FO and Update

Another ribwarmer:








This time from EZ's pattern and Meg's variations in Spun Out ##42 from Schoolhouse Press. All my previous ones have been knit from Sidna Farley's variation that appeared in Knitter's #48, Fall 1997. This is another garment that I have finally "wrapped my head around" thanks to Meg's mini-camp in May. I no longer must blindly follow a pattern for ribwarmers. More on the way, and I'll try different variations as I go.





More of my mini-camp classmates showing their wonderful knitting:






It's summer, we're trying to prepare ourselves for a week paddling the Middle Fork of the Salmon in late June, so we're gone a lot these days. It's fun to meet friends and paddle, though it's been so dry lately that our best choice is the Ocoee River, in SE Tennessee. We were there for a 4-day weekend last week, and will be back for three days, leaving tomorrow.

Last week, about two days before we left for the holiday, a young, gray and white male kitty showed up on our porch. My first inclination was to chase him away as we do with the toms who occasionally hang around and harass my girls. But this little fellow was friendly and affectionate, and seemed disinclined to make trouble. He seemed to just want attention. And food. I finally fed him, especially after I noticed how thin and puny he looked. After we returned home, it took him a while, but he came back. I again gave him food and water, then easily ushered him into the carrier for a trip to the vet (note that "easy" is the operative word - no way to easily get ANY of my girls into the carrier).

My intention was to have his health assessed, get his immunizations, and neuter the little guy. Check-in at the vet requests a name, so he's Mosby. He's gray and white and disappears a bit in the shadows, so I named him after Confederate Colonel John S. Mosby, aka "The Gray Ghost". As it turns out, little Mosby might be pretty sick. The vet reported he's quite dehydrated and has an elevated BUN. So Mosby is in hospital and I'm awaiting further developments. Poor little guy. I really don't want another cat and my four girls don't want another one either (though Baby Kitty acts like she might accept him as a friend sooner or later). So Mosby will live outside, at least for the immediate future. Assuming he gets well. Positive thoughts for him, please?

Meg Swansen's Mini-Camp

Last year, when I randomly did NOT get into Meg Swansen's First Timers camp, I was really bummed. What a blessing in disguise.... because she held a mini-camp the first weekend in May and those of us who didn't get into camp were guaranteed a spot. Small group (only about 20 of us), spring in the Upper Midwest (it was my first trip in that direction), and a time that was way more convenient for me than mid-summer.

Meg is an incomparable teacher, and the workshop logistics couldn't have been better. With Amy Detjen as assistant and exceptional "camp mom," and a visit from Joyce Williams whose work is so original and inspiring, I knew I was in knitting nirvana! It was a small, warm, fun group and I learned way more than I can enumerate. I went with two goals: (1) understand how to deal with the "color jog" that occurs when knitting in color patterns in the round and (2) gain enough of an understanding about constructing a garment that I will feel confident to design my own vest. I met those goals, and got so much more! And in some cases, it wasn't new information (I had heard or read much before), it was having Meg show or explain in such a way that the light went on in my head. It was being guided to think, look, and understand. It was unforgettable!

And guess what else? We got to SHOP at Schoolhouse Press. The actual physical place! No, I won't show you what I bought (mostly because I've sorted and put it away and don't have time to drag it out again for a photo), but as I use it and post photos on the blog, I'll let you know where it came from.

Our group was composed of wonderful ladies - truly talented knitters and just plain nice folks. For some reason I was totally unable to keep names in my head, though. Perhaps because it was so full of knitting and yarn? We had show and tell, though, and here are a few of my class mates strutting their amazing stuff. I'll post more on future blog entries.

Hannah

Hannah, my 7-year old great niece, is a charming child! I met her last week during my visit with my brother, Jack. We visited the book store, where she came home with stories about fairies and mermaids. And she learned how to use a Knitty-Knoddy.

I found the local yarn shop in Lexington, SC. My brother asserted that I'm obsessed with knitting (yup, so?). And we had a good time.

I am just home, so I thought I'd just show you. I will, I promise, tell about my workshop with Meg Swansen and Amy Detjen.

Heads Up!

It's out of print! Get a copy while you can. If your LYS doesn't have it, you can still get copies from Schoolhouse Press. Link is on my sidebar.

We're just home, and I had a fabulous time. There's unpacking and laundry and yarn to put away, and we've returned to find rivers running for paddling tomorrow. More later, but here's a teaser:



First person to identify these three ladies gets sock yarn, so let me know your color preferences.