Needle collecting and other fun stuff

First off, I have 5 new colors at Threads, all are 70% merino and 30% silk fingering weight (sock yarn!!) In the chaos that is my life I forgot to take pictures, but since I am at the shop every day I promise I will take some tomorrow and post them. Anyway the new colorways are....

Hammer Pants--fluorescent green/bright purple

Hunter--green/yellow/hot pink/bright purple

Pickle Barrel--green/ecru/brown

Tonya--pink/ecru/brown

Beetlejuice--violet/black/white

These are $20 each for 440 yds (enough for a pair of socks + extra). I was planning on selling some cobweb merino in the zen colorway, but it breaks to easily when balling it up ( has to be hand balled very carefully) so I decided that I would be responsible and keep it to myself.

And more excitement.... My momma is the best. The greatest gifts always come from someone who truly understands you, and since we might as well be the same person, I can honestly say she understands me. I have been craving Sox Stix from Lantern Moon for a while now, and in the mail today I got some, as well as a few other goodies.

Let me explain something about my knitting habit. It's not just that I love knitting, and I do, it's also that I love collecting anything involved with knitting. I have a penchant for 5" dps and if manufacturer makes them, they will end up in my needle collection. I think I have a problem. I have been knitting for ~2.5 years and my needle collection rivals that of lifetime knitters. We won't talk about my stash (Ravelry shows about half of it, I have yet to get into the boxes of embarrassing yarn and stuff that has only been recently purchased).

The rest of the package included some buffalo down for spinning, a couple balls of Panda Silk, my signed copy of Maggie's book and Arctic Lace. Can't wait to delve into that, although I really should be reading books relating to school....nyahh. But really thanks for the early B-day Mom, I love it!!!!!!!!

I've also decided that I truly have lost my mind because I'm giving up on the Heather shawl in favor of something that I actually have yarn for (the merino that couldn't make it to market). I also chose a new pattern, circular, written in German, although it is charted , and beautiful!! Of course I decided that a size 1 needle would be best (what is wrong with me?) and I am wondering if maybe a size 15 and worsted weight yarn might be a little more feasible. Okay how about I move up to size 3. Maybe then I can have it finished by her 3rd wedding anniversary. Again pictures tomorrow this time cause I don't believe in flash photography with a point and shoot, it never turns out well.

Classes and future hand dyed!!

The first round of class dates is now set in stone!!! Here is when they will be plus a few more details. As the time comes I will post more details.

Sock class:
Session 1: May 13 and 20, 7:00-8:30 pm
Session 2: May 16 and 23, 2:00-3:30 pm
Where: Threads Unlimited Knits
Cost: $35 + supplies

Beginner Lace:
May 19 and 26 7:00-8:30 pm
Cost: $35 + supplies

I have the details of what will be covered in the class and I will give out some of those details a week or two before classes start. Class size is limited to 5 people per session and all materials used in class must be purchased at Threads with a few exceptions which I will discuss at sign up. I will also do an individual 20 min followup (no charge. by appointment, limited to 45 days after the class) to help with issues that arrise in the final project. I will be doing additional sock classes and beginner lace classess throughout the summer by demand as well as an advanced lace class (probably one in June and one in the beginning of August).

I also wanted to let everyone know that I have finally found a source for base yarn for my hand dyed yarn that I can count on for consistent (and fabulous) yarns!! Hopefully we will be putting in an order by the end of the week!!! I am hoping that by summer I will have all my colorways fully developed and also that I can find a few more people interested in selling my hand dyes!! I have a few leads on shops that might be interested in carrying them (one in PA and 2 or 3 in CO) and if that works out, I will hopefully be taking on an apprentice (you know who you are girlfriend!!!) to help me deal with the loads and loads of yarn being ordered...would you please quit falling out of your chair, it's not THAT funny. I jokingly tell her its an unpaid internship with the finest dyer on Bon Aire Dr.

I will also doing several limited amounts of special stuff depending on availability of my other source. These will usually be limited to less than 10 skeins in one selected colorway, but will be worth it. I promise that I will not turn into one of those snotty Indie dyers who charges $25 for 200 yds of sock yarn. I will never charge over $20 for a skein (unless it's cashmere, then I HAVE to charge a little more). And every skein of lace weight will make a decent size stole, and every skein of sock yarn will make at least one pair of socks!!!

Knitting in Monroe

Knitting in Monroe is about to get better. When I first moved here my first yellow page search was for a LYS and with much disapointment I found there was only chain stores. I was then even more upset to learn that JoAnn Fabrics had closed it's doors to Monroe. That made me sad.

Well the joy is back! Threads Unlimited Knits will be opening on Feb. 15!!!!!!!!!! That means not only do I have a yarn shop within driving distance, I have a yarn shop that is 5 min. away, something I have never been fortunate enough to have.

Of course I am a fiend so I stalked the yarn shop and was welcomed in by the owner Ro. She is a wonderful lady. Of course the fact that she opened a yarn shop in the wool deficient town of Monroe already makes her great, but she exemplifies what a knitter and a LYS owner should be. I plan on stopping by as soon as I get out my weekly lab meeting. The monkey will be at school so I figure I will have a couple hours to shop, and then hang out and knit with some people with the same rediculous compulsion as me.

Speaking of those with my same illness, I am starting a Stitch 'N Bitch group with the help of my new found friend from Ravelry (the best site EVER), Tonya. She has as much enthusiasm as I do and for now it will just be the two of us. Hopefully some more Monroe-ians will want to join. I think it would be awesome to have a group of hard core fiber lovers to discuss what makes us tick. I love hanging out with other knitters, hearing their critique of my work and so forth. Not to mention having someone to show off to, hehe. Non-knitters just don't get excited when you show them the fabulous new yarn you bought for an ubelievable bargain or finish a project. At least not with the same ferver.

What's on the needles--
Heather's Wedding Shawl (Mediterrenian Lace). I can post this cause I know she (or for that matter anyone else) reads my posts

I'm using a handspun lace yarn that I can spin more if needed. Got to give undyed fiber props
for something.

I've been dragging my feet on Hunter's sweater. I only have to shape the neck left but it's hard to get excited due to the fact I had the AC on in Feb. I still have to rip back to fix where I fucked up the neck shaping and "dream" doesn't lend itself to easy frogging. It will be cute but it won't be a spectacular piece, more utility.



What's on the wheel--

Surprisingly it's not the above yarn. I will need more of that but for now I have a heavy lace yarn from a merino/tussah silk roving that was laying around screaming "Make Lace Yarn"

What's on the hook--
Nothing. Mom took my favorite size fancy crochet hook