Fiber Twist Fun

This past Saturday I was up bright and early for the drive to western Massachusetts and Fiber Twist.

This cozy, one day event has two dozen vendors offering a wide range of goods.


There were gorgeous spinning fibers.

These beautiful plant dyed fibers are from Woolies of Shirkshire Farm. They specialize in Coopworth wool.  Their subtle dye lot variations offer all kinds of spinning possibilities.


There were ready to wear garments.

This sleeveless wrap comes in a variety of fabrics.  A versatile, practical garment.


Colder weather is just around the corner.

Several vendors had nice selections of hats, scarves and mittens. Plenty of options to choose from.


And it's not too early to start thinking of the holidays.

Sheep ornaments and more.


There were other vendors - rug hooking wool and supplies, yarn and supplies for needlework, felted garments and decorations.  For a small event Fiber Twist brings together a diverse group of vendors.


Fiber Twist is held in the employee fitness center at the Yankee Candle flagship store.

Yankee Candle is quite the attraction.


There are candles and so much more.

The grounds are decorated for fall.


Including this pumpkin.

All 602 pounds.


It was a long day but so much fun.  Thanks to call who came out to support this event.

Cream And Sugar

This week has been filled with waiting time.  A lot of waiting time. Time I should have spent on dyeing.  Time I spent on knitting instead.

Cream and Sugar Cowl by Alana Dakos.


This cowl is the perfect accessory as we head into fall, just enough to keep the chill out.

This cable design has five cable rows.  The other rows are effortless knitting.


This well-written pattern includes both written and charted instructions.

Chunky, cozy cables.


Cream and Sugar would make a perfect gift, but then again you may want one for yourself.

The yarn is Dirty Water DyeWorks Lillian, colorway Topaz.  This 100% Superwash Merino yarn has the right amount of spring and bounce to make these cables stand out.  Truly a delightful knit.


Tomorrow I'll be in western Massachusetts for Fiber Twist.  It promises to be a beautiful day to be out and about.  If you're in the area, be sure to stop by.


It's that time of year when we can watch colors change right before our eyes.  The shift from green to red is my color inspiration for the week.

All shiny and bright.

Bonnet

Last week I was working on a little something for a little person.

Over the weekend I finished it.  This is Bonnet by Elizabeth Zimmermann, the companion hat to her Baby Surprise Jacket.  The yarn is a 100% Superwash Merino base used for the Sweet Bunting Cardigan Kit, colors Clematis and Baltic Blue.  Currently this yarn is only available in the Sweet Bunting Kit.


I was thoroughly entertained while knitting this little hat. It has many of the same characteristics as the Baby Surprise.  There are twists and turns along the way.  This is one of those patterns where you're best off blindly following the instructions.  If you stop and think for too long, you might get lost.

In the end it all worked out.  The striping came together nicely at the back of the hat.  I couldn't have planned it any better.


And I'm thrilled with the little button.

A perfect color match found on a late in the day, last minute stop at Gather Here.  This was a great diversion from the other projects at hand.  Now it's time to get back to work.

An Evening With Annie

On Friday evening I had the pleasure of hearing Annie Modesitt speak at the Common Cod Fiber Guild meeting.

Annie is a self-published author and knitting instructor.  She taught herself how to knit years ago and was told more than once that she was knitting "the wrong way", i.e. combination knitting.  Simply put combination knitting is twisting the stitches on one row and untwisting them on the following row. 

Annie's talk was informative, entertaining, challenging and thought provoking.  Let me share some of her words of wisdom.

~ Instead of calling those who have just started to knit "beginners", call them new knitters.  There are new knitters and adventurous knitters.

~ We knit to make ourselves happy.  It's OK to admit that.

~ Knitting restores your inner sense of rhythm.  There is a certain calm that comes from knit, knit, knit.

~ A mistake is just a different way of doing something right.

Annie's philosophy is that there isn't one right way to knit.

Instead there are many different ways to knit with all of them producing the same fabric.  Find the style of knitting that works for you and follow it.

Interrupted

The other day I started a new project.  It was progressing nicely.  I had just finished the ribbed border and was about to start the good part - the part where the stitches twist and turn and do all sorts of acrobatics.  And then all work came to a screeching halt.


I had to take time for some planning.

There are new kits in the works, and that means choosing colors.  I worked my way through that process, selecting colors and having way too much fun.  After everything was squared away, I was anxiously looking forward to picking up my needles.  Time to put those stitches through a gymnastics drill.


But it was not meant to be.  I encountered a knitting emergency.  One that had to be dealt with immediately.

I need a knitted something for a little one, and I need it right now. Those stitches doing twists and turns and somersaults?  They will have to wait for another day.  In the meantime I have a sweet little something to keep me occupied.  And since there is a pressing deadline for this sweet little something, I'm sure I'll be working on my other project in no time at all.


While the fruits at the farmers' market switch from berries to apples, I gathered a few peaches and blueberries to make a delicious sauce. The mixture of yellow-orange and blue cooks up into a beautiful pinkish red - my color inspiration for the week.

The last of the season.

For The Season

I have a new project underway - finally.  I'd been considering this pattern for several weeks but couldn't decide on the color.  I pulled several skeins of different colors, debated, asked for input from family, debated some more.  And then I started the whole process over with a different set of skeins.  When I still didn't have a decision, I put the project away for a few days.


Then we experienced a decided shift in the weather.  Suddenly it was fall, and I picked a color without hesitation.  

A color to match the season.

SoWa Sunday

This past Sunday Dirty Water DyeWorks was a vendor at SoWa Open Market.  

This event is held every Sunday from May to October in Boston's South End.  SoWa features wares from many artisans and crafters with something for everyone.


For kids.

Fun animal hats.

Wooden toys for little ones.


For adults.  

Ceramics.


Things that smell good.

Candles and more.


Soap.

In cupcake form.


I love this take on the classic paper chain, but I don't think it was for sale.

A fabric chain.


This fall Dirty Water DyeWorks will be at several SoWa Sundays. Details to follow.

It was a fun outing, and I look forward to doing it again.