DenKnits 2.21 - The grandma I'm kidded I am

Finished Objects:

• Panda Hat made up on my own for my daugher out of Universal Yarns Uptown Bulky
• Asymmetrical Cloche out of Bricolage Studios handspun and a matching cowl of my own design
• Tardis Cowl test knit from ages ago out of stash acrylics
• Haven Memories Socks out of Highland Handmades Sugar Maple Sock
• Simple Hat of my own design out of the Highland Handmades leftovers
• Mickey Mouse hat, earflap knit hat and crochet mouse ears
• Baby blanket (crochet) from the Easy Ripple Afghan pattern and stash acrylics 

Works in Progress:

• Fox hat for a customer out of LBY Wool Ease
• Lake Effect by KaRi of the High Fiber Diet podcast, test knitting out of Shepherd's Wool
• Stored in my bag from MyPinkBoots
• Multidirectional Diagonal Scarf using my Happy Fuzzy Yarn handspun in Forest colorway
• A Riot of Color socks from the sock blank purchased at Stitches East, my usual vanilla socks

Spinning:

• Started the last of the Happy Fuzzy Yarn Dragonfly colorway on...

Acquisitions:

• 3D printed turkish spindle from Turtle Made on Etsy
• KitM swag, a drawstring cotton bag and a t-shirt
• Banana fiber from DGY
• Reclaimed Rubber purse from DGY
• LYS shopping - the panda hat yarns, more Shepherd's Wool and Neon Now by Plymouth Yarn

Spinzilla follow up

Designing for DGY:

• Best Sweater Ever now available!
• Men friendly scarf and Mom & Me cloche style hat in the works!

Shared Projects Drawing!

DenKnits 2.20 STITCHES! but I digress...

I don't know if I've ever digressed so much :-D  This is a long one guys, but the last video was short, making up for it preemptively!

Finished Objects - I finished a Yoda hat for my cousin's toddler, it's a combination of this earflap hat and this Yoda hat.  The fingerless mitts have been received, they're my creation with a touch of a MelTran pattern.  I also got the Bender hat in the mail.  This was all my design and I hope to write up a pattern because there weren't any knit choices on Ravelry already!  The recipient of the Bender  hat (who has also gotten other hats from me) happened to be by the Jagger Spun factory for work and thought to stop in and pick up a skein for me!  Yay!!!

Works in Progress - The Easy Ripple Afghan is being crocheted for my son's teacher who is expecting a baby boy next month.  I'm also still plugging away on my Highland Handmades socks, just my usual vanilla sock.  My cousin's toddler is also getting a Mickey Mouse hat, I just need to figure out the ears!  I'm also working on a test knit for CoggieTM, KaRi from The High Fiber Diet.

Spinning - Finished the merino from TreLiz, my favorite Greek fiber artist :-)  The fiber spun on the wheel turned out deliciously but not the same weight as the spindle spun fiber.

Spinzilla - Go Team HappyFuzzyYarn!!!  I finished two 4oz braids on the wheel, one was 242yd (presoak)(968yd submittable) and the other 282yd (presoak)(1128yd submittable).  I also spindle spun on the road trip and managed to get through 3oz of another 4oz braid!  I was able to 2-ply 178yd (presoak) and had 68yd of singles (presoak) (for a total of 602yds submittable).  My total Spinzilla contribution was 2,698yds!!!

Stitches East - There was so much... I don't know what really needs to be notated here!  Well, it was amazing to finally meet Darn Good Yarn and just soak it all in.  I'm anxiously waiting for Stitches to post Fashion Show pics so we can all get a better look at our item as well as all the other gorgeous knitwear.  I saw Wendy from Knit1Heart2, I chatted with A Riot of Color and got a sock blank & a button, I picked up a few minis from White Birch Fiber Arts and some fiber from Highland Handmades along with a button for being a podcast fan!

DGY Designing - A sweater I designed is being released soon from DGY, along with a felt ball CaPOWl (it's a cape/cowl type thing) and I have two items in progress and one more to get started!  Expect lots from me through Darn Good Yarn over the next year or so :-)

What am I wearing?

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