3.. 2… 1… Launch the SpaceCadet’s InterStellar Yarn Alliance!

14MarApril 14, 2015 By Stephanie

I have been looking forward to writing this post for weeks — no, months. This started as a little kernel of an idea just before Christmas and I have spent the last few months coming up with ideas, making plans… and getting just so excited!

So, I am very very pleased that this day as come at last. Because today is the day that we launch…

If you like SpaceCadet yarns, then you’ll love being a member of the InterStellar Yarn Alliance! Each member will receive an exciting parcel delivered every other month containing:

SpaceCadet Creations^TM yarn (light to medium weight) in an exclusive Yarn Alliance colourway (guaranteed not to be offered on the SpaceCadet website for at least 6 months)
A great Yarn Alliancegift tucked into every parcel!
The SpaceCadet’s Log exploring the inspiration for each colourway.
An InterStellar Yarn Alliancegroup on Ravelry where you can discuss WIPs, ask questions, and share FOs with fellow Yarn Alliance members.
A 15% off coupon every six months

Subscriptions open today and will be available only until March 31. You can subscribe for either 6 months (3 parcels) at $125 or for 12 months (6 parcels) at $235, and parcels will be sent out in late April, June, August, October, December, and February.

I hope you are as excited as I am! It’s going to be great fun, so please come join Yarn Alliance. I can’t wait for you to be a member!

The Yarn for Today

08MarApril 14, 2015 By Stephanie

Today, I am not feeling well. It is a day for tea, and warm socks, and curling up on the couch, being quiet, and breathing slowly. Today is this yarn…

sock yarn, yarn, hand-dyed, handdyed, wool, knitting, crochet — Stella Yarn in Spare Change

But outside, Spring is picking up pace. The last of the snow is clinging on, but it is a futile effort. It’s warm today, almost balmy. The robins are pecking determinedly amid the freshly revealed grass, and the squirrels have appeared to bounce joyfully again from tree to tree. And the flower beds are filled with proud green shoots as the crocuses awaken after their long sleep. Oh yes, spring is on it’s way, and I predict a riot! So really, this yarn is today…

yarn, sock yarn, handdyed, hand-dyed, knitting, crochet — Stella Yarn in Snorkel

Different yarns for different moods, different colours for different days… No one colourway will ever suit every moment. Is it any wonder knitters end up with such wonderful stashes?!?

yarn, sock yarn, knitting, crochet, hand-dyed, handdyed — (l to r) Celeste Yarn in Cold Flame and Funky Ballet Shoes, Estelle Yarn in Cold Flame

SpaceCadet Creations at Homespun Yarn Party on March 27

01MarApril 14, 2015 By Stephanie

You know what? We had so much fun, we’re doing it again!…

SpaceCadet Creations will be at the Homespun Yarn Party in Savage MD on March 27! This is a fantastic, juried show that features only indie fiber artists and hand-crafters. But this is no local craft show — the standard is very high and it is such an honour to have been chosen to participate!

If you’ve ever wanted to see SpaceCadet colours in person, or to snorgle the yarns and stroke the fibers, and you live anywhere in the WashingtonDC/Baltimore area or the surrounds, please do make the trip Savage. We’d LOVE to meet you! And you’ll have a great time!

hand-dyed, handdyed, knitting, yarn, spacecadet, space cadet, silk, BFL — Left to right: Silk/BFL Yarn in Straw Into Gold, Plumberry, and Heartthrob

And, in case you’re thinking that March 27th feels like a loooong time away, I’ve put some wonderful new yarns in the shop. This time, I’ve focused on luxury: wonderful, smooshy Luna Laceweight and some decadently shimmery Silk & BFL. Enjoy!

hand-dyed, handdyed, yarn, lace weight, silk, merino, knitting, crochet — Clockwise from top left: Luna Silk/Merino Laceweight in Straw Into Gold, Translucence, Spice Trade, and Covetous

Ahhh! Now This Feels Good…

18FebApril 14, 2015 By Stephanie

Getting ready for the Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet Festival was great fun (and exciting, and crazy, and chaotic) and it took over my life for a few weeks. And in a way, that was a lovely break — everyone needs a change from their day-to-day routines now and again — but one thing I really missed was the excitement of putting new yarns in the shop, of sharing new colourways with my customers. Sometimes, it takes a little break like that to remind you how nice your day-to-day really is!

So last night I filled the shop with just a few of the mountain of new yarns and colours I have ready to go in…

Clockwise from top left: Silk and BFL in Spice Trade, Celeste in Cove, Estelle in Sunshine, Estelle in Goodbye Blue Sky, Celeste in Rubble, and Celeste in First Love

Ahhhhh… It feels soooo good to be back to normal again!

Pattern Roll-Call: Trifecta Perfection

02FebApril 14, 2015 By Stephanie

There’s snow on the ground and ice on the way, and the wind is bitter and cruel. I think no month can be called Deep Winter more than February, and it takes all our woolly armory to stave off the cold.

So when I saw the Sweetly Worn trio by Natalie Selles, I knew I had to show it to you. I mean, it caught my eye first because of the way it will show off a hand-dyed variegated yarn so beautifully by alternating it against contrasting solid yarn. And I love that the stripes travel across the fabric to form intriguing shapes and angles.

But today,on this cold, grey, snow-locked February day, I think I just really love the fact that this is a complete set — hat, shawl, and mitts — that will go a long way toward keeping this bone-chilling winter at bay.

I think this pattern would look wonderful with a deep, wintery colourway such as this Celeste in Stewed Cranberries (which went into the shop today) or Estelle in Spice Trade:

sock yarn, yarn, knitting, hand-dyed — Celeste in Stewed Cranberries, Estelle in Spice Trade

Or, if you are looking out at the snow and find yourself in need of a boost of bright summery colour, perhaps you could try these zesty yellows and greens that I’ve just put into the Dept of Rocket Science:

knitting, yarn, sock yarn — Estelle and Stella in Dept of Rocket Science 110120-010

Forgetting Everything, Except This..

25JanApril 14, 2015 By Stephanie

There is a mountain of laundry in the family room waiting to be sorted — seriously, a mountain. And a mountain of dirty dishes collecting in the sink. I suspect there are a few bills I’ve forgotten to pay too… Real life has come to a complete halt while I get ready for the upcoming Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet show, and there are a lot of things that are getting pushed to one side — or getting forgotten altogether! — while that happens.

But while I’ve been dyeing at rate to make my head spin, you’ll be pleased to hear that one thing I haven’t forgotten is… to grab some of that yarn and put it in the shop for you guys!

IMG_2054 (Large) — Stella Fingering Weight Yarn in SeaFoam

IMG_2082 (Large) — Stella Fingering Weight Yarn in WinterBerries

IMG_2066 (Large) — Stella Fingering Weight Yarn in Plumberry

And just because it’s flippin’ FREEZING out there, I’ve included some Astrid DK too, which is incredibly soft and smooshy — perfect for lovely warm hats and gloves. Stay warm, everybody!