Shop Update

Just put a batch of new fiber in the shop. A really fabulous blend for socks, shetland, rambouillet and some alpaca/merino/silk that spins like heaven.

The Other Vacation Project

I remembered that I haven't shared my other vacation project with you. A long time ago I bought 2 hanks of scrumptious yarn from Heather when she came to a spin night - it a worsted weight merino/alpaca/silk dyed in her gorgeous Rock Lobster colorway. I knew exactly what it was going to be as soon as I saw it. Another person I call friend has a great pattern that was perfect. In even better news, the scarf only used one hank, so I can make a matching hat - any ideas?

So here is my Gathered Scarf, a little bit of gluttony for myself.



I've also started in on my next sweater, something I loved as soon as I saw the pattern. It is called Neiewmarkt, by Nancy Marchant. Its all brioche stitch, and I was a little worried about my brain's ability to keep up with something non-stockinette, but its going really well, and has a great rhythm to it, increasing and decreasing in pattern isn't nearly as tricky as I thought it would be, so I am pleasantly surprised.



I've also been dyeing and spinning more lately, and the shop has been getting regular updates. I don't post them here, because I feel weird doing self promotion, but I'm wondering if I should - others do and it doesn't feel odd for me as a reader/buyer to see that, so I don't know why it makes me feel odd as the writer/seller. Something to think about. Life is settling into more predictable patterns, so I should be a little less sporadic for a while.

Carry On!

I love Tim Gunn, and I'm hopelessly addicted to Project Runway, as I know many others are. My favorite thing about Tim is how he so insanely tactful in his critiques - he lets the designers know if they are straying without making it seem insulting or mean. I need more skills in that arena. But of course my most favorite thing is his catch phrase: "Carry On!" It is a good personal mantra, and is a much more cheerful sounding version of one that has gotten me though other hard times: "The only way out is through".

So here I go Carrying On* through a few weeks of way too much stuff going on (literally minutes after I wrote that post last Friday, I hopped in the car to run some errands only to discover power steering was gone. We're down to one vehicle while waiting on parts).

As for knitting, here is one of my vacation FO's, which took a year on the needles, but man they came out pretty, so the wait is worth it. The yarn is Sereknity Sock in "Pumpkin Patch" and I guess they may have been waiting their turn to get finished so they could match the leaves. Pattern is Mad Color Weave and all the details are Raveled here.




*Please note that I am keenly aware that all the stuff on my plate these last few weeks is the result of abundant privilege and are not "real" problems by any stretch. I am simply the type who gets overwhelmed when I don't have much downtime, and purging here helps me to get my head straight.

Flat Out

Phew - a busy few weeks. Spent a week on the Vineyard last week for a last gasp fall vacation, and closing up the house for the winter. The week off makes the first week back seem extra hectic with laundry and food shopping catch-up to play, followed by a big project at work on the first day back, then a majorly tweaked back muscle and subsequent inability to really move my head and arms (better now), then all hell breaking loose with work project that seemed successful the day before (also better now) and an evening at the Topsfield Fair playing judge for the Spinning Bee. Now packing up the family again for a weekend away in Maine for a family wedding, only to return late Monday night with the same catch-up to play all next week, with the added bonus of prepping for the removal and replacement of 11 windows in our house a week from today.

Vacation afforded me the ability to finish two projects I had going, but they've been sitting in their travel zip-locks still packed since I got home. Blocking and photos need to get done, though I have no idea when I'll find the time for that. While I wait for time and a more normal pace of life to return, I leave you with one of the few photos I took at Topsfield.