Madrona 2012

 

Saturday was a crazy day - first I went to work for a little bit for the new internship, then got home around 2 pm, and then my mom, my dad and I went to Madrona Fiber Arts out in Tacoma... then later, Lumberjack and I went out to dinner at a restaurant called Local 360 (delicious, locally sourced Americana and comfort food) and then to a Bombay Bicycle Club show at the Croc (a bar/venue in downtown Seattle), which was one of the best concerts I've ever attended.

  Back to the yarn, though!  I had heard about Madrona about a zillion times through reading blogs, but since I was always in Ohio this time of year, this was the first year I've ever gone.  I didn't take any classes, but my mom and I did go to the marketplace, where I was (mostly) good and got two patterns, a bunch of 16" Addi Turbo Lace needles so that I can make hats without wanting to tear my hair out, and these three skeins of yarn.  For a fiber festival, this is a pretty small amount of yarn for me, but I'm trying to remain at least a little committed to stash dieting.  Hahah.

This skein is Pashmara Lace by Fly Designs.  My mom bought two skeins of this same yarn in an electric violet colorway when we were at Sock Summit, and I just love how bright this blue is.  The colorway is Cobalt, and it really is a true cobalt blue.  I'm planning to make Romi Hill's Maia Shoulderette, from the 7 Small Shawls Collection, out of it.

Then there's this yarn, Tactile Fiber Arts Arcata Lace.  I'm working on a gift project out of this same colorway, Concord Grape, in a different yarn base, and I love the color.  I've been on a major Tactile kick lately - seems like I'm drawn to every base of her Pomegranate and Concord Grape colors.  It's like Madelinetosh and her colorway Tart, which I have or have used in four different bases.

Anyways, these two skeins are intended to make Hethe from the Scrumptious Collection.  I can't resist that lightweight, Victorian-inspired, nuppy goodness...

Overall, I was really impressed with Madrona.  It seemed like a more relaxed version of Sock Summit - 2 hours seemed like plenty of time to take a look at all the booths in the market, whereas I still could have seen more at Sock Summit after walking around for more than 5 hours over three days!  I'd also be interested to sign up for classes in the future, since they have some amazing teachers and designers who come in.  Plus, there is nothing quite like standing at the top of an atrium looking down on over thirty people knitting at the same time.  That alone was worth the trip.