Comfort and Shells

That really sums up my weekend. Finished knitting the blanket, found the yarn for the trim, did the shells, the end.

No? You want more details?

Pattern: Savta’s Shell Pattern Afghan Normally, I link directly to the pattern when possible, but you’ll notice this one takes you to a blog. Why? Because you NEED to read the story behind the pattern. The knitter who published the pattern makes it clear she is not the designer, and if you want to know more, click away.

Changes: I did my own thing with the yarn and the needles, so see those categories. You can find my project on Ravelry HERE.

Yarn: The knitted “body” was done with Berroco Comfort. I used three skeins, and it made a rather square blanket. The crocheted trim was done with Berroco Comfort Baby held doubled. I’d call Comfort a heavy worsted, and Baby is labeled as fingering. Honestly? I found Comfort splitty, but not enough to NOT knit with it again, while Baby was less trouble to crochet held doubled than I’d thought it would be.

Needles: US #8. I started on bamboo, and switched to metal. I don’t know what brand my bamboo circ is, but it was like knitting with unsharpened pencils. I used my Susan Bates metals, and I really like the tips, but the “cord” is almost brittle plastic. I’m just going to have to start replacing ALL of my circs with Hiya Hiyas.

Hook: If you’ve read more than one crochet FO report of mine, you know I don’t use anything but Boye. This one was US #G.

That’s so you can see the “green” is indeed in the variegated. It’s hard to see, but that’s part of why I wanted THAT color.

Verdict: I’d knit this one again, but I don’t know about the crocheted shell border. It’s my go-to baby blanket trim (although I did crochet it as written for this pattern), because one of these days I am going to share my baby blankie with you, and you’ll see the shells I used to rub until I drifted off to sleep.

That’s the reverse side, which I think is pretty enough too.

I also owe you a report on a new yarn shop I visited Saturday. I found the Comfort Baby at my favorite LYS, Pins & Needles. I won’t deny that a few other things jumped in the bag there too, but we’ll look at that another time.

How was your weekend?

Getting My Knits

Jul12

Yesterday, Rosanne and I spent the afternoon getting [our] knits in Virginia. It’s a nice little promotion many of the yarn shops in the state have going this month. You buy the tote and get 15% off at the participating shops. (Please see the website for details.)

Bag loaded with new stash

I swung by It’s A Stitch before lunch to purchase my bag, and found another Noro yarn with a cotton and silk blend. It’s called Furisode, and I’m in search of the perfect pattern for two skeins… (Bulky, about 165 yards each, if you have ideas?)

After lunch, we rode across the mountain to On the Lamb. I found a pattern I’d been looking for, a needle gauge pendant and I couldn’t leave this Plymouth Kudo behind. (Anyone ever knitted with it? I think the single skein will become another Quant, unless you have a better idea?)

Larger than life-size

As we headed east again, we stopped in at J.J.’s Knitting Knook in Stuart’s Draft. It’s off the beaten path, but what a great shop! It was bright and cheery, with a nice seating area as soon as you walk in, with lots of books sprinkled all around. I didn’t buy anything, but they carry Namaste bags and had a set of KA Switch needles, so I might have to pop back over soon.

Our last stop was the Waynesboro Ben Franklin. I’ve mentioned them several times before, but they’ve started carrying a lot of Noro and Araucania yarns. Crazy, huh? If I hadn’t spent plenty already, I would have gobbled up some of the Noro Taio. They had at least three colorways.

That’s the Vera Bradley Gardening Tote Rosanne gave me for my birthday. It’s awesome on so many levels. Here, Sissy demonstrates the procedure that eliminates many bags from use. It’s the nosy basset test. Rosanne knows of this complication and suggested that I add a velcro or snap closure before use.

Actually, Gretchen was first to check it out. No worries here though; the fabric is laminated! There are 8 exterior pockets with a roomy interior. Once I add a snap (or velcro – that just glues on, right?) I’ll have the perfect multiple-project travel knitting bag. I’ve admired this fabric since it came out, but it’s way too light to resist Sissy slobber, so what a great find!

That’s the other thing from Rosanne I wanted to show you. Isn’t it beautiful? It’s a Ledbetter spindle. I’ve been thinking my back is about ready to spin again, and while I don’t know that I’ll ever spin with a spindle, this one is beautiful and will inspire me to spin SOMEHOW.

I wrapped up the evening with dinner at the firehouse with the Knight and his crew. It’s been a great weekend, and as soon as I finish this post, I’m going to do some knitting. I haven’t cast on anything new in a while, and I might not be able to help myself…

Blue Sky!

Apr8

Look ma, no clouds! I’m rather excited about that, regardless of how short-lived it might be…

OBX Spring 2008

It’s also a little play on words, as the FOs I’ll share today were made from a cake of Blue Sky Dyed Cotton that has been calling out to me since I first picked it up on my first trip into Knitting Addiction. I didn’t get in there last time we were at the beach, and I’m desperately hoping we’ll be back there before the month is out.

We’ll start with the quick little preemie cap I did for Nichole, for what I believe will be an on-going charity for the preemies at the hospital where her great niece spent the first bit of her life.

Pattern: I started out using the Conehead Baby Hat pattern, the small size. When I got to the decreases, I did a couple as written (with two knit rows between decreases) and then switched to the more standard decrease row, knit, repeat, because I *DO* remember the Coneheads and I wasn’t sure parents (or nurses, for that matter) would really appreciate the concept.

Yarn: Le sigh… Another love affair here, folks. Blue Sky Dyed Cotton. While it’s about five times more expensive than my go-to standard cotton, you do get what you pay for. This yarn is worth the hype, but I’m afraid its hand-wash, dry flat needs and the hefty price will keep me from using it very often. (And don’t you hate yarn companies that use numbers, not names? I’d call that Outer Banks Blue. If Blue Sky – or any other yarn company – needs someone to help them come up with names to replace their numbers, contact me. I’ll work for yarn.)

Needles: The trusty KA Bamboo circs, #6 US. I’m a devoted Magic Loop gal, and can loop with short circs if I have to. (Don’t ask. Yes, all my other #6 circs are busy.) Bamboo and cotton aren’t great together, but for a wee hat, it worked.

Verdict: Cute little hat, great yarn, but I don’t see this pattern getting used again at my house.

Intermission… Pause here to answer the phone, check emails, get a sip o’ something…

There’s a theme here, folks. Another hat! I call this one MY Bad Hair Never Looked So Good hat.

Pattern: Another Knitty pattern. If I could only have one, single knitting pattern source, I think Knitty would be it. This is Couvercle. I made the adult small, because I was using square needles again. It’s a great, quick, easy pattern, but the trim and the brim are done in crochet. (I wish Ravelry would allow patterns to note that in the “craft” section… both knit and crochet apply here!)

Yarn: See above. Same yummy stuff. I still have enough left to make another preemie cap, so I got a lot more yardage out of this skein than anticipated.

Needles: Ah, the Kollage square circs this time! US size #9. This cable, which they call K-Kable, is THE perfect cable for circs, in my book. The tip was also perfect for this project and yarn, and I love the coppery color. I might – MIGHT – buy a smaller size, and if the tip is plenty sharp there and the square bit doesn’t make me crazy, I might have a new favorite circular needle.

I don’t find the square needles do anything they’re advertised to do. (Bottom of the page on the link above.) My hands rarely hurt while knitting, so I couldn’t judge that, but I can tell you that there was no change in my speed or stitch uniformity. However, the testimonials say otherwise (of course!), so if you suffer from any of those problems, you may want to give them a try. The circs are pricey, although not nearly as much so as the palmwood straights.

Verdict: I could see me making more of these. I just might splurge on another hank of Blue Sky in another colorway when we get back to OBX, because I do think it stretches a bit more than a cheaper cotton, and while my hair is pretty thick, my style and length change often, so I’d like a hat that fits short sleek hair as well as my more natural wavy and unruly hair. I don’t think I’ll be wearing many ballcaps in the future, thanks to Couvercle. I’ll still need something with more of a brim for sunny exposures, but for around the house and walks in the woods, I have a new go-to hat.

(Wow. You can tell I didn’t have any foundation on there, can’t you? Bye-bye, creamy complexion of my youth! Sometimes a good camera is a bad thing…)

Well, this is much longer than I’d intended, but the two reviews are a bit interdependent, so bless your heart for reading it all!

TGIFO

Oct17

Another FO report already!? Haven’t you noticed that my FOs seem to come in clusters?

But first, Happy Birthday Kathy!

Sissy is modeling Abby’s fall ’08 sweater, because you know that in our house, it’s all about Sissy. Just like a human kid, when I WANT a photo of her, she won’t cooperate, but when I’m trying to take a photo without her help, no such luck!

Pattern: Dandy Dog Coats in the mock cable variation. This is the third time I’ve done this version (always for Abby), and the fourth time I’ve used this pattern. It’s basic and quick, and easy to adapt to the wearer’s needs. (And yes folks, I’ve requested a shot of Abby sporting her new coat!)

Yarn: Simply Caron in a nice “woodland heather” shade. It’s a great yarn for a dog coat, but the more I knit with wool and wool blends, the more I miss that wool “sproinginess”. Acrylic stretches, but that’s just not the same.

Needles: #6 bamboo straights and #5 bamboo dpns.

Verdict: I’m tired of this pattern. It sounds like I might have another LITTLE girl to knit for soon, so all those doggy sweater books I have will get a workout!

(And yes, that’s all I’m saying. I’ve spoken with the owner of a young lady we’re going to see tomorrow, so stay tuned…)

I also owe you a Wednesday afternoon update. Bec (blogless) found me in Pins ‘n Needles, the new LYS, *MY* new LYS. I should have asked if I could take photos for you. It’s bright and cheerful, and when you walk in, there’s a big, comfy sofa just begging to be flopped in for some leisurely knitting and chatting, but I bet it would also host a patient knitter’s knight with his own book or PDA or…

In the back, there’s a nice table for a small class or just for those who like to knit at a table. In between is a nice selection of yarn, some of which are new to me. The owner and sole employee right now is just the personality I desire in a yarn shop. Kathy greets you pleasantly, offers help, and then leaves you alone until you do ask for help. It’s also a great sign when the other customers are friendly, I’ve learned, and you’ll see one of my purchases that was motivated by a sweet lady who shared her mitts in progress in said yarn with me…

She also carries just about all the Bryspun needles. Now, if you think Bryspun is nothing but resin, think again. The new lace needle love of my life is also by Bryspun, in a rosewood that has a sharp point, a pretty blunt end, and sticky, grippy prettiness in between.

The yarns I couldn’t leave behind? This incredible red actually does some subtle stripes. It’s what the mitts were being done in, and it’s soft as puppy fluff-fur. It’s Berroco Jasper, and see THIS Ravelry photo for the most accurate color. (It’s a bit richer, deeper…) Any non-mitt ideas? I just got two skeins. I was thinking hat for me at the store, but??

This and the matching siblings will become my Cables & Spice vest, or maybe the Back to School U-neck vest…?? It’s Tahki Yarn’s Sedona, which speaks to me on so many levels. Sissy and the Knight made me love purple (or maybe it was Anita, Jessi and Mary?), the Knight and I honeymooned in Sedona, AZ, and this stuff is soft…

She’s going to offer fixed, alwaysthesameday, beginner classes, but she has some specialty classes planned too. There’s an entrelac on November 22nd, as I recall. She’s also having a great Grand Opening Sale, but that ends today.

I hope each of you has a friend like my Bec. We stood up for each other at our weddings, we buried each of our fathers too soon, we did countless band trips together from seventh grade on… I’ve seen her Walk Like an Egyptian, and we have a special You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feeling memory shared with another dear friend too. There are countless road trip songs and laughs from the 1990s… Sometimes, I think she knows me better than I know myself. Time and distance don’t really impact our bond; we always pick back up as though we still live one street apart and spend 8-10 hours each day together. I’ll leave you with a self-portrait of the two of us.

Tell me what your weekend holds too. Any new dogs or yarn coming your way?

I’m Addicted

Oct5

photo taken at beach house

Oooh, it’s been a good day. I finished knitting my Plath Cardigan, but still need to sew on the buttons and weave in ends. An FO report will come later. I also went on my first “fitness” walk in about 14 months, which was Sissy’s first “road walk.” This used to be a dirt road, but they called it progress and tarred and graveled it a while back, and well… We had to be sure Sissy was well-trained to the invisible fence before attempting a road walk. My back had to be healthy enough too. Well, everything was finally in place, and what a great few minutes we had! She’s such a curious, active girl, but she’s really learning some leash manners, so there was no tugging or pulling, and she even managed to trot here and there without urging me to walk too fast. We’re going to have fun walking a little further and further still…

I couldn’t wait another day to share my OBX stash haul with you. Truly folks, if the Outer Banks don’t appeal to you as a vacation destination, Knitting Addiction is most assuredly a yarn lover’s oasis. Granted, it’s probably the only yarn shop owned by a volunteer firefighter, so that alone scores major points with me, but really, Jeanne and Brittany are friendly, attentive knitters who just happen to get to pet yarn for a living. Since I wouldn’t REALLY want my own personal yarn shopper, those two are the next best thing. Brittany and I have very similar color preferences, and Jeanne has yet to insist I should try a yarn I haven’t loved. (At least they’re my LYS when I’m at the beach. That’s better than having them somewhere I only visit once in a lifetime or so…)

Oh, but you want to read about what I brought home! Of course you do. That’s the group photo. The book is one I’ve eyed for a while now, but I snatched it up because I really want to do the Back to School U-neck Vest. I fondled some Mission Falls wool, but Jeanne didn’t have enough in the colorway I loved, so I’m still looking… (Pardon the mess. I stopped unpacking to take photos for you, so what do you expect?!) Plus, there are other things I should be knitting before I cast on for me again. Does anyone else hear jingle bells, or the cries of a couple of small babies? Yeah. Christmas time’s a comin’ and so are two babies! But first, we have Stitches East, and…

(Side note here… Am I the only knitter whose want to knit list is completely unrealistic? How do you prioritize? I mean, I admit, I feel guilty that I’m knitting for me and for babies when the Knight still doesn’t have the afghan HE purchased the pattern for well over 18 months ago, and that’s just one example.)

But the yarns! Once again, I wish we had touchable screens so y’all all (yeah, I’m pretty sure that’s the ultra plural form) could pet the yarn too. Jeanne had a sample of the Mason-Dixon one piece baby kimono in this Amaizing yarn, and I just had to have it for a very special little girl on her way into our lives. Mark’s cousin had the joy of telling Pop her second child was on the way just a couple of days before he died, and I’ve known from the moment she told the rest of us that she was having a girl. (Yes, there was an ultrasound confirmation.) It’s 100% corn, and machine wash/dry, so how cool is that?!

Follow that link and check out this yarn. Some of you have asked if I dislike wool. Not at all! There are just so many fibers out there, and some call out to me. Corn fuel, and now, another corn yarn! I wonder what other new fibers I’ll meet in a few hours at the Fall Fiber Festival?

That was on Jeanne’s sale table, as were the two skeins of Schaefer’s Elaine in the Indira Gandhi colorway. There’s even a great little biography card included. My photo (as usual) doesn’t do justice to this yarn. It’s going to be a Shalom Cardigan, methinks… This is the yarn that distracts me from my knitting to-do list. It’s purely selfish, but oh how I want to knit with this yarn! Does that happen to you? Ever had a pattern or a yarn threaten to upset your (previous) plans? I think I have knitter’s ADD. Generally, I’m a plan your work and work your plan kinda’ gal, but somehow, I’ve ended up with seven WIPs in my Ravelry project list, and yet I STILL want to cast on with this yarn! (And yes, I’m well aware that just a few words ago I noted that the above baby item is due in December, along with so much more, not to mention the stuff due sooner.)

Next comes Toasty Toes. Jeanne and I had a conversation in the spring, and I said that if I could only have one yarn for the rest of my life, it would be Tofutsies. She said believed it would be Toasty Toes for her. I’ve stroked the yarn each and every time I’ve been in the shop, but this time, this colorway wanted to be mine. (Even if Brittany did note that it looks so much more appealing wound in a cake… SNOL!)

Which reminds me – another reason I love KA. They know I have a winder and swift at home, but they still wind my yarn for me. I like that, because it never fails; I want to knit with something that isn’t wound, and by the time I get it wound up, it’s time to fix dinner, let Sissy in/out, etc., and precious knitting time is lost!

Hang on! I’ve saved the best for last. Tinkerbell, in chinese poppy. I hope the metallic flecks show up! Isn’t it awesome?! It’s Chinese New Year in a yarn. Personally, I can’t see it as a sock yarn, but maybe a chic, fancy shawl?

Whew! You deserve a treat for wading through all of this, but I hope it was worth it. I love finding new yarns, and look forward to being organized enough to find just the right pattern and do some knitting with them. Thanks Jeanne and Brittany! You do have the best yarn shop out there, and I’ll see you again soon.

Now, I’m going to take tired Sissy to bed. Since it’s after midnight, it’s a day of mixed emotions. While the fiber fest and meeting up with friends is exciting, today’s also my cousin’s birthday. We had a fun dinner with her tonight, and she’s so excited about her own Namaste Newport in peacock! (See?! They’re not just for knitters. She’s a busy realtor who has her own vision for the bag as her daily workhorse.) However, it also would have been Mugsy’s 13th birthday, which means it is also the 1st anniversary of Fred’s death.

Miss you, boys. You’re forever in our hearts.

Gabfest

Sep24

I have a zillion old family photos that I’d share, if only I had a scanner that I could plug into any of the current computers. Today’s “Celebration of Life” for Auntie was hands-down, the happiest funeral I’ve ever attended. Oh, there were tears. There were soiled linen and lace hankies, because Auntie’s mother inlaw taught her nearest and dearest that tissues were for colds and children, not for ladies out in public. But all in all, I’m quite sure Auntie looked down from above and smiled. We laughed, we hugged, we promised to stay in touch better now, because the family’s “linker” is gone.

Her departed husband’s first cousin gave the homily/eulogy. That’s significant, because Auntie’s inlaws are Catholic, and Auntie was Episcopalian. The planets aligned and it was good. The pastor of Auntie’s church? His wife was born and raised in Auntie’s favorite beach spot, Pawleys Island. The dear man even brought back a baggy full of sand from the beach this spring, and Auntie ran her fingers through the grit. He said he watched the memories wash over her…

We reconnected. We honored her, and we’ll continue to honor her by staying in touch as she would have wanted.

Believe it or not, there are more goodies for me photos to share. And since Anita put a photo of us up on Ravelry, turnabout is fair play. This was taken at the end of the day Saturday, but trust me, we gabbed the whole time, taking breaks only to sleep. I’m quite certain that despite being raised to have better manners, I spoke with my mouth full more than once last weekend. I’m smiling too hard for a good photo in just about all of ’em, but that just tells you that I had a blast!

But goodies. We all like to windowshop on other blogs, right? Well, here we go!

Anita gifted us each with a different set of stitch markers. I should do a photo shoot with the assorted markers she’s made me, but today, these silly turtles get the nod. While several of my girlfriends make neat stitch markers, I think Anita has a lock on CUTE. If you haven’t been to her Etsy site, you don’t know what you’re missing! (While you’re there, check out her tape measures, which are a special favorite of Sissy’s.)

Ruth brought me quite the package. Isn’t this shawl lovely? Be sure to note the green on the left. Which side is the “right side”? (Does it matter?)

She also gifted me some Pecan Tart tea and some rich, delicious chocolates. (Do you say pee-KAN or puh-cahn? ) Thank you Ruth, for the gift of your time and the great conversation.

Sadly, I was so caught up in enjoying my visit, that even when Ruth snapped photos, I didn’t grab my camera and do the same. So, you’ll have to wait until she blogs about our meet-up. We had a very long, leisurely lunch at Michie Tavern, then parted ways briefly before heading to the downtown mall.

We got lucky and made it in The Needle Lady just before closing. I’ve been on a search for just the right yarn for a very special project, and I happened upon it there. It’s Cascade Handpaints sock yarn, and had they had more of it, I’m pretty sure Ruth would have bought some too. Ordinarily, I would have offered to let her have it, but this yarn really does have a mission. The only hint I’ll give is that both the Knight and MJ agree the colorway is just perfect for the recipient. Now, to find a pattern, a shawl pattern. I have over 800 yards, but I’m not sure where this will fall into my queue.

Sissy and I got another care package yesterday too. No, no, the emory board isn’t for Sissy! There were some warm-weather Loopy Kisses for Sissy. The Catalina Pouch is for me too, thanks to Nancy of Days Gone By. Ever listen, or better yet read, the words to that song? It was playing somewhere during our travels today, and it really got my attention. Auntie lived life that way, and I aspire to too.

Palm, Prayers and a Parcel

Aug5

(Don’t you love alliteration?)

Actually, the prayer part comes first, as it should. My dear pal Michelle has a friend – a whole family, actually – in crisis, and she’d like our help. Please follow the link to read all about little Luke’s inoperable brain stem tumor. Michelle is also collecting 8×8 squares in boy colors (again, follow the link), but she simply must have the squares by August 12th. I’m putting everything else to the side to crank out a couple of squares in the next couple of days, and I hope you can too. I can’t imagine trying to support a friend through something of the sort, and I hope I never have to…

Heck, let’s just really mix this up. Next, the parcel.

It’s The Loopy Ewe 2nd Anniversary Kit. (ETA – They’re sold out. I was evidently one of the lucky few.) I’m becoming very fond of these tall mugs, not that I’m drinking anything hot these days. The yarn reminds me a lot of my high school colors, but we’ll come back to that. It’s a great pattern, with cute little transfer stickers (they call them tattoos, but I’m going to use them as rub-ons in a scrapbook at some point) anda lapel-type pin. (Sissy was distraught that no peppermints came with it, but luckily, we have a big bin on hand…)

“Loopified” by Hand Maiden in Cabash. If you follow the link above, it will explain why each color was selected. This yarn is soft as can be. It matches my old high school letterGIRLS jacket almost perfectly. I look forward to knitting up these socks, andI can pretend I’m 17 (or younger) again. Hmmm… GREAT candidates for my clear jelly Skechers due on my front porch today.

I’d heard It’s a Stitch had been sold, so I wandered in to check things out yesterday evening. Not much at all has changed, as far as I could tell, but I did grab some great needles. The Bryspun/Laurel Hill palm #9s are the needles I’ve been searching for. This is the third andfinal pair of needles I’ve tried with the Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk. They have just the right stickiness to grab the stitches, and yet the rest of the stitches still slide on up/down the needles without pushing and pulling. The Bryspun circs were sticky enough, but the points didn’t quite suit me for this loosely-plied yarn, but more on that when I finally have an FO report.

I love the KA dpns, so I bought the two sizes of straights they had in the shop too, just on principle. I’m sure they’ll come in handy at some point.

Not shown is the fall Vogue Knitting magazine. (Link is to the summer edition, for some reason?) I must be growing up as a knitter, because the last two issues of Vogue have really appealed to me. (Some of y’all too, because you’ve either been Rav-stalking me or you spent some time last night marking all of your favorites from the magazine too.)

Now, to wait on our IT dude… In the second paragraph, we lost our cable connection for about ten minutes. Then came Computer Guy. I think we finally have a new router, just in time for this afternoon’s thunderstorms. It appears I have a connection again, so I’m going to hit send while I can!

Score!

May27

Ever since I first stroked Rosanne’s Panda Silk, I’ve had my eyes open for some of my own. After swearing loudly enough for the dude sitting two doors down to hear me when I found The Needle Lady closed yesterday, I headed to It’s A Stitch, *KNOWING* the store that closes at 4pm on Saturdays would be closed for the holiday too. Ha! Wrong! My skepticism was trumped by a 25% off all yarn.

This Pearl Blue Panda Silk came home with me. I’m thinking it will be a scarf, probably for the to be gifted pile, but I’m open to suggestions. It’s very soft and silky (duh?), but it really is bamboo and wool with a dash (5%) of silk. I’m still looking forward to the soy version, due out in a month or so. I love knitting with wool and alpaca, but I’m also very fond of soy and bamboo. Heck, here lately, you can add cotton to the mix too. I’m just all about soft, squooshy yarns, it seems.

My other big find was my $10 handbag. No, really, and from Kroger’s (grocery store) nonetheless. I had pulled up to use a self-checkout lane, and the employee supervising said stations noted my fabric bag and asked if I’d seen their cart of similar bags, 1/2 off. I said no, and tried to present my best, “Really, not interested!” aura, but I’m glad I failed. It wasn’t the Vera Bradley knock-offs I’ve seen at other grocery stores. I’m not at all sure what made him think the two types were similar, aside from the fact that those in the cart weren’t leather or vinyl, but fabric…

It’s the perfect size, style, shape, colors… everything. I hope it doesn’t run in the rain or fall apart before the summer’s over. I even love the little bow! I’ve always been mad for little bows. The colors washed out in the close-up; they’re close to true in the first photo. The contrast stitching is done in that pale pink. Truly, I would have paid LOTS more for this bag. It’s as though someone designed it with me in mind.

Inside, there are three little pockets. The standard, flat zippered pocket built into the side, and two cell phone sized pockets. The one on the left was too narrow for my phone, but the second pocket holds my phone just fine. Everyone keep their fingers crossed that this bargain holds up until I get tired of it, please?

I’m sure you’re quite tired of reading about my little bargain bag, but I really am blown away at how well-designed it is. It even has the little “feet” I like on bags!

That’s the last of the bag blabberings. Thanks for bearing with me. You know how picky I am if you’ve been reading about my knitting bag search, so this really is a find. Along the same lines, Vera Bradley has announced the next four colors to be retired, and they’re 25% offright now. I might order a baby bag, just to try it. I’d like to wait for a bigger discount, but that also means I’d risk the colors I like (Mesa Red and most especially, Botanica) not being available in the pieces I want.

The mystery lace is complete for a few weeks. Clue #2 is done. It’s rather easy, as lace goes, and I’m just crazy for the yarn, both the color and the feel.

It’s not a great photo, but at 9pm, you take what you can get.

Whew! I need some iced green tea now, after all of that. Shall I pour for you too?

Half-way

May25

Pardon the morning sun dancing across the lace, and the “Sissy was here” wet ear marks on the right, but that’s all of clue #1 in our Guild’s mystery KAL. That means I’m half-way through for the clues I have on hand. I’ll start on clue #2, probably after I post this. I frogged what you’d seen before and started over on #7s Friday night. Interestingly enough, it flowed, mistake-free. I don’t know whether the slightly larger needle allowed me to see the stitches better or what, but it seems my shawl is happiest on #7s.

I’ve done a few rows on Stardust, and otherwise, the weekend has not been following my plan. I tried to go to the Needle Lady yesterday. I even waited until the farmers market should have been over. (The market takes up one entire, precious parking lot.) For whatever reason, there was not a parking place to be had downtown, so I scrapped that and proceeded to the grocery store for more frustration. Then, I headed home with most of what I went to buy, and made macaroni salad and brownies for the Knight’s duty crew at the firehouse. At first, it appeared it would be dinner for three, but then my Favorite College Kid showed up (the Knight mentioned the brownies to him), followed by some dear friends from out of town. What a great surprise! I happily forgot all about my plans to knit the night away at home, and hung out at the station, catching up and laughing, and eating.

I did pick up the supplies to begin training Sissy to the invisible fence, so that adventure will start in a while. As I type, Mugsy is exercising her on the front porch in a rousing game of chase.

Friday afternoon marked the arrival of one of my recent Etsy purchases. The gals of Chestnut Bay Fibers have a new fan! Each hank arrived individually bagged, closed with cute little horse head stickers. Very few of you know that horses used to be a big part of my life (prior to the back surgery), so this was a great added touch for me. (Details. I love those little custom details that make me feel valued as a customer!) The yarn is so soft, and so beautiful, so it was with a heavy heart that I bagged it back up and set it aside for a day to be determined by my ever-growing queue. So much yarn, so little time to knit.

I know. Some of you already think I have a lot more time to knit that you do. And that’s true enough I suppose, but knitting really is my zen. It centers me, but I also say only half in jest that knitting is part of my Alzheimer’s prevention program. You see, it’s on both sides of my family, although all cases were in great aunts, so there’s hope… They seem rather certain that continued learning of new things/skills help fight off the brain disease, so I figure as long as I keep learning new stitches, learning about new fibers, etc., knitting really is good for me!

Someone had said she wanted to see the package I sent my Coffee Swap pal. Holly has received her care package and has blogged all about it, so you can see that HERE.

Now, back to knitting. And training Sissy. Have a great Memorial Day for those in the USA.

Spinning for Knowledge

Mar22

Just for the record, I’m only taking the spinning class in pursuit of fiber knowledge. (Shut up, Jessi.) I know many of you happy spinners started out in a similar fashion, but I figure if I keep reciting my intentions, it will ~~ward off the accidental wheel purchase~~ keep me focused ~~give you more reason to laugh when I confess to my wheel purchase~~ and perhaps save me from the lure of the wheel.

Rosanne and I had the first of a two-session class on beginning spinning today with Barbara of Stony Mountain Fibers. There are no “action” shots for you, because we were the only students, so there was only hands-on instruction, which left no time to snap photos. Barbara began with the fleece and immediately had us pulling and squinting as we learned the basic terms and what to look for in a quality fleece. We carded and made our own rolags, and then we spent a brief moment with the drop spindle, but I never did make anything that resembled yarn with that before we moved to the wheels. (Mary, I do remember your advice, but I think that when I can’t remember which way to spin the spindle, it matters not…)

Thanks again Margaret, for your advice on a wheel for me and my back. Barbara quickly suggested a double treadle, and since none caught my eye, she set me up with (I believe) a Kromski of some sort, which I found hard to start. I rather randomly selected a Fricke next, and we were happy together. (Photo from the Fricke website.) Rosanne started on the Majacraft that caught her eye, but eventually moved to the “twin” to the Fricke I was using. *IF* I ever decide to buy a wheel, it would be this modest fellow, and due to the fact that they’re downsizing and have eliminated several of their vendors including Barbara… never mind. I have no intentions of buying a wheel. Remember?

Barbara sent us off with homework too. We are to wash and card some more wool this week. I should have done it tonight while the Knight is away, but instead, I’m washing jeans so I am presentable when we head to the farm tomorrow for Easter dinner. Really, the fleece was rather clean (and not from one of Barbara’s sheep, if you care), but it was raining when I took this photo, so I rather randomly shoved the camera in the bag and snapped. Just take my word for it.

Of course, I couldn’t walk out of a yarn shop empty-handed. So, despite having yarn in my stash for our guild’s upcoming KAL, I purchased some of the bamboo Barbara hadn’t even had a chance to put out yet. I have no earthly idea how one says “Xie” but it feels like YUM. It’s a dark sage green, since we get the last clue in the fall and the plan is for us to wear the shawls to our December meeting, or something of the sort. I have no idea why the Knight’s cotton candy is in the photo, and the needle case was a gift from Rosanne, but I thought that it would help you see something close to a true color on the bamboo. The awesome case should solve my needle storage problems – all of them.

I must confess that I’ve never been happier with something a friend “handed down” to me. Rosanne found the case ill-suited to her needs, but that’s what is fun about fiber toys – there’s always something else to try!

This is the crochet case Rosanne found for me. It’s delightful, and given that I can’t see me ever needing the full assortment of hooks she carries, this is a perfect starter kit that should see me well into my crocheting future. It’s so small and light that it will travel well too. I’m slowly learning that I have hook preferences too; Boye. The head and throat are just a tich smaller, rounder, or something that makes them easier/faster to use than the Susan Bates metals.

I still need to tell you about Sock Wizard, but this post is probably long enough for now.

To those celebrating Easter, I wish you a joyful day filled with all that makes it special for you.