Happy Socktober and Halloween, too

I actually finished this scarf a few weeks ago and just forgot to blog it. It's Ysolda's Skull Illusion Scarf and I love it. It started out as the Alien Illusion Scarf from Stitch'n Bitch, but once I found the skull one I had to have it (most of my belongings must be covered in skulls. It gives me street cred ;)


Here is a photo of the "wrong" side, which I originally thought was the "right" side:

Skull Illusion Scarf by Ysolda Teague
Yarn: Brown Sheep Nature Spun Worsted, one skein each neon green and black (not the actual color names)
Source: Stash! (originally from Patternworks)
Needles: US Size 6 24" circular needle (knit back and forth; it's just easier to work with circs when commuting)
Modifications: None
Soundtrack/Movies/TV: Project Runway marathons, The Best of Blondie

If you look closely and know what you are looking for, you can just make out the skull and crossbones shape on the right side.

Happy Socktober! My first bloggable pair of Soctober socks:

I have finished another pair and hope to finish at least one more, but both are presents that must be kept hidden for awhile. I was trying to design a sock pattern for this yarn, but then I read this post over at SouleMama and I thought, this beautiful hand-dyed yarn would be great just as a pair of regular ol' socks. I'm proud of myself for busting some more of my stash and supporting a local artist.

Pattern: Basic socks from Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles by Cat Bordhi

Yarn: Sereknity Sock Options Falkland Hand-Dyed Sock Yarn in Macintosh, one skein

Source: Stash!

Needles: 2 Addi Turbo US Size 1 24" circular needles

Modifications: Stockinette leg and foot instead of ribbed.

Soundtrack/Movies/TV: Numb3rs, Grey's Anatomy, Moondance by Van Morrison

They are toasty and just perfect. I really admire this dye job--the colors really evoke Mac apples and a beautiful fall day. They were also finished pretty quickly since most of it doesn't require much thinking. Some things to keep in mind when wondering what to do with a skein of beautiful hand-dyed sock yarn...

Happy Birthday and Fiber Revival

Saturday, August 16th, Katie and I went to the Fiber Revival. It was awesome. I love the NH Sheep and Wool Festival and the Wool Tour, but this was just to sit and spin and knit (or crochet, in my case--I've been doing a lot of that lately) and relax with cool people. Kate Gilbert was there (it doesn't get any cooler than that) and Julia and Alison, who all happen to be connected with the amazing Twist Collective, which I am kind of obsessed with. There were so many other cool people there but I'm forgetting names now.




There were a few vendors there, which is really nice because I fulfilled my need to buy yarn without feeling overwhelmed or spending the whole time shopping. I bought the Bird in Hand mittens from a vendor whose name I can't remember, and these two skeins of fabulous sock yarn from Spunky Eclectic:






The one on the left is "Dinah" and the one on the right is "Watery Melon." One is supposed to be a present (knitted into socks) for someone, and if they weren't so special I would be very tempted to keep the yarn for myself. I've long admired the offerings of Spunky Eclectic (the spinning thread on Craftster is full of her hand-dyed loveliness spun by others) on the web, but after seeing it in person it's impossible to resist.

I turned 23 a couple of weeks ago and my friends and family spoiled me with wonderful craft stuff. Katie got me Intertwined, which I cannot rave about enough. If you think your spinning isn't beautiful, this book will change your mind. It has great projects for chunky funky yarns as well as cool spinning ideas. My mom got me Uncommon Crochet, which I also am in love with...this crochet obsession is threatening to take over. Most of the ideas in this book are really unique. She also bought me the novel The Knitting Circle, which looks sad but really good. My brother gave me Son of Stitch'n'Bitch, and I have to say I want to make most of those things for myself! I love that it's got both knitting and crochet patterns.

Last but certainly not least, I met my friends Susan and Alice for dinner and Mamma Mia! (holy ABBA goodness!) and Susan gave me this beautiful skein of yarn from a farm in Plymouth, NH (where I went to college) from Plymouth's new yarn shop. Even better, Susan knows the woman who raises the sheep! I love getting yarn like this. It's so warm and personal. Also, Blue Garter's last post has made me think more about my yarn and where it comes from (notice the new button?), so I'm happy to use yarn from New Hampshire sheep that supports a New Hampshire farm.

So, a big thank-you to everyone who made my birthday wonderful!!!

Next up: the garments I've been making and haven't shown you because I have a hard time taking pictures of myself...

Secrets and Sheep

My swatch for the Secret of the Stole Knit-a-long. I finally managed to get the needles today (even though Pearl's was technically closed, she sold them to me anyway), I picked up my beads yesterday, my yarn is wound. I'm ready to rock and roll.




I promised I would show you what I bought from the Wool Tour this weekend. I was a little nervous, because I brought my mom, grandmother, and my mom's friend (who all appreciate the fiber arts but aren't necessarily obsessed), and I thought I would take too long and they wouldn't have a good time, but we had a blast. One stop is a farm, and they loved that place. We bought pumpkins and gourds, and my mom bought currant jelly (for this amazing jelly and mustard sauce for cocktail wieners, and currant jelly is ridiculously hard to find at the grocery store) and sheep earrings for me from this great place that houses animals nobody wants anymore. My mom also bought a t-shirt that says "Stitch more, bitch less" (she's a cross-stitcher). My mom is awesome.



The dark roving is a wool and llama mix from Riverslea Farm in Epping, NH. (Blogger is being weird and won't let me add the link, Google it and you'll find the site). They had some beautiful colorways as well, and I love that they display their balls of roving in hammocks.
I'm not sure where the lower two balls are from (it was from the Mirage Alpacas stop in Washington), but they are a blend of wool, llama, alpaca, and mohair. I wish I could remember the name, because her prices were excellent. I have the Wool Tour guide still so I can look it up later.




I apologize for the pictures being so dark but it was rainy yesterday and so there wasn't much natural light. Hopefully they will spin or felt up beautifully and I can take better pictures then.




The two balls are from Brimstone Hollow in Hancock, NH. They were at the Sheep and Wool Festival this year so I'm hoping they are there this spring as well. I cannot put into words how much I love their colorways, and their prices are also excellent. Also, this is from a sheep named "Zachariah" which I thought was funny because my brother's name is Zachary. The two braids of wool (how much do you love that?) are from the Dana Basket Co. and the colorway is called "Mossy Oak."


Believe it or not, I didn't buy any yarn. I'm trying to only buy yarn that I have a pattern for, and right now I'm pretty backed up on projects. So now I just have to varnish my spinning wheel and have my dad tune it up again so I can spin (like it's that easy).

Somebody Stop Me

I just signed up for the Secret of the Stole group. Every Friday, from October 4th to November 23rd, a new part of the pattern is sent to you, but you don't get to see the entire pattern at once or the finished stole. It's a secret...get it? I was green with envy when everyone and their brother was knitting the Mystery Stole 3 so I decided I have to do this. Plus the idea behind this is that you have a nice shawl to wear on Christmas and New Year's Eve. Plus I have just about all of my Christmas knitting done. And the yarn I picked isn't that expensive (and it's alpaca. We know how much I love alpaca). And I love stoles. They're my favorite (along with socks and hats and scarves...) And work sucks. And school is hard (okay, the learning part is cool. Trying not to roll my eyes at most of my classmates is hard). And except for the fact that I'm now just piling yarn in my room and there is very little walking space (highly overrated, in my opinion--I'll just roll around on the yarn piles), this project doesn't need much justification. But there it is, just in case. (Just in case the yarn police come by?)



I guess my way of dealing with the stress from school and work is to start more knitting projects, despite the non-existence of any free time whatsoever, which is going to shrink even more this week when I start my internship. Sigh.


Who cares? I'm getting a fancy magical mysterious stole!