A little of this, a bit of that

Today needed up being a big winding day. Lace is a lot of work to wind - there's mileage on a skein and then the re-winding so it's not tight on the ball. 

I have my Lorna's Laces wound and ready for the Beyond the Wall MKAL. 

 I also wound some sock yarn to do a pair of inside-outside socks for Elise  Working on the Sweet Spot strip has got my Knit One Below mojo tingling again! 

 

I sense a pattern here, but the speckled nature of this lolodidit yarn is making it less clear. I've ordered a couple skeins of her kettle-dyed yarn to make it easier to lock down. 

I went into the Spare Oom this afternoon and bravely started peeling away layers. I found the box that I was looking for, cleared out a bag of rubbish, and got the shelf back in. That was a struggle, and much more challenging than it should've been. I had lines and angles shifting in my vision and reality wasn't matching up. But she persisted!!

I cast on for a hat this afternoon ... I think I've caught a bad case of startitis!! 

 The only cure for that is finishing, so Imma be a busy knitter. 
 
I got my Hedgehog Fibres sock club pkg in the mail, but I haven't opened it. I feel like I should save it as a reward or incentive. I know, but it's a fickle willpower ... I can't resist DQ treats or more yarn lately. 

So, back to the needles I go - a happy knitter I am surrounded by all these inspiring swatches and yarns!! 

Linen Challenge

So then this happened. 

 Yeah. 85% of this Studio Linen is recycle rayon linen which is what gives the yarn a lovely sheen and drape right off the ball. This means I really can't just toss the balls in my knitting bag and go. Well, I can, but this is the result. YMMV

This was good opportunity to just zen out and untangle something. I feel like I've got choices and decisions to be made all around me and this was something that I could just do. It felt good to make it neat again, and then, lesson learned, bagged.

 

 

So ... I'm still working on a colourway for my Building Blocks MKAL  Clearly, having more choices was not a valid strategy in making this process easier. I keep looking at my Bag of Loveliness and then just sighing and thinking.  One of these skeins was a raok gift and I'm having a hard time deciding whether or not to use it in this project. It might end up a sentimental favourite in my stash. 

It's definitely cooling off, but I've not lit the furnace yet. I did plug in the electric fireplace to take the chill off of my feet. I'd likely have it going even if the furnace was running, it's not for overall room heating. And the puppies love it!! 

 

Treats

So on this, the day before my 47^th natal celebration, Craig and I set off for The Needle Emporium. Truly, where else would I find the perfect gift for myself?!?

 

 Another beautiful day for a road trip, even with a decided chill in the morning air. 

My mission to Julie's was to make sure I had a proper

selection of Hedgehog fibres Skinny Sock to make a final decision on my colourway for the Westknits Building Blocks MKAL  I was more than successful! I also picked up the latest Rowan magazine. 

On the way back we veered off of the highway since traffic into Toronto was nuts - concerts & sporting events galore - and I remembered how much I love a Krispy Kreme donut. And since it was on the back way home, and the Magic 8 Ball concurred, we stopped in. It was more processed sugar than we usually eat in an entire month, but it was so totally delicious!! Craig had a simple glazed, but I went with a salted caramel, and a lemon filled. It's my pre-birthday, I shouldn't have to make the hard choices. 

Then there was groceries and home. Since we were making this a cheat day, it was manicotti with a homemade pasta sauce. 

I am now defrosting the freezer to make room for all of the yummy things that I'm making tomorrow. Planning and meal prep is key to any kind of diet plan and having only a 1/2 hour lunch with no easy access to other food. 

I am getting ready to cast on my next project:

 Sorrento from The Studio Linen Collection by Erika Knight. 

I am having a lovely day, and looking forward to another one tomorrow!

KW Knitters Fair

It was a lovely day for the drive down! I even managed to dodge the threatening thunderstorms on the way back home. 

I finished the Ashling Shaw  and it blocked out 36" deep! Wow!! So if you're a fan of lovely, large shawls, this is the one. 

My changes are noted in the Ravelry  link above. 

 

The Needle Emporium  booth was, as ever, packed with all the lovely things. 

In particular, Hedgehog Fibres Skinny Singles. With the next Westknits MKAL kicking off soon, I couldn't resist picking out colours. I couldn't pick just the four required, so at least I have time to mull it over and make the cut. 

 

This will be made either easier or more challenging when Julie get in the next shipment, expected at the end of the month. Yes, I'll be there, seeing if any new colour is even more enticing. 

I bought another bag from my friends at ZigZagStitches.  

 

And one from a new vendor, Alison Ruth  Something about the fabric called to me. 

 

Later in the afternoon, we were discussing the Woodstock Fleece Festival  Sarah suggested that we do matching shawls in different kits/colourways. We've all selected and the game is on!! This is what I'm knitting with: 

  

This frabjous fibers Cheshire Cat line is so lovely and soft. Craig heard me going in enough about it last night, but it's going to keep happening. I love this stuff!!! 

I didn't realize how much I miss my friend Helen until later in the evening. I missed so much that replay of the day, comparing purchases, what we saw, who we talked to. Texting just wasn't the same.