To dye for...

We had our 2nd Dye Workshop and Wine Night here at KAH (well, it was at my house actually), and I think it was a big success! We had nine people sign up, Yvonne was the dyeing instructor, and I just kind of milled around taking pictures and eating a lot of food. Here's a little montage of our fun:

Everyone got to dye at least 2 skeins of yarn, ranging from bamboo sock yarn to silk noile, and boy were there some beeeeyuuuteefull results! It is so much fun to see how everyone's visions turn into hand-painted yarn creations.

In other news, I had a quick project that I did last weekend. Inspired by Bernie G., who gave me a cupcake hat (I would link to it but the page is gone...) for my baby, I decided I would knit one up for a girlfriend's baby shower. I used Croisette for the "chocolate" base, Cool Wool #477 and Whisper #2262 together for the top, and Cotton Twist for the cherry on top. It was a really fun project on size 7 needles, and I have enough left over I might just do one up as a store sample. All of the yarns are yummy soft, and I love the light pink with the brown (duh - notice that combo anywhere else???)

I also finished the BIG HUGE MAN SOCKS. Tape measure for your size reference.

I washed these in the washer before sending them on their way, and I was SO surprised at how soft that Opal 6Ply (#1078) washed up! They felt soft and silky and totally different than they did pre-washing. And on size 3 needles they went so much faster than I thought they would. My 3s are already newly occupied by some Med Weight STR that Meg (SP9 secret pal) gifted me last summer.

Also cruising along are the Brach's candy socks in the Trekking that Yvonne gave me. I did toe-up socks so I could get maximum leg height, and I first tried Wendy's toe-up heel w/gusset method, but that didn't fit me so well (see left picture), so I then tried the slip-stitch heel flap for toe-up, a la Widdershins. Only drawback here is that it is incredibly mind-bending to adapt Widdershins' numbers from the small cast-on they use (56 sts) to my standard 64 st sock. There wasn't a clear formula for doing it with other numbers, although Brook did provide the math behind the heel (I made it through college level calc, but it did not serve me here, or it is completely eroded by pregnancy brain). I was able to make the heel OK, though, and it more or less came out even and centered, which is really what matters. At any rate, one sock is done (didn't quite get knee-high, but that's OK), and #2 is past the heel and working on the leg. I love how the Widdershins heel fits my foot and am definitely doing more heels like that! I had avoided toe-up socks before b/c the short-row heel is too square for my deep heel, but no more! I am definitely in a sock groove!

So, under 3 weeks until baby time, and I'm betting less than that. Things have just been, well, different these past few days. We'll see. I'll just keep on knitting!

Comments

[Yvonne]

Well, if anything does happen, make sure you call me! You make me a little nervous, I must say. Though not in a bad way.

[shelly d]

think baby baby baby :)

[Destiny]

The Whitaker meals on wheels is on call for delivery. We are thinking about you. The boys can't wait to meet Ms.Sarah's baby. Not to worry we will wait a bit until she can handle them ONE at a time of course. Take care and REST. hehehe

[So Much Fun]

Mmmmm...cupcake hat, that sounds right up my alley!

[Sarah]

Awesome! What a great hat, who doesn't love a cupcake. I will be thinking of you as you enter this last phase of pregnancy—you're all ready just need the baby.

[Karen]

Talk to Vonnie, she should have a set of 4 cupcake stitch markers for you at the shop. I had the hubby drop them off for you. Happy not-a-baby gift. :)

Karen

[kaetlyn]

i hope you are hanging in there. i think it is about time to put your feet up and blast a fan on you while drinking lemonade and eating ice cream and cookies! unless you are having a sudden surge in energy and cleaning like a maniac in which case maybe you should make sure you have your bags packed for that middle of the night run to the hospital! best of luck, stay well!

[Destiny]

I see a new sock on the sidebar. No photos? What will I do? How will I project lift if you keep me in the dark?