JenLa

Long post about SAFF ahead and lots of pictures, too. I am not even going to attempt to link everyone, it was that huge this year. Instead, I’ll stick mainly to loot. I had an AWESOME time. My roomies and carpool buddies were ESC and Grace. Although construction, jackass drivers and a surplus of cops tried to prevent Grace from getting here, we made it in time for dinner reservations in Asheville. The timing was meant to be, too, because had she gotten here earlier, I wouldn’t have had the package from Jess & Casey containing these to pass out:

They sent as many as they could spare so we could have some Ravelry fun at the event even though they were sad they couldn’t come see us in person. As a consolation prize, I made FoamcoreBob and we took lots of pictures. Give it some time and it should be full of FoamcoreBob’s adventures at SAFF. Between Claudia and Katey and the nice folks at SAFF, we had access to the blue barn for four hours every day, with some tables and chairs for resting, meeting, knitting, spinning and joking. It made a huge difference to our being able to connect in a real life kind of way and added so much to the event. In order to thank SAFF for this, I bought as much as I possibly could to ensure success for their event. Selfless of me, wasn’t it?

Some of it, like this pencil roving, was bought for other people. That, for instance, is for La. Yes, La Who Doesn’t Spin. I wanted to show her that if she found the right fiber, it could change everything. Most of what I bought was roving, in fact. This is going to be my sweater for next year and the fact that it was mostly too warm for my sweater this year will not deter me. I have always claimed I don’t have a roving stash and recently I realized I really do and decided I didn’t need more. So why this:

came home with me, I can only attribute to my swollen ego.

THESE, however:

Not only have silk in them, but are also in small amounts and were very inexpensive, so I really think you should give me a pass on them.

I had a lot of class time this year. Eight hours on Friday and four on Saturday. That’s a lot of time not spent shopping and socializing, really. It’s also positively draining. I was dragging my ass so low on Friday that Kim said, “Oh my god. Are you okay?” To which Sandy and I replied in the positive even though we weren’t actually sure. In my first class, taught by Margaret Heathman, I learned six different ways to spin one roving. It was a color control class and it was SO fun. During lunch we took a quick cruise around the market place because we happened to know some people were busy buying out all the Smooshy while we were captive. In an effort at retaliation, I bought Sea Silk. My vindictive nature came back to haunt me when we made it to the other side of the bottom floor and I had to leave behind some sock yarn. See, I had a rule about not buying sock yarn. It was my only rule. One tiny, simple, shouldn’t be so painful rule. I think Claudia captured my internal struggle:

I left the yarn and went back to class where I spent the next four hours alternating between gloating about my Sea Silk and grieving for my sock yarn. Four hours of the sock yarn blues will get to anyone so Sandy finally convinced me that if it was still there at the end of the day, it was meant to be. Apparently, this sock yarn and I have a shared destiny. I predict a happy ending with me riding off into the sunset with the happiest feet in the land. Anyone who dared whisper the “rule about no sock yarn” got threatened with these , which earned me the name Edward Englishcomb Hands. Whatever, just stay away from my pink sock yarn.

In my second class with Linda Davis, we learned to better control our spinning. I had to spin in the grease. I really don’t like the feeling of this and I don’t like the goo getting on my equipment. It makes me feel like I’ve been out in the pastures and I need a bath. However, let me show you what I do like: Can you believe how thin that is? The grease honestly does give you far more control in drafting very thin singles. In both my classes, the instructors asked me why I was there, so I guess my spinning class days are over. Though I feel there is lots more I could learn about spinning, apparently I’m being pushed out of the nest. They inflated my ego to the point that apparently I felt I deserved a LOT of roving.

At night we had loads of pub fun, giggling, laughter, a few drinks [or in some cases a few dozen. I'm only not telling who to protect the hungover.], lots of showing of loot, eating, talking, a serious lack of sleep and so much fun. My roomies were the coolest, we had no problems whatsoever and we got along great. They were so sweet to me and bought me some Brooks Farm Acero as a thank you gift:

Which I totally should have bought them since they were so easy going and pleasant!

In the category “I’m going to hell”:

I’m not going to hell for buying them. They were bought for gifts. I’m going to hell because at least two of those I feel I cannot part with. [guess which two] I may have to buy new gifts for their intended recipients and I will regret it someday when I’m getting a red hot size 17 up the bum while the devil dances around with flaming sock yarn mocking me. There are two other small items that I didn’t show because I want to keep them as surprises, but you’ve pretty much seen it all.

Thank you to every person who said hello or called my name. I know I was pretending it was tiresome, but I loved it. I love meeting you people even though I’m awfully shy. I loved seeing your stuff, watching you knit, viewing your FOs in person, taking your pictures, giving you buttons [while I still had them!] and seeing and feeling the happiness. I’m in a total fiber fest coma even still, and I can’t wait for next year. We already have plans to make the meetup stuff bigger and better!

Thanks for all the compliments on Morning Glory. In all fairness, the design and the yarn had more to do with it than I did, but I am grateful for your kind words and appreciation.

I was having a discussion with Elizabeth from Trailing Yarn about SAFF. I had mentioned that I was planning out what to knit and show off there this year. I also made some noise about the Rhinebeck Sweater tradition and how I really didn’t want to start that sort of thing down here, because I so don’t need that kind of pressure. Just watching the other 80% of the knitting world go nuts a few weeks before Rhinebeck is entertainment and warning enough for me. So naturally, this led to our mutual confessions of really actually *wanting* to have a hand spun, hand knit sweaters for it. Which in turn might have led to a teeny, tiny wager. Something about knitting sweaters that are made at least 1/3 from our hand spun and if one person can’t do it, they pay a forfeit of some kind; whereas if we both do it, we perform interpretive dance while wearing said sweaters and matching pajama bottoms, joy, rapture, etc. Elizabeth suggested something like the loser buys the winner some Brooks Farm, or has to dye their hair temporarily fuschia or something. [I'm brunette, she's blonde-one wonders if she thought of that?] I suggested putting it to you [with the caveat of no nakedness, we don't want the whole world to lose. And I'm not eating anything disgusting.] What do you suggest the loser must do, if there is a loser? And it’s going to be me, because I’m totally behind the 8 ball here, having to still wash, pick and card before I can even think about spinning, much less knitting. And regarding patterns, what the hell happened to Artisokka’s site, does anyone know? Is she coming back?

So…here’s what I need:
1) Ideas for what the loser must do, should there be one.
2) A good, simple sweater pattern [cardigan, preferably] in which I could reasonably substitute 2/3 commercial yarn as an escape plan [or-since I wanted to make that beautiful shawl collared cardi of Artisokka's, any ideas where I can get that now?]
3) More time.
4) A room in the soft white place.

I have 91 days until October 27th. It sounds like a lot until you factor in vacation, working, the Bee Fields shawl and sleeping. **Also, I wrote the above yesterday afternoon and then I went outside and worked on drum carding some of that Ouashita fleece. OMFG, it’s SO full of hay! /cries. I also did a quickie test spin/knit of the single batt I have finished. You know, the batt I have to give to Jared for his actress? Yeah that one. I’m getting further behind the more I work on it. There is officially NO danger of this becoming a tradition, I promise you that. This just in: my brother has volunteered to drum card fleece while I’m gone. First lesson: picking out VM.

In other SAFF news, I emailed the Facilities Manager for the venue to ask for his help in finding a meeting space. I was willing to pay money. He says SAFF has rented every possible nook and cranny for that event and that we’re SOL. Somehow we need to find a way to express the force of the knit blog world and have these people realize that without us, their event would not flourish as it does. Or, to be more precise, YOU need to find a way to teach them that. I have a fleece to pick.

Here’s your eye candy:

I thought it was appropriate. One lonely, desperate little sprig of berries trying to pretend it’s all okay while death looms large all around it.

I know I mentioned that I was knitting this:

For a wedding in August. One of Jared’s cousins is getting married the day before my birthday. It’s taking place in my favorite city. Since I just so happen to have my brother moving here [farm sitter!], and since I never get to do anything fun for my birthday, I’ve decided to make a whole week of it. We have the wedding on a Thursday, then breakfast with the bride and groom Friday morning and a barbecue at the home of Jared’s Aunt and Uncle that Friday afternoon. The wedding is actually taking place in Assonet [which is perhaps my favorite name for a city EVER] and we’ll stay down there for that, but if any Bostonians are reading this, we’re looking for a decent hotel, not too pricey and within walking distance of a T stop for the rest of the time when we’ll be in the city. Any ideas? I will also field suggestions for yarn stores which are near T stops. I am very much looking forward to this trip and intend to spend whatever time is leftover after family stuff riding the train, drinking and sightseeing. And I intend to eat seafood again, the food poisoning we got at Legal Seafood last time has not diminished my craving. I am not afraid to go back to the ER.

Speaking of trips I’m looking forward to: all this talk of MDS$W has got the southern bloggers working on their long-range SAFF planning. The blogger contingent looks like it’s going to be bigger and better prepared this year. It’s six months away and we already know what we’ll be eating. We don’t have it quite as good as the MD or NY festivals; there is one crappy concession stand for food at the event. But we are booked into our hotels and there is a party suite in the picture this year. I’m growing my third liver as we speak. La will be put on a strict diet weeks before the event and she will be allowed only bread and water while in Asheville. We don’t have time for illness or fatigue this year. We will be needing someone to pick on, though, as Pixie is giving birth just a few weeks prior to SAFF and won’t be with us. Volunteers?

I don’t have much fiberly to talk about. You saw my Morning Glory progress above, and the PotW is looking about the same, but longer:

Totally easy pattern, I highly recommend it!

Have a beautiful, spring-like weekend! I, myself, will be working, but I hope to sneak in some more knitting. Oh, and my netflix is nearly empty and I’m kind of out of ideas of what I want to watch. I’d love to hear your suggestions. Bear in mind I can’t stand romantic comedies, but like most other genres….

Man, did I ever pick the right time of year to visit states that participate in autumn! For our misty drive up to SAFF…

on the Ag Center premises…

and even on our impromptu detour home…

Damn, can Mother Nature deliver or what?

But I betcha that’s not the eye candy you all came here to check out, huh? You want a bit of the naughty, dontcha? You know what I mean….the yarn p0rn. And I’ll get to that in a second. First, a little diatribe about “Buyer’s Remorse” pssssshhhhhh.

I don’t believe in it. Nope. And since I don’t believe in it, I don’t suffer from it…especially when it comes to fibery goodness and all it’s loveliness. Unless of course you didn’t buy enough, which is definitely the case here. So…I guess I AM suffering from buyer’s remorse, which makes this an entirely moot point. Uh, nevermind…

So, you ready?

Yup that’s it. Kind of a pitiful jumble, isn’t it? Let me break it down for you.

THE YARN:

Notable Yarns by Brooks Farm, Primero. That’s 500 yards of kid mohairy goodness. Let me tell you, when it comes to Brooks Farms yarns, resistance IS futile. I tried and tried and TRIED to resist all weekend, but in the final minutes on Sunday I totally caved, and now I’m glad I did as this is the only yarn of frivolity I bought. And oh, man, this yarn is SO SOFT and hefty and drapey, and the colors so pretty… I know, I know, I’m totally weak.

Almost 500 yards ofClassic Merino Supersock Kettle Dyed in “Faded Jeans” from Knitting Notions. Alas, this yarn is not for me, but is intended as a gift for someone.

Enough 100% Corriedale 2-ply worsted in SEDGE from Bovidae Farm to make Eris. What’s interesting about this yarn is that they spin it with some of the lanolin left in at scouring. Because of the lanolin, the yarn feels a bit rough, but the lady assured me that it’ll wash up nice and soft.

I enjoy discovering new independent vendors. Both Bovidae and Knitting Notions had wonderful assortments of yarns and colors, all hand dyed themselves, and all very reasonably priced. Even though Bovidae doesn’t have a web presence, they do have a mail-order catalog. Their email is bovidaeATmadisonDOTmainDOTncDOTus

THE “KIT”
Beaded knits had me a little curious, but not enough to try it until I saw some of these scarves knitted up

Yup, Interlacements strikes again!

THE REST

In a past conversation, Jen convinced me of the benefits of goats milk soap. There were several vendors at SAFF, but the unusual combinations of scents at Three Waters Farms won me over. Well, that and the fact that they had a picture of the adorable “source” hanging in their booth.

I picked up a little something for the DH:

And a little something to try my hand at felting.

HOPEFULLY these will become a tea cozy ~shudder~ for my mom.
(I can’t for the life of me remember then name of the vendor I bought these from. I SO suck.)

And you wanna know the best thing? When the DH started in with his stupid “Just how much yarn do you need to buy anyway” rant, I was able to counter with…”Hey, at least I didn’t come home with a bunny!” Thanks Grace! Yup, I think that’ll give me ammunity (ammunition for immunity) for a few!

Also, I ran into a charming woman and her partner who have a blog whose name I can’t remember to save my life, except that it has the word “bitches” in it. Also, I’m drawing a blank on the women’s names too. I ran into you on Saturday on the top level of the marketplace, (on my way to the bathroom) and later on that day you both were sitting in the stands, one was spinning, the other was poking the hell out of some fiber with sharp pointy needles (which looked to be very therapeutic). Anyhow, could you please comment (or in the very least, email me?) so that I can send some love your way? I WARNED you I suck with remembering names!

Claudia, you were awesome as Chief Troublemaker, even IF you were wearing a Entre-LACK poncho. Ferkreistsake woman…a poncho? We’ll just call you “Mission Organization” from now on, cuz you rock!

Are you all tired of reading about fiber fests yet? Too bad! It’s my turn. If you’re lucky, I’ll make it short, but chances are I won’t because, despite feeling icky the entire time I had a blast, and I attribute 75% of that good time to the company.

Let me tell you, every single Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina and vicinity blogger/knitter/spinner/dyer/whatever I met was a fun, interesting, genuinely nice and “real” person. No back-biting, no snarking…NO DRAMA! It was SO refreshing, and I enjoyed every minute I was in their company. Even Pixie took our razzing like a trooper, and let me tell you, Jen and I can be relentless.

More Pixie Purls Gone Wild…You know Pix, there’s something to be said about the slogan “What in happens Vegas, STAYS in Vegas…”

And here’s James?-Lou? (Gawd, I so totally suck with names…can anyone help me out here?) and his high-fiber diet, courtesy of Interlacements.

Oh! Speaking of which, Judy Ditmore was there manning her booth, and I got a chance to chat with her briefly. Talk about a celeb moment, I’m such a goober, but I just ADORE her colorways! Though I did forget to ask her how she’s able to get her skanks to knot up so well. You know, you always remember that all-important question 3 days after the fact.

By the time I realized I was going to SAFF, it was too late for me to get into any of the classes, so instead I just stood outside the Fair Isle class and stalked watched Claudia, Diana and Anita enjoying themselves.

Out in the barns I found a new pair of slippers for Jenny’s pooch, Sammy

A llama ready for any close-up…

And some Pal-pacas

along with a shitload of bunnies, goats and sheep of which Jen already posted pictures, so I won’t bore anyone with redundancy. Too late? Oh well.

Yes, I can literally say that SAFF is the most fun one can have with a stomach ache*.

Oh! One more of Pixie because she’s SO easy and I just can’t help it…

which I like to call “Fiber Overload”

Tomorrow: The Loot.

*And by stomach ache I mean, the-only-thing-that-had-me-standing/sitting-erect-was-the-pitifully-small-amount-of-likker-I-injested-otherwise-I’d-have-been-doubled-over-in-agony-the-whole-time-type.