Can I actually be blogging from my own computer?!

GADS! It seemed like forever to get my computer issues straightened out! Keep your fingers crossed for me! Lucky me, Nartian hooked me up with someone who was able to help get my computer bugs cleared out and get me back on-line! I think cookies are in order, here...(she knows what I'm talking about! So yeah, Nartian, I'm treating you to a dozen tomorrow!)

So prior to starting this entry, I had been looking through my past posts. SHOP YOUR BLOG, PEOPLE! Well, at least if you are like me...you know...decide you'd take a peek over at WoolGirl or BMFA or some other fav on-line store...no intention to buy, just want to see...then WHAM! the order goes in! Well, admittedly, I have been somewhat better. At least until this past week!

I swear, looking through my own blog, every skein I saw, I loved (of course, Silly! I did choose 99% of them!). It was truly almost as satisfying as shopping-especially since I know I already have them in my stash! And then, it reinforced how I definitely do NOT need more sock yarn! And I feel so satisfied that any urge to purchase more yarn truly does not exist. Well, ok, maybe that is not completely true, but I have to say that it really was a satisfying experience!

Anyways, onto this past weekend! The dye workshop with Scout (Jamie Dixon) of Scout's Swag was so much more than I expected! It was fun, it was educational, it was inspiring! It was humbling! I have to admit, though, aside from being able to learn to dye yarn from one of the best (Scout), the other best thing was taking this workshop at Knit One One. Sile (pronounced 'Sheila') is an absolute doll! She truly is the 'hostess with the mostess'-from making sure we all had water by our side to sip, to the homemade shortbread cookies and blueberries (the shortbread, I mean...)! She is not only welcoming, but made sure that she introduced everyone to one another as they arrived. These extra touches really make a difference and I feel even more fortunate that I was able to participate!

Scout demonstrates how she dyes her 'Orchids' colorway
(yeah, that's Scout...talented and gorgeous! Some women have it all...!)

And as if having a top-rate hostess wasn't pampering enough, we also had wonderful class assistants-Scout's bud, HizKnits (Stephen) and WonderMike, the dynamic YKnit duo! They were so great and (duh!) helpful!

Aren't Boyscouts supposed to be 'helpful'? HizKnits and WonderMike sure were!

Stephen came properly attired in honor of Scout (yeah, he's an Eagle Scout!)

Of course, a Bay Area Scout visit wouldn't be complete without a bit of stash enhancement. Scout brought several skeins of her latest 'crock pot dyed' creations for us to salivate over. Oh yeah, and purchase, too! I will have to post pics of the few I couldn't resist later...

In addition to communing with fellow fiber fanatics, I finally got to meet Nell of ChickenKnits, and got to spend time with Marisol of Purls Just Want to Have Fun! And Nartian even popped by on Sunday to check things out. We all enjoyed learning Scout's dying methods (we even learned to dye self-striping yarn...), but even more fun was playing and seeing how everyone else's turned out and what color choices they made.

Nell and Emy examine our work

dyed yarn, laying out to dry in the sun

And, as with everything, I learn best by doing and through MISTAKES! So...glopping on color will not always help and the colors will get muddier and muddier looking. But-after the dye is set through the heating process, it won't look quite so icky...And-superwash really DOES take dye up better! This, I learned, when I saw that my colors didn't come out so vibrant on my large skein of DK weight. I hadn't realized I needed my yarns to be 'superwash' (and if I had, I still woudn't have realized...); the DK skein I brought was NOT superwash! The colors are ok, but not nearly as rich or vibrant as I would have loved and as would have happened had it been superwash...

my dull, lifeless, muddied skein...(this, the non-superwash, folks...)

My 'self' striping' skein, (wound); I dyed a second (layed out) but had forgotten to dilute the sky blue a bit more and was a more heavy handed with the dyes that evening at home, so they will be similar, but definitely not the same tone

Dorky, pudgy me, Scout, Marisol, Nell and Raquel


And since I finished this ONE sock today...

Central Air pattern knit from Spunky Eclectic Super sport in the Route 66 colorway. This yarn is AWESOME!

So here's another long-A post for you, IrishGirlie! ;)