Gearing Up

Mark your calendars.  This coming weekend is the inaugural of Fiber Festival of New England.  Fiber enthusiasts in New England have been binging all fall.  This event is the icing on the cake.  Dirty Water DyeWorks will be there vending in booth 424 East.  If you're in the area, stop by and say hi.

This means a short, busy week tying up loose ends before I hit the road on Friday.  All of the dyeing is done.  Now to label everything and pack up.

I finished knitting and blocking another booth sample.

Yvaine is complete.  Shown here in Dirty Water DyeWorks Bertha, colorway Seaweed.

I added one stockinette/seed stitch section to the pattern recommendations.  Then I knit the garter border until I ran out of yarn. This design has just enough texture to add interest without detracting from the movement of the colors.  

The combination of design and yarn creates a garment with beautiful drape.  This is one soft, comfy shawlette.

I had made a deal with myself.  If I finished Yvaine, I could cast on another Pogona.  But I've been distracted by another booth sample.

Pogona will have to wait.

We had a wonderful weekend full of celebrations.  The party continues with Day of the Dead.

A time to honor and remember those who have passed before us.

Friday Update

This has been a week for dyeing.  Every day there's something new and exciting coming out of the pots.  Mid-week we had unseasonably humid weather that slowed the drying process.  It's crunch time for an upcoming event, and I have a schedule to keep.  There's no time for a lag in production.


Here's a sample of what's been brewing.  This one reminds me of berries mashed and mixed together.

Reminiscent of the summer gone by.


And a cheery blue.

Subtle variation with hints of green.


On the needles . . . I'm finishing the garter border of Yvaine. Mindless, comfort knitting is good at a time when everything else requires more focus and attention.  Out of necessity I started a new pair of fingerless mitts.  The cold, early mornings have been too much for my hands. Crazy as it seems I have been unable to locate one pair of mitts for myself in this house filled with wool, so the only option was to make a new pair.


I considered several patterns but time was a-wasting.  In the end I settled for an old standby that fits well, knits up quickly and is practical.

This is the beginning of a pair of Maine Morning Mitts by Clara Parkes. The yarn is Bartlettyarns worsted weight, colorway dark heather.  This hard wearing yarn with colorful flecks is produced locally here in New England.  These mitts are a great one skein project.  Note to self - it wouldn't hurt to have more than one pair.


Our neighborhood is gearing up for the festivities this weekend, my own yard included.

There's talk of adding lighting.  Every year our display gets more elaborate.


While I'm on the subject of spooky, take a look at this creation.  I am in awe of the detail - bones, vertebrae and even teeth.


Welcome to those who popped over from Knitspot.  If you have questions about yarn or anything else, you can contact me by following the profile link at the bottom of the right sidebar.


My color inspiration for the week comes from the neighbor's yard. There was a bold, dazzling display of color that lasted for a day or two. And then it was gone.

A reminder of how fleeting the season is.

Resisting

I don't have Pogona out of my system.  I'm smitten with the way it wears and would love to have it in a couple of colors but am resisting the urge to cast on another one.  I'm feeling weak in the resistance department so will see how long I can hold out.  There's a beautiful gray I took out of the dye pot yesterday . . . 


Instead I've picked up Yvaine, the cozy shawlette I ditched for Pogona.

Yvaine is a trusty traveling companion, pictured here on the road. Forgive the poor lighting and somewhat off colors.  


This design is really what I need right now.  I'm gearing up for another event, and life is a bit more chaotic.  Yvaine is  straight ahead, cruise control knitting; the yarn, Bertha, is a dream to work with.  What more could I ask for?  I've modified the pattern with one more stockinette/seed stitch section. After that it's all garter to the finish line.  Full steam ahead.


I love DPNs.  I love gnomes.  Imagine my delight when I came across these.  Go ahead and take a look.  Be sure to watch the charming video clip.  While I want some gnomes in the worst way, I'll have to satisfy myself with buying the pattern for now.


And in the kitchen . . . I'm always on the look out for new and interesting recipes.  I don't like complaints about boring food, so I'm excited when I find something that looks like it will go over well.  Some recipes make the cut, some don't.


My latest find - sweet potato biscuits.  I love them.  I love them so much that I don't care if anyone else likes them.

They are perfect for the season with a taste that is not too strong, not too bland.  This recipe is a keeper.

Of Patterns And Pumpkins

The last few days have been a whirl of pattern ideas.  Mixing and matching yarn to pattern.  Some combinations work, some don't.  I don't want the pattern to get lost in the yarn and vice versa.  It's always a balancing act.


For starters I have this new project on the needles.

This is Yvaine (Ravelry link).  I needed a project that was simple but not completely mindless.  A traveling companion.

I needed a pattern that wouldn't detract from the yarn, something that wasn't too busy.  Yvaine is simple stockinette with a few rows of seed stitch thrown in for texture.  It fits the bill.  


The yarn is Dirty Water DyeWorks Bertha, colorway Seaweed.  Bertha is a blend of 80% Merino, 10% Cashmere, 10% Nylon.  It's deliciously soft for next-to-skin wear.


I have a short list of projects that I'm anxious to start, and Yvaine will soon have to share my time with another.  I'm just waiting for the yarn to dry.


In the midst of my pattern search I stumbled across these oak leaves. Be sure to check the sidebar for more ideas.  The acorn gnomes are particularly cute.  I haven't made any of these yet, but I'm tempted. Even though these are wee little projects, I know they could easily consume all of my time.


I saw this sign on a recent trip to the orchard, and it made me smile.

Remember to be considerate of pumpkins.  Until you carve them.


My color inspiration for the week is no surpise.

Pumpkin goodness.