Yarn Crawl

Yesterday Beth, Liesl, and I went on a mini-yarn store crawl.

We started up north at Yarns & Fabrications where I'm telling myself I did not break my "No Yarn in 2007" yarn diet by using my in store credit. I also bought some fabric to line a purse that I'm in the process of designing.

Then we went to Don Pablo's for lunch. Margaritas were enjoyed by all. I had one swirled with sangria...tasty! :)

Then we were off to KnitOn! where I did manage to be good and bought nothing. However, I did decide that for the remainder of Mike's Valentine's yarn gifting we're going to KnitOn! There's just so much more yarn than any of the other yarn stores in the area and I did just buy yarn from Yarns & Fabrications so I'm trying not to feel so guilty.

On the needles right now are the purse I'm designing and the Brea bag that I've been frustrated with for months now. I've finished the first side of the Brea bag, but can't manage to line up the cables on the second side. Yeah, I'm challenged. I know.

To be started in the near future...Mike bought me some yarn (the first part of my Valentine's gift...he's way too good to me) that should arrive Monday. I'm getting some dark red laceweight mohair to make a reversible cable wrap and some bulky wool to make a My Constant Companion.

I'm also working on a pair of UK socks and a desert camo hat for Michael when time (ha...what's that?) permits!

Oh, and winter finally find the Cincinnati tri-state area. We have about 2 inches right now and it's still falling. Supposed to be cold all week. Finally!

My totally incredible brother got me "Knitting on the Edge" for Christmas! I've totally been drooling over this book forever. I think this year I'm going to attempt to design a few things. I should be able to. I have all three of the Stitchionaries. I have the Vogue Knitting Reference Book. I have Ann Budd's The Knitter's Handy Book of Sweaters and Knitting on the Edge. I'm ready!

I'm working on Mike's UK socks right now. They're speeding along on size 2.5 Addis. I'm using Amy's hand-dyed yarn that I had her dye up specifically in the UK colors. She did a fabulous job and if you need something custom dyed I would totally recommend going to Amy. She is awesome to work with! In fact, I have another custome dye order in with her right now for Navy Desert Camouflage colors for a hat for Mike's deployment.

I'm also trying to finish a cabled purse that I've been working on for months. I'm getting there. I'll post pictures of it soon (and the socks too).

Okay, back to the real world,
Amanda

A new year and a new name

Happy New Year every one!

Since moving from KY to IN this past Fall I thought it would make sense to change the name of my blog to something that was related to IN instead of KY. My SIL and I have always said that if we opened a yarn store we would do it in IN and call it the Hoosier Yarn Barn so...here you have it...the first step towards my dream.

My wonderful husband gifted me with the Vogue Stitchionary Third Volume and E. Zimmerman's Knitting Without Tears for Christmas and I've been pouring through them. I'm really hoping to work on colorwork this year. Last year I taught myself Fair Isle and this year my goal is Intarsia.

Here's to a happy, healthy year full of growth and challenges.

It's been a long time

Life has a funny way of getting in the way. My husband's been going through some pretty insane medical trials. We still don't know what's wrong, but he seems to be getting better.

I have been knitting, but I don't have any pictures. I do have pictures of my Babe spinning wheel though. :)

I've been spinning and am finally starting to get yarn that actually looks like yarn. I gave a skein of about 100 yards to my SIL the other day. Finn sheep has been wonderful to practice on. I've also spun 4 oz. of Amy's hand-dyed roving. I absolutely adore Amy's yarn and her roving. Go buy some! She is awesome to work with. In fact, she just did a custom order for some UK color sock yarn for my husband. I was going to surprise him with them for Christmas, but I was so excited that I just had to tell him.

I've also been spending a lot of time at Yarns and Fabrications. My SIL is working there now and absolutely loves it. We're taking a quilting class together and it's going well. I'll post pictures of the finished quilt when I'm done.

And now...tag, you're it. I left a comment on Mim's blog. Please leave a comment for me so I can leave one for you.

Please leave a one-word comment that you think best describes me — it can only be one word long. Then copy and paste this into your blog so that I may leave a word to describe you.

What!?! A spinning wheel? Really???

Pretty soon a Babe's Production Double Treadle in white is going to be residing with us.

I'm pretty much in shock. Mike and I have wanted a spinning wheel for over a year now. I've read so many posts on Knitter's Review about the pros and cons of different wheels. We would love a Lendrum or a Fricke, but unfortunately that's just out of our price range right now. The Babe met all of our requirements: Affordable, double-treadle, comes with bobbins and a lazy kate, generally good reviews for being a wheel constructed with PVC pipes. I'm sure this will just be our first wheel, but...wow...a first wheel! Now, to make sure our actual spinning passion matches that of our wanting to spin passion.

Pictures as soon as it gets here!

The PinkLady Bag by Designs by Shelley in Lamb's Pride Worsted pre-felting

James Blunt CD included for scale and to show my new favorite CD. My closest friend, D, had me listen to this CD one night and I was instantly obsessed.

The Pink Lady Bag post felting

This is a hairy beast of a purse. The mohair in the Lamb's Pride fluffed out when I felted it. It looks like a little lamb. I'm in love with it!

Grumperina's Odessa in Knit Picks Andean Silk - Sangria.

This pattern was a joy to knit. I've never knit with beads before, but it was a blast and there is now hope for my previously cast aside beads.

I've been looking for a job for almost two weeks now. It's been difficult, but it has given me quite a bit of time to knit as I'm sure you can tell.

It's almost a sock

Sock in progress shot.
I'm winging this sock. Mike really likes the farrow rib pattern so, after much searching with no results, I decided I would have to do it myself. I cast on 72 sts and worked the farrow rib pattern down to the heel. I'm continuing the farrow rib pattern down the top of the foot.