Yesterday Jim and I rode the bike out to the Midwest Fiber & Folk fair. It took a loooongg time to get there on the way there as we took the scenic route - about an hour and forty-five minutes. On the way back it took about an hour on the expressways. We were worried about rain, so figured we should take the quickest way possible. Luckily we didn't get rained on.
I did make two purchases:
First, four skeins of Brooks Farm Acero in a really pretty black color (it's like a semi-solid black that is really gorgeous and will have a nice sheen to it)
It's like 1600 yards, which is a lot, but I was worried about just getting three skeins. They were only $18 each for 475 yards or whatever it is, so I figured I should just go for the extra skein to be safe.
Next (and Jenny, you are going to laugh at this!) I bought five skeins of Allhemp 3.
The joke is that over a year ago (maybe almost a year and a half ago now) I sent a half-finished hemp knitting project to Jenny to finish and keep as I was so frustrated with it, and I sent her the heavier weight allhemp 6 I had purchased for a skirt as well because I was so frustrated with the hemp. However, that was when I couldn't stand small needles - and that was Elann Canapone, which kept tangling up and driving me crazy. I am now ready to give the Allhemp 3 a chance, but if I hate it, I will just destash it. It was only like $35 (no discount or anything, but I've discovered that lightweight yarns are a great deal for the money - even though you have to buy more yardage, proportionally they cost less anyway - it says this in Knit So Fine and it really is true.) Also, I don't think I'll ever attempt the Allhemp 6 again - heavier inflexible yarns really do kill my hands. But I figured that I don't mind thin cotton now, so why not give the lighter weight hemp another try? Plus the Allhemp has to be wound, so I can wind it right, unlike the Canapone that's in a (tangly) ball already.
I'll also share another addition to my stash that I bought on Ebay - delicious, isn't it?
I also finished the first sleeve of Broderie this morning:
I shortened it my standard 2" and the length is perfect, but I'm hoping it loosens up a bit when I wash/block it as it is a tiny bit tight right now when I put it over my arm. I'm sure it will be fine.
I'm hanging a bit today...the party was a lot of fun last night but I drank too much wine. Again, I think about how thin I would be if I only would stop boozing it up because honestly it's my only major diet flaw. LOL. I've been getting a lot better, but there's room for improvement for sure. At least I have been going to the grocery store and buying (and eating before it goes bad!) healthy food and eating better and exercising every day and drinking my five 16 oz bottles of water a day and usually only drinking one glass of wine at night with dinner. The wheels tend to fall off the bus at parties though. Oh well. It's a journey. All I can do is try to continually improve.
Pretty yarns! I bet it was a nice ride though! I like the patterning on the sleeve! Feel better.
Posted by: Zonda | July 19, 2009 at 06:34 PM
You bought Brooks Farm - what are the odds! LOL Man you're a knittin' machine. I'm with you on the drinking/diet thing.
Posted by: Heather R | July 20, 2009 at 08:40 AM
Ok, I did laugh at that! LOL. Well, if you don't end up liking it, let me know as I do LOVE that color! ;) hee hee. We do that all the time on the bike too (take the scenic route there, then the quick way home). At some point it's like you just want OFF. NOW!!!
Posted by: Jenny | July 20, 2009 at 12:16 PM