Kari Sinks 🧶 Dark Lake Fiber Art 🧶
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karisinks.bsky.social
Kari Sinks 🧶 Dark Lake Fiber Art 🧶
@karisinks.bsky.social
180 followers 86 following 120 posts
Knitting is my first yarnie love, but I am obsessed with all things fiber related.
NW Minnesota

Ravelry: https://www.ravelry.com/designers/kari-sinks

Etsy: https://darklakefiberart.etsy.com
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karisinks.bsky.social
This was the perfect way to start my summer break from work! I'm looking forward to lots of slow mornings on my patio with my coffee and knitting 🧶☕🧶

#knitsky
Everything I need for a peaceful morning laid out on my patio table. I have an in-progress handknit cardigan, which is a light cream color in a lace and garter stitch pattern. There's a straw hat, a pot of geraniums with pink flowers and a dark blue travel coffee mug with a floral print. There's also a book, "The Little Frog's Guide I Self-Care," which has an adorable illustration of a frog wearing a toadstool mushroom hat.
May 30, 2025 at 4:03 PM
karisinks.bsky.social
Today's adventure. I can't wait to try these fiddleheads. Any recipe suggestions?
Newly emerged ostrich fern fiddle heads. A wooded area with newly unfurled ostrich ferns all over the ground. A basket containing freshly harvested fiddle heads ferns with a slough in the background. An old, giant tree that is just starting to grow leaves for the year.
May 11, 2025 at 12:47 AM
karisinks.bsky.social
I think I'm going to wear this cardigan all the time! It's thin enough to wear on cool summer mornings, but I'm sure I will wear it layered in the winter too.

This is the #irishgoldcardigan by Joji Locatelli. I used Yak & Merino Sock yarn in Moose from my shop.

🧶#knitsky
A woman is modeling her newly finished handknit cardigan. It's knit with brown yarn. It's mostly stockinette stitch, with vertical sections of lace. She's standing outside, in front of a lilac bush that is just starting to grow leaves. A woman is modeling her newly finished handknit cardigan. It's knit with brown yarn. It's mostly stockinette stitch, with vertical sections of lace. She's standing outside, in front of a lilac bush that is just starting to grow leaves.
May 10, 2025 at 3:15 PM
karisinks.bsky.social
This yak/silk fiber blend is soooo soft, but I really don't enjoy spinning it.

Part of me thinks that life is too short and I should abandon this project for something more enjoyable, but I also don't want to be wasteful.

Should I skip this for something more enjoyable or keep pushing through? 🧶
A woman's hand is holding a bobbin of handspun singles yarn. It is blue, green and gold in color. There are potted houseplants in the background.
May 5, 2025 at 1:28 PM
karisinks.bsky.social
I've still been knitting, even if I haven't been motivated to post. I've been busy, my last pattern release was a flop, and with everything going on in this country, it seemed a little frivolous to post about yarn and knitting. But lately I've felt compelled to rejoin this community. #knitsky 🧶
A woman is wearing a handknit sweater. It is knit in stockinette, dark brown and tunic length. She has long, wavy, brown hair and blue eyes. She is standing outside. The sun is shining, the grass is finally green and the crabapple tree is starting to grow leaves. This is a modified #lentosweater. I knit it longer and added a split hem. It is so cozy, but I think it will get put away to wear until the weather turns cold again. For yarn, I overdyed a failed color way with a dark brown-black, held together with Knitting for Olive Mohair. This is a modified #lentosweater. I knit it longer and added a split hem. It is so cozy, but I think it will get put away to wear until the weather turns cold again. For yarn, I overdyed a failed color way with a dark brown-black, held together with Knitting for Olive Mohair.
May 4, 2025 at 1:02 AM
karisinks.bsky.social
It felt so good to get some ☀️ while I got a few rows in today. Even with all the snirt and dormant plants. 🧶

#knitsky #knitting
A woman's hand holding a knitting project. It's the start of a dark brown, almost black sweater. There is a little dog in her lap. They are sitting on a patio under blue skies.
March 9, 2025 at 10:05 PM
karisinks.bsky.social
Now live! You can get the River Bend Socks on Ravelry and Etsy. I've been wanting to make my patterns accessible for everybody, so I'm offering them on a sliding scale until the end of the month.Use code FREERIVER to get them free or 50RIVER for 50% off (Ravelry only) 🧶 #knitsky #sockknitting
A woman's feet wearing handknit socks. The socks are gray and have a simple lace pattern. There is a bookshelf in the background.
March 7, 2025 at 10:13 PM
karisinks.bsky.social
This is my new favorite sweater! 😍 It's(almost) exactly what I wanted. The next version will have a slight adjustment to make the pockets a bit bigger.

But I loved knitting it and love wearing it. I'm already thinking about yarn choices for my next one. 🧶 #skykal #knitsky #knitting
A woman with light brown hair is wearing a handknit cardigan. The cardigan is teal and has a broken rib texture. She is standing near a half frozen river and dormant trees.
March 3, 2025 at 10:53 PM
karisinks.bsky.social
Here are just a few of my favorite socks that I have knit for #showmeyourknits Sock Week.

I almost always have a pair of socks on my needles and almost exclusively wear handknit socks now. They are just so cozy! 🧶

#knitting
#sockknitting
Blue handknit socks with a white quilt pattern on the leg. The pattern is Quilty Cabin Socks by Horsefeathers Fiber Arts. There is a red, blue and yellow braided rug in the background. Women's feet wearing light plum colored socks. The leg of the socks have a slouchy ribbing on the leg. The pattern is Nest Socks by Katie Herrod of Songbird Handmade. The yarn is Yak and Merino Sock by Dark Lake Fiber Art. Women's feet wearing light green, blue and purple ribbed, handknit socks. The yarn is handspun and there is a spinning wheel in the background. The pattern is Essential DK Socks by Kari Sinks.
March 2, 2025 at 3:56 PM
karisinks.bsky.social
If you are in the northwestern Minnesota area, come to UMC on Monday to check out the "With Her Hands" Fiber Art Celebration! There are so many talented fiber artists with pieces on display. Plus, live music and food!
Two handknit sweaters on display. There's a dark green cardigan with a light blue and green floral motif and a blue short sleeved sweater with a floral colorwork yoke. A poster describing the "With Her Hands" fiber art celebration. March 3 - 14 | Sargeant Student Center, U of M Crookston In honor of Women’s History Month, U of M Crookston presents "With Her Hands," a fiber art celebration highlighting the tradition, skill, and heritage of fiber arts in the Red Lake River region. Kick-Off Event – March 3 | 5-6:30 p.m. Join us for a social gathering with light hors d'oeuvres while learning about the history of fiber arts and connecting with artists and community members. Featuring: Knitting, crocheting, spinning, weaving, dyeing, embroidery, stitching, and textile crafts. For participation details, contact the Office of Outreach & Engagement at 218.281.8369. Sponsored by the Northwest Minnesota Women’s Fund, the Crookston Visitors Bureau, and the University of Minnesota Crookston.
March 1, 2025 at 6:11 PM
karisinks.bsky.social
It's still Lace Week for #showmeyourknits and I want to share my favorite lace socks!

These are my River Bend Socks. My testers are just finishing theirs. Watch for the pattern next week! 🧶

#knitting #knitsky
A woman's feet with handknit lace socks. The socks are gray with a simple lace pattern.
February 27, 2025 at 11:13 PM
karisinks.bsky.social
I'm pretty happy with my skein of handspun I made from our rabbits' fur. There are some inconsistencies, but it should knit up fine. I'm glad I blended it with Corriedale; it made it easier to spin and should be easier to knit with too.

Now, to decide if I should dye it or leave it natural?
A close up of a handspun skein of yarn. The yarn is mostly undyed cream, with bits of gray. It is sitting on a wooden table with pothos leaves around it.
February 25, 2025 at 10:58 PM
karisinks.bsky.social
It's Lace Week on #showmeyourknits. The Peony Tank I knit a couple summers ago is one of my favorite lace projects! 🧶

#knitting #knitsky
A woman is standing in a wooded area holding a flower. She is wearing an off white, handknit tank top.
February 24, 2025 at 1:45 AM
karisinks.bsky.social
I'm so excited about this cardigan design! It's turning out exactly as I had hoped and is so enjoyable to knit. 🧶

#skykal #knitting #blueskyknitters
A woman wearing a partially finished handknit sweater. It is teal blue, with the body and most of one sleeve complete. She has frizzy hair and dog toys are strewn on the floor, but she is smiling because she loves how the sweater is turning out. Close up of a woman's torso and arm wearing a handknit cardigan. It is teal blue with a broken rib stitch texture.
February 22, 2025 at 7:06 PM
karisinks.bsky.social
It may be -19 outside, but this blooming orchid is a good reminder that spring is on its way. Eventually.
An orchid with two blossoms, and more buds growing. The orchid flower is white and pink. There is a guitar hung on the wall in the background.
February 18, 2025 at 2:51 PM
karisinks.bsky.social
This yak and silk blend is lucky it's so pretty, because it is a pain to spin 🧶

#handspinning #handspunyarn
A close up shot of a bobbin on a spinning wheel. There are some handspun singles starting to fill it up. The yarn is variegated gray, blue and green.
February 16, 2025 at 6:24 PM
karisinks.bsky.social
This week's #showmeyourknits is WIPs. Missing from this pile is a fingering weight cardigan I keep at work for break time knitting.

Blue self drafted cardigan, cream Menhir sweater, handspun Traveler Shell, Purl Soho Classic Ribbed Hat 🧶

#knitting #knitsky
A pile of in progress knitting projects laying on a hardwood floor. There's a dark teal cardigan in broken rib stitch with the body almost complete, a cream colored pullover with just the sleeves left, about 8 inches of the start of a cardigan in green, yellow and brown handspun yarn and a light blue handspun hat that just needs the top decreases.
February 15, 2025 at 4:27 PM
karisinks.bsky.social
I found the perfect buttons for this cardigan in my stash! 🧶

#knitting #knitsky
A close up of the body of a handknit cardigan. The cardigan is dark green, with a floral colorwork motif in lighter blue and green. It has wooden buttons carved with a floral design.
February 14, 2025 at 7:49 PM
karisinks.bsky.social
My socks are ready for testers! To view the details and apply, visit www.yarnpond.com/pattern_test...

#knitsky
#knitting
#testknitting
#testknitterswanted
A close up of a woman's feet donned in handknit socks. The socks are gray, with a ribbed cuff, lace down the legs and top of feet, and stockinette toes. There is a bookshelf in the background.
February 13, 2025 at 5:40 PM
karisinks.bsky.social
Please enjoy this very unaesthetic video of me steeking a cardigan 🧶

It's definitely not as scary as it looks!

I used Peace Fleece Worsted for the MC, and my own handspun Rambouillet for the CC.
February 11, 2025 at 11:11 PM
karisinks.bsky.social
I sat down to take some pictures of these socks, but Lyra had other plans. 🧶

#knitsky #knitting #sockknitting
Close up of feet with handknit socks. The socks are knit with gray yarn in a lace ribbing pattern. A small dog with curly black and white fur is curled up and resting her head on the woman's leg.
February 9, 2025 at 4:28 PM
karisinks.bsky.social
My kids have been asking me to make them something to remember our Angora rabbits that passed away last year. I'm going to blend their hair with Corriedale wool to give it more elasticity (and make it easier to spin!) This will be a long project, but a special one ❤️🐇🧶🐇❤️

#handspinning #handspun
A blending board and carding brush sit on a table. A pile of Angora rabbit hair and a pile of combed wool top sit next to it. Both are their undyed, natural colors.
February 5, 2025 at 10:44 PM
karisinks.bsky.social
Quick fit check after I split for the sleeves. It fits exactly as I hoped!

I'm designing this cardigan to be my ultimate comfort knit, both to knit and to wear.🧶Top down, drop shoulder, no all purl rows, with an included button band. And maybe afterthought pockets?

#knitsky #skykal #knitting
A woman with long, light brown hair is trying on her knitting WIP. It's a teal blue cardigan, knit in broken rib stitch and reaching about an inch past where it is split for the sleeves.
February 5, 2025 at 12:50 AM
karisinks.bsky.social
This week's prompt for #showmeyourknits is stripes. I don't knit stripes too often, but I did find some pictures of a striped test knit I did last summer.

This is the Cheap Date Shawl, designed by @kaceyknits.bsky.social. It's knit in my own handspun yarn. 🧶
A shawl is hanging from a fence. The shawl is triangular with stripes. The stripes are dark brown alternating with lighter brown and green. A woman is standing in front of green dogwood bushes. She's wearing a handknit shawl and holding a sunflower.
February 2, 2025 at 1:29 AM
karisinks.bsky.social
I'm not usually a huge fan of pinks, but this dusty rose is definitely an exception! 🧶

#handspunyarn #handspun

Are there any spinning tags/threads I should be following?
A woman's hand holding a full bobbin of handspun yarn. The yarn is a light dusty rose color
January 31, 2025 at 10:38 PM