Crunch time

There comes a time in every knitters life where what you want to knit, and the time you have to knit it clash completely and you have to either not knit it, lose sleep, or pick a different pattern.

I'm currently trying to finish one shawl (Woodland Shawl) to wear that matches my bridesmaids dress for my sister's wedding (May 9). I'm also secret knitting a giftie for her and her husband (due May 9). I also wanted to knit a shawl to wear with my rehearsal dinner dress (May 8), b/c it matches the shoes and it would really pull the outfit together. I also have to finish secret giftie for my best friend for her first baby. I want to get it done by the baby shower (May 30), and I have to get it done before I move to Europe (June 16). Just for added difficulty, I'm also working on my thesis and I have midterms and papers to complete for 4th term classes. I've got a LOT to finish by my birthday (May 10).

Right now the baby giftie is started, but on hold. I'm currently dividing my time between the Woodland shawl and wedding gifite. I have not started the rehearsal dinner shawl. But I've realized that the shuttle ride to and home from school is time that could be spent knitting. Unfortunalty, all current projects are just far too big to lug around. But the rehersal dinner shawl.... that could be popped in a bag for shuttle ride knitting.

Originally, I had my heart set on knitting Clapotis with my Briar Rose Sea Pearl yarn for the rehearsal dinner. Except the Clapotis calls for ~800 yards and my skein is only ~500 yds. I could use a bigger needle size, or adjust the patten, but those both take time. I dont have time. I've come to the realization that I just do not have the time to knit the Clapotis with this yarn for this project. So I started looking for something similar and simpler on Ravelry. I found the Sunday Market Shawl - another drop stitch design. And since this pattern is written in a way that you can stop knitting when you get close to the end of your yarn, it's a much more logical project. Also, it's knit on large needles so it should go quite fast.

So, Sunday Market Shawl it is. Cross your fingers that all projects are completed on time!

Here is the Sea Pearl hand wound into the most perfect spaceship looking center pull ball. Hooray for another Rhinebeck 2007 yarn CO!

New WIP: Lace Ribbon Scarf

Its amazing what a couple days off from school just hanging out in my apt will do. I should be doing some research for my thesis, but the past couple of days I've felt kinda crappy so I've been taking it easy and knitting / sleeping instead.

I've wanted to knit this scarf with this yarn for some time now, I was just waiting to finish some of the other WIP's I had on the docket. I'm really excited about it so far, I just hope that the yarn softens up a bit after a wash with Eucalan as my neck is pretty sensitive. The yarn is 20% silk and 20% tencel both of which can be soft, so I'm not worried.






Here are some pictures of 24 hours worth of progress: 2 pattern repeats.


I really like the shade changes - they give this pattern a little extra oomph.



Also excited to CO my first project using one of my Rhinebeck 2007 haul. Hooray for stash yarn!

Drop Spindle Fun

Uh oh, a New crafty/fiber endeavor!
So my new fascination with spindling started when Amanda started talking about getting her FIL to make her a spindle. I didnt know what it was and she directed me to this very helpful knitty article. I thought they were super cute and was intrigued. THEN I saw a girl on the 66 bus spindling while riding the bus! (clearly, it was a sign from the fiber goddess) And it looked super fun. When the lot of us went to Rhinebeck I looked at all the pretty spindles, but I wasnt sure which one would be right for me. I also know nothing about roving, so I didnt buy any fiber. I found a Golding drop spindle starter kit near the end of the day but it was a large portion of my budget, and I had already spent most of it on yarn. Lucky for me Danielle mentioned that she had several spindles she could loan me if I wanted to try it out AND she had some alpaca roving she'd be willing to give to me since she's allergic. Yay! Sadly, I havent seen Danielle since Rhinebeck, but she saw Catherine last weekend and then I saw Catherine tonight for some random knitting.
I was all excited to get the spindle and fiber before the holiday weekend and boy was I ever pleasantly surprised. I hit the fiber jackpot! I was expecting one bag of alpaca, not a bunch! And in so many colors! There's creme, black, solid grey, brown, and brown and creme heather!
After a quick tutorial from Ariel, I was off and running. Well, kinda. I'm not very good and my end product is all different thicknesses, but I'm sure I'll get better with practice.



Look at all that fiber goodness!
Thanks Danielle!!















Here is a real live alpaca at Rhinebeck. Cute!

















This one was a prize winner and a bit of a prima donna - she didnt want to look at anyone!










I'm not super worried that I'll give up knitting or stop buying yarn or even blow all my monies on a wheel because I'm not really interested in making my own yarn. I just like spindling for the novelty of it. Its tiny, portable, and cute. Another technique for me to master (its my thing, I like trying new techniques (in lots of disciplines), mastering them, and then moving on - keeps my brain hopping!) and maybe a little fun side hobby if I get any good at it. Because I have soo much extra time that I can now add side hobbies you know (;{ Maybe I'll get lucky and someday even have a beautiful little spindle to call my own, even if I never get into it as much as knitting they are ever so cute! And it kinda gives me street cred in the gansta fiber life. Just kidding!
I'm so excited I've nearly forgotten that my little sister got engaged (she's 22. they've been dating ~7 mos) and I'm in the wedding but clearly not important enough to her for her to tell me before she told all the rest of the family and her friends and even started checking out reception venues for the past two weeks. Yeah. Ouch. And now that my mom has an official almost grandson to be she has no need of me. Which is clearly why she doesnt call anymore and is too busy to talk to me when I call. Anyway, lets just move right along b/c its obvious that that is a sore spot right now.


Alpaca fiber saves the day!

Rhinebeck! Re-cap

Well I've been super busy with the med school apps but this weekend I took a (much needed) mental break and went to the New York State Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck, NY (Hudson River Valley area). It was soo much fun!!
Friday night Amanda came up from DC and her, Catherine's friend Danielle, and I all spent the night at Catherine's. BEFORE the crack of dawn (5:30 am to be exact) Alexis met us and we began our journey down to Rhinebeck!


Here is a picture of the fog rolling over the Berkshires right after the sun came up. It was a beautiful drive!














Yay Rhinebeck! All the buildings were 4H barns. I thought they were cute.













Of course there were animals at the Festival!
















And here are Catherine and Daniele doing what knitters love to do: fondle yarn! How could we not when the sign instructed us to?

















Here is a neat sky picture of the motel. I actually ended up over at the Super 8 with Amanda and Alexis, but originally I was at this one with Catherine, Daniele, and Ariel.











Here is the view from the Skytop Motel: Gorgeous!!














Catherine and Daniele goofing around.













Pretty!















More pretty!












Neato view from the ride home from Rhinebeck.











And of course my goodie take home!
There is a hand woven basket for my mom for Christmas (dont tell her!)
Some pretty leaves that followed me home and yarny goodness.
Clockwise:
At the top is a promo skein from Dani of Sunshine Yarns in the color Plume.
Then some gorgeous marino/tencel Sea Pearl from briar rose fibers. The other four skeins are all Acero (wool/silk/viscose) from Brooks Farm Yarns.



Here is a close-up of my favourites. The sea pearl from Briar Rose was my very first "must have" of the day. Its a variegated black, purple, green, and turquise. The other two are must haves from Brooks Farm. One is variegated green and the other is a midnight colorway (purple, black, royal and navy blue). Love!!







Last but not least some buttons and pendants. The pendants came from the gem festival that was also happeneing on the fair grounds.
















And the beautiful hand made ceramic buttons I found at the Briar Rose tent.










After the crazyness all day sat we needed a nap before we headed over to the Ravelry party. Goodtimes! Met a bunch of people- and of course only remember half the names - if that. But oh what a day!
On the way home from Rhinebeck! we stopped in Lenox, MA to check out Colorful Stitches. Lenox and Lee MA are beautiful and quaint little New England towns. I didnt buy any yarn at Colorful Stitches b/c I was just totally yarn'ed out (I know - how is that possible?).
Sigh. I'm so tired now but sooo happy!
Sorry for the lack of fantastical pictures, I was just too busy having fun!!