The word is out! Here are the dates for the 2010 Isaac Evans Knitting Cruises:
June 27 (Sunday - Thursday)
July 29 (Thursday - Monday)
September 7 (Tuesday - Saturday)
I can’t wait! Please visit the Isaac H. Evans website for more information.
I love technology.
I was talking to Kelley the Tragically Blogless at knitting group at Farmer's Fare last Saturday, and mentioned some old event from the past that I had blogged about, and she remembered every detail of the story, which kind of impressed me, actually, since even I didn't remember all of the details. But it got me thinking about how some of my posts, the more entertaining or story-like posts from the pasts, or the how-to-do-stuff posts, might be cool to be able to put together in one place, for readers' convenience.
And then like our minds were linked in some big karma event, Typepad announces this new feature: right at the bottom of each of my posts, you can now click a post to make it a Favorite! You can also click to Digg it or to Tweet it :) Guess I will have to sign up with Twitter now :)
So go ahead and try it out, let me know if you love it or hate it. I will try to write something entertaining or educational soon....
Betcha thought I had given up on my Hanne Falkenberg Ballerina jacket. But no! I am still working on it. I started knitting it in January 2008, so it is nearly two years into its gestation period, but I am making some progress.
I made a good start on it back in that January through March, getting the front done, one sleeve done, and started working around the back. Then I just stopped working on it for about a year. Funny how no progress is made on things when I don't touch them.
I picked it up again sometime in August, so I guess that was more than a year hiatus, but in just the last couple of months, I have completed the back and I am pleased to report that I just started the second sleeve tonight! Yay! I have only the second sleeve, right front, front band (kind of a kimono style band finishes the collar and front edges), and sleeve cuffs. I see the end in sight! I will be wearing this sweater soon! I am shooting to have it done to wear it on Thanksgiving. I am quite pleased with myself!
I'll get pictures as soon as I can.
I'm still spinning the Bermuda tencel/merino fiber for my Bermuda socks. I got the first sock done, but to be honest, I have done very little spindle spinning for months.
I am working on a dark red cashmere scarf using Springtide Farms fingering weight cashmere, and it does feel yummy. I am knitting the Heather Lace Scarf pattern by Rebecca Hatcher, which I purchased as a download on Ravelry. The cashmere is one of my SPA 2009 purchases.
I am halfway done spinning the orange and purply/blue alpaca/merino/silk fiber I got at SPA 2009 from Ball & Skein. I picked two completely opposite colors and am spinning them together, one ply of each, and then plying the 2 colors together, as you saw in my previous post. Half the fiber is spun. I am using the small spinning wheel my father in law made me; I treasure it. I count having the fiber spun as a completion of the fiber as a project, but I am spinning it into sock yarn, and socks are what I'll make with it. I'll say again, it is amazing how different the color is with the two colors plied together, as compared to how it looks in separate bags.
So here is what I have left to finish from my SPA and Fiber Frolic purchases this year, so far untouched:
I think that's it. I spun the Grafton Fiber batt that I got at the SPA a couple weeks ago; I spun a 2 ply worsted weight, using Amy King's book Spin Control for inspiration. I never usually spin anything that thick, I always make this threadlike little yarn, 2 ply fingering weight or maybe a 3 ply dk weight. What an enlightenment to discover that if I spin a 2 ply worsted weight, I can spin ALL of a 4 oz. bag of fluff in one evening! If I use a spinning wheel instead of a spindle, and spin thickly, its a whole new world. It is possible to spin enough yarn to make a sweater in 7 to 10 days, in my spare time. It's kind of a miracle, really. There is new hope for all the fluff currently living upstairs in my house. Don't tell my husband. He thinks it is just there for insulation.
I've knit a couple hats that flew under the radar, including the hat I made from the Grafton batt that I spun so quickly. I think it is too garish for me, but maybe I can donate it to the Ships Project at the SPA in February 2010.
Ok, off to knit a sleeve on my Ballerina...
I was at Farmer's Fare this afternoon for knitting group, and I took a picture of what I had been spinning. I have 2 oz. of purplish blue fiber and 2 oz. of egg yolk colored fiber, both alpaca/merino/silk blend from Ball & Skein that I got at the SPA 2009. I spun one ply of each color and then plied them together. It is interesting to me how different the 2 ply skein looks, in color, as compared to the stronger, clearer colors of the fiber by itself.
I took the picture with my camera phone and figured I would take advantage of the ability to blog via my phone, which I have never done before. (The previous blog post is the result.) What I discovered is that a) U.S. Cellular adds wordage above my post, which I don't like very much, and b) my photo is HUGE and Typepad cuts off about a third of the right hand side of it. Sigh. Live and learn, I guess.
Knitting at Farmer's Fare is always a lot of fun and the food is fabulous. I also had a Pumpkinhead ale, which I liked quite a bit. I always leave from knitting group feeling all inspired and stuff. It's a good feeling :)
Thank you for using Picture and Video Messaging by U.S. Cellular. See www.uscellular.com for info.
Here are pictures from the last knitting cruise of 2009. We had a great time :)
Babs and Linda :)
Diane and Rachel :)
Knitting on deck
At the lobster bake
Knitting on the rocks. See the green chair and the rigger's bag knitting bag? That's me. Or at least, where I was.
Pretty Lighthouse
Linda helps haul lines :)
Knitting at the lobster bake!
Rock climbers :)
Barnacles
We also had a very special occasion on this cruise: it was Capt. Brenda's 40th birthday!!!!! Wheeeeeeee! Here is the sight that greeted my eyes when I hauled my butt up on deck to get to the head as fast as possible one morning:
Yes. Pirate birthday balloons. Brenda got gifts and a birthday tiara ....
.... and a nice card (which lets her actually be only 34!)
We all wore feather boas for the occasion (mine was pretty light pink):
Including John :
And Brenda wore her sparkly birthday tiara the whole day! Even during the lobster bake! It really sparkled in the sun :)
It was so much fun.... can't wait for next year!