Patrick at the Wheel

He Sits 'N Spins

Here's Patrick at the LYS SNB** last night.

He's always wanted to learn to spin, and he did pretty well.  Last week, he got a drop spindle and some roving, but had some trouble getting the hang of it, so Molly, one of the owners, brought in her wheel, and gave him a lesson, and he really took to it.

Here's the yarn he spun.

Great job Pat!

Yarn and Sock News

I'm still out to increase my sock yarn stash to a critical mass.  Here's some gorgeous yarn I received last week from the super talented Vicki who knits, crochets, spins, dyes yarn, and sews.

It feel so wonderful too.  I had to take it to my Monday night group at Barnes and Noble and  let them pet it too. I've been coveting this yarn hard ever since I saw it on her blog.

Sneak Peek

What will I make with the yarn?  Hopefully, a pair of these.

These socks were knitted by Beth Parrot (on the left) one of the most talented knitters I know.  Grace Evans, another talented knitter who so kindly acquired the Nmon Ford autograph for me is on the right.

Beth knitted many of the sock models for the book Sensational Knitted Socks and has been approached by Martingale publishing to co-author a book of sock patterns with her friend Charlene Schurch.  It won't come out until 2008, and it's exciting news. 

Anyway, Beth is going to give me the pattern for the above socks to test knit once she writes it down--incredible.  I think the watermelon yarn will look great knitted up into those socks.

Here are some more sock models she made.

The slip stitch pattern on the brown sock is so cute, and the yellow sock is adorable.

Dorothy Progress

I finished the knitting on the bag yesterday.  Here she is before felting.

..and after.

She's fresh from the washer (and in need of a shave) and stuffed with plastic bags.  It took four cycles to get it to felt the way I wanted, and I love the blacks and grays punched up with a little color.

You may notice the lack of a strap and button.  I'm a little over halfway done with knitting the strap, and decided to get a button once the bag is finished drying.

Week In Review

I'm glad it's Friday. I've spent most of the week a little disoriented from having the 4th in the middle of the week. 

I did leave work early Monday  to watch The Devil Wears Prada. I didn't read the book, but I found it light. predictable and enjoyable--especially Meryl Streep's performance and the fantastic clothes, which are characters in the movie as well.

Anne Hathaway plays Andy, a cross between Nick Carraway and Mary Richards (in one scene I thought she'd pull out a tam to toss), a Midwesterner in the Big Bad City who makes compromises before coming back down to earth. 

She and her boyfriend, played by Entourage's Adrian Grenier are so way, way cute, that it was hard for me to see Anne as "fat and frumpy" as she was described in the first part of the film.

Stanley Tucci has great fun as magazine's fashion editor.  Loved his suits.

For the 4th, I mostly relaxed at home, but went downtown to watch the fireworks.  We got a great spot near the Waterfront Park across from the Yorktown on the Charleston side.  From that spot we could see the displays on Sullivan's Island and the Isle of Palms too, and we got out without too much traffic drama.

Note to the City of Charleston:  Please put out porto potties!!!  There were only two public ladies' restrooms available nearby and the lines were too much. Good thing I went right before I had to go.

While waiting for the fireworks, I worked on Dorothy and read.  Patrick went around town and took pictures.

Rainbow Row

The Pineapple fountain at the park.

A door on a nearby residence.

Have a great weekend. Pat's birthday is Sunday, and I haven't gotten him a present yet.

*** Local Yarn Shop Stitch N B&#ch (forgive my laspe into jargon, again.)

Comments

[Lisa]

Ok I love those socks! I have pictures in front of that fountain that are from after the wedding I love the view down there :) What time do you all meet at B&N again? Is it 6 or 7?

[wendy g]

The Dorothy bag turned out great and I need to get busy on mine. I am impressed with Patricks' spinning. He seems to have a real nack for it. Can't wait to see that beautiful sock yarn knitted up with one of those new patterns.

[Paula]

Lovely photos. Let me know what you do with the watermelon yarn. I also have a watermelon yarn from Dani at Sunshine Yarns. We must have the same taste in sock yarn colors.

[Beth]

Hey Patrick - Fabulous first yarn. It looks just like my first yarn. And I couldn't get the hang of the spindle either. I felt like I needed a couple extra arms. Just wait til the whole "drafting as you go" thing clicks. Then you'll be a spinner for life. :)

[Sara]

I loved The Devil Wears Prada so much that I decided to read the book. Which bears little resemblance to the movie. I think the book is great.

[Julia]

I wish my hubs would show enough interest to try his hand at some fiber craft. I think it's cool that Patrick wanted to learn and then followed through. By him some roving!

[Christina]

Patrick's yarn looks great. It reminds me that one of these days I should attempt to play with my drop spindle. The local pics are beautiful.

[grace]

Vera: Love the bag - can't wait to see it complete. Is this another lining project?
Go Patrick.
grace

[Theresa]

No way - he's spinning?? That is so cool! I hope to make it down your way before school starts again - maybe we can meet up and talk yarn!

[Donald]

Hi Vera,
Congrats to Patrick on the spinning! That spinning wheel looks eerily like the one that Yarn-a-holic (Donna) and I sold to your LYS owners. I put good spinning vibes and a few miles on it before passing it on to the new owner. It's wonderful to know that another spinner was inspired from this wheel. Maybe you should get Patrick some spinning fiber or maybe even a gift certificate toward a spinning wheel for his birthday gift.
The watermelon yarn looks very cool. Donna has requested that I dye her some watermelon sock yarn, too. I've bought some Henry's Attic Kona superwash in sock weight just for this purpose. I hope I'm as successful as Vicki at slicing the watermelon yarn.

[monica]

I love that Patrick is spinning! I've been trying to hint to Charlie that he could do that and then I wouldn't have to buy any yarn but he's not taking my hints.

[Deneen]

That's awesome that Patrick is learning to spin, maybe he can teach me (LOL)

Great pics BTW

[bellascribe]

I don't know a thing about it, spinning, but Patrick's picture makes me want to.

[jess]

that is so cool! go patrick! :)

Dorothy looks great! that colorway of noro looks a lot like #51 (that I recently knit Tovesta in). I really want to learn entrelac. :)

[Stacie]

I love it when men knit or spin! I wish I could get my husband to! Your bag is beautiful!

[empress]

That is just too precious! Now only if I can sweet talk my husband into spinning.... The pineapple fountain is beautiful! I hope you find a great gift for him...maybe YOU are a great gift :) Take care.

[Emily]

What a post! I will comment on the highlight for me: How cute is Patrick?! Lookit him makin' yarn. Awwww.

[Renada]

I am so jealous--Patrick got to spin!! On a WHEEL!! LOL...I think spinning is the new "yoga".