99 comments later and the Random.org winner is…..#16!!

Congrats to Muffin for winning this beautiful tam from Simone at Sand and Sky Creations! She’ll be in touch with you soon!

And Simone has been so gracious as to offer free shipping (normally $9.50) to anyone interested in purchasing from her shop during the month of June!

Just add “OrganicSister” to the notes section during checkout and the shipping will be automatically deducted.

Happy Weekend Everyone!

Simone is offering one lucky reader a *Custom Made* Hamadryad Tam!

The Hamadryad Tam is perfect for tucking up hair or dreadlocks so you can pursue your crafty or athletic endeavors.  It is hand knit from incredibly soft, locally milled and spun merino wool in your favorite three colors.  Simone offers three brim options for the optimum fit and to suit your personal style:

1. Rolled (pictured)
2. Ribbed – For a snugger fit
3. Rib & Tie – Ribbed with a drawstring for a customizable and the most secure fit.

I’m so excited to be offering this giveaway! I have been admiring Simone’s beautifully hand-crafted items for some time and in talking with her online I couldn’t be happier to support such a gorgeous mama! I’m also very excited about the impending arrival of my own Hamadryad Tam!

Would you like a tam of your own?

Six Ways To Enter!

Be sure to enter in your correct email and leave a separate comment for each entry:

1. Visit Sand and Sky Creations and leave a comment here telling me your favorite item or Hamadryad colors.
2. Blog about this giveaway with a link back to this post and to Sand and Sky Creations.
3. Tweet this giveaway and share the link here.
4. Share this giveaway on Facebook.
5. Follow Sand and Sky on Twitter
6. Like Sand and Sky on Facebook

The giveaway closes Saturday, May 29th at 6pm CST. I’ll choose the winner using Random.org and announce them that evening!

Good luck!

[Disclosure]

One of our stops was visiting with Anna and her family in DFW. We’ve been chatting for awhile online through Twitter as she contemplated dreading her hair. We were hoping to do that on Saturday but the timing isn’t quite right for her.

Instead we had a relaxed day at her home. Zeb watched Anime with their 5 year old son, we laughed as her two year old daughter introduced herself about 23 times throughout the day (she was so cute!), we chatted about organic living, the awesomeness of the internet, education and life in general. We coordinated a taco dinner and a few mixed drinks. And we played.

Anna is a fiberista! She dyes, spins and knits the most beautiful yarn. (You can check out her shop on Etsy.) She was kind enough to give Justin and I a demo and answer our relentless questions. I’m so in love with the idea of spinning my own yarn someday. Think I can fit a wheel in the RV?

After dinner and an RV tour, I just couldn’t resist the beautiful weather and brought out the hoops! She and her sister both had the silly idea that neither of them could hoop but I convinced them otherwise. By the end of the night we were all hooping it up – even her resistant hubby, although he did it behind our backs!

We spent Mother’s Day slow and easy with a movie (Ironman 2). Then we parked outside a local library picking up on their Wi-Fi and catching up on emails and blogs. I think we’ll be doing that more often.

How was your weekend and your Mother’s Day?

We didn’t do a lot for Christmas (including blogging about it) but I did enjoy making Justin this Manly Scarf (found here on Ravelry – and also on this blog).

It wasn’t difficult but it did require I pay closer attention. Did you know they make these cool little do-dads that fit over your knitting needles to help you keep track? Yes, you probably did. But I was pretty excited when I figured out what the pieces that came in my teach-yourself-to-knit kit were actually used for.

I made this super long; longer than Justin is tall. Also, the original pattern didn’t call for stripes; that was Justin’s request and my workmanship. Yup! Learned how to change colors! I think I may have done it wrong but I couldn’t find any directions for changing colors when the first stitch is slipped. Anyone?

Something else I learned while working on this: I really enjoy knitting. And it keeps me sane, especially when I’m overstimulated. It gives me something close by to focus on, and something to do, while still being in the middle of any hubbub (like busy family gatherings). It’s centers me, pulling me inward a bit…but not too much.

Yes. It’s my new thing. Now I just need more patterns. But how do I narrow it down??

• Love, love, love this jacket!
• This cowl is calling my name.
• I’m fairly certain this sweater is a must.
• And I’m totally tempted by this skirt.

I’m feeling a bit over my head, but a whole lot of inspired.:D

I learned to knit last fall, thanks to my friend Rachel. And seeing as how hats no longer fit over my dreadlocks, my first project was a warm winter beanie:

It’s just a regular beanie done in a round but left open at the top. I learned the basics with this hat, such as working in a round, decreasing and casting off. It’s pretty simple, 100% wool and keeps my ears warm.

I just finished my second project, also for my ears: a headband!

This one I’m most proud of since I used NO pattern; I made it up completely on my own! I also taught myself how to do a buttonhole and re-enforce it and how to knit-on cast on. (Thanks to hubby for getting me The Knitters Book of Finishing Techniques for Christmas last year!)

Speaking of books, I ran across this one earlier this year: Knitting With Dog Hair. Um. Hmm. “Better a sweater from a dog you know”? Sustainable, yes. But it sorta gives me the image of a crazy cat…ur, dog lady.

I’ve decided when we’re on the road I’ll be keeping my hands busy with lots of knitting (probably not with dog hair). Socks or toys both intrigue me. Have any good patterns for beginners?

**And since it’s the first Wednesday of the month, don’t forget to pop on over to Not Dabbling In Normal to see me talk about my dysfunctional pumpkin!**