I had no idea's for a title, so that will have to do. So I was playing with my pretty new yarn from Maryland and I wanted to knit a Tom-Ten (Elizabeth Zimermann pattern) but I couldn't find my 10.5 Denise needles. I recalled they have been in a box in my dinning room for nearly a year. I started the Bolero Jacket (Debbie Bliss Simply Soft Book). I thought hrmm, might be good to use that yarn and I see no reason to rip what I started.

So far I have finished, the back, one front and part of a sleeve. (I had only started the back back a long while ago so that's great progress for a few nights) I am going to finish at-least one sleeve before hitting the other front, hopefully to make it easier to get through two sleeves.

I'm using the called for cashmerino chunky so it's a fast knit, and so far the sleeve width looks very promising (not too big/baggy). I did some ktfbl when I worked on one front and then wound up using a more "invisible" increase. I could have gone back and ripped the more obvious ones but figured, what the hell. I left them. I'm getting far more laid back about my knitting, it's a good thing. I might finish more stuff this way, hah. I have so many unfinished sweaters, think about if I actually finished Sahara, I could even wear it this summer. That would involve having to find the UFO and the yarn.. which I believe are not together. Slacker knitter!!!! :)

We are headed to the beach very soon and I am totally freaking out about it, I think I mentioned it but now it is mere DAYS away. I can NOT wait. Maybe I'll finish the bolero to wear on the beach at night, with my big fluffy gap skirt (just like the skirts in the pattern book!). Then I would have to pack my blocking board, not sure how the husbeast would feel about that!

posted by pixie, May 09, 2008 | permalink | comments (1)

As I have been using so much sock yarn for Country Kiddie lately I stashed up a bit on that. I really wanted to make one from STR and I figured I needed to have the experience of waiting in line for sock yarn, everyone should. I waited 45 minutes. It was 11am when I got in line and it was already pretty picked over. I couldn't find a pink/green color-way like I wanted to but I got some other pretty stuff.

The green's look a bit gray in this photo for some reason. This yarn below knits up SO pretty! It is an angora/wool blend and is hand dyed and then hand plied (the women who does it must enjoy plying, A LOT because they had A LOT of yarn!). The booth was in the main building and had a ton of sample sweaters in the same pattern but in different colors. I can't wait to knit this up, it's really pretty and of course my favorite colors.

Now for my two favorite purchases, one is a hank of 100% cashmere. 300 yards. I am thinking about making cashmere socks. How nice would that be to wear in the winter around the house? Or even with burks on a cool spring day.

Second, something I have wanted for years. A golding spindle. This one is 1.9 ounces and perfect for long fibers like BFL and Shetland. The women working the Golding booth was so nice and helpful. I was torn between this and a butterfly 1.2 ounce one which would have been nice for merino but the truth is I spin most with Shetland, BFL and those types of wool. She had me try it out and wow it spins like a dream. I went outside today and spun up some but then it got too windy and I had to stop. I LURV it.

I did not buy any roving (oh I wanted too) but I have loads in my closet and I really think I buy to much stuff so I tried to keep my purchases small. I actually only went in one barn (to get the STR) and never walked through the rest of it, and went through the main big indoor building. I missed SO MUCH but I knew I would want to buy to much and it was best not to even look. I also got some really funny stitch markers but I still need to photograph them. I also met someone while shopping and I will tell you all about that later too!

posted by pixie, May 05, 2008 | permalink | comments (3)

I was ready, I had my boots and my hat. I did not get sunburn, in fact neither did BG or the husbeast. I made sure we all used sun-block. Go responsible adult person! (oh, that was me... hah).

We brought the rough and rugged stroller, super easy for navigating through sheep poo and mud.

However, I never saw any sheep poo, or mud. Oh but there was some super cute, ewok-ish alpaca's!

We spyed on some adorable baby Finn, on the way to the Ravelry meetup.

(Have no fear, those sheep are in the shade with plenty of ventilation)

There was a LOT of people at that meetup.

I was a bit overwelmed and left, but not before saying hit to Jess and Casey.

We ended the day by relaxing under a tree, surrounded by tulips.

Later that evening I ventures out by myself to the Ravelry party and first thing saw some familiar faces.

(AM & Carrieoke! Georgia girls rule)

I saw the Rav crew together, giving out a mother-load of prizes.

Then I ended the day by saying hi to bob.

Stash enhancements up next... I have to go collapse on the bed first though...

posted by pixie, May 04, 2008 | permalink | comments (8)