More yarn, more projects

Last weekend I made my annual pilgrimage to the NH Sheep and Wool Festival. Why do I go? I get to learn about new crafts or techniques and I get good deals on yarn. This year was no different. I learned about Naal binding - which is a pre historic technique for creating cloth with fiber and a needle (maybe more on this in the future) and spinning (I hope I can restrain myself and not adopt another new craft).

I also went shopping. I found two great booths to buy yarn - let me tell you there were lots of people there selling yarn, and fleece, and roving, and more. I found one where a woman who owned a store was closing because her child had a medical condition which required care. I got an amazing deal on some weaving yarn.

Then I found another booth where the owner spends time spinning together different yarns that will create all sorts of unique textures in both knitting and weaving. I can't wait. I also can't buy any more yarn for a while.

In the meantime I have been weaving and knitting my fingers to the bone. And enjoying every minute of it. I'll get some pictures going soon.

New projects for the new year

As the year winds down, I am taking a brief break in creating as I assess what I want to make in the coming year. This is based on reactions I receive to my current work and comments from customers. I love the feedback I get so I can see what people would like and how I can focus my work to be more responsive. Basically, I get creative ideas from customers. And at my home craft show my friends all basically said to me 'I have so many of your scarves, I don't need any more.

I also need to update my list of items for sale and what is sold.

My list of what I am going plan to make is:

• Wraps, scarves, cowls, wristies, etc as seen in Outlander. A customer came to my booth and asked for them. I had no idea what she was talking about until I looked them up. They are part of what is called Sassenach knitting. They look awesome. I need to make some myself. I did make a few of the Outlander Cowls for friends who loved them. I want to make the shawls that wrap around you and then tie in the back of your waist. I also want to make some of the wrist warmers (a/k/a fingerless gloves)
• More weaving - shawls and wraps the size of pashimas. I got some great yarn this fall and wove some really big wraps that people wanted to use for things like their office for when it gets cold or keep on the back of their sofa for watching TV. 
• Hats. I made some hats a few times but not many and never really got into that. There is a woman in my knitting group who has made more than a dozen hats for her family for the holidays. I actually found the pattern she is using and she found some great yarn and it has been inspiring. 
• Maybe I'll even make some glove/hat/scarf sets as well. 

Maybe this is an overly ambitious list but I have eleven months to get to work.