SOS2008- #5 Started

Woolfest

So, what did I buy in Woolfest? I bought a few gifts (which I'm not showing). I did discover (thanks to Rowanette Jill), the Threshing Barn, which had some lovely Jawoll with Silk. Gorgeous stuff... which will be socks for the hubbler.

I also bought some plain bog standard Opal Uni, a couple of skeins of Regia Cotton and a skein of Pink Trekking. All-in-all, I was very, very good. There was plenty to tempt me, but after buying all the sheep, I was a little low on cash and most of the stalls did not have credit card facilities.

..and the big sheep? Yes, it was Rowanette Phyliss. Small world or what?

Here's what greeted me outside the cottage in Cumbria. The shephard was moving the flock to a different field.... and the baa-ing was loud and clear. so many sheep and they all stayed on the road. Can you tell that I'm a total city girl?

SOS 2008

This is the start of a simple pair. I'm planning on just basic ribbing to not interfere too much with the striping.

The yarn is Lana Grossa, a brand that I have limited experience with. Although I like the feel of the yarn (it's softer than the Opal from pair #3), I don't like the way that the colour sort of splodges into the rings. I don't mind when the printed pattern is not fully printed, but it looks like the colouring process was a bit haphazard.

As Dawn said, Summer of Sock is the perfect excuse to try out some of the yarns that I have had in stash for ages.

Finally ....

if anyone knows of an indie yarn dyer located in Ireland or N. Ireland, would you please let me know? I was rather surprised to see so many Welsh, English and Scottish dyers and thought that Ireland seemed a bit under-represented, so obviously, a gap in my stash ;0)

SOS-2008 #3 Finished

I nipped up to Cumbria for Woolfest and attended the sheep auction in support of Farm Africa. Lea Stern had come all the way from the US to judge and to help with the auction. The knitted, crocheted and felted sheep were all fantastic.

Rachel aka Bo Peep displayed the lovely sheep

and we dug deep for this cause. A lady sitting next to me had mentioned that these stuffed sheep were going for more than the real sheep. Astonishing, really !

Naturally, I got into the spirit and managed to win not 1 but 3 lots. In the future, I'm only attending auctions with people that will actually stop me from bidding on almost every lot.... not egg me on. (Yes, Tessa, I mean you)

Now, that gorgeous big sheep was knitted and felted by a lady name Phyliss from Virginia. I know of 2 Phyliss'es in that region but was convinced that the Phyliss in question was a Rowanette... so I made sure that I won it. How many Phyliss live in the Virginia area and knit? I've emailed the Phyliss in question and I'm waiting to hear back. Wouldn't it be great if it was the Rowanette Phyliss?

And the SOS 2008/52 Pair Plunge Socks?

I also finished these when I was in Cumbria. The pattern is just a basic stocking stitch over 68 inches. The socks are for my dad and a little big for me hence, the slouchy display.

Pair: #3
Pattern: Just my standard stocking stitch sock
Designer: me
Yarn: Fortissima Socka
Size: US Men size 7 with a leg of 8 inches
Needles: 2.50mm
DIfficulty: Intermediate
# of stitches: 68
Speed: fast
Enjoyment Factor: 7/10!!! Stocking Stitch is a bit boring
Started :26-Jun-2008
Finished:2-Jul-2008

SOS-2008 #2 Finished

I was hoping to get some computer time when I was away to post about this sock, but unfortunately, that didn't happen. As luck would have it, I managed to finish this last week. Nonetheless, better late than never... my Birch Leaf socks

#2 FO for SOS-2008 and 52PP2

Pattern: Birch Sock from A Gathering of Lace
Designer: Nancy Bush
Yarn: Trekking Pronatura
Size: UK Ladies size 6.5 with a leg of 7.5 inches
Needles: 2.50mm
DIfficulty: Intermediate
# of stitches: 72
Speed: average
Enjoyment Factor: 6/10!!! Did not enjoy knitting with this yarn
Started :21-Jun-2008
Finished:26-Jun-2008