This was really meant to be a post about my favorite tools in the studio, but it’s turned into something more. In fact, you should probably just click away now. Thanks.

I was all prepared to tell you about these measuring spoons.

I have been through every type and brand of readily available measuring spoons before settling on these. Once I found them, I bought five sets. 

Really, just click away now.

My spoons of choice are heavy stainless steel, and they’re pressed from one piece, rather than having the handle attached to the bowl separately. The lack of a join means the spoon sets last much longer, as there’s less to break apart.  I also love that this set has a 1/8 tsp measure on it. Before I found these, I had to switch to a separate set of spoons designed to measure tiny quantities when I wanted to add 1/8 of a teaspoon of something.

Over the course of a dyeing day, the spoons endure considerable hardship. For example:

1. The spoons are being exposed to corrosive citric acid. Yes, citric acid comes from citrus fruit. It’s concentrated vitamin C powder. But it’s corrosive nonetheless.

2. The spoons are being tapped and banged constantly. My assistants  love it. They love the banging. They adore it, in fact. The sound of a spoon hitting fiberglass is so melodious, so easy on the ears, that I’m thinking of recording myself doing this and giving it as a holiday gift. They beg for more.

But I have a good reason.  Let’s say a dye recipe calls for 1 Tablespoon of color X, two teaspoons of color Y, and 1/4 teaspoon color Z. When I’m done measuring out 1 Tablespoon of color X, I tap the spoon against the side of the sink while I’m finding color Y. This gets rid of the little droplets clinging to the interior of the bowl and then allows me to switch to the teaspoon to measure color Y.

If I don’t tap the spoons, I run the risk of the little droplets from color X falling into the dye solution of color Y, which is a big no no no no no. No. The sky would fall. Handbaskets would proceed directly to hell.

I know you’re probably thinking, “Why don’t you just rinse the spoons?” And the answer is, I do. But if I had to rinse the spoons after every single color, even when I’m switching from one size spoon to the next, it would waste an incredible amount of time and water. It might take five seconds, but five seconds after every color adds up significantly when you’re dyeing at the volume that I am.

3. The spoons are being dropped all day long. On purpose. I use large washtub sinks in the studio.  When I’m done mixing a color, I just drop my spoons to the bottom of the sink. To gently place them somewhere would also eat up time over the course of the day. Placing them gently at the bottom of the sink results in exactly the same thing as dropping them to the bottom of the sink: the spoons end up at the bottom of the sink.

Also, my employees love it. If I’m not dropping the spoons frequently enough or loudly enough, they remind me to speed up the rate of dropping and banging, because their ears are craving more. Actually, I’m just pretending that these things are saving me time. In reality, I’m doing it for them. I’m a good boss.

The only thing I don’t like about this spoon set is the bead ring that connected the spoons. It tangled on itself when exposed to my abuse, so I took it off and put the spoons on a run of the mill binder ring. The binder rings do rust and have to be changed periodically, but it’s a small price to pay. By the way, I bought my spoons at The Container Store.

These brushes have painted about 10,000 skeins of yarn. All for $3 at Home Depot.

Yes, ma’am.

The old grey mare, she ain’t what she used to be.

I am very particular about my gloves. They have to be thick enough to protect my hands from the extremely hot water and steam we use, but thin enough to allow me to wield brushes and measuring spoons, and to feel the differences in yarn. They have to be roomy enough to not be constricting, but not so loose that they fall off. They have to protect my wrists and hands, but not impede my range of motion.

People were constantly stealing my gloves, and I could never find both and a right and a left glove that fit and were dry inside.  I tried putting my initials on the gloves, to no avail. I ended up with six gloves for one hand and none for my other.

I decided that I need to employ the tactics of Dwight K. Schrute.

Dwight Schrute is a character on the TV show The Office. Dwight believes himself to be an expert in surveillance and is constantly seeking power, but is very gullible and often falls for the pranks of others in the office. Here he is with his calculator ensconced in Jello.

I took matters into my own hands.

It was the Dwight thing to do.

In fact, I feel confident that if Dwight worked in a yarn studio and faced this situation,  this is exactly how he would react.

Perhaps I’ve been watching a few too many episodes.

Someone would then purposely use AND lose his gloves, and Dwight would be forced to set up a ridiculously uncovert mission to discover who was using and losing his gloves.

It may have been a Dwight thing to do, but it was necessary.

And this is a truly useful gift you can enjoy for an entire year. Unlike some of the gifts you’ll undoubtedly acquire.

It’s not a used stuffed animal (I’ve received one of those.)

It’s not a 1970s-era painting of a donkey with a broken frame (My husband has received one of those.)

It’s not a book you’ve already read and own the sequel to. (Ahem.)

It’s not a DVD box set that you really wanted and it was on sale, and so you bought it right before Christmas and wrapped it up for your husband, knowing you would be able to reap the benefits of the gift. Only to find that your husband had the same idea, leaving both of you with the exact same thing. (Sigh.)

There are many things this gift is not.

A used stuffed animal, no.  Although it does have some animal-related dates already penciled in. Like the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. 

The calendar is a full color beauty with yarn pictures and descriptions of many indie dyers. Each month, you’ll be treated to a new feast of color, and you’ll also like knowing that your purchase is doing good in the world.

Three dollars from the sale of each calendar goes to Doctors Without Borders, an amazing and highly rated charity.

The calendar was featured in the winter edition of Interweave Knits, and I should let you know that a finite number of calendars were printed. Once they’re sold out, they’re gone. You can order yours here, at
Year in Yarn.

If you get one, we can look at the same calendar together each month. And isn’t that really the gift you’ve always wanted? I mean, REALLY?

So. Get one for a knitter on your list. Get one for a Christmas swap partner. Get one for yourself. Feel good about your gift because your money is going to charity. Feel good about your gift because you’re supporting indie dyers. Feel good about your gift because you’ll feel good looking at this calendar all year.

Year in Yarn.

P.S. Year in Yarn is being sold from Canada (but still arrives very quickly to other destinations). Keep in mind that prices on the site are in Canadian dollars. As of this writing, the Canadian dollar is worth 94 cents in the US. Here’s a currency converter, if it helps you. XE currency conversion

It’s time to announce our Most Wonderful Time of the Year Giveaway winners!

I asked Random.org to select a number for our first prize, two skeins of Glacier on Springvale DK.

It just #159, a comment from Tola.

(Happy soon-to-be anniversary!)

Our next giveaway item included two skeins of Wild Strawberries on Wexford Merino Silk.

Random chose #34 this time.

The winner is Ingrid!

The next prize was for a skein of Alchemy on Glenhaven CashMerino Fingering.

Let’s see who Random chose…

Ashley! You won!

The next prize is for two skeins of Skye on Kells Sport.

And the winner is…

Ivy!

And finally, one skein of I Need More Coffee Marigold, dyed on Glenhaven Cashmerino Fingering.

#184! You won!

Kelly, congratulations! And congrats on your impending arrival.

If you didn’t win, I’m sorry. It’s part of my nature to feel a ping of sadness for the people who didn’t win a contest. I hope you’ll keep entering our contests, and hope that someday Random will choose you too.

Have a wonderful Hanukkah, Christmas, Solstice, and New Year, everyone!

I love this time of year. I love everything about December: cold weather, the possibility of snow, the short days that necessitate family time in the evenings, the glowing lights, the hope of the approaching new year.

We had snow in Washington, DC over the weekend. Snow only happens a few times a year and only lasts for a few days, but children love it. They will try to go sledding and build snowmen with the paltriest of dustings.

Christmas. Hanukkah. The Winter Solstice. They’re all coming soon. In that spirit, I think it’s time for a good old-fashioned giveaway!

Our first prize is one of our Alaska-inspired colorways.

Prize #1: Two skeins of Glacier on Springvale DK. I love this yarn. So soft, so squishy, so versatile.

Prize #2: Another Alaska-inspired colorway, Wild Strawberries.  Read more about this colorway, along with some useful organizational tips here.

We’re giving away two skeins of Wild Strawberries on Wexford Merino Silk. Worsted weight goodness, that’s what this is.

Prize #3: As skein of Alchemy on Glenhaven Fingering.  Yes, it’s in the vault. Yes, Glenhaven has cashmere. Yes, you’ll want to wrap the skein around your neck immediately. Yes, it’s more difficult to knit it that way.

Prize #4: Two skeins of Skye on Kells Sport. Love it. Lovelovelove.

Prize #5. New colorway. No official name yet. I’m calling it Need More Coffee Marigold for now.  Dyed on the aforementioned Glenhaven Fingering that you’ll want to wrap around your neck. Looks gorgeous paired with blues, purples, greens, magentas, and browns. Trust me.

Contest Rules

To enter, leave a comment that answers the following question: What is the best thing about December?

Only one entry per person.

You must use a valid email address so we can contact you if you’re the winner.

Comments are moderated, so don’t worry if you don’t see yours immediately.

Winners will be chosen at random on Saturday, December 12th, at noon Eastern time. We will have a random number generator choose a comment number, one person for each prize. 

This contest is free. We will pay for shipping, even to international locations.

Good luck!

Once upon a time, in the land of presidents and museums, a grown up girl received a special gift. It was a magic carpet, meant to carry her on journeys yet unknown.

The girl loved the magic carpet, for it was knit with love from the fleece of magic sheep.

Many people from faraway places conspired to give the girl this special gift, and she was very grateful for their kindness and care.

The Conspirators knew that the girl was about to set off on an important quest, and they knew she would need many things for her long journey. They feverishly concocted a plan to send her the best and most useful tools they could think of. When the time was right, all of the necessities were carefully packed into a large basket and set at the girl’s feet.

The girl, unaccustomed to the attention of so many, blushed when she saw the basket.  The Conspirators cheered her on, “Open it! Open it!” they cried. The girl unpacked each item,  stopping to admire each gift assembled from far and near.

First, the Conspirators presented her with a pouch.  The pouch was full of a special powder that would give her energy when she needed it most.

They instructed her to keep the pouch safely hidden from enemies and to never let anyone else use the special powder, lest they suffer dire consequences.

The basket also contained a curious black box.

Inside the curious box, the girl found an even more curious metal case.

The metal case contained a cleverly disguised tool — a tool the girl might need at any time on her life’s journey. Though it looked like a pen, it was actually

an interchangeable-head screwdriver and level.

The basket also contained sweet smelling soaps,

and delicious-looking cupcakes to help mark the knitting the girl would undoubtedly need to bring with her.

The basket contained food and drink to both please and sustain her.  As if by magic, more packages of sustenance arrived via special delivery while the girl was unpacking the basket.

The Conspirators knew while knitting and eating were very important activities on a magic carpet journey, the girl would need reading material for companionship. They presented her a with a book that contained the wisdom and memories they hoped to pass down through the ages.

Before the girl could open the book, a magic butterfly alighted on the cover. The magic butterfly said,

“Wherever I goest, I bring good luck and good cheer. Let it be known both far and near!” The girl took this to mean only good things were in store for her, and vowed to assist the butterfly in any way she could.

Inside the book, the girl found pages gilded with gold.

She found a picture of herself, and though she knew it was hard to imagine now, this image would someday be known as Back When I Was Younger and Thinner.

The book contained photographs and letters and stories from the Conspirators.

Each entry was designed to bolster the girl’s courage and strength on her magic carpet journey, for they knew that she might encounter long, dark nights and large, frightening monsters. Many other gifts were also bestowed upon the girl, and she savored the sight of each one.

The girl thanked the Conspirators heartily for their kindnesses and foresight, and reluctantly bid them farewell.  She boarded the magic carpet knit from the milk of human kindness and the fleece of magic sheep,

and set off into the night towards the journey that lie ahead.

The end and the beginning. Both at the same time.