Endings and Beginnings

I fulled the skein yesterday and hung it to dry. I was pleased that I had the twist just right, Baby Bear. Bonita was absolutely right about the brown merino to ply with my raffle prize silk. I assumed this silk would draft like my other silk experiences, but the problems from the felted silk resulting in chunks of uneven color that made an awesome designer yarn. I meant it that way, all along, really. Honest.
I had some wonder-
fully quiet time this morning so swatched this yarn to see what it wants to be when it grows up. I think it is most accidentally cool yarn that I have ever had pass through my fingers. Can you smell the caffeine from my cup? I'm feeling it.
The gauge surprised me. I thought it would be smaller but it's 18 stitches to 4" which is exactly what this Noro bolero calls for. And what a co-inki-dink. That's just about what I'm going to get be able to knit from this silk. Benita sent me so much Merino that if I run short of the silk ply, I can make brown bands. I am enervated and motivated to thrash my way through the nasty felted silk.
I've finished my first of the Walk-for-the-Cure scarves. It's not a color had that I have enjoyed, but several years ago, I made a scarf for a breast cancer survivor friend. I had a hard time finding "the" pink, and ended up knitting two yarns together to get it right. My friend was tearfully emotional. I got the message. My niece is committed to this cause and is on the board of directors for "the drive" in her county. I've promised her two scarves. This is scarf number one from merino and alpaca.

Ian and I finished this week with Joe Winter's spring party. I don't know its origins but I love being part of it. He has hired Hick'ry Switch, this modified blue grass band, to play for the last few years for his party to celebrate his spring open-kiln event. There's lots of food, beer and visiting. I'm not of the shy kind - love the visiting, oh, and the beer. Here's the thing. Corrie, the mandolin player, is a library person and married to a budding knitter - whom I met out of the crowd. We visited away and I learned that Katie, the guitar player is a maniac knitter. On break, I was in the bathroom line with Katie - and one knitter to another, you know how that goes - she tells me that someone have given her roving and she wants to learn to spin. Yikes. I gave her my card with contact information. Have we hooked yet another spinner??