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Yarn-along: of shawls and sweaters and stories
~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us! ~ Ginny at small things

Yarn-along – April 24, 2013
Good morning …. a lovely day ahead of clear and 75 degrees … which we will enjoy AFTER my dentist appointment!
I hope you’re having a knitterly day … I know I plan to. I’m just about done with another shop model of my popular Rib Tickler – Worsted Version. I’ve got one sleeve done and attached and have started the second. Once I get that attached, the yoke is a breeze with easy to remember/execute decreases to make the ribbed yoke. I’ve had requests for sizing it for kids and making it into a cardigan … so you’ll probably be seeing alot of the Rib Tickler over the next few months.
I’ve also posted the various designs I worked out for the DHY Knitting Workshop last weekend — the workshop was a blast with gorgeous weather, blooming trees and 60-some fiber fanatics! I taught a how-to bead-knit class and the ladies really enjoyed working on my Beaded Bangle and/or Cranford: A Beaded Bag; I made these designs relatively easy for first time beaders and the ladies really appreciated it. My 13yod is making the Cranford with just my pattern and no other directions … so it must be pretty doable. The folks also loved the Flight Formation pattern, which they all received in their goodie bag — after the workshop, I posted the design on Ravelry and Craftsy for purchaase.
The keynote speakers at the workshop were the owners of Solitude Wool, a Loudon County company that specializes in local sheep breeds and producing gorgeous yarn. I couldn’t resist their Suffolk-Dorset blend and bought three skeins of this DK weight, cushy soft yarn in order to make a fall/winter shawl – 720 yards of fiber-fun. I’ve been mulling over just exactly how/what I’m going to make with it.
In addition to Solitude Wool, we also had Elisabeth from Wolle’s Yarn Creations and I couldn’t resist a skein of her color-changing cotton: I got 480yds of “Afternoon” – goes from lavender to heathery/denimy blue to finish with a heathery dark green. This too will be made into a shawl. I love the way this cotton knits … it’s what I used for A Slice of Summer and Elisabeth has done my Sunburst Spectacular in it and it is truly a spectacular shawl (and her posting about it has helped to make this my most popular design).
I love supporting local fiber artists!
For reading … I’m reading a fluff-book that is a fun and light read: Aunt Dimity and the Lost Prince. Sometimes I just need a mindless read in the evening — but it still has to be well-written and a good story with fun characters; Aunt Dimity never lets me down! I also just rec’d a review-copy of a brand new (just-published revision) book from Our Sunday visitor: Encyclopedia of US Catholic History which is going to prove quite useful for all of us. It’s got entries for dioceses, religious orders, politicians and other public figures who have played a role in shaping U.S. history. It’s quite extensive and a great reference. I’ll be doing a full review later this week.
Oh, and we’re just about done with our read-aloud — The Brotherband Chronicles. The problem is, none of us wants the story to end; looks like we may start book 2, The Invaders, just as soon as we finish this one!
So what’s on your needles and reading table … wanna come play …
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