It certainly has been a while since there’s been an eye candy post. So, on this ever so dreary, last Friday (thank goodness) in February – let’s look at something pretty. Sound good?

When I was in Seattle I also made a trip to the market. What a feast for the senses.

Gorgeous flowers.

The prettiest raspberries. Ever.

Elephant garlic the size of Sam’s head.

More tulips.

A view of the Seattle Skyline from the ferry.

And, just because I love them – I leave you with…. tulips.

All rolled into one simple pull-over.    

Pros:

• Yarn: Karabella Aurora 8 (colorway 286 – a dark chocolate brown)
• Pattern: (more like recipe) from Ruth at Seattle Yarn
• Arms: They fit. And they fit well.
• Neck: Love the little roll-neck. In fact, I am already envisioning other necklines for this top…hmmm. The mind reels.
• Super speedy knit – so speedy it  practically knit itself. Started this on Saturday afternoon and finished on today. In fact, this could have been finished yesterday or even Sunday evening, but things like work, sleep and a major pinkie cramp stood in the way.
• What a great layering piece. Kicky worn on its own, but I am a huge fan of layering – usually have no less than three layers of shirts on this time of year (in the summer I dial it down to just two layers). So, even though this is a tad shorter than I had intened it is still great for layering and perfect over longer tees.

Cons:

• Cast off edge: I must be tense  (ok. There is no “must be” – I am). My cast off edge is too tight for my taste, workable, but still, not to my taste.  I was going to ask what can be done to remedy this (hoping against hope that there would be an easier remedy) but I already know. Rip and re-do  on larger needles.  Need to work up to that. Maybe this weekend.
• Length: The sweater currently hits right at the hip bone. In a perfect world I would have liked it to hit at low hip.

You know, that’s not bad. All those pro’s and just two cons. I think another one is in order. This time in a Springish color. This really has been just the ticket to get me over my sweater phobia.

Now, back to Lu, which is just shy of half done.

And, lest you think I have no yarn for you, there will be a small shop update  in the next 24-48 hours. But, no worries, I will give everyone a proper heads-up.

Imagine. Going to a fiber arts retreat and actually buying **gasp** yarn!

Mmmmmmm. Manos Silk Blend. Mmmmmmmmm.

Karabella Soft Tweed. Intended use: Another one of Ruth’s snazzy top down sweaters – but as a fly-away cardi instead. Stay tuned.

Cascade 220 – I have no idea. It was pretty.

Lest you think I am completely singled minded and I only have eyese for blue:

Louisa Harding Nautical Cotton in a snazzy grassy green

Thinking ahead to next winter (Crazy aren’t I?). Some Cascade Eco Wool.

And then, there are these little cuties:

The raspberry-ish yarn is from Fleece Artist (the Lu vest kit – also purchased at Madrona) and the “almost too cute to even use” project bag and necklace are from  Amy  (her Mom makes the bags and Amy make the most darling stitch markers and jewelry – totally adorable). Thank you Amy!!!

And that concludes the disclosure of Madrona goodies. Now, if you will excuse me, I have a sink full of yarn to dye and a vest to finish knitting… happy weekend!

O’Hare Airport. Knitting. Cancellations. Rental cars – all booked. More  knitting. Delays. Gate changes. More knitting. Another gate change. Running out of yarn. Another delay. Gate change number three. Still knitting.  Delayed –  again. Ran out of yarn. Finally made it home….. 6.5 hours late, with a half done sweater.

I was all set to rip back the ribbing and add another ball of Karabella, that is until Plucky girl saw it, tried it on and decided it needed to be hers. That is what I call a happy knitting accident.

• Pattern: Ruth’s Best  Top Down Top – From Ruth at Seattle Yarn  
• Yarn: Karabella Aurora 8 – Charcoal Grey
• Approx: 400 yards
• Needles: Size 8 circular

**In my defense. I’m not a delusional knitter –  knew full well that I was running out of yarn. But, what else was I suppose to do while sitting in a dirty corner of gate F3 at the airport? **

Yep, happy girl and a happy accident.

Also, I’ve received quite a few requests about where/how to purchase the pattern for the vest I was sporting at Madrona. It is called Lu by Perl Grey. I purchased my kit from the lovely ladies at Village Yarn & Tea.  Today I spoke with  Victoria and she said that they have many lovely  kits available and will happily take phone orders. (The yarn in the kits is the Fleece Artist Scotian Silk 65% wook, 35% silk). **Edited to add** The yarn is Fleece Artist, not Handmaiden. Sorry!

Can be worn several different ways. Who doesn’t love options?

**Edited to add** FYI – There has been a bit of a shop update…..

I’m sure I’m not the only one who, as a child, was made to eat at the  kiddie table. You know, Sunday dinner at Grandma’s house, the grown-ups at the dining table, the kids in the living room all gathered around a card table. From a very early age I  always wanted to be  at the adult table… after all, that’s where all the action was.  

Well, that is sorta, kinda what this weekend at Madrona felt like.  I was invited to the grown-up knitters table!  The ladies from Village Yarn & Tea invited me to share a corner of their vendor booth with them at Madrona.

So many talented people there. It was thrilling. Talk about sensory overload – times infinity.

Victoria, of VYT  and her  dear friend,  Naomi. In fact, it is thanks to Naomi that I met the Village Yarn folks. Waaaaaayyyy back this past summer, Naomi bought several skeins of yarn from me, she then showed it to her friend Ellen, who works at VYT, who then showed it to one of the owner(s), Victoria…. well, the rest is history.

Ellen, Deb (the other co-owner of VYT)  & Karla. More of the lovely (and  seriously talented and  hilarious) ladies from Village Yarn & Tea.

Victoria’s charade in Iris.

Then there was Amy (Amy – we didn’t get a picture!!!) and her friend….ohhhh. I should have written this down. I think her name was Jan. Tomorrow I’ll show you the darling project bag and necklace that I got from Amy.

(Normally I am so not a shawl pin and vest sort of person, but VYT had this Handmaiden kit…. Victoria asked me to wear it and I fell in love with it. Bought some yarn in a fun pink color and a huge retro black button to use in place of the shawl pin… but there I go getting ahead of tomorrow’s post about yarn….).

Next, I met Virginia (owner of Seattle Yarn)  and her daughter, Ruth. How cute are they? Other than the VY&T booth, I spent most of my time here. They were so delightful and helpful…. and that Ruth, boy is she full of great pattern ideas. See that sweater she is wearing? Well, I better wait until tomorrow’s post.

Then, I also met this very  funny and friendly  woman named Stephanie……

Yep, that Stephanie. Was even able to get her to pose for the  requisite sock photo….

A non-knitter friend came with me… I kept telling her she would learn to knit. She didn’t believe me. Well, resistence is futile. A new knitter was born while we were there. And, boy  is she  a natural. T still doesn’t think she is a knitter, even though she is already thinking ahead to her next project…. and she bought yarn as a souvenior for her daughter. Sounds like a knitter to me.

Stacey  - here are some cupcake pictures for you. Coconut and Red Velvet with cream cheese icing, respectively. I would have taken a picture of the Carrot Cake, but, they just didn’t last long enough to get a photo.

And, a menu.

Up next: Full disclosure about all the yarn-y goodness I brought home with me and some eye candy-ish photos from my walks around about Seattle/Bainbridge Island, and even some knitting content.

Yum.

Super duper. Enormous. Gigantic. You get the idea – a big  update all about Madrona and Seattle to come….