Love via Facebook

The lovely and talented proprietress of Spencer Hill Spinning and Dyeing, my dear online friend Barb. posted a photo of this beautiful blue yarn and I fell in love. When the dyeing was complete and the yarn was ready for sale, she kindly enabled, I mean notified me, of it's availability. Of course, I bought it!

Even Ollie couldn't resist!

The photos don't even do it justice! It is gorgeous and lovely and dyed with natural dyes.

I am in love.

Thanks Barb.

Once in a Blue Moon Barn Sale

Stash acquisition just happens sometimes. Blue Moon Fiber Arts held a barn sale, and had some lovely mill end mixed bags that I just happened to order as quickly as I possibly could:

The goods, note Mill Ends have a backwards logo.

Now, the one on the left just didn't do it for me, so I posted on Ravelry in the Blue Moon Group

and traded for something much more to my liking:

So much more to my liking!

...but wait there's more! Then to go with the blue moon in August, there was a Blue Moon sale! One of my favorite colors, how could I resist? I got a Blue Moon Mystery bag...

Gorgeous colors - not as they appear in this photo.

There was also some more yarn, but that needs it's own post. Stay tuned.

Kimono Basics

I wear a kimono about 7 times a year. I always keep my kimono suitcase packed up just in case. After every time I wear kimono, all of the undergarments and some of the kimono get washed,

most of them ironed, and then re-packed so that everything is ready for the next time. 

As I was sorting items out I thought it might be interesting to show what goes into the suitcase.

Tabi and stockings

Stockings so that if your leg shows it is white, pretty similar to knee high stockings except that these have a stirrup and are foot and toeless and tabi go over them. The tabi in this photo are fairly new and clean (they get so stained from the dirty floors here), and feature 4 kohaze tabs to close the tabi. They are woven cotton, although my favorites are actually with 5 kohaze and lined with flannel. 

Alas, this is what someone bought me, and so I wear them.

Tabi with 4 kohaze

Hada Juuban - undershirt. Made of loosely woven cotton, with eyelet lace edged 3/4 ish sleeves. This gets tied with either a self attached belt or a himo or strings/belts.

Hada juuban

My Hello Kitty bag of himo. The one outside of the bag is my lucky himo.

Naga juuban - undergarment. 

This goes over the hada juuban and has a stiffened collar which is an important element when wearing a kimono.

This is tied on with a himo, and the sleeves match the length of the kimono sleeves. 

I usually use han naga juuban with an okoshi, basically a 2 piece version that is more versatile. The pink collar can be removed and replaced, it has to be sewn on - thank you O. san!

Kimono, obi, obi age, and obi jime selection for a fall event. Dark because that is what is required for the event.

Just a quick basic post with some basic kimono pieces - not intended to be comprehensive!

Downtown

I live in Chicago, and I have always enjoyed going downtown, watching the people,

looking at the sculpture and art, and really experiencing the city.

The past few years when I have been downtown, I was always in a hurry, rushing to or from. 

This summer I had some time, and sat with a cup of tea and some knitting, it was really enjoyable.

Sock for circus girl.

P.S. No Sofa, sorry, it's not done yet.