This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009 at 8:54 pm and is filed under Contests and giveaways!, Chit Chat. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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July 22, 2009
So, as most of you know by now, I’m attending this nifty, small little soiree called Sock Summit, which is actually quite nifty, but far from small. I’ll be in booth #315, and I will have on a raspberry colored T-shirt. You can’t miss me, I’m the one with the yarn.
Dublin Bay Knitting Company, booth 827, will also have a large selection of our things.
I’m entering a competition specifically for people whose yarn is being sold at the Summit, called Dye for Glory. It’s a bit like a State Fair competition, you enter your item in a category, and then it’s judged against others in that category. Except instead of Mabel winning a blue ribbon for her boysenberry pie, Yarnista is attempting to win for her Sea Anemone yarn. If you win, you win exactly what the contest title suggests: Glory.
Never one to shy away from a little friendly competition, except for all sports, mathlete events, invention conventions and anything related to physics, I decided to enter.
There is one thing you can rest assured of when you see something I’ve made: I never just throw some sugar and milk in a bowl and call it creme brulee. I don’t know how to type accent marks, but I’m sure creme brulee needs some. I never just buy some brandy, splash it on some cookies, and call it tiramisu. Does tiramisu need accent marks? No matter, I can’t type them anyway.
Perhaps this is my overly perfectionistic nature in things that are not related to inventions, math, physics, or athletics, but colorways take me a long time to perfect. Have I mentioned this before? I feel like I have. A colorway has to strike the right note for me in order to be offered for sale in any way, whether it be a club colorway, something for a spring fall collection, or for a competition.
Many people have asked about what happens to all of my rejected yarn, or if they can buy or have my rejects. Let me just be clear: THE REJECTS ARE REJECTS FOR A REASON. You don’t want them, just trust me.
Veering abruptly back on course: here are my long-labored over submissions to the Dye for Glory contest. These are all in different categories, so they’re not competing against each other, they’re competing against other entries in the same categories. Mabel’s boysenberry pie doesn’t compete against Edith’s pickles, it competes against Millie’s strawberry-rhubarb pie.
Starry Starry Night. Inspired by the synonymous painting. This is dyed in a new technique that will result in a highly varied finished product. The skeins are all one of a kind and very labor intensive to make — they probably take ten times as long to make as a regular skein of yarn.
I stumbled upon this technique and finished product after making yet another blue and purple colorway that was completely uninspired and just picking up my tools and adding things to the yarn in a random way. That led to further ideas and prototypes, which led to the yarn you see now.
Several of you have already asked where you can get this colorway. I’ve decided to offer it here in an extremely limited edition of 20 skeins. This yarn will also only be available on superwash yarns, because that’s going to give you the best result with the most dynamic color variation.
I’ve added a button for purchasing below. Please get this colorway while you can, it’s very special, I promise. You may notice that the price is higher than our usual prices — this is due to the extremely labor-intensive method of dyeing these skeins.
This is a pre-order. The skeins will be available to ship in September.
read user's comments (30)
July 22nd, 2009 at 9:26 pm
They’re positively gorgeous! Well done, and best of luck! (Now I’m off to see how much my hubby is going to let me spend…)
July 22nd, 2009 at 9:39 pm
Order placed. Not that I’ve been stalking you, or anything.
But hey–what about poor Father Time? He was one of my favorites!
I ordered Georgia Peach, Father Time, and Estuary (and, by the way–the colors do closely resemble the estuaries in Corpus Christi Bay! We used to read about them whenever we went to the aquarium). I passed up on Sea Anemone, although I loved that one, because I saw it was a limited edition and I know others loved it more.
July 22nd, 2009 at 9:56 pm
Very damaging to my wallet! Yikes!
July 22nd, 2009 at 10:58 pm
Very damaging to my wallet as well.
I’ve ordered one of each, except for Georgia Peach (and I’m getting two of those)!
Wonderful work indeed!
July 22nd, 2009 at 11:20 pm
Yes, VERY damaging to the wallet!
I ordered Starry Starry Night and Sea Anemone already, and am thinking about what base to order Father Time…
July 23rd, 2009 at 8:37 am
My heart is broken…the Sea Anemone is already gone and it was the one that I most wanted…apparently I was not alone in that desire.
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:37 am
Oh man. I’m so disappointed that Sea Anemone is already gone. It was my favorite. So vibrant and girly.
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:41 am
Bummer, I missed Sea Anemone:(
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:07 am
OK.. who grabbed all the sea anemone. Many photos of what you create from this are now required.
Georgia Peach is going to be mine. bwaaaaaaaaaa hhhhaaaaaaaaaa. haaaaaaaaaaa
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:16 am
Could there be more Sea Anemone in the future? ’cause add me to the list of those who wished they gotten some! It’s gorjuss!
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Zephir… you are mine… MINE!!!!
And my husband is falling in love to Father Time. It’s just him.
It ’s a great job. I usually hate the pink but Georgia peach is BEAUTIFUL.
July 23rd, 2009 at 6:56 pm
If there is more sea anemone in the future, add me to the list too. I wouldn’t mind some Starry Starry night too… Beautiful yarns all!!
July 23rd, 2009 at 7:49 pm
Sea Anemone is GORGEOUS. They’re all gorgeous, but I really love that one and Georgia Peach. I just finished voting for all of these beauties over on Ravelry. Good luck!
July 23rd, 2009 at 8:15 pm
Yes, Yarnista, please consider adding Sea Anemone in the future…. we adore it!
You really outdid yourself - your Dye for Glory entries are absolutely stunning, every single one. You are a lady who has found her passion, and it shows. Thanks for your hard work!
July 23rd, 2009 at 8:23 pm
The Sea Anemone is beautiful!!! I love it…I wish that I had gotten some of that but unfortunately, all sold out…oh well, maybe next time…
Or maybe…in the future…maybe?!?!?!
July 23rd, 2009 at 8:40 pm
I completely adore every one of your submissions. You’re very talented. (I’m another one who’d love some Sea Anemone if you bring it back in the future: that colorway makes my heart happy.)
July 24th, 2009 at 10:15 am
I missed out on Sea Anemone! I’ll never recover!
July 24th, 2009 at 10:33 am
I wanted both Sea Anenome and Georgia Peach. Absolutely BEAUTIFUL and unique!! I guess for now I’ll just have to let the beautiful warm tones of Georgia Peach console me over missing out on Sea Anenome. I think I voted for all your submissions in the Dye for Glory contest. Please don’t let Sea Anenome sit in the vault for too long, it is just too lovely!!
July 24th, 2009 at 11:07 am
I’m so sad I missed the Sea Anemone! If you decide to dye it again, please save a skein or two for me!!!
July 24th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
Hello! I voted for some of your colorways on Ravelry, and then I checked out your site. Your colorways are SOOO awesome!! I bookmarked your page, and as soon as I have the funds I’ll be placing an order! I SO wish that Sea Anemone and Starry Starry Night weren’t sold out… I just hope that Estuary, Father Time, and Georgia Peach don’t sell out before I can get my hands on them! Awesome business you have here, that’s for sure.
Keep up the great work!!
~Trudy~
July 24th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
It’s kahlua that goes into tiramisu….just sayin’. But I want to know if you’ve ever made your own lady fingers when you put your dessert together?
BTW, your Dye for Glory yarns are BEAUTIFUL, and I voted for you!
July 25th, 2009 at 4:24 am
Sharon, check out Yarn Harlot’s blog–she posted about the Dye for Glory voting, and a lot of people commented about your entries! Weird as it may sound (I’m not your mum or anything), but I have to say this: I’m proud of you!
July 25th, 2009 at 7:42 am
No more Starry Starry night. How sad, but easy to understand. It is too, too beautiful!
July 25th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
Your Dye for Glory entries are beautiful! Georgia Peach is my favorite and a couple skeins said they wanted to come home with me.
July 25th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Come on, you must be able to dye more SSN… unless you’re being cruel. Perhaps in a few months you’ll add it to your other colourways??
Personally, I think your dying has “come of age”; the sophistication and complexity just stood out.
July 26th, 2009 at 11:47 am
I just love the “sea anemone” dye - I’m so sad that you’re sold out… can’t you e-mail me or something if you dye it up again…?
July 26th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
Found your blog today via voting on Rav. Voted for a couple of your entries. Seriously beautiful yarns. I am so very impressed. My fave is Estuary. Glad to have found your blog. Will be checking in from time to time! Best of luck on the voting! You definitely deserve prizes!
July 27th, 2009 at 5:06 am
Lovely, lovely. Not an orange fan but the Georgia Peach looks like a real Georgia peach, which I think have a distinctive look all to their selves.
Exclusive soaker colorways, here they come. :-))
What a great contest to let out such a proliferation of talents. Dye for Glory, excellent.
July 27th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
Darn, Sea anemone is gone. Loved it voted for it. All your color are so yummy!
August 4th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Congratulations on your many Dye for Glory wins! Your entries are gorgeous and the wins are well-deserved!
I kept looking for Starry Starry Night on there, because I think it’s one of the most gorgeous skeins ever. But I’m glad Georgia Peach made it.
Anyway, congrats congrats congrats! And congrats to all the lucky knitters that got a preorder slot for those lovely yarns.