Check Please

Check It Out...

For those interested, the haul above clockwise from upper left:  Brooks Farm Duet, Lisa Souza Petal in Pesto, Redfish Dyeworks Yak/Silk, Tess' Designer Yarns Microfiber Ribbon (enough of each color for a sleeveless shell), Lisa Souza Cashmere/Silk lace weight, Tactile Silk lace weight, Tactile Superwash Merino, Tactile Yak sampler, Tactile Superwash/Cashmere/Nylon, Rabbitworks Toe Jam, and Sanguine Gryphon Gaia Lace.

So - yeah - Stitches.  Quite a weekend!  I spent most of it helping out in the Tactile / Rabbitworks booth.  Wild times, I tell ya - check out the evidence:


Check It Off...

This has been a weekend of gettin' it done.  Housework - check: the laundry's done, as is the vacuuming (my least favorite).  The kitchen looks better than it has in weeks, plants are watered, the bathroom is clean and while it's far from perfect, the house looks pretty good. 

But I haven't just been tackling the boring stuff.

Workouts - check: I got two of them in this weekend - we took the dogs to Sunol Ohlone Regional Wilderness.  Nothing terribly strenuous, but it was a nice 3 hours getting some fresh air, exercise and unfortunately a bit of sunburn - doh!

We took the Road More Traveled this time.

Random enormous boulder

Little Yosemite at Sunol Ohlone

Knitting - check, check, checkity check check check.  I've been busy!

A Pretty Thing #3A

A Pretty Thing 3B

No I didn't accidentally post the same picture twice -  I made two of them.  But forgot to take a picture of the 2nd one but it looks exactly like the first, so....  Anyway.  These are Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's A Pretty Thing in a Cascade Silk/Merino (?) fingering weight.  Pink isn't my color but it's perfect for the two friends who received these.  And the yarn no matter what the color is lovely!  Soft, non-splitty, and a great value.

I also got started on my afghan:

Afghan Square #1

Afghan Square #2 (it's really greener than that)

I love alternating these squares with other projects - it keeps things interesting and hopefully will prevent me from burning out on this huge project before it's done.

I finished my Fenimore Hat:

I'm finally cold enough to knit myself a hat

 This is a fun pattern by Jared Flood.  Interesting enough to keep it fun, but not so complex as to make my head explode.  The yarn is Cascade 220 Superwash.

I've also been spinning a bit - one of my favorites, Crown Mountain Farms Superwash Merino in Stand By Me, destined to become a 3-ply sock-weight.

Crown Mountain, how I love thee!

And I have knitting in process too - this is my second Simple Things Shawl, this time in Lisa Souza silk lace-weight in Sedona (held double).  Nearly done!


Next on the list - another Clapotis using the Brooks Farm Duet that I picked up last week at Stitches West.  Pretty, no?  I'm hoping to cast on this week.

Clapotis-to-be

Here's another thing I picked up last week - not quite as exciting as yarn but at over 68% off, still worth gloating over. 

Cole Haan's at over 68% off.  Jealous?

Neener, neener.

Lost Weekend at Stitches West

Need I say more?

Yowza

Why Not Make 'Em Four Deep?

Some of you will remember when about four years ago, I participated in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer - 39.3 miles over two days (note to the squeamish; the 2nd link has a nasty picture of my blistered foot - you might not want to cursor all the way down).  I managed to do the entire walk, and it wasn't until a week or so later that I realized I had blisters on blisters on blisters.  No wonder I limped to the finish!















But I healed up quickly, and much like childbirth (ok not at all like childbirth) I've forgotten about the discomfort (did you ever notice how often those in the medical profession use that term?  Just say 'pain' damnit!) and I've decided to give it another go.  But do the same thing again?  Noooooo...that would be too easy - I know I can do that.  I'm bumping it up a notch - by doing the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk for the Cure.  3 days of walking - 60 miles.  Yep - that should add another layer to the blister pile!  I signed up yesterday, committing myself to raising a minimum of $2,300 in order to participate.  However, my personal fund-raising goal is $5,000. 

So I'm ready to go - I've got a new iPod, some new gear, and my walking partner from the last walk.  Anyone else want to join me?  C'mon - it'll be fun!  Or, if you don't want to raise the funds by walking yourself, will you support me?  Just click on the Donate button in the sidebar.  Thanks so much!

My new training buddy...

Oh! My.....

Oh lookie - a package for me!

What could it be?
















Something from the Cupcake Fiber Company!  Is this not the most fab packaging ever?
















Fluff!





















Close up fluff!  Oh!  My....
















This lovely stuff is the creation of The Fairy Godknitter.  It's 6 beautifully carded one-ounce batts created for spinning sock yarn.  You spin each batt separately, then ply two 3-ply skeins of sock yarn from them.   There's plenty for a pair of socks - even knee highs!   I'm not one to jump in and buy something the minute I see it, but the Fairy Godknitter posted about her new venture and I couldn't resist.  So lovely - and the packaging is pure genius.  I can't wait to finish my current spinning so I can get going on this!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch.... 

There's been knitting.  I seem to be all about the small stuff lately.  I finished my afghan square (picture some other time) and then started Fenimore by Jared Flood.  When we were at the zoo I felt really chilled for the first time since moving here about 5 years ago.  Maybe I'm finally acclimating!  Anyway, feeling cold for once game the urge to make a hat:

Here's what it'll look like:





















Both pictures are pretty sucky, but I hope you get the general idea.  I'm using Cascade 220 Superwash in a heathered dark purple.  I also continued on my socks.  I'm now done with the heel flap and I'm ready to turn the heel.

But first, I had to stop everything to make this for a post-holiday gift exchange at work:





















This is Pretty Thing by Stephanie Pearl McPhee out of 'Baby Twist' Alpaca.

And I had to make this too:  a friend of mine at work asked me if I'd make her a headwarmer and brought me the pink one in to copy:

I don't know what it was about this project that excited me so much, but I did it in a day.  It's so girlie, and so not my style - I couldn't put it down!  I stayed up past 2:00 am to teach myself how to crochet the flower.
 














And I found the perfect buttons. 

 I love it.  And my friend does too.

And Miele loves Trouble.  A little too much for Trouble's liking...