More crack

I should post this over on the Kidsilk-along, but I'm lazy with the snowstorm and all.

I bought two skeins of KSH (click link for colors on Webs' yarn.com) in Heavenly off Destash this morning. And then I went to Woolcott at lunch (helping a friend "return" an unknit skein - you know it was an exchange), and they had a skein of KSH in Fondant, which will look gorgeous with the Candy Girl I'm knitting up into one of those Lala Scarves Kat Coyle designed for Greetings from Knit Cafe. And I have a skein of Knit One, Crochet Two's Douceur et Soie in Cornflower from forever ago, which will make a great edge. Yum.

I was between Fondant and Grace and am so glad I went with Fondant. Grace is very pretty but too ethereal next to Candy Girl. I wish they'd had some Jelly or Villain or Liqueur. Those colors are delish.

So, what will I do with that destashed Heavenly? I don't know, but it will be something heavenly, I'm sure!

In other knitting news, I'm swatching for the Hourglass Sweater in Schaeffer Elaine. I think I keep saying it's Nancy, but it's Elaine, and it has 600 yards in a skein. Craziness. I was thinking of going top-down raglan on this sweater, but I'm not sure what I want to do with the neck, so I think I'm going to end up doing a bottom-up shaped raglan and figure the neckline/collar out lately. Maybe I'll knit up a separate cowl...

Shrugfest

I seem to be on a shrug or small sweater kick at the moment. Perhaps it's an instant gratification thing. Or a sign of spring that I don't need to be completely covered in wool. Except perhaps for the Schaeffer Elaine. Man, that's some soft Merino. But we won't be working on that one until the Sheep 3 Shrug is finished. It really should be called a mini-cardi, since it has sleeves and a separate waistband and sides in the front.

Anyway, I had to frog the ribbing on the bottom of the sweater, since it stopped about mid-bust. I added another inch of stockinette last night and started the ribbing again. I'm getting close to the end of the skein but figure finishing the armholes will take only two smidges of yarn, so I should make it. It's just that this is one skein (again with the one-skein wonders), and I'm loathe to cut it. I know: wimp.

Anyway, the yarn is awesome. Can't wait until it's really available.

One-skein Shrug Wonder

With a little tinking I ended up doing the Reading-in-bed Shrug in one skein of Brushed Suri. I ended up with about 8" left over. Eep! Oh, and two rows less of ribbing on one armhole. But with this fluffy yarn, you can't tell. What a great little shrug! Just the right amount of cosy.

So, now I have this other skein of Brushed Suri. Options are to swap it for another shade and make another one of these for myself. Or as a gift. Or exchange it for something else. Or ... ? Well, maybe just pet it. But that yarn is even better knit up.

I don't think YITF has the Earl Grey color in stock, which looks very pretty. Whipped Cream would be yummy, as would Toasted Marshmallow or Lollipop. I'm getting hungry.

Woolapalooza details

Spring lambs! Hope to see you there!

Woolapalooza
Saturday, March 31
Mass Audubon Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary
208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773

10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Adults: $9/member, $12/non-member
Children: $7/member, $10 non-member, kids under 3 free

* Join Drumlin Farm for a day to celebrate sheep with fiber crafters, food, and fun! There's something for everyone at this one-of-a-kind event.
* Kids will love visiting our resident sheep and our cute-as-can-be new spring lambs, the stars of the show.
* Visit the Sheep to Sweater interpretive trail for hands-on experiences with wool. Try your hands at all stages of wool production including carding, spinning, felting, and dyeing. You'll literally follow the wool from sheep to product!
* Purchase beautiful hand made natural fiber products from local crafters-cashmere scarves, wool sweaters, and much more. And you won't want to leave without a visit to the country store for natural Drumlin Farm-made products like goat's milk soap and yarn from our sheep.
* See live sheep shearing, and watch border collies herd sheep.
* Sample delicious all natural, locally-grown and harvested Drumlin Farm food.
* Bask in the beauty of Drumlin Farm, the perfect setting to celebrate the coming of spring.

Visit www.massaudubon.org/drumlin for more information. Call 781.259.2206 for tickets.

Events run rain or shine, tickets are non-refundable. Your ticket price provides critical support for our education and conservation programs.

Isobel scarf

No, not a scarf for my beloved Miss Isobel, but a lacey scarf named Isobel. I just found it here as I was wondering what to do with one skein of Misti Alpaca laceweight yarn or some of the other lacey fibers I have in the stash. I have to organize the stash so I know what I have. Anyway, this is very pretty and may be a good next lace project. Some day I will knit one of those amazing from the center out circle shawls where every row is different just to have done it. I am crazy.

IMOnday: Yarns in the Farms, Beverly Farms, Massachusetts

Shop: Yarns in the Farms
Location: 641 Hale Street, Beverly Farms, Massachusetts
Telephone: 978 927 2108
Website: yarnsinthefarms
Hours: Tuesday-Friday 12-5, Saturday 10-5, Sunday 12-4; Knit Nights Tuesday & Wednesday 7-9 ($5)
Payment: Cash, Check, Credit Card (starting 3/13/07!)
Other: Great classes; private instruction available; buttons, bags, belts, and books

OK, close your eyes and think of a cosy place filled with yummy fibers (many of which are hand-dyed), handmade buttons, tea and treats, comfy couches, and two super-friendly owners. Put it in a former antique/flower/sweet shop with a mural of angels behind the counter. Add friendly shoppers, great music, and a new art show every few months. And you've got yourself the best little yarn shop around. Oh, don't forget to put a little kids table in the corner with markers, paper, and toys.

No, they don't have every colorway of every yarn you've ever heard of, but that's not really the point here.

Now, open your eyes.

They do have GGH, Blue Sky Alpacas, Jo Sharp, Noro, Blue Heron, Green Mountain Spinnery, Cherry Tree Hill, Sheep Shop (#3 is coming any day!), Frog Tree, Reynolds, Louet, Schaeffer, Reynolds, and more; needles and notions from Bryspun, Susan Bates, and Addi (Turbo and Natura, not sure about the lace needles). They also have a thoughtful selection of books and patterns to get you started on anything. They even have some lovely rugs and toys from Crispina, which are made from recycled sweaters.

Some yarn is displayed in old wine cases, some in baskets, and quite a bit on boxy white shelves that show the yarn to advantage while keeping it from spilling out everywhere. There are lots of samples so you can see just what can be done with all that fibery goodness. The lighting is natural from all the windows, as well as some incandescents and little halogen spots on the ceiling, which makes for an uplifting shopping experience. (I find fluorescent lighting in yarn shops awful.)

But the truly wonderful thing about Yarns in the Farms is the people. Carolyn and Jill are just about the nicest people you could find and they have made a truly inviting shop. It seems Carolyn may be allergic to wool, so she's starting to work with a lot of "alternative" fibers. Of course, they have a new shipment of No Sheep for You, Tofutsies, and Euroflax. Jill is an artist, and you can see some of her amazing needle felting projects around the shop.

I've included pictures from a Knit Night a couple of months back, but you really need to come see for yourself. You could even take the Commuter Rail up to the Pride's Crossing station and walk over. However you get yourself there, do stop by.

$100 for a hat

Have you seen this hat? It's retailing for $100. Amazing.

[Somehow this item didn't get published in January...]