Stash Enhancement..... Woohoo!!!!

Over the past few days, there has been a plethora of yarn entering my stash. 

My first package came from Eat Sleep Knit.  I placed my order on Black Friday, because they had a mystery sale.  You got a percentage off after you checked out.  I received 10% off, and I also used my credit from the Yarn Lotto.  I decided to purchase something more luxurious than usual.  I bought MadelineTosh Pashmina Worsted in Baltic.

I am planning to make Joji Locatelli's On The Road Again.

I also couldn't resist the sock yarn during this purchase.  

I fell in love with Lorna's Laces sock yarn in Bittersweet years ago.  I made a sock for a swap, and always wanted to replace it.  So, here it is, in the Solemate base.

I also decided to try Sweet Georgia yarns Tough Love Sock (Superwash Wool/Nylon) in Snapdragon

All of this yardage in yarn has propelled me to receive the 5 mile mark in the yarn marathon.

I also received a mug with the yarnathon logo on it.  Sadly, it broke during shipping. 

I am blaming the post office.  Ugh!  

I contacted Eat Sleep Knit via email, and they were very quick with their response.  They will send a replacement mug with my next order.  Woohoo!!!! 

I also received another yarn lotto ticket, and it's a winner.

$5 store credit plus the $20 store credit earned for the 5-mile marathon mark.  Woohoo!!!  I see more sock yarn in my future.  

On Small Business Saturday, I made a trip to Knitty City, and picked up this lovely skein.  Manos Del Uruguay yarn in Alegria.  I just love all of these bright colors.

The next package I received was from MOOD. 

They carry Pagewood Farms yarn online only.  This color is Pink Sand, and will become a second Grandpa Cardigan. 

I also made some purchases at Knitpicks.  Felici yarn is back, and I just had to get some.  Self-striping yarn is my favorite. 

I also bought caspian needles because I know for a fact that I will need to magic loop these.  I bought two different lengths so that I can do either a single sock, or two at a time.  This is the first time I will be using caspian needles.  I'm excited.

I also bought a size 2.5 circular needle to use on my Japan Sleeves sweater for the cuffs on the neckline, body, and sleeves.

And Speaking of Japan Sleeves.  Here is my progress.

I have completed 4 inches of the body.

Last, but not least.  I purchased yarn to make booties for a friend in Atlanta who commissioned me to do the knitting.  

Purple is her favorite color.  

OK, now that I have all of this yarn, I need to find MORE free time to knit.  

More updates after the weekend is over.  

The Stephen & Steven Tour.

Last Wednesday, at La Casita, I had the fabulous opportunity to meet Stephen West and Steven Berg. They are both knitwear designers that have an attitude and aesthetic that is far from structured and ordinary, but you can't help but to love it. Stephen West can be found at westknits.com and Steven Berg can be found at StevenBe.com.

So, let's get to the knitty gritty shall we?

They put together a trunk show of sorts, and started pulling pieces out of a suitcase and describing how they were made and the design concept behind it. There were 3 apparent themes..... Colors, Gradients, and knit freely.

Stephen West loves to add a "POP" of color to everything. And he likes to add pops to the pops as well. His favorite color, from what I am guessing, is highlighter yellow. He wore a pair of shorts in that color, and also had it accented in some of his pieces. Steven Be loved it too, because he had it lovingly draped around his neck.

So, a technique that they like to use is holding more than 1 yarn while knitting, then dropping one, continuing with the rest, and picking up a different color as the knitting moves along. This establishes a gradient, or Ombre effect that I love. They also love to mix and match colors with an anything goes attitude. Nothing is contrived. If you are knitting a garment, and run out of one color, you just continue on with another color. I admire that sense of freeness. I personally haven't fully let go and allowed myself to do that, but I can see how much fun it is.

This is apparent in Stephen's Parachutey sweater/tunic/dress. It depends on how big you are willing to make it.

I can totally see it over some black tights, with a nice cinch waist belt and heels, and lipstick to offset one of the POP colors. But that's just the stylist in my head talking. He also displayed his color craze with this Dotted Rays pattern.

Now, I had to take a shot of the "junk in the trunk". Then I saw the most beautiful thing ever. This sparkly Pink and Black Yarn.

It is called Galaxy Fingering in the Barbie Dream Zebra colorway, from Wild Hare Fiber Studio. The fiber content is wool and nylon. It's meant for socks, but I want to make something that I can wrap around my neck. Plus, it has sparkles intertwined in the yarn. I can't possible hide those in a pair of boots.

I bought the pattern book from the tour, and in there is the Sharktooth pattern. I am going to give my Barbie Dream Zebra a sharktooth. LOL . I hope to be able to cast on soon, once I get something off the needles. I have never been a huge fan of Garter Stitch, but Stephen West's designs always have these geometric shapes that make it so interesting.

I got to take a picture with both designers, and they signed my pattern book. I had such a fun time meeting them.

Here is my haul from the show.  Knit Simple magazine was complementary.  These guys rock!

Happy Birthday to me..... 2 weeks later. Haha!

It's been a few weeks since my last post, and although my hexipuff knitting has slowed down a bit, the knitting bug is still biting. I celebrated a 30-something birthday on July 22nd, and took the time to reflect on a few things. Then it hit me. BAM!!! I need to make an infinity cowl.

The color inspiration came from a skirt that I wore on my birthday. A very bright peachy orange.

I've gotten so obsessed, that I even did an acrylic nail overlay with this color.

Well, it didn't stop there. I had to find a yarn in this color. Lo and behold, it was waiting for me at Purl Soho. Madeline Tosh Tosh Merino Light in Neon Peach. Oh, they have it in DK too..... but that's for another project.

So, of course I immediately went to buy it. It was my birthday gift to myself.

My mom decided to model the yarn for me, and yes her nails match as well. This color is so infectious.

With the flash on, it looks Neon Pinky and with no flash it looks Neon Orangey.

I also bought a stitch dictionary, so that I can try some new design ideas. This book is especially helpful because it gives you the instructions for knitting flat or in the round, bottom up or top down. How cool is that?

So, of course I pick out 3 lace panels and start testing them out with the yarn. At one point I had to rip it out and choose a different pattern #3, because it just wasn't working. But that's all in the fun process of designing right?

So, now at this point, I have already mapped out where I want this birthday cowl to take me. I casted on the appropriate amount of stitches needed for my cowl and began the journey.

My goal is to have something that is feminine, pretty, light and lofty. Yet, still warm enough to ward off an autumn chill.

Here I am, finishing 1 repeat of one of my lace panels. A little early to see the magic happen, but the kinks are worked out and I'm taking notes. I already have two offers for test knitters. Knitters are such beautiful people. They have such faith in the end product, even though the path isn't fully mapped out. I love it.

Oh, and let's not forget my second birthday present to myself.

 I finally got my FULL ChiaoGoo Needle set.

I had wanted the set since I bought 2 fixed circulars at Rhinebeck and loved the way the yarn felt gliding through my fingers harmoniously with the needle. It's a feeling only a knitter can understand. Craftsy had a 40% off sale last week. I also ordered a kit to make the Aran Counterpane sock. That kit just put me over the threshold for free shipping. Why put the money toward shipping when it can be better used toward yarn?

I love how the package comes with a pocket for the needle gauge and keys for tightening the cables. Everything is labeled nicely and has its specific compartment. I can't wait to put new stitch markers in the little pocket.

The yarn that came with the sock kit is Lorna's Laces Solemate in Buckingham Fountain. I wanted to make a sock, but after attending the Stephen and Steven tour, it might very well turn into some sort of scarf/shawl/wrap/neck thingy. I seem to have a cowl obsession. Don't judge me. More on the Stephen and Steven tour coming up really soon.......