Collection: On my needles...

The irresistible itch for stranded, fingering-weight, color work could not have hit at a worse time of year.

As a Dyer, October through December is generally a blur, but in the good way. Advent Calendars are getting dyed, packaged and shipped, monthly kits seem to be happening every 35 seconds, gift knits are on all of our needles, Sweater Quantities are flying out the door, and not to mention Black Friday. It's been wild, as we are only a team of two here at BCY!

Add to that a ridiculously good new boyfriend (yay me!), and it's needless to say that my Halfling's Garden Party Cowl (designed by our very own Nicole Larkin-York of Common Thread Fiber) and my Shock Socks (designed by Park Williams (wtffff!?)) have landed in time-out over the last few weeks.

As I breathe a big sigh of relief for getting through these last few months, I am ready to bring these puppies out of hibernation.

The Halfling's Garden Party Cowl has been an incredibly gratifying knit so far. Worked in the round, then grafted together, Nickle's has drafted a deliciously curious tile-like color work chart. With a whopping 22 stitch chart, this elegant floral is a product of intense consideration of positive and negative space on Nicole's end.  The motif is nuanced, meandering and striking when met with a high contrast color selection. When Nicole released this graphic and playful pattern, I knew right away that Crab and Cucumber were the colorways for the job. I'd been yapping on and on about these colorways for months and this pattern felt like the exact kind of format they would sing in. 

My initial version had Crab as the MC and Cucumber as my CC, and this simply wasn't gonna work. Although Crab is a fairly neutralized and palatable red-orange, the fine lines of Cucumber were getting completely washed out and reading almost white. When I cast on again, I dropped a needle size, a few chart repeats, and swapped color positions. I knew right away I'd made the right call. With Organic Fingering on a smaller needle size and a snugger circumference, I have a bit more structure- hoping this cowl will stand fairly firm around my neck once seamed. The slight glow of Cucumber with the strong floral mark drawn in Crab feels refined, and even sophisticated given its adventurous nature. 2 more chart repeats and she will be around my neck!

Shock Socks have been a gluttonous little test knit for me! Park Williams has been a favorite designer of mine for ages. Her humor and mischievousness meeting her clearly-written patterns feel like they are packed with potential for color aficianados like we have here. I'd classify her knits as contemporary and daring, while remaining largely beginner friendly. 

I reached out to Park a few months back, just curious to see if she would ever be interested in designing in my yarns. What I was met with was the kindest and most encouraging collaboration I've found myself in, for a minute. Which rocked. Her pattern concept was bold and a touch silly; my recipe for knit-worthy. Park let me jump in on her test knit, and I settled on featuring two colorways from my Fresh Palette, Toothpaste and Millennial Pink. Christmas if she was cotton-candy. 

I am clipping through the chart, and with an afterthought heel it is full-steam ahead. However the Second Sock Syndrome is hitting HARD with these ones... my first sock is blocked, my second is before the lifeline for the heel... so naturally I have come to a screeching halt. The one thing thrusting me back at the second sock is wanting to wear them for Christmas in 4 days! Will I make it in time...? 

 I've linked the colorways I'm working with below. Cheers from me and my happy needles!

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