OOhhhh lovely yarn sales. Quickly head over to Knit Happens grab yarn and patterns, and shop away!
I stopped by yesterday at the happy place and picked up 3 wonderful Jaeger pattern books all at 40% off. Just awesome books! Here's what I'm thinking of knitting up:
From JB38 Huxley
Chesterton
And others...
Big Sale at Knit Happens
The sale is on thru Saturday so get yourself over there before everything is gone. Everything in the store is on sale. Yes EVERYTHING.
Good lord! this takes forever. My apologies. Below is the hell of a haul from MSWF, missing are the two fleeces which are on their way to be processed.
Brooks Farm
-- In there is their new introduction yarn, the tealish yarn.
Lace weight
- 1800 yards of cashmere from Hunt Valley and 600 yds of alpaca
Sock yarn
- Foxhill farm, Kid Holllow, Ellen's 1/2 pint
Spinner's Hill
--- the yumminess from Spinner's Hill, the purple one will either be slated for lace weight or sock yarn. The greens are for a sweater.
Foxhill Farm and Meadow Angora
- Not sure yet but I think it will be for yummy socks.
Three Waters Farm
--- Possibly for a nice warm stole, 8 ozs
And last but not least I'm starting to destash, for $8 plus shipping this could be yours:
This is about 3 ozs of merino/mohair/angora, mohair/wool, and pure alpaca...just drop a comment or two.
There that's all! Now let me get back to knitting and spinning.
Saturday began with me jumping out of bed at 7am! I was out the door by 7:30, ready and with cash in hand for the wonderful MSWF! I was determined to get up there in time to be one of the first people at the Fleece sale. And damn it I was!
Although I didn't get a chance to buy the champion fleece (Cormo this year, from Foxhill Farm) I did get to buy two fleeces from Robin Nistock, one is a Finn/CVM/Rambouillet and the other is a cinnamon colored CVM/Rambouillet fleece. Both are stunning, full of crimp and will surely make wonderful knitting objects. I think both of them will be sent to The Drafting Zone to get processed.
Let's see what else jumped in my bag...
--Sock yarn from Kid Hollow Farm, Ellen's 1/2 Pint Farm, Foxhill Farm, Three Waters Farm
-- Lace yarn from Hunt Valley Cashmere and a hand dyed Alpaca yarn (can't remember the vendor)
-- Yarn from Brooks Farm for two sweaters
-- Roving...ahhhhh roving. The usual...Wild Meadow Angora, Foxhill Farm (American Cormo people), Three Waters Farm, Spinner's Hill, and a batt from Grafton Fibers.
Next time I'll have the pics to show them off, I swear! Now back to researching my fleeces..what to do, what to do with them.
....before I opened everything...
and after....
These wonderful gifts are from my WONDERFUL secret pal: Renee from A Good Yarn. Everyone go over and say hi!
Thanks so much for the wonderful gifts. Everything was so thoughtfully put together. You rock!
And from my first SP6 package...
Well, actually the book plus (not in picture) other great items.
Spinning yummyness
Did you see above? Did you see that wonderful skein of silk and Romney? I got this wonderful fiber from The Silkworker. I finally finished it last week. Lots of yardage but no clue as to what I'll make with it...soon, I know, it will come soon.
Close up you ask? Ok.
for pretty yarns. I had to pick this up at KH, it was on sale!!! One hank of Interlacements Montana:
(click on pics for larger image)
Best of all though Dolman is done and ready to be blocked and seamed! Yippeee!!! I can't wait to finish and start wearing it this fall.
And to celebrate this effort I've started my next lace project: Paisley Lace Shawl from Interweave Knits Spring 05. I'm using JaggerSpun Zephyr in Cinnabar aka dental floss according to Phyl-Phyl. This stuff is dreamy! Light and very soft.
Now for some color inspiration...my garden
Have a good weekend all!
Two weekends ago I had the great pleasure of working at an alpaca farm near my house. The place is called Ameripaca and they raise and sell alpacas. Their farm has over 300 alpacas from Suris to Huacayas. Lovely creatures! Anyways, I helped out one of the vet techs weighing and feeding the little crias (newborns). I also got a chance to meet some of the younger males (they all have separate eating areas).
Belvedere is one of the young males waiting to be weened from his mother, and this Spring he was sheared for the very first time since his birth! He has a luscious grey fleece with the very tips dipped in a rich brown (see below). Anyways I met him after he was sheared and thanked him for his lovely fleece which I now need to have cleaned and prepped for spinning.
2lbs of Belvedere's fleece
Since this is a desirable color the price was more than average but that's ok! I just love the combo of grey and brown and can't wait to spin it up. For those of you seeking an alpaca fleece source I would recommend contacting your local alpaca breeder...they're always looking for people to buy their fleece.
My first scarf made just for me!
Pattern: Monette, Rowan Vintage Style
Yarn: KidSilk Haze, US 4
This is the lightest, most beautiful thing I've ever knitted! I swear!!!
Purchases
Ok, here's the haul from Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. I present to you...
Fluffy balls from Wild Meadow Angora:
Three Waters Farm mohair yarn, and wool/mohair fluffly fiber
More yummyness from Three Waters
Dyed mohair locks from Three Waters
From Tess' Designer Yarns
But first, here's a picture of the festival from the parking area:
I meant to take more of the vendor area but got caught shopping with not much time to spare. As promised, here's the haul from the event...
click image for larger picture
Pikachu and Lobo feel the need to inspect before I can take a picture. They are very curious about the cashmere and coopsworth fiber. Starting from the top left corner: 6oz of handdyed wool/mohair from Three Waters Farm, 14oz of multicolored coopsworth, 2 skeins of Salsa from Dancing Leaf Farm, 2 oz of cashmere fiber, 2.5 oz of mohair locks from Spirit Trail, 5 oz of kid mohair from Misty Mountain, 1 skein of handspun, handdyed wool/mohair from Three Waters Farm. That's it! Oh and I picked up a pattern for a flapper hat, which the Three Waters skein is slotted for.
I had loads of fun finding these items and making my purchases. Now I just need to figure out how to spin. For now though, I'm starting to stress on my holiday knitted items. I need to start on those otherwise I'll never finish. Yikes!
Are you knitting any gifts this holiday season? If so, I'd love to hear what others are doing.
If so, I think I need to join one. Now don't hate me for my addiction, please help me find a "My Name Is Carolina, and I'm a Yarn Addict" group.
So, what has caused this revelation? I don't have pics but here's semi-proof. The yarn binge began a week ago with my trip to Folk Art Studio. I had never been to this shop before and what a great place! They had wonderful art hanging, lots of seating space, cafe, and yes, YARN. I picked up two skeins of K1C2 Bon Bon in a very pretty pink colorway. Prices aren't bad either.
Then the gluttony continued at Aylin's Woolgatherer. Now I didn't say much about this place before but now I will. Where shall I begin? Yes, the place has yarns and lots of them but that's the problem. I can't stand messy stores especially when they are overpriced. Sure the staff is nice but PLEASE organize your inventory. Don't let yarns just live on the floor.
Is it over yet? Nooooo...our trip to the Eastern shore had to include a quick trip to Yarns & Co in Easton, MD. This is a much better organized shop then the one mentioned above. The prices are decent and the selection has enough variety. I picked up some DPNs and 2 different skeins in the Artful Yarns line.
Moving on to this week. By this point, I began to feel guilty for the obscene splurge on yarns. Did that deter me? No, of course not. My visit to Knit Happens was very productive both for my Klaralund knitting and stash enhancement. I picked up the latest Rowan Vintage Style and gorgeous skeins of the Rowan Kid Silk Haze to make one of the scarfs in the book.
And last but not least, I love visiting Springwater Fiber Workshop. They not only have a great selection of yarns but also sell their own line. I picked up a skein of K1C2 Richesse et Soie in plum. This stuff is gorgeous and super soft----Silk and Cashmere. Yummy. This lovely item was 40% off. Perfect! Then I saw that they had some awesome handdyed 50/50 wool and silk yarn. I picked up a skein and one skein of their handdyed Lamb's Pride.
Pheewww. I feel so much better after that confession.
I'm finally done with my first swatch. The hubby is starting to feel left out so I had to get it done. The problem is I didn't get gauge. Nope. Not even close. I'll have to redo again.
Progress is coming along mighty fine. I'm about 15" into both sleeves. I hope to have all of this done within 2 weeks.
I've joined the Wendy bandwagon and have promised to finish a kitty bed by Nov. 6th. I'm thinking of using some Ironstone 100% wool and Lamb's pride with a touch of eyelash.
Yes, I have that too. Now whenever I get into a hobby, aka addiction, I go haywire and read up everything on it. Most of the time this includes purchasing books for said addiction. I have many garden books, but can you believe it nothing on making jewelry? For knitting, I have three books. My first book was Vogue Knitting: Quick Reference, then I picked up Stich & Bitch, followed by 1030 Stitches and Patterns ; Mon Tricot Knitting Dictionary.
I'm currently envious of Julia's latest purchase. She got four volumes of Barbara Walker's treasures. As much as I would love to own one of these I think my skills are too new to appreciate them. I think they would be a great gift when my knitting skills turn five years old. In the meantime, I'm coveting the Knitting On the Road by Nash Bush. This is an awesome book, which reminds me I've got to return my copy to the library.
While surfing I discovered a link to this interesting search engine - Vivisimo. Your search results get clustered within categories and you can search many different sources: eBAY, FirstGov, NIH, other search engines, and online news resources. Awesome!
From the great yarn shopping spree:
Wildfiber spree
Yarns Unlimited
Three Dog Knit
Ball, Skein and More
And for a poncho update
The DH and I have returned safe and sound from our trip to California. There was lots of driving, visiting, and shopping. Did you say shopping? Why yes! Photos will be next but for now here's a short low down on the shops:
Three Dog Knit - Tahoe City
Small but nice selection of yarn. The staff was very nice and helpful. Price, well, it's a resort town so prices are high IMO.
Ball & Skein, and more - Cambria
Very sweet and helpful staff! A great selection of yarn, small but easy to find. Again prices were not the best. I did see Rachel's beautiful creations! In fact, I picked up some of the molash b/c of one of your gorgeous shawls.
Wildfiber - Santa Monica
http://www.wildfiber.com/
By far, the best yarn store I visited. Awesome selection of great yarns!! Prices were ok, but best of all is there sale room. Everything in this back room was 50% off. They had Rowan All Seasons Cotton, Colinette, Debbie Bliss and others at great prices in the back room. Again the staff was very nice. I just loved this place. Great vibe.
Yarns Unlimited - Santa Monica
Cheaper prices for a very diverse inventory. They had all the cheapo brands as well as some more expensive items. The place is cramped and feels very messy. I would go back for bargain hunting.
My travel knitting was quite ambitious but that's ok. I took w/ me the poncho, Klaralund swatch and socks. The poncho was the only thing I knitted. I tried the socks but being a first timer I just couldn't get the circular needle thing. I think I'll buy the Magic Loop book and go from there. The good thing is that I got a lot done on the poncho. Up next: photos.
Above is from yesterday's excursion to Springwater Fiber Workshop, an awesome fiber enthusiast workshop and store. They have loads of things, just loads: Noro, Mountain Colors, Rowan, Koigu, Karabella, GGH, Blatt, Manos, more Noro, tons of novelty yarns, all kinds of wool. It was heavenly! And the prices were not bad. I got a skein of Koigu PPPM for $10. I think that's reasonable. Anyways, in the photo is the Koigu (already on needles), Rowan Big Wool, and a handdyed skein of Brown Sheep. I can't wait to go back.
BDay/Going Away Present
The Classic Elite Commotion scarf is done! Sorry no pic right now. Now I just gotta boogie and finish the Koigu scarf for my Mom. I'm doing this pattern.
Denise Needles
My order has arrived. I got mine from Copper Moose off ebay. Awesome price and free shipping. I highly recommend this vendor. Now for the needles. I just don't know. They feel so whimsy. I have to give them more time but at least now I have an emergency set. I think I'll continue to buy Addi Turbos because they rock! Oh and I want a complete set of Brittany DPNs. Yes, yes, yes!
Lobo would like to say something, go ahead Lobo:
"Can I surf for cat food now?"
As promised the recent stash enhancement photos:
Noro Silk Garden #71 for Klaralund
Regia sock yarn
Classic Elite Commotion - Grape Fizz
I've started using the Classic Elite for a scarf. I'm knitting it up on US 11 needles in garter stich. This a gorgeous yarn, very light, soft, but with enough warmth as Fall weather scarf. I can't wait to give it as a gift.
In the meantime, I'm waiting for my Denise needles to arrive and a book of stich patterns I won on eBay. Once the needles arrive I can begin my swatching for Klaralund. I want to be ready to start that project when I return from my vacation.
Lobo and Pikachu are patiently waiting for me to get off the computer and resume petting them. Off I go.
Today I left work early and stopped by my LYS. I picked up a some things: a copy of the new Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton Noro book, Stitch and Bitch, and two skeins of sock yarn that was on sale. I always browse through that section and have never bought anything but not today! This winter I want to tackle making socks.
Here are my beloved cats, Pikachu and Lobo. Pikachu is the king of the mountain, prima donna, "I Rule The House" kinda guy. Lobo is resigned to let him think that but deep down she knows she's got him wrapped around her paws. They spend many evenings reestablishing the totem pole. Lobo looses.
King Pikachu
Queen Lobo
WIP
The poncho is coming along. I've got about 3" done only 17" more to go. I'll need to find longer circulars very soon. Great!
Klaralund-along
I've joined this knitalong which starts in Sept. I hope to join the ladies at Knit Happens for the first session. It's the day after my trip to CA so we'll see how I feel. Now that I have the book all I'm waiting for is the yarn to arrive.
