Wavy Lace Capelet or Hello 1970s

I must be obsessed with capelets lately, because I have knitted another one from the Wavy Lace Capelet pattern by Cecily Glowik MacDonald.  I have wanted to knit this pattern for awhile, like in a more season appropriate time, but whatever it is ready for cooler temperatures. 

I actually have had this yarn for awhile.  I especially loved the colors of the yarn, harvest gold, avocado, orange, and browns, straight out of my mother's kitchen circa 1972.  This yarn is a homespun and dyed yarn from the Bethel Sheep Fest, a gift from the beloved Tammie and Fiona.  I have been very nervous about what I would knit with the yarn because they are both such amazing knitters.  When I saw this pattern and felt it would be a good fit for the yarn. 

Well, maybe I should have thought a little more about the comments on Ravelry.  Being a beautifully plus sized woman, you are all aware I have a tendency to over do things to accommodate my size.  The comments suggested the cast on was too large.  I did use a smaller size and even went down two needle sizes.  Yet it was still a little (okay more than that) too big.  I compensated by using a second button on the top band.

Overall, I liked the end result.  The capelet is definitely in my color palette. Now to wait for fall and the opportunity to show off my retro seventies capelet.  Waititng...

Sheepy Thoughts or Why I Will Never be a Shepherdess

Lamenting the annoyance of having to work all day when I would rather be knitting, a co-worker suggested I buy a farm and some sheep, live off the land, spin my own yarn, and sell sheepy goods out of the back of my truck at the local farmers' market. For half a second that sounded like a dream and then I thought, "Oh yeah I would have to move to the country." I moved on and really did not give that plan another thought until last weekend. In the company of other fiber-minded friends I went the Bethel Sheep Festival in northeastern Missouri. I have been to the festival before, and enjoyed the event long before I ever started knitting. Going now is extra special because the booths of yarn and knitting accessories actually capture my attention and spark my imagination. The yarns are also exceptionally intriguing, because of course they make me want to knit amazing garments, blankets, and scarves all day instead of going to work. Do you see the cycle here?

Looking around at all the farmers and crafters with their handmade items and beautiful displays, I thought, well maybe... My cats and I could take off to some rural route, I could get angora goats. The goats would give me fiber and milk . I could learn to spin, dye, and even weave cloth. I could become an earth mother spreading wisdom and handcrafted cheese wherever I went.

As my mind reeled with thoughts of my getting back to nature, I wandered over to the livestock area and remembered why I live in the city and eschew my country roots. It was the smell, that overwhelming scent of manure was more than I could handle. My nose scrunched up and I remembered growing up next to a pig farm. Yuck! Give me a ripe dumpster anytime over that stench. Yep, I am Lisa Douglas after all. As an aside, the festival was nice, I spent money. Bought some Christmas presents, had an awesome carmel apple, watched some amazing border collies do their job, and saw some beautiful hand crafted items. Even my friend with Dyeabolical Yarns (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5101528) was represented with some of her roving beautifully spun up into yarn. See above photograph of said yarn. The festival was great, but you won't find me there anytime soon hawking my own hand spun, organically dyed angora yarn.