M a d e l i n e T o s h

a fiberlicious plate of wafers

Here is my donation to the new fiberlicious friday. A delcious little plate of wafers, that is hand-dyed sock swatches.

I loved the purl bee's sweet idea of the calla coasters so much, I incorporated it as a pattern for swatch samples. I think they turned out so very yummy.

They truly remind me a bit of a ferris wheel at a carnival...

And the wonderful result of a swap with megan, some gorgeously scented pure soap bars with, lavender, lemongrass, clove, ginger, citrus... and so much more in the way of wafting scents. I promise I have washed my hands more times today than I have in the last few days combined.

And of course some more tomten progress...

i know you are probably most sick of seeing this thing but i am really enjoying it so very much!

tomten and toadstools

So I have cast on for the wee's tomten (it seemed only appropriate since he so loved this tomten from the library book) while waiting for more yarn to arrive for the hiker's waistcoat.

I grabbed a favorite sweatshirt of wee's and measured the circumference on it to be about 28 inches. So I worked up a gauge swatch, cast on 112 sts to some size 7 addis and have had trouble putting this thing down ever since.

I started with the Marr Haven wool at the border and then just started picking up different colors as I went along.

I ordered some Beaverslide Dry Goods yarn in greens, blues and a deep bison brown for a completely different project but they worked their way into the tomten very quickly. A strip of a leftover handspun single left on the bobbin, a few rows of various tweeds and did I mention I cannot put this thing down.

I cannot say enough good things about Beaverslide Dry Goods yarns, so incredibly soft and such crunchy, granola, earthy colors that just melt together like a landscape when blended.

MMmmm and for the i-cord trim. I spun up this wee skein of toadstool handspun from this South African fine roving, my first time spinning this stuff and it is so great to work with, very soft, yet easy to draw with a nice, long staple length.

..

and the wee skein...

Solstice and a Waistcoat

Today is the longest day of the year and the shortest night. It seemed a perfect reason to share this picture of wee's new blanket. He received this from his Nana for his birthday. It is so very soft and creamy being pure superwash wool.

And an update on the waistcoat.

I am a bit farther along than this as my new skeins arrived in the post today. I know I should purchase all of the skeins for a project up front, but being so indecisive I like to buy a skein to swatch with first and then if I love the outcome return for more.

This yarn is so heavenly and soft, a soothing knit as it indulges your fingers gliding thru so softly.

I am smitten by this yarn. The hint of lavender against the pale fawn base is so different and beautiful in the daylight.

...a simple and easy pattern and one I am enjoying every minute of.

Oh and this arrived today as well.

free = good so good must = free!

A link to a downloadable pdf file is now available for both the simple sock and afterthought sock patterns.

You can find the links here or on the madtosh site here.

The Dimpled Sock pattern will be available at madtosh online soon and while your visiting check out all of the new retailers! Whew!

Enjoy!

xo,

amy

One Planet Yarn and Fiber

I sent a boat load of fiber batts to One Planet Yarn and Fiber as well as some sock yarn last week. Run over there if you like and check these darlings out!

xo,

amy

Hiker's Waistcoat

So the newest obsession is Pemaquid. I have been eyeing this pattern for a good while now. At TNNA I was actually able to see two knit samples at The Fibre Co's booth and squeeze all of the different colorways of the Pemaquid yarn.

The toasted lavender colorway was so simple and stunning and the pattern samples were wonderfully minimalist and functional.

So here is the pattern, a toasted lavender yarn cake and the perfect linen notion's case, handsewn by Nancy.

It is raining again, so unusal for Texas, but very welcome. I am speeding through the back of this sweater and love the seed stitch edgeing and the way the shaping takes place at the center of the row.

Off to knit now. Wee and John Henry are asleep and coffee is ready...

Disparity

I watched a movie tonight.

And I read a book yesterday.

Both have disturbed me. I have felt disturbed before by the subject matter covered in the book and visualized in the movie. But tonight is different.

It is different because I am angry, and it is different because I want to do something about it.

The movie? The Last King of Scotland

The book? Disposable People

My answer? Donate, help, do something - anything.

I have added a sidelink to what I feel is a worthy organization with a noble goal, a goal I want to be a part of.

I am not asking for anyone to be a joiner. I am not asking for a full fledged donation effort. I am just uploading a link, posting about a book, highlighting a movie and making a small donation, all the while wishing as so many others do, that I could do more!

But I did something, and that has made all of the difference for me tonight. After all, the future is in his hands, right?

xo,

madelinetosh

Anja's Socks

So I sent a skein of Vintage Apron, merino sport to my dear friend Anja and this is what I received in return. Just plain top-downers worked on 60 sts with the old reliable heel flap and nicely rounded toes but I love them in a way that may be slightly illegal.

She does such beautiful work that I had to slip these on in bed, if only to stare at them a bit.

Oh and that is fish that you see above. My feet standing inside wee's kiddie pool for the pic. The aquamarine just matched so perfectly and yes I always clean it out before he swims in it! I guess it isn't the wisest decision to store it under the oak tree.

Chamomile and Sizing

This has now become

this:

and this:

Pardon the grainy pics and the goosebumpy leg on the last one. Hey it was raining and cold and it is really hard to take a pic of your freakin feet!

(the sock yarn is madtosh in the chamomile colorway and the pattern is called dimpled socks set to become available to one and all shortly!)

Now to work on a mate for this wee sock for a newborn to be.