Two Aspirin Please

Oy Gevalt! do I have a yarn hangover. I drove to mecca Interlaken NewYork; home of the Schaefer Yarn Company where the gracious and funny Cheryl gave me her time and a tour.

My flabber was gasted. I spent a large chunk of the year 5767 allowance, seen below. The haul includes Esperanza, lambswool and alpaca bulky 3 st/in and Lola superwash which is a bulkier weight sock yarn. (Lola - 5 st/in; Anne - 7-8 st/in)


I would have spent more but was rescued by the fact that Anne is not only my favourite yarn on earth, but also beloved by many other wise people.


And of course, this little skein of Andrea silk will become pattern #283 Andrea Beaded Diamonds Shawl by Catherine Devine.

I was allowed to fondle, squeeze, and yes, smell, to my hearts content. (Picture a cat with catnip). I did excercise enough restraint to refrain from putting a big pile on the floor and rolling in it.

I met the real Danya which was also the name of my best friend in High School.

I previewed the NEW yarn that they are releasing. Martha. It's a light worsted weight with Cashmere. Sigh. Amazing yardage. Don't quote me but I seem to remember 700-720? yards. Yes, enough for a cashmere enhanced Clapotis. Full stole sized and without ends to weave in. In those luscious colourways.

We had a fun conversation about the Memorable Women and how people become attached to the idea of the person rather than the yarn. (Woe unto the person who cancels a favourite). She talked about how they got started, how it's grown, and where they're headed. Absolutely fascinating. Very lucidly expressed. She even shared some dyeing hints and tips, with visual aids. See Piggy in wool and then in Silk, or even in the above photos - the Lola and Anne are the same dyelots but different yarns.

Now, if you'll pardon me, I need to go lie down.

Just Sayin'

Admiring my Bunny Hop yarn so much I had to post it's photo again.

A word to open hearted and generous knitters out there...the gift giving season is approaching. Time to start gift knitting. Let me share this parable.......

Once, while in the wilds of Alaska, I decided to knit a sweater for my best friend (best friend that is NOT the Adored One); and chose a long sleeve sweater pattern. Next came yarn, (this was pre-easy internet yarn). So my choices were inexpensive yarn or higher priced yarn. After much pondering I went with the lesser price.

++++++++Camera Angle cuts to the red CLUE phone ringing in the corner.++++

Why the lesser price? Not because I couldn't "afford" the nicer yarn. But, because, my friend is somewhat plebian and honestly wouldn't appreciate $90 in Nice yarn, or even $45 in nice yarn, any more than she would appreciate the $21 I ultimately spent.

++++++++++CLUE phone ringing+++++++++++

The moral is: if they won't appreciate the WORK enough to justify nicer materials, go to TJs or Marshalls and buy them a sweater, save your tendons and Time for yourself or someone (like me or the Adored One or numerous charities) who Will.

Just Sayin'

We who are about to Dye salute you!

First Official dyeing dried and swatched. As always the colours are not as good in photo. They are less pink, more autumnal in real life. I am thinking a Clapotis. But it will sit on the shelf for a while as I finish other WIPs. The base yarn was
Bare dyed with Jacquard Acid Dyes. Yum!

The knitting jinx has lifted! (don't say that out loud)

I put down the $$#%%** Fair Isle and started a different sweater for the Adored One. It's from Knitpicks Shamrock in Doyle. It's interesting how the colours pooled differently in the rib than the sleeve. I hope it doesn't continue this into the body or I shall be forced to change from Seamless to Seamed. Pbbt!
And for those of you who have seen "Something about Mary" these are SLEEVES not a bra for the old lady.


I'm now up to row 50 of the Feather and Fan. It started with 8 stitches, was 160 at row 30, is currently 258 on row 50. Time to put it down for a while and work on the other WIPs.

The fabulous Lynne from the LYS is having a sock class in November so I plan to treat myself to that class. (Having been classless all these 25+ years.) And I am going to NYC next Saturday, and hope to peek at a couple of stores while touring other major tourist sites. Although, lets face it...Koigu versus the FlatIron Building? Right. Union Square vs the elusive turkey bacon from the 59,000 square foot Whole Foods market? Yeah Right. I make a terrible tourist. Locations of mass death depress me, locations of Architectural Splendor crammed with hordes of hurrying people overwhelm me, my idea of heaven is my back patio on a fine day with the Adored One and the Puppies, a project, a book and a pitcher of Wild Blackberry with Sage Decaf. Sigh. Brigette from work and I plan to return to NYC Dec 2 to see the window displays. The thought of all those people fills me with trepidation. Should be fun anyway.

And how about the Yarn Harlot getting Married?!? Wow! Mazel Tov!

Tink Tink Tink, Frog Frog Frog...Cha Cha Cha?

I am alive only because Jung and Michelle in NE bought me a groovy yarn cutter. Thereby meaning I did not pack my scissors, thereby meaning I had nothing Sharp with which To End My Life after I knit two Beeeeyoooottuiful Fair Isle Patterned Lopi Sleeves...sat back to admire the beauty and realised that I had knit one whole pattern (at the ##$%%$$## cuff) in the Wrong Colour. Was it noticable? Apparently not during the knitting, but blatantly obvious to all observers.

Perhaps the Adored One would like something from a tool catalogue for our Anniversary instead?