Thursday, January 23, 2014

Home Again

 

Hi, Knitters,
Well, it's been a slow week. I returned Monday from Vogue Knitting Live in New York City, got my boys off and back to college, and my girls have had finals this week for high school. They have half-days of school all week. Anyway, it's been quite hectic around here with not much time for thought. And honestly, I am a little tired this week. I hate to admit it but there just wasn't any down time at the New York event. My boys were with me and we had so much fun together in my off-time and they had fun together while I was teaching. My boys covered an incredible amount of ground, ate amazing food, and saw so much. I have some photos from them that I will post later.

I want to briefly thank my students at VK Live. My classes were full and fun, energetic, and hard working. They were good learners. They were often funny, too, which always makes my day. We worked so hard together on toy-knitting and two-handed colorwork knitting. It was great. Thank you for coming to class and spending time with me. I am teaching and giving a lecture at the next Vogue Knitting Live in Seattle in March. Click here to find out more about Seattle! I hope to see you there.

I will do some fun things with my new pattern, Mary, Millie, & Morgan, starting next week here on the blog. Thanks for all of the wonderful comments and support for the new doll sets. I hear Quince & Co. has sold a lot of Chickadee and a lot of eBooks so far. That's just wonderful. Thank you!

I won't be tired for long. I am teaching two workshops tomorrow at the Sun Valley January Thaw Retreat, which is not too far from my house so I am excited for that. I am teaching the Fair Isle Hat and the Top-Down Baby Cardigan Workshops and I am selling and signing my books at the lunch hour. I hope to see some of you there! I love a local event.

I randomly selected the two winners for the Infinite Twist handspun yarn. By purchasing the Prairie Ridge Shawl pattern you were automatically entered to win this beautiful yarn. The winners are..... seashorehsharon and kally (both rav ids)! Congratulations ladies! I have messaged you both on Ravelry with instructions on how to receive your newly won yarn. I won't get to the post office until next week to mail out your prizes just so you know.

That's enough of that business-type stuff, let me share what I've been doing around my home the last couple of days while I get my energy back.

Above is a tiny skein of Navajo-plied yarn from the end of a bobbin. I finished spinning the Friends in Fiber Falkland in color #1. I have the other bigger 2-ply skein all finished now. It is gorgeous! I'll take photos and share with you later. Great Etsy shop, Friends in Fiber, I can't say enough good things about it. Go check it out!


While traveling and while in New York, I finished the sock above, and am now on the gusset of the second sock. I happened upon this yarn while looking around on Ebay. I purchased it for a mere $3.00 per 50 gram ball. $6.00 total.  That's a steal and I love it. The yarn is Schoeller & Stahl Fortissima Colori, Socka Color, #9072. It's the standard superwash wool and nylon.

You know, I have such a thing for this commercial-type patterned sock yarn. I simply love it. It's fun to knit and the socks wear like iron. Those are Signature Needle double-pointed needles, US size 1s, six-inch in length.


Yesterday, I finished up my Gourmet Stash Fibery Tribbles singles. These were 2 oz. total. I am going to ply this bobbin with the white merino that I have in the bowl.


I can't seem to capture all of the colors in this fiber in a photo. There is gray, black, green, a couple of blues, and purple. It's just beautiful. I had fun spinning this because of the combination of fibers and the pops of color. I think it will be fantastic with the creamy white as the other ply. That way I will save the yardage, too.


Here is the creamy white ready to go!


On my Artisan Wheel I am spinning up this Friends in Fiber BFL/silk Rainbow Gradient next. The colors are pretty and I plan on keeping it as a gradient. I will probably just spin up the whole thing in one shot and then Navajo-ply. I'll keep you posted. It should be fun.


You don't have to pre-draft the Friends in Fiber but I did just to make it a little quicker to spin. I made this gigantic ball of fluff yesterday from the Rainbow Gradient braid. We hung out on the couch together and chatted for awhile. The socks are in the discontinued Vincent Van Gogh line of Opal sock yarn, in case anyone is wondering.

I'll be back in full action next week. The Bunny Love pattern is going to be released in a few days, too. It was previously only available in kit form so that will be fun. I think I will be adding a bit to that pattern so stay tuned....

I hope you are well. Winter continues on in full-force around here, the low today is -13 degrees. That's Wisconsin for you. All the better for me to stay inside, drink hot chocolate and spin and knit.
best, susie

21 comments:

Creative Design said...

Hi Susan! Such a busy girl. Life is a rocket isn't it? I am working on a pile of socks using your pattern. I have made socks before, but this is my first decent pair. I don't know why I even tried any other pattern before using yours.

Love all the yarny goodness and also your family news.

Nest,
Sheila
http://sheilazachariae.blogspot.com/2014/01/diy-shawl-pin-with-buttons.html

Muriel said...

Hi, Susan - Will there be a knit-a-long for the Prairie Ridge Shawl? I missed the KOL for the Quaker Ridge Shawlette, and it looks like it was such fun. Given the recent weather, adding another shawl to my wardrobe sounds like an excellent idea!
Thanks!

Susan B. Anderson said...

Hi, Muriel,
Maybe.... let me think about it. I have another shawl pattern coming out soon. Maybe it would be fun to do any shawl pattern of mine for the knit along or something like that.

Thanks for the idea!
susan

Suzanne said...

Hi Susan! Welcome home. We are holding at 5 degrees in Indiana right now. Just sent my kids off to school and I'm doing a happy dance that I don't have to leave again until pickup time. I have planned some housework with frequent breaks to knit on hand warmers. Hope you have a warm day.

Mary Lou said...

I made socks in that same yarn at least 8 years ago, and with a small darn, they are still going strong. I do like those wear like iron sock yarns, too.

Sara said...

'See you in a few hours!
Sara

steph said...

That was the very first fair-isle-itself yarn I used for socks.....a L-O-N-G time ago (and many many many socks ago.....I have sock drawers I think may rival yours!!!) They are still one of my favorite pairs.

Susan B. Anderson said...

Well, I'm gathering that the Schoeller & Stahl sock yarn is most likely very old! I love it even more.
susan

Sandy W said...

Glad you had a good trip. I recently found some of the same color #9072 sock yarn from ages ago and it's going on vacation wth me. Is your fair isle hat class this weekend using your new hat that you showed on Facebook? A lucky friend of mine will be at this weekend's retreat.

Susan B. Anderson said...

Hi, Sandy!
No, the hat class is using a sampler pattern that includes corrugated rib and Latvian Braids and simple Fair Isle patterns.

I'll say hi to your friend!
susan

Sandy W said...

I'm keeping an eye out for your new hat pattern. My friend is Pam from Green Bay.

Jules said...

Great post! I ordered some Friends in Fiber Falkland a bit ago. I am also going to order some longer Signature DPNs. I have the 5 inch and my sock yarn keeps trying to slide off as I knit. -Tanknit

Sam I Am...... said...

You need to rest up...I got tired just reading what all you've been up to. So nice your boys could go with you and visit NYC.
I love your socks as always but I can't stop thinking about the dolls so last night I signed up for your Not So Itty-Bitty Giraffe class on Craftsy so I could get my feet wet in the toy making deparmtent. I took the first 2 lessons and it was so nice to finally "meet" you and hear your voice. I was so glad I signed up for it as I can tell you are a wonderful teacher and I love your enthusiasm.
It's only 19 here at noon and I live in the South so I can imagine how cold it is there. I'm from Iowa and Northern, IL originally though so I remember. Stay warm!
Oh, I can't wait for the bunny pattern either...perfect for Easter presents.

cookier293 said...

Hi, Susan,
I was in your Fairisle Hat class at VKL NY and I loved it. I finished the hat we started in class and I've started a second one...I think I may modify it a bit with a different stitch pattern from the Mary Mucklestone book you recommended. I hope to take another one of your classes in the near future. Thanks, Corlene.

cookier293 said...
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Unknown said...

Hi Susan! I always enjoy your entries. I am enjoying knitting your "Little" Dragon" in bright red Opal sock yarn. My husband thought I was knitting a sock and was quite puzzled when I started stuffing the body with polyfil. LOL!!
Lochlan

Unknown said...

Hi, Susan! I always enjoy your entries and look forward to your news. I am knitting your "Little Dragon" out of bright red Opal sock yarn, What fun! My husband thought I was knitting a sock and was quite puzzled when I began stuffing it with polyfil! LOL.

Anonymous said...

The first pair of socks I ever knit are socka colori twelve years ago and I am still wearing them. Can't ask for more. Muffie

Anonymous said...

It's just too funny. I am knitting socks for my daughter. I noticed that the principal at the school where I work is also knitting socks and using the EXACT same yarn I am. Then last night when I read your latest blog post, there were the socks!! Must be something in the air. We are all using Schoeller & Stahl Fortissima Colori, Socka Color, #9072!! Isn't it vibrant and fun!? I've used this yarn before and it softens right up after a soaking and blocking, and remains colorful forever! On another note: I made NINE of your little mini bunnies for Christmas gifts for my grandkids! They were a huge hit!

Unknown said...

I've been reading your blog forever and I just noticed we have the same wheel. :) Love the Ladybug!

Lizy Tish said...

Wow - busy times for you. Love that friends in fiber roving. Can't wait to see how it will look! I'm thinking of doing the Prairie Ridge Shawl for my Ravellenic games project!