I don’t feel like writing a whole lot tonight, but I just wanted to show off my shawl progress:
purple shawl with green stripe
I’ve been knitting like crazy this week and finally was able to start the second color. Now, I’m questioning the wisdom of my color choices. The green, when not in this light, looks a little boogery. And I’m not sure it goes all that well with the purple. I’ll keep going a while longer, and re-evaluate. The third color is a deep blue. The three yarn hanks looked nice next to each other, so I’m hoping there’s hope for the shawl. Time will tell, I suppose.
After finding faded yarn in my yarn bins a couple of weeks ago, I knew I would have to do something about it:
pink and purple yarn bins
I found some pink and purple bins at Target, choosing the color because even though the pink is nauseatingly girly, there’d be no mistaking whose they are or what’s in them.
I’d enjoyed my semi-transparent boxes, so that I could easily inspect their contents and admire my pretties. But, alas, protecting them is more important. And now, each time I open a long-closed box, I’ll be surprised all over again. And that can be fun, too.
And, I’ve been knitting. My shawl now has two colors in it. Barely, but they’re there. Yay.
Sunday was the 6th Annual Homespun Yarn Party, at Savage Mill in Savage Maryland. It’s similar to a lot of wool and yarn festivals around the country, but this one features vendors specifically from around the area, and mostly indie dealers creating their own unique brand of fibery goodness. Small farms and dyers such as these are typically overshadowed at some of the larger festivals, so this is a chance for many to really shine.
The thing is, what started out with the intention of having an intimate feel has become a bit of a madhouse. The event quickly outgrew the venue, but we still keep going back every year, knowing it will be hot, stuffy and mobbed. We fiber enthusiasts don’t seem to care about being a little uncomfortable. It’ll usually take more than a little sweat and pandemonium to keep us away from our yarn.
I went there without specific intentions this year. Clearly, with 21 bins of yarn in my house, need of more yarn is not the question. I intended to mostly spend my time and money in some of the other shops Savage Mill has to offer. The Mill is full of unique artist studios and all kinds of wonderful nooks and crannies to explore.
My friend Lynne offered to take me to the event again this year, and Dina came along. When we arrived, the main hall was already filled to capacity and there was a line of people waiting to get inside. Dina opted to wait in line, but Lynne and I headed off to explore. We came upon the studios of JUL and Noni Designs. JUL makes unique buttons, shawl pins, and purse hardware, and Noni Designs is famous for stunning felted bag designs, and amazing knitted flowers.
I did spend some money in each studio:
Three shawl sticks
I bought three shawl sticks from JUL and a collection of buttons:
Purple pedestal buttons and a collection of cinnamon buttons
The cinnamon buttons are made with real cinnamon and smell amazing! I plan on making several tea mug cozies and fastening them with these yummy buttons. And the purple ones? I have no idea yet what I’m going to do with them. But hey, they’re purple. And super cute.
It’s hard to see, but this one is grey with tiny purple beads. I think it is going to be beautiful.
Nora Bellows, Owner and Designer-In-Chief at Noni, was gracious enough to sign my copy of Noni Flowers: 40 Exquisite Knitted Flowers, which I hadn’t brought with me to last year’s Sheep and Wool festival because I didn’t know she was going to be there. She wrote the nicest inscription. I do love this book! The knitted flowers are amazing and truly the most accurate knitted flowers I have ever seem. I bought it mostly so I could make sprays of beautiful, showy flowers on my knitted hats, and sadly I haven’t made any hats since then… but I plan to! So look out for pretty stuff in my knitting future!
After a scrumptious lunch that included oh-so-sinful mac n’ cheese with crabmeat, Lynne and I finally headed into the main hall for the main event and lots of yarny goodness. I had worried that stuff would be picked over and the pickings slim, but I needn’t have been concerned. There was plenty left, just for us. Here’s a quick peek at what I got:
In this collection are some Lindy Hop Sock yarn, which is in a colorway called “Tardis.” I got this for my husband, who is a Dr. Who fan, and he says he would like a scarf out of it. Now I just need to find the perfect pattern. Also I got three colors of Mithril from The Verdant Gryphon. Gryphon herself helped me choose the colors… for I know I am obsessed… yet another Color Affection. (I’m starting to wonder if I will get them all made before I die? Sheesh!) Last, but certainly not least, is a hank of Biggie from Dancing Leaf Farm. (I also got the lovely felted pins from Dancing Leaf.)
So, even though I hadn’t intended to buy yarn, I did… sigh. At least my knitting needles are moving faster these days. I look forward to getting quite a few things made in 2013 and beyond.
It was a great day and a great event, and now I am looking forward to my annual trip to Maryland Sheep and Wool, where once again, I will vow to buy no new yarn. Yeah, right. We’ve all heard that one before.
I’ve been making slow but steady progress on my Color Affection shawl:
Color Affection Shawl ProgressCloseup of Color Affection Shawl
I’m concerned that the shawl seems very wide but not too deep so far. I hope that when it’s all done that it’s big and snuggly. I suppose if needed I could make the border section wider. The shawl is intended to be a gift, and I want it to be a big, warm hug to the recipient.
I am very pleased with the yarn. It is Dream in Color Starry, which is the same as Smooshy yarn, I think, except that there is a tiny silver thread running through it. I like that this shawl is going to have a little bling.
I would be lying if I said I wasn’t getting at least a little bit bored. I’m at that stage in the knitting where it feels like I’m doing an awful lot of knitting but not making a lot of progress. And, it doesn’t help that the rows are sooooo wide now. I’m dying to make something else, like a simple hat or a scarf, but I know that if I stop now, this would just land on my huge pile of already abandoned projects. So, I will knit on. I am determined that this project will be finished and delivered. Wish me luck to keep going…
Ok, so this website did start out as a knitting blog, and I’m not intending to lose that concept. It’s been a while, but I have an update.
I’m fascinated by the Color Affection shawl, and have yarn to make four of them. *gasp*
Color Affection closeup view
This one is made from Dream In Color Starry yarn in brown, grey and blue. This one’s a gift for someone who could use a little extra sparkle in her life, so you’re just going to get a sneak peek for now. Sorry!
Color Affection in progress
I’m loving knitting this project, and I’m looking forward to the next one, which will be for ME! That’s all for now… gotta get to work.
, which I hadn’t brought with me to last year’s Sheep and Wool festival because I didn’t know she was going to be there. She wrote the nicest inscription. I do love this book! The knitted flowers are amazing and truly the most accurate knitted flowers I have ever seem. I bought it mostly so I could make sprays of beautiful, showy flowers on my knitted hats, and sadly I haven’t made any hats since then… but I plan to! So look out for pretty stuff in my knitting future!
