May | 2009 | Laura Chau

a sunny Saturday evening

May 16, 2009

I’m so behind on here! I’m sort of spinning my wheels here (not literally, sadly) with all the various knitting and designing projects in various stages of completion. I think it’s high time I clear out some WIPs, because I’m feeling buried.

As promised (finally), here’s my finished giant granny square!

More photos?

And just because I got myself a new lens (A Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4.5 Macro):

Oooooh, love that macro action. This lens rocks.

Giant Granny Square
Hook: 6.5 mm
Pattern: Granny Square from the Purl Bee

Yarn: 7 balls of Noro Taiyo in colourway 1 (otherwise known as “neapolitan ice cream”!) plus 1 skein of Coldharbour Mill organic merino DK for the border, held double.

As an aside, this is the smoothest, sexiest merino ever. And I don’t think you can even buy it anywhere – I got it at IKnit Day in London last year. Does someone want to pick me up some more this year?!

For the border I just did 2 rounds of single crochet around the whole thing. Really finishes it off, I think! The final measurement is about 48″ square – plenty big for a couch blanket. I think I’ve given up my idea of sewing on a cotton backing, because, well, I don’t think it’ll ever happen! The blanket’s plenty warm enough as is.

I even have a new crochet project on the go – a ripple blanket!

(Have I mentioned how much I love my new macro?)

I’m using a 5mm hook and many, many random leftovers and single skeins. Unfortunately it turns out that crochet isn’t particularly nice to my left wrist – so I’m going to have to take it easy on this for awhile. I’m thinking it’ll just be one of those random projects around the house that I can pick up and put down whenever!

MDSW: the haul

May 10, 2009

So what did I get at MDSW?

Two skeins of the most delicious, squooshy merino/silk from Solitude. The wool is from local Virginia sheep! The two skeins are slightly different shades, but very close. I’ll probably stripe ’em together.

A whole whack of Petite Silk from Tess Designer Yarns. Love this stuff. What I’ll do with it, I don’t know! Maybe incorporate it into some weaving.

Plus three skeins of Tess superwash merino laceweight. I was really into the laceweight this year!

I also picked up two skeins of Wullenstudio sock yarn from the Cloverhill booth, and a Sheep 2 Shoe kit from the Fold. Oh, and some Got Soap – love their stuff! So all in all I was pretty restrained for me. I find once I get to fibre festivals the wool fumes just get into my wallet! I’m sure there are others who can relate.

But now I’m feeling the weight of my stash. Time to get back to working. I felt like for awhile there I wasn’t being particularly productive in the knitting department, but I think I’m getting back on track. And not just with the knitting either!

The giant granny square is done, so here’s a sneak peek! Crochet uses up yarn at a good clip, so I’ve now started another crocheted blanket project – a ripple blanket out of all sorts of different leftovers and random handspuns. But I really need to get going on a few sweater ideas. Anyone have suggestions on how to get more working hours into the day?

the MDSW post: better late than never!

May 9, 2009

The reentry from MDSW and work has eaten my week! But as I’m sure you’re eager to hear another MD story, here’s mine!

I took a slightly convoluted (but cost effective!) route to get to Baltimore – I took the bus from Toronto to Buffalo, then flew out from Buffalo to Baltimore (and took a cab to get to the hotel). It took about 7 hours or so in total, even with the delays at the border. I met up with Ysolda at the hotel a little while later, and we ended up having just an evening in. We did walk up to Trader’s Joe’s and got some groceries and made pasta for dinner in the room! Love the actual kitchen in there.

The next morning we met up with Team Ravelry (Jess, Casey, Mary-Heather, and Frecklemom) at breakfast and headed to the fairgrounds. We were parked really as far as we possibly could be from the entrance, and had to journey through the massively long grass. At least it stopped raining fairly early on Saturday!

First stop was the Brooks Farm booth, where M-H, Jess and Ysolda all got some yummy yarn.

Fortified with lime fizzes, we headed to the Ravelry meetup at noon – lots of fun people!

And spent a good long while with a huge group of awesome knitter/blogger/flickr-ers trying to get a coordinated jump shot. It was hard, yo.

Big group dinner with cool knitters and great Indian food!

Then we went to Guido’s party. But I didn’t take any photos there! It was nice talking to people there, and the raffle was pretty cool (we didn’t win anything though!).

Then on Sunday Ysolda and I accidentally slept in, so we ended up getting to the fairgrounds with everyone just about the time of the meetup. It was pouring rain, and the grounds were super muddy! But we did manage to get some shopping done, walked all around, and only left when the festival was closing. We spent the evening chilling out, knitting (me) and doing computery stuff (everyone else).

And what did I get? Well I haven’t taken individual photos yet, but here’s a group shot:

Maybe I’ll save the goods for the next post!

Monthly Archives: May 2009