Saturday Self-indulgence

It's Saturday! Horray for Saturdays! Granted, I don't work so maybe Saturday shouldn't be much different then, say, Thursday, but it is different. Hubby is scuba diving today, so it's not even like I get to spend the day with my sweetie. But I do get to watch football & knit. College football, far & away my favorite. And guilt free knitting because after all, it's Saturday, and honestly, I can't be expected to do chores on a Saturday.

I am desperately trying to finish some of my WIPs so I can start on some new things without too much guilt. Right now I have half a tofutsie sock to finish, one entire baby sock to finish, one entire grown up sock to finish, 2/3 of a charity sweater to finish and a crocheted baby blanket that is about half way done that makes me want to puke everytime I think about it.

So I think the plan for today will be to finish the second baby sock in the morning (since football doesn't start for another 3.5 hours) and the baby sock is a new "sockitecture" for me, using Cat Bordhi's New Pathways for Sock Knitters book. Then that will be one completed checkmark.

During football I think I try to finish the tofutsie sock. I'm on the foot, about 2" from starting the toe decreases. With luck I can finish that during the Penn State-Michigan game. But if the game is going poorly, my tension will probably be off. Hmmm, maybe if Penn State is losing I will tackle one of the charity hats I am knitting for Hats for Alex. Then at least tension won't matter as much.

If it's charity knitting then it is guilt-free casting on, right???

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

If you are looking for the Material Whirled blog, it has moved! You can now find it here. This will now be my more personal blog, The Happy Needle Notebook. While you can still find fibery goodness & MW happenings here, this will mostly be my personal stuff, more knitting & autism stuff and less business-y stuff.

So, with that out of the way, let's talk about what is happening here in happyneedleland. I have become Ravelry obsessed. I have also become sock obsessed. I'm currently devouring Cat Bordhi's New Pathways for Sock Knitters.


I'm still on my first baby sock, and much like when I knit Elizabeth Zimmermann's patterns I am going on blind faith. I know these ladies are way smarter when it comes to pattern writing then I can ever hope to be, so I trust them to lead the way.

I'm headed to Etsy to go buy some alphabet stitch markers -- I tried to make my own, but it was dismal & I just resorted to markers that are dissimilar. Works for the baby sock, probably won't work so well when I need more then 2 markers. I have promised myself that as soon as I finish this pair of baby socks I will go back to my yarn over cable socks that I have been neglecting. But then look out New Pathway book, you are all mine!

AH!

Hi,

MW switched servers today and I am still looking for the new blog files.
In case you were wondering why any recent posts are gone.

ohm
Reenie

Beulah the Bombshell

We've got great customers, we will be the first to admit it. Not even admit it, shout it from the rooftops is more like it. One of our favorite customers is Karen. Karen is a crocheter. And man, is she amazing. Amazing and humble. We told her she was an artist, and she shrugged it off the way most of us take off our jacket. Now normally you would have to hop in your car and drive to the Carolinas to see Karen's stuff in a boutique, but she is nice enough to share photos of her creations with us so we can go, "WOW! Our yarn made that!!!" This was made from Beulah. Beulah was a merino blend in the colorway "glam" with silk flowers. Major yum!

Meanwhile, in spinning news, Angela has been working on the ultimate luxury skein. Get this, a blend of cashmere, silk, angora, alpaca & merino plied on a pure handspun silk thread that is been beaded with Swarovski crystals. Oh yeah. It's gonna be so soft and pretty you will want to eat it. No word on yardage yet or pricing. She's still in the spinning the singles. Don't worry, we'll be sure to post pics soon.

Speaking of pics, Michelle from Knit.1 magazine is spending the weekend knitting up her nephew's Minnesota Twins baseball hat made from our Team Spirit Yarn. She promises pictures on Monday. Yay, Michelle!

Happy weekend, everyone!
~angela & reenie

Spinterns, Fiberfests, Blog-love & New Yarns!

So, things have been exciting, here in the Whirled. For starters, Angela's oldest son is learning to spin as part of his senior focal project for graduation. He's actually learning the entire spinning business, but he's mostly just thrilled because after two weeks of menial labor that included carding, stash sorting, niddy-noddying, setting, ball winding and yes, even drop spindling, yesterday he finally got to touch the wheel. We told him we will get him and his friend Nate (who is learning too) tee-shirts that say, "SPIN STUD" -- can you imagine how much attention two good looking young guys would get at the local fiber festival from the girls? He and Nate are already making plans for Maryland Sheep and Wool in May.

Speaking of fibery events, if you happen to be in the Western PA area, check out the Pittsburgh Knit & Crochet Festival this weekend. We won't be there, but our exciting new scarf kits will be. Imagine pairing the squishy-gooshy decadance of Malabrigo Yarn with our handspun in a scarf that is simple enough for a beginner but will get oooohs and aaaaaahs whenever you wear it - yeah, it's that cute. Be sure to stop by the Uncommon Threads booth (#8 & #9) at the Festival, say "HI" to Beth and check out the kits.

Speaking of oooooohs, we are super duper excited, our friends at Knit.1 magazine have been nice enough to mention us in their blog. Yay Michele, Adina & everyone at Knit.1. We heart you!!!

And we had a big fat update yesterday. Some of the yummies are already gone, but go check out what's new, including this little number:
Yeah, that's right, glow-in-the-dark beads! Glow, baby, glow!!!

Happy Friday, everyone!
~angela & reenie