A pair of Snowflake Lace Socks by Melanie Berney from Magknits. Made in Fleece Artist in the softest pastel handpaint. Maybe a little too muted. The yarn almost looks like something bled on it in the wash, but I love it and am very happy with this project. It is so relaxing to me to knit someone else's pattern and this one was beautifully written.
Another procrastination project - a pair of baby booties for my God-daughter, Stephanie, who just found out she is expecting her 2nd child! A sweater is already floating around in my imagination and will no doubt come forth from the needles before her due date. This pattern was from a new book I just bought, Socks, Socks, Socks, and was designed by Maude Smith. It was a very quick detour from the new designs I can't show you yet, and I plan on making up more of the socks in this book when I need relief from math and designs that I can't get to come out exactly right for the 15th time.
On Wednesday morning I taught a Needle Felting Class for the Pomegranate Guild, a group of Jewish needleworkers.
I know I said I'm not teaching anymore, but my friend Gloria Ilan (above, on the right) caught me at a moment when I couldn't say 'no'. Yes, I do have those rare moments - just ask Eden. He takes advantage of them as often as possible.
Never having been enthusiastic about needle felting, I nonetheless felt (!) it would be something the ladies would enjoy and they did! Brandi, at Stitches From the Heart, gave me a brief lesson and loaded me up with supplies the day before, and off I went, after searching in vain at 4 different 99 cent stores for those foam noodles that kids use in the swimming pool. Brandi said that they made a good and cheapo substitute for the $18 needle felting brushy base that Clover sells. But I guess they are out of season, so balls of yarn were used by those who didn't wish to purchase a brushy base and they worked just fine.
Final words on this subject - I still do not like needle felting and will never do it again. If I am going to spend time embellishing things, I much prefer applique, beading, embroidery, or just about anything else.
I got this book this week and it is yummy. I heartily recommend it to anyone who is fond of modular knitting and doesn't mind spending the next year and a half on one project! Every Koigu pattern that has already been published (and sold for $20) is included plus more, and this time with professionally rendered charts and (hopefully) better instructions. I was fascinated to read the story of how Koigu came to be.
And finally - look what came in the mail today! An amazing selection of yarns from Blue Moon Fiber Arts! Home of the fabulous yarn, Socks that Rock. Maybe you have heard about the banking fiasco Tina suffered the other day when so many people paid her $210 to join the Sock o' the Month Club that the bank freaked out and decided it was a scam! And in the course of fixing that, Tina contacted me and we chatted - one thing led to another - and maybe there will be some Ellene Warren Designs for Blue Moon Fibers! There is nothing that inspires me more than yarn and yarn that has been hand-dyed by a real artist is the best of all.
