There's More

I returned on Saturday to Fibrefest International. I was mainly there to keep Kris company while she shopped, but I did manage to come home with a couple more items. The "firestar" purchase was planned, but the bright lime green merino managed to lure me as well. Both will be used sparingly as an additive when I drum card 2 pounds of jet black merino. The black (a free gift with purchase from long ago) was so boring I just couldn't bear it by itself. What will I make with the finished yarn? Darned if I know. Something mostly black with little highlights of shocking green and an occasional twinkle of sparkle I guess.



I've already got a good start using up the sock yarn I bought from Rabbitch of "Rabbitworks Fibre Studio". She calls this line of fingering weight superwash merino/nylon yarn "Toe Jam Sock Yarn" and this russet/black colourway is "King of the Potato People".



I'm knitting the socks in my usual way; toe-up, two at once on a single long circular needle. I generate a basic pattern on Sock Wizard and then make my own little changes and in this particular case, added in a simple stitch pattern. The stitch pattern (2 rows of stockinette followed by 2 rows of k2p2 ribbing) shows in the picture on the sock to the left. The plain stockinette sole shows on the sock to the right.

Inspector Shelby

When I got home this evening from day one of Fibrefest Shelby felt she needed to thoroughly inspect my purchases. There may be a minor purchase when I return with my daughter tomorrow, but the bulk of the damage from this year's Fibrefest Stash Enhancement Expedition has been done.

On the far left we have two braids of "Fleece Artist" merino/silk roving purchased from "Shades of Narnia". I have plans to spin each of these braids separately and then I'll ply them together. I fell in love with the colours even though they aren't colours that look good on me.

Moving to the right I have 5 skeins of a buttery soft wool purchased from the "Knitopia" booth. These are earmarked for my TKGA Master Knitter Level II vest project.

On top of them are two beautifully hand dyed skeins of sock yarn purchased from "Rabbitworks Fibre Studio". This began its life as "The Dreaded Russet Yarn", but in its overdyed state I think the colourway has been dubbed "King of the Potato People". These are destined to become my next pair of socks. Shelby won't tell me what she feels is so special about these sock yarn skeins, but she keeps coming back to them for a good sniff.

A little further to the right we have another two skeins of the "Fleece Artist" merino/silk roving. I love this stuff and couldn't go with just the one set. These colours are more in line with"my colours". Did I mention that I love this stuff? I bought some at the Ryder Lake Spin-In last Fall and it became the lovely "Huckleberry Chuckle" scarf. Yummy.

Did you notice the book? "Tapestry Weaving". Like I need another hobby right? Well, a while back I picked up a second hand tapestry loom for something like $5 and it's been sitting in my closet ever since. I happen to learn better from books than I do from workshops so this will hopefully be my start. It's not really another hobby, just a branch of an existing one. You know like mulit-shaft weaving, inkle weaving, rigid heddle weaving, tablet weaving---

Above the book is a flick carder. I've been wanting one of those for opening locks while preparing them for the drum carder. On top of the book is a neat little gadget for twisting fringes. Sooo much easier/faster than doing it by hand! The book, the flick carder and the fringe twisters were all purchased from "Fibres Plus".

Lap Loom

This is the other little item that caught my eye at Fibrefest.



I went home the first night (after having spent all my allotted money) still thinking about this simple little loom and how I could use up some of my less-than-lovely stash (acrylic yarns and odd balls of this and that left over from other projects) making squares for blankets for charity. I considered the possibility of making the loom myself, but --- well --- my nail hammering skills are not that great. The next day I went back with money my son had given me to buy it --- my Mother's Day gift.

It surprises even me how much I enjoy using this little thing. I can pop off a square in 15 to 20 minutes and it isn't exactly brain surgery. Sometimes a mindless, quick project with no real goal in mind is just what I'm looking for.

Fancier, pricier versions of the loom are available here.