Blithering Knitiot

The Spin In

Some pictures from today's Spin In held at a local winery.  Everyone was all too willing to share their thoughts and philosophies about spinning, or what to spin, or on what to spin it.  It was a very educational afternoon, and I think looking for a wheel is not as daunting a task as it once was.  Besides spinning, there was some knitting going on, as well as some very cool needle felting. 

Shawls from Homespun:

Homespun yarn:

Needle felting:

More Homespun:

So, lots of watching and talking and learning.  All very inspiring.  Now, to get out the drop spindle and get to work...

Suggestions...

Okay, so...  I'm signed up to do this Knitter Project for Elizabeth at geeyouknit, and I decided that I was going to use some yarn from my stash.  I decided on these 5 skeins of Patagonia organic cotton, because the colors are really yummy, and I think I have enough to so something substantial.  Each skein has 105 yards (525 yards total).  The problem: what the hell am I going to make with this stuff? 

It's a worsted weight, sometimes tending to thicken toward bulky (13 sts = 4" on US 8-10).  The greens in real life are more vibrant and tending to lean toward yellow/green.  It was a very dark, grey day today, so natural light was almost non-existant.  This shot is a little closer to the real colors.  A little...

I'm thinking maybe a rectangular shawl (if there's enough) or a scarf of some sort.  Something flat that I won't have to worry too much about gauge.  So, any suggestions for a pattern or project will be appreciated.  Oh, and I need to have it in the mail by March 22.  Just sayin'.   Thanks for stopping by, and for any thoughts you may have!  Have a great weekend.

Home...

..from a little weekend jaunt to New Haven, Ct. with my soap-making friend Maggie and her puppy, Atticus Finch - seeing friends, meeting new people, food and shopping (I did score a couple of skeins of Noro Blossom in a terrific red colorway) and LOTS of rain (which did not dampen our spirits one bit as we walked from store to store in the wind and wetness).  It was a very good weekend in spite of the weather, and has done MUCH to brighten my spirits.  I'm thinking that little trips to New Haven are definitely in the future for me.

Atticus Finch is a terrific little puppy of three months, and spent the day wandering around New Haven either walking on his leash or being carried around in a large handbag, which didn't seem to bother him one bit.  He rode very well in the car, and seemed to be very comfortable wherever he ended up, which for much of the time was behind my head stretched out across my shoulders...

Yes, that is his head and little nose resting between my head and the head rest.  Good thing he only weighs 7 pounds.  He seemed to be quite happy there, and crawled up there every chance he got.

Update: Sorry I left this out, but Atticus is a Lhaso Apso/Schnauzer mix. And yes, adorable as all get out!!   He's a great little guy.

I hope you all had a great weekend...

Stash pics for Roxie

Happy Sunday.  I finally got around to taking some pics of the Rhinebeck and Skaneateles "Obscene Sale" yarn for Roxie.  So, here we go:

From Rhinebeck, a lovely Wool/Mohair blend:

Some Alpaca/Silk blend from Mel and Dave:

There were a couple of other purchases from Rhinebeck, but they are little gifty things that will hopefully get in the mail tomorrow.  If I can indeed get it in gear to get them packaged up to send today....  LOL!

And from the yarn sale in from Elegant Needles in Skaneateles last week:

The Jo Sharp that was $10/bag:

And:

And:

A little Sisik from Dalegarn (which is a more vibrant mustard/ochre color):

And remember the Pennsylvania Endless Mountains Fiber Festival from a few weeks back?  Well this is what I scored from them:

Some 100% Alpaca from Times Remembered - 8 ounces of fibery goodness:

And some sport weight Wool/Mohair:

So, there you have it - some acquired fiber from various places.  I have a couple of projects in mind for some of this yarn, and some of it has yet to tell me what it's supposed to be.  You knitters know how that goes, right Roxie?  *wink, wink, nudge, nudge*  I hope you all had a great weekend.

Rhinebeck

The weather was absolutely incredible, tons of yarn, fiber, sheep and other assorted animals, and thousands of really wonderful people we call "knitters".

The drive Saturday morning was absolutely lovely:

Ravelry members/bloggers were all over the place (wicked crazy, you know?):

A very talented man and his horses:

And a special shot just for Dave:

While chatting with Lars (and watching Lars take many pics of yummy "Man Scenery"), there was a Stephanie sighting:

And for a moment on Satuday afternoon the sky looked a little scary:

A view from behind the Sky Top Motel:

I did come home with a few goodies for myself and a couple of friends that I need to get in the mail in the next couple of days, but the thing I enjoyed the most about the weekend was the people I had the chance to see again, or meet for the first time - Mel and David, Stitchy, Marilyn, Carol, Lars, Devorah, and some local knitters from the Syracuse area that I've come to admire for their talents and senses of humor - Carla (who went to the same high school as I, but she was in 7th grade when I was a senior), Diana and MaryBeth.  I'm sure we'll be getting together for some knitting and libations in the future.   I think a good time was had by all.  Yeah, it really IS all about the people.   

And as if buying a few fiber goods in Rhinebeck wasn't enough, I heard through the Ravelry grapevine today that the yarn store in Skaneateles, NY (Elegant Needles) was having a 20% to 50% off yarn sale starting today, so I just HAD to get my little patoot over there to get some manos del uruguay and Jo Sharp (actually, the Jo Sharp was in bags of 10 balls at, get this, $10 a bag.  I now have 3 of them in my posession...).  The reason for the sale is that the building is having a little construction going on, and the owner has to clear out the inventory that's in her basement.  She's a very persuasive salesman....  And I have a big smile on my face looking at the big bag of yarn next to my chair...

I hope you all had a great start to your week.  I'm feeling a little fatigued, myself....  :-)

More yarn

I decided not to do a Saturday Sky pic because it's dark and cloudy and who the hell wants to see that??  Not me, and I'm sure not you.  Boring!  BUT, I have been working on a new scarf, finally finished the scarf for my Mom (which I'll be taking to Pa. tomorrow for her Birthday), and, because I don't have enough yarn, I HAD to get some of Dave's Cabin Cove Yarn while the gettin' was good (You KNOW you can't wait when he has an update to the Mercatile.  The yarn is gone almost instantly!)

Below: Nashua Wooly Stripes Tweed and new scarf, the new Dave yarn, Mom's finished scarf (100% merino, hand spun & dyed - no, not by me...), and my green scarf I made last year in Reynold's Lopi.

Contemplating the Dave Yarn (Sunflowers, Forest Floor, Golden Meadow) and a flower:

Yeah, I guess I'm into the earth tones at the moment.  Have a great day!