Stitches West 2015

Stitches just ended, so it is time for a blog post!

First, let me acknowledge that I didn’t do an FO round up for 2014. I looked at how many things I had finished and the number was depressingly low so I didn’t want to rehash it. Alas. I did declare my skirt to be finished and I wore it today, the last day of Stitches. I didn’t get a good shot of it in action, or any shot of it being worn, actually. I liked wearing it and I got lots of compliments so I am calling it a success even without an FO photo.

My rule at Stitches this year was that I couldn’t buy sweater quantities of yarn, since I have not finished a sweater in… I was going to say two years but it looks like I haven’t finished a successful sweater for myself since 2010. How depressing! I did finish three other sweaters that I gave away but those don’t count. Do they? Maybe they do. In any case, no sweater quantities of yarn for me!

I started off with yarn from RedFish.

I am going to make Color Affection with these three colors.

The fourth green was rejected as too close to the grey by all of my knitting friends. I can’t say I disagree but I loved that color so I kept it. I will find something else to do with it.

Followed by a non-knitting purchase of two cups from Jennie the Potter.

Only one is pictured here because the other is in the dishwasher already.

A project bag from Knerd.

How true this is!

New Signatures and some notions.

Mmm, Signatures.

I rounded up Thursday’s market preview shopping with a scarf from Miss Babs.

I might be in love with this.

Yesterday I purchased some cotton tape yarn from DanDoh.

I already started a project with it!

And today I fell down at WEBS and ended up with another skirt project.

It’s not a sweater, right?

I was $12 away from 20% off so I grabbed these two for free basically.

I think they will be a slinky cowl.

Last, but certainly not least, Lisa and I are splitting these three cones for a cowl.

The booth that had this had a gorgeous cowl out of five colors, but we compromised and got three.

I also took a market session class on crocodile stitch.

It’s an interesting crochet stitch. I think I will take the teacher’s advice, though, and work it in much smaller yarn for actual wear. It was pretty stiff in this worsted yarn on an H hook.

I had a good time, as usual, visiting with knitting friends from near and far and now my head is full of new project ideas! I should start by finishing one of my old projects, though.

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Stitches 2013!

It’s that time again, the time when a knitter’s heart turns to thoughts of yarn. Okay, a knitter’s heart never strays far from thoughts of yarn but we’re even more obsessive when Stitches comes around. Last year I said that Stitches was going to be my only yarn purchases. It wasn’t, of course, but maybe I can stick to that this year. No promises, though.

That said, let me show you what I did get. First, I ran to the Southern Yarn booth to buy Signature Needles.

Her booth was full of nonwool yarns but none of it caught my eye. My rules for shopping were that I could only spend the cash that I brought and that I had to love what I bought. I already love these needles. I got a set of 7s two years ago and sometimes knit projects just because they can be made on those needles. They really are wonderful.

Then I visited the ArtFibers booth and discovered that they now have recycled cotton denim yarn.

This red one had to come home with me. I think I already know what to make with it and it can be made on one of my pairs of new needles, so that’s a plus.

I also succumbed to a skein of RedFish’s new sport weight Silk Floss.

This picture doesn’t really do it justice. It’s very pretty. I am looking forward to knitting with it.

I was hoping that A Verb For Keeping Warm would have Paso Dolce chocolates again. They didn’t but they did have tiny Tcho samplers.

Love Tcho chocolate. The other item pictured above is my door prize! It’s a travel pack from Bar Maids: a cuticle stick, lip balm, and lotion bar. They are yummy and lanolin-free. I am so pleased that I finally won a prize! Maybe this means it’s my year for the grand prize.

In other news, I finished a cowl. It’s the Abby cowl from KnittySpin a couple of years ago.

I love how light but still warm the silk lace yarn feels. Again, I don’t love the color. It is the other half of the hank of silk I used to make the Annis which I ended up giving to Teenuh. She has hinted that she’d take this off my hands too. First I want to take it back to Stitches and show it to owner of RedFish Dyeworks, since it is her yarn. She said she’d love to see it.

Yes, that does mean I plan to go back to Stitches. I still have some of my cash left and if I want to win the grand prize I have to be there, right?

quietly knitting away

I have been quiet for the past two months, haven’t I? I have been knitting (and crocheting) away, though. First I made a crocheted basket for my mom for her birthday.

It matches the washcloth/hand towel that I made for her for Christmas. I still haven’t given it to her, though! I need to rectify that.

Next up, a silvery scarf for I am not sure who. For the fun of knitting it, perhaps.

In the same theme, I made an orange Lintilla scarf, unsure if I would actually want to wear it. I didn’t.

I liked knitting it, and I liked the way it turned out but the orange didn’t work on me. Luckily, it worked on Kristi.

Sorry for the blurry faced picture. We were inside, at Stitches West! Speaking of Stitches, I bought some lovely blue Lisa Souza silk at Stitches.

I think it will become a cowl. But first, I am knitting a sweater from Norah Gaughan Vol. 10 called Etesian. I tried on the sample at the WEBS booth at Stitches and fell in love with it. They are now knitting up their garments in size 14 and size 4 so I was able to try on the larger one. I am pleased with this trend and emailed them to tell them so! I’m knitting mine in ArtFibers Chutney, a matte silk yarn. My swatches turned out nicely and I have high hopes for it! I didn’t take a photo of them, so you’ll have to take my word for it.

One last finished object: A binary cable hat.

I knit one of these for Cookie and on the way to Yosemite last week, I decided that I wanted one too. My plan was to knit it in the car and wear it there. Well… I didn’t start it until we got back but I have finished it and wore it this morning for school drop off. (That is when the picture was taken.)

Whew. I guess I have been busy! No time to type more, though, my new sweater project is calling.

stitches yarn and stuff

I must admit that I was not really looking forward to Stitches this year. I’m not sure what happened. I think I was bummed about Signature not being there and then there was lots of snow in the Sierra and it didn’t look like Kristi would make it. Signature still didn’t make it, but Kristi did, which is better than the other way around.

I bought some yarn.

Sunshine Yarns Sunsilk Lace

I don’t know what I’m going to do with that, but isn’t it pretty? I’m considering the Curatio Shawl (Ravelry link). Or maybe an infinity scarf (a large cowl that you loop around yourself twice, basically). It’s just so sort I want to snuggle with it.

At the end of the day, I got some more yarn.

Manos Cotton Stria

That pile of burnt orange is 10 hanks of that yarn. They were in bundles of five and marked down and I couldn’t resist. I am considering Kiama (Ravelry link). We’ll see. I think the color would be overwhelming on me on something that closed in the front but I like the idea of something drapey and open.

I also got buttons for Christine’s Liesl.

It’s a set of 12 buttons but I only need three. I think they’re perfect, though, and I’m sure I’ll figure out something to do with the other nine. I’m working on the first sleeve and they’re short, so I should be done soon!

Last, but not least, I got Norah Gaughan Volume 7, some highlighter tape, a 10-dent heddle (for DK weight weaving projects) and a book.

The book comes with a story. I saw Rachel Herron in line to get a ticket so, as I was walking by, I told her how much I love her first book and how I stayed up late reading it all in one night because I couldn’t put it down. She said, “You win, then!” and told me that since I was the first person to approach her I could have a copy of her next book, which isn’t out yet! She even signed it for me even though between the three of us (her wife, Lala, was there also) we didn’t have a pen that was completely functional. Ah well, I know who was signing it.

I wonder if the kids will let me curl up on the couch one day and read this one all at once too. Fat chance, eh? Later, Kristi told me that there’s a short story available on Amazon for Kindle (or Kindle for Mac, iPod, etc) for free! I downloaded it tonight and am looking forward to reading that too!

All in all, it was a good day. I am looking forward to heading back to the market tomorrow for the grand prize drawing. I have two more tickets I forgot to drop in. I need to make sure that I’m there on time!

stitches west 2011

The schedule for classes at Stitches West 2011 have been posted on the Stitches Facebook page. Oh, and look, Cookie is on the cover!

I have already picked out which class I want: JC Briar’s Cast-On Cornucopia. I was regretting not taking that class at Sock Summit 09. Maybe next year she’ll teach her Bind-Off Bonzanza class too, so I can have both ends.

Registration opens 10/7 … what do you want to take?

a few finished items, stitches

I am back to my non-regular posting schedule with pictures of finished stuff like once a month. Here we go.

First of all, bike helmet ear warmers for Niels

bike helmet ear warmers for Niels

No action shot because he doesn't like them. They're too tight under his helmet or something. Live and learn.

Next up, things knit with Blue Sky Alpaca Dyed Cotton that I got from the BobaKnit yarnswap. I was seized with the desire to knit it all up immediately.

Blanket for Pete and Surgirtha's baby (born a few days ago, I better send it off).

star blanket

star blanket

Baby Bolero from One Skein for Diana's baby, also born a few days go, also not yet delivered.

one skein baby bolero

Single Cable Scarf, also from One Skein, for my mom.

green cabled scarf

green cabled scarf

The two babies are also getting bunny buddies, of course.

more bunnies

I have no idea what this yarn is. My aunt gave it to me from my grandmother's stash, I believe. It's some kind of cotton plied with a thread so it's bumpy. It makes a nice bunny.

My Anhinga is also finished but it is blocking right now. I'm trying to see if the pleat stays in just from blocking or if I'll to sew a tuck it. We'll see soon, I hope.

Last weekend was Stitches West. I took a class on sweater finishing that was mostly about swatching, including washing your swatches so you understand your fiber and then about seaming. I do think I learned some new techniques that will help me improve my seaming but I could have lived without the instructor trying to convince me that I am allergic to dyes and not wool. Trust me lady, I am sure I'm allergic to wool, just ask my nebulizer.

As I mentioned, my lovely Boba friends gave me a gift card for WEBS. I used it to buy a sweater's worth of Seduce.

I also got the books I mentioned previously (Berroco booklet #294 and Norah Gaughan Vol. 6) from WEBS and Whimsical Little Knits by Ysolda Teague from Verb For Keeping Warm. I want to make Ishbel out of the Handmaiden Sea Silk that I bought at Stitches two years ago… I think? (I looked it up, yes, it was two years ago!)

pattern books

Last but not least, I got a few tools and notions.

tools

Three bone "wandas" by Lacis from Carolina Homespun, they're a crochet hook on one end and a knitting needle on the other. One of my friends described it perfectly: it's an "oh crap!" tool. Perfect for fixing things; the Sinature circulars were too hard to resist once I learned that the point rotates on the cable! If you knit on circular needles you'll probably understand right away why I think that's a wonderful idea; last up: highlighter tape, red from the wooden sock blocker people and yellow from The Mannings. The highlighter tape has already enabled me to go back to my tapestry cowl, a double knitting colorwork project with no repeats in the pattern. NO REPEATS. I might get it finished by the time it's cold again, which would be a Good Thing.

Just because they're so awesome, here are the points of my Signature Needles.

pointy points

I find Stitches to be inspiring and exhausting at the same time. It inspired me to finish my Anhinga and then to pick up two UFOs that had been hanging around but by Sunday night I was so tired, and I didn't even spend time in the marketplace except on Thursday evening and Sunday after my class. I'm not sure what it is: the crowds, the wool fumes, the sensory overload. I'm going with all three.

I'm glad Stitches is over and now I need to focus on finishing the projects I have planned with this year's yarn AND last year's! That sweater still hasn't been knit either. Oops.

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stitches west shopping list

It's a month away but I am already thinking about what to buy at Stitches West. I don't usually go with specific yarns in mind but this year I am. Some of my wonderful Boba friends gave me a gift card to WEBS as a thank you for the many baby blankets I designed for them so I am plotting. My plan is to buy Norah Gaughan Vol. 6 and Berroco Booklet #294  and 16 hanks of Berroco Seduce. I want to make one of the Vol. 6 tops, but I'm not sure which, in the Seduce Bellambie in All Seasons Cotton.

I am also going to be on the look out for Sockina. I  got some from The Fold at Sock Summit and knit a pair of socks in it for myself. Several people hinted (some more clearly than others) that they'd like a pair too. I don't think WEBS carries it but I'm hoping someone will have some at Stitches. Maybe The Loopy Ewe?

I also have a gift card to Purlescence from my friends (aren't they the best) but I might wait until Stitches to decide what to get from them also. I have my eye on Rowan Calmer but I might also pick up books that I've had on my wish list since they have a good book selection in their shop. I don't know if I'll buy from Purlescence at Stitches since I know I can go there easily, obviously.

There's also homework to be done for my sweater finishing class. Thankfully, it doesn't require knitting up an entire sweater to finish!

I'm looking forward to Stitches, in case you can't tell.

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stitches goodness

I got to go do knitting stuff for almost four hours this afternoon/evening! This may not sound like news to some of you, but it was pretty exciting for me. I went to some Stitches West events. First I went to the Ravelry meet-up, which was fun. I only managed to take one picture of people, of course. It's Lori, Rachel, Jeni and Kristi (and wine)

ravelry meet-up at Stitches West

Then, I picked up my badge (thanks to Margit of Fiber Fiend for signing me up as a worker in her booth!) and went into the market preview. We (a group of BobaKnitters) stopped first at the Ravelry booth and bought Ravelry schwag! (Click over to Flickr to see what everything is.)

my stitches haul

As you can see, that's not all I bought. I also got some Longmeadow yarn from WEBS. Now that I have it home I'm wondering if I should go  back and get six or so more of the red to make the Auburn camp shirt. I'm not sure. I got the two linen colored ones thinking I'd make a tee and use that as an accent. We'll see. I got one hank of Blue Sky Skinny Dyed cotton yarn. I want to try it out. I also bought a log cabin pattern from Bella Knitting. I've been wanting to get that one for a while.

Ah, Stitches. I got all of my stamps in my Ravelry passport except for from Blue Moon Fiber Arts, because they were too busy to do stamps tonight. Foo. Speaking of the Ravelry Passport, it amused me that it so closely resembled the Dutch passport. (What can I say, I am easily amused.)

Dutch Passport vs Ravelry Passport

I'm planning on going back for a bit on Saturday, so that I can hang out more with Kristi. Yay, yarn, yay Kristi!

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stitch markers ready to go!

My stitch marker sets are all ready to be sold at the Bay Area Knit Co-op Booth that Cookie and Lynn have arranged at Stitches West. Aren't they pretty? I'm very pleased with the crystal ones in particular. I think that if I decide to set up an Etsy shop I'm going to mostly make them with crystals. I like the green glass beads in the back row also but I can't remember now where I got them and would not be able to get more without a great deal of searching.

So if you're going to be at Stitches come by booth 732. There will be patterns, gorgeous hand-dyed yarn and roving, and kits for sale by other Bay Area knitters.

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