Farmhouse Yarns and Oceane Saved!

One of the best things about moving house is that I am closer to knitblogging friends. On Friday, Kristen of Audioknits invited me to go to the Farmhouse Yarns sale with her. I didn't know they were so close by! Yours truly forgot the camera (too many things going on that morning), so please see Kristen's post for photos. We had a wonderful time.

Carole of FY set up bins all along her driveway. You could fill a plastic bag with as much yarn as would fit, for a certain price. Or, you could buy individual skeins. Kristen did a great job of enhancing her stash, but I fear I was a disappointment, and purchased only two skeins of yarn for a Christmas gift.

  "It's not for me?"

No, it's not for you Tim, though it definitely is your color! It's as close as I'm going to get to Project Spectrum's colors of orange, brown, and purple for Aug/Sept. I feel bad that I started off strong with projects and yarns in the first two color groupings (blue/white, and pink/green/yellow), and have had nothing to post for the last two (red/black/metallic, and orange/brown/purple). Other than this gift yarn, I don't have any orange or brown in the stash, as they are my least favorite colors. I do love purple, but I don't seem to have any of that either. Hopefully I'll do better next round.

After having lunch at Kristen's (a local restaurant that even had a Kristen salad!), we went to my very favorite yarn shop. I hadn't been there since last summer, but now it is only a short distance from the new house. My intention was to pick up an extra ball of yarn that I hoped they'd been saving for me for the pink camisole I've been struggling with, not really expecting they'd have saved it after a year. They had! And Kristen and the saleswoman came up with some ideas to help me save Oceane!

Ugh! You can see here how the ribbon is limp and doesn't hold the stitch pattern. The cast-on edge was nice and neat when I started out, but now it's uneven and constantly has to be pulled back into shape.

We had been walking around the shop looking at the displays when I noticed bags of the Fiesta Gelato ribbon in a floor bin, paired as kits with their other yarns in the same colorway (mohair, boucle, etc). I took them over to the saleswoman and asked about ordering the rayon boucle in my colorway, whether or not it would stiffen up the ribbon of Oceane. Kristen suggested going down a needle size or two as well. The saleswoman found a Fiesta shawl pattern using those very yarns that requires a size 17 needle, rather than the 19 I'm using, so we know that the gauge will be OK for Oceane. A pair of wooden Brittany 17s later (the ribbon is horribly slippery on the plastic needles I have!) and I am thrilled! Of course now I have two out of my three WIPs to rip back, but it's better than having to give up on the projects completely. I'm on wedge 2 of 6 on the pie wedge shawl, so at least I'm making some progress.

On Saturday, Chris rode in his first race since Memorial Day. Unfortunately, he got a flat tire with only three laps to go, so he wasn't able to finish, but it was so nice to see him race again!

Chris, center

After the race, we met up with Sarah for a ride in one of my favorite places in Rhode Island, Tiverton. We're trying to increase mileage because our century rides are next month (that's 100 miles, and yes, I am delusional that I will get in enough training, but I'm determined to try!). This ride was 32 miles, the last ones fast and mostly uphill (ugh). The reward: ice cream!

Chris' photo of some scenery along the route

Our Charlie has lost weight again, down to 6.5 lbs from 8 in the spring. I took him to the vet last week and the first batch of blood tests look OK; he'll go for more on Monday. We're pretty sure the IBD is rearing its ugly head again, and I'm pretty sure that the move and the strangers in the house (we're having the heating/cooling system fixed) have pushed my already stressed-out kitty over the edge. He does have an appetite this go-round, but to encourage eating, I've gotten cans of Starkist tuna ("sorry Charlie!") and both cats are going crazy for it. Here's hoping he weighs the tiniest bit more for Monday's appt.

This post is already too long, so I'll save revealing a new fall project for next time. I do want to mention that Noolie is once again doing the Walk the Night fundraiser for leukemia and lymphoma patients, so please consider supporting her. I should mention too that Deb on the Web just completed a walk for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation and deserves a big congratulations (kicking self that I didn't post about it earlier). My dad, my husband, and my cat can all testify that these are great organizations whose patients directly benefit from their hard work in pursuing new treatments and a cure. Thank you Noolie and Deb!!

Comments

[Brigitte]

Beautiful scenery! I can sympathize with the flat tire. That's what happened to me last time I went out as well...

Um. Only 2 skeins?? When you could fill a bag for a price?? Good thing I wasn't there, I'd have been knocking over people...

[Sheepish Annie]

How convenient that the move put you so near the nice yarn shops! I'm assuming that this wasn't the main reason for the change of locale, but it sure doesn't hurt. ;)

I hope Charlie is doing OK and that he uses the powers of the tooter-fish to stay healthy and strong.

[wendy g]

What a lovely weekend with friends, yarn and biking.
Hope Charlie is better today and has gained a little weight. Cisco sends his best.

[Chris]

Oh, poor Charlie. I hope he gains some weight, and that he is less stressed as he gets used to his new home. Otherwise sounds like a great weekend!

[robin]

Tim definitely found his color of yarn!!! I hope Charlie is better soon and gains some weight back. My kitties are OK for the most part although Gilda has gained weight since Jim has been home with her. She was bony before so it is OK. I should send him over to do a housecall as he tends to fatten everyone up! Tuna's a great idea though - my cats also like this one flavor of these Gourmet cat foods they have at Petsmart near me - the Veal Pate.

[Sydney]

Cats don't take change well. Hopefully Charlie will start feeling more settled in his new home soon and start gaining weight. Your yarn is almost an exact match for Tim. You could almost knit him a twin with it. :)

[Pam]

Congrats on finding a solution for Oceane! I've done a scarf with 2 Fiesta yarns held together -- it turned out great.

[whitney]

Wow, your Tim does look like my boys! And that yarn is a perfect match to his fur! What yarn is it?

Poor Charlie, I hope he feels better soon.

[Beth]

I'm glad you found a solution for Oceane! The scenery on your bike ride looks beautiful. It's so pretty in your part of the country. I hope Charlie feels well soon.

[Felicia]

LOL That yarn does match Tim purrfectly. I'm glad to hear you're settling in and enjoying the new place.

[Kristen]

I really enjoyed our yarn crawl on Friday, and am happy that Oceane's future bodes well. It looks like Timmy wants you to get a couple more skeins of those coordinating colors for him. Best wishes for Charlie to feel better and gain back some weight.

[Karen]

I have been to the sales at Farmhouse Yarns a couple of times and try to stay away from them now. I don't need any more yarn and it's too tempting!

[Devorah]

Ooo! What century are you doing? Glad to hear the Oceane has been rescued.

[Julie]

That yarn really does match Tim!

Poor little Charlie; hopefully he'll put on some weight and will be feeling better soon!

[Julie]

Oops, almost forgot - Thanks for mentioning my fund raising efforts!

[sarah]

Oh, dear. Poor Charlie, and poor you. At least cats don't fret about being ill: only humans do that :-/ I worry every time one of ours sleeps on the 'poorly chair' (the one that gets the most sun).

I've read that ribbon yarn is a pig to work with; looks lovely in the skein, but just does not hold together as a project. I've only got one, and that's earmarked for weaving weft one day. Good luck training for the century ride; I wonder if such things exist here? I think he'd go for it even if I'd be hesitant.

[Jessica]

Great scenery pics! I've wanted to try out one of the FY sales, but live a bit far away now. Your kitty is a cutie! I have an orange friend too. :)

[deborah]

bags of yarn??? where when???