Sock Summit Day 3

Today was my last day of classes. I had sooooo much fun in my CSM (circular sock machine) class. We made straight tubes, short row heels/toes, and learned how to get the ribber working and switch the needles around. I did not end up with a wearable sock but I couldn't resist trying on my practice piece.


As it happens, two of my practice heels are exactly the length of my foot so I may actually be able to salvage a sock out of my 5 ft long tube.


The CSM wasn't scary to use. A bit tricky at times but not unmanageable. By the end of the 3 hour class my hands were covered in black machine oil. My finger nails look like they belong to a grease monkey rather than a knitter.

I realized this morning that I didn't have my picture taken with any knitting celebrities (aside from Gladys). So I tracked down someone famous and begged for a picture.


This is Caro from splityarn. She's an awesome crafter. I know Caro before she became famous. We used to work together back in the day when we both had desk jobs.

In the afternoon, I showed up at Gladys' lecture with my cow bell and I'm still alive to tell you about it. The lecture was a lot of fun. Many people were inspired and I believe there was a mini stampede to several booths to stock up on pooling yarn. I might've been one of them even though I said I wouldn't do it again.


So that's it for classes. I'll head back to the convention center to pick up my spinning wheel and my door prize!!! Wonder what I won.

knitters are officially crazy

... and not too bad at dancing!

postcard from Sock Summit 2011

We and IT are here.


Sock Summit has officially started. Gladys is having a great time teaching and I'm having a great time learning. We definitely feel like we've been transported to another world:


If you don't get the reference, look it up! BTW, the show - in all it's incarnations is filmed just a few kms from where I live.

We are both enjoying the shopping ;) I will take photographs of my stash when I get home but just trust me when I say, "WOW!". As you can probably guess, most of it is spinning fiber :) While I did bring my spinning wheel, I do not have it to try out my new fiber. It is with one of the Fleece to Foot teams and it was be participating in Sunday's competition.

Tomorrow is my last class and Gladys' lecture. My supplies are packed for class and so is my cow bell for the lecture. She is going to KILL me.

finished

I've crossed the TdF finish line!!! A purple jersey (don't like yellow and I look horrible in it) for me :)


This is a little skein of some mystery stuff that Gail gave me. I've only got 228 yds so I'm not sure what I'll make with it.

After many weeks of wheel searching, I think I've found one for my little niece. Hopefully, it will still be avail on my way back from Sock Summit. Only 4 more sleeps!!!!


Ricky sez, "zzzzzzzzz".

6 more sleeps

... til Sock Summit 2011!!!

So there's a flurry of activity here. I'm finishing up the Tour de Fleece. One of my goals was to spin thicker and fiddle with my wheel settings a bit more.


This is 4ozs of Falkland spun up into 230yds of 2 ply. Very soft and skwishy.

I've also been spinning on Marilyn, my vintage double drive wheel. Another one of my TdF goals was to make friends with her. I finished filling one bobbin and when I had to switch it out, I couldn't get the whorl off until I remembered that it's lefty tighty, righty loosey. I filled the second bobbin and plied it today. I need to wind it off before I take a beauty shot. The fiber is a mystery as it was a gift from my friend, Gail. So what to spin next? I don't want to start anything new on Clementine or Matilda because all 8 bobbins need to be empty for Sock Summit so that leaves Marilyn. Guess I'll have to toss the stash.

What I really should be doing is getting all my Sock Summit bits together. It's supposed to be summer hot in Portland. None of my summer clothes are out because it's been so cold here. Really - I was wearing long pants last week. I had on wool socks the week before. What I have been doing is working on my shopping list and boy, is it looooooong! Must remember that my duty free limit is only $750 (and I already had stuff shipped to Portland so I have even less to spend at the marketplace). My list so far is a sweater's worth of Socks That Rock Heavyweight (leaning towards one of the Raven colourways). I want to make something like Cassis or Redhook. I might buy a little bit of sock yarn. I mostly want fiber for spinning and a few spinning accessories like a spinner's control card, and a split rear bearing to update Clementine a little. So little time/money, so much to buy.

two months

It's been pretty close to 2 months since I last wrote up a decent post. There is sooo much that I need to get caught up on that this'll be a quick & dirty update.

FOs


Cinnamon Grace - totally ran out of yarn despite using an overweight skein. Ended up making a 2 hour round trip to buy a 27g leftover from a fellow Raveller. Still ran out of yarn. The lace edging should be wider and have a picot bind off.


Another pair of Monkey socks - my 60th pair of socks

Currently knitting on this:


Swirl skirt from the latest IK. Totally in love with this pattern.

Spinning

The Tour de Fleece is moving along. While the nieces were in town, they insisted on "helping" me so I ended up spinning a lot of junky fiber (included in the purchase of my wheels). But I've had the opportunity to spin some nice stuff, too. This is sample of what I've accomplished so far:






We're leaving for Sock Summit in less than two weeks. I have so much to do to get ready. I'm excited!!!!

Dear Canada Customs

Dear Canada Customs,

If the label on the package says "Wool Yarn" …

Do you really think that you should be charging customs on Women's Clothing?

On the bright side, the yarn (Wollmeise in Raku Regenbogen and 0-Rh-negativ) was gorgeous, and I've already filled in the refund form so hopefully I'll get it reclassified and refunded.

drive by post

Crazy busy... The nieces are in town so I'm barely home. Still managing to spin a little each day for the Tour.


I've been spinning this Corriedale. It's all done now - 8oz of 2 ply and I'm hoping it's fingering. I still need to wash & whack.

My youngest niece is completely fascinated with my wheel(s) so I'm having to spin up a bunch of junk fiber to keep her happy so I'm spinning a lot but most of it is throw/give away.

I am sad because I went out on Mon and planted a ton of pansies and then wham - heat wave. The poor plants are totally crispy fried. Not sure they'll survive.

the Tour

I'm participating in my first Tour de Fleece this year. Today is day 1 and my sister & nieces are in town so I was hauling my wheel around. My youngest niece (aka the knitter) was completely fascinated. She tried drafting but was content to work the treadle while I did the drafting.



We spun a bobbin full of mystery fiber and then plied it up.



I've promised my oldest niece that I'll spin her some yarn, too. And then they're coming over for an afternoon of Kool Aid dyeing. It's either going to be a total disaster or a lot of fun.

O Canada!

Well of course I had to answer Dotty's post with this one. It's pretty cool.

The youtube description says,

"I found the BEST rendition of O Canada - the True North Strong & Free's wonderful National Anthem on an old VHS tape in my basement. An initiative by broadcaster Ross Carlin of Orangeville, Ontario, this was apparently produced for distribution to over 14000 schools across Canada. Sung in both official languages, the clip features over 240 voices representing the musical & cultural diversity of Canada. Made over 15 yrs ago, you might recognize a few faces- like: Rita MacNeil, KD Lang, Murray MacGlaughlin(sp), Luba, Fresh Wes; Tommy Hunter, Gino Vanelli, etc."

Happy Birthday, Canada!

The funniest part is during the credits at the end. Enjoy!