Knitting Update

I volunteered for the Knitters' Guild at Shepherd's Harvest over Mothers' Day weekend. I kind of fell of the wagon but not too much ... I purchased $1 mini-skeins of sock yarn in colors that I am short of for the blankie because I never seem to have enough light colors or browns/beiges/yellows:

I also stoped at Sun Valley Fibers to pick up colors I can use for a color work hat and mitts.  I love their yarn and I don't want the leftovers to be wasted.   I also got on the mailing list and am on the waitlist for the January Thaw retreat in Madison.  Hard to believe so many people would want to go to Madison in January but there you go - Midwesterners and knitters are unique types of people:

I picked up Lamb's Pride seconds at a really good price ... this was justified by the fact I have had requests (so far) for four pair of felted slippers.  I find this is the best yarn at the best price for the slippers and who cares about seconds for felted stuff?  (Thanks again, Mary Lou, for teaching me how to make these slippers.  I have no idea how many I have made now but it's a lot).

I've also started the Goldfish Memory shawl using two luxury yarns (Shalimar and Anzula) and a skein of Jitterbug that I will never use for socks because it pools terribly (not just around the ankles).   Since I already have two Color Affections I was looking for another productive use of sock yarns.  I'm on section 5 of 12.

I basically knit a pair of socks whilst in Guatemala and started another pair as soon as I got home, which means I'm on pair #6 for the year ...  I have to branch out.  It's only May.

D.C.

I went to DC to see Boy-child Saturday.  Actually, I went Friday night because they don't have the Saturday morning flight to National any more :(

Of course I had to take advantage of the trip to pop into Fibre Space.  Such a fabulous store.

We had lunch at Lyon Hall in Arlington.  It was yummy.

Boy-child humored me and we went to the Folger Shakespeare Library which was FABULOUS.

I don't know why I'd never been before.

It's cherry blossom time right now.

Now I'm back home with my newly acquired Miss Babs Yowza in Zinfandel.   

 

I would say I wish we had Miss Babs available here in Minnesota, but I think it's a good thing we don't.  The sock yarns are wonderful.  I have high hopes for the Yowza.

On Color and Addictions and Color Addiction

The blankie continues to progress.  I have added to my scraps through a scrap-swap at the Knitters' Guild February Tea.  I took in some worsted leftovers and picked up sock yarn leftovers.  Some of my Friday night knitting pals have also contributed to the project.  (It's ok, Rosemary, because it's a net zero).

It's a labor of love and addiction.  Over 70 squares now so 10% there ... starting to look like a blankie too.

I finished a sock for DIL.  She got short-changed at Christmas last year so my goal is to have two pair that fit her for next winter.

I also continue to work on tidying up estate issues.  As I prepare to close on the sale of Auntie's house I have picked up other loose ends, such as this afghan.   It was made by my paternal grandmother in the 1950s or 60s.  It needs repair.  Turned out it needed a bath too.

It's crochet so DIL will be in charge of the repairs.  I found materials and once it's dry I'll take it over to The Girls so that it can be fixed up and ready for someone to use.  The colors match better than it would seem from the photos.

It took me to the halfway point to realize that the yarn I chose for the Sister Syster was not good for the pattern.  For the record, if you're planning on making one, look for a yarn with drape.  I was focused on the color.  I am easily distracted by color.  When I saw this purple yarn I decided I wanted a Sister Syster made out of it without thinking it wasn't a good match as far as fabric ...  so now it's been washed and can be made into something else.

Speaking of color ... I try not to buy stuff (much).  My goal is to acquire only things that make my everyday better.  When I saw this polka-dotted mug it made me smile, so I bought it.  When I got it home, washed it and put it on the towel to dry it made me laugh.  I have no regrets.

I guess I have some color addiction issues :D

If you're looking for a sheepy movie I would highly recommend Rams.  We went for a Friday Knit Night Orphans field trip.  I'm not sure everyone else liked it but I thought it was terrific!