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Stitches West in Sacramento has come and gone. I spent Friday in the Market and Saturday and Sunday in class. Here are the spoils of the Market:
Top row: Shetland fiber from Clemes & Clemes, fish dish from Kunihiro Pottery at the Farm, embroidery patterns from Rosanna Diggs, Shetland/silk/firestar fiber from Goodie Supply Company
Bottom row: orange Mendocino from Bella Yarn, 3x speckled Tosh Merino Light from Madeline Tosh, 2x purple Cormo from Sincere Sheep, green Merino Sock from Lazer Sheep, 2 colors of Annapurna from A Verb for Keeping Warm, green and blue Dude from Schmutzerella Yarns, olive green Smitten from Wonderland Dyeworks
It is just 5,105 yards of yarn (under 3 miles) and 12 ounces of fiber this time. I went in intending to buy the 2 skeins of Sincere Sheep and possibly the 2 from AVFKW. Leaving with only 8 skeins more than planned is good, yes? 🙂 I didn’t plan to get mostly fingering weight, but that’s what I ended up with. No Addi Turbo needles or Jamieson & Smith yarn to be had this year. The Market was small already, and even smaller when it turned out a few vendors could not travel due to the weather.
I have plans for the Sincere Sheep. I have collected 6 colors of Cormo Fingering over several years and this is the neutral to tie them all together into a striped sweater. The Annapurna will be Rosemary Hill’s Mystery Shawl 2023. I didn’t buy the kit because I don’t need another project bag or another shawl pin, pretty as both were, and bought the yarn once I knew I could get the pattern without the kit. The KAL kicks off on April 21.
Leaving the hotel parking lot on Sunday, I noticed a fancy cupola peeking beneath bare and damp trees and realized for the first time that I had been across from the state capitol building the whole time. The joke’s on me for not noticing until then. To be fair, our room’s window had a view of the top floor of the parking garage and the weather was rainy, and I was distracted by yarn fumes, good friends, and tasty snacks. Next year, I need to plan part of Market day to wander the neighborhood. Just an hour won’t hurt, right?
Two years and a week since I grumped about Stitches West 2021 being cancelled, the MmmYarn household is in a messy flurry late this evening, getting ready for SW 2023. SW took place last year but I skipped it. The time since my last post has passed oddly, with days of crafting interspersed with days of moping. In an effort to steamroller some of the moping, I decided to commit to carrying on with normal events again, whether friends go along with it or not. I kicked it off with the CNCH conference in May (learned to weave on Mr. MmmYarn’s loom), continued with Lambtown and the Renaissance Fair in October, and this is the next big one. We’ll see how I do amongst the crowds this weekend.
My shopping list for the SW market is very short right now: one Addi Turbo needle in US 1.5 and maybe some Shetland jumper weight yarn, although Lost City Knits is not on the vendor list so we’ll see if anyone else has Shetland. By comparison to previous SW years, the vendor list is small. Friday is my shopping day; Saturday and Sunday I am in class with Janine Bajus. Two of my friends and one of their friends is going so we’ll be 4 in our little pod of knitters. It should be fun!
So I don’t leave you entirely fiber-less here, Lambtown yielded some good loot, including these two fleeces. Shetland at the top and Gotland at the bottom. I have not begun processing them.
Goodness, the process for adding photos here has changed. I’ll have to learn another day how to make this image smaller as it is time for sleep. Craft on!
Another Stitches West has come and gone, and now that I’ve had a few days to recover (it is truly an exhausting experience when I go all three days), it’s time to share the loot photo!
Um… I may have lost my head a little. I went into it saying I don’t need any more project bags — notice I bought loose yarn rather than a kit for Romi Hill’s mystery shawl this year so I wouldn’t get another bag — and ended up buying two, plus got a kit to sew one and got one as a giveaway. What a pile of work fun that awaits me!
The details:
Top left section: 2 skeins Annapurna for Romi Hill’s mystery shawl, a sturdy needle threader, an indigo-dyed sashiko project bag kit, on top of a free-with-(big)-purchase bag from A Verb For Keeping Warm; 3 mini skeins of sock yarn from Forbidden Fiber Co. and 1 skein Rambouillet from Lazer Sheep (color “Space Sheep”), on top of a blue and orange project bag from Erin Lane.Â
Lower left section: Andy Shawl kit with project bag and yarn from Emma’s Yarns from Beautiful Systers; pins from Forbidden Fiber Co.; owl-shaped embroidery floss holder and small bobbin from Girl on the Rocks, sheep stitch markers and gray Romeldale/alpaca fiber from Sincere Sheep; Valley Yarns Northampton from WEBS; 2 Melanie Berg shawl books.
Down the middle: “On 5th” patttern, 4 Polwarth/silk fiber braids from Wonderland Dyeworks, mixed BFL fiber from 2 Guys Yarn. The Shetland section: Bougainvillea vest kit and 8 random colors of Jamieson and Smith Shetland from Lost City Knits.Â
Far right: Red Heart yarns, top two from the Pajama Party and bottom one as a gift from Marly Bird when I was in her class.
Believe it or not, it all fits into two medium-size tote bags. I confess I spent more than I intended, but not more than I should or than I could afford, so it’s all good. The Pajama Party on Friday night was fun but loud (must bring ear plugs next time so I don’t need to stuff torn bits of paper cocktail napkin in my ears), I took 3 classes (more on those later), and ran into fiber friends: stayed overnight with 6 of them and kept bumping into them and other friends and spinning guild members in the Market. A huge part of the fun of wandering is seeing everyone’s hand-made creations, proudly worn; we crafters have some amazing skills! I planned my daily wardrobe around what I wanted to show yarn vendors and pattern designers, wearing 1 or 2 things each day that I could show them at their booths.
Last night, I felt ready to tackle the goodies and catalogued everything into my yarn and fiber spreadsheet (8,164 yards of yarn, 27.2 ounces of fiber), and this morning printed the 3 patterns and wound a mini skein of Forbidden’s sock yarn for the next pair of fingerless mitts. Onward!
P.S. This was the view outside the convention center on Friday evening.
I am weeks late with this post, but here it is. These are the spoils of Stitches West 2018:
Top row: Annapurna from A Verb For Keeping Warm as part of Romi Hill’s 2018 mystery shawl KAL (starts on April 6!); Oink Pigments DK; project bags from KC’s Pockets to Go and Front Range Bags; BFL fiber from Wonderland Dyeworks
Middle row: fiber from Shaky K Fibers; 3 skeins Jamieson & Smith Shetland; books and fringe twisting tool; green yarn from Dragonfly Fibers; gray yarn from Backyard Fiberworks; mixed BFL fiber from Houndstooth Fibers; Cotton DK from Paintbox yarns; Yowza from Miss Babs
Bottom row: gifts from Craftsy at the Friday night Pajama Party: possibly Romney fiber and 5 skeins Cloudborn Fibers sock yarn; grip-fid tool from my ply-split braiding class; Harry Potter stitch markers
I had loosely promised myself no more fiber from Wonderland Dyeworks, because I have a lot of it at home. I love her colors, though, and got sucked into her beautiful booth again, and gosh, some of her fiber found its way into my bag. Funny how that happens.
The Friday night pajama party was fun! This is the first year I have been alert enough at 10pm to want to attend a social event (I have one of those “early to bed, early to rise” internal clocks), so I went. One of the rules of the party was that you can’t talk about it outside the party, but I will dare mention that the mini-skeins of sock yarn in the bottom row of my photo were part of the fun, and the spinning fiber is a prize I got for showing up in my pajamas.
I used up most of the orange Oink yarn for a pair of fingerless mitts, the gray and green yarns are in the planning phases for mittens, I begun swatching for the sweater pattern I bought, and I’m looking forward to starting the mystery shawl on April 6.
I am grateful I am able to go to Stitches West and hang out with such fun friends every year. And shop for yarn with them! Such good fortune!
I had such a good time at the Stitches West market yesterday! Here’s exactly how much fun I had:
Top row:
Octopus Mitten kit from Dragonfly Fibers (yarn is Traveller); book “The Rhinebeck Sweater”; Hardtwist yarn in Glory (yellow) from Lisa Souza Knitwear and Dyeworks; 10 ounces Polwarth & silk fiber in Seawater from Wonderland Dyeworks; 3 skeins Oink Pigments DK in Watermelon Rind from Oink Pigments
Bottom row:
4 skeins Traveller in African Daisy from Dragonfly Fibers; 3 skeins Cascade Kid Seta in 3 shades of blues; 2 skeins Rothko (Polwarth/silk blend) in Cayenne (red-orange) from Abstract Fibers; BLF/nylon sock yarn in Plum Majesty from 2 Guys Yarn Company; Diaphanous laceweight in blue from Sincere Sheep
The market has been a one-day event for me the past few years so I have to make it count!
2 Guys Yarn Company is new this year. I had to take a couple of minutes to allow my eyes to adjust when I got to their booth, because most of the yarn I had just seen was brilliantly saturated with color and theirs are lovely muted colors. Well worth the couple of minutes! I decided pretty quickly I wanted a skein of BFL sock yarn, because that’s harder to find as a base, and took my time to finally choose a gorgeous purple. I recommend you stop by!
Wonderland Dyeworks is new to me but not new to the market. I don’t know how I could have overlooked them last year; I was drawn in 4 times yesterday, just loving the colors, and finally decided on the Seawater braids.
I went to Dragonfly Fibers early on, scoping out what they had because I found them so late in the day last year I hadn’t much money left; this time around I wanted a sweater quantity and enough cash on hand to get it!
All in all, added 6575 yards (3.74 miles) and 10 ounces of fiber to the stash.
Noteworthy-to-me absences: there were four booths I planned to go to and they weren’t there: Cephalopod Yarns, Kollage Yarns (need another set of square needles; only one vendor had them but not the size I need), Nordic Mart (I talked to someone who has the inside scoop and they are planning to go in even-numbered years), and Village Spinning & Weaving. I also ended up not attempting to cram myself into Miss Babs’ or The Verdant Gryphon’s booths, both too full every time I happened by.
After all the shopping I met up for dinner from my friends who drove up from where I used to live and spent a few hours catching up with them. Today I spent the day resting my tired legs, getting stuff done around the apartment, and admiring my pile of lovelies that I haven’t put away yet. It’s too bad it’s only once a year (all that eye candy) but, speaking honestly, best for the budget and yarn storage areas if it’s only once a year. 🙂
Friday’s “to do” list, had I written one, would have looked something like this: wake up at 4:30am due to weird dreams, including one about arriving at Stitches West without cash (so stupid to dream this, because vendors all take credit cards); drift in a semi-awake state until 6:30am to pretend this was a full night’s sleep; write SW shopping list because did not take the time during the week due to frantic last-minute knitting on massive sweater; weave in ends on sweater while oatmeal cooks, spit-splicing having reduced number of ends to make this a manageable morning task; drive an hour; wander market for 2 hours; long lunch; wander market for 2.5 more hours; meet up with friends for knitting and dinner and more knitting; drive home, arriving a little after 11pm.
Whew, what an exhausting day that was! I woke up so tired yesterday that I barely dragged myself out the door for Saturday errands and didn’t have the wherewithal to play with my new toys in the afternoon, which makes today play day. Here’s this year’s loot:
Dollars-wise, I spent about as much as the last 3 years, but came home with less yardage. I added 5,010 yards (2.85 miles) and 8 ounces of fiber to the stash this year and apparently I was in the mood for green, which didn’t notice until I unpacked the shopping bag.
Left to right across the top: mini-skein of Regia sock yarn that I cast on while wandering, Kollage square needles, stitch markers from Miss Purl, lip balm and lotion bar from Bar-Maids, 2 bags from Erin Lane, 10 skeins Cascade 220 Paints. Left to right across the bottom: black alpaca/silk and Falkland fiber from The Sassy Sheep, 2 skeins DK weight from Oink Pigments, 5 skeins Traveller from The Verdant Gryphon, Damsel from Dragonfly Fibers. At the bottom: Silk Sock from Red Fish Dyeworks.
The stitch markers from Miss Purl were on my shopping list; I didn’t have any large enough to use on a size 10 needle. These are great because the rings she uses are solid, meaning they won’t snag on your yarn while you’re working or stretch out and split. I bought the lotion bar as a comparison to my own lotion bar. [A couple of friends came over last weekend and we made caramel candy and lotion bars (in separate pots, I assure you). The bar was nearly as sticky an affair as the caramel because the honey oozed out after the bar hardened. A couple of days of resting on a towel and some rinses under the tap made it so I can actually use it without wearing it permanently. Sticking a bar to my dry shins might be an effective moisturizing treatment but I’d end up with a puddle of beeswax in my socks and that’s just not the look I’m going for.]
The sweater I began on February 1 was in a wearable state so I wore it to SW; however, it was over 70 degrees outside and about the same inside, so I carried it more than wore it (bulky wool/silk yarn + summery weather = NO). I had hoped to find buttons and did find one style I liked, but $18 a button isn’t happening when I need 5 of them.
It’s not completely finished. I used two balls of yarn for the buttonband/collar so the stripes would match, but at the back of the neck where I twisted them around each other intarsia-style, I twisted them on the wrong side. I didn’t pay attention that it’s a foldover collar until I was on the last two rows and the twists are visible, so I need to rip and re-knit the buttonband and collar. I also may lop a few inches off the sleeves after blocking; my swatch ended up shorter after blocking so they may be OK, must wait and see.
Today’s lunch is simmering on the stove: a root vegetable stew, because although winter isn’t really happening (it’s warm with sparkling sunshine outside now), the root vegetables know it’s winter and they’re what’s to be had at the farmers’ market.
Today’s big excursion was to Lambtown in Dixon, CA. This is either my 3rd or 4th trip and each time I’ve mostly or entirely missed the sheepdogs in action due to the event finishing far earlier than scheduled. I hustled the morning errands and arrived at about 11:20am (30 minutes earlier than last time) and headed straight for the arena. This year the dog trials were scheduled to run until 3pm (in previous years, they were scheduled to end at noon; don’t know why they were longer today) so I actually got to watch them for more than an hour before I wandered off to see other stuff.
I’m fascinated by what the dogs do. The sheep handler at one end of the field releases 3 sheep, then the owner/trainer signals with voice and/or whistles and/or hand signals, the dog runs fast, walks, creeps forward, or lies down in order to drive the sheep the length of the arena and through, around, and into obstacles, and the sheep do their best to get away from the dog. The sheep seem to ignore the human on the field and if one gets separated from the other two, it really works to get back together with its buddies. All the herding has to take place within a certain time limit; I think 15 minutes.
Some sheep were far more cooperative than others. I have to say all the dogs struck me as competent and professional although some failed at their task due to a sheep’s non-professionalism. During one trial, one sheep separated from its buddies and came up to the stands. Even though I was sitting a few rows back, I have to say I really felt scrutinized, like “hey, what are all you people looking at?”. Eventually, a second dog had to be called in and the two together rounded the sheep back into a group and drove them to the sheep pen at the other end of the field, although the handler there had to release a good chunk of the flock to essentially take the 3 into the larger group, then the whole herd went where they were supposed to go. Judging from the “uh-oh”s in the stands, I wasn’t the only one wondering whether we were having some sort of sheep mutiny.
After all the herding, the dog is rewarded with a lovely bath to cool off, which they all seemed to enjoy. The sheepdog finals are tomorrow, for any of you who are going.
I watched the spinners and weavers at the Sheep to Shawl competition and was impressed as always. It’s amazing a group can turn out a shawl in a few hours. I do wish I could spin with a group like that, but my hands were sweaty just standing around; there’s no way I could spin well at any kind of an outdoor fair. I could, however, shop, and here’s today’s loot:
The large sack contains 12 ounces of California Variegated Mutant in a medium gray (color rather washed out in the photo) with a purple strand of Firestar running through it, from Morro Fleece Works. The Medusa-like bundle is 4 ounces of 95% Romney and 5% alpaca in the longest rolags I’ve ever seen. I can’t remember the vendor name — if you know, let me know, please! [added 10/12: it’s Aunt Janet’s Fiber Mill; thank you, fellow Raveler!] The rolags are around 30 inches long each. I’ve never spun from a rolag so this will be a new spinning adventure for me. The yarn is 80% superwash merino and 20% nylon in a subtle dark blue and green blend called “Fishing in the shadows” from Duren DyeWorks. I have no immediate plans for any of it yet.
The disappointment: no fiber animals to be found. Last time I went, there were alpacas and llamas and rabbits and many different breeds of sheep. This year, no. Just the one breed of sheep, and they were either in the sheepdog arena or the shearing pens so you couldn’t walk up to them to see them. Also, the events schedule is goofy. It lists times but not where anything’s taking place. Fortunately, the fairgrounds are small and it’s easy to walk the whole thing to find what you’re looking for.
The plan for the rest of tonight: to loll and allow the fan to do its work. It was warm today and is still 85 degrees in the apartment, too hot to sleep.
I went to the park, saw and heard the band play, and started a Strandwanderer scarf with Tausendschön yarn. Small turnout for Knit in Public: just me and Molly (thanks for coming, Molly!).
The much-predicted 74 degrees didn’t make it to this part of the park. Well, I guess it was maybe high 60s, but only when the chill wind ceased for a few seconds which wasn’t often. My hands were purple and I couldn’t feel my ears. But I was there!
With regard to the yarn: I believe these are the traditional zombie apocalypse colors. It’s knitting up differently than I thought it would, color-repeat-wise.
The second Saturday in June is World Wide Knit in Public Day. Where will you knit tomorrow?
I didn’t find any existing events in San Francisco except for one on Tuesday morning when I’m at work (WWKiP Day has turned into WWKiP Week) so I put a forum post on Ravelry for tomorrow. If any of my readers are near or in S.F. (unlikely, I think), please come join us in the park tomorrow afternoon!
Knitters near Golden Gate Park, want to knit in public in the park this Saturday afternoon, June 8?
When: noon to 3pm
Where: music concourse band shell (between the California Academy of Sciences and the de Young Museum).
Three hours too long? Come for only part of it. This location has parking, public restrooms, trees for a bit of shade, lots of foot traffic, and seating so you don’t need to tote a chair in your knitting bag. Forecast is 74 degrees – should be nice!
See you there!
Here’s a peek at what I bought at Stitches West on Friday:
Top row, left to right: Corriedale fiber from Fun Fibers for Hand Spinners; Greensleeves Spindles 18g spindle from Carolina Homespun (which went for a test drive immediately); Schoppel-Wolle Crazy Zauberball (my stepdad wants “crazy socks” and I hope this fits the bill); Watermelon Sock Kit from Knitter’s Brewing Co.; 10 skeins of Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool for the stash
Bottom row: sport weight alpaca from Black Diamond Alpacas; worsted weight superwash merino from Oink Fibers in “Goldfish Bowl”; orange cashmere laceweight from StitchSisterz; Valley Yarns Superwash DK (wee sweater-to-be); Bugga! from Cephalopod Yarns (so. very. purple.); Creating from A Verb For Keeping Warm; 2 skeins of Noro Kureyon
I like going on Friday. It’s less crowded than Saturday and less picked-over than Sunday. Using a vacation day from work is worth it! Six of the items were on my list, including the spindle. It’s the same weight as one of my other spindles but with a considerably smaller whorl so it will fit in a purse or backpack far more easily. The bright yellow alpaca is a color I saw everywhere in all kinds of yarns and kept picking up so I decided to buy it. No idea yet what I’ll make with it, just had to have the yellow. My major splurge was the Bugga! in such a lovely, vivid purple that I’m going to have to admire it for a while before I start thinking about what to do with it.
I wish I had gone back to Shaky K Fiber to buy one of their skeins of terrifically bright sock yarn. They’re not in the Showbook but they were in row 100. I’ll add them to my list for next year, or purchase mail order since I’ve already handled the wares. I also missed Brooks Farm, who did not go to Stitches West this year.
Acquisition: 7117 yards (4.04 miles).
Mmm... Yarn 