The KnitOasis(news) Newsletter: Volume 3 Coming Soon!

As I am working on the KnitOasis(news) Newsletter for November, I wonder, did you see September and October? I got a lot of great feedback on September's issue, and none for October, so of course, it makes one wonder...the internet can be a capricious place.

In case you missed it, here is the Knitting Tip from October's issue.

Knitting Tip:

Decreases! Can’t live without them, right? Ever wanted a simple way to remember which one leans which way?

When you work a K2tog decrease, your right, or working, needle points to the right, and that will be a right leaning decrease. When you work an SSK, your right needles points to the left, and you guessed, makes a left leaning decrease. It all boils down to learning to “read” your knitting. And practice! Knitting socks is a great way to practice your right and left leaning decreases. Try my (Mostly)Ridge Rib or any other top down sock pattern.

If you are on the mailing list already, can I ask you to do me a favor? Would you think of a knitter you know who would love to get knitting news delivered free to their inbox once a month, and forward your copy of the November newsletter to them? I would appreciate it!

Simple Knitting Tips: Use Your Smarts

I prefer, when shopping for clothes, to take along my daughter or a friend who can give me an objective opinion of the items I try on. Sometimes the mirror and my brain gang up on me and make me see things that aren't there, or not see things that are. If I suck in my stomach and stand just right, those pants look perfect, since they're on sale after all, right? When I have someone else to see from a different perspective (and be honest) then I make fewer bad decisions at the mall. Now that there are smart phones, if I'm shopping alone I take a pic and send it to my daughter for her input. Sometimes, just taking the pic and looking at it before I send it will tell me what the mirror failed to mention. And so it seems to be with knitting...

Beyond the obvious benefits of taking pics of your knitting to post on your Ravelry projects page (which I know you are doing faithfully), taking pics of your knitting while in progress can help you have an objective view of how a pattern is working or whether the color combos you have chosen are really truly compatible.

Even in the days before smart phones, we took pics of blanket layout ideas when knitting patchwork blankets. This is my The Geese, They Are A-Flyin Afghan. I took this pic after knitting a couple of the strips to see how they would look together.

Here's my Log Cabin blanket (aka The Little Test Block that Grew), pre-sew up, with cat. As handsome as he is (and he IS handsome, isn't he?), taking his pic wasn't the point. The point was: Will these squares look good next to those squares? Bonus: This photo will remind me of our layout decision after I pick it all up off the floor. Also, my cat is gorgeous.

Here is my Charleston Indigo Scarf in mid-test knit. I needed to take a pic to see if it was really as pretty as I thought it was.

So today's Simple Knitting Tip is to Use Your Smarts--smart phones, that is. Snap a quick photo of how it's knitting up and catch issues before it's too late to fix them. Snap a pic and never forget the colors you meant to put next to one another. Snap a pic and remember that the cat likes hand knits...but then you probably already knew that.

Amazing SAFF Weekend: Part 3

Vendors, yarn, critters and really cool people...

Years ago, I worked retail in a shopping mall.  SAFF is a little like the mall at Christmas--busy, exciting and occasionally crowded. With super crafty fiber artists!

I talked indigo with a lot of folks, including one who has already sent me seeds from her indigo plants (I can't wait to plant them, Jamie!)!  Eileen, who is a scientist (and whose business card I can't find) told me all about her experiments with indigo and indirubin (the red in indigo). Fascinating stuff and her dyed cloth was so pretty!

Here is Ashley, aka The Feisty Redhead. She was the tech editor for my Carousel Hat pattern and she's so talented and such a sweetheart that I have become one of her groupies. She has a blog, a page on Craftsy with great tutorials, and a new book!

Me with The "Feisty" Redhead. Except she's as sweet as can be!

When you're at a craft show or fiber festival, you get to meet your neighbors, of course.  On one side was Brooks Farm Yarn. I swear I drooled every time I walked by. Their yarn has a sheen to it that is amazing, plus, SQUISHY!

Brooks Farm Trio. Beautiful yarn--this will grow up to be an amazing new design!

On the other side of us, the gals from Tangled Up in Wool were busy selling felting supplies all weekend. This sort of craft is definitely above my pay grade, but they also teach classes, so there's hope for me yet.

Sandy and Kristin from Tangled Up in Wool.  It was like having two "Ginger the Movie Star" characters in our own version of Gilligan's Island. Since they stayed at our hotel, we also saw them early in the morning at breakfast. Yep, gorgeous then, too.

The activity chez nous at Bird Mountain Creations was always interesting!

Pat was busy in the booth--helping folks dye their own sock yarn and maybe, just maybe, getting some weaving done on the triangle loom. Also, greeting folks and making them smile. Tutus are always in style!

My friend at LYDIA Yarns was able to get a booth due to a last-minute cancellation. Word has it that there is a waiting list 40-50 vendors long to get in to SAFF, so yeah, she got that yarn up the road! And it was all gorgeous as usual...

LYDIA!!! I spy a Dagny hat!!

Across the aisle from me was Bijou Basin Ranch. Confession: every time I walked by on the way to the stairs, I fondled the things made from Yak down. Sorry about the smudges, y'all.

Bijou Basin Ranch, home of this 100% Pure Yak Down yarn, which I had to bring home. (I got cranberry!)

Also across the aisle from me was RoseSpring Farm. Look for them at The Fiber Festival of New England this weekend. Tell them Tamara said hi, and sorry I forgot to snap a picture!

While on a mission on Saturday in the sales arena (up the hill from me--SAFF ain't small) I  stumbled across this, the cutest booth at the show. I love the shutters, and the door and the twinkly lights. The seriously fancy yarns were pretty amazing, too! The ladies from Camelid Cottage happen to be hosting the Georgia Fiber Fest next year, so mark your calendars!

Camelid Cottage. So so so cute!!

Being a fiber fair, of course there were animals. I did not, however get to venture to the barn. I did see some animals, though, including Piper the Pom, who is adorable and has her own FB page. She smiled at the camera when I told her I was taking a pic. What? I thought everyone befriended dogs everywhere they went!

Alpaca! Pomeranian! Fluffy bunnies!

I can't decide what was my favorite part of the whole weekend--it was really all so much fun!

Did you make it to a fiber festival this year? What was YOUR favorite part?

Amazing SAFF Weekend: Part 2

SAFF was awesome, see?

L-R, top row: 1.My knit-mobile for the trip was appropriately decked out. 2. Mountain skies? Yes, please!  3. Me and Pat Lorenz, somehow color-coordinating, ready for SAFF shoppers! 4. Claudia and her awesome sock yarn.

L-R, bottom row: 1. Thank you for buying my kits, Corinne!!! xoxox  2. I met Starr at last year's Knit Inn and decided she fit right in. So cool to see her again! 3. One of the SAFF volunteers in THE skirt. 4. The colors, oh my!!

The sunsets, the fall foliage, the knitwear (just look at that skirt! "Knit a skirt" went to the top of my to-do list when I walked in and saw this) and of course the friends, all made it so much fun. 

Claudia came up from Charleston to shop and take classes and dye her own sock yarn (red, white and blue--I can't wait to see how the socks turn out!) in the Bird Mountain Creations booth (more on that next time). Corinne has the distinction of being my very first customer! After connecting via social media, it was so lovely to finally meet her. Since we live near each other, we will do lunch soon. And probably knit.

Starr took my Vintage Winter Shawl class at the SC Knitting Guild's 2014 Knit Inn last February, and we have since kept up with each other on Facebook.  I love that she came to see me...and she bought a kit, too!

She wins Denim Jacket.

Wendy and me--SAFF selfie :)

Wendy from Spinsjal came to SAFF in the coolest jean jacket I've ever seen. She's always got something brewing on her blog and I wish we'd had more time to chat!!

Pat from Bird Mountain Creations was as much fun to hang out with all weekend as I expected. I love her zest for living and her sense of excitement that she carries around with her everywhere. She's never met a stranger and is one of the most generous people I know. She is an encourager and a bright light in a dark world. Plus, tutus.

What a weekend, right? And I've only just scratched the surface. Next time I'll show you sock yarn dying in action and introduce you to some of the lovely vendors (of which there were many!).