It all started with the word SALE

There I was minding my own business, on Boxing Day, visiting the Ravelry site. I was trying to catch up on the latest goings on in the groups that I follow. I wasn't even thinking about adding to my stash, (Stop laughing!) when what did I see? SALE at Knit-Knackers

Me: OH!!!! how interesting, maybe I'll just pop on over to their site and see what all the fuss is about.

(Seriously, stop laughing)

At the Knit-Knackers web site all I can see is 50% off.

After I deal with my heart palpitations, I look to see when the sale is happening. It starts on December 27th so I haven't missed it and I could get there on the first day of the sale, before all the good stuff is gone.

*****The Next Morning********

I'm lying in bed having a philosophical discussion with myself about actually going to this yarn sale. I really don't need to spend any more money and I really don't need any more yarn.

(You in the back....if you don't stop laughing, I'll have to ask you to leave)

Me: Dear, there's a sale on at Knit-Knackers and I'm trying to find a reason to go.

DH: Well if we both go into Ottawa, I could drive and you could knit on the way.

More heart palpitations.....Have I married a closet enabler? Where has this part of his personality been all these years?

DH: I could also get that game that I didn't get for Christmas.

Okay, so he's an enabler with a motivation...but an enabler none the less. This is probably a temporary phase so I shouldn't get used to it.

After 50 minutes of car knitting time, DH dropped me off and went on his way. I dove in, head first, into the massive piles of yarny goodness. It was nothing short of a fondle fest and my heart goes out to any one who couldn't make it to the sale. The kids weren't with me on the trip so you can only imagine how I was enjoying this ME time.

I worked at the selection process as quickly as I could knowing that DH would return any minute. This is my boxing day booty.



DH arrived just as Sarita was adding up my purchases and he saw everything that I bought. So what did he say?

DH: Now I don't feel so guilty about spending all that money on a game.

I think that he slipped on the ice and fell and hit his head. But I wasn't about to argue when I had that much yarny goodness in my clutches.

Until next time
Yours in Yarn,
The Fibreholic

The seven rules of yarn acquisition

1. Make your yarn purchases while on vacation. You'll be able to justify them as souvenirs.
2. Even better, while on vacation, without your DH. If he must come along, distract him with a computer store or food.
   
3. Use cash whenever possible, it eliminates the paper trail.
   
4. When packing for the holiday, pack only the essentials to leave as much room in your suitcase, as you can, for the trip home.
5. When packing for the trip home, layer your suitcase. Yarn goes on the bottom, then clothes with the gifts for the kiddies on top.
6. Distract family with gifts and bring suitcase to your room.
7. Unpack the next day, when no one is around.

50/50 Alpaca/Merino bought from WEBS


one ball of 3ply fingering that I won, three skeins of Noro Transitions that were so cheap, you'd think they were stolen


A full bag of Ella rae bought from a place that was selling their yarn in full bags. In their booth they had a fenced off area and had it piled high with the full bags. According to one staff member, a lady actually jumped into the pile and wallowed amongst the fibres. They weren't pleased as she destroyed many labels. some people have no respect.


Of course there was sock yarn purchases. According to Tink, this doesn't count at all for stash. I did get another ball of sock yarn, but there is a story behind that which deserves its own blog post.

Until next time
Yours in Yarn,
The Fibreholic

A Month of Birthdays

My birthday has come and gone along with my anniversary. It was marked by me getting up for work and then driving into Ottawa for dinner and a movie with DH. Not very exciting....yes I know. But it was one of those big fat ugly birthdays that a woman doesn't want to acknowledge and breaks out in hives at the mere mention of the number. I really just wanted to get the day over and done with, so I could go back to bed and pretend that the day never happened.

But what I can't play pretend about is a lack of a gift from DH. Yes you read that correctly, he didn't get me anything. I didn't even get a cake.

Fortunately, I covered him, once again. Last Saturday, while he and the kids were watching the Buskers Festival, I was at Knit-Knackers buying something for myself.



Eleven 100g skeins of Louet Gems Merino light worsted weight in cherry red for a price that I could not pass up. I did get the DPNs sets that were the original reason I went to the store. So the yarn was just a bonus. Happy Birthday to me!!!

Actually, if truth be told I also went there to give Emily (the nice gal who works there) her gift. It's her birthday today. She is a wonderful person despite the fact she knits socks on DPNs that look like broom handles.



Look carefully, it's my first happy clappy. What a fun scarf to knit and unravel, so much so I think that I've almost changed my mind about scarf knitting. It's made with Lullaby by Berroco that I got from my stash. Yah gotta like that.

Until next time
Yours in Yarn,
The Fibreholic

Remember to Always......

Voice in my head: Remember to always tie your skein in three places when you block it.

Me: Yes!

Voice in my head: Remember to always tie your skein in three places when you block it.

Me: Absolutely!

Voice in my head: Remember to always tie your skein in three places when you block it.

Me: I've got it ingrained in my inner most being, I'll never forget. Thank you voice in my head.

Voice in my head: Remember to always tie your skein in three places when you throw said skein into the dye pot.

Me: Yes!



I think that the voice in my head should have reminded me on that last point a couple of more times.

I have no words to describe what I went through to fix the brain fart I had when I dyed this skein.....even though the other three skeins, dyed at the same time some how managed to get themselves tied securely.

Until next time
Yours in Yarn,
The Fibreholic

We interrupt these cables

I've been busy with cables for the past little while. I've got a cabled sweater for my niece and the must have cardi, for me, on the go.

Cables, cables and more cables....I adore cables.

But then one day it hit me. I want to knit some lace. And not just any lace. I want to knit lace that is intricate and mind boggling but most importantly....challenging.

I decided to start by finishing this half done scarf from the UFO pile. It is a simple garter stitch lace pattern made with a purple alpaca blend. I now want to bring it up a notch. I've got the book Victorian Lace and I'm going for it.

However, in the mean time, I've got this scarf.



I won't wear it and I have no idea why I bought this gorgeous ball of fibre in a royal purple colour. I like purple, but have nothing to go with it. So it looks like I'll tuck this number, after it's blocked, into the Christmas gift stash.

Now all I have to do is find a purple lovin', scarf wearin', alpaca adorin' person to give this to. Any suggestions????

Until next time
Yours in Yarn,
The Fibreholic

My Cheatin' Heart

It's sad really, a grown woman with so little will power. Here I was, ready to commit to this yarn diet. I was going to be good. I was only going to knit from my stash. I was not going to buy anything. I need to make room in my storage area. I have a suitcase filled with yarn that I need to find a spot for so that I can fill it up once again on an upcoming trip.

I was doing so well. Since the yarn diet had begun, I had bought only 2-50g balls of sock wool. I have been told by some very wise knitters that sock yarn doesn't count, so I'm in the clear on that count.

So here I was, minding my own business, not even thinking about buying any more yarn when WHAM!!!!! It hit me like a tonne of bricks.



How could I resist? I'm only human after all. Malabrigo merino has got to be the softest thing on the planet right now. Eight skeins calling my name as if I were a sailor to be lured to my death.

However the word sale can be a powerful force and make me succumb to my weaknesses. I won't tell you how little I paid for this wool. Let's just say that if I didn't buy this yarn, I would have had a stern reprimand by the knitting police for passing up such a good deal.

That being said, my conscience is clear. Especially since I have actually started knitting something with it. If my calculations are correct, I have enough to make the Must Have Cardigan. This time it is working out beautifully.



Until next time
Yours in Yarn,
The Fibreholic

How to ruin a bad day

I was having a really rotten, no good, bad day this week. But just when I thought that the day couldn't get any worse, I came home to find a parcel notice waiting for me. BAD DAY GONE!!!!!!!! The only thing that I was expecting was my crazy sock contest prize.

POUT!!!! I got home too late. The post office is closed.

I headed to the post office first thing the next morning. I will admit that it took every ounce of self control not to rip open the parcel right then and there. But I was good, and waited until I got home so I could properly document the occasion.






There is nothing like a box filled with knitting goodies to make my day. My prize included a book light, wool wash, stitch markers, a sock it to me sock chart, two samples of gloves in a bottle and a skein of Seacoast Handpainted sock yarn.

SIGH......

Is is strange that I wore the skein of sock yarn around my neck for most of the day?????

Until next time
Yours in Yarn,
The Fibreholic

It's not my fault

I am in no way to blame. In fact my downfall can be traced back and attributed entirely to the people at the Upper Canada Village. About 12 years ago, we went there as a family. I was knitting, but not to the extent that I do now. We entered one of the many homes and what did we find????

An older lady and a teen sitting at spinning wheels. I have this on video...the conniving pair, luring me into their cult.

The spinning cult indoctrination took some time. The seed was firmly planted, but as the soil was rocky, the idea took some time to grow. OR.....I just had no idea where I could get the help to get started.

About two years later, I moved to Northern Alberta for three years. It was a wasteland land for wool. The only local place to buy yarn was Zellers. If I wanted anything nice, I had to drive three hours to Edmonton. So forget about quick fixes.

Just so you know , only understanding and experience I had with spinning wheels , at this time, were with the ones that took up half your living room.

Then it was off to Vancouver Island for three years. One of DH's friends, was a member of the SCA. He told me that a fellow member of the SCA taught spinning on a drop spindle. "Aha" this is just what I needed. I would learn how to spin, it wouldn't cost a lot of cash and I wouldn't have to rearrange my living room to accommodate the wheel.

I soon learnt that I had a knack for spinning, wheels are a LOT more compact and it gave me a new hobby to stash for. Several months went by and I am happily spinning away on my drop spindle. Then fate intervenes.....

DH leaves for half a year. He is on the other side of the planet and making a few extra bucks. It is now the end of November.

Me: I really like this spinning thing. I want to save up and next Christmas I'll buy myself a wheel.

DH: Hmmmmmmm

Little did I know what was about to happen next. Secret e-mail conversations between a friend of mine and DH. He was getting advice about what wheel to buy me for Christmas...that Christmas. He never did buy the wheel for me. He sent me money and told me that it was for a wheel. I took matters into my own hands and bought a wheel. Since he did technically pay for it. I do give him full credit for buying me a wheel.

Once again we move and my wheel and various stashes go with me. Some days I think that I've moved to the middle of no where. Other days I think that I've moved to the hub of activity. Every year the local Historical society puts on a SPIN-IN. Spinners from all over the Ottawa Valley (and beyond) get together for a day of spinning. It is always fun. There are techniques to learn, new friend and old friends, a few vendors to tempt you and of course, door prizes.

Here's a picture from this year.


I spent the time spinning up some Blue Faced Leicester....not sure what I'm going to do with it. My problem is that I can spin a lot faster than I knit so it just produces another stash. I can live with that.

Until next time
Yours in Yarn,
The Fibreholic

You don't want to be me!

Water....the very source of life!!!! But in order to have it, I need three things as I live in the country!!!

1. A well....check
2. Electricity......check
3. A working pump......now here comes my sob story

Our pump started making wierd noises, so on Sunday DH took it upon himself to "FIX" it. So without filling sinks, filling the tub, or even a few stock pots, he took the thing apart. This started at 2 pm in the afternoon. It is now 26 hours later, DH has gone to Ottawa to get a part. He promised me that the water would be back on by sometime tonight.

Do you understand what I am going through? I turn on a tap....no water. This means no showers or even flushing the toilet. People...I am reduced to melting snow to flush because I don't want either of my washrooms to smell like an Ontario Provincial Park outhouse. This is desperation! I am in such need of some chocolate right about now.

When I think that I could sink no lower...I wonder what will happen if DH can't get the pump working by tomorrow....I have to go to work!!!!

I other news, I've put the tank aside for a few days. It mocks me mercilessly. I do my best to ignore it as I work on a cardi with Cleckheaton country silk. I am so looking forward to adding the cardi to my wardrobe that I will suffer through the taunts of the tank and the occasional phone call from the client.

Until next time
Yours in Yarn,
The Fibreholic

S.E.X in Australia

Well... I thought that it was time to let everyone know just what I did/spent my money on during my two weeks in Canberra. DH goes off to his conference and I went shopping. As you can see, or maybe not, the vero has already been started into a scarf.....but since I needed the needles for something else....the scarf has been put on the back burner. One day I may fess up like George and admit to all my WIPs. Let's just say....there are many!!!Okay now I've got this bus thing down so I do some sightseeing the next day. But there is another Siren of wool calling me...so what could I do?????You'll notice that I've already started my sleeve......no....I meant swatch......Changing the subject.....after this batch.....here's what I bought, on DH's suggestion. It comes with a strap or I could use the handle on the end as there are wheels underneath. The bag folds down quite nicely so I'll be able to lay it flat in our suitcase the next time we travel. I was lucky enough to be in Canberra for one of the SnB meets where I was kindly invited to a tour of the city where I saw some of the sites. I, of course, helped out the local economy.

Check out that cone of white stuff. I bought it at an Op-Shop in Manuka for $1.00...just because. Now picture me on Mother's Day with about 10 hours of broken sleep in the last 48 hours (not a pretty sight) doing the burn test (it passed), doing the bleach test (it passed)....then I turned the cone over and you'll never guess what I saw.....A label from Bendigo Woolen Mills. Needless to say, I didn't bother with the felting test. Not content with only ready to knit wool, I crashed a meeting of....I mean... I visited the Canberra Weaver's and Spinner's guild.Taph took me out to see the sites. There wasn't a lot of stash enhancement opportunities, but I wouldn't have missed the trip for the world. Here's what I bought....

The Alpaca will feel nice on my toes this winter. DH will appreciate the no more cold feet being warmed up against his legs at night. All good things must come to an end.....vacations and yarn shopping.....my last day in Canberra DH and I headed over to Lincraft to spend the last of our Aussie $$$$ (less what we'd need to buy lunch the next day).

And much to my delight......guess what arrived in the mail.......mind you it did arrive at the 11th hour....but who cares....it still came..... My Bendigo order.....and it's all destined for the dye pot.....I ask you...could life get any better than this....

Living the good life, Until next time

Yours in Yarn,

The Fibreholic