Sunday, April 29, 2007

No place like home!!!!!

David and I returned from our weekend in Pigeon Forge, TN. It was an awesome time. He and I spoke at three different sessions to about 9 couples regarding developing and maintaining a happy, healthy marriage. It was a great time of fellowshipping (goofing off, talking), eating and sleeping. It is so grand when you don't really have a schedule. Anyways, we had a great time but we are soooooooooo happy to be home. My own bed, my own house, some privacy and most important of all my own coffee. Really, what some people call coffee!!!! It is more like brown water. It is good to be home.

I took several of my knitting projects and all were amazed and had plenty of questions but we really didn't have a whole lot of just sitting around time so I didn't get any converts. I know, I gotta do better. I even took several skeins of yarn and several pairs of needles. Another time I suppose. At least I introduced them to modern day knitting.

Saturday morning and early afternoon was free time, most everyone was going into Gatlinburg to do some sight seeing and shopping. We have been several times and to tell you the truth I'm not much of a shopper. Well, not for that kind of stuff. I called the Pigeon Forge Chamber of Commerce and they said if there was a spinning/yarn shop in Pigeon Forge it would be at The Old Mill. If there was one there I couldn't find it. However, I knew for a fact there was a spinning/yarn shop in Gatlinburg because when we were down a couple of years ago I stumbled upon it. That was the first time I actually got to see a modern spinning wheel and the owner, Nancy, gave me a demonstration of a wheel and a spindle. Anyways, off to Gatlinburg we went. The shop, Smoky Mountain Spinnery, is really quaint. She carries a couple different wheels, Ashford and Majacratt, and some beautiful wool, silk, cotton, etc.. She even carries vicuna. I had never seen it in person or felt it before. People it is like touching soft air. The softest air you can imagine. So very yummy. And it is $300 an oz!!!!! Needless to say, this girl ain't going to be spinning any of that unless something major happens in the Sturgeon household. I mean really, I could just about buy another wheel for that and think how much other fiber that would purchase. It was really nice though. But since Silas Marner aka David was with me I walked out with N O T H I N G. Oh well, another time, another place.

My new socks are coming along pretty good. I'm not real sure about 'em. I am knitting these toe up and I followed the chart for foot diameter and shoe size and all that, but I'm afraid they are going to be just a little wide. We shall see, if so they will end up ripped up or being a gift to someone just like the last ones I knitted, those went to Aaron because they were way too big for me.

I have a couple of pictures to show you.
This first was taken before we left this morning. Hey, if the Harlot can do it, I can too. And here is one showing a little more detail. This is knitted with the Tofutsie yarn from the previous post. I like it okay, but I have been having a little trouble with it splitting. However, that could be due to the fact that I screw up somewhere and have to rip out a row and re-knit.


Holly commented that maybe if I was too embarrassed to show all the sock yarn I purchased last week, maybe I could just show a little at a time. With her encouragement I've decided to do just that.

One of these is another Tofutsie. The others are Wildfoote by Brown Sheep Company in Mums (75% washable wool/25% nylon) and Sock Superwash by Handpainted Knitting Yarns in Madama Butterfly (65% superwash wool/25% nylon/10% donegal).

Tootlelou, I'm off to some spinning.

5 comments:

Tabitha said...

Your toe up sock is coming along nicely! I love the pattern! I have heard Tofutsie can sometimes be a pain because of spliting. I have some but haven't used it yet. I want to try to make Emma a pair of socks out of it, after I get this sock thing down of course.

Traci said...

I have been to that spinning shop in Gatlinburg! I bought some marino and it spun wonderfully. She is very nice to chat with too.

Holly said...

Yay-more sock yarn! I have to tell you that Silas probably saw your bill from The Fall-that may be the real reason you left that shop with nothing, my friend ;~)

Roseann said...

Your sock looks beautiful!!! I cast on 72 sts for my sock, with your pretty lacy pattern on yours, I imagine you cast on less. Looking at your sock yarns is making me even more tempted for MSWF.

Joanne said...

The next time you buy something, remind David about your restraint in Gatlinburg! I'm sure that will work? Good to hear you had such a fun weekend...and hopefully your words about successful relationship helped others, too!