Saturday, January 15, 2011

Cookie, Ysolda, Plucky, Oh My!

I'm sure other Bay Area peeps have more exciting pics of the 2 yarny events I attended this weekend, especially since I realized I didn't take any for today.  Well I did, but it wasn't yarn.  I did take a few last night though.


A Verb for Keeping Warm hosted an event, with not one, but 3 knitterati, Cookie A, Ysolda Teague, and Sonya Philips (aka KnitSonya).  I don't have a pic of Sonya, but those are her art pieces in the background in the pic above.


It was such a well-attended event, but toward the end of the night as the crowd trickled down, those left could relax.  Ysolda & Cookie could also relax with a couple of A Verb's sample hats.  Cookie's is by Cocoknits, who was also there.  I got to meet Julie of Cocoknits & she is a blast to talk to.


Ysolda talked about how she started her designing career and about her forthcoming book which will be an awesome take on using the dress-making approach to sizing which doesn't assume that when people get larger in certain areas, that they also don't get taller or grow larger shoulders or armhole circumferences. 

The sweaters above are a few of her samples.  What was tremendous about her is that she had 2 sample sizes, one in 34 (which is her size) and the other in a 48 (or up or down a size in that range).  It was so exciting to hear what she envisioned for her book detailing her approach that sizes & how her book will be set up with the patterns that will be included. 


And on that plate amidst Ysolda's sweaters are the adorable owl cookies made by KnitSonya for the event.  They were delish too!


I made sure I blocked my Ishbel beforehand so I could wear it to the event.  You can sorta see it on me in the first pic w/Cookie and Ysolda.


I want to thank Kristine, Adrienne, their Verb staff and WonderMike for a wonderful night.  I get to continue my Verb love with my second Pro-Verbial club kit that arrived in today's mail. 

 
Since I don't have any pics from the Plucky Knitter trunk show, check out Marisol's blog post.  Lots of squishy goodness.  And it was great to meet such a nice indie dyer as Sarah.  I think we're so lucky to have really good and really nice indie dyers out in the yarn industry. 

What I will show for now is the very first Plucky Knitter MCN sport skein that I bought from Churchmouse Yarns & Teas on Bainbridge Island on my way to Sock Camp a couple years ago.  Being a Jane Austen fan, I couldn't resist the colorway name, Mansfield Park.  It's been marinating in the stash as I debate between converting the skein into fingerless mitts or socks or a beret, but I'm on a fingerless mitts kick, so I may just wind this up soon.

Sunday, January 09, 2011

In the new year

Some gifts got made on time during the holiday season & delivered on time:


Hill Country Hat
Knit Picks Swish Bulky in Squirrel Heather
1 extra repeat of pattern

Some gifts got made in time, but not exactly delivered on time, but then that was an address thing:


Scarf to coordinate with the Norwegian Star Hat - motif on the 2 ends only
Knit Picks Swish DK in Coal & Dove Heather
size 8 & 9 KP circs
CO 64 & knit in the round for 60"

Some didn't make it on time & stilll need to get to the giftee:


Baudelaire by Cookie A
Curious Creek Wasonga in Ruby Slippers - special put up of 78 g/360 yds for a Woolgirl kit
size 2.50 mm KP circs
pattern size small - for my cousin

mods:
- Judy's Magic Cast On for the toes
- sl1, k1 on right side of reverse heel flap

Despite that, I somehow have an extra. This'll be for next year:


Burberry Inspired Cowl
Patons Shetland Chunky Tweed in Charcoal
size 10 KP circs
4 repeats

Since it's a fun & quick pattern, I foresee 1-2 more of these for future gifts, maybe in a drapier yarn.

So I'm now onto a little bit of selfish knitting for me.  Though Monkey1 had decided this is now hers:


Wesley
pattern size 2
The Fibre Company Organik in Magma, Desert Canyon & Heather Moorland
no mods

This is definitely for me, though it's in need of blocking:

Ishbel by Ysolda Teague
Madelinetosh Pashmina in Tart
size 6 KP circs
pattern size small

mod: Jeny's surprisingly stretchy bind off

I have quite a bit left over, I may see if I can make the matching Ishbel beret.  

Hope everyone had a nice start to the new year and wishing everyone health & happiness in the upcoming year.