Around town sightings

The good...

 The fab...

 ...and the UGLY!

Mini Swap - What I got

This package smelled LOVELY!!!

Thanks, Whitney!

Some more motifs..

Birthday

Happy first birthday, Hazel!  Mommy loves you even if you like to tangle her yarn and empty the contents of any project bag laying around.  XOXOXO

Charity

These were the three squares I did for the Lion Brand Swap group on Ravelry.  The squares will go to make a blanket to be sent off to Project Night Night.  The theme of the blanket was, colors you would find in a bag of Skittles.  I used Vanna's Choice yarn in Kelley Green and pretty much just winged the squares on my own...  If you're on Ravelry and want to add some squares to the blanket, go for it!  Search for Lion Brand Swaps and start yarn crafting away!

Hampton Artistic Yarns

 My final purchase of the day was at the Hampton Artistic Yarns booth.  As you know, I've been wanting to get a spindle and my goal at this fiber fest was to obtain one.  Rather than just buy a spindle separately, I wanted to get some sort of package deal.  H.A.Y's booth was exactly what I wanted and more.  For $30, I got a hip, reusable bag and inside were the following:

 An Ashford spindle...ummm can you say QUALITY?

 I love it and I would sleep with it every night if I weren't afraid of my cat nibbling on it...

 Some domestic wool to practice with...

...and some Falkland wool to play around with.

What I like about H.A.Y is that included in the bag were also some basic spindle use instructions.  Very cool.  They also included a card with every possible internet social site you can find them on.  Again, very cool.  Heading over to Ravelry now to join their group!

...into the whirled

 ...into the whirled was the first booth we stopped at and I must say, "WOW!"  I loved the packaging of the fiber and the colors were amazing.  I don't use the term 'amazing' to describe just anything.  I got quite a bit of Bluefaced Leicester.  Which according to my research is a good fiber for first time spinners.

I loved these little trial size fiber samples.  For a quarter of an ounce, I can try out new fibers and not feel bad if they don't seem to work out for me.  Wanna see more?  GO HERE NOW!  There's also a group on Ravelry called ...into the whirled and you'll see me there as one of their newest members!

Last knit stitch for April

My other newly learned knit stitch pattern of the month (I swear I finished the mini swatch for it this past Saturday!): alternated smooth stitch and tier!

 What I learned:  use my damn row counter.  I bought it for a reason! :-D

Scarecrow Farm

 

Scarecrow Farm, in Hollowville, New York, is a small family farm that is known for their livestock, vegetables, garlic, jams and preserves, eggs, their own honey, wool yarn, and local crafts.  This was the only booth at Chancelor's Sheep and Wool Festival where I actually bought yarn.  I loved the color and feel.  One of the women at the booth suggested to me that once I'm done knitting up the yarn to soak it in very cold water to smooth out the stitches and make them lay more flat.  My plans for these hanks are to make myself some sort of hand wear for the winter.  I'm thinking fingerless mittens with a flap.  If there is any left over, I was thinking of making a real basic winter hat with a simple rib pattern on the brim.

Another convert?