Retreat

I want to say that I had a fabulous time on the weekend. I am slowly but surely coming along on the modern quilt wrap! It is gorgeous and my friends all want one. Unfortunately no on will get one. I will take a break before finishing the lizard ridge with some other crafty things, namely the snowman purse for my 2nd grade sunday school girls, I know they will love them. Last year they all got the potato chip scarves.

Yarn Retreat

Everything the Cottage Yarn touches turns to gold. The retreat was but another example. I didn't know that I would enjoy the yarn dyeing but figured I'd trust the staff and try it; turned out to be my favorite activity of the weekend. Lesson learned: always trust the Cottage Yarn staff!

Thanks to Sara and her wonderful team for a great weekend.

I posted on my personal blog some reflections on the ancient crafts we practice, the influence of textiles in our region of NC and textile slaves abroad. Feel free to click through and post your thoughts:
http://tamelarich.com/2008/04/02/fiber-tales/

Winter Retreat - March 28 - 30, 2008

We have returned from a wonderful week-end retreat to Burnesville, NC. The folks at the NuWray Inn could not have been more accomodating. We filled the Inn with retreat participants, so we pretty much had the run of the place.

Saturday was a day filled with workshops beginning with the sock dyeing in the morning.

Sheila, Karen, Roella and Marla begin the sock dyeing process. While some dyed, others view a spinning workshop.

Here Donna tries her hand at spinning.

Peggy spins as Tracey looks on.

Anita demonstrates using a drop spindle.

Denise gives it a try while Libba and Jennifer watch.

Toview all photos from the retreat, go to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/25249701@N07/

Oddball Blanket for Charity is Visiting the Cottage!

Several members of the Knitting Help Forum have been working on full-size blankets for charity. We each knit for 3 inches, then send the blanket to the next knitter on the list.

Our first blanket was started in February of 2007, by Sandy Davis ("Shandeh" in the Knitting Help Forum.) The blanket travelled all over the country, and was worked on by 24 other knitters. You can read all about it here: http://oddball-blanket.blogspot.com/

Right now, the blanket is almost complete, and ready to go to charity. We are considering a few different options, including a battered women's shelter and an orphanage.

But, we need a bit more knitting before it is complete. It's too expensive to mail now, so we have asked Sara if we could leave the blanket at the shop, so that visitors to the shop could knit a row or two while they are there.

You can read the journal, which has entries from all the knitters all over the country. You can even write a few words yourself! :D

I have chosen a few skeins of yarn at the Cottage to be used for the knitting. All you have to do is pick up the blanket and start knitting. The needles are already attached.

So, have fun adding your knitting to our special charity project!



If you'd like to see ALL the Oddball Blankets in progress, you can read about it here:
http://blanketfinder.blogspot.com/

Malabrigo Yarn

It's a delight to knit with Malabrigo Yarn. The word in Spanish means bad coat. Wonder why the creators of this beautiful fiber chose that name. There is nothing bad about this merino wool yarn. The price is not too bad either considering how much you get per skein. Everyone I talk to loves this yarn and no wonder, it comes in the most beautiful colors.






I also chose this beautiful yarn to knit a shrug for my daughter. I found the pattern in the 2007 Knitting Calendar.

The Malabrigo website offers links to patterns.

A Cottage Yarn Photoset

Last summer, I visited Cottage Yarn, and had my camera with me. So, I asked Sara if I could take a few photos of the shop.



Here they are!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59646927@N00/sets/72157601379027321/


If you want to watch them as a slideshow on your computer, click here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/59646927@N00/sets/72157601379027321/show/

Hey everybody! LOVE reading about your favorite projects! We all can benefit from your comments regarding challenges and triumphs! I'm totally in love with the entrelac technique right now. Lots of babies are due in our family so I'm having fun making an entrelac blanket.