Unplanned Peacock Studio is a small hand dyed yarn business that's taking over a farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Our yarns are unique, high quality, and made with care. We also raise Icelandic sheep for their glorious wool, and we help out our neighbors by selling other local yarn and fiber. I love to do custom work, so please inquire if you are interested in something extra special (match your pet? someone's favorite color? etc.), larger quantities than are currently in stock (for that Einstein Coat you've always wanted), or a different color on one of our yarns. Typically, custom work takes about 2 weeks to complete, as long as the weather cooperates (I do much of the dyeing process outside), and the yarn is available.
Our Knitter of the Month is Lisa James, of Rocky Mount, Virginia!
Lisa knit this Ishbel shawl by Ysolda Teague out of our Frog Superwash Merino Fingering. Isn't it stunning? The small size would take 1 skein of our SWMF and the large would take 3 (yes, the large is MUCH bigger!). Of course, you could also knit either size with one skein of our laceweight yarn.
Lisa tells us: "While in 4th grade, all the girls were taught to knit by my teacher, Mary Wade Akers, while the boys made model cars. Having learned to crochet already, I was eager to learn a new skill, as I was a complete nut for anything “needle & thread” related (crochet, knitting, sewing, embroidery, macrame’, etc.). We learned to cast on, to knit and to purl. I made endless 2” wide “scarves” that were great for my dolls. While I continued to mostly crochet the knitting was put to the side since I didn’t have the skills to actually make garments.
Once I married in 1987 and moved to North Carolina, to pass the time, I found a yarn shop and signed up for beginning knitting classes. That started it all (mostly the yarn addiction)!! That first year I completed 6 sweaters in 6 months. Sadly, a job cut into a great deal of my knitting time and then many years down the road a baby, so the knitting moved to the back burner. Once that baby started dance classes and outgrew the smocked clothing I made for her, I still needed a take-along-project -- so knitting became “hot” again for me. In the last 5 years I’ve consistently had at least 3 projects on-the-needles and am going strong.
Upon meeting Natasha through The Crooked Stitch, at first glance I fell in love with her yarn. The colors are so luscious and they bring a smile to my face. Knitting with her yarns are always a pleasure as they are so soft. It’s also a real pleasure to have someone local from which to get custom-dyed yarns."
Want to be Knitter of the Month? Knit a project out of an Unplanned Peacock yarn and send us the photos (with permission to publish them on our website). If you win, you'll receive a free skein of yarn.
Happy Lughanassadh to all the Wheel Club Members!
I hope you are enjoying your lovely yarn! Our next package will be sent out early September!
If you are intrigued by the traditions of the Celtic people of the past, and you love stunning and unique yarn, check out our Wheel of the Year Yarn Club!