Sales this weekend, with part of the proceeds going towards veteran’s groups.

Did you know I graduated from West Point 24 (gulp) years ago?  I served as a Military Intelligence officer for four years, including deployment for Desert Storm with the 1st Armored Division.  

Overwhelmed by the sheer number of things I have to get done, I’m procrastinating by going into a flurry of organizing & decluttering.  (In my defense, the sense of accomplishment and peace achieved does result in increased productivity post-procrastination.)

This time decluttering includes destashing some personal yarn, knitting bags, and books.

Bags are listed on Ravelry in the Knitting Bag Lust group here.

Books are up on Amazon here.  If you see more than one book that you’d like, email me & I’ll pull the listing off Amazon so shipping can be combined.

This yarn is lovely yarn that, in a perfect world, I’d have time to use.  But I don’t foresee using it any time soon (i.e. in the next, oh, five years).  Which means it would be better off in your hands!  US shipping included in the prices.

Fiberphile Merino Nylon sock in Pumpkin Spice (top) $22 & Fiberphile MCN sock in Siren Song  (bottom) $22

Martha’s Vineyard Fiber Farm Spring 2009 Cormo CSA Share. 600 yards, undyed. $35

Rowan Magpie 9 skeins. $85

Sundara Sock in the following colorways, $23 each

• Embers over Flame
• Sangria over Garnet  sold
• Chocolate Covered Caramel sold
• Cha Cha
• Brambleberry
• Magnolia

Dyed by Danido Luxury Sock in Hazelnut. Gorgeous.  It’s nestled in between the Magnolia & Brambleberry, above.

Slackford Pathway Sock (top) $18 & Slackford Hedonist Sock (bottom) $20

A slew of Campion.  See my Rav trade page here for more info on colors etc.  $6/ skein.

Designing

Though I can’t post many details about what I’ve been working on, there has been a lot of designing and knitting going on!

I’m still at work on the twisted stitch cowl.  Have I said how much I love Serenity Worsted?  It’s like buttah in your hands.  (In a good, non greasy way.)

I’ve also cast on & am about 4-5″ into the back for a sweater for the next book.  Every time I see Sabrina from Anzula I’ve sworn the sweater with her yarn will be next big thing I’ll be working on for the next book, and every time other deadlines come up.  Finally I’ve started it!  The main portion of the sweater is in Oasis, with details in Breeze.  Bottom up, in pieces, with set in sleeves worked topped down post-seaming.

My goal is to have both the sweater and the cowl completed before TNNA (so I can bring them along  and show them to Roxanne & Neville and Sabrina).  I’m also planning on having some swatches done for some other projects, again to present to the respective yarn companies.

I did  just finish a hat for the next book, with Bijou BasinBijou Bliss.  This hat went through two or three incarnations involving copious frogging before I settled on the (much simpler but oh so lovely) final version.

I also finished a big secret project, which winged its way across the country last week.

Teaching

As noted before, I’m teaching in Taos this fall!  Click here and here for info on my classes. I’m also thinking of doing some LYS appearances.

Blog

Update still in the works. Tech editing, Hitch, designing, etc has taken priority.

Tech Editing

Tech editing-wise, I’m still not accepting new clients, and don’t know when I will be.  I’ll post on the tech editing page when I am.

Misc

Vet work is picking up, which is good both monetarily and professionally.

I’ve started (am in Week 4) of the Zombies Run 5k training.  See my progress here.

I also have very sad news about Obi.  He passed away last week.  It’s still too raw for me to do a blog post about him — I’m getting teary-eyed just typing this.  He’d been sick the last couple years, but really crashed last week.  A vet friend at a local clinic euthanized him for me while I petted him.  We’ll be getting his ashes back.

You all know I’m a big fan of the Craftsy classes.  If you’ve not taken one, or if you have and want more (they are like potato chips!), here’s your chance to win a free class!

How can you win?  Use this link to register for Craftsy, if you’ve not yet, and to enter the contest.

In the meantime, don’t forget that Craftsy has some great free classes as well.  I’ve taken Know Your Wool and Short Rows, but there are plenty of other free classes to try as well (scroll down).

I’d love to hear what class you’d choose if you win!

…is now open!  You can use these links:  Aran Lace & Twisted Stitches to sign up.

The class project for the Aran Lace class is my Achillea Cowl (shown on the left).  I’ll bring samples of it & other Aran Lace patterns I’ve designed (such as my Applejack Cowl and Lupine Mitts).  I’ll also check with the vendors to see if anyone will be selling copies of the Aran Lace stitch dictionary by Annie Maloney (in previous classes, everyone’s wanted a copy of this stitch dictionary!).

I’m currently designing a new pattern for the Twisted Stitch class. In previous classes I’ve used my Let’s do the Twist mitts, but I think working with worsted weight yarn will be much easier for folks than fingering or sport weight.  I’m working up the cowl in gorgeous Serenity Worsted by Zen Yarn Garden in Frosted Teal.

Have you been to the Taos Wool Festival?  If yes, or if you’ve just been to the area, let me know your favorite things to do, places to eat, etc!  I’m bringing my mom along as a vacation for before/after the show.