Shop Update 8/5/13

I only just realised none of my shop update blog posts have made it through this month.
Oops!
Today's shop update is live.
There are some exciting self-striping sock yarns to feed your addiction, as well as some lovely tonals and highly variegated yarns.

But the most exciting news of them all? Minis are back! Many of you have asked when mini skeins are making a comeback, and they're finally here! You can choose to subscribe on a monthly basis by theme, or get a longer subscription at a discount.
There's no greater way to keep on hexipuffing, set up your own stripes, or try out some bases with teeny projects.
How do you use your minis?

Hexipuffs of the week

I've been getting back into hexipuffs lately. I haven't knit them for most of the summer (which is silly, since they're *perfect* summer knitting!), but now I'm back.
Mainly, it's a matter of finding time to knit them. I can knit a puff in about 15-20 mins now, so I don't tend to take them if I'm going somewhere where I'll be idle for longer. I often carry them, but don't knit on them.

I found I get most of my puffs done while walking to and from the shops, which is about 45 minutes round trip. I knit slower while walking, of course, but just like drop spindling, it's slower by the minute, but faster by the week.

So here are my week's seven puffs.
They are (from centre, then top clockwise):

1. Zauberball in Papagei
2. Madelinetosh Tosh Sock in Steam Age
3. Woollen St Mills in Ron Weasley
4. Lorna's Laces in an unnnamed color (from their minis set)
5. Lorna's Laces Soulmate in Bigger on the Inside
6. Another Crafty Girl in Chimchar
7. Woollen St Mills in Doctor 10

Hexipuffs of March

How did March go with hexipuffs?
Why, I'm so glad you asked. I knit a few. A big pile of few.
In case you can't read my awesome hexi-art, that's 73 (or 1001001 in binary). Which is totally a geek reference I snatched from Big Bang Theory. Yes, I'm that kind of knitter. ^_^

Hexipuffs of March

Where are the hexipuffs?
I haven't talked about the little puffy hexagons in a while, and I have slowed down a bit as other things have been clamoring for attention.
But I'm still puffing.
In fact, March is leftovers month for me.
Inspired by one of the Nerd Wars challenges, I'm trying to reduce my scrap heap.
Now, my scraps certainly aren't as impressive as others, but they're filling what little space I have for them.

So the idea is to turn all those little balls into hexipuffs and re-allocate the larger balls to proper projects.

You can see some Wollmeise and Malabrigo left over from the Clockwork shawl, some Decadently Divine left over from gloves and some Another Crafty Girl from the Vine Whip beret that should have enough yardage for a small hat, or some mitts or a cowl.

The jar is still full of mini skeins and sock leftovers.
How many of these can I knit up this month, and how many puffs will that be?
We'll see...

Friday Photography: Daring Hexiblanket

Hexipuffs can pop up in the most unexpected places.
Being primarily of a yarnie persuasion, you would expect them to be highly afraid of running water.
not so! in fact, especially groups of hexipuffs sometimes crop up lichenlike on rocks and cliffs and riverbanks, perching precariously close to a soaking.

We should all be as open-minded and daring as those little hexipuffs.
So this week, try something you thought you aren't suited to, and see where it takes you.
As always, keep your camera ready and your eyes focused!

Friday Photography: Travelling hexiblanket

 It is a not very well known fact, but hexipuffs love to travel in groups. They are social creatures that enjoy the great out-of-doors.
They enjoy bike rides, picnics in the grass and climbing trees together.
Have you ever seen hexipuffs in the wild?
Keep an eye out and as always, have your camera ready.

Friday Photography: Hexipuffs on Branches

Three little hexipuffs, sitting in a tree

Precarious by the river

Hexipuffs in the wild. By the river, in a tree, up a branch?
The bravest of hexipuffs will often go out on a limb to get to the best views, dangling by no more than a thread over running water at times.
Are you as brave as a hexipuff?
Keep your eyes open, your camera ready and your needles close at hand.
You never know when you're going to see another puff in the wild.

Australian xmas tree

Friday Photography: Hexipuffs in the Wild

Bulbasaur in leaves

Shibui and Bark

 You never know when you're going to encounter a hexipuff in the wild.
So keen an eye out for the little squishies, and keep your needles ever at the ready!

Some hexipuffs like to hang out in trees, their eucalypt smell attracting plump, soft and squishy shapes to them.

Possum in Eucalypt

Friday Photography: Hexipuffs in the Water!

Bulbasaur's Rock

Mixed Berries Beach

 Everyone knows that hexipuffs like to be out and about.
But few realise that these brave and fearless squishies are so daring, they can even be found right by the water!

So make sure the next time you're at a creek, river or brook, you take a closer look!

You never know what, or who, you might find.

Keep your needles and your camera ready at all times.

Chinook Brook

December Daily Hexipuff - Finale

One bag of yarn, 24 mini balls of brightly colored happiness, knit up into 24 hexipuffs, soon to be joined to what will one day be hundreds of others. Did I say hundreds? Agh!

It's been interesting, focusing on each puff individually, giving it some much-warranted close-up attention.

This way, they're not little bite-sized morsels, the knitting equivalent of a quick snack. They become memories.

And what colorful memories they are!

Who's my favorite? I don't know. I certainly loved some more than others, but they were all some shade of fabulous!

It just goes to show. in yarn, as in life, variety is the key.

Now. What yarn will I knit up next?

December Daily Hexipuff - 24

Side A

The final puff for puff-a-day in December. Can you believe it? Elegant purple Emperor's Palace sure can. This is a rich color blend that reminds me of silks and saris and hot summer sunsets.
I especially love the hints of yellow throughout the rich pinks and purples.
I would make long gloves out of this yarn, or special socks, but I could also see this as a shrug or shawlette. These colors would suit a variety of people.

For the hexi-quilt, side A is the clear winner. notice how the yellow adds all that interest that's missing from the purple-heavy side B?

Side B

December Daily Hexipuff - 23

Side A

We're almost at the end, and Meiji Shrine is determined to stand out with spring-like happy yellow and bright blue.
The Sweden of yarns, this color can't help but cheer you up. Daffodils, spring skies and happy ready-to-assemble furniture with funny names are all captured in this colorway.
I adore it.
I want knee-high socks out of this yarn, to wear with a flowy skirt while I ride my bike to the market.
I want a close-fitting beanie that gets me noticed on even the foggiest grey days.

Side B

I want to strand this color for mittens. I want a whole cardigan...
Yeah. Color love overload.

But for now, for the hexi-quilt, side B wins by a tiny margin.
More, please!

December Daily Hexipuff - 22

Side A

Side B

Warm, earthy and traditional, Ryogoku is all browns with a hint of green, like late-fall leaf litter. Not the disgusting, mouldy kind, but the pretty, shiny kind that makes you think wonderful autumnal thoughts.
This is an understated, mature color that would look elegant paired with a knotty glove design, or a big, smooth shawl.
These are not really my colors, but I admire their elegance.

For the hexipuff quilt, I'm going with side B. I like the way the purples waft over from left to right.

December Daily Hexipuff - 21

Side A

Side B

Another blue blend, Nihonbashi adds lavender for a very different, elegant feel.
The way it knit up, it reminds me of the sky at sunrise, when color floods back into the world. It's a beautiful, understated color, and I'd love a snug beanie out of it, or some cheery socks with a simple, flowing pattern to highlight the colors.
I want to stripe all the different blues together to create... something. Gloves? A shawlette? What would you do?

For the hexipuff quilt, side B wins, although I like side A better on an individual level.

December Daily Hexipuff - 20

Side B

Side A

The softest green and dusty rose pinks blend together in Yoyogi.
I wasn't sure from the ball that I was going to like this knitted up, but I love it!
The different shades and hues of pink are accented by the pale eucalypt green to create a romantic, flowing color.
I'd love a skein of this for socks or very long gloves with complicated lace.
This would also be excellent in an open, airy shawl, or something dense that shows off the colors on a grand scale.

For the hexi-quilt, side B wins for me, although both sides are pretty much identical.

December Daily Hexipuff - 19

Side A

The future is now in Odaiba. Green, blue, pink and green compete for attention in the ball. This yarn is bright, bright, BRIGHT! And I love it. how could you not be cheered by the prospect of some plain or lightly textured gloves or socks in this yarn? I'm envisioning bike riding gloves especially. Full of cheer and wonderfulness!
This would also make the perfect color for fair isle-ing or other colorwork. It'll make you look so much smarter!
And we all know I love looking smarter than I am...

Side B

I also adore how different the two sides came out. For the hexi-quilt, I choose side B. But honestly, I'm going to squeeze more puffs out of this ball to get more interesting variations, for sure!

December Daily Hexipuff - 18

Side B

Side A

Warm autumnals blend together here in Sugamo. With warm peach and apricot yellow, muted by a warm grey, this is a color that is sure to stand out when knit up. I think pooling would actually be desirable in this color, reminiscent of cloudy sunsets.
I could see this knit up into a hat, or something relying on garter stitch to break up and blend the colors. A shawl would be lovely if these are your colors. This is also an excellent color for socks.
For some reason, this color makes me think of toys, especially monsters. Maybe it's the old-skool sweater colors that do it.

For the hexipuff blanket, side B wins for me. I like the salmon next to the grey more so than the yellow.

December Daily Hexipuff - 17

Two soft shades of blue set the tone for Minakami. Another one in the low-contrast series, this is a great color for pretty much anything.
I'd love a skein of this for socks. I think the lightness and low ontrast would show off a complex lace pattern nicely.
It would also be lovely as a skinny summer scarf, or airy wristers.

For the hexipuff blanket, I don't actually have a side preference at all. they both look pretty identical to me.
That's not a bad thing at all, miind you. It just means the colors flowed evenly for me with this one.

December Daily Hexipuff - 16

Ginza for gold is the motto of this little puff. Gold and muted tealy blue blend together in a harmonious but interesting puff.

I loved these colors in the ball, and I enjoyed them knitted up, too.

I'd absolutely love a skein of this. i think it would make a very elegant shawl or a classy beret.

Or if you want your socks colorful but not too jarring, this would look great knitted up into socks to go with jeans or a blue-toned professional attire.

For the hexipuff quilt, I'm going with side B. I love how the gold and grey makes it look a little like a sunrise.

December Daily Hexipuff - 15

Side B

Side A

Happy green day, Todoroki Valley! Another low-contrast yarn, the greens and yellows blend together to give a deep, layered, calm effect. Green is a true neutral (just look around nature!), so I'd love a skein of this for pretty much anything, from a leafy tam to a shawlette to happy socks, or layered into some colorwork.

For the hexi-quilt, I'm giving love to side B, which is slightly more yellow in overall appearance. But I'm definitely knitting another puff to add the bluer side to it as well.