Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Yarn and Fibre


I had a lot of fun at Fibres West on Friday, though I left feeling a little let down.  I think most of it was due to feeling like I was in a bit over my head.  There was just so much to look at, both yarn and fibre, as well as spinning and weaving equipment, and some just plain pretty stuff.  I didn't know where to begin, what to look at next, or even what I was looking for (my well thought out list just flew out of my head).  I'm just a little shy, and the crowds of people and vendors were a little overwhelming.  I found some great stuff, but had hoped to come home with more spinning fibre to expirament with.  I did get some really pretty rovings that I can't wait to spin up - I must finish the one I'm in the middle of first though.

This is a bfl/silk roving I bought from Knitopia, a local shop that I have heard lots of great things about - their selection of roving was incredible.  I could have spent my whole budget in one place.

This is a merino/silk roving that I bought from Penelope Fibre Arts, another local shop.  I didn't know anything about them, but I was super impressed with their selection, and I will definitely be making some trips to Surrey for more fibre sometime soon.  They were also the producer of the Fibres West event.

I think this was the steal of the day!  I found this Jordana Paige knitting bag at Unwind's booth for half price!  This is the exact one I had pinned on my knitting board on Pinterest, I love it.  It's the perfect size for carrying as a large purse when I want to take my knitting with me, and the features are so knitter friendly.

The first picture is the yarn bowl I found at Wildfire Pottery.  They had so many gorgeous bowls that I had a really hard time choosing.  I've wanted one for a long time, and was so pleased to find this booth at Fibres West. I also bought a couple of skeins of Tosh Sock as they were on sale and I couldn't resist the Norway Spruce and Corsage colorways.   I really did have a good time, and I'm definitely going to plan to go next year as well as to Knit City in October.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Life intervened...

                              Micaiah in his Gramps sweater (TinCan Knits) and Felted Flat Cap  


 Now that life has settled back into a somewhat normal rythm, if chasing an 18 month little boy could be normal, I hope to have a bit more time to be able to keep you all updated.  I've had some time recently to be able to actually do some sewing *gasp*.  I feel a little like a guiltly child stealing cookies when I can sneak into my sewing room for a couple of hours while Micaiah naps.  I quietly shut the door and close out the world and it's just me and wonderful piles of fabric, patterns, threads, ribbons, trims and a new serger!  Well, new to me anyway.  I was able to find a used Pfaff Coverlock machine that is an absolute dream to use, though a bit more complicated than I had expected - oh well, more excuse to practice right?
     I have a pile of projects that I am working on having completed by the end of the year so please stay tuned.  Three of them are quilts, two are Civil War, and the other is a scrapy flannel kit from my Mum.  One of the Civil War quilts is the Civil War Sampler by Barbara Brackman (yes, it was the QAL from a couple of years ago - a new baby sort of complicated things), and the other is a pattern from Bonnie Blue Quilts.  Then there are the four quilt tops that need to be sandwiched and quilted.  Then there is a list a mile long that I'd like to complete for the occasional CW Reinactment that I get to attend.  Plus just general sewing and crafts, not to mention all the knitting I have planned and the spinning I would like to do.
    Now, the best of all is that tomorrow I get to go to Fibres West, a local fibre show and sale.  I have been wanting to go for several years, but have never had the time or money.  This year I decided that I'm going!  A quilting/knitting friend of mine offered to drive and I couldn't turn that down, so Jonathan gets to keep Micaiah and I am going to try to refrain from breaking the bank on luscious yarn and spinning fibre.  I will admit I have had a bit of trouble sleeping this week in anticipation.  Hope to see you around!