Sunday, February 25, 2007

Stitches West 2007, Waited All Year (Part 2)






















I have to admit that I went to stitches to buy specific things. Everything was wonderful to look at but much as I admire good eye-candy, I had goals in mind. I was out for laceweight yarn and not just any laceweight yarn. I wanted primarily to get to Skaska Designs. You really can't buy on the net from them. You have go to a show where they are at. You have to touch, see, smell and appreciate the beautiful and unique yarn. I got to the booth and went hog-wild. I bought enough to make me happy and that is saying something. Still, their yarn was not the only thing I bought. The red/orange cashmere is by Just our Yarn (500 yards 2/26, colorway Myne). Beautiful Merino/Silk fiber 50%/50% from Blue Moon Fiber Arts (see side-bar for link), Four skeins of cream colored 65% wool 35% silk (50 g/1,300 yds/skein) from Skaska Designs (see side-bar for link)Lavender/green hand-dyed merino from Skaska Designs (100% merino, 100 gms. 1,375 yds 25/2) Gray silk/yak (55/45)also from Skaska Designs (100 grams, 1,675 yds/skein 32/2). I picked up some dye in pinks/violets, point protectors and my sister bought me a yarn counter so I can figure out how many yards of yarn I spun. The lone white skein of yarn is tencel and merino wool called HEAVEN by Yarn Place (4.2 ounces 3,100 yds)Beautiful Baby Alpaca Lace from Lisa Souza (colorway Sun bleached Mahogany, 6 ounces/1,500 yds 100% baby alpaca). Last, but not least, glass circular needles from Sheila & Michael Ernst. They put on cables so I could have 40 inch circulars in US 3-4. They are so beautiful I can't do them justice in these photographs. They are light, slick and wonderful to work with. This should hold me for awhile:-)
For those who wonder, yes I wore Mountain Pines to Stitches. I don't look great in a shawl but it was all about showing off the work. I did get stopped several times. The questions were about the same. What pattern was it. Where could they get it. What yarn did I use. How long did it take. You could tell the new knitters from the old-timers. When I told the new knitters that I spun the yarn for it they all were shocked. Old-timers took it in stride but usually said I did a good job on the spinning. What can I say? It was Stitches for goodness sake. Ya gotta show-off. I don't have pictures from Stitches. They don't allow photographs. I also don't have pictures of the stuff Mo, Millie or Marlene bought but they did a lot of damage to their pocketbooks, believe me.
Now to actually do these beautiful products justice!
Life is GOOD!

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

ooh--I bought that yak/silk from Skaska at Rhinebeck. Haven't decided what to do with it, but it's lovely lovely stuff. :) And those glass needles are soooo pretty!

fleegle said...

I am lavender/green with envy. Wish Skaska had a real web site you can actually buy stuff from. Oh well, Stitches East is next fall...

Lacefreak said...

Dear janice in ga,


I just had to have those needles and I have not decided what to use them on first. I think I'll use it as a reward to finish the center of the WRS. I'm close to it now so then I can cast-on with the glass for a short project perhaps. Everything at Stitches was drool worthy. I'm fortunate I live close enough to go each year and I have great people to go with. I hope there is something like this event in your area!

Lacefreak said...

Dear alice,

Who would have thought 10 years ago we would be swooning to knit with yak/silk? On lace no less! I have a long history of klutzyness. I hope to avoid breakage by knitting with them only when sitting on the bed. If I drop them, they should not break. I will only knit lace as well so that it is not likely I will break them trying to do cables. Everyone deserves glass needles. I'm just fortunate to have a sister who likes to get me stuff in advance of my actual birthday!

Lacefreak said...

Dear fleegle,

I'm glad you'll be able to get to Stitches East to shop for stuff. I know I don't have to worry you will run out of yarn in the mean time. It's not like I was going to run out either, but I don't have a lot of other vices. It's mainly the knitting and other crafts. And the entertainment value of lace is soooo worth while! It takes forever to finish something and the cost is relatively low for knitting. I used to spend a fortune on knitting cable sweaters. Looked at in that light, I'm being thrifty!

fleegle said...

I tried some glass needles at Stitches East last year, The join just screamed "I am here to catch your yarn and shred it!" As beautiful as they were, I regretfully put them down. I hope your join is better.

FYI, you can buy silk/yak (and other weird stuff, like silk/bamboo) lace yarn here:
http://www.dimitysdrygoods.com/

Her cash/silk is the same as Skaska's and a bit cheaper.

I still covet that lavendar/purple yarn. I tried to have someone dye something like that for me last month, but she made a mess of it.

Lacefreak said...

Dear fleegle,

I have looked at Dimitry's site before but I wasn't sure if their yarn was good or not. Now that I know you think their stuff is good, I'll look at them again when I need more yarn. Right now I have to say I'm pretty happy with my stash. As for the glass needles. I will knit lace, but not gossamer weight with them as they are US 3-4 in size. I think other, more substantial laceweight yarns won't be a problem. I'll let everyone know once I start using them. I hope the lavender/green yarn works out. I'm not sure what to use it on yet. Nothing that needs to hold a rigid pattern shape since I find merino doesn't manage that well.

fleegle said...

Dimity's stuff is identical to Skaska's and Diane is a lovely lady to deal with. I think they must buy from the same source.

About Spider--I think I will rename it Black Widow Spider King and tell a story about Harry, my pet Japanese spider that lives in my bathroom. He's 10 inches toe-to-toe and very smart.

I don't see any point in knitting an ugly border and really, figuring out a new border isn't difficult. Of course, I haven't exactly started knitting it yet....

Jo said...

Wow - I am in awe of your haul! I hope you have fun using it all up :)

Kathy said...

What a haul you got there Jane, I too am green with envy!!!

I would love to try the Lacis cobweb, I have to put in an order soon, it's one of those itchy finger things.

Sorry I comment on this so much later, but I have never been to your blog before, thanks for dropping in at mine, I am glad you did, I may well have missed all this eye candy, *drool*.
I have been off lace for a while, but working Princess is bringing it all back and I am looking forward to working the WRS myself straight after Princess!!! So I should quick yakking and get to it right!

K

Lacefreak said...

Dear Jo,

I feel very fortunate to live so close to where Stitches West is now held. My sister-in-law lives in Sunnyvale so we go there first because it's only 10 minutes from her house. It's not just the opportunity to buy stuff. I love getting together with all our family who love to knit. It was alot of fun and all those lovely yarns will be a challenge to knit up into what I hope will be pretty lace! Thanks for checking in!

Lacefreak said...

Dear Kathy,

Thank you for dropping in to take a look at all the trophy yarn I scored. I stare at it often and I'm hoping to let the yarns marinate in my mind so I will know what to knit with them. I may try to dye the tencel/merino but it would be sacrilege if I screw it up! I will wait a little and keep knitting on that WRS center. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel where I will be able to begin picking up the edges so I can do the inner border. Good Luck on the Princess. I'll be checking in to see how it goes:-)