Stitches East!
Sigh.
I just spent the last hour or more writing this really long description of what I got from Stitches East! but lost it when my browser crashed. [kicks browser] So, I'm going to try to recreate my very long entry.
I didn't sign up for any classes at Stitches East, since I'm on a limited budget, but I thought that it wouldn't be bad to pay for gas and the $7 entrance fee to the vendor room. I'd take the money for classes and use it to purchase yarn. Yarn! Woo hoo!
I purchased some gorgeous, hand-dyed boulce for my Secret Pal 2 and Secret Pal 3. I hope they like them.
On the drive down to Atlantic City, Mike and I discussed the option of me knitting pieces for Christmas gifts this year. I have never worked with linen and have been impressed with knitten linen items I've seen: they have lovely drape and I understand that a skein typically makes two dishcloths. So, I decided that one of my purchases would be a couple of skeins of linen to make dishcloths. I picked up these two matching skeins to play with this season.
I spotted the booth where my mother bought quivit at Maryland Sheep and Wool festival. There, I purchased a cashmere lacy scarf kit. I'm not sure who will get the finished scarf, perhaps my mother-in-law, but I thought it was very pretty. Next festival, I'm going to plan on a project so that I can get enough from this particular vendor; I'm impressed with the prices and quality of their yarn.
There were a number of vendors selling beautiful buttons. One was selling these gorgeous glass buttons and I decided to splurge for my nearly-completed everyday purse with flap. Even though it wasn't my single-most expensive purchase of the day, I think of it is as my splurge.
The button is perfect for my bag. One of the women running the booth helped me pick out. I wanted a button that wasn't too large, since I didn't want it to overwhelm the piece. It needed to be beautiful, understated, yet something that people can focus on in the bag. I love how it is flecks of purple, gold, and blue against a field of green. It reminds me of a meadow. So gorgeous! The glass is slightly tinted yellow in some spots and it looks like a summer in a globe. I generally don't like purple, but I think I'm slowly turning to a purple fan.
I tried to look for things that were interesting or unique at the fair. One of the most unique things I saw was this beautiful hand-dyed silk for a scarf. However, I noticed that it was unspun silk, which I wouldn't be able to spin since I didn't know how . I made a comment to the woman running the booth, adding that I would love to get one for when I do learn to use a spindle. She informed me that I didn't need to use a spindle and can work the material by hand! She then demonstrated how to peel off a layer from the silk block, pull it, and twist it to make the yarn. After I make the yarn, I would be able to knit it up to a scarf, the pattern also included in the package. I selected a color that I liked and purchased the silk block.
It would take a long time to put it all together, but I like the idea of being a part of every stage in the creation process. I wonder if I could use the same technique she demonstrated to spin silk yarn from silk tops. Hmmmmmm.
I also purchased a yarn keeper bracelet from the same stall. I'm always looking for tools that would enable me to "knit anywhere".
I've used it a number of times since I purchased it and it's fairly useful. I like how it keeps the yarn neat within my purse instead of rolling around like mad.
Walking around the fair, I was impressed with the different types of ponchos that were out there, both being worn by customers and on display at the various booths. For the last half hour of the market, I checked out the booths again, thinking that if something really catches my eye, I will make that poncho for myself.
Earlier in the afternoon, I stopped by the Shadyside Farm booth and their lovely natural and hand-dyed yarn with a gorgeous poncho in front. I was so impressed that I came in and took a closer look at the yarn and spoke the owner of the booth, however I didn't purchase anything the first time. The second time, I decided I loved the drape of the poncho and the texture of the yarn and I would make a poncho out of it.
I can't wait to start it! They directed me to Amy Singer's blog, where the basic shape for the poncho that was on display was taken. I've got some ideas and I can't wait to try to execute them.
