Sad, sad sock

My poor flacid sock top. Picot it is not. Going to rip & rework. Another reason I love socks is that I'm willing to rip & rework over and over until they meet my vision. Not so with sweaters, I have a few bags of sweaters in sweatery hell that are f**ked 4 ways to Tuesday, that will remain stashed until I need their yarn for something else.





The girlie asked to learn to spin. Her favorite part? The look on my face when she asked to use to my Bosworth. Her spindle spinning lasted all of 2 minutes before she was eyeing my wheel.















This pic says end of the summer to me. Cheap ass Target tent in the back yard (yes, we slept in it). The kids are totally grubby (& I don't remember the last time they had a bath) and the ice cream man just buzzed on by. Who knew ice cream shaped like a foot would be so popular (rugs, I understand, especially shag) maybe it was the gumball embedded in the big toe?
The boy of course rocked a rocket.






Lynne Vogel is coming to town tomorrow & there will be beer & merriment. Then there 3 (!!!!) days of spinning - spinning for knitting is the topic with no time off of intarsia for good (or bad) behavior or cold beer.

Look away - this will suck your time.........

No really, I can't stop entering books
The Library Thing.
I warned you, really.

Stitches Classes

I took 3 classes at Stitches, all I would recommend for different & the same reasons.
The same? The teacher's brains.

I took Lily Chin's darts class, amazing. Her brain is this technically powerhouse. She said she's been teaching this class for 15 years. She crystallized the concept & practice of darts to a pin prick of light, cracked open our brains & poured so much information in that by the end of class I was a drooling idiot not sure if I even remember what stst is. And she's anal, I love an anal teacher. I would take any class from her if you get the chance.

I took Debbie New's Freeform Knitting class. For Debbie you have to be willing to actively work in class. She is not a 'pour it in your brain' teacher. She talks while you knit, answers questions, strolls the class. She does not suffer fools, she ignores them. If you asks a stupid questions like, "But how does it work, or what should I do next", she will smile sweetly and say, "just keep knitting". If you are actively working and trying and asking reasonably intelligent and applicable questions, she will come over work with you on your piece, she'll show you how her brain works
and give you clues to how yours could work differently too. If you are a strict "I want that (pattern, color, yarn) knitter this class isn't for you.

The last class I took was Sally Melville's Creativity class. I love to listen to Sally talk. We have such different styles and ideas when it comes to knitting, but I love how she thinks about knitting. She tells a wonderful tale that is the perfect left/right brain balance - a little smoke & mirrors and a few scientific facts, shake until frothy & dispense with unceasing positivity.
It's a class that reminds you to push yourself.

I met many, many fans of Big Girl Knits & Knitty handed out buttons and signed books and other things. I had the quintessential rock star moment, but I'm waiting to be sent photographic proof before I talk about it.

No we didn't go to the banquet/fashion show. I heard Rick wore gold lame -head to toe. And that all that really needs to be said.

Stitches Haul

I know you don't care about anything I did at Stitches, you just want to know what I bought, sluts.

Socks that Rock - our first booth. Carla & I were 2nd in line to get in the Market, we ran straight to Blue Moon

Janey, do either of these speak to your sock need?




Sexy beasties from Shadyside Farms.
Silk (down Amy) & an angora blend that is somewhere between lt blue and lavender.













Chasing Rainbows silk roving.
The bottom one, Amy, if you like, I will spin for you, some time before I expire.












Rovings Polwarth fingeringweight & Moco Yarns Qiviut/alpaca/silk blend fluff












Cheryl Oberle merino/mohair heaven.
Top will be a moibus (damn you Cat, with your tricky ways)
Bottom scarfishness for Andy



More tomorrow about classes..........

Stitches here we come

Carla & leave for Stitches MW tomorrow - 6am.
This is my homework.
I'm bringing way too much stuff, but we're driving so who cares.
I have approx 20 books on CD for us to choose from for the drive. Also raided Trader Joe's for many dark choc covered tidbits.
The toffee may not last until Jackson.
I just packed my ball winder.
Oh, yeah I need clothes.

If you see me wandering the market stop me & ask me for a button - I have Knitty & Knit Big.


Lookie I did Fair Isle & it didn't even hurt. It's for Lily Chin's Darts class, or as I like to call it Sheathing the Boob.
Also taking shorts rows, top down knitting with Barry, creativity with Sally & mind blowing with Debbie New.
I'm already tired, but smiling.

Did everyone see Cat do her moibus on Knitty Gritty yesterday? MUST DO MOIBUS. She's amazing.


Gratuitous Kids photos for friends who live far & wide

She who lives in a gymnastics leotard















or a prom dress. How much does her brother love her?
Enough to put on a chimp suit.















This photo absolutely captures my almost 3 year old - the one who writes on the walls and pulls his sisters hair.

Black Banana Syndrome

This is the time of year when bananas tend to go all spotty instantly - Banana Muffins to the rescue!
Extra Moist Banana Muffins
1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
2 cups mashed bananas (about 4 to 6 bananas)
1/2 cup canola oil
1/2 cup milk
2 large eggs
pinch salt
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
handful chocolate chips


Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Grease a 12-muffin tin with butter and set aside.

Whisk the flour, baking soda, brown sugar, and salt together in a medium bowl; set aside.

Whisk the banana, oil, milk, eggs, and vanilla in a large measuring cup with a spout.

Make a small well in the center of the dry ingredients. Pour wet ingredients into the center; then stir with a wooden spoon until the dry ingredients are moistened but still lumpy. Do not overmix the batter or your muffins will come out dense. Gently stir in the chocolate chips. Divide the batter evenly into the muffin tin.

Bake 25 minutes or until golden. Turn muffins out onto a rack or plate to cool a little, or your mouth will be burned with molten chocolate chips.

The willing suspension of disbelief

I know I'm the last person to have read this book.
I am so thoroughly enjoying it. It's a spooky time traveling Dracula story.
I love to not think too hard and just let it completely creep me out. Shivers up the spine, gotta read a little of something else before I sleep, creepy.
I reminds me of being a kid, when I would sneak out of bed, after the whole house was asleep , to watch the black and white creature features on tv. Dracula, the Mummy, Wolfman and the Creature from the Black Lagoon - I even built glow in the dark model kits of some of them.

New ! New! New!

The Anticraft
Who can guess my favorite?


MagKnits
patterns for handspun!


Fall Rowan
Scroll down for "stories". This is the issue that is supposed to be 'sized up'. We'll see.

SALE!

Webs - sale - Noro - GO!

No, Carla I didn't buy anything, it hurt, but I didn't.