Rhinebeck6 by Terby, on Flickr
I have clearly gotten very behind on the blogging.
Last weekend I went on my annual crazy trip to Rhinebeck. It’s honestly too far to do in a reasonable day trip, but I have done it this way for 3 years now. It’s a fun adventure and I really enjoy going with my traveling group, although I still wish I could figure an easier way to meet up with them. This year I made more non-yarn related purchases than is typical; there was some fiber for a friend (birthday gift, so I’m not telling right now), some silk hankies to play with, 1 sweater worth of yarn from Green Mountain Spinnery, and the rest was fudge, kettle corn, and lunch. Because the weather was worse, the booths seemed to be way more crowded than usual, and I was unable to check out The Fold or Miss Babs, which were on my wish list. I skipped a few more booths due to overcrowding, and I admit to putting back some sock yarn that really didn’t want to come home with me. The only thing I sort of regret not getting was some cashmere or interesting blend yarn from a really interesting stall whose name I have forgotten. Not only did they have incredibly reasonably priced cashmere (I just didn’t love any of the colors), they had qiviut blends and Samoyed blend yarns. Really cool place.
I’m okay with not bringing much home – not only do I feel like I really have enough these days, but I really like my stash and want to make use of it. Variegated yarn, in sock form or otherwise, still seems to be really big at festivals, and I’m craving texture more than color at the moment. Plus, I’m finding that I’m finally listening when I remind myself that I generally like it much better in the skein than knit up. I guess it goes to show that even I can learn something, given enough repetition.
Since I last posted, I have finished a few things, ripped a few things, and started knitting a thing or two as well. In the finished pile is a Stripe Study Shawl, a super quick, mindlessly relaxing garter shape shawl that’s remarkably wearable. I used 2 different skeins of Madtosh sock, as I really like the colors. I was less than happy with the pink skein (color Lepidoptera) as I had several knots and a few breaks. The breaks are most likely not the fault of the yarn – I discovered some carpet beetles in one of my knitting baskets, and I think they got into this skein too. I had to toss a sweater’s worth of yarn, but at least what I did toss is not something I loved, and I had picked it up on sale. I’m still irritated, but it feels less tragic this way. In the middle are some BFF socks by Cookie A. Yarn is Everlasting Sock by Dream In Color. Some people love their yarn, others hate it. I like it, as I really love the dye on these. This particular yarn is a little tricky, as it’s multiple tight plies of merino wool. It’s soft, has a really interesting texture, but will split if you don’t pay careful attention. As for the pattern, Cookie does some clever things. This one is dead simple, but she’s smart in placing increases and decreases. My socks do not fit perfectly. I should have gone down a needle size on the foot or decreased more stitches. I still am happy with the product, and will like them even better once I wash them. On the far right is a knitted cowl that was so simple I don’t even feel like it deserves much comment. It’s a tube, out of moss stitch. Yarn was 2 skeins of Malabrigo. It’s soft. Really soft. That’s about all I can say.
I ripped back a couple socks, some lace, and probably another thing or two but I can’t remember. I’m starting to be better about knitting things I genuinely like, especially keeping in mind that I want a finished garment. Makes some differences in what I knit, and what I actually contemplate knitting. Generally, simple is good. Soon I should be casting on sleeves for a sweater KAL I joined back in May. That’s required my doing a provisional cast on, which doesn’t come easily to me as I use a crochet hook badly. I have ordered buttons to finish off my Tea Leaves cardigan – which also needs some crochet up at the collar to give it more stability. I still have 2 other sweaters in progress, but I think I may actually get around to finishing them, although some smaller projects also need to be taken care of. I did start one more sweater, Loppem in some black yarn that has been long marinating. I’m about to start the arms, so I’m hoping that will be done in about a week more or so.
Everything else is still pretty much going as it was. Still working a lot, not home much, not sleeping enough. How’s everyone out there?
