catching up
OK, it's a wee bit late, but I should really talk about my Rhinebeck experience. It was fantastic! I took the weekend off from work, so it was a really nice break from the theater. The weather was perfect - peak fall foliage and clear blue skies. It was a bit chilly, though, and I stupidly didn't pack any handknits other than my bamboo Clapotis, but I managed to stay warm enough to enjoy it all.
The festival itself was pretty overwhelming at first, but once I got a handle on where things were it was much more manageable. I wasn't in the market for anything specific, so I didn't break the bank. Now that I know what's there and how it all works, I can plan my shopping for future trips. Frankly, I am really trying to bust the stash a bit before I go buying tons more yarn, you know?
I shared a hotel room Saturday night with three lovely ladies I hooked up with on Ravelry, and we had a blast. The logistics all worked out really well - since I was carless, I was dependant on people for transportation and I didn't want to be a big inconvenience, but it all worked out perfectly.
You've heard all about the party, I'm sure - so much fun! Crazy blogger spotting and knitwear-ogling and catching up with friends new and old. I got to see three generations of my friend Jen's family, who was there with her mom and her cute baby Mimi. I even won a needle case for Jen's mom! (We need to hook up soon so I can give it to you, Jen!) There was yummy food and really good local beer - the Hurricane Kitty was amazing!
Jess & Casey are true forces of nature - it's been such a pleasure and privelage to be a part of Ravelry from the very early days, and to see what it's become and how smartly they are growing it is really inspiring.
OK, the purchases - not much, like I said. I bought some fiber, though I never did get a lesson on a wheel like I had wanted, so the spinning will have to wait for a while. I got some gorgeous green silk/cashmere, and some merino in a colorway called "Laurel". Heh.
Yarn - this is a merino/silk blend with a subtle sheen called "Silver & Gold" -
It's really simple, but very pretty and soft (and it was on sale!). I got two skeins, so maybe a scarf or some gloves? We'll see.
My big splurge purchase:
Blue Moon Fiber Arts Silk Thread in the Grawk colorway. 1250 yards of silky thready goodness. This stuff is really hard to photograph - it's a black base with lots of greens and purples - like an oil slick? Anyway, I had to have it, and I was at the booth on the second day when the lines weren't so crazy - I skipped it entirely on Saturday since I am pretty much immune to the charms of sock yarn.
I have no idea what I'll make with this stuff - I've been cruising shawl patterns but nothing has really grabbed me yet. I think this will hibernate in the stash for a while - it needs to be made into something very special.
I did start a new project this week - while I was searching shawl & scarf patterns I found the Alhambra scarf. This one lept out at me because I fell in love with the Alhambra Palace when I was in Spain last year, and this is a really pretty scarf that interprets the interlocking tile motifs that can be found in much Islamic architecture. I thought of using my Seasilk for it, then I remembered some handpainted merino that I got at School Products a few years ago and it wa a perfect match:
It will need a major blocking (I just ordered blocking wires from Knipicks! How fun!) but you can see how the swirly tile pattern is emerging. It's a really fun pattern, 18 row repeat with lace knitting on both sides. It's only 62 stitches across so it goes pretty quickly. I may give this one as a Christmas gift, but we'll have to see. I may just fall even more in love with the finished product!
rafflery
I only bought a few things but I met and hung out with the MOST amazing people. I am still exhausted and scratchy-throated after yelling over all the noise but I am so inspired to get back to work!
cable access
Hey, how's about some knitting? I just started a super-fun project that's been waiting in the wings for a while:
Jeanie from Knitty, sometimes described as the Clapotis on steroids. Reversible cables and dropped stitches! So fun! The pattern is really easy to remember - once you've gotten past the fiddly cast-on and first row, you just settle into a groove, lots of knitting & purling through the back loop and a few cables every so often. It's not going to be a terribly quick knit, but I'm loving the way it looks already.
Ooh, and as you can see from the pic, I finally put my swift & ball winder to use. Best purchase ever!
Another cable project that I've been working on for ages:
I promised Dad a scarf last year for Christmas this year, so here is the Here and There Cables scarf from Scarf Style, in Valley Yarns Northampton. Another fun, easy pattern which I really need to get working on if it's going to be done in time! My big problem is that I keep losing my cable needle - and yes, I do know how to cable without a needle but this pattern has some weird back and forth stuff that makes it too hard. So I guess I need to stock up on cable needles!
splurging
I went to Boston last week and was beyond thrilled to realize that my hotel (the awesome Nine Zero) was a couple of blocks from Windsor Button, a definite favorite LYS among the Boston Ravelers. I loved it. It's more than just a yarn store, but it's not really a full fledged craft store. There are, indeed, many many buttons. And lots of yarn. And various and sundry other craft supplies. I picked up some fine-point dissapearing markers to use on my embroidery projects. Love them. I haven't seen the fine point markers anywhere else, and I really try not to buy things elsewhere that I can get in NYC, so those didn't count as a real splurge. Those were souveniers.
This? Was a splurge:
I know, you can get Sea Silk in NYC. But I've never seen it in person. And it's soooo pretty. I've been trying to branch out from the colors I'm normally drawn to - that is, green and black - and I thought that this would blend in with my wardrobe just fine. It's destined to be a Montego Bay Scarf - I mean, I know I'm a splurger, but I just couldn't justify buying more than one skein of this stuff. I can dream, though...
I did buy a couple skeins of Classic Elite Silky Alpaca Lace for my new shawl obsession, Hanami. I like the substance of this yarn - it's got nice body and I think will hold up well with the beading.
Oh, color of the Alpaca Lace, you ask?
black....
where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio
Well, it was a great game and a really nice send off for the Stadium. I wish I could have been there, but it was great to watch.
And hey, we're not totally out of it! If Cleveland sweeps Boston in the next few days, all we have to do is sweep them, too, and we'll be in the playoffs! That could totally happen! Totally!
Eh. OK. I'm going to try to care about football this year. I know next to nothing about the game, but the soap operas are awesome! Favre! Ocho Cinco! Were the Giants just lucky??
Anyway, back to the crafty stuff. My current knitting project photographs like crap, (so no photo), but I think it will be super cute when it's done - I'm using up some stash Baby Cashmerino on Mentionable, a simple camisole with a small lace panel down the front. The best part of this pattern is the great short row directions by designer Wendy Bernard - I think this is going to fit really well. Learning more about short rows and fitting was one of my New Year's knitting resolutions, so now I'm two out of three. (I still need to talk about that Fair Isle cardigan, don't I?) I think I'll be skipping intarsia. Oh well.
More embroidery fun:
