Mimosa Knits

Made in Oregon

2009-06-25T03:55:09Z

Long time since I was last here, and lots has happened. Instead of giving you boring details, I figured I would make this a list of sorts of why Oregon is great! And, some pics for visual entertainment. Ready? I know you are.

My list is focused on Made in Oregon, and how cool it is that so many things are here or started here. Remember DC is still home base where my fam and friends live, but it's not Oregon or Portland.

Made in Oregon
1. Woolee Winder
2. Blue Moon Fiber Arts
3. Woodland Woolworks
4. Duncan Fiber Enterprises (no site, maker of fiber prep supplies)
5. The Bag Lady
6. Shibui Yarns
7. Not one but two! fiber festivals: Black Sheep Gathering and Oregon Flock and Fiber, not to mention all of the smaller festivals and get togethers

And I'm sure there's more but my brain is fried this evening. Before I go, this weekend I had a delightful time going to my first Black Sheep Gathering (BSG) in Eugene. I think Gathering is the most appropriate description for this event. People come from all over, and while it may not attract the thousands like MDSW, it has character, a real sense of community and the best fleece sale ever!

I won't bore you with my purchases, but let's just say, my craft room can easily crank out sweaters for the next 5 years! Oh, and I met Judith MacKenzie McCuin! She signed her latest book for me. Super, duper nice lady. The whole place was full of legends, and tons of sharing of all sorts. Plus I met a two new friends! They are both as equally crazy about fiber as I am. Scary.

Now for the fun part, pictures! These are all from BSG, and full set on flickr.

Getting ready for some fun!

2009-04-13T18:47:45Z

Now that I'm living on the West coast I can explore all of the great fiber festivals out here. I've always wanted to check out Black Sheep Gathering and the Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival, but with MDSW in my backyard I couldn't justify traveling across the country and buying more fiber!

This year is different. I can't make it to MDSW and not sure about Rhinebeck, so heading to Black Sheep (BSG) is a must! I registered for classes, which is a first for me, and I got in! I'm taking a dyeing class with Nancy Finn and a class named "Spinning Exotics". Between those two classes I should be all set to dye up my exotic fibers stash, and spin into lovely yarns.

I feel so fortunate to have these events in my backyard, and to have the opportunity to discover new vendors, fibers, and other fiber enthusiasts. And speaking of other fiber nuts, last week I actually hung out with fellow knitters at the weekly knit night. I asked around to see if anyone was going to BSG, and a few looked at me cross-eyed as if they've never heard of it! I was in shock, how could you not go to to your local fiber event and buy yarn! Crazy, just crazy. I'm not sure what this says about Portland fiber freaks, or for that matter what it says about east coast fiber freaks. You be the judge.

Short and sweet

2009-04-11T04:27:23Z

The title says it all. It's been one full year since I moved to Portland, OR, and since my move I've been absorbed by its beauty and sheer perfection. And of course, along with it, I dove right into my work and everything else that goes along with life. Basically, this is a poor excuse for not writing and letting all of my friends know that I'm still here.

So three words for you. Life is good. I'm happy, we are happy, and the furry kids are happy.

I'm still knitting and spinning, and making things. Quilting has also entered my life, and some day I will finish my quilt. This summer's goal is to finish a fancy lace shawl, spin up some yarn, and head to the Black Sheep Gathering in Eugene. If you're out this way in June, look me up!

For now, if you're reading, say hi and accept my apologies for not writing.

A weekend of diamonds

2006-08-28T03:03:10Z

Yesterday DH and I celebrated five years of marriage! Five years - yes five years. How time flies! We decided to lay low and invite the folks over for dinner and cook a lovely dinner. Towards the end of dinner I was presented with a gift from DH, which totally took me by surprise.

See we had agreed that we would not exchange gifts for our 5th year anniversary since we are going to Chile in September. One would think that spending vacation in Chile is more than enough or at least I think is enough but nooooo...the DH got me diamond earrings! Gorgeous earrings! I've always wanted diamond earrings. Always. Now I have them and they won't be coming off anytime soon.

Now back to the weekend of diamonds. Head over to Maeve's and congratulate her on her recent engagement! The ring is gorgeous Maeve. Congratulations!

Before knitting there were shows

2006-08-27T05:56:25Z

Long ago when knitting was not in my life I spent alot of time going to concerts and shows, and recently I've been listening to loads of Sirius. During one of my commutes in to work I started thinking of all of the bands I've seen over the years and how I should start a list before I forget who I saw. Here's just a few of them...

7 Year Bitch
Aimee Mann
Babes in Toyland
Bad Brains
Beastie Boys
Belle & Sebastian
Black Crowes
Boss Hog
Built To Spill
Buzzov-en
Concrete Blonde
De La Soul
Dwarves
Eyehategod
Fugazi
Gillian Welch
Helmet
Iggy Pop
Jane's Addiction
Janet Jackson
Joan Jett
John Zorn
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
Kyuss
Lenny Kravitz
Luna
Mogwai
Monster Magnet
Neil Young
Nitzer Ebb
Pavement
Pentagram
Pixies
Public Enemy
Quiet Riot [not kidding]
Red Hot Chilli Peppers
Reverend Horton Heat
Royal Trux
Sebadoh
Smashing Pumpkins
Sneaker Pimps
Sonic Youth
Soundgarden
Stereolab
Supersuckers
The Afghan Whigs
The Cult
The Melvins
Too Much Joy
U2
Violent Femmes
Voivod
Wilco
Yo La Tengo

More patterns!

2006-08-25T17:20:14Z

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.

Paisley Flower Shawl

2006-06-06T02:41:20Z

Pattern: Paisley Flower Shawl - IK Spring 04
Yarn: Jaggerspun Zephyr in Cinnabar, ~ 1200 yards
Needles: US 5 24" circulars

Comments:
The pattern was PAINFUL, as in very boring, not much there, please let it be done. I enjoyed the paisley portion but everything else was quite boring. Don't get me wrong this is a great pattern for the beginner, and I guess I should have given myself more credit 'cause I needed more of a challenge.

I'm ready for the next step in lace knitting something harder and more interesting. I have a few patterns from Fiddlesticks and the Folk Shawls book to think about. I'm think the Kimono Shawl, Lily of the Valley and others. Anyways here's the pics...click on image for larger picture

Snakes and Ladders Stole

2006-06-04T21:16:21Z

Here it is the recently finished UFO:

Snakes and Ladder Stole
Pattern: Katie Knits
Yarn: JaggerSpun Zephyr in Pewter, ~600 yards
Needle: US 5

And....I'm almost done with the Paisley Shawl...I'm binding off the picot edge right now....yippee!!!

UFO No Longer

2006-06-02T00:48:18Z

The Snakes and Ladder stole is done!! I say done! Yes, after many months just sitting around being knitted here and there I just bit the bullet and finished it up over the holiday. This project began during my Germany trip last September! Can you believe it?

I just hate having UFOs laying around taking up space and give me bad looks. So, I said f* it I'll take it with me to Charlottesville. And so I did and now I can pass it on to the next owner my Mother.

And Charlottesville. What can I say about this lovely area? We stayed here for two days. Relaxed, knitted, ate and slept. In that exact order. While in Charlottesville I stopped in at A Stitch in Time and The Needle Lady. Both are nice places but not as cool as KH. I do have to say though both places have a great selection of patterns. In fact, A Stitch in Time had a box full of them for $2 each. I grabbed a few patterns and pattern magazines to add to the stash. Funny thing no yarn came home with me! I was tempted at The Needle Lady but frankly nothing was that great.

Oh and speaking of patterns...my Amazon order has arrived! I'm trying to use up my AMEX gift card and thought book purchases would be a good way to round out things. I got Folk Socks, Big Girl Knits, Knitting Nature, and Barbara Walker's 1st Volume.

My next purchase is more circular needles and wooden needles. But first I've got to locate an online or brick and mortar shop that takes AMEX, with a good selection of items....looking...

The haul

2006-05-20T23:38:44Z

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.

Ouch!

2006-05-08T01:46:52Z

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.

Mea Culpa

2006-04-23T15:28:13Z

I know I promised I would be at KH last Wednesday but this time the family got in the way. The inlaws from Maine came down to visit and see my lil' niece on her 2nd bday. Dinners and get togethers got scheduled and next thing I know it's Sunday morning.

What have I been doing you ask? Well more of the same thing. I can't seem to finish any projects and it's driving me insane! I see all of these cool things out there and I'm just bored with my current projects. But I must finish them! I must!!

Here's my current WIP list:

-- Peasant sweater using Green Mountain Spinnery yarn --- forever on hold! This pattern is cool but damn it the gauge is totally off and I refuse!! to do a gauge swatch for stockinette esp. when the pattern is so freaking simple. I will have to use this yarn elsewhere. I may need to buy more yarn and possibly use for Rogue

-- Lance socks for the DH....one done, one half way there...boring...and I need to improve my color work skills

-- Ladders and snakes stole, pattern here - I'm using Jaeger Zephyr in Pewter

-- 90% done with Paisley Flower Shawl - I had to do some serious tinking on this one...and basically lost several rows. Ouch!!!

A new project I started last week...

-- Jaywalker socks using Trekking XXL for hubby, I was going to make them for me but damn gauge is huge so he gets them. One sock is almost done.

Shopping List for MSWF
The list is ever growing...more fiber, yarn, tools, patterns, soap, etc. I can not wait! I know others have started their lists...Erin has...anyone want to share theirs?

Another place I want to visit is Carolina Homespun.

Shopping list for MSWF

2006-04-10T05:00:44Z

Coming up for air...need to gather my thoughts and wishes for this year's MSWF.

Vendors to Visit

Amer. Cormo Sheep Assoc: OUTSIDE E04
Brooks Farm Fibers: OUTSIDE
Dyed Dreams: BARN 3 03
Golding Ring Spindles: MAIN C23
Greenwood Hill Farm: BARN 6 08
Haltwhistle Fibres: MAIN D17
Hatchtown Farm: Outside E14
Hunt Valley Cashmere: MAIN B15
Kimmet Croft Fibers: BLDG 1 16
Levin & Raja: BARN 3 13
The Merlin Tree: Barn 3 02
Mohair in Motion: OUTSIDE E16
Potosi Sheep/Persimmon Tree Farms: OUTSIDE S03
Spirit Trail Fiberworks: MAIN A 30
Tess' Designer Yarns: OUTSIDE S13
Three Waters Farm: MAIN B23
Wild Meadow Angora: MAIN A20
Woodchuck Products: MAIN D32

Things to buy or see

Spinning accessories: orifice hook, carder, woolee winder, spindle, and swift

FIBER! and fleeces, all kinds but the softer the better: Merino, BFL, Cormo, Angora, Mohair, Alpaca, Silk, etc.

Yarn: laceweight, handdyed, handspun

Spinning equipment auction

Soaps!

Interesting...

Fibers by Bonnie Dunn: Barn 3 06

Anyone else have suggestions?

Warm and cozy cycling

2005-12-29T05:41:18Z

I have about 500-600 yards alpaca spun up for the DH's sweater and I'm thinking of making a cycling sweater for him. I want a snug and lightweight sweater nothing too bulky. On average I'll need about 1200 yards for aran/worsted weight.

Here's some ideas:

http://www.helloyarn.com/cyclingaran.htm

http://www.magknits.com/Oct05/patterns/durrow.htm

http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall04/PATTleo.html

http://www.debbieblissonline.com/books/sf/sf_10.htm

http://www.debbieblissonline.com/books/sf/sf_15.htm

Does anybody know of others?

Inspiration

2005-12-15T01:48:19Z

From today's Daily Candy awesome organic scarves. Check out the cool textures. And yesterday I figured out that Daily Candy is now in DC. Awesome! News for the hip if you didn't know.

Knitting, you ask? Oh lordie! I'm trying. I'm focusing on the DH's basketweave pullover, and this has been on the back burner for quite some time. I'm also being called by my wheel to spin up some yummy angora!!! And....I keep haunting ebay for more fiber! Damn woman stop!

Ok, enough. More pictures soon.