Knit Trip To Richmond
I went to Richmond, VA today for the River City Knitters Guild monthly meeting. The program was on
knitting podcasts and audiobooks. It was great seeing everyone - even though there are so many whose names I don't know. It's a big group!
After the program, we had show and tell. I took the Mystery Shawl 7 that I did for Mom. Margaret brought hers that she knit out of a gorgeous green yarn. There was another shawl shown that was by Bad Cat Designs called Queen Anne's Lace. I have searched but can't find that particular pattern. I'll keep looking. It was very pretty as you can see in the picture to the right.
One of the members showed a pair of socks she was knitting - two socks at a time on one needle - with Flat Feet from Conjoined Creations. Very clever name for this product!! Katie had just purchased a "flat" and held it up to show everyone how it comes. A "flat" consists of two panels of preknitted fabric. The two panels are joined in the center. You cut across
this join area and unravel the preknitted fabric as you knit. Sounds like a lot like quilting - cut up big pieces of fabric to make smaller pieces of fabric only to sew them back together again to make a big piece of fabric. This time, you unravel just to knit it back up again. Flat Feet comes in wonderful colors! And, I would think it would be very interesting to watch how your knitted design develops as compared to the flat version.
Other projects shown were these wonderful projects -
a modular pillow,
these two sweaters,
and this cute baby hat.
After the meeting, Rosanne, Chan, Katie, and I went to PF Chang's for lunch. Mary and Alice joined us.
Lunch was delicious and Alice wowed us with her newest weaving project - this waffle weave handtowel. VERY professional looking! Had a terrific feel to it -- just really nice. I kept looking at it - can hardly believe it didn't come from Bed, Bath, and Beyond! Great job, Alice!
As I left for home, I passed the sunflower field I mentioned in a previous post. You cut your own and it's an honor system. Three sunflowers = $1.00 and you put your money
in the box with the slot. The clippers are on the table - you return them once you've cut your flowers. I cut six and stuck them in my empty travel coffee mug with some water. I rode with them in the cup holder all the way home!
Check out the signs. I love the one on the left that shows pictures of three sunflowers = $1.00. The other sign says "Not responsible for any accidents" at the bottom. See the three pairs of clippers on the table and the slot for
money on the sign on the right??
They didn't have the variety of colors like they have had in the past but they were still great! I just love the whole idea that someone would offer a field of sunflowers for public enjoyment / purchase on an honor system in this day and time.
They made the trip home and into a vase. I added other "friends" from my garden and ended up with a pretty summer arrangement.
I LOVE sunflowers!!! I love the way they turn towards the sun to follow its path across the sky.
Such happy flowers!
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Enjoyed having lunch with you. Thanks for bringing the great soap. I agree with you about the cloth Alice wove. It looked very professional.
The thing that I find interesting about show and tell at the RCK meetings is the great variety of projects that the members undertake. The pillow, hat, and motif socks this month were all quite different from most knitting we encounter.
It's nice that the sunflower farmer still lives in an area where he/she can sell flowers on the honor system and still expect to find the cutters there the next day. In my area I think someone would steal them and use them in their own garden. An hour to the north, they would steal them and use them to stab someone. All three options in one state. What a variety of environments we have here.
Posted by: Rosanne -- Firefly Nights | July 01, 2008 at 05:27 PM
Here is the link to the Badcat blog where the pattern is discussed.
http://badcatdesigns.blogspot.com/2007/07/queen-annes-lace-is-finished.html.
The badcat design is different from the pattern from "men who knit" that particular pattern is in the round.
I am sure it is available someplace!
Her patterns are nice, I have made a few.
Posted by: gina | June 30, 2008 at 04:25 PM
I've got to drive by that sunflower place sometime! Fun times on Saturday -- it was nice seeing you!
Posted by: Mary | June 30, 2008 at 10:40 AM
It was a lovely morning, and a fantastic lunch! I'm so glad I followed your lead... yum! Those sunflowers are incredible. I wish we got more direct sun. I could plant some up at the road front though. Next year!
Posted by: Chan | June 30, 2008 at 09:15 AM
Cool, you got to see Flat Feet in person.
Your knitting group sounds like a lot of fun!
I went to an agility competition this weekend and came home with lots of ribbons.
Posted by: Leah | June 29, 2008 at 06:22 PM
Hi Robin!
Wondered where you were...thought the heat melted ya! The shawls are so beautiful and "wispy"...beautiful work. I love looking at them all. My Dad loved sunflowers (he was originally from Kansas) and we always gave him grief over the sunflowers he always had in his gardens!
We are enjoying a bit of a cool front and cool breezes for another day....heaven!
Posted by: Jackie | June 29, 2008 at 01:52 PM
What a great day - I do love seeing your knit trips. That sunflower field is gorgeous and it is great that the farmer still trusts people enough to have an honour system like that.
Posted by: mrspao | June 29, 2008 at 01:57 AM
Queen Anne's Lace by Mmario http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/queen-annes-lace-5 (ravelry link). It is pretty isn't it? He makes beautiful patterns.
Posted by: Maia | June 29, 2008 at 12:25 AM