Stash Dash 2015

I have recently started listening to the Knitgirlls podcast only because the Carolina Fiber Girls mentioned it.  They are doing STASH DASH.

The rules are, projects must be worked on between May 22nd and August 14th.  The challenge is to select a certain yardage and knit it.  I selected 5K.  However, the length for the race has been converted to meters.

I decided to work on completing some WIPs first, then start a few new projects.  Here is my list.

3 Color Cashmere Cowl
Cadence Socks
Jeck Socks
Kai-Mei Socks 
Sunday Swing Socks
Vanilla Toe Up Socks
Celestarium

My new project list is as follows:

Neighborhood Fiber Company Mystery KAL
Swedish Spring Shawl
Yowza Weigh it Shawl Version 3
Owlie Socks

Hat to match the 3 Color Cashmere Cowl

Here is a picture of all of the yummy yarn all in on place.

I started by kniting 84 meters on the 3 color cashmmere cowl yesterday.  This is where I left off. 

The lace pattern in the light grey is a 6 row pattern that is easy to remember. 

I plan on using the leftover yarn to design a hat to match.  I'm still working out the pattern schematics. 

Socks on a Plane!!!!!

These socks have been on quite an adventure.

I saw this beautiful yarn on Instagram one morning. A knitting friend of mine had just purchased it and took a picture. I immediately asked her where I could get it.

The answer was SpunRightRound's Etsy shop. Lately, I have been buying tons of yarn on Etsy. I believe that it's very important to support our knitter friends who own small businesses, because at the heart of it all, they are putting their time and effort into their work because they really love what they do. I am also very empowered when I see a woman successfully running a business on her own terms. It just so happens that the majority of indie yarn shops are run by women. So, it was a no brainier. 

I showed the picture to my Knatural Purls knitting group, who is always my sounding board when I have any knitting idea. I think I clicked "buy" before waiting on an answer. A few days later, the yarn had arrived from Rochester, NY. 

The colorway is FLUFF. I noticed that there is a definite similarity between this yarn and 2 other speckle-dyed yarns that I own. But, of course I had to have all of them. 

So, a friend of mine invited me to go to Toronto, in the middle of the winter, to attend a Machel Montano concert. Of course I said yes. Toronto was really cold, but his performances are always blazing hot. On the trip, I needed some plane knitting and that's when it hit me. SOCKS ON A PLANE 

The pattern is designed by Laura Linneman aka Lala Knits. It's a free pattern on Ravelry. Toe up with a cable going up the outer edge of the front of each foot. The heel is just a gusset and turn. No heel flap. No picking up stitches. This was a new heel construction for me, so I had to try it. 

I casted this on in February for my 60 Minute Sockagram Ravelry group. 

This pic is actually in the hotel room while we were just enjoying some nice beverages. Hehe. 

After all of the festivities, I finally got a picture of the socks actually on a plane.

So, fast forward to the month of May. I had already had 1 sock completed, and I just needed to work on the heel of the second.  

During Maryland Sheep and Wool, I told everyone who introduced themselves about 60 Minute Sockagram. Then I'm like Oh gosh, I need to finish those socks.

It didn't help that my friend Ladybean73 knit hers in a day. Geez!!  Making me look bad. Lol. 

So, I worked on completing the sock, and here is my finished product.

I have 9 grams of yarn left over.

Here is my sockagram video of the Socks on a Plane journey.  

 

 

 

Maryland Sheep and Wool 2015

 Here is a recap of my Sheep and Wool experience.

The last time I went was about three years ago, because it always is the same weekend as the TD Bank 5 Boro Bike tour. I volunteered for 1 year, and then rode the two consecutive years after.  It was a lot of fun, but I felt that it was time to get back to Maryland.  

My focus for this trip was all about connecting with other knitters and really getting to meet some really awesome people.  In the past it has been a mad dash for yarn, and all of the encounters I had with other knitters  became a blur.  I decided to take things a little slow this time around.

Firstly, I finished my sweater mid-week, instead of my usual stay up all night knitting the night before.  I decided to wear Japan sleeves, because I figured that there was a chill in the air in the early morning, and its a lightweight sweater, so I wouldn't melt wearing it.  Of course, I was running from the sun during those high noon hours, but I enjoyed every minute of wearing it. 

The sweater fits perfect, and I couldn't be any happier. The yarn is Madeline Tosh's Tosh Merino Lite, in Pop Rocks and Dirty Panther.  To my surprise, a lot of people came up to me to talk about the colors, the yarn, and the clever construction.  Joji Locatelli is a designer with such an eye for detail and out of the box construction.  I was happy to make conversation.  

In fact, I was prepared this time.  Earlier in the week, I ordered cards from overnightprints.com, so that I can have something to give to my new knitter friends. 

They were relatively inexpensive, compared to other online printing resources, and the quality is great. 

At 1:00, there was the Podcaster Meetup, and I was honored to meet some of the people that I listen to on a weekly basis, who make me happy when the world is crazy.

First, I met Shannon of the Minerva Turkey Podcast.  She gave me a big hug.  She is super sweet.  We talked about how the podcast makes me so happy.  We also chatted about hair color, hair products, how her podcast has enabled me to start shawls, and how knitters are such geniuses when they design  things with clever construction.  It's awesome how our brains are wired once the fiber fumes get to our head.   I felt like I could have talked to her for hours and I am so happy to have a new knitting friend,  even if she is all the way in Florida.  Friendship travels miles and miles through space and time.  It was an honor to meet her face to face after getting to know her through the podcast. 

The next podcaster I met was Janis from the Carolina Fiber Girls.  She came with FlatAnn, who represented Ann, the other half of her podcast team, who couldn't make the festival.  We chatted about my sweater, which was a featured "FOR REAL????" on their podcast.  I had joined it incorrectly, and it turned into moebius midriff madness.  They had a ton of laughs on the podcast, and I was laughing so hard when I heard them talking about it, that I cried.  It really was a spectacle.

In her podcast, Janis always talks about Maria from Elegant Economy Knits. She usually has an Instaknitnight going on Instagram.  I mentioned the Sockagram idea to her and she wants to include it. Woohoo.  I love the idea because its a great way to connect and see what everone is working on.  She laughed when I was like "OMG I hear about you on the podcast all the time".  

I totally had a fan girl moment with each of these ladies.  I love and appreciate all that they do to mix social media with knitting.  Timing could not have been any more perfect.  

Of course, there cant be all of this yarn around without a haul. This year, my haul was small but effective.  

I was well within my budget and made sure to only purchase things that I totally fell in love with. 

My designer friend RosiG has a mystery shawl currently going on with the Neighborhood Fiber Company.  I totally missed out on the beginning of the KAL, because I have been preoccupied with a bunch of socks. (More on that in the next post). However, I had the privilege of seeing the shawl on the drive to Maryland, and I totally fell in love.  I bought the same exact color that the sample is knit up in, and all I have to get now is beads. I am not at liberty to really talk about the finished product.  But, what I can say......is that the construction is pure genius, and the shear beauty of the shawl is breathtaking.  It is made with DK weight yarn, so you don't have to squint your eyes on a lace weight project.  It is sure to keep your neck and shoulders nice and cozy when worn.  

The rest of my haul is knitting essentials. Needles for a hat and a pair of socks, and a Fleegle Beader for that lace shawl project.  

I also had to get some fabulous fair food.  During the course of the day, I had a Lamb Burger, Chili Cheese Fries, Funnel Cake, and Lime Fizz.  Can someone say fried food overload???  I need a green juice fast. Lol. 

I had a fabulous time at Maryland Sheep and Wool. I cannot wait for the next festival. Here are some more pics from the trip. 

Hanging with ZENZIBELL and CARMELNAP on the ride from the parking lot to the fair.

Welcome, welcome!

The best mode of transportation. 

Socks on a Plane in Maryland

Sockagram April sock still in progress. 

A stitch counter given to me by Terrie, who is the founder of the Knatural Purls group. I Love Pink. 

ROADTRIP SELFIE!!!!

Refreshing Lime Fizz at the end of the day.