Yarn Crawl #2

Horbert here.

As most of you know, The Creator loves his fiber. The YarnGirls are going to be the death of me when I follow them around from store to store. You see, I fell. I was splayed all out on the concrete at one of the best yarn shops in Colorado. But, I'll get to that in a moment.

It was a hot sunny day in May when we all decided to pile in a car, The Creator's car and trundle off to Fort Collins to check out the shops up there. We met at Kunjani where I ate a Cinnamon Roll and had a lovely hot chia tea.



Then, MO came in and presented The Creator with this yummy fiber. See... doesn't it look yummy... there's silk and cashmere in there, just so you know....



We all loaded up and headed out for an hour and a half drive to Fort Collins. First up on our list, Lambspun. The Creator found some lovely yarn in a cotton and enabled Ms. JP to purchase said yarn. I'm laying on that lovely purple-blue mess in the picture. The Creator also bought a skein. Then he found the same fiber that MO gave him earlier in the day. He purchased two more just so he would have enough to do what he wanted with it. The other stuff in the basket is MO's and the Yarn-Shop-Owner-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.



I wonder whose yarn that purple is. The shop was having a sale on the shop brand of yarns. So, we purchased some more because you know, at 30% off, who could resist.

After we loaded up the back of Dudley with our newly procured fiber purchases, we headed off the My Sister Knits. The location is very lovely. Just look:



Who wouldn't want to shop there. But, my friends, this is where I get a bit upset. You see, The Creator in all his fury, dropped me and left me on a cement slab. I'm still upset over this. How could he have lost me??? I'm his number one fan. Just ask Manny Q.



The Creator got all the way here before he noted I wasn't where I was supposed to be.



The girls rushed ahead of him into the shop to see all the yarn and goodies. The Creator came back and retrieved me from said cement slab. I had my photo taken with the ever so lovely garden angel. She is pretty. I think I may have a relationship with her.



And we walked into the store and found this sign.

Ok.. the picture is MIA. I'm sure I have it on the blue box. I'm going to have words with The Creator on this. Pictures need to go on one machine or the other. Period.

It's of the Men's Knitting Retreat that The Creator is helping Frank with. The Creator thanked the lady and the girls started squeeling with de-light as they found yummy yarn.

No, you have to see this. I took photos upon the discovery of yarn behind yarn.

They opened one door... and then OH IS THERE MORE???



Shut the front door there is more!!!! Hurry open that up!!! I want to see!!! They rushed and squeeled to open that door. This prompted someone to come upstairs to ask if we needed assistance. I was sure I needed to call a doctor or something because this was too much fiber.


Oh My goodness.... Look at that... COME HERE! YARN!


And they all come running...


Look... MO found bliss...


The Creator found a Road to China while up there...It's lovely stuff.


Julie at My Sister Knits is a lovely donor of the Men's Rocky Mountain Knitting Retreat. She donated 11 books to the retreat while we were there. I can't say how much of a lovely shop this is and how much fun we had in there looking at every thing.

These bags are all the proof of our fibery fun!


All that yarn fun made us hungry. So, we needed some fiber. One can never have too much fiber in their diet. So, we visited Your Daily Fiber. A quaint little shop with a good deal of local fiber.



Notice the bag are around the worsted weight of the Road To China. The Creator bought some cashmere here. That was it, really. I wouldn't let him buy any more yarn.

Then... because we were starving and the Kentucky Derby was on... we needed something to eat. We proceeded to get Stuft.


I tried to down this burger...


But The Creator had to help me. Actually, I found a Mint Julep.


So I soaked myself and rooted on #07 in the Kentucky Derby. He lost, but I had minty fresh breath.

We left the town of Fort Collins with our bags of fiber and a good day. We did stop downtown at the Fabric Bliss and the Fancy Tiger...

It was a grand day. I even had Pinkberry!

It's been a slow blogging month.

I must say, I am a bit irritated with That Creator again. For a month, he decided to leave no black or blue box in my room so that I may reach out to you peeps. I must let you all know has transpired. Now that Horbert is back from various fiber whoring, I have the full scoop on all these silly things. But first, lets talk about The Creator's knitting.

There seems to be an issue with that vest. It seems the dang thing comes up short. Just by a mere three inches. The Creator's partner lifts his arms and a belly shows. For some reasons, this unacceptable feature of said Basil Vest appears to be vexing The Creator. He asked the girls. He asked the boys. It appears he settled on a suggestion from some guy named Mike and some guy named Kirk to cast on the number of stitches and kitchner the pieces together. So, The Creator, while he was at that retreat thing, casted on stitches. He has gotten about an inch into it before he counted. It seems The Creator can't count. It's 40 stitches too big. You just can't fix that boys and girls. I'm sure he will rip it out.

Meanwhile, and I need to get Horbert to take a photo, The Creator has whipped out a hat for a boy. Said boy lives where The Creator's mama lives and he made it for said boy. This small hat may not fit a boy. It may not fit a girl. But this blue hat screams I'm a cute baby. I'm surprised The Creator didn't put it on his head and model it at the Wednesday night knitting. Again, the smallness of the hat may prevented such shenanigans. I should confirm that statement with Horbert.

The Creator hasn't worked on much else. I'm deathly afraid he has been busy with those silly work things. I didn't see him for an entire week. I felt lonely. 'NSync girl is still lost in some vat of fiber. Now that Horbert returned, I should arm him with some sturdy cotton rope to find "NSync girl. Sigh. It's lonely being plastic.

Yarn Crawl #1

I apologize. I forgot to send Horbert out with the Creator and the girls. You see, they went on a yarn crawl last weekend. I had plans for him to document the secret agenda as they proceeded along the route. Three girls and The Creator visited four yarn shops.

Table Rock Llama and Fiber Studio
No lie. The Creator secretly put this on the agenda because the shop supports the Men's Rocky Mountain Knitiing retreat. Plus, he want some panda silk for some silly notion that he will be creating a blanket out of it. He also wanted some of that dye for me alpaca. The girls were all in a twitter with the skeins with a silver fiber running through it. I like silver. And do you think the Creator bought me a few skeins?

Yarn Outlet
The best thing about this store was the bakery next to it. They gave away free cookies and The Creator bought chocolate things and a cherry cheese cake thing to share with other two humans. Oh, he purchased three skiens of yarn here. Some Kramer acrylic cotton stuff to make some boot socks. It's teal. He didn't find anything else in the store to purchase. They do have loads of cotton. If he needs to, he will go back and buy cotton.

The Pita Pit
The Girls found the pita pit. He had a lovely pita stuffed with cheese steak. It was ok, but I shouldn't waste space on something that was ok. Really. It is beneath me. I don't eat anyway.

Green Valley Weavers
This was a quaint little shop with loads of fiber. I think the girls liked it more than the Creator. He did buy some more dye for me and some mochi for that damn square blanket I can't do anything with. I can't wear it or wrap myself inside it. I'm thinking it will look fabulous leaving my room for another room in the house.

Knitter's Kove
This was the find of the day. It had some panda silk and The Creator found his yarn for the iPad 2.0 cover. It's blue and matches his the cover that just closes. The yarn will give him more protection when he puts it in a bag or something. I hope it looks sharp. He should sell the pattern on ravelry or something because it will rock. I am just saying. I will also look right smart with this iPad. I'm going to try and blog from it one day. I understand you just swipe your finger across... oh, I guess Horbert will have to do that. Oh. and I almost forgot this luxury alpaca yarn The Creator bought. He is going to make a scarf with that. Something lacy to drape around my neck. I know I will look super sexy in said scarf. I have called dibs on said scarf. Just so everyone knows.  I have to find me a doll to party with as 'NSync girl has been lost.

Knitting with Gurls 4-20

The Creator felt up some yarn from HPKY Yarns this evening. See, I'm there rolling around on the red braid of yarn. I have to say, I loved it.



The Yarn-Shop-Owner-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named brought us some good stuff for us to preview from her new job. Evidently, the IT guy at the office likes this yarn. The Creator covets some blue of this stuff. I don't think he needs any. He can knit from his stash. Just sayin'. He still has to find 'Nsync Gurl. 


Her is Ms. J and then Ms. J showing off each colorway:



See there I am with Ms. J and the lovely green colorway.

And here is Ms. J... I'm posing with the red colorway and the Spring issue of the Love of Knitting magazine, and Ms. J.



The Creator had a tea latte today. I think it went straight to his head. Here I am with his finished object. It's a hat for a youngster. Really, he shouldn't be wearing it. It looks hideous on him. Hideous! I shouldn't mention that it is obscene as well. But, he is The Creator.





I think it is still hideous. What is The Creator doing trying something on that is 5 sizes too small? I mean really. Perhaps there was something in that tea... Just sayin'...

WIPs 05 April 2011

The Creator has been busy in his little crafty room and beyond. I'm not taking a picture of this crafty room right now as The Creator needs to take some serious time to straighten clean up this room. He needs to seriously work on that. Plastic people need to live in a sparkling clean environment. I think 'NSync gurl lost herself in a box of yarn or fiber. I think it is the one with the lid on over there underneath the box of yarn that came in a few days ago. I should have Horbert search for her. But then again, I enjoy the peace and quiet. While it is quiet, let's discuss current works in progress.

The Creator has been working on the Basil Vest in Navy. He has worked the striped pattern on the front and completed all the neck decreases. The rest is on string waiting for the back to be completed. He has the first stripe done in back. The pattern doesn't call for stripes in the back. I think he should have left the stripe out. But, he thinks the vest will be balanced front and back with the stripe. I'm still out on the judgement of that alteration.



Here is an closeup of the stripes. I don't know if I'm happy with the color The Creator has chosen for these stripes. They don't blend. I guess I will have to judge this one when it comes off the needles as well.



The Creator also actively works on the Falling Water Scarf with his crafty little fingers. Remember the blue-green hand-dyed genius in Alpaca Silk? Here's a picture to refresh memories.



Here I am with the current scarf. It is a bit short and looks like an askew cravat.



Here a closeup of the stitch definition. It's unblocked and to make the scarf more manly, The Creator didn't make it as lacy as he could have. Now, I don't like all this pattern alterations. He should use larger needles and make this more lacy. But does a lacy scarf work on a man? I'm still out on the judgement on this topic as well.



Last, he has those socks. He hasn't worked a stitch on them. Can't he get them done and completed??? Oh wait, I don't really care about those. I don't have feet to model those.

Generosity

Horbert here...

The Creator has been inspired by the generosity of fellow yarn shop owners and knitters. You see, him and Frank are coordinating the Men's Rocky Mountain Knitting Retreat. The weekend, I tagged along with him and Frank to Estes Park and Boulder to put up some flyers and talk to a few LYS. The Creator didn't expect to encounter a great group of local yarn shops there in Estes. Again, I wasn't very smart and didn't take photos of these encounters. I was way too into the fiber to remember to do such things.

In an interesting turn of events, one local yarn shop has donated a scholarship for one lucky fellow to attend. On top of this, she will be opening the shop for a small event with the guys (I didn't hear all the details because I found some Collinette yarn in a super fun color.) This is another scholarship on top of the already generous one we received from Skacel. Karin is a great supporter of the Men's Knitting Retreats. While we chatting and I was ogling the fantastic fiber (Did you know there are rooms on rooms on rooms at this place. All of it full of fiber!) While there, The Creator and Frank were introduced to a lovely woman from Interweave Press. I think she is an editor of some type and I didn't catch her name. Just just moved here. I tried looking up her name, but then, I couldn't find it on the Web site. I know. I should have been more attentive in my note taking. I am sure either Frank or The Creator will know who this lady is.

After meeting her, Susan, from the Stitchin' Den, marched us down to Neota Designs. It is another lovely shop of hand dyed yarn in some fascinating colors. The Creator bought a skein. If he would have asked me, I would have told him to buy two. He should know better. He is going to have to call and get another skein of it for 'NSYNC Gurl to love.

Frank and The Creator went back to the Stitchin' Den and they purchased yarn and patterns. The Creator has some stuff in mind. Susan gave him the last Knitting Traditions she had in her bag.

I think The Creator is still amazed by the generosity.

They stopped by Gypsy Wool and Shuttles Spindles and Skeins. Purchases and flyers were hung and I was pooped.

Blackmail and Dying

Horbert here.

Let me clear things up about this getting drunk while dying. Yes, I had little glass of wine. Just one wee-little glass. I have a photo of this and I will share it with you. Don't let Manny tell you I was sloshed. I never slurred. I just had one little glass. I was never over the legal yarn dying limit. It was still one little glass and I wouldn't have been stopped for overdying because I wasn't dying. So there. I was having fun. See here I am with my glass of wine and the dye:



Anyway, let me get on to the dying portion of the program. I'll deal with that Manny Quinn fellow later. He may find himself in a crazy tank top that I may borrow from his previous owner. Hmm... I have blackmail of my own!

So, dying is like the manicure for yarn. First, we put the fiber roving in water. It needs to soak and hydrate.This is some Wensleydale fiber The Creator picked up at the Fancy Tiger. I don't have a photo of the finished product yet. I will have it in a few. I have spun one piece of fiber. It is pretty. The Creator is a bit bummed that it turned darker than he wanted it but he still loves it.



Now, The Creator had three balls of this Shetland yarn that he purchased from World of Wool in the UK. The balls are just ripe for dying.



I got to play on this big yarn Ferris wheel:



I had to be tied down or I was going to fall off. The Creator skeined the yarn into a 3 foot skein. Ms. Skeindalous had all this cool stuff for everyone to play with and I got to go for a ride. Yes, it was before wine. I wouldn't want to puke all over the yarn. That isn't done as I take my skeining very very seriously. Two balls of the Shetland were skeined up for dying.

So, we had to let the fiber soak. So, I had some wine. I was a bit fun-woozy and forgot to take some photos of the next steps. I'd like to think I was high on fiber and chocolate as we had this scrumptious salted nut chocolate stuff to go with our wine. See, I ate something while drinking and all is good.

I remember The Creator mixing dyes like a mad scientist. He made some wicked purple and some true blue and some funky green. He seems to like those colors. He used all the dye with the three colors and then put it in the microwave, wrapped it all up and nuked it in the microwave. It smelled like vinegar. It may have been the wine I was smelling tho.

The other ball of Shetland yarn, he left in the ball as seen above.The Creator took straight food coloring and filled a syringe with food-coloring dye and just injected that in to the ball. He put it in a pot and put it on the stove to steep and mix and see what happens.

It turned all green with bits and bobs of color throughout. I wouldn't have throught green would have been the main color. Here's the skeined results of that.


Here is the blue/green/purple Shetland being rinsed:


And then here it is on Manny:


And then here is it skeined:


He also had some Alpaca Silk that he started with:


It turned out a minty green color that didn't even flatter the camera very well. Frankly, it looked like pistachio explosion. Something we don't like. See, Ugly:



Oh...here is a uglier minty green picture with Manny:


The Creator didn't like it. So he added some blue and teal to the mix and over-dyed it. He likes it much better and has started a scarf with that.



He has two more KnitPicks bare dyed for a hat. I don't have a pick of that. The Creator also overdyed Jean's Hot Mess color into something a bit more like Jean's Classy Mix. She liked it anyway.

And I like my wine. That is what I have to say and I'm sticking to that.