A Bit of Sonne, and Baaaad Sheep

This weekend seemed to scream by so fast , and we find ourselves back at work for Monday.  Once again I was up at 5:30 am on Saturday for some skating on the other side of Calgary.  This was a good session however, everything gets a little bit better every time I skate.  Even my spins have improved 100% this year!  In the afternoon I had some fellow knitters over for a “Cocktails and Christmas Knitting” party.  I believe if you are going to have a little party, you might as well have a theme as well, I do love a theme.  It was very nice to sit around and chat, to meet a new friend, and reconnect with some others from last years retreat.  I had a grand plan to make circle cookies (gingerbread and sugar, that part worked out okay) and then use icing to make them look like yarn balls.  Total failure, but the plain unadorned cookies tasted pretty good.  And very unexpectedly one lovely woman brought me this ray of light:

Real, live, in the flesh Wollmeise!  I’m feeling very special today as I show it off, and enjoy the bright orange colours.  Its so very cheerful.  Its going to live on my mantle until I figure out the most perfect sock pattern ever, as only the best will do.

Speaking of socks, store bought ones that is, I have a real weakness for skiing and cycling socks.  I found these over at MEC today:

That little lady is a Baaaad Sheep!  They are wool socks, perfect for winter sports.  This is also why I’m not allowed to look at socks in sports store, due to the afore-mentioned weakness for them! 

I’m so tired from the weekend, I need another one!

Adventure Week Day 4 -Yarn Dying!

Is it just me or is this week passing slowly, yet quickly as well? 

Last weekend we got together and did some natural yarn dying!  We used the Fall/Winter Knit 1 magazine which contains an article giving a “loose” description of how to dye yarn naturally.  It was an adventure as amounts and specifics were glossed over.  This engineer enjoys exact specifications, however I felt very “artistic” with our “just dump a bunch in” method.  First off was tumeric, which looks nice and smells good:

We have some interesting variations in the yellow colour, and some good subtlties.  A good thing to have done would have been to strain the dying solution of tumeric crumbs however, I had to shake them out later, and there is still a ton of particles in the yarn. 

Next up was blueberries:

This photo doesn’t really do the black/purple colouration that we achieved.  It looks much better in person, the photo turned out a bit dark.  This is a very unique colour, I quite like it.

Next up is tea (decaf Red Rose for that oh so Canadian colour)

I find this to be an interesting colour, do I like it or don’t I?  The natural dyes have given the yarn some really interesting nuances, and an interesting feel.  They don’t really look like the photos in the magazine as we didn’t achieve uniform colour.  But I do like some good variations across a skein.  We also cleverly identified one skein of acrylic yarn which is still sadly white!

I’m not sure how well we did with colourfastness.  Is that a word?  What I mean is how well the colour will stay in the yarn the next few times it is washed.  My yarn is superwash that I dyed, but I think I’ll make some lace scarves and keep the washing to an absolute minimum.

Olds Fibre Fair Stash Enhancement

The Olds Fibre Week that is, which even though the Vendor area is in the maintenance area for the College, and the decor is sadly lacking in ambiance, the vendors came through for those of us just up for a few hours to shop.  (Aside: once again the weekend weather was lovely, and the grounds are gorgeous, why oh why does someone not rent these people tents to get them out of the machine shop???) All the vendors has wonderful items on offer, but I spent all my money in two places, which is a tad predictable for me.  I also got to see just how big my shopping bag could stretch:

Erynn from Twist of Fate traveled out from Kamloops bringing lotsa goodies.  Her booth was Extremely Lovely, she brought so much nice stuff.  I managed to get the two presents taken care of early, picked up a beginners spindle kit with fibre, and a Sabine shrug kit:

The yarn is already wound into two balls, ready to go, I’m very excited about this! 

The next rave is about the Wild Geese booth.  The lady who runs Wild Geese was unfortunately at a class while I was there, but her fill in was very helpful.  Working closely with the processing mill in Biggar SK, they have been developing some really interesting yarn.  The first item I picked out was a laceweight: it is a black fibre spun with green fibre.  You can barely see the green, but I think you will see it more once it is knit up:

Can you see just the hint of green fibre peeking out?  Also on display were black/blue and black/purple.  Second up in irresistible treats was some of her worsted weight, I bought a sweaters worth:

I’m thinking an EPS with the pink yoke detail, with some lace thrown into the yoke as well, as I love the fit that that gives across my shoulders.  The beauty of this yarn is the different fibres that go into its construction.  I had to take it outside into the natural light to truly see all the nuances.  Natural grey fibre, with small quantities of blue and pink fibre thrown into the mix:

There seems to be a beautiful relationship going on between the local fibre producers, yarn designers, and fibre mills in this area of the country, and I’m loving it all.  Is it any wonder I was so excited to head up to this show to see what was on display?  I was so impressed by what I walked away with, and by all that I sadly had to leave behind.  Each one of us shoppers displayed great restraint and discipline in that cold, echoing maintenance shop, and I’m proud of us all!

California Souvenirs

I left California on Saturday, made it to Denver, and got stuck overnight.  Oh well, I did make it home on Sunday, changed out the suitcase, and left again Monday morning.  At least Mr. J is at home spoiling the kitties with lots of lap sitting and scritches under the chin.  However the weather here in Saskatchewan is lovely with a big open blue sky overhead, and a beautiful breeze.  I keep wandering away from the water plant to go and visit the local lilac tree, just to smell the wonderful scent.  I went on a bit of a bike ride down the road yesterday evening the highlights of which are: slight turns left and right, and a 0,0001 degree hill, hardly noticeable until I turned around and went down it.  I rode a half hour, then turned around, and was able to see the goal, the steeples of the church in the distance.  Sure is flat out here!

I was able to find a cute little beading/yarn store in Old Town San Diego, and treated myself to the perfect California Souvenir: Golden Sock yarn specially dyed for the Sheperdess yarn store.  Isn’t it lovely and sunny?

I’m going to save it for winter, so that the cheery sunny colours cheer me up.  I also enjoyed all the flowers in California, there were purple flowered trees everywhere, and we were walking on a carpet of purple:

Its always important to stop and smell the flowers.

Hidden Treasures in Saskatchewan

Another trip out to Gravelbourg last week, with the added bonus of keeping up on office work to liven up my time.  I did feel very proud that I had some extremely clever ideas, like putting a sump pump in a bucket (probably doesn’t sound very clever, but trust me it was, AND it worked).  As I drove east I was surrounded by pockets of extremely dark clouds and snowbursts, but went between most of them.  The benefit of being able to see so far in all directions is that you can see where the bad weather is.  I did take a few photos, but none seem to be turning out very well, I hope my camera is not having trouble.  I did take the time to stop at a hidden treasure, the Herbert Motel and Alpaca gift shop.  It may seem like a strange combination, but the Dutch couple that run the motel also have an alpaca farm nearby.  The owner sends the fleece out to get spun, to have socks made, spins some herself, and displays her award winning creations in the lobby.

Who can resist a little door such as that?   I left with 200 g of natural brown alpaca, which is already crying out to become warm toques with knit and purl patterns.

It was a bit sad in Gravelbourg however, as they were having three funerals for three girls killed in an unfortunate traffic accident.  The girls were age 14-16, and the driver of the other car was 17.  There was no alcohol involved in the crash, just an unfortunate choice, and a tragedy.  To lose so many, so early in a small town is devastating, the church looked like it was going to be full.  I grew up in a small rural Ontario town, living outside it on a dirt road.  To get anywhere you had to drive, we all started to drive at 16, however I took the bus my whole illustrious high school career.  Every single year of high school kids were killed that I knew.  Every year.  I’ve always felt very detached from those deaths, they seemed so far away, which I believe is a symptom of how much I hated where I went to school.  But now, being older, I feel for those families who lost girls much too young, who were just starting out, who hadn’t nearly tasted anything of life.

Last Night I Made Two Pairs of Socks.

Okay, that is a fib, what I actually did was haul out my old stock of Briggs and Little yarn, and discovered a finished pair of socks, and another pair that just needed a toe.  This is crazy, I must have made these socks back in 1996 or 1997 before I graduated from University. 

I had made a few sweaters from the Briggs and Little pattern book, and the one yarn store near the University was well supplied with the yarn, and it was cheap.  The sock on the right is made with leftovers from one of those sweaters long ago gifted to a friend.  I’m not sure why I made the mountains, or why the little bits of snow,or the sunrise either.  Or why I have huge lengths of yarn on the back end that I now have been cutting and sewing in.  This is long before I learned the 7 sts maximum rule, or that I could have stitched the snow in later.  Ah the folly of youth.  The socks on the left I believe were meant to have Maple Leafs embroidered on them, which I may still do, or I may put a cross country skier on them.  I’m ruminating on that right now. 

I do think these socks surfaced from the giant rubbermaid container of old yarn at the right time however.  These socks are extremely warm, and a bit scratchy which means I’ll probably wear another thin pair underneath them.  That puts their rating at -15 oC and below, definitely not above -5 oC.  That means they are Calgary socks, not Salt Lake City socks.  I test drove them Sunday night at the house, and they were lovely.  They are meant to fit just above your boots, with the cuffs sticking out. 

As I look back and wonder why I never finished the toe, or gifted the other pair to someone,  I think I probably was working on these just before I graduated.  When I left school I immediately moved over a few towns, started my job, and the traveling whirlwind.  For the next few years I was barely ever home, but constantly flying around here and there.  One year I was home for two weeks.  It really is no wonder they got tucked away, and I’ve done no more than glance at them quickly since then, never fully pulling them out of the bag.  (I found three sets of needles in there as well, score).  It also makes me happy now that I haven’t been on a plane since last fall, and that I had the time to open that bag and dump it out to take a look.  Oh, and I started those mittens for my friend, using the leftover red and cream yarn.

Weekend of LUV!

I had a deliriously happy weekend, the kind that made me sing, giggle, dance, and generally radiate happiness from every pore.  Was it the lovely weather?  The fun activities?  The fact that I finally put curtains up in my bedroom?  I don’t know, some days you just feel good all over.  On Saturday the lovely raven haired Mrs. R and I traveled up to Olds for the Fibre Festival.  I think I’m a bit spoiled by the lovely setting of the Great Basin Fiber Fair, as I thought this one was a bit weird as it was in the maintenance shop of the College.  Which is strange, as Olds College had lovely grounds full of flowers, shady spots, and would have been perfect for some outdoor tents.  But the maintenance bay was full of fibery goodness, and the lovely Erynn of Twist of Fate fame:

 

After going through the booths we sat down and had a bit of a knitting/spin along in the middle of the floor, which was very nice.  We had a good time catching up (Erynn moved to Kamloops and has opened her own shop there) and giggling over dirty words in fiber related activities.  There are surprising number of them! 

Ahh, but what about the booths you ask.  Well, lets just say I fell head over heels in love!  From across the floor I saw it, and walked as if in a daze towards the display.  My hands (both of them together) went out and dove into the furry goodness that is Fleece Artists Peter Rabbit:

 

I immediately brought both skeins up to my face and buried myself in it.  Oh the softness of the angora!  The beautiful delicate yellow of the colour.  The warmth of its fuzziness.  Swoon!  You shall become a lovely big scarf and I shall call you Peter Rabbit.  Too bad its too hot to do more than constantly stick my fingers into your loveliness, but soon you shall become what you are meant to be!  And you are mine, all mine!

After much thought (cause there was lots to choose from, cashmere/silk, cotton/silk, wool/silk) I finally settled on 1500m of laceweight yak/silk in the natural colour:

That is enough yardage to make any number of shawls or stoles! There may have been another purchase, but I’m not saying!  I did a pretty good job of staying within budget, which is good as there were many temptations at this show!  (Yes that’s you I’m talking about the 600 yards of 100% natural grey wool!)

But my second love came to me on Sunday night, which meant I didn’t sleep very well last night due to the excitement.  Introducing Bella, my beootiful new bike which has arrived (almost ) direct from Italy!

Si Bella!  Welcome to Canada!  It is hard not to talk in a fake Italian accent around this bike, so I’m just going to go ahead and do it k?  After it was delivered I hopped on in my bare feet and rode around the street twice.  I could have kept going around and around!  This is a bike to cruise on, and is such a joy to ride.  Bella, tonite we are going to get you a basket and a cappuccino holder!  Then we will cruise up to the market to get some picnic foods for tomorrow’s Canada Day celebrations.  And next Sunday, we’re going to the farmer’s market!  We are going to have so much fun together you and I.  That beautiful blue colour, its called Celeste!  But pronounced kind of “cheleste” a la Italian! 

Ciao Bella!

 

 

Bogged Down

In lace cardigan land that is.  I mean I love the pattern (even though parts of it are “fill in the blank” and I wouldn’t recommend it to new knitters) but I just want to start making so many other things!  And I want to wear my lovely cardigan.  I’m currently working on the first sleeve, and since they are full length sleeves I’m estimating they will each take a week each of fairly dedicated effort.  Ugh! 

In order to create a diversion, and an excuse to start something new, I applied to join the Tour de France Knitalong.  I asked to be in the Maillot Verte category, which means I’m going to try and finish something before the end of the Tour!  It will also go nicely with my month o bike training that I’m hoping to do when it stops raining.  Double Ugh!  I’m currently planning to use the four skeins of Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light I recently received from the lovely Mrs. Chuky (received not bought, hence pact unbroken!)

And what I learned this morning is that taking photos in my bathroom means that a beautiful teal turns into green.  So please use your imaginations to know that this is a beautiful teal heathery mix!  I promise better photos in sunlight with true colour, honest.  So the project should have something to do with France, or biking, or some kind of link.  The current plan is to make Anais (which sounds french n’est-ce pas?), and I should have enough.  It also looks flattering on 98% of people on Ravelry, which is always good.  (And its not so big, since it is sans bras (bras is arms in french, so that ain’t dirty ya’ll)). 

I’m also looking forward to creating a baby present with these two lovely skeins of candy goodness:

I do so love it when friends are obliging when they have baby girls so that I can use the cute Koigu colours and make a February jacket! 

So two sleeves to go, or July 5, whichever comes first!  And I think we know that the race will start before those sleeves are done, don’t we?

Stashing for Retirement…

Or something like that!  Its always fun when crossing the border, they ask you if you are bringing anything back, and you answer “yarn and books”.  Somehow I usually get waved on very quickly.  I went a bit crazy at the bookstores for some reason, and I can’t wait to get into all these books.  The knitting magazine was purchased for the crochet critters inside, I can’t wait to make a panda.  I also picked up the Rowan book with the butterfly camisole that I started last summer, and mean to pick up again.  It has so many beautiful little cardigans in it that I can totally see myself wearing to work.  It is not pictured however as it got left in the car, and I didn’t feel like running out to the parking lot in my jammies.

I love books!

I was really exited to go to the Snake River Fiber Fair in order to see the Wooly Wonka colourways in person.  Cause on the internet you just can’t poke your finger into a skein now can you?  Anne brought some beautiful things, but I restrained myself to just a few things:

I chose the bluey/purply merino silk for the flutter scarf, since the colours were too beautiful to leave behind.  I’m not sure it will work 100%, but its worth a try.  In the middle is 900 yards of laceweight merino for a Zephyr shawl, and then a beautiful yellowy/goldy/toffee colour lace weight.  This is going to be a beautiful scarf/hat/mittens or all of the above, and since it is a colour I don’t usually buy, I went for it to show my adventurous side.  Hands off Miss J!  If it goes missing I’ll know where to look!  And of course some HandKnit soap for some Christmas presents.  Seven months ahead of time, I’m so organized!  From the lovely Laurie of Blessed Juno. 

I also picked up some Cascade 220 in order to make a Stephanie Japel sweater, since she has been added to the line-up of teachers for the fall retreat.  Again, a colour I don’t usually buy, in a nice deep purple.  I plan on making this towards the beginning of fall, it will be too hot to work on it now.  Besides, I have lotsa lace to work on!