O hai!

I exist, really I do! I’m just being lazy with the blogging… again. Before Jacie hunts me down and shackles me to the computer, I better get something written… so I’m going to jam a whole bunch of hoopla from the past few weeks into this one post. Sound good? Ok, here we go!

First, we’re going to go back about a month.. to when the knitters hit the Big City.

Waiting for the train in New Haven.

I went with Jacie, Kris, and Emilee. The goal was to go to School Products, Habu, eat yummy food, take pics of Jacie’s awesome shawls, and have a good time.

Walkin through the city

So excited!

We found School Products first. Apparently it’s the place to go for seriously awesome cashmere. Who knew?

School Products.. yay!

Checking out the yarny goodies.

Ooooo shiny.. I mean, soft!

I found an awesome giant cone of wool and some pretty cashmere.

Next we wandered off and found a cute little place called Meli Melo to have lunch at. We saw the price fixe menu and thought it would be ok.. we had no idea just how tasty it would be!

So cute.

Cheers!

Jacie and Emilee got this yummy tomato and mozzarella appetizer.

I had some amazing chicken.

Emilee and Kris had cheesecake for dessert.

While Jacie and I had some fantastic chocolate and white chocolate mousse cake.

The grrls.

Next stop was Habu!

Silk, steel and paper, o my!

Digging deep for the good stuff.

Checking out the crazy silk.

Central Park was our next destination.

Waiting for me to catch up. I have little legs!

Relaxing in the park with some knitting.

Kris catches some turtles napping in the sun.

We did a little photo shoot of Jacie’s two shawls in her new pattern, Valeria (rav link), that she designed for the 4!Oz!Challenge!

Then it was back to Grand Central. We relaxed in one of the bars while waiting for the train home. It was a great day!

Grand Central

It's good to sit down!

Fun day, but exhausting!

And here’s the goodies that I picked up on our little adventure…

Cone of silk and two little skeins of cashmere from Habu, and a skein of cashmere from School Products.

You still with me? Next up is Fiber Twist!

I went with Tracy and got to see Jacie and Kris there, as they were manning the Painted Sheep booth.

Painted Sheep!

There were a lot of vendors…

Tents everywhere!

And yummy food!

No shrooms, but I had a delicious burrito!

Tracy and I wandered around, looking at all the different vendors at the market, and petted the various livestock that was present.

So fluffy!

Hi Tracy!

Why aren't you petting me?

There was even a goat on a leash!

I’m not biased or anything.. but The Painted Sheep booth definitely had the best stuff.

Pretty fiber and spindles.

<3

Jacie did a great job of giving spinning lessons on Mark’s spindles.

Watch and learn, grasshopper.

I, of course, could not resist buying a little something to take home.

Silky merino/tencel roving.

Lovely sock yarn from Mocha's Fiber Connection

Gorgeous Two Tails Padauk spindle and Jobillo orifice hook.

Still here? Cause I’ve got more!

I completed my 4!Oz! Challenge! project in time to submit it. It was totally last minute, but I did it!

And here it is in all it’s finished glory: Jesse’s Hat (rav link).

That band was a challenge to figure out!

This is Jesse, who the hat is named for...

She was a great model, but tried to steal the hat!

Clearly, its been a while since I’ve posted, and the winners for the challenge have already been announced. I did not win, which I wasn’t expecting anyways. I was hoping for a random prize, but no dice. Jacie won a random prize though and I can’t wait to stalk her and ogle her pretty fibers when she gets them. Heehee. It was a gyp though. She totally should have won. Again, I’m not biased I swear!

Also on the FO front, I have the Leyfi Pullover by Romi Hill.

Yay, Rhinebeck sweater!

On a whim, I decided to try and complete a sweater for Rhinebeck.. 3 weeks before it came. I have no idea how I managed to finish it in time. I knit like a fiend though! I used the lovely cone of wool from School Products, and it bloomed into a soft, snuggle garment. I’m so pleased with this, and I feel like its going to end up being my go to sweater this winter.

This post long enough for ya yet? I’m ending it here.. for now.. next post will be about Rhinebeck!

4! Ounce! Challenge!

There’s a contest going on for the months of August and September called the 4! Ounce! Challenge! and it involves spinning up to 4oz of fiber from either Spunky Eclectic, Hello Yarn, or Southern Cross Fiber, finishing the yarn, and designing a pattern. Pattern also needs to be test knitted and such. In 2 months! Eeeek! Of course I was interested, especially because I happen to have a ton of Spunky fiber in the stash, although I don’t know what I’m doing with pattern designing. My yarn is finished.. just need to break out a stitch dictionary and start planning! I’m thinking maybe a hat and mitts set or something.

Spunky Eclectic Soul Windows, SW Corriedale

2 ply, 330 yds, 15 WPI

Also because I am a bad, lazy blogger, I failed to write about last weekend’s excursion to Fiber Revival. I went with Kris and Jacie and had tons of fun (of course I forgot to take pics). Aaaand I may have added to the stash a bit… but staashdown is still on, I swear!  You try and resist the cashmere blends and polwarth fiber, I dare ya.

Pretty pretty Polwarth roving

Merino, Cashmere, Nylon - The Woolen Rabbit

Merino, Nylon- The Woolen Rabbit

Jacie also gifted me with some lovely yarn.. since I  forced her to take the Mrs. Darcy Cardigan off my hands. It was knit from Malabrigo Twist so I really had to twist her arm. =)    I apparently suck at math and made it way too small to fit me, but with some heavy handed blocking, it should fit her.. so yay!

Anyways, she gave me some lovely Classic Elite Miracle and Lorna’s Laces, and I will be attempting to make Mina’s Tuxedo Vest with it. Hoping to finish by Rhinebeck.

Lovely Lorna's Laces

Yummy Alpaca/Tencel Classic Elite Miracle

Not working on too much else right now… still knitting the Brigade sweater, and there’s some spinning projects too, but as usual, I fail at taking pictures. Maybe next post!