Category Archives: Portland area fun

RCYC 2016 Day 3

Posted on March 6, 2016 | 3 comments

Only two shops for me today, but they were great!

First stop, Wool ‘n’ Wares to see the Rainbow moose. (Rainbow Connection scarf pattern by Shannon Squire.) So much rainbow in one shop! And trunk shows. Four simultaneous trunk shows, plus lambs outside.

Mama Ruby from was visiting with her girls Calico Kate and Bonny Lass. They’re from The Spinning Ewe Farm; Jan McMahon raises a variety of crossbred sheep with the handspinner in mind.

These lambs were born in December. They don’t really look like babies any more!

Carl Herndon (C H Woodcraft) makes beautiful things from wood. He had spindles, swifts, niddy-noddies, and more including these very elegant seam rippers. I don’t sew much any more, but I had to have one to replace the nasty plastic thing in my sewing box. I bought the last two; one will be a gift. Carl doesn’t have a web site yet, but he’s at the Oregon City Farmer’s Market, and you can reach him at herndoncarl (at) gmail.com. Choose your own wood, people!

Debbi Stone had a trunk show here today. I promise I’m not stalking her, either.

And JJ Foster with her Buttonhole! Buttons. Vintage and modern buttons for your knits.

On to For Yarn’s Sake. Yes, I was there with a trunk show on Thursday, but I really wanted to see Kate and Rachel, the Spincycle Yarns ladies, to choose a color to go with the yarn I bought last year.

Success! After considering a pale seaglass aqua and a vivid orange, I settled on this pink and gray named Heart Sigh. A good combo with last year’s Nostalgia. I’m kind of a color chicken at heart, and this pairing of pinks fits well with my tendency towards tonal monochrome. Perfect.

My last stop was late in the day, to set up Sunday’s trunk show at Twisted. I ran into JJ here. Maybe she’s stalking me? Nah, she was there first.

If you’re out and about on the crawl on Sunday, come say howdy!

3 Comments

Posted in events, Portland area fun

Tagged rcyc2016, trunk show

RCYC 2016 Day 2

Posted on March 5, 2016 | 7 comments

I won’t even pretend that I’ll be able to go to all 14 shops on the Rose City Yarn Crawl. I salute those who have already turned in their completed passports! I started my day with a trunk show, but not on the crawl.

Lantern Moon’s fabulous retreat began with a luncheon at McMenamin’s Kennedy School. I had a little trunk show for this room full of happy knitters before they headed off for Skamania Lodge. Also in this show were Brooke Sinnes (Sincere Sheep, you can see her at For Yarn’s Sake on Sunday) and Deb Accuardi (Chicken Coop Botanicals).

Summertime Blues is making the rounds! So fun for people to try things on.

The Lantern Moon crew was headed for a tour of Pendleton Woolen Mills in Washougal, WA. Two of the retreat attendees are wool-allergic, so they planned to hit a few stores on the Crawl and meet up with the group at Skamania. They had already been to Close Knit, so I recommended Twisted and Yarnia. Yarnia, so uniquely Portland, where they could choose their fibers and have them made into their own one-of-a-kind yarn. I ended up there later, and heard that they had made it in and made their yarns!

Yarnia’s offerings are sorted by fiber content. You choose your plies, and they are wound off together for you.

Yarnia also has pre-wound yarn, for those of us who can’t decide. (I’ve been one of those before.) I love how they display little swatches on the cones, and label the wool-free ones. I hadn’t been to Yarnia’s new location, so I really wanted to see it, and am glad I had a chance to visit. Their new space is lovely.

Yarntastic is another new-to-me shop. It’s over in the Sellwood neighborhood, which is the far end of Portland from me. I was charmed by their yarn tree, seen here over Stacey Kok’s (Thoroughly Thwacked) trunk show display. What a lovely riot of color.

This little sparkly blue gradient set was calling my name, loudly. I’m still thinking about it. Hmmmm.

I also stopped at Northwest Wools, which was mobbed by crawlers. I’m not really stalking Shannon and Lorajean, but wherever you go, there they are! Plus, I was picking up Girl Scout cookies from Shannon. If you need cookies, she’s your source. Nom.

Today I’m planning to go to Wool ‘n’ Wares to see rainbows and maybe sheep, and back to For Yarn’s Sake to see the Spincycle gals.

I bought this beautiful yarn from them last year, and realized later that it really needs a coordinating/contrasting color to make it sing. So I’ll bring my pretty pink/purples and audition the other colors with them. (Does this remind you of my color pop auditions for BangOutASweater? Seeing is believing!)

Where are you on the crawl today? Leave a comment. There may be a reward!

7 Comments

Posted in Knit, Portland area fun

Tagged lantern moon, rcyc2016

RCYC 2016 Day 1

Posted on March 4, 2016 | 2 comments

The Rose City Yarn Crawl started off with a bang. Or more accurately, a POP! I spent the day at For Yarn’s Sake having a multi-trunk show with dyer Lorajean Kelley of Knitted Wit, and fellow designers Shannon Squire and Debbi Stone. Owner Ann started our morning with a bubbly toast. Let the crawl begin!

It was fun chatting with knitters about designs, and steering them towards (more) yarn. Trunk shows are a great way to see knits up close and personal, and even try them on.

Mo is planning to knit her very own Summertime Blues. She’s not the only one. Seeing the drape and swing of this poncho in person is a game changer!

Melinda brought her cashmere-infused Rosaria (2014’s mystery knit) to show me. I love her colors.

Sunday once again dyed her hair to match her completed mystery KAL. Awesome!

Henry knits color work scarves, flat, with recycled yarn.

Debbi and I love our dumpling bags by Binkwaffle. They’re reversible, and just the right size for a single skein project. The bonus is that it comfortably sits on your wrist, which is helpful if you don’t have pockets to stash your yarn. Ann has these bags in the shop, but ours are from last summer’s TNNA show.

I love Shannon’s sock wheel. Her dad made it for her. I’m impressed! I have some of his sock blockers, but the sock wheel is so far beyond that.

What’s next? Friday I’m doing a trunk show for Lantern Moon’s retreat, and then I’ll hit a few shops for the crawl. Saturday is free for crawling and on Sunday I’ll be at Twisted from 1 to 4 p.m. If you see me this weekend, say hi!

Throwback to 2014’s crawl.

I know Rachel is missing the crawl; on Wednesday she posted on my FB that she wished she could be here. She moved to Florida last year (sunny and warm!); it’s a little out of range, though. We miss her, too. She’s one of the Turkish Delight OFFF spinners!

2014 RCYC rest stop with Rachel

Knit on, my lovelies, with bubbly if you must! Are you crawling this weekend? If not, what are you doing instead?

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Posted in events, Portland area fun

Tagged rcyc 2016, rcyc2016

Rose City Yarn Crawl and trunk shows

Posted on March 2, 2016 | Comments Off

It’s one of my favorite weekends of the year: Rose City Yarn Crawl! This year there are fourteen participating shops in the metro Portland area. The crawl begins at 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 3, and ends at 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 6. Are you ready?

I’ll be at two shops with trunk shows this year.

2014 trunk show with LJ and Frances

On Thursday, I’ll be at For Yarn’s Sake from 10 to 4 with fantastic local dyer Knitted Wit (Lorajean Kelley), and designers Shannon Squire and Debbi Stone. It’s a party!

Last year at Twisted

On Sunday I’ll be at Twisted from 1 to 4 p.m. Stop by and say hello!

Comments Off on Rose City Yarn Crawl and trunk shows

Posted in events, Knit, Portland area fun

Tagged rcyc 2016

New year, new knits

Posted on January 4, 2016 | 2 comments

I frogged my prototype Twin Leaf Crescent on New Year’s Eve, and cast on New Year’s Day.

I’m looking forward to re-knitting this yarn into the shawl it wants to be. The twinleafkal2016 is going on in the Ravelry Black Trillium Fibres group, if you’d like to join. The KAL runs through March 31, but in order to be eligible for prizes, you’d need to cast on by the end of January. I’ll be knitting along with everyone over there.

New Year’s Day was sunny, bright, windy and cold! We had a lovely walk on my favorite riverfront path.

Two days later we had snow, and then freezing rain on top of it. I saw this Buddha in a neighbor’s yard.

He looked serene, but maybe a little lonely, so I brought him some friends.

Waiting for things to thaw out. Everything is coated in ice. (Bird pic courtesy of Son2)

Speaking of snow, I’m looking forward to releasing a new take on Snowy Woods soon. I just can’t get enough of those lovely trees! It’s been to the tech editor, and just needs someone else to knit it as a confirmation. Soon!

I have one other project on the needles right now, an easily memorizable cowl design that can be knit in public or at knit night, no crazy charts to follow or beads. This balances well with the Twin Leaf Crescent, which needs a little more attention.

What’s on your needles this year? Is January Selfish Knitting Month for you?

2 Comments

Posted in KAL, Knit, pattern design, Portland area fun

Tagged portland bridges, snow, twinleafKAL2016, winter

A couple more OFFF finds

Posted on September 29, 2015 | 3 comments

I taught my Fern Lace Shawlette class at OFFF, and showed my students my Altoids tin bead management system.

I’d noticed that my Bead-Aid wasn’t sticking to the top of my magnet as well as I would like. The enameling on this magnet from my kids’ magnet set was pretty, but interfering with function. When I saw needle minder magnets from A Needle Runs Through It in the Knitted Wit booth, I had to have one.

I chose the sheep. Of course. These are actually meant for cross stitch, but they’re perfect for Bead-Aids, too. Maria also makes beautiful project bags. Go check out her Etsy shop!

Perfect fit, and the magnet is super strong so my needle is NOT going to get lost. If you want to make one of these to corral your beading equipment, all you need is an Altoids tin, magnet, Bead-Aid, and a short bead tube. If you want to get fancy, put a piece of fun foam or bead mat in the bottom so your beads don’t rattle so loudly. Keep most of your beads in the tube, and pour out about 20 at a time. If your tin gets dumped, you won’t lose ALL your beads!

What else did I get?

From local dyer Alexandra’s Crafts, this a gradient dyed sock blank made up of two strands of fingering weight knit double. Normal knitters would knit perfectly matching socks.

Me? I don’t love knitting socks, but I love fingering weight accessories. This will be some kind of scarf/stole, shading from one end to center and back out again. It’s Duffy’s Fault. I don’t know what the thing is yet, but Duffy made me buy it, and that will be the name. Eventually. Other deadline knitting has to happen first. Queue it up!

I have a new design coming out October 1. It’s a fun Portland designers group project, and I’m really looking forward to showing you one of the many things I knit this summer.

I also have a new shawl design coming out, probably next week. I’ve knit it in two sizes, both in gradient yarns, and also a non-gradient version. They’re like children; I can’t decide which one I like best!

My needles have been super busy, and now you get to see at least some of the fruits of my summer. Soon…

3 Comments

Posted in beading, Knit, pattern design, Portland area fun, yarn

Tagged A Needle Runs Through It, Alexandra's Crafts, Bead Aids, bead tin, OFFF 2015

OFFF 2015, SuperMoonEclipse

Posted on September 28, 2015 | 8 comments

Well, that was quite the weekend! Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival was wonderful, as always. I taught two classes on Friday: Athena Entrelac Cowl and Fern Lace Shawlette (sideways shawl construction). My students were all great, and they all got it. I’m looking forward to seeing pictures of their lovely finished projects someday.

I went back on Saturday and Sunday for shopping, hanging out, and general mayhem. Here’s a whirlwind tour:

The weather was perfect, sunny and cool enough to show off your favorite knitwear.

Lots of friends to catch up with:

Lorajean Kelley of Knitted Wit

3 M’s: Me, Michelle, and Melissa in the Knitted Wit booth

Leigh Anne in the Carolina Homespun booth, trying to decide whether she should take up spinning

Sari Peterson with her grands at her booth. Her DH makes beautiful spindles. Sari teaches spinning, and I think I may need some lessons! First to refine my spindle technique, and second to try a wheel. Not that I want one. Just curiosity about how they work. Honest. (Heading down the rabbit hole? Over to the Dark Side?)

Christina making lace on the lawn

Laurinda Reddig, crocheter extraordinaire and fellow OFFF teacher

I love it when I see my designs in the wild. This is Cindy with her beaded Fern Lace Shawlette.

Beautiful Turkish spindles in the Jenkins Woodworking booth

Some new things I fell in love with:

Francisco Bautista’s beautiful hand dyed, hand woven rugs. Read more here.

His son was weaving on Sunday.

Jodie McDougall’s beautiful buttons.

I bought this single cowgirl button for a special project (how could I not, since I was wearing my cowgirl boots?). Jodie explained how she makes her buttons, and had samples to show the process. Gorgeous.

There were animals, of course. This is my favorite look.

Good hair day, or bad hair day?

The weekend was capped by the eclipse of the full harvest moon supermoon.

I took these with my point and shoot, which has the best zoom in my limited collection of two cameras. A little blurry, but I was really happy to get any pictures at all. These were taken from the new Tilikum Crossing bridge (I just realized I’ve been spelling it wrong. One L!) My kids and I had a delightful evening chasing the moon.

The weekend was made complete by music and mimosas with friends.

How was your weekend? Did you go to OFFF? See the eclipse? Do tell!

8 Comments

Posted in classes, Pie Birds, Portland area fun

Tagged blood moon, eclipse, harvest moon, mimosas, OFFF 2015, supermoon

Presenting…Kilter!

Posted on September 24, 2015 | 6 comments

Kilter…

Off Kilter?

Both!

Presenting Kilter, a hat with maximum stretch due to the alternating stockinette/reverse stockinette sections. It looks great any way you wear it: centered on your head, pulled down over your ears, or tilted down over one ear, beret style. Knit in sport weight yarn from the bottom up, the top of the hat features a twirly, swirly square, so your hat is always slightly off-kilter! Kilter makes a great chemo cap, or a fun hat at any time.

Kilter is a simple project, great for multi-task knitting. I designed it as a chemo cap, but it’s cute on everyone. It takes less than one 100g skein of sport weight yarn, so choose something delicious!

You can find the pattern for Kilter on Ravelry. To celebrate this pattern launch, I’m offering it at 20% off the normal $6 price through October 1.

Are you going to the Oregon Flock and Fiber Festival this weekend? I’m sure you can find the perfect yarn for your Kilter there! I’m teaching tomorrow (Friday), Athena Entrelac and Fern Lace Shawlette. I’m shopping/playing on Saturday and Sunday! Hope to see you local knitters out and about.

6 Comments

Posted in classes, Knit, pattern design, Portland area fun

Tagged kilter hat, Knit, OFFF 2015

Portland outdoors, knitting, Tigard Knitting Guild

Posted on August 20, 2015 | 7 comments

It’s been a warm dry summer here, which makes getting outdoors a pleasure. Yesterday we climbed a volcano. Within the city limits! Mt. Tabor is an extinct (or maybe just dormant?) volcanic cinder cone, with an elevation of 636 feet. We wanted a short, spur of the moment hike close to home, since we were getting a late (noon) start. This was perfect.

You know most of my hikes involve waterfalls. This will have to do. This is one of the three open air reservoirs on Mt. Tabor, where part of the city’s water supply is held.

There’s a nice view to the west toward downtown, looking out at Portland’s newest bridge, Tillikum Crossing.

DH and I saw that bridge the other day, when I took him on my favorite bridge walk. The reflection of the bridge, and him, on the Portland Opera building was pretty cool.

This was the fifth time I’ve done this walk this summer, and I just noticed the cool sculpture on the fire station. See the concentric circles? They come into focus as you walk eastward on the Hawthorne Bridge.

If you’re looking for more fun free things to do around Portland, the Oregonian just ran a feature today. I’m feeling pretty savvy, because I was already doing some of those things!

Other than that, I’m knitting, knitting, knitting. I took a little detour from my gradient project to work with this lovely yarn from Knitted Wit. There’s a deadline for this design project, so it has moved up to the front burner.

I’m speaking at the Tigard Knitting Guild tonight, talking about blocking. You know I love blocking! Click the link for details. You can visit the guild twice before joining, so if you’re local, come on by.

Onward!

7 Comments

Posted in Knit, pattern design, Portland area fun, yarn

Tagged mt tabor, portland, portland bridges, tigard knitting guild

20k stitches later…

Posted on August 1, 2015 | 3 comments

Edit: it’s 40K, not 20K. I was thinking about the 16 row repeat, but it’s 32 rows. Math! But it’s bound off and done. Ends woven in; here are the orts:

It’s just the way I imagined it. I love it when that happens. I’ll show you next spring…

20k is a lot of stitches! It’s fairly regular knitting, so this was a good project to read a book by. Reading does slow my knitting down a bit, but it’s worth it to entertain both my fingers and my mind. I just read Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline. It was a pretty good read, the stories of two women, one current day and one the personal history of an orphan in the 1920’s/1930’s. The current day portions feel like a YA novel, and the older portions were a fascinating look into a chapter of history that was new to me. But the ending of the book seemed like it was thrown together; after so much detail it seemed like there was a sudden push of the fast forward button. Still, a good read.

While not knitting, I’ve revisited what is now my favorite Portland walk. It’s 2.7 miles around the Willamette River waterfront, along the Vera Katz Eastside Esplanade and Waterfront Park on the west side. I walked it with a friend on Thursday morning and was captivated by shadows under the Hawthorne Bridge.

I went back Friday with another friend because I wanted to capture the moving shadows. They’re a little cockroachy, aren’t they?

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Here’s a little more Portland eye candy…

I’d never noticed the details on the Burnside Bridge turrets. Zoom in to see the detail under the windows. I love the leaf/flower? at the bottom, too.