Wednesday, December 05, 2007

WiP'd It Already Wednesday (But It Was A Secret!)

Friends do not let friends spin out sock yarn in the washing machine when they are really tired. Because sometimes they are so tired they put it on for the full cycle and not just spin and then have to spend two hours painfully unravelling it all around and around.



Okay, I learned that lesson. On the positive side, I got lots of exercise this past week walking around and around my sunroom unravelling stuff!

A few weeks ago my friends in my knitting group decided we would have our Christmas party in a local fondue restaurant. I was really excited about this because the last time I had fondue was on my 21st birthday party... and um, as we all know from my recent birthday contest, that was 14 years ago. I decided I wanted to make something for my friends - knitting them something seemed silly - they all knit for themselves - so I decided to hand-dye some self-striping wool for them. I ordered some Swish Superwash sock yarn and worsted weight from Knitpicks and off I went.

This one is for me... I have wanted some blue and brown sock yarn for the longest time, and I call this 'Lazy Friday in Jeans.'



This sock yarn is for Denise. I called it 'Denise's Water Lilies' because she like fishing and boating:



This one is for Kathy. It is the worsted weight and I called it 'Kathy's Mystery' because the first go-around with the dye left it half bright electric hunter orange. It was supposed to be peach! I over-dyed it with two different blues to negate the orange. Now it is sunny Caribbean blue on one half, a muted browny/purply/navy/black on the other:



This sock yarn is for Michelle. I was inspired by a vest that Michelle had knit for herself earlier this year, so this colourway is called 'Michelle's Vest.'



I even tried to make it look semi-professional by making myself some yarn labels as well - check out the name:


No, I have no plans to go into business here. There are plenty of people who do this better than I do and it is an awful lot of work!
Here are some pictures of our meal:


This was the main course and there was sirloin, lobster, shrimp, pork, chicken, steak, ravioli, and vegetables in a spicy wine/citrus/chicken broth.

Michelle and Denise digging into the chocolate dessert fondue:



A closer look at the food:

Cheesecake, brownies, strawberries, bananas, rice crispy treats, marshmallows dipped in a milk chocolate/Baileys/pecan concoction.
I don't believe I will be eating tomorrow...

7 comments:

Unknown said...

As the recipient of the Denise's Water Lillies yarn made be Jo, I am blown away by this woman's artistic skill. It is gorgeous!!!!!! Thanks Jo:0).
And the fondue night was so much fun, thanks ladies.

Bezzie said...

Those are some beautiful yarns you dyed up there! I hear you though, I don't know how even the smaller indie dyers do it!

prairiegirl said...

Jo, those yarns are absolutely gorgeous and what a lovely gift idea!

Cari said...

Mmm...chocolate fondue and sock yarn... Doesn't get much better than that.

Eryn said...

Your sock yarn is so inspiring! I may have to try it for myself :)

Kristina B said...

These yarns are absolutely gorgeous... :-) wow. I would have shelled out big coin for those if I saw them at the LYS, even though I don't knit socks! ;-)

Kris said...

oooh... pretty colors. The yarns are beautiful!