This was the second summer that I participated in Camp Loopy and it was as fun this year as it was last year. I completed three projects over the summer months, two of which checked off items on my “Gift Knitting” list.

Our project for August was to select a color that we love, I took the opportunity to do a bit of “selfish” knitting for myself, and I selected a pattern by Melanie Berg that had been in my Ravelry queue for some time now. My Beautiful Golden Green was just what was needed to finish out my summer camp. The pattern is very well written and a truly fun knit with enough to keep your interest while easy enough to make it almost be a mindless knitting project. I selected the yarn that Melanie knit hers out of – madelinetosh tosh light in the Filigree color way. The colors are spectacular, but the yarn itself was the antithesis of that. In the first few yards of knitting, I had over a dozen knots. This continued throughout both skeins, which led me to think this was not an anomaly. It was enough to put me off madelinetosh for any future projects. A very sad determination indeed, as  her colorways are so lovely.

15091792620_0332269715_z

I did end the summer with a new knitting friend – Mrs. Crosby came camping with me in July and her yarn was my favorite yarn of the summer. I loved her so much that I am taking her to school with me when I attend Loopy Academy this semester. Once again, she will help me cross off some gift knitting from my list when I complete a lovely hat and mitts.

15275429161_810663482e_z

I am taking a sabbatical for a few weeks from personal knitting to work on a special project for a new, but very dear friend – I am knitting some Kirsten Kapur designs with some brand new yarns from Ross Farms. You will be able to see them all at Rhinebeck in October – as long as the Knitting Goddesses continue to smile on me and speed my fingers along! One thing I can tell you all is that the yarns are amazing! You will absolutely want to stop by their booth and get them while they are still there, because they are sure to fly off the shelves!

I dipped my toe into the teaching waters also last month and three new spinners were born! I taught both drop spindle and beginning wheel spinning at my LYS and while my numbers were not large, it was a good start and it gave me a wee bit of confidence in my ability to share how to take a bit of fiber and turn it into yarn. I would not say I am now the best teacher ever, but I would say it was successful enough to try it again! I am thankful to my eager students that they made teaching so much fun!

My garden is slowly winding down – we have had a real patch of cool weather here with autumn boldly asserting itself into both days and nights. No frost yet, but enough to tell my plants that the summer is ending soon. I picked 5 lbs. of tomatoes and canned some salsa this week. My pantry and freezer are full of both garden and farm fresh foods to take us through the winter until planting season is upon us again. This makes me very happy to have preserved some of the summer freshness to brighten my winter meals. I also love knowing where my produce came from!

The cool weather is perhaps a blessing in disguise because next week I am happy to say I will be back in the great state of Michigan. This way I will not worry about garden explosion when I am on vacation to visit with my kiddos. A much-needed vacation it is, because I am just jonesing for some Pure Michigan. I will be sure to take a plethora of pictures to share with you.

Pin It on Pinterest