Happy Halloween

Today I finished one of two fingerless mittens in Alpaca based off the "fetching" pattern from Knitty.com but changed to suit my hand and style preferences. I got rid of the picot edging. It was awesome but folds over too easily and instead I used a set of slightly larger needles to do a stretchy bindoff. I want to start the second mitten tomorrow and hopefully finish it by the end of the week. I also need to start a shawl or baby hat for the Prayershawl group I've just started attending. We moved from a place with 4 or 5 knitting groups meeting each week to a place where I've only been able to find one. I like charity knitting---it's nice to feel like something I'm doing might mean something to someone who needs a pickmeup.

Knitting projects on the needles:
fingerless mittens
toddler sweater (paused do to lack of knowledge)
knitting projects to start
charity baby hat
shawl with dyed yarns

Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair

I was able to attend classes at SAFF this weekend and had a very fun, educational, and tiring time. I took an all day felting class on hat felting on Friday which was extremely well taught by an artist and author named Chad Hagen, then Saturday I was able to take a natural dyeing with exotic dyes class followed by another felting class making round seat cushions with a dyed inlaid felt design. Boy am I sore from standing up most of two days and all the pounding implied in the felting process but it was well worth the efforts. I'm hoping next year to just get a hotel room and take classes all three days. I never did get to see all the vendors, exhibitions, or animals due to the heavy class schedule. When I finish tweaking the hat I'm going to put up a pic of it but for now here are pics of the yarn and the situpon.

Dyes used...Logwood, Cochineal, Red Sandlewood, Henna, and Brazilwood. Felting used mostly a Norwegian mix that I"m in love with! Picked up a hat form so I suspect I'll be doing some experimentation here and there. I was very, very happy to run into some of the ladies from my SC knitting group which I really miss these days living in NC as well as some of the folks from our history group. I was happy that one of my gals pointed out some gorgeous handdyed sock yarn and my dh is trying to wrap it into a ball for me to knit from right now. We also picked up some replacement needles for my needlefelting supplies and the folks actually remembered me from last year when I bought supplies and then came back the next day with a fully finished and decorated felt hat:>. I Love my felting and this year was even more interesting as I've picked up knitting as well. Too much fiber to choose from...

update

Well, it's been a while since updating. We're in the middle of a move up to NC right now which has seriously cut into my knitting and fiber arts. I'm trying to find a new knitting group but have been unable to hook up with any yet.

Current projects...
Wool sweater in the round for Joshua
fingerless gloves from Knitty.com in alpaca