A Fair Challenge

In the past week I received the Exhibitor's Guide for the 2011 Marin County Fair. I like to enter my finished objects in the fair. It's not for the ribbons or the prizes, I just like to see everything displayed together. Wandering into the textile arts room, you don't know where to look first. Quilts hang from the walls, needlpoint graces the shelves, knitting and crochet drapes over tables and chairs. It's all of the things I love packed into one room. And I love that some of my things can be a part of it.

I looked through the list of categories and picked out a few for the projects I finished this year. But it just doesn't feel like enough. So, this year I've decided to challenge myself. I have four things that I think I can finish before the submission date and I'm going to put most of my time and effort into trying to complete them.

1. The handspun shawlette I talked about last week. I only have six more rows before I bind off. After that it just needs to be blocked. A pretty easy goal in my opinion.

2. Edmund the Easter Bunny. This is knit bunny with fabric ears and feet that I started a couple of weeks ago. I've finished knitting all of the parts and have the body all seemed and stuffed. I just need to finish and attach the ears, the hands, and legs. Oh, and I need to embroider a little face for him.

3. Merino/Bamboo yarn. I've been spinning this blend for the past month. I started with eight ounces and only have two more ounces of singles left to spin. After the singles are done, I'm going to do a two-ply and set the twist. Let's hope it turns out pretty even.

4. Blue Lace Socks with Beads. I finished the first sock a couple of months ago and am on the beginning of the leg on the second sock. This is my longshot and I'm hoping a deadline will help get rid of the second sock syndrome I've had.

Wish me luck!

Knitting with Handspun

I've finally done it! I'm knitting with my handspun :) Ever since I started spinning a few years ago, my finished skeins would be my pets. I would squeeze them, pet them, and put them on display for all to see before they were moved into the shelves along with my other stash. They've seemed too special to pick up and knit just anything so they've been waiting for that perfect special project.

Then I was encouraged to just take the leap and cast-on. What better skein to start with than the one I just finished. This is the 60/40 wool/flax blend from Spunky Eclectic in the "Whiner" colorway. I spun it up as a two-ply and ended up with approximately 250 yards of sport weight goodness from 4 oz. of fiber. I really like the heathered look that came from the way the wool took the dye compared to the flax.

I chose the shawlette pattern "Vermillion" because the linen should give the finished object a nice drape. It is a triangular shawl that starts with plain stockinette and then transitions to a lace edge. The lace pattern should help the yarn go a bit further since I don't have a ton of yardage. The pattern calls for three repeats of the lace pattern before binding off, and I plan to weigh my skein at the end of each repeat to see how far I can really go.

As of tonight I'm halfway through the second repeat. I have to admit that the rows are getting noticeably longer and longer. Even though it seems like I'm close to the end, I have a sneaking suspicion it will take me longer than I think to finish.

At the Con!

I spent the past weekend in San Francisco at WonderCon 2011. And yes, I did bring my knitting! While my husband was perusing tables full of comic books and action figures, I had my GoKnit Pouch attached to my belt looop and a vanilla sock in my hands. I caught many people staring at me and one man told me that he had never seen anyone knitting a sock before at WonderCon. He obviously didn't see me last year :)

I finished the first of my pair of vanilla socks during a panel with Rainn Wilson (Dwight) from The Office. He was promoting his new film Super and answered lots of questions from the audience. It was definitely one of the best panels I've seen there.

My sock is made from Berroco Sox Metallic and I'm following a pattern from Wendy D. Johnson's book "Socks From the Toe Up." It's the Slip Stitch Heel Basic Sock pattern which so far seems like it fits me really well. I haven't worn the socks for an entire day yet, but my stroll around the room went well.

Even at WonderCon I was able to find some knitting. There was one artist booth selling handknit wrist warmers and hats and another booth selling needle felted creatures. The needle felting booth was Woolbuddy and you could purchase either a kit or a completed animal. I must admit that I took a small owl kit home with me. The directions seem pretty easy so I'm hoping this little guy will go together pretty quickly.