The perfect day is…

when you find the exact colour hand-dyed yarn you’re looking for…

Isn’t the colourway in the foreground the exact representation of the apple, rhubarb and fig composition I showed you recently?

And you know what else was amazing?  The yarn’s colourway is actually inspired by rhubarb!!!

When I explained to James that the yarn was the exact colourway I was looking for, he said that the colour was originally called rhubarb, but because this batch’s colours had come out weaker than intended, he had named this one “petals” instead.  I nearly died of excitement.  Imagine finding a colourway with the exact same inspiration of the colour you are looking for!?

Here are more of his amazing colourways:

As you might know, I was at the Frank Kitts Market (now rebranded the Wellington Underground Market) this weekend, primarily to represent Flagstaff Alpacas.  I’m so very pleased that so many knitters recognised the amazing softness and quality of this fantastic New Zealand alpaca yarn this weekend.  It was fascinating (and most satisfying) to watch people come up to the stand, pick up a hank, and their jaws literally drop (I kid you not!) at the feel of the yarn.  And then mutter “Wow!  This is sooo soft!” Some alpaca yarns can be scratchy, but this stuff is not.

But while I was there, of course I also had to have a quick snuffle over at Tash’s Knitsch yarns:

and discovered a to-die-for gorgeous, gives-you-shivers colourway, in the deepest olive greens and chocolate browns that she dyed especially for this weekend:

Forest Floor.  Very apt, don’t you think?

Here’s another lovely indie-dyer who was at the market:

This is the Maude & Me stall – Tracee does gorgeous batts and handspun yarns in various New Zealand sheep breeds.  I am very tempted to start spinning every time I see her pretty colours.  Maybe one day!

Also with her was the talented Frances, who makes gorgeous spindles.

There were many other stall-holders there, including the lovely ladies from Yarnz, Nancy’s Embroidery and Ihakara Wools.

I saw some amazing knitted creations walking past (some came to say hello), including Ali‘s very pretty version of the Star Crossed Slouchy Beret, and others wearing a lovely red Garden City Scarf (until the end of this month, purchases of this pattern are contributed to the Red Cross for Christchurch earthquake relief funds), an extremely beautiful pale blue cabled beret with star pattern that I don’t know the name of and desperately wanted to know, and a white, fluffy Hermoine’s Hat.  Some knitters came dressed in the knitted creations of the yarns they had previous bought from stall owners – it was incredible to see the gorgeous things that they knitted.  We have some very talented knitters in Wellington!

Another great highlight was getting to meet some of you lovely readers in the flesh!  Thank you for coming to say hi and introducing yourselves! You made my day. 🙂  I hope you found some yummy purchases of your own.

Here was the Flagstaff Alpacas stall:

Most of it got snaffled up, I’m happy to say.

So there you have it – a run-down of the day!

I’ll leave you with a final shot of my pretty treasures… (I’m so excited about “petals” that I have already balled it up in readiness for knitting!!)

Hope you are having a fantastic weekend!