I've been holding out on you. I haven't shared the fact that I was going to a Fiber Show this weekend. And you know that this should be big news. Not only because its a FIBER show, but also because I was lucky enough to take TWO classes with Annie Modesitt.

First, the fiber... none for me, thanks! I'm all full up here. But I did buy some things for my secret pal. In her questionaire, she said that she wanted to learn to spin, so I bought her a baby drop spindle (hey, we're dealing with a budget) and some fiber.

She also knits socks, and there was Fleece Artist for sale. What sock knitter doesn't want Fleece Artist?

I feel kind of bad, though, because out of three packages she'll get from me, two of them will be sock related. Oh well, socks are great! And she lives in Alaska!!! She has more time to wear hand knit socks than most of us. I really hope she likes the loot.

My classes were fun, too. As a matter of fact, today was the best day I've had in a while.  Not that my days have been bad... today was just THAT good!  Annie Modesitt (I still can't just call her Annie) is AWESOME!!!! I took a class with her back in November, and I loved her then. Today, I loved her more! At first, she's a little intimidating. But damn, she's nice. And quirky. And fabulous! Really, I could go on for days about her. I truly hope that I get to see her again. She said next time, we're going drinkin'! The best thing about her is that she remembered me! Well, she remembered my name. Ya see, I have the same last name as someone pretty famous... but her stage name is totally different than her real name, which matches mine. Annie Modesitt is one of the people that caught on to the fact that I share a name with this person. So she remembered me.

The first class I took was a color work class. We learned a few techniques, and ended up making this lovely swatch.

If nothing, it has personality. The first technique we learned was how to join a new color/ball. I was never truly taught how to do this, but sort of figured it out as I had to. All along, I was doing it right, but Annie did show a better way to do it. When you join a new ball, knit the first stich with the working yarn, and the second with the tail, then strand the working yarn to work the third stitch, and work every other stitch with the working yarn. So basically, just the second stitch gets worked with the tail. This prevents the BIG LOOP that occurs when you join a new ball. Good tip! The next technique is hard to see... but we just did some stranding. Its the checkerboard in my swatch. Then we did twisted stranding which makes an interesting design feature. We learned intarsia toward the end of the class, and man, its a lot easier than I thought! We also used a fun slip stitch to make the plaid pattern at the top. All in all, a fabulous class.

The second class was called knitting with wire, and I did just that. Harder than one might imagine. Not necessarily technique-wise, but on your hands. Mine are ACHING right now! But I did end up with a cool piece of jewelry.

I really like this technique, but this bracelet is a little tight for me, and I've squeezed the life out of it in a few places while I was knitting it (meaning it broke a little). So I may make another for myself.

Of course, you can't have a fiber show with sheep! But yea... I was more interested in the alpacas. So. Many. Alpacas. Seriously, they were all over! And they are adorable. Especially this dude, who had just been sheared, and wasn't a happy alpaca.

He was making the funniest noise, though, I don't think he meant to be humorous about it. I really think he was saying something along the lines of "Listen,woman, get the camera out of here. I look like a dope. And you aren't making things any better."

I wanted to let him know that things were ok. Because across the way, this guy was looking even dopier.

He was Leo the Lion... er, Alpaca.

Finally!  I've had this yarn since Christmas, and I'm just now finishing her sock.  Its a good thing these are made of cotton (Katia Mississippi 3-ply to be exact), since it's, ya know, MAY!!!!  You may notice that one sock looks a wee bit smaller than the other on the cuff.  It isn't.  The sock on the left (the bigger one) was stretched and prodded last weekend because Grace was admiring them.  On the foot... off the foot... on the foot... off the foot... on the other foot.  It was quite cute.  You can't really tell in this picture, but the way I turned the heels was different on each sock.  Here, I'll give you a close up.

On the right, you can see a ridge going down the heel.  On the left, no ridge.  The right sock's heel was turned using the method found in Sally Melville's The Knitting Experience: The Purl Stitch (I love this book!!!). I couldn't remember how to turn a heel (it's been a while since I've knit/finished an actual sock) so I turned to a book, rather than the internet.  I didn't realize at first that it was different, and once I did realize the difference, I was too far along and too tired to go back.  So I left it.  I don't particularly like this heel.  It is very very narrow, which is going to be fine for Grace, but for me, it wouldn't be very comfy.  Good thing I can knit a short-row heel, huh?

I'm still working on the wedding shawl.  I took it to my knitting group(which was totally fun, by the way) the other night, and ended up having to tink a row.  That took over an hour, but its done.  I'm going to put a lifeline in i, so that I can just rip, rather than tink.  Not a big tinking lace fan.  (FYI, Rhonda, to tink is to unknit.   Tink is "Knit" spelled backward.  She's a curious one, that Rhonda)  But I'm proud to say I'm almost done with another 40-row pattern repeat.  Four down, three more to go!

I've been out of Maryland back in Ohio for almost two months now.  And I've been to the new knitting group exactly ONE(1) time.  That's it.  One.  But tonight, that all changes.  I, a die-hard Lost fan, am going to skip the Lost season finale and go to the Stitch n' Bitch.  I'm not sure which I'm more excited for.  Knitting group?  Or watching Lost when I get home?  I'm gonna go with the knitting group.  Nothing beats the comraderie of other knitters.  Absolutely nothing.

What will I bring with me?  I'm taking the shawl, and the niece-y sock.  I hope to finish the sock tonight.   YAY!!!  I'm not sure if I should take sock #2 of the May-belle socks or not.  Oh, did I not show you finished Sock #1?  All but weaving in ends, here it is:

It doesn't look *much* different than the last time I showed it, but trust me, I'm done knitting this sock.  I finished it on the plane back from California, and didn't really have any reference material with me, so I wasn't sure how to do a stretchy cast off.  I had downloaded some information from the internet, but I put my laptop in the overhead bin, so I couldn't get to the downloaded info.  Which meant I relied on the book I had with me, Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles.  The only toe-up pattern it has uses tubular bind off.  It was alright... but I'm not the biggest fan.  I love these socks, though, but I don't want to re-do anything.  I'm sticking with the tubular bind off, even though it isn't the prettiest.  It is stretchy, and will hold the sock up.  Its just not the nicest.

The other thing I love about this sock... best. heel turnage.  EVER!

Look, Ma, no holes!  Makes we want to rip my lollygirl socks...

On Friday, my youngest niece came over to spend the night with me. We had a fantastic time Friday afternoon getting yummy ice cream...

... renting a fun movie, and overall, just chilling with each other. When we got back to the house, she didn't want to watch the movie we rented (that would be too easy, wouldn't it?), she wanted to go downstairs and see what movies I had in my collection. Well, as she headed toward the movies, she noticed my WIP pile (which is, somewhat, small-ish) and saw the second sock of the pair that I'm making for her. "Where's the other one?" she asked. I showed her where it was, and she asked to try it on. Luckily, it fit like a glove (albeit a loose enough glove for her to wear the sock for a while). "Why aren't you done with the other one yet?" she asked, looking at me with those big blue eyes. Where's the camera when you need it? Because documenting that heartbroken look would have been totally worth it! It would have been physical inspiration needed to finish those socks!

So Friday night, after she went to sleep, I decided to tackle the part of the sock I've been dreading - picking up stitches around the gusset. I have no idea why I don't like to do this. I think it has something to do with the fact that I feel completely inadequate at picking up stitches. I've never truly learned the "proper" way of doing it. I took a sock class at Woolwinders last fall, and the instructor showed us how to pick up stitches by using a crochet hook. Well, that way I had figured out, but since I figured it out on my own, I kind of feel like its the cheaters way of picking up stitches. I think another problem I had with picking up the stitches on this particular sock was the fact that I'm not loving the cotton yarn I'm making the socks from. And when I pick up stitches, it seems to make the yarn look weird.

But I did pick up stitches, and I did my gusset decreases, and I worked some of the foot.

Now that I had some momentum on that WIP, I figured I'd pick up some of the other misfit projects I had lying around.

Remember the shawl? The one that I'm making for my best friend's wedding? The one that I started and didn't come close to finishing for the Knitting Olympics? I picked that up again.

As much as I might have complained about this shawl, it isn't so bad to knit. And it is for the best friend a girl could ask for.  And I kind of have a plan for finishing it... kind of... On June 11, the season premiere of The 4400 is on and I'd like to watch the first two seasons before then. I have them all stored on my TiVo, and there are about 20 episodes. This is 20 hours of good knitting time. I doubt that I will finish in those 20 hours, but if I only knit the shawl while I watch this show, then I should at least have 40 more rows done (as it takes me almost an hour to complete 2 rows). It will get me closer. So that's the plan. And anyway, this should be motivation enough.

The other misfit project is too embarassing to even post a picture of.  I got the kit at Target... 'nuff said.

In other fun, stash enhancing news, I got my other Sheep and Wool yarn purchase in the mail.

I'm hoping to have enough yarn for a Ribby Cardi.  I have 1650 yards, and I'm making the largest size, which, at the moment, will be too small for me.  But after the Personal Trainer (Scott) that I'm meeting with gets done with me, it should be too big   Yes, inspired by Chelsea and Lolly, I too want to become a smaller version of myself (which, I realize, means no more ice cream).  So I should get to bed so I can walk my three miles tomorrow morning.

... Otherwise known as the May-belle socks. 

It They looks good, no?  I planned on being further along, but what can I say, I'm in Monterey.  I haven't felt much like knitting at night, but I should be able to get this sock finished and the next one started on the plane tomorrow.  

I started this sock with the same number of stitches as the Yummy Mango Moon socks, and the foot fits fabulously.  Its slightly tight, but I think that's ok, honestly.  I like it on my foot.  But since its tight on my foot, it needs to be a bit looser on my leg, so I did a few increases in the back of the sock on the leg.  I'm hoping that it will be good enough.  I can't wait to wear these socks, because, seriously?  They are the cutest socks.  And the softest.  And I love this yarn!!!  I cannot wait until my June Project Spectrum yarn comes in from the Mama-E sock club. 

Seaking of Project Spectrum... I have some green photos to leave you with.

These photos were all taken in Monterey (not necessarily on this trip).  I'm planning on putting up a Monterey gallery, because I've taken some pretty cool pictures while I've been out here.  Next time I come, I'm bringing my real camera, so I can take better pictures.

The yummy mango moon socks (a.k.a. the lollygirl socks) are (almost) off the needles.

Except... well... the one that's REALLY off the needles is a bit tight.  In other words, it won't fit on my over my heel.  Which means I'm going to have to rip back and do a little increasing, and possibly a MUCH looser bind-off.  Grrr... these socks don't like me.  But I heart them, so I will persevere.  Any tips on the Elizabeth Zimmerman sewn cast off?
* Falafel named my socks.  She's the best darned namer this side of the Mississippi.

So I might have told a little white lie yesterday in MDSW post, but it totally isn't my fault.  Really.  It's not.  The reason it isn't my fault, you ask?  Well, because I was tired!!!  And not just tired.  The weekend exhausted me.  So let me come clean.  That wasn't my *entire* stash.  I meant to tell you about one other Sheep and Wool purchase.  I bought 1500 yards of the most beautiful ocean blue wool from.... ummm.... someone.  I don't have their card, nor do I have the wool, because, well... I left the card in Ohio.  And the wool is being shipped to me.  No, not because I didn't have enough room to take it home, but because they only had three skeins, and I needed four.  I'm not 100% sure what I'm going to make from it, but I think that this will become a ribby cardi.  I'll post pictures when the postman brings the yarn.  Until then, I'm knitting socks.

Now, you would think that the moment I got home from Sheep and Wool, I would have cast on some of the fabulous sock yarn that I bought over the weekend, but, oddly, you'd be wrong.  When I got back home, I had a package waiting for me, containing this.

That is (more) sock yarn, from Mama-E (who I met, and who is fantastic in person!!!).  She dyes the softest yarn, and it is so very pretty.  I couldn't help myself, and I cast on for another pair of socks with the C*EYE*BER Fiber.  I really like the pair I just (almost) finished (pictures to come).  They were knit in plain stockinette and striped really nicely.  I'm not sure what this yarn is going to do in the same stitch, but I cannot wait to find out!!

MDS&W was so much fun!!!!  I just had a great weekend!  For me, the festivities felt like they started on Tuesday, when I packed up my stuff for the start of my trip - a business adventure in Toronto.  So I figured, since it was the start of my Sheep and Wool trip, I decided to enhance my stash.  I already shared the Fleece Artist Merino, but I haven't shared my new Regia Canadian Colors in the Montreal colorway.

I also bought some Fleece Artist roving, but for some reason, I have no pictures.

Sheep and Wool weekend officially kicked off Friday night when I arrived at the party hotel.  Staying that first night was Anne Marie, Betsy, Frecklegirl (Jessica), Kate, Maya, Woolarina (Paula), One Stitch Short Sarah, and Crafty Snargle Sarah.   When I walked in, all of the ladies, except Sarah Snargle, were knitting socks, so I knew they were my kind of people.  Sarah was knitting a BEAUTIFUL cardigan knit from Artfibers Chai.  So jealous of that cardi.

Saturday, as soon as we got to the festival, we went to The Fold booth to find some Socks That Rock.  We got there at 10:15 (just over an hour after the festival started), and there were about three skeins of the stuff left, and none of the colors were really for me.  So no Socks That Rock for me.  I'm really not destined to own that stuff - except for the two skeins I've been gifted.  So I bought other stuff.  My shopping list included sock yarn and a niddy noddy.  And boy did I get sock yarn and a niddy noddy...

 
Click for larger picture.

To start, some Brooks Farm Four Play.

I love these colors.  I'm planning on making another Clapotis with this, but I'm making it longer and skinnier. 

From left to right (starting in the back), we've got some Half Pint Farms sock yarn, Cherry Tree Hill yarn, The Step, Three Waters (I think) superwash sock yarn, (the red) more Half Pint Farms sock yarn, and some Tess's sock yarn. 

I bought a fantastic book of postcards, full of kitschy knits from the 60's and 70's.  I love this thing!!!!

Tee heee heeeee

I also bought some fiber, but forgot to take the close-up pictures of them before I left (I'm in North Carolina right now).

Saturday night, the party hotel was really, truly a party!!!!  We, uh, all seemed to have a great time.  No pictures, though... I was too busy having fun!  Lara, Jen, and Heather joined us in the hotel room, as did a few people who weren't staying, but came for the good time!  Cheryl, Elspeth, Holly, Jenna, Jodi, and Lolly all came by, and it was so good to see/meet them!       

Sunday, I spent most of the day palling around with Falafel.

And looking at the sheep.

It was such a great weekend!  I can't wait to do it again

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

I honestly don't have a favorite yarn, though for sock yarns, Socks that Rock and Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock are great.   I do like a light weight sock yarn... no thick socks for me!  I don't like cotton sock yarn, at all.  Cotton for a sweater or cardi, as long as it is soft cotton, is good, but I'm not a big fan of it.  I don't like to knit with eyelash or flat yarns (too twisty).  And sock yarns that produce a pattern - I'm really not into them that much.  I like stripes more. 

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

I use a coupon holder for my circular needles and my double points.  For my straights, which I don't use very often, I have a needle case that I made myself.

3. How long have you been knitting? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I learned how to knit over five years ago, but I've only been a Knitter (ya know, an obsessed one) about 2 years ago.  Seriously, I {{{{{HEART}}}}} knitting.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

I do.  The Amazon list can be found here.  One of my goals for the year is to read 52 books (a book a week), so regular books are always accepted as gifts or loans - as are knitting books   I also have a Jimmy Bean's Wool list, as well - just supply my e-mail address. 

5. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)

My favorite scent is probably lavendar.  I also like "bakery" flavors - anything that makes my house smell like I've been cooking.  Floral scents make me sneeze.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

I do have a sweet tooth, but candy isn't good for me.  I'm losing weight because I have to be HOT for a wedding in November.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

I crochet, but not often.  I recently learned how to spin, too

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

I like alternative and folk music.  Current faves include Damien Rice, The Shins, James Blunt, Iron and Wine. 

9. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?

I like reds/pinks.  Also into purples.  Greens.  Blues.  So yea, anything, really.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

I have two cats... Velvet and Tweed.  Cutest kitties EVER!

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

I wear scarves and mittens.  I've knit a few hats, but none really are quite what I'm looking for.  The most recent knitted hat is AWESOME, but its too hot to really try it out.  Also, its EXTREMELY wooly, so I'm not sure I'll wear it much.  But I do like the way it fits.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

I love to knit socks.  I have loads of sock yarn, but you never can have enough, can you?

13. What are you knitting right now?

Ummm.... socks.  I'm also knitting a lace shawl, though it doesn't have to be done until November.  It's going very SLOWLY.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

I love to receive handmade gifts.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

I prefer circular needles.  Aluminum.  Addi Turbos are my fave (of course).

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

I own both, though my yarn winder is really really bad.  It doesn't stay attached to my coffee table, and its just not really big enough.

17. How did you learn to knit?

Initially, I took a class at JoAnn Fabric, but I lost the knit pretty quickly because, man, it was HARD!  Instead, I took up crocheting.  However, after I got a TiVo, it taped a knitting show on DIY, and I got very interested in knitting.  All the cool fibers to play with.  Then, I moved, and there was a yarn store pretty close to my apartment, and I got hooked!  Or, uh, needled...

18. How old is your oldest UFO?

The oldest UFO that I plan on finishing is the shawl.  I've thrown away or donated all of my other UFO's because there was just no way that I was going to finish them.  The shawl I started as my knitting olympics project.  Clearly, I didn't get a gold medal, though, damnit, I tried.  Oh, and I have this crap scarf made from something similar to crack silk haze, and I'm still hoping Vogue posts a pattern correction to their web site for it.  However, I think that might be ripped shortly, because I want my needles back.

19. What is your favorite holiday?

That has to be Christmas.  The snow, the lights, the tree, the joy in my family's face... it's just too magical.  I'm still a little kid when it comes to Christmas.  Also, my middle name is Joy, so Christmas allows me to decorate with my name

20. Is there anything that you collect?

Now that I've mentioned Christmas, I do collect basically anything with the word Joy on it.  Mostly, you find Joy on written on Christmas decorations, but I've occassionally seen it on meditation stones and things like that.  And I collect yarn... that counts, right?

21. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

I'd love to have the Big Girl Knits book.  And I think I'd love some Malabrigo to make a felted bag.  Oh, and I've been wanting to try Vesper Sock Yarn.  I saw some being knit at Sheep and Wool, and it looked fantastic!!!

22. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

I'd like to jump on this yarn-dyeing bandwagon that's so popular these days.  But it looks hard.  And I've already got a lot of hobbies.  But dyeing my own sock yarn seems like a dream. 

23. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

I love knitting me some socks.  They are the best little project around.  I wear a size 7 1/2 shoe (a year ago, I wore a 6 1/2... I haven't had any babies or anything, so I'm not sure what's up with the growth of my foot).  My feet are semi-wide, too. 

24. When is your birthday? (mm/dd)

My (30th) birthday is June 4.

Last week, sock #1 from the lollygirl yarn gave me some crazy gussett holes.  It may not have been the yarn... it *might* have been me.  Because sock #2 is behaving quite badly.  I've made my heel twice now, and twice I've messed the heel up.

I'm not sure if you can see, but my yarn over wraps are all wonky, and I dropped a stitch.  So I'm ripping this heel back again.  But not before I show this yarn what's going on my needles if it doesn't straighten up.

That's right... that would be Feece Artst Merino... and it's new.  I'm in Canada, what can I say?  I know that Sheep and Wool starts on Saturday, but I knew that there was very little chance for Fleece Artist yarn to be there.  So, I snatched some up while visiting Lettuce Knit.   It's coming out of my Sheep and Wool budget, so I'm not too worried about it.  And its absolutely beautiful.  Definitely going on the needles soon.

Speaking of Sheep and Wool, my anticipation just about quadrupled today.  I left Ohio for Toronto this morning, and since I'm not going to be able to go back to Ohio before heading to Maryland, I had to pack for the weekend today!    I hope I hope I hope I have everything that I need.  Money?  Check! Something to knit?  Check!  Drop Spindle?  Check!  Extra Space in My Suitcase?  Check!  So now I'm excited times infinity for the weekend.  For a few weeks, I've been really nervous about it, because I'm actually staying in a room with like 12 other people, only 3 of whom I've actually met in person.  I have a feeling that after this weekend, I might have some new friends though.  So excited to meet everyone!

Right now, I'm going to get my sock in line with some massive frogging.  And then I'm going to sleep in my beautiful hotel room.  I'm going to take pictures of it tonight, because it is EXACTLY what I want my bedroom to look like when I get my own home.  I would also love to have a view like the one I've got here, but you can't have it all!