Anyway, Stitches was, well, Stitches.  The Market is overwhelming.  I had decided before going that I was not buying yarn – books, patterns, tools, yes.  Things to help use up the stash, but nothing to ADD to it.  I almost made it.

However, if you remember past years, I’d say I was downright restrained.

The buttons and shawl pin are from Bonnie Maresh, who does some of the most amazing glass work I’ve ever seen.  Just gorgeous stuff.  In the middle is my new toy – a kumihimo disk.  I’ve seen the big wooden marudai, but it always seemed like a big thing to buy without knowing if I’d use it.  So, when I saw a little portable foam version, well, what the hell?  Why not?  And, um, yeah…

I think I’m using it.  That’s about a yard long – it’s the yarn that came with the kit.  I did that yesterday.  It’s really rather addictive.  They make a square one so that you can do flat braids, too – I might have to get one. 

The nail files over on the left are glass ones with little handpainted dragonflies on them.  If you’ve never used a glass nail file, they are really awesome.  And I’m not one of those people who is all “OMG!  I broke a nail!  Waaaaah!”, but it does bug the crap out of me if I’ve got a rough spot snagging on things, so it will be nice to have these handy to deal with those moments.  Plus, the glass files last for freaking ever.

ETA:  Almost forgot – I also picked up a copy of “Malabrigo: Book One” by Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton.  I found a sweater in there that I thought would be great for the Malabrigo Worsted that I picked up for Kris ages ago.  Unfortunately, I misread the requirements, and I don’t have anywhere near enough.  I might make it for him out of something else eventually, though.

Both hanks of yarn are from the lovely Lindsay at Storm Moon Knits.  I also picked up a little something just because it cracked me up.

Yes, the button says “Will knit for booze.”  I believe in truth in advertising.  (Apologies for the color.  Red background + incandescent light makes for some oddness)  The top skein is Twilight Sock in “Peace and Love“, a colorway Lindsay created in memory of her friend’s 12-year old daughter, who passed away this summer from Severe Aplastic Anemia.  She is donating the proceeds from the sale of this yarn to Days End Farm Horse Rescue in Woodbine, MD, where Gabrielle spent time volunteering.  It’s a beautiful color, and the sentiment is something I had to support, especially with all of the support that Hats for Alex has gotten.  The other skein is Tornado Sock in “That Girl Is Poison”, which I bought totally because I fell in love with the color.  Splurge, I admit it.  The Peace and Love will be a Boteh Scarf, since I love my first one so much.  I’m going to start on that as soon as I finish Kris’s sweater.

My last Stitches was lots of fun, although it wasn’t the same without you here, Betsy!  I did get to see lots of people, some who were old friends and some who have become new ones.  And some who saw me but didn’t say hello, so I still haven’t gotten to meet them (You know who you are…).

Oh, and speaking of Kris’s sweater…

Ta da!  This is the progress as of right now – 11″ of body from the armpit seams (So yes, PK, he’s officially saved from the crop top).  I’ve got another 4-ish inches to go before I do the hem, and then the sleeves and neckband.  I did a stitch count calculation the other day, and according to that, I’m currently at 57% complete!  Woohoo!  And I’m even still enjoying it – bigger woohoo!  Although, I do still have all those ends looming, waiting to be woven in.  *sigh*

Anyway, you may notice something new and different with the pictures this week. Kris got a new toy. He bought a LensBaby. As you can see, it makes some really nice effects with the pictures. I’m guessing it will be the theme of YPF for a while. He’s kind of in love with it.

Have a Happy New Year, everyone!

Victorian Bulky in “Mt. Pleasant”

Studio Sock yarn for Kris in “Foggy Bottom”

While at Stitches, I had the pleasure of meeting Lindsay of Storm Moon Knits (her shop’s not fully up just yet). She’s absolutely darling, and her yarns? GORGEOUS. I was drooling over one called “Let There Be Lips” (Yay Rocky Horror) but missed out on it. I did, however, find two fabulous colors that I was able to snag.

First – “Mandragora” (and yes, I know you saw this before, but as Kris pointed out when I asked him why he took pictures of it again, it’s really pretty.)

(Oh, and the post title? It’s a reference to the Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode “Beer Bad”. The line “Beer good… foamy” gets used around here from time to time)

As it was so subtly pointed out to me by someone on Googlechat last night, it’s been two weeks since my last blog entry. I didn’t plan for it to go that long, but sometimes life has other plans, you know?

So, since we last spoke, hubby turned 34 (Yes, he’s two weeks younger than I am. And never lets me forget it.), my lovely SP figured me out and received her last package, and the hat count for this year has reached (drumroll, please) 227! That’s right – we’re only 23 away from reaching the goal!

Thanks to the generosity of Ellen’s Half-Pint Farm and Great Adirondack Yarns, there will be TWO places at Rhinebeck for people to drop off hats. Mary Beth Temple will be signing her book The Secret Language of Knitters from 1-3 at the Ellen’s booth (building 26, booth N) both Saturday and Sunday, and has volunteered to collect hats. If you miss MBT, you can stop by Great Adirondack Yarns (building 22, booths 2 and 3) anytime to drop off hats – I’m bringing them a box for the hats. I can’t thank these ladies enough for helping me out with this project.

Oh, and do you remember this? Charlotte’s Web V2.0? Started on 9/26, and I finished the knitting yesterday. It took me some searching to find an edging I liked, but I finished that at 3-ish this morning (yeah… couldn’t sleep, so I kept crocheting). Here’s where she stood as of this morning:

And now?

All pinned out on my blocking board, happily drying so I can wear her at Rhinebeck this weekend (The colors are a bit better in the first picture, because the blocking one is still wet). So yes – if you’re a Blogger Bingo-er and I’m on your card, you can look for Charlotte’s Web on Saturday or the Chrysanthemum Tea Shawl on Sunday. My first CW about doubled in size when I blocked it, because I blocked it pretty hard – I needed it to grow. This one I am not blocking nearly as hard. I doubled the number of repeats in the solid sections of the first three colors, and did 1-1/2 times the repeats on the last two (I was concerned I might run out if I doubled all five colors). Fresh off the needles, the top edge measured about 66″ across. Pinned out, it’s about 90″ (that picture shows it folded over – it’s too big for the board otherwise). I’m really happy – I wanted it to be big. It will be great to wrap up in.I got a lot of work done on the shawl this past weekend because it was Stitches East. My friend Stitchcounter came up from Florida for it again this year, and we had a great time. We both had classes Thursday afternoon and Friday morning and afternoon, and we hit the Market Thursday night for the preview, Friday after class, and Saturday afternoon. Wanna see what I got?

Thursday night:

BMFA Socks That Rock lightweight in Oregon Red Clover Honey – 5 hanks (with apologies to anyone else who was looking for that color.) It’s going to become Spanish Dancer, once I get myself geared up for a 401-stitch provisional cast-on and a ruffle that ends up with (gulp) 3256 stitches by the bindoff. The Tilli Tomas Rock Star in Ruby Wine is going to become the Twilight Capelet. We were standing by the Tess’ Designer Yarns booth when something caught my eye in the Dreamweaver booth. One of the women was wearing the capelet in the loveliest peacock blue-green color (I think it was Jade). I considered getting the same color, but I just loved the Ruby Wine, so I bought that and the pattern.Friday:

Having chatted with the absolutely lovely ladies at Just Our Yarn on Thursday night, we knew we had to go back there on Friday. Their yarns are gorgeous, and they had a kit for a Maple Tree Shawl that was just stunning – that’s two hanks of 100% Tencel and the beads on the right. And B and I both succumbed to their cashmere laceweight (the blue-green on the left), along with a pattern for it.Saturday:

OK, this was my slightly misbehaving day. Until Saturday, I stuck to my goal of not buying anything without a planned project for it (even if I may have only discovered those projects when I found the yarn). We stopped once again by the Neighborhood Fiber Co. booth, because Karida is just too cute, and her colors are SO gorgeous. I picked up some Studio Sock yarn in “Foggy Bottom” for Kris, because it’s almost Penn State colors, and one hank each of the Loft and Victorian Bulky in “Mt. Pleasant” to make a Scribble Lace scarf for me. (Karida names her colors for neighborhoods in DC). I also stopped at the Celtic Knot/StormMoonKnits/Eleanor Francis Designs booth to check out SMK’s sock yarns (gotta support the fellow Ravelers!), and picked up 2 hanks – one in “Mandragora” for me, and one in “Rockabilly Blues” for Kris. I was bummed to miss out on the “Let There Be Lips”, but I’m hoping she’ll have more sometime soon. And I had to stop by Ellen’s Half-Pint to say hello and thank her for letting MBT collect hats. And I succumbed to some really awesome baby alpaca/silk in purple. I need to double check the yardage, but that *might* end up being Icarus. I also (under the nefarious influence of B, Annemarie, Jas, and Sharon) found those awesome dragonfly earrings. Aren’t they gorgeous? (I have a bit of a thing for dragonflies. If/when I get another tattoo, that’s what it’s going to be.)The best part of Stitches, though, was totally the people. I’m going to save that for another post, though – I need to sit down and make the list of everyone so I don’t forget who I met. Because, erm… I’m a little fried still.

So, yes. That’s what’s been going on since my last post. I’m going to make every effort to blog more regularly, but with Rhinebeck this weekend, and SAFF next, well, I might not be quite back just yet.

Today, Yarn Barn of Kansas Moriah – undyed laceweight wool

First, a color the Yarn Barn of Kansas refers to as “Musk”. This is going to be a soft, snuggly sweater for Kris at some point:



And next, the heathered grey alpaca I picked up at Tess’ Designer Yarns for a song. (Seriously – $3 for 150 yards. Is it any wonder that it all vanished in about 5 minutes?) This will be something for me. I’m thinking possibly a cardigan, but I’m not sure.



Oh, and since so many of you were amused by my t-shirt idea, I might actually go forward with it. I’ll let you know if I do!

I’m sorry, I know that’s going to be stuck in everyone’s heads now, but I couldn’t resist. After all, the theme of this week’s Yarn Pr0n Friday here is, of course, Blue Moon Fiber Arts!

First, we have Seduction (Merino/Tencel blend) in “Puck’s Mischief”:

Next, Sock Candy (Cotton/Elite) in “Prickly Pear” – totally not my usual color scheme, but I just love it:

And finally, Socks that Rock in “Fire on the Mountain”. I cannot WAIT to see how this knits up: