Sunday, February 25, 2007

Yarn! Yarn! And Even More Yarn!

I had a blast at Stitches. Friday, I took Fine Finishing with Nancie Wiseman, which was great. Nancie's a good teacher, and had lots of tips. I can seam a sweater now without it looking like a Frankenknit! Today, Sunday, I took Short Rowing Bust Darts with Lily Chin. She's a kick, anda good teacher as well. I have a much better idea of how to plan a sweater from start to finish. No wonder nothing ever fit. I have some yarn in the stash...

Speaking of yarn, here's what I bought. I stayed within my budget, so I didn't get everything I wanted. There was some very expensive yarn I decided to splurge for on Friday, but their credit card machine broke just as I got to the counter, and I didn't have any checks. I guess I didn't need that yarn after all.

This is a locally dyed yarn from San Mateo, Baywood Yarns Superwash Sport in the Waves colorway. Yummy, isn't it? It has no purpose other than to be beautiful at the moment.







Some Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock in the Fire on the Mountain and January One colorways. I know, I know, I hated knitting that one sock, but sock yarn is so cute and collectible! These may even become socks someday.






This is Blue Moon Fiber Arts Twisted! in Sherbet. No project in mind yet, but it's nice and bright, isn't it?







Fleece Artist Sea Wool in Marine, companion to Handmaiden's Sea Silk. Stitches West was the US debut for this yarn. I think I'd like to actually make socks out of this. I personally like this better than Sea Silk, but then, I think silk smells funny, so make of that what you will.








Interlacements Toasty Toes in Las Vegas Brights. It may become a Lady Eleanor. I like it so far, but I'm only on the second tier. It is awfully bright. It's quite possible that you can see it from orbit.





Ceallach Dyes Sunuvasock! in Opinionated Pink. She uses solar dyes on her yarn and fiber. I think it's going to be a scarf.






Just Our Yarn Caravan, 65% wool, 35% camel down. I have no idea what I'm going to do with this, but I fell in love with the colorway. Not my usual style at all, as you can see. Maybe I'm reforming. Or I finally burned my retinas out. It's somewhere between laceweight and fingering, so maybe it will be a lace shawl.





I didn't get this at Stitches, but it came in on Thursday, so it counts. It's Louet Gems Worsted in Carribean Blue. I did have a project in mind, but I've changed my mind a couple of times since I ordered it.






And finally, Marta from White Lies Designs. The yarn above may go into this.

Friday, February 23, 2007

Coming soon - Yarn Pron!

Yes, I went to the Stitches Marketplace on Thursday night. Yes, I spent money, but only half my budget, due to the excess of mohair (allergic) and silk (smells funny). I have class today, Fine Finishing. The woman I was in the registration line with took it last year and said it was...interesting. We'll see. Will post pictures either tonight or Saturday of my goodies. I'm too busy gloating over them right now. Plus, I really need to go to bed if I hope to get anything out of today's class.

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

The sock is complete!

No pictures, though, it's a terrible sight to behold. :)

Tomorrow is Stitches! I think I'll swing by and pick up my registration packet tomorrow evening, so I don't have to stand in line early in the morning on Friday. I'm taking Fine Finishing with Nancy Wiseman all day Friday, and Short Rowing Bust Darts on Sunday with Lily Chin. I'm looking forward to it, although I do wonder what I was thinking, taking 9 hours of classes. Plus, I'll be in class all day Friday. Everyone else will get to the yarn before I do! *big grin*

I think I should work on my bag today. I could probably finish at least the body and some of the i-cord.

Monday, February 19, 2007

Lady E goes to the frog pond

Again. Oh, well, third time's a charm, right? I have a jumbo ball of Silk Garden waiting for me to begin again. It's much easier to frog with a winder. Not as many tangles that way.

My sock is nearly finished, I've just left the grafting. Since it's been so long since I've grafted, I'm waiting for tomorrow night's class.

I've finished all of my swatches for Stitches, and finally admitted that a 7 was too loose for worsted, so I moved down to a 6. They look much better. I can't decide if I want to re-knit the others, or leave them as is.

I worked 5 rounds on B4 bag, just to remind myself that I can actually knit. After the past week's disasters, I was beginning to wonder if I should just put the needles down permanently. Nah. What fun would that be?

Friday, February 16, 2007

Socks and Lady Eleanor

I am taking a sock knitting class. I thought I would enjoy it, I love knitting in the round. I don't. I'm not sure why, but I think I'll finish the sock for class, and that will be that. At least I tried it, right? More sock yarn for the sock addicts!

I started on Lady Eleanor, and then had to rip, since I made a serious mistake wayyy back in tier 1 and didn't notice until tier 3. Sigh. So I'm starting over again. I'm using Noro Silk Garden #243. It's a lovely colorway, and I'm enjoying knitting it.

I've almost finished my homework for Stitches. Just 2 1/2 swatches to go!

My B4 bag for the International Tote Exchange is on the back burner. I'll pick it up again after Stitches.