Stash Flash

I realize that it's been a while since I've really showed off any of my yarn purchases. I mean, I used to post just about every week with new bits of wwooly goodness.

So where have I been hiding all these purchases?

Well, the truth is, I really haven't been purchasing that much yarn.

I Know, I know. You should probably sit down before you pass out.

But it's really hit me that I may have hit SABLE already. (Stash Accumulation Beyond Life Expectancy, for those not in the know.)

I'm not even thirty yet.

Yeah.

So, I've slowed down on my yarn purchases.

Slowed down, mind you. I didn't say I stopped entirely.

So, prepare yourself for some hot, wooly action.

First off, we have some of Latte and Llamas' limited edition DK weight yarn for March.

 

The colorway was called "Hyrule." How was I supposed to pass that up? My poor nerdy heart nearly exploded as is.

Next up, we have some lovely lace weight yak/silk blend that I bought in a buy-in on one of my facebook groups.

I seem to be on a silk buying spree right now. Raineshine was a silk blend, this is a silk blend. And then I kinda fell into a spell at Harps and Thistles clearance sale.

Yep, that's all 100% silk. Two different colors of Malabrigo on either side and some lucious Alchemy silk in the middle.

I also picked up this delightfully squishy hank of Blue Sky Alpaca's Extra.

 

This baby is destined for some sort of cowl that I will probably live in when it's done.

To finish out the post, I've saved what I consider the best for last. 

At the last pj party, the Three Irish Girls trunkshow had just started. I was going to honestly try to not buy anything, but you know how that goes. At least I talked myself out of the $100 gradient set that matched my hair perfectly .

Instead, I bought these two beauties.

The one on the left is Kraken. The other is an OOAK named Under the Sea. They're destined for some sort of shawl together. There's no way I could break them up.

I would say that this is all the yarn porn you're going to get for a while, but the Great Lakes Fiber Show is tomorrow. I have no faith in my willpower.

Wish my poor wallet luck, friends. It's gonna need it.

Meaningful Gestures

I used to think that being in a relationship meant that you had to basically be the same person. You had to like similar food, have the same taste in music, share every hobby...

Yes, I know. I was utterly ridiculous.

Needless to say, I've wizened up over the years.

John's got his interests, I've got mine. And we have some that we share.

But I still feel like it's important to at least try and understand why John likes the things that he does. I went so far as to take a programming class in college to at least be able to comprehend a little bit of what he was talking to me about.

Not to mention that trying out some of his interests led us to developing a shared passion for board gaming.

But John's never really shown any interest in trying out any of my hobbies.

Sure, he'll sit there and happily listen to me ramble on and on about what I'm doing. He may even take a passing stab to at least understand some of the jargon coming out of my mouth.

But to actually pick up some needles or a paintbrush and give it a go?

Nope.

Well, not until recently that is.

That's right. My darling husband finally picked up some needles to try his hand at a bit of knitting.

It's not much, but to me, it's worth more than any shiny rock he could ever give me.

Watching him slowly start to understand how to manipulate the yarn and the needles into a workable fabric was awesome. He smacked my hand away, determined to learn for himself.

I'm not going to lie, there may have been some tears and giddiness on my part.

And while I don't think I'm going to have to worry about my best stash disappearing in the middle of the night, I'm happy enough knowing that he gave it a go at all.

And maybe, just maybe, next time I ask him to finish this damn row, there will be a little hesitation before he says no.

P.S. He read over my shoulder a bit as I was writing this and would like me to inform you all that he's determined to learn more because, and I quote, "I got a taste of it. And damnit, I'm going to learn. I'm not going to let it defeat me."

Be still, my wooly little heart.

Weird Wide Web

Today was weird. And painful.

Definitely an emphasis on painful.

It started off with me waking up from strange, half-forgotten dreams. Nothing too terrible, but disturbing enough to make me feel a bit off.

I shook it as much as I could and forced my focus into the direction of the good things that were happening.

Like the case and keyboard for our new tablet coming in. Which, by the way, I'm using right now. It's bloody incredible.

I was also determined to get my loom set up properly since I had FINALLY discovered exactly what type and brand it was and what I needed for it.

I mean, it involved having to tie hundreds of knots seeing as it required these things called string heddles, but what's a pair of sore hands when learning a new fiber craft is the result?

 I was deep into my work when my body was like, "Yo, bathroom time, lady."

Wisely heeding the signs, I grabbed my phone and settled in for a bit of redditing. But then, horror struck. I think my facebook post from earlier explains it properly.

After leaving the bathroom a changed woman, I threw myself back into the knot tying frenzy.
 
I had just finished them when John finally walked in the door. Poor dear went to Pat Catan's for me to purchase a few last minute things I needed for my weaving venture. But the loom was done and ready for me to give it a go.

We can fast forward a bit to where I actually started weaving. It wasn't pretty, but damnit, it was a start.

I stayed up much too late and spent way too long hunched over. When I finally stepped away from the loom, I couldn't stand up straight. And holy sheep, I was tired.

But I needed a shower. Desperately. So I hobbled into the bathroom and got myself to bathing.

And apparently reached the levels of exhaustion where your brain turns into a jumpy, screamy mess. I was washing when I glanced down and saw a GIGANITC FUCKING SPIDER OH MY GOD KILL IT KILL IT KILL IT!!!!!!

Just when I was ready to slice off my arm with my razor and douse myself in a cleansing fire, I realized what I had seen.

It was the bottom of my bloody tattoo.

Yep.

The adrenalin spike was enough to get me through the shower and out to dry. I cracked open the door to get some ventilation and our cat, Loki, came sauntering in to demand attention. And apparently I wasn't doing an adequate enough job because the little fuck decided to bite me. On my ass.

And now I'm sitting here, ready to finally give in and go the fuck to sleep. Because I am beyond done with today. But I had to write about all this shit first. Because some days are just strange enough to warrant a proper memorial to their oddity.

Here's hoping that tomorrow is marvelously mundane.

Singing 'Bout my Rain

You know the old adage about April showers, right? How apropo then that April's shawl was Rainshine by Boo Knits.

And yes, I'm totally just realizing now the coincidence I totally planned this in a well-thought out manner...

Okay, okay, I only started working on this particular shawl because I was infatuated with the squishy goodness that is the Yellow Labradorite colorway from Blackcat Fibers LLC.

I mean, how was I supposed to resist this?

(Photo courtesy of Blackcat Fibers.)

And the Rainshine pattern seemed like it would compliment a variegated yarn rather well.

But of course, I had to go and Ashtan the whole thing.

It wasn't enough to just add the standard beads that the pattern called for. Oh no. I had to make this *special*.

So I decided to add real labradorite beads on each of the points in the rather dramatic edging.

Yep. Every single little point has a bead that had to be HAND SEWN on because the holes weren't big enough to thread the yarn through.

But it was totally worth it. This shawl is absolutely stunning to behold.

I, of course, made it much larger than the original pattern. I went to 199 stitches before starting the lace charts. And ended up doing 5 repeats of those rather than 3.

The result is a perfectly sized piece just for me.

Yeah, I know I look a little smug in this picture. Wouldn't you, though. after making something so magnificent?

Because Rainshine maybe just as precious and wondrous to me as Celestarium.

I know I shouldn't play favorites amongst my wooly kids...

So let's just keep this between us, yeah?

A Gift Goes Two Ways

April's shawl, Labradorite Rainshine, is done and magnificent. And you're just going to have to wait for a proper photoshoot to see it. Trust me, it's worth the wait.

Immediately after finishing it, I felt the urge to go ahead and cast on May's shawl. And promptly finished it in 6 days.

Did I mention that I also designed the entire thing, including coming up with a completely original lace chart as well?

Blessed be my wooly patron, Henry. He must have pulled overtime to help me through that one.

But yes, she is done. And goes by the name Yarn Wife.

Specifically because I made it just for my Yarn Wife herself, my darling Mikayla.

I've talked a little about Mikayla on here before, but I really want to reiterate what an amazing person she is. She is, hands down, one of my closest and dearest friends. She's always there for me without fail and her very presence is soothing. She's as much of a nerd as I am and I could literally spend hours talking to her about anything. And like I said, she's my yarn wife. We've entangled ourselves in wooly goodness together and I wouldn't have it any other way.

We've started the tradition of going to the Great Lakes Fiber Show together every year. And when she told me that she didn't think she'd have enough time to make herself a shawl to wear to it, I had to step in. No wife of mine was going to be going to a wool gathering without something snazzy to wear.

This shawl actually started off as a different pattern that I found on Ravelry. But there were quite a few elements of it that I didn't like, so I started making modifications. And then that little voice in the back of my head started whispering at me, "JUST DESIGN THE WHOLE DAMN THING YOURSELF!!!"

So I did.

And it was nerve wracking. Especially doing the lace chart. I mean, that's some hardcore shit. But I got through it. And even more amazingly, it actually bloody worked.

Every part of the shawl has a specific meaning behind it representing a part of Mikayla and I's friendship.

And because of that, this pattern will never be made again. This is for her and her alone.

I was nervous as hell to give it to her. I mean, she's a fellow knitter. The thing had to be good. But also because she's such an important person in my life. I really wanted her to like it.

Well, not only did she like it, but she actually stopped breathing for a moment. Which is terrifying. But flattering. But really scary.

And I haven't even got to the best part of all this,

After I told Mikayla about the shawl for her, she completely floored me by revealing that SHE HAD BEEN SECRETLY WORKING ON A SHAWL FOR ME!!!

I am completely undeserving of such a wonderful woman and this amazing gift.

Doesn't make me any less excited to get it though.

So, uh, Mikayla... is it done yet?