DenKnits 2.17 I loved it so much I needed to cast on

Two of my most recent spinning projects quickly turned into knitting projects this time around!

Works in Progress - WIPs

• Iris Shawl out of Sheep Dreamery yarn for the KitM KAL
• Special order - Hat that looks like Bender

Finished Objects - FOs

• Harvest Sweater by Tin Can Knits for the Autumnal Equinox Sweater along in the High Fiber Diet podcast group
• Storm Cloud Shawlette out of prize winning handspun from FiberNymph Dyeworks

Spinning/FOs

• Showl? Shawl-Cowl? made up out of Fiber Addiction handspun
• Cast on shortly after finishing spinning a worsted navajo ply
• Not sure if I like it as is so haven't made a project page yet
• Simple mesh cowl made up out of Lucky Cat Craft handspun
• Cast on shortly after finishing spinning a thick 'n' thin bulky 2-ply

Spinning

• (2) 1oz samples from Linden Lane Farms
• Different fiber content but not sure what exactly
• Spun one up into a thicker 2-ply
• Spun the other up into a 4-ply chain style (I believe?)

Spinning DVDs - DriveBy Review

• Building Blocks of Spinning with Sarah Anderson presented by Spin-off
• A great set for a beginner, covers everything you need to know from start to finish
• Covers different fibers and fiber prep
• Includes some info on plying and novelty yarns
• The Gentle Art of Plying with Judith MacKenzie presented by Interweave
• For someone who knows how to spin, covers what to do with singles
• Talks about how many plies, different kinds of singles plied together
• How to change your wheel set up to make the yarn you want

Bergere de France - Yarn sample book

• Get your own free catalouge that includes
• Images of their patterns
• Tools and notions
• Images of their yarns and some pages have real yarn samples!
• If you like to be inspired or see what's hot next check this great freebie out!

Acquisitions

• A better late than never birthday box from Karen aka stashless aka havfaith
• Dryer balls with lavender scented sachet - 7 balls keep my super full loads of laundry static free and smelling faintly of lavender (so I can enjoy but the boys won't complain!)
• Hand sewn bag perfect for a one skein or small skein(s) project as well as sock knitting with cute two colored pull strings
• Cast on Bind Off by Leslie Ann Bestor this book is great!  There are images of every cast-on and bind-off from different angles so you can pick one that looks just how you want, either to match or for a design element... And if you think you know all the cast-on or bind-offs you need, it's still useful because of the images!
• Cable Print bag ordered from SilviSherr of My Pink Boots
• Larger bag, can hold 3-4 worsted skeins easily and I fit a half sweater in too!  It has a draw string and toggle to keep it closed and excellent craftsmanship.
• More crochet 'squares' that aren't really square at all from yarnballkiki7, Akhila.  Love them all as usual but one is more intriguing to the novice crocheter in me :-)

Designing - Darn Good Yarn

• New design on the needles may be a big one!  Out of reclaimed sari silk ribbon, this garment is working up fairly quickly on size 15 needles but I can't share too much yet :-)  
• I also received several skeins of other yarns that will become designs for Darn Good Yarn very soon!

Thanks for watching and joining me on the Ravelry group and/or subscribing on YouTube!  While I usually try to make the podcast shorter (30 mins or less) I've noticed that my longer eps are being watched by just as many.  So I did not overly edit this one in the hopes that it is enjoyable as it is, even though it's over 30 mins.  I get too much done in two weeks time to consistently be under 30 I guess :-) 

DenKnits 2.16 Fun to be judged

FOs (Finished Objects)

• 3 comfort blankets from bulky/super bulky yarn held double and knit with size 36 needles, take about 2 evenings to finish a blanket (sorry no pics and already gifted)
• Leaf Lace Scarf from Darn Good Yarn Silk Cloud, my own design
• Bonny by Tin Can Knits out of Dragonfly Fibers lace weight

WIPs (Works in Progress)

• Harvest by Tin Can Knits out of Plymouth Encore Tweed for the Autumnal Equinox SAL
• Iris Goddess of the Rainbow Shawl out of Sheep Dreamery sock yarn for the KitM KAL

Went a Courtin' Cowl Giveaway!

Acquisition - Spin to Knit by Shannon Okey, package deal for hardcopy of the older version, e-copy of the update when available and entry into a drawing all for $10!

Michigan Fiber Fest!!!

• Handspun Skein Competition
• I'd never done or watched anything like this before so I went whole hog and entered as many categories as I could, which was 5 out of the 8 available.  Because I learned to spin fairly recently I was in the novice level, there were also intermediate and advanced levels.  I watched the whole judging process, which may be different for every event, but I've reviewed it all for you.  I'd never really seen anyone go into detail on how it works before so I thought it could be helpful for someone and perhaps interesting to others.  I ended up with four ribbons, three 1st place and one 3rd place!
• Emily of Fiber Addiction had my designs and sample knitting at her booth, I also got to meet her in person officially
• Emily from Bricolage Studios was in the same tent so I stopped by to say hi and let her know I submitted a skein I spun from her batt into the competition
• Meet up with KaRi and Lorrie, ran into Dena and Jill and hung out in Jenna's booth, Uniquely Yours
• Made my own batt using Jenna's drum carder out of Alpaca, BFL, Firestar and Silk Noil, this was probably the most fun!!!
• Also found Bethany and her daughters and got to see my Tulip Top design 'in the wild' as her daughter was wearing the version she had test knit for me :-)  
• Acquisitions - This year's plan was FIBER!
• Beyond the Fleece - Untamed batt
• Linden Lane Farm - 2 1oz mixed fiber balls
• 4 1oz balls from a booth whose name has been forgotten and does not tag their items
• 2oz braid from Lucky Cat Craft who was a fun gal to chat with too 
• My first purchase was from Winding Wool Creek Fiber Mill, many beautiful batts to choose from, I went with a merino/silk blend
• My Uniquely Yours Batt
• Happy Fuzzy Yarn, sock  yarn and fiber braid
• Spinzilla Team!  I decided to join and give it a try, I have until October to prepare
• Fiber Addiction barter items include 2 fiber braids and 2 skeins of worsted yarn on different bases

2.15 Distracted

Welcome to August!  Hope you were able to take advantage of the free patterns, they're back as paid patterns.  The Scrappy Stripes will now come with matching mitts and Asymmetricowl is still on Ravelry but will also be available as a kit in my store soon!

Finished Objects - DGY Chiffon Ribbon Vest, my own design and I haven't even made a project page!                            - Comfort Blanket ASAP also my own design but there is a project page :-)

Works in Progress - Bonny and Harvest by TinCanKnits are still going
                              - Leaf Lace Scarf I'm designing out of DGY Silk Cloud

Crochet - Granny squares and some other experiments

You can find the story behind the new wheel here.  I spun up some DGY Alpaca Roving and a batt from Joanna of KnitSpinFarm.  Next up I'm going to finish the TreLiz fiber!

Designing - My work for Emily of FiberAddication was at Wool and Wine (or Wine and Wool?) last weekend and the new hat pattern, 'Rock On!' is available now on Ravelry!

Shared Objects Drawing - Another random drawing from group members who shared their finished objects with us!  I had to cut some out and turn the volume down when I was drawing because my dog was barking but I did do it honestly!

Went a Courtin' Cowl Drawing - CoggieTM from The High Fiber Diet has generously offered up her new pattern to one lucky winner!  See the thread in the Ravelry group for the prompt.