Last minute, as always

Sheep and Wool season again! Yaaay!

This year I invited my grad school classmate Ammon and his family to the festival. When I learned that they could come, I decided to knit their baby #3 a pair of booties.

I've been eyeing Duck Socks in the new Knitty, and decided to give that a go. The instructions said it takes one skein of Shibui Sock (~200 yds), so I religiously followed it and dyed up about 250 yards of Valley Franklin:

Recipe for 250 yards: 60 drops yellow; 2 drops red; 1 drop green.

splash of vinegar (1/4 cup or so)

Dipped kettle-style in turkey pan.

Cooked in oven @ 250F for 2 hours.

So cute!

Ta dah!

Pattern:: Duck by Jeny Staiman
Size:one for 3 mo.-6mo.
Yarn:Valley yarn Franklin
Yardage:90yds
Needle:US1.5 DPN
Mods:none really. I used DPNs because I don't have circulars that small. My turkish cast-on was little wobbly, but it will do. Next time, I'm going to study the youtube video that accompanied it in ravelry. I think there's enough yarn to make another pair.


Juliana (mom), Ammon (dad), and Ryley (big sis) were pretty pumped. Jensen (big bro) was indifferent. I think Evelyn (baby in photo) was upset that her feet got really hot all of the sudden.

It was so nice seeing them! We need to hang out more often!

Maryland Sheep & Wool 2010 Part I: Saturday

Yay it's Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival Weekend! This is my third year going, and decided to go both days (hey, why not). Saturday was the day I got to see Ammon and his family, and I also took along Asher. This was my first Saturday experience, so I didn't know what to expect.

Definitely didn't expect this:

What! 2 mile traffic jam?! We were stuck for good 30 minutes on SR32.

We finally got there, and first checked out some auction items.

This one was my favorite:

This year I also decided to enter some competitions.

I dropped off 2 skeins and 1 shawl for the skein and garment competition on Friday, and couldn't wait to see the results.

My sock yarn! First place! Best novice skein! I'm soooo excited!

My excited face.

My skein #2 got 4th place.

Then we could check out the festival in peace. Here are some silkworms.

Great music.

Funny sheep.

Sheep is one of those animals that you think you know what it looks like, then you realize that you don't. There are so many different breeds with different characteristics, that there is no "average sheep" image one can draw up.

I think this is Lincoln (correct me if I'm wrong)

Blue face Leicester

Teeny kitteh

Getting trimmed. The sheep must be very scared on the pedestal like that. They hold very still.

Working sheepdog demo. One of my favorites. I think the kiddies were getting too hot in the sun to enjoy it. Bummer. Maybe next time!

Blade shearing demo.

I didn't know that sheep didn't recognize each other once they are shorn. Apparently they look and smell different, so they fight to establish hierarchy within the flock. I find this really amusing. Dumb sheep.

And my favorite moment! I got to meet the inspiring, wonderful, talented, lovely Ms. Judith MacKenzie McCuin!

I was totally flabbergasted and forgot that she lives in Washington State. Duh! I hope I didn't offend her. But she was really nice about it, and signed my copy of the Intentional Spinner.

I was really good and only bought 4oz of polwarth and 6oz of Jacob. Lovely stuff. More Sunday.

Feel Better, Jiccha.

My mom's dad (Jiccha in Yamagata dialect) has been in the hospital for several months. I heard that Japan's having a cold spring, so I thought it may be not too late for a knitted gift.

I was flushed, rushed, and stressed; inevitably I had a gauge disaster with this one: aaargh darn you Cascade 220 superwash!

So I took few deep breaths and cast on for this one which I finished:

Pattern:: First Time Tube Socks by Ann Budd
Size:Large (9" circ)
Yarn:Patons Classic Wool in Chestnut and Aran
Yardage:187yds Chestnut; 127yds Aran
Needle:US7 DPN
Mods:Made them stripes so I'd have enough yarn.

I hope you feel better, Jiccha.

Happy Easter Weekend!

My family came to visit! It was lots of fun and an intense weekend full of things to do. That's how we roll. Please enjoy the beautiful spring scenery of DC and random goofiness.

The welcome band.

what?

what?

This year we were so lucky to have warm weather and peak bloom on Easter Weekend! Yay!

We ran into our neighbors from NC at the Jefferson Memorial! What are the odds. It was really nice seeing them, and we need to go visit them once they move to Austin, TX!

We then had delicious Spanish tapas. Luckily we made reservations so we didn't have to wait at all!

Then drank some more.

Next morning I wake up to this. Mom, those are bobbins.

So I had to show them what was what.

Then off to DC again! ...hmm not sure if we were supposed to do that.

The National conservatory was full of beautiful flowers and exotic flora.

...and funny-looking humans.

Corn husk dolls.

This one took my breath away!

I love this color. Himalayan orchids, I think. I'm going to try dying my yarn like this color.

Then to the Smithsonian. Hello fairy armadillo. This species uses his butt to cover the hole he's hiding in. Some fairy.

Platypus cranium. I thought the nasal bone structure is so interesting!

This little mouse screams real loud.

Which one is the hippo again?

Giraffes like potato chips.

Deer with fangs. Why?

Tenso.

We must have a mask shot whenever possible.

It was a bit early, but I gave her the birthday goods. She looks a lot better in the hat than me.

She also wanted some knitted dishcloth (good girl). I also got her the best storybook ever,

Henry in Love by Peter McCarty.

It was lots of fun! Come visit again soon!