Well, I'm not exactly sure what happened to last week, but I'm happy to have a fresh start for this one! Last Saturday I went to Stitches East in Baltimore, and since I've already cast on with two of the yarns I got, I think I had a successful trip!
Jody and I took the train down to Baltimore. I have to admit that I was looking forward to the trip partly because I was excited to take Amtrak again-- it's my favorite way to travel! We met another knitter on the train, and the three of us shared a cab to the convention center.
I don't have any pictures from Stitches, because cameras are not allowed on the show floor. I was a little surprised at the atmosphere there. There wasn't that almost frenzied excitement like I'm used to at Maryland or Rhinebeck. People were happy and interested in the yarn, of course, but it all seemed a lot more subdued. There was so much interesting yarn there, and I'm really happy with the things I picked up.
I've already cast on with the Tess Silk & Ivory yarn. It was my first purchase at the festival, too! I had regretted not getting yarn at Rhinebeck to make Baby Cables and Big Ones Too, so that was first on my list.
I have to admit that the yarn is a little too thin for the pattern. It's really a fingering/sport instead of DK. But I've knit enough of it now (and a size larger than I need given gauge issues) that I like the fabric and I think it will work out really nicely. Although I just started this on Friday, I think I might be able to get this done for NaKniSweMo!
I also picked up a few yarns at Miss Babs. I hadn't heard of her before, but I really liked her things. She had both sock and sport weight yarn in tiny amounts-- 1.3 oz -- which really opens up some neat possibilities. You could buy a few skeins for a striped pair of socks, or you could just get one if you only needed a small amount of yarn.
Here is a mini-skein in sport weight Peony, and a regular skein in Obsidian, which I'm planning to use for two Christmas gifts this year. This first project is Selbu Modern (Rav link).
I got enough yarn to make Violette-le-duc at the Webs booth. They had a sample knit up, so I was able to try it on and make sure I liked the look. I opted not to get any of the glittery yarn the pattern calls for. None of them were very me, and they didn't look that great with the red.
And finally, I have a few skeins of sock yarn.
The orange (Miss Babs again) was my only impulse purchase. I have several pairs of orange socks already, but this color was too glorious to pass up. And I got what I'm calling the "snack size". I also picked up some Malabrigo Sock Yarn, and some Tess Supersock & Baby.
All in all, I had a great time at Stitches. It doesn't evoke the same loyalty in me that Rhinebeck does, but I had a pleasnt trip there, found some great yarn, and we even had dinner overlooking the Baltimore Harbor. Besides, I think it's important to seize any opportunity to congregrate with a bunch of people who love to knit!
Very nice purchases!
Posted by: Oiyi | November 17, 2008 at 12:47 AM
Very Nice! I missed it this year and seeing your purchases gives a good idea of what was available.
Posted by: Ebony | November 17, 2008 at 01:43 AM
yum! glad to see a report from stitches east--never been, but maybe next year.....
Posted by: kv | November 17, 2008 at 07:44 AM
wow - you've made great progress on that sweater already! the yarn looks really soft....
Posted by: stacey | November 17, 2008 at 09:22 AM
ooohhh yummy yarn! Can't wait to see more of your baby cables!
Posted by: Kelly | November 17, 2008 at 10:38 AM
oOo, you're in for a treat. I've worked with Miss Babs' stuff frequently in the past and every experience has been really wonderful!
Great choices!
Posted by: Kristen | November 17, 2008 at 10:44 AM
Very pretty new projects and purchases!
Posted by: tiennie | November 17, 2008 at 01:07 PM
Excellent yarn purchases. I love that juicy orange Miss Babbs sock. Your Selbu Modern is going to be gorgeous in the pink and black. I just printed out that pattern today and hope to go stash diving for appropriate yarn. I'm also a big fan of the Baby Cables & Big Ones sweater.
Posted by: Kim | November 17, 2008 at 02:31 PM
Yeah, different atmosphere. I wasn't even sure I would go this year cuz its not MDS&W, right? But I'm glad I did and it looks like you did well, too!
Posted by: Tanya | November 17, 2008 at 09:41 PM
Nice finds. Maybe I'll get there next year since it's apparently going to be in CT. :)
Posted by: Jessica | November 18, 2008 at 10:49 AM
Lovely yarns! I really like the baby cables and big ones too sweater, and that is such a lovely color for it; cables always look good in reds.
Posted by: Brenda | November 18, 2008 at 05:00 PM
i agree with your sentiments about the atmosphere. but it was great to get in some serious hanging-out-with-kristy time, and it was fun to see all the people fawning over your sweater :)
Posted by: jody | November 18, 2008 at 05:29 PM
Wow! Between Rhinebeck and Stitches East you look set until the end of the year!
P.S. I wonder if that was my friend you met on the train? She told me all about it - I'm sorry I missed BOTH events!
Posted by: emma | November 18, 2008 at 07:44 PM
nice post.. I was bummed that we couldn't take any pictures this year.
Posted by: cici | November 23, 2008 at 02:50 PM