North Country Fiber Fair

I've been a bit distracted lately, as you may have noticed from my sparse postings. This Saturday and Sunday, September 20-21, I will be a vendor at my first fiber festival!

Anyone in the vicinity of Watertown, South Dakota, can visit my booth at the North Country Fiber Fair. If you come, be sure to mention that you read my blog!

I will be selling yarn, stitch markers, project bags, cedar sachets, fiber-related magnets and hairclips, and a few items from Karatstix!

I'm a Mess

I really wish I had pictures. Sorry!

Tonight was May's first dance class at a new dance studio. Last year she took dance classes from a group primarily because they were almost cheap enough for us to be able to afford it. But, while last year was great for determining whether she likes dance or not, they really didn't teach her anything except a series of steps. There was no instruction in technique at all.

Well, to me, half the point of dance is to teach a child grace and poise and control over her own body. Last year's lessons didn't teach her any of that. However, they did teach us that she really enjoys dancing.

This year, we looked into several new dance studios, and at the advice of one of our babysitters, looked into Balleraena Dance Studio run by Miss Raena. What attracted me to this particular studio is that their instructors truly seem qualified with both degrees and real world experience. Miss Raena also believes in modesty of both dress and dance moves. (After watching some other local studios perform, I was appalled, truly.) Plus, our babysitter assured me that even the little kids learn some technique.

So anyway, tonight, Miss May had her first class. And I was an absolute mess. I was actually fighting back tears as I watched. I tried so hard to fight them back so the other parents wouldn't think I was insane. lol But they stretched (a lot!), practiced a couple ballet positions, pliés, ballerina runs, leaps (I sooo don't remember the french word for this, but I think it starts with a G), and then finished off with a little (age-appropriate) hip-hop. Miss May, having no idea what the positions are or anything, still did a really great job! I think we need to practice some at home, but she really seemed to enjoy herself. This class was everything I could have hoped for, and more. I cried because I suddenly felt overwhelmingly like this is exactly where she is supposed to be. Miss Raena pushed for proper technique while making it cute and fun!

They teach an adult class, which I'm completely tempted to take. But um....I'm really not sure that in my current shape I could do half of what they did today. Even though I've always wanted to take a dance class, ever since I was a kid. Maybe next year! Until then, I'll just stretch and practice with my beautiful Miss May.

Knot Knitting Bag

This is the first of my line of knitting bags for JL Yarnworks. I just listed this one tonight in the Etsy shop. More are coming, but slowly since I'm also trying to build inventory for September's Fiber Festival.

This will be my first show (of 3 this fall/winter so far), and I'm a bit torn. On the one hand, I'm trying to build up inventory so that my booth will be overflowing with knitterly goodness. Yet, it seems ludicrous not to list these items in the meantime and try to sell them. But then, of course, is the fear that it will ALL sell and I'll be left with an empty booth. Of course, the whole point is to sell the items. And it really shouldn't matter whether I sell them online or at a fiber festival or craft show....in fact, the faster I sell each item, the better. But my fear of an empty booth seems to be superseding logic at the moment. Feel free to comment and set me straight one way or the other.

Anyway, the bag. :) This is a wristlet for holding small knitting projects. Stick your yarn in the bag, slip the bag on your wrist, and you can stand and knit, sit and knit, lay down and knit...whatever floats your boat. Regardless, the yarn will stay nice and clean while you work. I love the versatility of these bags. I've searched a long time for the perfect small project bag. After getting frustrated both with the styles and patterns of the bags available, I decided to start making my own. I've been having a great time choosing the perfect fabrics! I can't wait to share them all with you!

Update: Wow! The bag has already sold! Good thing I have more that are very close to being done. If anyone wants a bag, but there are none listed, email me or contact me through Etsy. I will happily start a waiting list!

The Answer

I've been working on recreating Hermione's Scarf from the same Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince publicity still I used to make Hermione's Hat. I think the stitches are right, but the gauge in the publicity still is strange, with stitches taller than they are wide. I'm hoping to be able to block it that way. If not, each row could be doubled to create a similar effect.

I've also decided that even though it's obvious that Hermione's scarf slowly rotates colors, I'm going to keep my pattern a bit simpler with the same motifs always using the same colors. Knitters could always knit it however they like. With any and as many colors as they like. Without being able to see the whole scarf, I don't want to guess at a pattern. As it is, one of the 3 motifs is partially hidden, and I had to take an educated guess with it. There may also be more motifs that cannot be seen in this still. So obviously this will strictly be my interpretation of it.

My colors here are obviously different that Hermione's. I'm being a good girl and using my stash. :) Later I'll seek out the proper colors, perhaps even selling the pattern as part of a kit!