I do still knit

Even if it's not looking like it these days.

Thank you all so much for your supportive comments on the rant of a couple of days ago. I alternate between feeling that surely something can be done to make the system work better for everyone, and a deep sense of despair because I haven't the faintest clue how we can make that happen. I'll keep you all updated on how things go this semester in my little patch of education-land; judging by the comments, though, I'm not the only person out there who's facing this kind of situation, so all of you keep letting me know how it's going, too.

Now, a last gathering of little tidbits from Sock Summit, and then I think I'll have that all caught up, and I can start letting you see some knitting.

First, since Sallee and I knew that we would (finally!) be meeting at Sock Summit, she took the chance to deliver to me this stunning beauty.
Is that not the most classy needle binder you've ever seen? I adore that cover fabric (you wouldn't believe how patient she was while I dithered over all of the beautiful pictures of fabrics she sent me!), and look at the button:
It's just perfect with the spirals! The inside is filled with the softest fabric pockets for holding needles, both dpns and circs. Finally, a holder worthy of my lovely Celtic Swans and Signature dpns.
Plenty of room for everything. (Although I admit that I was a little embarrassed to see just how many of some sizes of needles I have. I mean, how many size four Addis does one person need? Quite a few apparently. Oddly, though, there was nary a size six to be found. Weird...)

The needle binder is Nana Sadie Rose's new Violette, and I can't tell you how happy I am with it. I feel organized, and it's cheerful and elegant to boot. How often does that all come together in one useful object? Very William Morris...

I think I've mentioned that I got to meet in person (but not spend nearly enough time with) several people whom I've only known through e-correspondence. Another one of those people is Mary Lou, whose blog I've been reading for a while now, and whom I always enjoy sharing an email conversation with. She was working at the Yarnery booth, right down the aisle from Briar Rose, which meant that we were both equally busy, but she made a point of coming to see me right away, to give me the condolence hug she'd promised me (which I so needed right then), as well as the most lovely and thoughtful gift.
Definitely click to embiggen that. It's a set of gorgeous cards (each with a different picture) all in that beautiful blue silk bag. It makes me happy each time I look at it. Thank you!

In the interests of full disclosure, I should reveal that I did come away with some spinning fiber from A Verb For Keeping Warm. I also had a very fun conversation with Kristine, the dyeing genius behind the yarn and fiber from A Verb For Keeping Warm -- talk about an interesting person to chat with!
That is four ounces of a lovely merino/silk blend in the Crocodile Tears colorway.
And that is four ounces of Wensleydale in the Abalone colorway. (You can see that Tilly wanted very much to be involved in the photography.) I'm thinking that this one will be socks; that was also the plans for the merino/silk, but we'll see.

I also got one skein of STR, a Rare Gem.
Last but not least, I came away with some stunning yarn from (of course) Briar Rose. There was this ball of Sea Pearl (I do love me some Sea Pearl).
I haven't decided yet what that will be. But I know what I'm going to do with this.
Two skeins of that heathery purpley gorgeousness (why yes, it is Sea Pearl, why do you ask?) are destined to become the next Wine Dark Sea sweater. My goal is to knit another one, without the little sizing issues that I perhaps could have done differently in the first. I'm swatching now.
I think that will be the bottom edge, but I haven't yet found my cuff edging. I'm in the process of swatching and enjoying it immensely. Chris has to be one of the most generous people in the world, not only providing yarn, but also complimenting my first Wine Dark Sea sweater extravagantly (as did Christy), and even suggesting that the pattern might be good enough to interest other people. I'm not sure about that, but it was sure nice to hear.

I also came away with a lovely little project back, which just happens to match the yarn.
And a button and a pin. I'm sure I'll find good uses for these.
And with that, I think that I'm all caught up from Sock Summit. Whew!

Next time, some socks -- I've finished the first of the Wildflower socks, and I don't think I ever posted pictures of the heirloom tomato socks. I have no less than three hours of meetings each day this week (and some as long as five hours), so I'm guessing there's gonna be plenty of knitting time.