I hope you all had a great weekend. I might have spent a little too much time on Ravelry because my pattern queue seems to have grown by about 10 projects. But there was knitting time as well. My Cassis sweater is slowly growing and I am really trying to get it done by the end of the week. We’ll see if I can actually make that deadline. I may have to lock my i-Pad away so I don’t have such easy access to the internet. 
Are you all enjoying the sale on fancy fibers? We’re having a lot of fun packing up your selections and getting them out to you. I love seeing your finished projects on Ravelry – that’s probably why my queue is getting so long. I’m getting far too many ideas for my next projects!
For those of you who love skinny yarns, I want to let you know a little bit about Pagewood Farm. They are a small company based in Southern California but the owners, Robin and Chuck have a love affair with Alaska and all of their yarn bases are named after places in that beautiful state. I chose my two favorites to carry at Doodlebug – Yukon and Alyeska.
Both of these yarns are luxurious in their own right but the bases are very different. Yukon is a blend of superwash Merino Wool and Bamboo with a little bit of Nylon added for strength. The Bamboo in this yarn gives it a lovely drape and sheen.
Alyeska is a blend of Merino Wool, Cashmere and Nylon. While there is only 10% Cashmere in this blend, it’s incredibly soft and warm.
One of the things that I think is so interesting is the way these two different blends takes the color in the dyeing process. Here are 2 very popular colorways, Crayon on the top and Army Girl is on the bottom:
The Yukon with Bamboo is on the right in both of these photos. Even though the colorways are the same, when the dye meets the bamboo, the colors are soft and muted while the cashmere blend in Alyeska takes the dye in a completely different way and comes out a little deeper and richer.
Personally, I think they are both beautiful. Since the yarns are dyed in small batches, your project will be unique. I’ve been having some fun knitting with both of these yarns.
Here’s the Citron I made with Alyeska:
This pattern actually calls for a lace weight yarn but I wanted something a little more substantial for the colder weather. I used about a skein and a half for this shawl. Then I made a pair of of Monkeys from Yukon:
I refer to these as my Late to the Party socks since I’m about the last knitter on earth to knit them. Oh, and yes, I did use the same colorway for both of these projects. I tend to get a little obsessed with different colors from time to time. Last year it was red, the year before was orange and this year seems to be all about purple and blue, at least so far. I might be a little obsessive compulsive.
So, would you like to win one of these lovelies for yourself? Just leave a comment on what you would make with either of these beautiful yarns in the comments by 12PM MT Friday. We’ll use a random number generator to pick a winner. The winner can pick any skein of Alyeska or Yukon from any of the colors in stock.
I hope you all have a great week!
Love Pagewood Farms yarns. I made citron out of Yukon in Seabreeze. I'd love to try Alyeska, maybe a shawl like Clockwork????
Oooh I'm working on my first Pagewood Farm project right now, and it's awesome! I'd love another skein, maybe for a nice shrug like the Diamond Lace Shrug. Or Gabriel's Wings shawl.
Gorgeous yarns and beautiful colorways! I would make Damask (by Kitman Figueroa). I haven't made any shawls yet, and I've been wanting to recently. *crossing my fingers to win!*
I love your monkeys, btw! I have a thing for reds myself.
I love your citron! I think this yarn will be my next purchase.
This yarn is gorgeous! Time to check out the colorways! I think I need a new pair of Monkeys!
Ooooh, aaaaah.
I think I'd do a shawl, that's been my Thing lately.
Oh those are so pretty. Not sure what I'd make…socks or a shawl… Normally I have to wait and let the yarn speak to me.
I think I would like to make a shawl out of the Alyeska (the merino, cashmere,& nylon).
Love Pagewood Farms and love to knit socks,. A great combination, and now a chance to win some of their yarn. It is a wonderful day indeed.
I'd make socks. I'd find a neat pattern to show off the colors.
I would treat myself to socks for sure!
i am learning to make socks and the yarn is wonderful
I would definitely make another Ishbel because I love that shawlette and I've given all the ones I've already knit away. Or maybe I'd buy a second hank of yarn and make a citron because I've always wanted to make one.
Sockies! Because I don't have enough …
Collienchen @ ravelry
Lovley yarns! Thanks for the giveaway. I'd make a shawl…Cedar Leaf finally, perhaps. knitterofhats on Ravelry
Gorgeous yarns! I'd love to knit myself a pair of socks with Alyeska Purple Haze. They would make my feet feel pretty!
MrsCollinHobbs on Ravelry
What beautiful yarn! It would make a shawl/wrap.
bgiger on Ravelry
probably a shawl, or scarf…..accessorizing with scarves has been my thing lately.
though that pic of your citron has me thinking……
gorgeous yarns, beautiful colors!!
-oonaghfibersmyth on ravelry
I think that yarn would make some gorgeous fingerless mitts!
Rav ID kristyh1981
These look beautiful! I would make socks. The skew pattern from knitty would look great.
Beautiful yarn! I would make a Holden shawlette out of it.
Awesome!
As a dyer, I'm always amused by the way bamboo blends alter the colorways, it's fun!
Hmm. I have a lot of shawls I'd like to make this year and I don't have yarn for all of them, so I'd love to use a skein of this to make a sock yarn shawl!!
Jess
jessecreations on Ravelry
The citron is actually a very good idea!
Or the just enough ruffles shawl!
I made an Ishbel out of Pagewood Chugiak and really enjoyed the experience of working with it. I'd love to try another base.
I've had Alyeska crayon on my wish list for quite a while…I would make some socks of course!
The Army Girl in the bamboo blend would be PERFECT colors for my sister – maybe a lacy scarf or some pretty socks….
Rav: brighteyesjessy
I would make socks out of the Army Girl bamboo blend and with the Crayon, probably socks or a really cool floppy beret.
Never tried this yarn – and it would be socks or a small shawl…the yarn is lovely looking…
nhsarab at yahoo dot com
I would love to use either blend for my first pair of socks. Monkeys seem ambitious, but I might try them anyway. The colors are amazing!
I need a new pair of socks. Not just any socks -a contrived concoction of cables and lace and ambition. These yarns would work wonderfully.
-Cait
SqueakyBug on Ravelry
I have no idea what I would make… I am in stash busting mode, but as always yarn pron is just too good to pass up… let alone FREE yarn… really, like I need more yarn. I am loving the canyon… the colors are awesome, but that could be because I am stash busting all my blues and oranges in a oversized granny square and am a little obsessed.
On 2nd thought… mattering on how long the color runs are I would very likely make Skew socks with the Monet Mitts stitch design.
Link to the Monet Mitts on Ravelry:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/monet-mitts
Anyway, I am MamaMay on Ravelry.
I'd knit some Monkeys just like yours b/c I'd love them(and I'd name them Monkey See Monkey Do socks after yours!!).
this yarn would be awesome in a shawlette!
Beautiful! I have been meaning to learn to make socks! These yarns would be perfect! Thank you for the wonderful opportunity!
Ooh, I'm liking the Crayon in the Alyeska. Love the saturated colors. I've got the book Knitting Socks with Handpainted Yarn that I'd probably pick a pattern from, something suitable for a highly varied colorway like that. Both the Herringbone Rib and the Whirlpool socks have intrigued me for some time.
I'd do a shawl. Which one – that's a tough one. I'm torn between Aleyska crayon and Yukon army girl.
Rav: aewsimmons
A shawl (my own obsession lately).
I intend that I would do socks, but would probably end up making a shawlette, because that's how I seem to roll lately.
I would knit some lacy fingerless mitts with either of these awesome yarns!
(ahappyaccident on rav)
I'm all about socks now that I'm learning
These would make a beautiful pair!
meditativerose on Ravelry
Out of the Yukon, I'd make a pair of socks, specifically Mingus by Cookie A. I would use the Alyeska to make the Pinkerton Shawl from Interweave Knits Spring 2011 issue. It'd be nice to win! I'm suzieknittingmama on Ravelry.
Haha, I'd probably make my own Late to the Party project with a skein of Pagewood Farms. Most likely the Swallowtail Shawl or Ishbel. Or maybe I'd jump on the Pogona bandwagon.
And don't worry Gayla, I just knit my 1st pair of Monkey socks 3 weeks ago.
Wow! it is beautiful!
I'd love to make a lacy shawl with this lovely yarn… there are so many amazing patterns on ravelry to choose from!
babyloveknit on ravelry
Gorgeous yarn! I'd use Alyeska (in Fuchsia Fizz, what a colour!) to make a shawl – maybe the Flyleaf Shawl (by Fickleknitter).
I'd make something that my hands would enjoy long after the knitting. I think a pair of long gloves would be perfect, especially as my coat has only 3/4 length sleeves and so my arms are constantly cold!
Oooh, I love Pagewood Farms yarn! I would probably make either socks (you can never have too many socks!) or a little shawlette. I'm becoming more and more intrigued by them. Citron, in fact, is one I've been eying a lot lately!
I would knit a shawlette, probably Herbivore by Stephen West.
Anna (Rav ID: pincherries)
I'd make some fingerless mittens! Those are so beautiful!
I'd knit cabled socks.
ikkinlala AT yahoo DOT ca
I'm not sure what I'd make, probably some kind of clothing. If not for people, than for my dolls.
KJo on Ravelry
The yarn is gorgeous! I have a hard time committing to socks with such a beautiful yarn – I feel like I'd really want to show it off – so I'd probably use it for a nikolai shawl: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/nikolai or fingerless gloves like this:
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fan-lace-wrist-warmers
Jenniferck on ravelry
Gorgeous! I think I'd make myself a mini cape with this yarn, you can't go wrong with mini capes!
zilliah on ravelry
I have shawl KAL I need to get going on, Ahava is the pattern…it might want to be made from Pagewood Farm yarn.
Thanks for the giveaway!
jenniem on Rav
Socks. What kind, I'd let the yarn tell me once I got it in my hands, but definitely socks.
bookwormdjibouti on Rav
I think I would definitely try to find a shawl pattern to show off the great colors!
I would have a terrible time deciding between socks or shawls. I had missed Pagewood Farms thanks for introducing me to them.
I would make a shawl… perhaps Whippoorwill? Lovely yarn!
I am not a sock knitter, but I just picked up some patterns for great children's sweaters made with sock yarn, so I would have to try one of them.
Zowmom on Ravelry
I'd do a Blue Curacao or an All Shawl! This pattern has been in my faves and I think it would be beautiful in the Purple Haze.
melaniemj on Ravelry
I love the Army Girl. I'd knit long socks or shawl most likely.
I would love to win! Also, the socks are beautiful!
I love the Army Girl colorway in Alyeska, and I think it would be perfect for a pair of no-purl monkeys. Because, guess what, I've never knit them before either
Socks. Definitely socks!
I've had some Pagewood Denali in my stash for two years now (I think)… thanks for reminding me of it! ^_^ I would have a very hard time choosing between the Yukon and Alyeska because I would definitely make a shawl! The drape of the bamboo or the cush of the cash… hard to choose!!!
Oh, these are so lovely! I'm a big fan of Stephen West's patterns right now – I would find the perfect one to go with these yarns.