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Thursday I took Cool Socks A from Lucy Neatby. She is such an excellent teacher I feel badly to have such a crappy photo of her.
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I think I've mentioned before how she uses her instructional DVDs to illustrate and demonstrate techniques in her classes. It works so well. We made a sampler with Channel Island cast on, a short-row garter stitch heel, a stretchy bind off with or without picots.
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I had extra time and also threw a double-knit heel turn into my sample. Her class materials are set up really well so you can move ahead if you already understand a technique. We also did a sample of her sock toe chimney technique. When you're ready to graft your toe you knit several rounds in a contrasting color waste yarn, stuff that tube into your sock and use the first row of the waste yarn stitches as a guide to your grafting. It is helpful for eliminating the little "ears" on the sides of a kitchenered toe. I think it would have been a very good technique for grafting the hood of Rogue.
Friday was Socks Exotica with Judith. Again, fabulous teacher, terrible photo.
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We got samples of all sorts of luscious fibers and blends. Cashmere, yak, angora, silk...all heavenly. She also gave us blank business cards and one of those full-page plastic sleeves with pockets for business cards. We could write down the information on the fiber then stick small samples in each pocket. I will definitely do this for any future spinning classes.
Saturday I took an all-day sock design class with Anne Hanson. I was so tired and headache-y I left early. Also I think this would have been better as a half-day class.
There were so many beautiful things in the market. I brought home a lot more than I intended. Here is just some of what came home with me.
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Hazel Knits merino/nylon sock yarn in Blacklight
![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2665/3808673454_674f791ed2.jpg)
Merino/silk from Red Fish
![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2517/3807858539_cf971fb191.jpg)
A sweater's worth of Miss Babs's 3-ply sport in Denim
![](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3472/3808673262_b4fe2f5e70.jpg)
Merino/tencel from Dye Dreams
![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2650/3807858325_43defa194c.jpg)
Merino/Tencel from Wolf Creek
![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2504/3807858203_ce51ff65cc.jpg)
Merino/bamboo/nylon from Kitchen Sink Dyeworks
![](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3025/3808672912_f2f8c94842.jpg)
Merino/bamboo from Lisa Souza
![](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2667/3807858021_6374f7086a.jpg)
More sport from Miss Babs
![](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3483/3808672532_2fb26d7464.jpg)
A shawl's worth of BFL from Dye Dreams
(I've got to get to work. I'll post more later including links to all these great vendors!)