Live and Learn

So I bought some Rowan Creative Linen in light gray for a good price, intending to over dye it at some point. Yesterday I decided I needed to do that and soaked the yarn, without adding extra ties, like I usually do. Then I dyed it, using Dylon dye in the washing machine. I did put the 4 skeins in mesh bags first, but in spite of that, they are a giant mess. I now have this x 4!

It is not dry yet so I can't really do anything with it. And I have a feeling it is going to take me awhile to untangle 800 yards of yarn. I am pretty sure I will always remember to add extra ties in the future....

Tribute to a Wonderful Woman

The knitting world lost a Very Important Person Saturday night. The world lost a wonderful person. My dear, dear friend, Yvonne Eyer, passed away. She was an extraordinary knitter and always willing to share her knowledge and expertise with those of us less accomplished. She was a fun and funny friend. I can't tell you how many years I have known her, but from the very first, I just loved her. She was my mentor, my friend, my inspiration, and a very good enabler. I can thank her for many yarn and knitting related purchases. It was always fun to see what she was working on and to compare notes on projects. I will miss her caring and compassionate presence so much. And so many little things remind me of her, my "Knit One, Sip One" wine glass. Mine is purple, hers was blue. Some of my knitting related jewelry, my "Red Hat Knitter" stitch marker, my Katerina sweater (we both made it), any lace project, Tuesday evenings at Caribou. I could go on and on. Tonight will be our first night knitting at Caribou knowing that Yvonne won't be joining us again. Rest in Peace, my friend. I love you.

This picture was taken on a knitting retreat weekend when we visited an alpaca farm. I love this picture of Yvonne. It was taken by my friend Christine and I stole it. :-)

Break Up

I think I might have to break up with 'The Ghost Whisperer.' We got a Wii for Christmas and added Netflix streaming so I have been able to watch lots of new stuff (while I am knitting, of course.) I had seen some of the shows but not regularly, so I decided to start watching from the beginning of the series. I am partway through season one and they just killed off one of the main characters!!!! So how can I knit when I am sobbing and can't even see? Honestly, not sure I want to keep watching. So I suppose I should add some miscellaneous knitting pictures, right?

I am working on these socks but decided not to do the afterthought heel, which seemed to be uncomfortably tight, so I ripped back to do a gusset.

And my Knitters Brewing Company mystery KAL socks. I am also working on some traveling socks but I don't have any pictures yet.

Shepherd's Harvest

Wow! Had a wonderful day at Shepherd's Harvest Sunday. I had been on the fence about going and my friend, Deb, was available at the last minute, so we went. We talked to so many fun, interesting and inspiring people. And shopped and saw lambs and alpacas and llamas. And shopped a little more and talked even more. I picked up some nice linen for a summer top (in purple, of course.) And a skein of lovely sock yarn from cloudlover.com. When I checked, the site was down. Hopefully it will be up soon.

These are some of the animals we saw. Not so many left on Sunday. But it was fun to see them.

Wow! Twice in one month -- and even in the same year!

Went to Yarnover on Saturday and had a fantastic time. Not only did I add some purple loveliness to my stash, I took two classes. In the morning I took a class on Estonian cast ons (my husband thinks it sounds like a terrorist group) with Nancy Bush. And in the afternoon it was Lace Edgings: Before, After and During with Franklin Habit. Both classes were great.

The top picture is a necklace I made from an XL t-shirt. I found the directions online. I am happy with it, but if I make another, I will pick a very soft fabric and cut narrower strips. But I like it and wore it today.

This is from Grinning Gargoyle in Skinny Super Twist Fingering in the colorway Goth Chick. Very yummy and soft.

 This is from All for Love of Yarn Eloquence Fingering in my new favorite colorway, Zdon, named after me!

And this is my new silk necklace made from Celestial Designs recycled silk. It was about 25 yards and I knew I wanted a necklace from it. I cut off about a yard and set it aside. Then I crocheted the entire length. Holding the two ends together I tried several different ways to make this into a necklace. I liked the 3 strands best. I thought 4 ended up too short. With 3, I can double it and have 6 or if I want to I can get it around my neck three times. So I sewed the join of the two ends and across so it will stay 3 strands. I then laid a smaller crochet hook where the join was and started wrapping with the yard I had cut off at the beginning, over the necklace and the hook. I made sure to end wrapping near the hook and just pulled the end through. Viola - a necklace!

And, last but not least, a skein of Zen Garden Serenity 20 in a OOAK color.

Wow! It's been less than a year!!

Just read my last post and am happy to report that my Skew socks have been repaired along with 2 more pair that were either thin or had actual holes. All were made with 100% wool/merino yarn. All were repaired with the same yarn and a strand of wooly nylon carried along. Let's hope this works. I will be keeping a close watch on my sock heels and I now am much more careful about what I use for socks. I took all of the holey socks on my Spring knitting retreat with some wonderful ladies. Good company helped make the repairs less boring!

I will have to add pictures later.

Looking at the pics of my skew socks makes me so sad. Unfortunately I did not use a merino and nylon blend to make them and they are wearing through.  It is heartbreaking. I have heard of knitters, standing over the trash holding holey socks and saying "Darn, darn, darn" as they throw them away, but I have not been able to bring myself to that. Neither have I managed to actually darn them, so that may be another story for another day.