Keeping it Local

I have my camera back so wanted share details of my Frolic purchases now I can provide photo evidence...

Stoddart Family Farm Merino Mohair Worsted. Natural "Dark".  Three of these four hanks will handily yield Jared Flood's "Guernsey Wrap" but I bought a fourth because it was just too amazing not to. This yarn is organically raised less than an hour north east from our house. Its spun at a mill an hour or so north west of us using solar power to warm the wash water and citrus based soaps to clean the fleeces rather than sulphuric acid.

The fleeces come from the Stoddard's flock of Romney sheep (listed as "endangered" by Rare Breeds Canada). They live and graze exclusively on certified organic pasture. The mohair comes from Stoddard's neighbour's flock of angora mohair goats (listed as "vulnerable" by Rare Breeds Canada).

See what I mean about being amazing! Brown and Grey and Silver. Soft with a bit of a halo but still woolly!

I also picked up this little book by local Toronto knit designer Robin Melanson. When I waved it around at "Show and Tell" last night at Craft Group the woman I would say is easily the most accomplished knitter in the room spoke up said the book was, in her experience, not only full of great patterns but also a great resource for instructions on technique. I consider this very high praise coming from such an advanced knitter and it made feel extra great about buying the book.

Local sheep, local mill, local designer. Love it!

Working out Nicely

I was very happy with the execution of my plan of attack for the Frolic.  I did my research, got there early enough to whip around before things got crowded and so was able to locate the things I was interested in. Then I went back to the booths I had targeted and did my shopping. Lapsed time - 40 minutes.

With that accomplished I felt free to wander about looking at this and that, flipping through pattern books, handling lovely yarn bowls wondering whether I'd enjoy using one, staring at the wall of Shetland colours for a while imagining the "someday" possibilities...that kind of thing.

With both concrete and fanciful "shopping" complete I met with Brenda and Sandra and Sandra's friend Susan for coffee. Sandra left the first comment I ever received here and it was Sandra who made me Christmas PJ pants in celebration of her birthday. We live within half an hour of each other yet we've never met so it was great good fun to finally sit across from her and get a chance to ask her just how she is sooooo productive. (Knitting, sewing, beading, working, parenting, cottaging, gardening)

I had also hoped to quiz Brenda in detail about the amazing construction of her Colour Block Cardigan wherein she ingeniously integrated a combination of two contiguous set in sleeve techniques and but darts but time among the yarn fumes ran too short for that. :( I've made a promise to myself to catch up on those details next time Brenda! I hope you're game!)

With all of that I was still home in time for lunch, a bit of knitting on Deco, some yard work and bbq'd cheeseburgers to celebrate a long awaited warm and sunny Saturday!

Photo evidence of my purchases will have to wait until I get my camera back from Number One Son. He's had it at school for the last few days of his time in residence this year. Tomorrow we move his things home and Wednesday he will follow. ( I don't really understand the disconnect between him and his stuff but at this age and stage I know its probably better not to!)

Tonight is Craft Group and I'll be casting on the first sleeve for "Deco" amid the crazed crafting chatter. I'm not sure what I'll be baking and taking so I'd better get to that!

Thanks for dropping by today!

Advanced Planning to Guard Against Yarn Fumes

Well its Wednesday before our annual "Knitter's Frolic" here in Toronto so I'm mentally working on my plan of attack for the Marketplace on Saturday morning. I don't want to get there early trying to beat the crowds and then just toddle about hopelessly lost in the skeins and balls, batts and patterns and then walk away with nothing or, honestly worse than nothing, things I don't really want or need.

Over the next couple of days I plan to visit the websites of a few of the listed vendors with whom I'm not familiar but in advance of that I know I'll be wanting to shop for two projects in my queue that are currently without yarn.

The first is is Miss Honeychurch from Knitty '09. This summery top calls for about 1200 yards of DK hemp and I'll be looking for a suitably summery white in which to knit it. If I don't get to working it up before I make the move to the cottage it will make a great hot weather project once I'm there in July.

The second pattern for which I'll be hunting up yarn is Jared Flood's Guernsey Wrap. Jared's is of course worked in his own "Shelter" worsted. I haven't any firm vision on the colour for this but I'm leaning towards Grey. That seems simple enough but I'm on the hunt for a special yarn in a fabulous shade of  this wardrobe classic. Maybe it'll be a tweed, Maybe super pale. Possibly something with a blue or brown undertone. It could also have a hint of something luxurious. It could be natural and undyed. I'm open minded and I'll just see what I can find and if nothing strikes me as "just the perfect yarn" I'll leave it for another day.

One thing I know for sure I will find at the Frolic is hundreds of smiling, giddy knitters. They'll be all crammed together among the booths, all talking at once. I swear this event, is, on this last Sunday in April, the happiest place on earth!

I hope you're happy today! Thanks for dropping by!