black sheep gathering

After kayaking time, I went down to Eugene for my first Black Sheep Gathering. And I can confirm: it is one amazing fiber show!

To start with, I took a sheep shearing class.

Then I bought too much fiber, although I restrained from the full fleeces.

Also nearly adopted a new dog to guard my non-existent cattle.

Finally, I had to wrestle my luggage into submission at the airport from way too many sheep-related purchases. Oops.

It goes without saying, but I will be finding reasons in the future to attend more Black Sheep Gatherings.

oregon

Thanks to a great org- First Descents- I spent the last week in Oregon, kayaking, rafting and bonding with a stellar group of young adult cancer survivors.

We stayed in Hood River, OR, and kayaked/rafted the Klikitat, White Salmon and Columbia Rivers. Every morning, I woke up to a view of Mt. Hood. We had stellar guides, good conversations, cathartic arts & crafts sessions...

If anybody out there is a young adult survivor, looking for friends and adventure (for free), First Descents is the group for you. I have absolutely no regrets about doing this program and I feel stronger for having faced down some fears in the river... Great group, great time.

county fair entries

In this year's county fair, I entered a skein of yarn and the High Contrast blanket in the fiber arts competition. After striking out last year, I was pleased to see that I got two (maybe three) awards!

First place for the blanket:

Honorable mention and Judge's Favorite for the skein of yarn (and a very favorable display):

Yipee!

High Contrast pillow pattern

You may remember I released a throw blanket pattern earlier this year called High Contrast.

As a companion freebie, I've adjusted the pattern for a pillow.

Skill level: Intermediate (or beginner with gumption!)
Skills Needed: provisional cast on, stranded colorwork or intarsia, grafting cast off using kitchener stitch.
Finished Measurements: 18" x 18"

Materials:

• Caron One Pound yarn, 100% acrylic; 812 yards, 453.6 g; Black #0503, 1 skein (MC)
• Caron One Pound yarn, 100% acrylic; 812 yards, 453.6 g; White #0501, 1 skein (CC)
• Caron Simply Soft yarn, 100% acrylic; 315 yards, 170.1 g; Autumn Red, #9730, 1 skein (TC)
• A note on yarn: these were leftovers from my High Contrast blanket pattern, so you do not need even close to the whole pound for either black or white. Buy smaller skein if you are making only the pillow.
• US size 10 [6 mm] needles, either a long straight needles or a circular needle (at least 20" long)
• waste yarn
• tapestry needle
• 18" square pillow insert (or other pillow filling)

Gauge: 12 sts x 20 rows = 4"; use color chart for gauge and use the same colorwork method that you'll be using on the pillow.

Pattern:
Using waste yarn, CO 54 sts using a provisional cast on method. Using TC, complete 3 rows in st st.

Switching to MC and CC, complete color chart for 160 rows, or until you have reached desired length. You can use stranded colorwork or intarsia; the sample pillow was completed using intarsia.

Note on color chart: they are added below as jpegs. Start with bottom chart and work up, or print both out and cut/paste them together. Have trouble seeing them? Shoot me an email and I'll send you fresh copies. kateandtatum at gmail

Switch back to TC and complete 3 rows in st st.

Keep all active stitches on one needle and put provisional stitches onto 2nd needle. Cut TC yarn with enough length to complete graft and thread onto tapestry needle. Holding the two needles parallel, use kitchener stitch to graft the two ends together.

Weave in ends and block to size. Seam one side, add pillow insert or filling and seam second side.

And you're done!

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If you like this pillow, I hope you will consider the matching High Contrast lap blanket. You can buy the pattern on Ravelry and Etsy. They make a great pair.

guest kittens

We have two guest kittens! (That's foster kittens, really.)

They are 6-7 weeks old, healthy and lovely and at the height of their kitten cuteness. All day, it's just play, eat, poop, sleep, repeat. Bless their hearts. One is more adventurous and outgoing, one is more reserved and cautious. We love them both equally, although Tatum is more partial to the adventurous one...

If you think these are the most awesome kittens you ever saw, they will be up for adoption soon at Valley Humane Society.

old book

Just digging through my various library resources for spinning books and found this treasure.

 It is an oldie. I can't believe they let me check it out...

Good reading.

the first fiber

Moving house unearthed some hidden treasures. I discovered not only exactly how much fiber I've hoarded (a lot), but also the first fleeces that got me into spinning.

During a road trip down the Oregon coast many years ago, we ran across a "wool factory" and had to stop. The store assistant was very nice and spent a good 45 minutes explaining how to clean and card the wool she was selling me. I had NO idea what I was doing, but took home a pound of Romney, a pound of Friesian, a drop spindle and some lavender oil.

I don't remember doing that much, but I cleaned, carded and spun 148 yards of Romney over the next few months. It is rough wool; not something you want directly on your skin. And super bulky.

It was my gateway drug into spinning more seriously. The only problem: what to do with this yarn? Can't quite decide what would be an appropriate project... all ideas welcome.