That was fun!

I flew out to LA last Thursday to visit a friend. I won't say to meet her, because I've known her for several years, but we hadn't actually ever seen each other in the flesh before. I had no trouble recognizing her at the airport, though.

We spent a large portion of our time playing with fiber - she spun roving, which fascinated me, and I worked on Mom's clapotis. I also had some animal time, since she has 4 cats and a dog. I don't get any animal time at home, since Dan's allergic to pet dander, so I take advantage of friends' pets whenever I can. I was warned that the 2 kittens really like fiber a lot, so I took a zippered bag to hold my project bags.

I needed help with an increase technique that I hadn't done before - it wasn't hard, but I wanted to see someone do it, and the video on Knittinghelp didn't help a lot. And I watched her spin and asked inane questions as she made a gorgeous yarn from some red/pink/black roving.

And Rainy introduced me to Deadwood. Yummmmm. And took me shopping at her LYS, A Mano Yarn Center, where she forced me to buy TOFUutsies and Trekking. You would not believe the arm twisting that took! Really!! When I have some time I'll take pictures of the pretty pretty sock yarn I bought.

It was a very fun and relaxing visit.

I'm bad

See, there is a sock designer whose patterns I really like. They're available at The Loopy Ewe, and since you get free shipping at the Loopy Ewe when you buy enough of course I couldn't just get those patterns, I need to get some yarn too.

Then I realized that I don't have the needles I need to make the socks - I don't have any 0s or 1s, and I prefer circs since Magic Loop rocks my world. And, of course, the cords on the circs at Knit Picks are wonderful for Magic Loop, so I had to order from there (and again there's free shipping when you buy enough) and they added cool wooden circs recently so of course I had to get some of them, too.

*sigh*

Then Sheri had to add more of Wendy's patters to the Ewe. And there's one pattern that is just *perfect* for a surprise I want to make a friend. Perfect. Really. And, again, I had to get enough to make free shipping....

I'm really glad I have a job again.

I should have known better

I will admit I was a bit worried about using the KnitPicks Crayon yarn, given its texture. But, hey, I know how to read stuff, right?

Not knitting. I've crocheted for years, but at knitting I really am still a n00b.

After several weeks of frustration, I've frogged it. 7 inches of stockinette.

I ordered some KnitPicks Shine to replace it. Still going with red.

I'll make something for Dan from the Crayon at some point. Later. Maybe I'll even crochet it.

On the other hand, I've made real progress on both sets of armwarmers. I've cast on the second set (so I'm working on the first one of both sets) and I really like how the colors are working together.

I'll post new pictures later.

Mail yarny goodness!

I got my order from The Loopy Ewe today - 2 skeins of cashwool laceweight that's just gorgeous, and 5 skeins of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport to make a clapotis for my mom for Christmas - I had to, the colorway name is her name :-) I still need to figure out what modifications I need to make since I'm using sport weight instead of worsted. I might just start on it and see what I think of the results using the specified needle size.

And after not getting what I ordered from Knit2purl2, I have to find some special yarn for the friend elsewhere - it's really hard to find the specific colorway in stock. I bet, though, if I check the yarn store in Lafayette they might have it, since technically it's in Purdue's colors....

I blew the yarn diet

I just had to find out that Knit2Purl2 is having a going out of business sale with unbelievable prices.

So I looked at Dan with big puppy dog eyes and asked if I could buy some yarn. I showed him what I wanted to buy - 2 skeins of Lorna's Laces shepherd sock yarn for a friend, and 4 skeins of Lorna's Laces Lion and Lamb for a clapotis for my mom.

The Lion and Lamb is usually about $30 a skein, and it was on sale for $15. And they had the colorway that is her name, so I couldn't resist. And the other yarn, well, it's highly appropriate for said friend and she's going to fall over laughing her ass of when she sees it.

Still chugging away at the stockinette. *yawn*

Yarn and more yarn

I was just up in the spare room, digging though my yarn in search for some decent stuff I've had for awhile that I want to enter into Ravelry.

Wow, I have a lot more yarn than I thought I did. I have a ton of acrylic, bought over several years, most of which is going to Mom for her church group to use. I still need to get that together.

But I found some lovely yarn I had totally forgotten I had, like some Manos del Uruguay in a beautiful purple (of course). I need to get it cataloged and posted to Ravelry.

I've been having a lot of fun up there, browsing patterns and adding them to my queue. I have a lot to get done for Christmas (and, yes, I am going to start that stuff this early).

Maryland Sheep and Wool!!

I bought yarn at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival over the weekend. There were lots of pretty things, and I could have bought a lot more. I had been contemplating buying a drop spindle, but decided I needed to work on my knitting more before adding that to the mix.



Gorgeous 55% superwash wool, 30% silk, and 15% viscose from Brooks Farm Yarn. 3 huge hanks, 860 yards each. I'm going to make a sweater for myself from them.




60% superwash wool, 20% silk, and 20% viscose also from Brooks Farm Yarn. Will be used for Christmas presents for my brother's family.




At The Fold's booth, didn't get any Socks That Rock because there was barely any left, but I did pick up some gorgeous Gypsy Girl Creations superwash merino sock yarns in Backdraft and Cattails. Each hank is 200 yards. These will become socks.




Two hanks of superwash 80% wool 20% nylon sock yarn from Ellen's Half Pint Farm. The colorway names aren't on the bands, so I have no clue what they're called. Will also become socks.

I have to finish the baby afghan for Mothra Piggy Booger Ronan. My goal is to have it done before he's a year old!!

Actually, I have decided I'm not allowed to start anything until I get that done. I'm fairly close, at least.