Little Wit Knits – Unplugged

Well there are babies in my life now. Albeit they are other people’s babies, but babies I can knit for nonetheless. As we all know babies can pull off some of fashions silliest items a lot more smoothly than grown ups. As I was cruising Ravelry a couple of weeks ago I found this adorable pumpkin hat that I figured would be smashing on my niece for Halloween. In a fit of pouting aimed at my Master’s project I decided to cast on something quick and easy Tuesday night. It knit up amazingly quickly (go figure, eh?) and now I present you with adorably cute pumpkin headgear:

Pete modeling Sophia’s hat. It doesn’t quite fit him right. Hopefully it fits her better

Description: Pumpkin Headgear for Sophia
Pattern: Pumpkin Hat by Susan Esser
Yarn used: .43 skeins of Bernat Softee Chunky Colorway Burnt Orange (100% acrylic ) 100g / 164 yds
Care Instructions: Machine washable
Needle Size: US 10 (6mm)
Modifications: I knit on a US 10 just because the fabric looked better than on a US 9
Finished Size: about 17″
Date Started: 9/30/2008
Date Completed: 10/1/2008
Notes: If I were to make it again I think I would plan out the leaf layout better from the beginning but I swear once she puts it on she’ll be too damned cute for it to matter.

Sophia’s Hat – leaf detail

Sophia’s Hat – side view

My friend won a skein of handspun yarn at Sticks N Stitches 2007/2008. She doesn’t knit so she gave it to me. I decided (perhaps with some prompting from my mother) to find something to make for her with it. I searched around on Ravelry looking for something that would highlight the handspun nature of the yarn without overpowering it with a strong and busy pattern. Plus, I only had about 200 yds so I couldn’t do anything super large. A scarf seemed like a good idea and modifying the Clapotis to scarf size looked easy enough. I hope she will wear it in the winter all the time.

Cory’s been doing a lot of modeling lately. The scarf is a little big on him.

Description: Mama T’s Handspun Scarf
Pattern: Clapotis by Kate Gilbert
Yarn used: 194 yds (177m) of Coridale Sheep spun by Judy of Five Points Llamas
Care Instructions: Handwash
Needle Size: US 6 (4.0 mm)
Modifications: I modified this to be a scarf so it’s a lot smaller.
Finished Size: 5″ x 64″ (13 cm x 162 cm)
Date Started: 8/23/2008
Date Completed: 8/28/2008
Notes: This worked out pretty well. I could have probably done another repeat but I was afraid I was going to run out of yarn. I had also already ripped it back once to add in another repeat so I decided to just go with it this time.

Full length view (folded in half)

Detail view

The Ravelry team arrived in town today for TNNA and guess whom they decided to grace with their presence?

Me! and the rest of the Clintonville Knit gang. I knew they were coming as of Wednesday and decided to keep it as a surprise for everyone else. (Well, I told one person so I could get assistance saving seats at the restaurant.) The funny thing is, even though no one *knew* all the regulars decided to show up so we had about 15 people in attendance! That’s a bit larger than our normal crowd but not too overwhelming. Mary-Heather, Jess and Casey arrived about 45 minutes into our knit night. There were some folks who were quite surprised! We had a grand time just sitting, knitting, drinking beer (well not me, I don’t do beer) and eating. They brought along some buttons and stickers that were passed around. I also got to see the new tri-fold handouts for advertising.

The boy rolled in after his happy hour was over to hang out for a little bit as well. He took pictures with other folks’ cameras because silly me remembered my camera but not my memory card. Alas, I do not have my own pictures. Perhaps once everyone returns home from their travels I will be able to swipe pictures from other people. For now you get text.

Oh and I started seaming my sweater. I must have it done before I go on vacation because it could be cold!

Our trip to Maryland was a blast. The Ravelry Helpers were so much fun! Suzanne was a fantastic host. It was so great to get to see everyone, and put faces to the screen names I have been chatting with for almost a year now. The boy had a good time as well. It was even fortuitous enough to wake up and hear the Ravelry Helpers talking aboot how wonderful he is. we were lucky to get his big head back in the car to get home.

At the Raverly party Saturday night the boy won Shear Spirit. He was quite excited! I also spent a good chunk of time talking to Ron from Buffalo Gold. He and his wife are very nice and have a beautiful product. Someone at the party won 4 skeins! of buffalo gold which makes for a cool $400 grand prize. Some day, some day I will find some cash to buy a couple of skeins and make something pretty for myself or something soft for the the boy.

Sunday I started my shopping having been unimpressed by anything on Saturday. I think the real problem was that Saturday everything was way too crowded and busy for me to even see anything that I wanted. I bought some gorgeous orange lace weight from Clover Hill Yarn Shop specially dyed by Mama E. I also got 3 skeins of W4 Soft Touch W4 from Shelridge Farm. The boy lucked out too because we also found some yarn for his Berkshire Pullover – 6 skeins of Rowan Big Wool for $30 (it normally retails at $15/skein)! We still need to find one more skein in that colorway but really it shouldn’t be too hard to find.

Other excitement from Sunday included getting Shear Spirit signed by the photographer. We also spent an hour hanging out and chatting with Gord Lendrum of Lendrum Spinning Wheels. He is a very sweet and low key man. My friend Aimee‘s wheel and broken on her way up to MD. She found out he was there and would fix her wheel so we brought it back on Sunday. He fixed it in under a minute and then sat around talking to us. He and the boy ended up getting into a discussion about CNC routers and PLCs (if that’s greek to you, don’t worry, you are not in the minority!) As we were walking away it was cute because the boy was still trying to come up with ideas to solve Gord’s issue.

There will be more pictures later, but I need to make some sort of light box because I haven’t found a good spot for taking photos in the new house. For now, enjoy the pictures from the festival.

The boy and I with the Raverly employees, Jess, Casey and MH!

Jess and Casey mingling, the boy mingling

The boy and I are headed to Maryland Sheep and Wool in about 3 weeks and I am already starting to get very excited. Many of the Ravelry Helpers from the East Coast and Midwest (along with one West Coaster!) are all planning to meet up in Baltimore. We will be having a giant slumber party at Suzanne’s, that will include myself and the boy if we can’t crash at his cousin’s place just north of Baltimore. The ladies have informed the boy that if he does come to the slumber party his toenails must be painted. If that happens I promise there will be pictures.

At the festival we will of course look at the fiber goodness, pet animals and help out Jess and Casey with any tasks they need done. There is also a rumour that there will be a Ravelry party Saturday night and we will of course assist with that as well. It will be so great to finally meet folks in person as well as catch up with old long cherished friends. I am also hoping to pop into one of my favorite yarn shops from Baltimore and try out the ones I missed before I moved. I know Cloverhill will have a booth at the festival so I will go check them out there.

Now dear readers I need your assistance. I gave up yarn for Lent and have yet to buy any since Easter. I want to get something lovely as well as try something new. I also want to take advantage of the yarn accessibility at the festival but alas I do not know which yarns to pounce on. Can you recommend your favorite yarns or yarns that I really must try at least once in my life? I would be much obliged!