The Strange Places I Knit

There is knitting to show you. In theory. Part of the problem is that I'm on a deadline for a gift I can't show you and so that's taking what few minutes of knitting time I regularly have. And since it isn't Thursday, I'll spare you the socks. I did knit at Dark Lord Day 2012 in Munster IN last weekend.  For those of you raising an eyebrow, it's a beer festival. 3 Floyds makes a Russian Imperial Stout that is considered a pinnacle of brews and they only sell it in bottles one day a year. As such, it's extremely hard to purchase.

The process involved
1) Buying tickets at exactly noon on St. Patrick's Day. Noon CST even though I was in Baltimore on lousy hotel wireless. I credit my Wollmeise shopping skills for the fact that I managed to get two tickets. The better part of 6000 tickets (they reserved some for sale at the brewery) sold out in 4 minutes.

2) A dozen of us loaded up in a van and drove down early that morning. This meant I woke up at 5:30 a.m. on a Saturday.

3) Upon arriving we found reasonably priced parking near the event--which meant we could go back and forth to the van and drop off and retrieve things all day.

4) We queued from 8:30-10:45 just to get into the festival. They were supposed to open the grounds at 10 a.m. but it was at least 10:30.  We got in, there was some beer buying to soothe our already wind parched throats, and then we queued to actually buy the Dark Lord Beer that we'd come for. Limit was 4 bottles per person, plus they had special (read $$$$) bottles of other beers that were scratch off ticket and win opportunity to purchase. I did not win, neither did the Philosopher, but others in our crew did.

5) One buys tickets in one of three groups: A (10-12), B (1-3), C (5-7).  We had people in all three groups, so we were there for the day.  This meant a lot of hanging out and waiting and much trying of the various craft brews they were selling, both 3 Floyds and a lot of guest pubs who had sent or sold 3 Floyds a keg or three.  Interesting things I had included: Intelligentser (Coffee Stout), PipeWorks Hyper Dog (Coffee Stout--notice a trend?), Stone Brewing Company Smoked Porter Vanilla Bean, and a Cucumber Beer right at the end of the day whose name I can't remember. Also, Zombiehead from 3 Floyds tasted much better, imo, there at the brewery than it did in a bottle but it's still a reasonable if hoppy beer.

6) I was designated driver so while I tasted a number of beers, it was little sips. In theory this meant a lot of knitting time but it was in the mid 40s and there was a high wind. I got about three inches done on a sock. I'll try to get you a picture tomorrow.

We stayed over with our fearless leaders' mom's house. She is also Pyewacket's first human--and had Pye's mother, uncle and sister in her cat clan. The next day we drove back with a lot of beer in the van. My four pack of Dark Lord (AudioGirl has been promised one as this year's birthday gift--the others will be saved for something...) is residing in my office/"2nd bedroom" as that's the most temperature stable room at Chez Hedgehog.

I think only three people asked about my knitting who weren't part of our crew. I could tell at least one knitter though--the guy with her was dragging her along admonishing her not to stop just because I was knitting.  Pity, that, we probably would have had a fun chat.

She Can Smell Yarn Fumes A Mile Away

I had such ambition in Washington DC.  I didn't even look at where yarn stores would be in  Baltimore, assuming that while the Philosopher is patient, he also knows just how much yarn is at Chez Hedgehog and how I don't really need any more. Besides, we had plans of the Aquarium and a wedding to attend.

The wedding was beautiful and utterly quirky. The bride wore a very late 20s/early 30s glamour girl dress with a cloche style veil. The ceremony was held in the formal parlor of the Engineer's Club, a mansion that took up three townhouses. The parlor comfortably held 120 or so of us seated in rows. I managed to sit down next to another knitter (neither of us had knitting with us--I don't take knitting to weddings) and we had a good chat about wool. After cocktails and food, a 10 piece brass/woodwind/percussion band processed through the house and we followed them into the ballroom/theater.  The music was lively and led to much romping.  It's safe to assume a good time was had when the band thanks you for your lively dancing, right?

The Aquarium was very cool, though we did resist the dolphin show. The Philosopher is a warm temperature man at heart, he loved the various jungle/rainforest enclosures that were set up. I was okay in one of them, found it muggy, but the other one was almost unbreathable.

We also visited the Walters Art Museum. I'd never heard of it before, which doesn't mean a whole lot, but we discovered it right next to our hotel. We only had an hour to visit it after we'd been to the Aquarium but it was an interesting dash through. They had an "Ancient Americas" special exhibit. My one complaint with it was that it was misnamed: only Central and American art was included.  This isn't a reflection on the collection itself (the project of one man and my thoughts did wonder to whether Peru or Mexico might start asking for some of these things back) just on the choice of names.

Leaving Baltimore, we took the train to DC, dropped our bags at the hotel and headed to the Smithsonian's Natural History Museum. We hit almost all of the areas, though we didn't spend much time in the mammals section. Having the Field Museum spoils us.



And then, because the cherry blossoms were peaking two weeks early while we were there (and before the tourists who'd planned to come), we walked the nearly 5 mile loop of memorial monuments (Lincoln, Jefferson, MLK, FDR, Washington and the various wars). It was glorious.  People were out strolling. The trees were incredibly fresh and it was calm.


(Me at the FDR Memorial, Photo by Philosopher--and yes, that's a Piddleloop knitting bag)

The next morning the Philosopher took me to the hotel I would be at for the Computers in Libraries conference.  We took the DC Metro and then trudged up the hill towards the Hilton.  And lo if we didn't walk past a yarn store on the way there.  Here I'd said I wouldn't buy any yarn because it's too far out to Fibre Space and the wool fairies gave me an alternative with Looped.

I was very good and didn't immediately demand that we haul all luggage up to the second floor right that moment.  Instead we checked into the hotel, I dropped my bags, we got lunch and the Philosopher left to catch his flight. And then I went to the yarn store on the way back to the hotel.

It's a lovely store and the staff were very nice.  I was on a mission to find something I can't regularly buy, which eliminated a lot of their stash but that inspires me to find something special that will remind me of the trip.  This time, I found Dirty Dye Works.



The yarn base is Paula, which is the 100% BFL base. It's not the squish of merino but it's a really nice wool. I purchased Avocado and Bark. I had intended that I would knit socks--after all they are fingering but then I remembered all of the two colored shawls I'd been stalking. There are some very interesting patterns out there that might do quite nicely.  And since it's past Easter....

Sock Show Thursday: Once More Into the Fray

I haven't been knitting a lot recently. Part of it was Lent--where I needed to resist the new, ooh, shiny; part of it was a ridiculous amount of work that's come up recently; part of it was general other stuff.  Life happens, right?   Of late I've had a lot of obligatory feelings about knitting and that's frustrating. I don't want my hobby to feel obligatory, it's one of the reasons I don't knit much for other people who are not blood. Sure, the 9 pairs of socks I gave to other people might belie that a little but I've been in a wallowing frame of mind where I didn't want to knit for anyone else. But not knitting makes me grouchy too. I need the repetition and calm of knitting, particularly when work is getting ever crazier--though I suppose it's good that it's getting busy in ways that are not meetings where I can knit because that generally means we're getting more done.

Anyway, I did have one such meeting the other day and I had a new ball of wool and needles with me.

Thus it begins, the return to wool.  There was a staff meeting this afternoon that I could knit through too.  I got a lot more done there.




This is Lamb's Pride Superwash Sportweight. I bought it at What in Yarnation in Minnesota when the library and knitters paired up to do a yarn store crawl.  I'd intended to make a pair of toe up socks with it but for right now I'm just on my usual 2x2 rib. Baby steps back into my comfort zone. It's on size 2s and I have two skeins so I'll be making 8-9" cuffs.

One more obligation deadline coming up soon, so I have to do that this weekend. But after that I need to find something that really makes me happy to knit again.

Sock Show Thursday: All Ewetopia, All the Time

I know I've spoken about my love for Ewetopian Fiber Arts and Kathryn's color sense and wonderfully luscious sport weight merino base. It's the only socks I have going at the moment so everyone around me has gotten to see and feel the yarn and to a knitter (and yes, there were both male and female knitters feeling it up), they've all thought it was incredibly wonderful.  Mostly I just get the shaded solids in the merino but she has interesting color mixes and a base with bamboo in it as well.

I did finally finish the purple socks that are for me.  They turned out quite nicely and should we have cold weather next year in Chicago, I'll be breaking them out.  Or an April blizzard, I'm not quite convinced I can put up all my sweaters just yet--though I did take stuff to the dry cleaner before leaving for conference.





I had some trouble getting my camera to cooperate on the color. This third picture, taken with flash mostly to try and get the right color, is the closest. It's a warmer red purple than the other pictures are showing.



Also, you can see my assistant's tail.

And I thought I was done with the first green sock for the Philosopher, but I had him try them on before he got on his return plane and discovered that I had started the toe too soon. So I ripped back, I've knit more rows, and then I decided rather than trying again--I'll wait til I get his foot available again before starting the toe.



I've cast on the second sock and am working down the leg of that during conference presentations. I'm totally going to run out of socks before Easter.  Start the hyperventilating now.  

Au Revoir Knitter's Niche

The first yarn store that I went to after moving to Chicago was the Knitter's Niche. It was walking distance from AudioGirl and I's apartment, how could I not be thrilled! And the owner, MaryAnn, was the first person to introduce me to Malabrigo. Unfortunately, due to moving away and getting more into sport and finger weight yarn, and then living in a very different neighborhood, I haven't made it back often, but when I heard that she was retiring and the shop would be closing, I wanted to make one more trek.

I hauled the Philosopher over with me.  It was good to chat with MA about what she'll do now (shows, a cruise, grandchildren) and she had things very reasonably discounted. She doesn't like knitting socks--so there wasn't a whole lot there that leaped off the shelf at me since I was looking for neither lace nor sweaters, but I found a couple of things that "had" to follow me home.

First up was some Berroco Sox. And they are blue. I know, I know, going out on such a limb for my color palette.  More blue sock yarn. In addition to the bin of blue sock yarn I already own.  Also, it will self pattern/stripe/some such a little bit--if you will recall the last Sox that I made that I lovingly referred to as the Ugly Socks



I've still never worn those, they're over at AudioGirl's still waiting to be overdyed. At least this yarn is closer to my colors.





And hopefully one of my friends will pop up and say "Oh...those socks for me!" and I'll have a good home to send them off to.  If not, there is always black dye. The Incredibly Patient Mother needs more black socks. :)

I also grabbed a skein of Dream in Color Smooshy. I have knitted with this before, a yellow hat that AudioGirl still wears as her main winter beret.  I haven't done anything of late though and this color was pretty appealing.





It's called Cinnamon Girl and it's a smidge more orange than the camera was willing to show. I'm not sure I'll make it into socks, perhaps this is destined for a scarf or some such.

That is, of course, assuming that I can keep it away from Gypsy.



The Philosopher got more needles. He's going to need a circular needle case in the near future.

1 skein, two skein, brown skein, green skein

I'm finally back to the green yarn on the Not-Very-Instant Grafitication afghan. *kermitflail*

Pyewacket for scale, sorta...



As you can see, I'm not too much farther along but I have made a dent.  Four more green skeins and I'll be on the home stretch of brown.  And then I just will need an epic end weaving day. That might call for the entire first season of Downton Abbey or some similar marathon.

One Pound Lighter

I lost a pound yesterday in under 30 minutes! Did you know you can too?  It's very easy, all you need to do is contact your local blood bank.

This was prompted by the friend I mentioned earlier--the Trombone Player. His mom has been a regular donor for decades and is now on the receiving end of blood transfusions. He thought it would be nice if he could get people she's met to donate.  So that's what I did today. The hospital across the street from my building has a walk in donation center and, as I didn't have any really important 4 p.m. meetings, I went over. One of the advantages to adding a couple extra pounds over the last year is that when I went in they believed me when I said I'm over the required 110 lbs.  I should, however, always have some spinach and red meat shortly before donating, as I'm on the low end for hemoglobin.

I had a number of tests done for various reasons in my past so getting blood drawn holds no particular fears for me, though I'll admit finding it a little creepy to watch that much blood go into the bag.  My phlebotomist and I discussed Hunger Games.  And then I headed back to my cube.

Now I'm drinking buckets of tea, trying to correct the hypovolemia.







I picked up machine washable Cascade 128 for a City Shawl for Trombone's Mom. She'll be in the hospital another month, so I went with the Chianti colorway. She actually prefers whiskey but I couldn't find any yarn that seemed to be in that colorway, so I went for wine instead. I'm over 2 skeins into the project. I say I'm using the City Shawl because that's the general idea I'm working with, but I changed how many you cast on, changed when do x number of rows and when y, messed around with the lace so it hangs a little better. It's close though, really. :-p

The shawl is going nicely. A small project on large needles does work up pretty quickly.  I'm hoping to have it done by the end of the weekend so I can get back to the other projects that are gathering dust around the livingroom.