Kiyowara

random thoughts

I've had a couple of days mostly off after Stitches.  I finished the Shark's beanie in the wonderful sample yarn we received from Claudia Handpainted Yarn.  Claudia, you are totally fantastic!

I am mostly finished with the prototype of the poncho pattern I have been belatedly working on.  Vivienne, you'll be happy to know that the pattern should be published by the end of the week. :)  I am also half way through with the first of the Hippy Crunchy socks.  They should also be finished by the end of the week.  I need to make a list of all the projects I have going and prioritize them into a coherent whole.  That will also probably happen this week, along with various boring accounting functions. ;) 

I'm very happy that Stitches is over, though it went very well for us.  I'll take pictures of my purchases and upload them tomorrow for your perusal.  I have the most lucious silk from Lisa Souza, some wonderful mohair from Nebo Rock Textiles, and some great new patterns (Thanks, Cookie!). I can't wait to dig into the new Blue Moon Fiber that we brought home with us.  It should be an exciting week!

WIP update

WIP update:
This week I started and finished a vest for the Stitches West fashion show, complete with pattern for sale.  It features Terra by The Fibre Company.

I also completed my Hippy Chic Tunic by Norah Gaughan.  It really turned out well, and was very comfortable to wear at Stitches yesterday.

Stitches

I got to see my own creation, a brand new design, up on the fashion show cat walk last night.  I had the strangest feeling of exhilaration and happiness run through, so intense that I felt tears come to my eyes.  This is what I want to do with my life: create beautiful, highly skilled things for the world to see.  Someday I'll have garments on the haute couture catwalks!

WIP update

Okay, so I finished a cool model of a sleeveless tank I was making for the shop , and I'm really pleased with how it turned out.  The colors in the Bamboozle yarn are fabulous, and I love the way it ended up looking like a wood-grained pattern. 

I am about half way through a tunic-shaped sweater that I want to wear to Pantheacon this coming weekend. Also on the needles are the following:

Wisdom (formerly known as the Gingko Leaf Coat)
Landscapes Poncho (I know, I still don't have this done)
New pattern for Stitches (this one is on a little bit more of a time out, but not for much longer)
Faroese Shawl
New Pattern for a scrumptious luxury yarn
Mountain Colors model socks
Swatch for Teresa's Christmas2006 sweater

Believe it or not, I think that's it for knitting WIPs.  In the spinning category I currently have two different silk projects going, one on a drop spindle and one on the Joy.  I also have a wensleydale project on another drop spindle.  Both the drop spindles are at the shop.  Oh, and I sold my belove Schact a couple of weeks ago.  It was a tough decision, but the poor thing was just languishing the studio.  It went to a new home to live with someone who I really feel will love it and cherish it.  It brought me great pleasure for a long; my life at the moment can only accomodate wheels that take up smaller spaces.   I'm looking forward to the arrival of the new Louet at the shop.

Off to work on the tunic for a while, and maybe spin for a few minutes.

WIP update

So, the latest update is:

I finished a Malabrigo hat for me.  It's in the 4/2 rib pattern, and I love it a lot.  I am on the verge of finishing several new designs as well, but a couple of them are being a bit cranky.  Kaye, Christina, Kelli, and I have almost finished Mike's Yule Dr. Who Scarf.  I am really pleased with how it is turning out. 

I am also working on a tunic in a self-striping merino yarn. It's really lovely, and I'm hoping to get it done in time to wear to Pantheacon.  Vivienne, if you're reading my blog, I promise I'll get the poncho pattern done in the next two weeks!  Really!

Super, SUPER Yarn Sunday!

Hey, folks, I hope you can join Chloe, Nathania, and I at the shop for Super, SUPER Yarn Sunday!  We're having a 20% storewide sale (excluding classes, books, gift certificates, Malabrigo Yarn, and Blue Moon Fiber Arts yarn and fiber) with some yarns at deeper discounts to make way for new Spring yarns.  We'll be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to give you plenty of time to shop without stress.  See you Sunday!