BLUE TOE SPINNER

These are goodies I brought home from Joyful Dyeing class with Laurel Orthmeyer. I learned so much. I learned that I am using way too much dye product when I do a batch. Oh, all the dye I have wasted! I am reformed now.        I also took a fleece weaving class from Sonya Campana. All those lovely locks I been saving for years now have a purpose. And I'm delighted that I kept them because, now they can be a beautiful seat-cover. I really enjoyed both of my classes and loved my instructors. I can't wait to see what they come up with for next year!

The first Mary Margaret Hat is finished and I think it is pretty cute.  My handspun had a little color variation, but I think it is still okay. Snowy wanted to model it for the picture.  I think she is pretty cute, too. Hat #2 has been started.  I am using more of my handspun (novel, huh?), it is a natural cream color.  More pix later. 7 more days until the Great Basin Fiber Arts Fair!!!  Check it out www.greatbasinfiberartsfair.org.  Be there or be square.

I LOVE the show "Once Upon A Time"!  I also love the knitted fashions that are featured in the show.  In particular, the knitted hats that Mary Margaret (a.k.a. Snow White) wears.  So, I belong to a O.U.A.T. Ravelry group, and found a couple pattern for hats that MM wears. I am using my own handspun alpaca yarn, fingering weight. Size 3 circular needles. This third photo shows the color closest to the actual color.  I am working on the decreasing in the crown and will be finished sometime this weekend, I hope. Then I will start the second hat which is a cabled hourglass hat.  Color undetermined, but will again be my own handspun.

Yes, I have been a knit'n fool!!  This is another Summer Solstice Mystery Shawl.  I started this shortly after the first one. The yarn Berroco Ultra Alpaca Fine, 50% Peruvian Wool, 20% Super Fine Alpaca and 30% Nylon.  Weird--you would think something named Alpaca would contain more than just 20% Alpaca... But, it's okay.  It was very nice to knit with and it turned out pretty good.  The next project (already started) is my "Mary-Margaret Hat".  If you don't know who Mary-Margaret is, you should watch "Once Upon A Time" on ABC.    Hint: she is really Snow White.

Another shawlette finished.  This was my Ravelympic project. Started Friday night during the opening ceremony, (I didn't get to see it, I was at Retreat in Park City). Finished it yesterday while watching the Olympics.  Laid it out to block last night. I used Noro yarn.  3 skeins.  The pattern is Mezzaluna Shawlette. I got the pattern from Unraveled Sheep, during a sale where you get the free pattern when you purchase the yarn.  I saved it for this purpose. Blocked in my "Woman Cave". Ah, Retreat!!  I think it was the best one yet!  Here are some of the things I "acquired".  These are pattern holders from Minty Pop Dzigns, and they TOTALLY ROCK!! See how cool... Mumsy missed her puppy so much, she needed a substitute.  And she is a Breast Cancer Sheep, too.  Perfect for Mum. Also from Minty Pop Dzigns. Lovely, luscious, yummy fiber from Greenwood Fiberworks.  The top fiber is Tropical Sno, (50% Merino, 25% Ba...

From this...  To Finished!!!  The photo color for these pictures is a bit weird.  But, you can still see the detail.  I gave it to Mumsy yesterday.  She was delighted.  It was so fun I have started another one with Maroon "Ultra Alpaca".  I did the blocking in my.... Woman Cave!  Mumsy gave me this sign for my door.  My hubby cleared the room for me.  It isn't finished, but I will share photos when it is.

Ok, I made a big boo-boo on my KAL.  I didn't purl every other row.  I discoved this on row 13.  Lucky 13!  So, I frogged it and started over. Now I'm on row 9.  I works up pretty fast and it looks much, much better.  See how pretty?  I think the yarn is working out well, too. I'm having fun with the cute little stitch marks, too.

This is my very first KAL, "Summer Solstice Mystery Shawl KAL 2012" with Wendy D. Johnson a.k.a. Wendy Knits .  I am using a sock yarn called Patons Stretch Socks in Caramel Cream Stripes colorway.  Part 2 came out today.  So far, so good.  I'll keep you posted.  In May, Mum and I were able to attend the Notlwonk Trek for the first time.  This is the beautiful home... ...and look at all the goodies we had to choose from.  We have lots for fun and lots of food!  Mum and I also went to the Lamb and Wool Festival at Thanksgiving Point.  It was a HUGE disappointment!  There was very little to look at and do. But the sheep shearing and wagon ride were fun.  We also went to the Scottish Festival, also at Thanksgiving Point.  IT WAS SUPER FUN!!  My handsome hubby and I went to the Utah Arts Festival, too.  This was the sand sculpture being carved while we were there.  It was pretty incredibl...