Wool Gathering 2009

Before going off to buy more wool I finished spinning up some merino/tencel I got at MS&W2007. I have had this for way too long and finally got to it. It is one ply of a light green and on of a dark green. I ended up with about 550 yds total.

Last weekend was the Wool Gathering 2009 at Young's Dairy in Yellow Springs, OH. I went all by myself and had a nice time wandering around for a few hours.
There was a huge bunny for sale:
A very beautiful Border Leister sheep:Some very interested Jersey cows:
Two big tents of vendors:
It is about 1/8th the size of MS&W, but is only about 1 hr from here. I came home with 1.5 pounds of Romney in an oatmeal color that I want to spin and knit a sweater for Darin, 1 pound of a charcoal merino to spin and then knit something for me, 3 oz of a hand dyed BFL and 1 pattern from Knitspot (aka Anne Hanson).On the way home I had to stop at Jo-Ann's (since I didn't have enough yarn at home) and get some Cotton ease to knit a mesh shopping bag that I have been wanting for several months.

I finished the mesh bag this afternoon and here it is:
Pattern: BYOB from Knitty
Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton Ease, 4 skeins total (1 each of the contrast colors and 2 of the main)
Needles: US 7 and 10 KnitPicks options
Time: about 1 week total

Lots of knitting going on here

This would be further along if my guage swatch hadn't lied to me. It is the Telemark Ski Sweater from KnitPicks. I was about 6 rows more than what you see here when I discovered it was about 4 inches too big. The guage swatch said 6.75 sts/inch, but I was actually getting 6.25 sts/inch. Out it came and I have re-started.
I would have gotten further, but I had to go to a lace knitting class. I had a class with Anne Hanson of Knitspot. We worked on a little "sampler" for the advanced lace knitting part of the class and then got to see a trunk show of her designs. I got the sampler mostly done in class, I just have to graft part and then block.

I also got some new yarn. I got the chullo hat kit and the palette warm sampler from KnitPicks. I think they sold out again.


I also finished the legwarmers


Pattern: Traveling stitch legwarmers, Interweave Knits, Spring 2008
Yarn: Debbie Bliss, Rialto 4ply superwash, 3 balls
Needles: US 4, 3.5mm
Modifications: added 10 rows of rib at bottom to make the stirrup part
Time needed: 2 weeks!!!

These were a fun knit. I was afraid they would not fit my 16" calves, but they did just fine. I have worn them for a ballet class and I think I will need to run a piece of elastic through the top to keep them up.

Here is my basic knitting project. I loved the Jojoland yarn, but it wouldn't work for the legwarmers, so I had to find a new project for it. I think the entrelac shows off the color changes quite nicely. I have 3 balls, so we will see how long it takes to make this scarf.

Wool Festivals

Two weeks ago we had a huge wind storm (thanks Ike) and lost power at my house for just over 1 day. We were better off than most of central Ohio and definitely better than Texas. I didn't have much of a problem as spinning and knitting don't use electricity, but the hot water heater did need power. This also closed school for 3 days, but not my work.

Last weekend was A Wool Gathering at Young's dairy. I went and got not as much as I really wanted, but had tons of fun and then ate some great gelato. I got KnitSpot's pattern for Lacewing and some of the KnittingNotions lace yarn in a berry color, the current issue of Spin-Off and about 4 oz of alpaca fiber.

Yesterday was National Alpaca Farm Days. I went to Windy Lane Alpaca's farm here in central Ohio. I got to pet them, watch them, take their pictures, and buy some fiber. I got roving from Sienna.

This little guy, IncaGold was so cute.

As to knitting, I am working away on a basic v-neck pullover with my handspun coopworth 3-ply. I am following a pattern from The Knitter's Book of Sweater Patterns. I am still amazed by how even my handspun is. I can't wait to finish the sweater so I can wear it. I am also making a second ballet mouse for a little girl's birthday present.

Summer almost gone.

At work we are mostly done moving 3 labs. It was a lot of extra work and eliminated the need for a gym membership for a bit. I have gotten some knitting done. I can't show one item as it is a stealth project. I really liked working with the KnitPicks Swish yarn. I can't remember if it was the DK or worsted, but it was really nice to knit with. I hope it washes well.

I also finished block 5 of the Aran Afghan. I really liked this block. The 24 row repeat made the pattern fly. The other blocks have had either 4 or 8 row repeats and I was getting bored and didn't want to finish them. I think most of the rest of the blocks will be a larger pattern.

Last night I decided to start a new project. I found out that Lacis was selling the Lyra pattern by Niebling, so I ordered that and 2 other lace knitting books. I started Lyra last night with the mushroom Zephyr I had purchased a few years ago and knit 2 mystery stoles with.

I also got a book of Amigurumi, mostly for the duck pattern, but there are lots of others I want to try. I am still learning how to do crochet well. This duck was worked on while watching the opening ceremonies of the Olympics and in the car. He/she/it looks funny, but cute.

I also signed up for the Mystery Stole 4 (by PinkLemon's mother). I will probably not knit this as the mystery unfolds as the last 2 mysteries I did were not much to my liking at the end. I am a process knitter, but I am running out of people to gift lace knitting to.

It's been a while

I have had way too much going on to get over here and post. Since I last wrote, I finished the CotLin sweater. I don't have a picture yet, other than a VERY blurry one of me in a mirror. The yarn is lovely. I will post all of the details when I get a proper picture.

I also went to Maryland Sheep and Wool. I didn't spend as much this year as last (this is a good thing). I mostly got fiber to spin. I did buy one knitting project, a kit from Sheldridge Farms. My sister and I got the same pattern and different color yarns. I love the yarn, it is nice and smooshy. My sister also got me some fiber to spin for her so I need to finish the current spinning project soon.

In non-knitting activities, yesterday was the first Feis of my competition Irish dance season. I came home with one first place, one second place, two third places, and one dance had no medal. It was a pretty good day. The weather was the type where I should have been outside instead of in a convention center. Today (Mother's Day) we had rain all day and then tornado warnings in the early afternoon. Not a good day to let the boy play outside, but he is doing a good job of letting me spin a lot today and relax.

MS&W 2007

Well I am back from Maryland (I got to see the Pink Lemon and I came out of lurkdome and said Hi) and the pocketbook is considerably lighter. Here is the picture of our loot:
I got 3 wools to spin, 1 silk to spin and 4 wool/tencel blends to spin along with a bag pattern, a scarf pattern, yarn for 3 pair of socks and yarn for this sweater:

Before I left I got the wheel cleaned off and ended up with this:

This is the green wool/silk blend. I have about 290 yds and it weights 124g. I will figure out wpi later. I have to soak it and let it dry before I can use it. I also finished the current SIP while on the plane coming home last night, but no picture yet. I did start a new SIP with some of the loot yarns (Koigu KPPM).