Looking Back at Vanna's Choice

I remember when Vanna's Choice yarn was first introduced by Lion Brand Yarn. All those pretty colors were so inspiring for many projects. I'm getting ready to enter the Vanna's Choice Contest. I haven't started on the new project yet, but I sorted through the Vanna stash and found possible yarns to use. Since you can enter as many items as you wish, I took time to look through past designs in search of Vanna's Choice yarn. I made a "Powerpuff" series of hats. The Bubbles Cloche was blue and made out of a different yarn, but Buttercup was green with a buttercup flower. Blossom was a burnt orange with a flower. There are a few other hats, fingerless gloves, and shrugs as well. I put them together here in a collage. When I finish my newest, I'll be sure to show you!
Here's a great design in Vanna's Choice from fellow CreateCrochet team member CrocheTrend.

And look at this sweet hoodie from BallofYarnToo

For more Fiber goodness, stop by Alpaca Farm Girl for Fiber Arts Friday. (Check out the Winter Alpaca Peeps pic!)

Warm Woolen Mittens

I just LOVE the way that Cascade Eco Wool felts. My husband has had a pair of Dachstein mitts for 30 years. They were popular among mountain-climbing outdoor adventurists, but they don't make them anymore. (I couldn't find them anyway.)
I had some wool leftover from making the hooded capelet below and thought I'd try to felt a pair of mittens. Felting (or fulling) can be quite challenging. You don't want to waste precious wool if you misjudge how much your project will shrink during felting. So, I took my time, felted a swatch and then one mitten. It turned out perfectly, if I do say so myself! Today, I felted the second mitten, along with a hat and matching pair of mittens in a mauve color. The trick to mittens is to check them often and to keep the thumb open. If you just let it go until it looks the right size, the thumb will felt together.
Mittens make a great gift. I especially like to wear mittens when skiing. So, when it's really cold, skip the gloves and wear your wool mittens!

Check out the Fiber Arts Friday post at http://www.alpacafarmgirl.com/