the way to the bottom(!).