SWTC Warehouse Sale

Last weekend (Friday and Saturday), SWTC had its annual warehouse sale. Of course, I had to go. They had a selection of their lovely yarns on sale for $10-$20 per bag. I didn't get some of everything, but I did make quite a haul.

When I went last year, I fell in love with the Craft yarn from the Vickie Howell Collection. It is a blend of cotton and milk fiber, and is quite soft. It was included in the sale again this year, so I picked up 5 bags.

Craft in Sandi (burgundy), Adina (black), and Carol (white).


I also found myself unable to resist picking up some Therapi. There were only these 2 colors available, and I usually don't use these colors, but it is so nice that I had to get it anyway. It is a blend of Bowlder (Jadite) fiber, fine wool, and silk. The color on the label didn't match the colors on the website, so I'm just calling these Mustard and Terracotta.

Therapi in "Mustard" and "Terracotta"


I also picked up a bag of Rock from the Vickie Howell Collection in Jonas (a fantastic blend of blue, gray, and black) at the request of Jay, who I very recently taught to knit. He's working on a scarf with it, but also requested one of the bags of Craft in Carol. Of course I said yes.

Rock in Jonas and Craft in Carol


Though I didn't get any, they also had Gianna, Vegas, Inspiration, some novelty bamboo, and some single balls (no bags) of Love.

In the end, I got 8 bags of yarn - that's 80 balls - for the amazing price of $1/ball.

The entire haul - Craft, Rock, and Therapi


I love this sale.

Raspberry Wheat Ale Messenger Bag

I was very fortunate to be able to knit the Raspberry Wheat Ale Messenger Bag from Pints and Purls for Knit Picks Fall 2009 catalog. The bag was knitted with Wool of the Andes in Dune Twist, and knit up fairly quickly on size 6 needles. The pattern calls for larger needles, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get gauge with anything larger. I seem to have become a bit of a loose knitter when I wasn't looking.

This would be a perfect knitting bag. It is large enough to hold a sweater, and the pockets would keep everything well organized.

The bag is knit in pieces and sewn together before felting, with the back pocket being sewn in after felting. I love the ribbon detail! Plenty of room in that pocket for a pattern and some accessories.

There are also 2 side pockets that are left unfelted and are sewn in at the end. These would be a great place to store needles, scissors, or other small accessories.

I really like this bag, and think I will have to knit one for myself. Pink and green will be the perfect combination for me.

Back to Normal?

Things have been quite hectic around here lately. School started for my ds the day after Labor Day, so I was in a bit of a tizzy to get everything ready before then. I'll have to admit that I didn't quite get the classroom finished (I still have a couple of maps to hang), but enough to get the ball rolling. Last year Jay's least favorite subject was math (Algebra I, if you're interested). Well, so far this year, he has declared that his 2 favorite subjects are science (as always), and ... MATH! I couldn't be happier. We've also been blessed with the friendship of a math major, and he's willing to patiently answer all of Jay's questions and to discuss math with him for hours. Jay LOVES it. And our microscope is the favorite tool that we are using this year; it was well worth the investment, and I think every home should have at least one.

On the fiber front, I am spinning up some lovely maroon wool that I purchased at Tempe Yarn and Fiber. I'm not sure what type of wool it is, but it is fairly soft and spins quite easily. I'm aiming for a dk to worsted weight 3-ply, and so far that's what I'm getting.

I've finally finished knitting the Galveston Shawl, but haven't yet blocked it. It is large, lovely, and deserving of its own post, which it will get when I've blocked it.

A few of my friends have been busy having babies, so I've decided it's high time I got busy knitting something for them. I'm making the Cables and Textures Pullover from Leisure Arts #3325, Beautiful Baby out of Patons Beehive Baby in Baby Blue for the one that is almost 2-months-old. I'm making the 6 mo. size, figuring that he'll still be able to wear it when I'm done that way. I have a bit of a cushion for the rest of them since they aren't yet born, so when I've finished this one I'll cast on for the Cables and Checks pattern.

I'm also designing another pair of socks. I've not been able to settle on a name yet, but the texture reminds me of thermal underwear, so I've been calling them my Long Underwear Socks. We'll see if I can't come up with something better. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd love to hear them. :)

I've also finally cast on the Alpine Lace Scarf from Victorian Lace Today. I love the yarn (Alpaca with a Twist's Fino), and the pattern is beautiful, but I think I must be a little laced out right now because I haven't gotten much beyond the first edging pattern repeat AND I haven't even had any desire to knit it. (Sigh). Maybe it's the weather.

The Fall issue of Knitty has come out, and I find myself quite enamored with the Girl Friday cardigan. I feel certain that I will have to have this be the next project I start. I'm just trying to decide whether to make it with SWTC's Craft or Love from their Vickie Howell Collection. What do you think?

Random

Making the handknits look good.

100% Bombyx silk in the "Abalone" colorway that I've spun very finely.

A refreshing drink of water at the dog park. Drinking out of bowls is SO last year.

10 of My Favorite Things (In No Particular Order)

1. Family
2. Friends
3. Gypsy
4. Knitting - especially with Knit Picks needles
5. Spinning on my wheel
6. Golfing - even if I now fully appreciate Mark Twain's golf quote
7. Book, books, and more books
8. Technology - which would also make my list of ten things that I don't like
9. Weekends
10. Autumn and winter


What are some of your favorite things?

As Promised

As promised in my last post... The felted clogs I've been working on. The pattern is the Fiber Trends Felted Clogs, the yarn is Patons Classic Wool. Though it doesn't show well in these pictures, the pink and gray are lovely heathered colors.

And now, the before and afters:

These are my slippers before:

And after:

Jordan's before:

And after:

After they were knitted, Jordan's were about 18" long, and mine were about 16".

Afterward they were about 12 1/2" and 10 1/2" respectively.


They are so comfortable and cozy, and they really keep feet warm. Sadly, that makes them almost impossible to wear during the summer, but they're surely a wonderful winter treat.

Boring

A new month has arrived, and I have nothing to say really.

Last Saturday, the Knitwits met at my LYS, which, though small, was very accommodating and has some Really Lovely Yarns. I picked up 2 balls of Noro Silk Garden in colorway 84, and 3 hanks of King Tut cotton in 329. I don't currently have plans for either beyond a swatch of the Noro, but they were too beautiful not to buy.

I've finished knitting up a new pair of felted clogs for J. He went through his last pair so quickly that I've had to let him know that this pair has to last for a while or he must learn to knit. I've also started, and am half finished, knitting another pair for myself. Mine are starting to get a bit ragged and worn through on the bottom, so it's time. I figure that I'll just felt them at the same time when I've finished knitting mine. Pictures of before and after next time.

I had been spinning up the most beautiful bombyx silk, but my dog got ahold of the roving, and, though I saved it, I just haven't had the desire to finish it. I'm sure I will though, as I've plans to turn it into a swallowtail shawl, and am eagerly anticipating the knitting.