Stitches West Yarn Rationalization 2012

I don't have any pictures from Stitches West save one. I had my camera, but I was having too much fun to bring it out. The only picture I have is from Ysolda's nifty photo booth. She is such a sweetheart. Right as I was leaving Stitches, I had a sudden sense that I had to go to her booth and get a book. So I did. She signed it too. I also picked up a Drops magazine. I liked the menswear designs much better than the ladies designs. I may make myself a man sweater. (Not pictured, I got my copy of Coastal Knits signed by Alana. Go buy that book if you haven't already. Even if you don't knit. It is just pretty to look at.)

When I got home, Mum told me that her favorite part of me coming home from buying fiber is that I have a rationalization for each purchase. So I thought I might entertain all of you with this year's Stitches rationalizations. First off is the spindle. I went to Carolina Homespun to get it. I gave away my last one when I taught a buddy how to spin and I got a wheel. She passed it on when she got a wheel. So I thought it was high time to get another spindle to pass on if I teach someone again. The top three light blue Crazy Batts are from Faerie Mountain Fiber. I always try to stop by their booth and pick a little something up. I accidentally chose one from the sale bin. I was easily convinced to get a second batt... which turned into a third because it would only cost $6 more. The bottom bit of roving is 50% silk/ 50% superfine merino from Red Fish DyeWorks. It looked like a storm cloud, so I had to have it. I'm seriously thinking about hanging it up in my room on my wall. It is just so pretty.

Then there is the yarn. The two blue skeins on the left are Silk Sock which are also from Red Fish DyeWorks. I was going to get one, but it was pointed out to me that I would have more project options with two. The next two skeins are from Blue Moon Fiber, Socks That Rock. I had eyed the Farmhouse colorway a few years ago and have been kicking myself ever since for not buying it. Then I got the blue/brown/green skein because it was called Puck's Mischief... and what if I regretted not getting it? I didn't pick up Fire On The Mountain, so that might be my new thing to regret not getting. Or thing to look forward to. Above Socks That Rock is a worsted weight ball of Freia fine hand paints in the Denim colorway. It is an Ombre yarn and I remember someone asking me if ombre yarns existed. I felt compelled to get some. The next three skeins of subdued green are Windsor Hand Paint Sock Yarn from Miss Babs in the Beach Glass, Flourite, and Verdigris colorways. I couldn't decide which green to get, so I got them all. My justification: it's a possibility for a design. I have to try them out. And last is a O'Keefe skein from Abstract Fiber in the Alfalfa colorway. We had a skein at work and I didn't buy it. Then someone else did. I saw only one at the Abstract booth, so I had to get it.

A word of advice to anyone who decided to go to Stitches. If you don't have a list and plan on "just looking", you might end up with all the things that are in the above pictures. And if you plan on using only cash, don't bring a credit card along "just in case".