I love it when Mr L wants to buy a book. That usually means that I get one too. I’ve been wanting to buy this book for ages, and had been putting it off until my account returns from the red. Now I get to have it sooner It’s very timely, as I’d like to incorporate [...]

Forgot to say – I hoard jam jars. Ostensibly for preserves, I amass far too many for use on the intended manner, and occasionally I rationalise the bags of rubbish. The other day I was clearing them out before we went to the bottle bank. Mr L asked for some of the nastier ones, to go [...]

I had a spiffing time yesterday. I really did. I found that I was relaxed and happy and perfectly able to talk to people who asked me questions – without stopping spinning to do so! I didn’t even blush furiously when complimented on the fineness of my spinning. I didn’t even demur… It is strange [...]

finished cheviot Originally uploaded by demiurged I niddy noddied my last bobbin of plyed Cheviot this morning. Here’s my first really knittable handspun. Proud? You bet! The two scratty skeins on the left are the leftovers from plying bobbins together. I learned Navajo, or chain, plying with the ends. But there’s five reasonable skeins there. [...]

My weekend has been one long whirl this time around. Yesterday was our once-every-two-months supermarket trip. This takes all day, as there is only one ferry out to Mainland Orkney, and one return in the evening. Shopping involves two enormous trolley loads and a long stint of “putting away” once we finally get home. It’s [...]

Still fascinated by the BFL. There are other things that I should be doing but I find this spinning hypnotic. So many subtle shades of grey in this BFL. I tried to photograph my work. I did very badly. I’ll try again another day, when the light is better. This blurry shot shows the colour variation [...]

I may have cause to regret my benefactor. I may be developing a lifelong obsession with BFL. What wonderful stuff it is! Yes, I couldn’t resist having a go. And I have spun almost a full bobbin. It’s beautiful. I love the rich shading and the lustre of it. I can’t wait to knit it [...]

Drove to spinning again. I found myself panicking as I headed to the door and was fretting about the weather. Mr L offered to chauffeur me, but I would not let him. I need to get a grip on this thing. I did not like driving that big thing in this wind, though. At spinning [...]

I’m just setting up to photograph some skeins. I did a test shot on the eBay bargain silk laceweight that arrived this morning: Luscious!

I’m off to a late start today, which is a problem as I have a packed agenda. I was woken by the postie, bringing me my laceweight silk. Oh, it is gorgeous! Just exactly the colours that I would have wanted. It will drive me nuts if it stripes or pools… and I will be [...]