Glad to be back with the Group

Hello:

Our modem is on the fritz, and so I am using a back up internet connection that is super slow.  This will be a quick post.

I made it to Crossroads tonight to meet up with the Eastside Stitchers after way too many days and nights away.  It was a small group, but so much fun to catch up with everyone.

BlueBerryMary is back from her trip to Haiti.  She has some photos and writes about her trip on her BLOG.  It was really fun to hear about the school that her church members is helping to build, and the other things she did and saw.  She brought a lace and bead scarf to knit tonight.  This is her first project with lace and beads, and she is doing a wonderful job.

Wajio is still trying to use up all of her baby yarn by knitting another pair of baby socks.

We talked about the upcoming sheep shearing event at our local Kelsey Creek Farm.  Last year I helped demonstrate spinning with the spinning guild (ok, I mostly hung out with the real spinners) during the Wild-And-Wooly event.  This will be happening Saturday, April 26, 2014 from 11:00 am - 4:00 pm.  I won't be able to attend this year as I will be in Arizona watching Himes dance.  But, if you are local, take the time to go to the park.  It is a really fun day, and the shearers are awesome.

Wireknitter is working on another shawl by Susan Ashcroft using some lovely gradient KnitWhits Freia Handpaints Freia Ombre Lace in Gray.  The shawl pattern is called YOLO.

And Tara1682 brought her lovely Juno Regina shawl by Miriam Felton.  She has reached the part on the pattern where she can begin the mirrored end lace pattern again, but, she doesn't think the shawl is long enough, so she is going to keep on knitting for a bit.

I brought the Round 2 socks for Sock Madness.  At first, since I am using black yarn, I thought I would have to bring something easier to knit on, but I have finished the linen stitch cuffs and am onto the stockinette legs sections.  Although black yarn is still tough to knit unless the lighting is bright, I was able to see well enough to knit straight stockinette with the group.

That's it for tonight.  My computer is having trouble uploading the last few photos, so I am crossing my fingers that they actually show up.

If not, I will try to edit the post and get them in.

Peace,
f1bercat
shaping the planet with great knitting friends.

Wild and Wooly

Hello:

Today was the Kelsey Creek Farm Wild and Wooly Sheep Shearing.  The event takes place rain or shine, and it was a bit close with the rain.  We had lovely weather last week, with the temperature getting as high as the 70's, but not today.  Low 50's was more like it.  And though it never really rained, it sure threatened.

This did not seem to bother the kids and families who came to watch sheep herding, shearing,

 fiber activities,

 and other types of fun.

After the crowd watched the sheering,

where the spinners, from the Northwest Regional Spinners Association, helped to "skirt" the fleeces,

the visitors came into the Education Barn where we had samples of unprocessed (but washed) wool

Kool-Aid Dying,

 And of course,  spinning.

I have written before about how Bellevue is a very diverse city.  This was evident at the Sheep Shearing.  Many of the visitors either did not speak English, or had English as their second language.  Often they asked us if the process of spinning was the same for cotton, or silk, or some fiber that came from their home country.  When I was knitting, they would stop and motion to the knitting and then point to themselves, miming that they knit, too.  Sometimes I would teach them the word, "knit." The knitters were usually the older women, the grandmas who were with their extended families.  The men seemed to love the spinning wheels, and asked many questions about the engineering aspects. You could just see the tech segment of our city's population in the crowd.  Also, people loved seeing the drop spindles.  Some told me that they had seen people back in their home countries using such spindles.

As usual, they were fascinated by the amount of time and energy it takes for the wool to go from fleece to foot (in the shape of a knitted sock).  Some never "got it," and shook their heads at the idea that someone would want to spin their own yarn.  Others quickly understood the fun and relaxation that comes with spinning and knitting, and I wouldn't be surprised if there are a few more people at the next spinners' meeting, learning how to spin.

This was my first time on the demonstration side of the event.  I remember watching people demonstrate spinning and being so fascinated.  It was really fun to get to explain the little bit that I know.

Peace,
f1bercat
shaping the world in a wild and wooly way.