Camp Loopy Update

Knit on, campers!

The skirt of my Camp Loopy shirt is making progress. I've knitted it to 12". I've also worried and fussed and done the math over and over, wondering if I'm going to run out of yarn.

I finally put an end to my worries and ordered another skein. That's the only way I can guarantee I won't need it.

What I Did Over The Summer, Camp Edition

Okay, it's true, I'm a Joiner. When Sheri at The Loopy Ewe announced they were sponsoring Camp Loopy, I totally joined in. This was, after all, camp without bugs, camp without uncomfortable beds.

Camp Session One: Knit a shawl or scarf that is two-coloured.

I immediately ordered two skeins of Bugga!, ready to camp.

Well, make that 3 skeins. The one on the left, Smiley Face Spider, just leaped into the cart, along with the Autumn Tiger Beetle (centre skein) and Mr. Nancy (on the right).

Autumn Tiger Beetle + Mr. Nancy = Camp Loopy Clockwork!

Clockwork is a steampunk-inspired pattern by Stephen West designed specifically for The Sanguine Gryphon, the dyers of Bugga! yarn.

Camp Session Two: Knit socks, mittens, or gloves with cables.

For this, I returned to a classic favourite dyer, Dream in Color, but a new sock base, Everlasting, colourway Nebula. I knit the Yarnissima pattern Appunto.

(This was my primary project during the Alaska voyage.)

Camp Session Three: Use at least 800 yards of yarn.

With this challenge, I'm embarking on a new project: my first adult-sized garment. I'm using the Kollage yarn Riveting, which is made from recycled blue jeans.

I'm making the pattern Tabitha, designed specifically for this yarn. I purchased the pattern last spring, and this was incentive to finally use the pattern. Session Three officially  started Monday, but I continued struggling with swatching throughout the week.  Last night I cast on 308 stitches, then had to rip them out again. This morning, I cast on 308 stitches again, and I'm working my way steadily through the edging.

I've got a lot to do in the next 3 weeks!!!

What I Did Over The Summer, Tourist Edition (photo heavy) --Part Three

[part one] [part two]

In a once-in-a-lifetime trip, I traveled to Alaska with my mother and sister...

... on an enormous ship.

We saw glaciers

and glaciers calving

and icebergs

and humpback whales

and orcas!

There were people who fed the wildlife, even while the naturalist was yelling over the shipboard announcement system, "DON'T FEED THE WILDLIFE".

I kinda  love trams,

and totems, too.

And now for the Fiber Arts portion of the blog, the weaving in the Totem Museum in Sitka Alaska:

What I Did Over The Summer, Tourist Edition (photo heavy) --Part Two

[part one] [part three]

More fun with cousins, this time at a ranch.

Ranchers not only travel by horse, but by 4-wheeler.

And when they need to move a lot of people, by hay wagon. At blinding speeds like 5 or 10 miles an hour.

Although some people travel by bucket.

Now, see these cliffs?

They loom over the California Trail. The pioneers graffitied the cliffs and left their marks.

The "49" and "50" mean 1849 and 1850. Unfortunately, the surface is soft enough to take graffiti, and is also too soft to be preserved. These marking won't last many more years.

What I Did Over The Summer, Tourist Edition (photo heavy) --Part One

[part two] [part three]

I think these pictures make our summer look even more exciting than it was.

There was boating with cousins.

(only one individual in the above and 2 below pictures is my actual progeny)

It's fun to stay at the YMCA

There was Bryce Canyon