Category Archives: Knitting

I attended Stitches West for my second time last week. Fun times! And, I stuck to my budget!

Okay, actually, I’d set two spending limits for the market. The lower was the ideal one, the higher was the absolute one. I just barely exceeded my ideal market limit, and I’m significantly under my food and gas spending limits. So, I’m counting my overall spending level as a win!

If you just want to see the purchases, scroll down to the bottom of this post. If not, here’s a recap:

I drove up with Jessimuhka on Thursday, and we arrived just in time for the market preview. I was actually really good that night and stuck only to items that were on my “must have” list.

After the market, we had dinner at the Hilton with the ladies from the Anzula booth. And had the second-worst service I’d ever experienced, sadly to say. On the plus side, at least food and company were both good.

Friday was both the first and last full day at Stitches for me. That morning, Jess and I hit the market again to pick up a few more items. After lunch, we took the Morphing Cables class with Fiona Ellis, which was pretty great. Finally, there was an evening of socializing and knitting. And showing off our purchases, of course!

Speaking of purchases, here’s what I got this year.

Clockwise from top left, the yarns I bought are:

• Creatively Dyed Yarn Seawool, color S26
• Shelridge Farm Soft Touch Heather in Opal
• Handmaiden Casbah, Midnight colorway
• Brooks Farm Four Play
• Anzula Merino Lace Weight
• RedFish Dyeworks 20/2 Silk, color RBL3b
• Royale Hare Designs by Romi Alpaca Lace, Moravian Barley colorway

This is less yarn than last year, which is good because I’m trying to keep my stash to one set of storage drawers.

I did buy a few other items, though:

I bought the Gossamer Webs Design Collection because I really want to make the Medallion Lace Shawl sometime. I also got a shawl pin from Skaska Designs and sock blockers from Purrfectly Catchy Designs.

Finally, it’s not pictured here, but I bought a swift from Oregon Woodworker.

I’m really happy with all of my purchases!

Unfortunately, my February goals were full of fail.

1. Finish at least one pair of socks – Not done.
2. Finish Kipling – Done!
3. Work on either Tubey or Mountain Peaks – Not done.
4. Start and finish at least one convertible mitten for Mom – Not done.
5. Start Eleanora Socks – Not done.

On the plus side, I do have some FOs to show you. So keep an eye out for at least two FO posts this month. (Most likely three – I’m actually not that far from finishing my Mock Wave Cable Socks.) I also have Stitches West purchases to show off.

In the meantime, March goals:

1. Work on Mountain Peaks
2. Finish Mom’s convertible mittens
3. Start and finish at least one Eleanora sock
4. Start a sweater

In theory, these aren’t very challenging, but we’ll see about that.

I’m also trying to decide what to do about Tubey, as I’ve gained a few pounds since I started it and I’m not sure how well it’ll fit when it’s done. (See, this is what I get for being a slacker!) So I may or may not work on that this month too.

Unfortunately, I failed at most of my January goals:

1. Complete at least three repeats of the Mountain Peaks Shawl edging – Not done
2. Complete at least two inches of Tubey – Not done
3. Start and finish at least one convertible mitten for Mom – Not done
4. Finish Cleopatra Wrap – Done!
5. Finish at least one pair of socks – Not done

I did actually make progress toward most of these, at least. But then other project deadlines loomed faster than expected, and, well, you know how that goes, right?

So, new goals!

1. Finish at least one pair of socks
2. Finish Kipling
3. Work on either Tubey or Mountain Peaks
4. Start and finish at least one convertible mitten for Mom
5. Start Eleanora Socks