A Great Way to Spend a Saturday...

When you can combine a great activity (knitting) with like-minded people (knitters), and laughter (lots).... that makes for a great day!

That was the case on Saturday when a knitting colleague and I ventured to North Bay to hear Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (aka Yarn Harlot).  The yarn shop Stix and Stones collaborated with the North Bay Knitters' Guild to host the event -- the Friday night speaking engagement, and a day-long Saturday class with Stephanie on knitting speed and efficiency.

The knowledge and experience Stephanie brought to both the lecture and class was exemplary... all wrapped in a wonderful sense of humour that inspired learning, empowered us to try new techniques, and inspired us to recognize and be proud of our knitting heritage. 

The "lever knitting" techniques are a new addition to my knitting repertoire, and after the prerequisite 30 days of practice, I'll definitely be moving on to dpns and circs!

I would highly recommend anyone who has the chance to hear Stephanie, to do so... the gems of wisdom are priceless!

Spring.... A Time for Renewal

Time to revisit my blog.... it's embarrassing to think the last time I posted anything was in 2006 (don't look... I've deleted those posts).  While knitting factored into the content (trust me), so did woodworking, sewing, and quilting. So, cut to six years later:  I've discovered Ravelry and knitting is my go-to activity, while the other activities wait in the wings. 


Projects have been mainly focused on socks, although that's not to say there isn't enough yarn in my stash for several sweaters (which remain either partially knit or still in the optimistic "will be knit" stages). 

And the "new" project added to my repertoire is scarves (although some may refer to them as shawls).  The first one on my needles is "Semele", and is knit in Handmaiden SeaSilk in "Spring" (appropriate, yes?), and it certainly expanded my knitting skills into the area of a provisional cast-on. I'm about one-third of the way in the first half (how's that for math?!).

It's taking a back seat right now to these... (I'm hoping they're done by May 31).  


These are "Haystacks" and are done in Grant Creek Yarns "Barely Yellow" (merino/cashmere/nylon).




So, what are my plans for this blog?  I hope to share things that inspire me to create -- as well as the things that are the product of that creative inspiration and time.  And yes, it will be on a more regular basis...  at the very least, I promise it won't be another six years before I post again!