Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Fall Refresher

Nothing refreshes my spirit like a nice fall getaway. Even better is when it includes knitting, lots of it. Once again I had the pleasure of sneaking away for a couple of days to Buena Vista to knit with friends. As I drove up with Mary Kay we were awed by the colors which were definitely at their peak. These pictures were taken during our return just a few days later and already the colors were on the decline. It was a magnificent drive and a fabulous weekend. I had so much fun spending time with some of my favorite people and I accomplished quite a bit too.
While there I finished my Creamed Spinach scarf.
It seemed to double in length as I blocked it. Overall I am pretty happy with the results and am eagerly awaiting a chill in the air so I may wrap it around my neck.
I also started and finished this delightful hat, finally adding a key knitted piece to my wardrobe. I don't know how I managed to go so long with out knitting myself a hat, but now I see many in my future. The yarn I used was hand spun for me by Amanda as part of the HHHH swap on Ravelry. I have never been gifted hand spun before and I must say a girl could get used to it.
I also started a new project, Fletcher, a Noro pattern using Iro. I can't wait to finish this and wear it all fall long.

Unfortunately this will be happening a little later than I had planned. See all this progress I had made, well it is now frogged. Upon reading the comments re: this project on Ravelry I decided to start over. Everyone was pretty much in unison in their proclamations that this thing is huge. I was knitting a small, getting gauge and my back was measuring 26". My bust is around 38" so that leaves quite bit of ease, 14" to be exact. I figure it was better to cry now and be happy with the results later so I am starting from scratch with a XS. I called Mary Kay and let her in on the sad news as she too is knitting this. So our race (we were jokingly competing to finish) is now back at the starting line.
Oh and where should one put these lovely skeins of Noro while knitting you ask. Why in a matching Atenti bag of course! Isn't this fun and funky! I happily used my Serendipity discount to purchase this bag, I see a lot of use in it's future.
Lastly, here are my weekend's purchase in clockwise order:

Lonesome Stone Mountain Feat in Shades of Plum, Red Rocks Fiber Work's San Diego (a merino/ sea silk blend) in Jenni's choice, RRFW's Steamboat (665 yards of merino silk) in a vibrant green, I am going to make the Fox Island vest out of it, 2 skeins of green Panda Wool for socks, RRFW's Aspen sock yarn in an unnamed amazingly copper colorway, three skeins of Panda Silk in red for another Shapely Shawlette, Lt. green Panda Silk for the Waving Lace Socks (out of the Favorite Socks book I also purchased), and lastly a fabulous skein of Yarn Pirate Superwash BFL in Neptune. So if you don't count the 10 skeins of Noro Iro I think I didn't do to bad this weekend.


Just don't ask my husband's opinion.

Thank God I have a stash enhancement fund, I mean job now!

4 comments:

cheryl said...

Sorry you had to frog that Noro jacket. But, better now than to not be happy with the results later. I am still working on my sweater but have had to make slow progress since I got back into my painting.......Cheryl

Allegra said...

omg claudia, you are totally adorable in your hat! i love it!

Susanna Donato said...

Oooh, your hat is so cute and your bag is so pretty. I am knitting a Noro pattern (not with Noro - shh...), too, and am glad I did a lot of study online first about sizing ... I'm only 1" in, so wish me luck.

Terrie D. (StarSpry) said...

I love your hat! The Atenti bag is so cool and the yarn you got is great :)