Woolgathering

I’d dearly love to show and tell today but there’s far too much gloom and murk and far too little light so…just move along there, and normal service will be resumed once the sun reappears.

Spinning today consisted of much show and tell, and (for me) some knitting. Plans were made for Sunday’s Christmas Fair. Chocolate Brownies were consumed.

For the remainder of today, I shall knit: one mitt, just started, to be finished in order to complete the pair with the one I knitted at spinning; one Spiraluscious to be completed (barely begun); one pair of Mama Janes to be started. That’s a lot of knitting. Barely achievable, I’d have thought.

Must find time to do some spinning soon. It’s lagging a bit. But there’s Mr L’s sweater to be done, his mitts to complete, and two design jobs to do, plus something else major that is dragging a long way behind schedule…

This week’s excess:

Butternut Scarf by Anne Hanson at Knitspot. I am knitting this from one of the colours in the mixed ends of Merino/Silk/Cashmere that I bought a while back. [Ravelry Project]

It is a very difficult colour to capture - somewhere between a deep coral and a dark rose pink, depending on the light. Glorious anyway.

And this is my absolute delight, because I actually planned the yarn for the project and everything worked out just right:

It’s just a simple scarf for ‘im indoors. My So Called Scarf, knitted on smaller needles (6mm) and over more stitches (40) - I need to have this done by 17th December. [Ravelry Project]

But this is all terrible - because… I still have to complete those socks that were due last New Year, not to mention even starting the fingerless gloves that have been specially requested. And here I am with two seductive projects on the go - one a simple knit on big needles, which feeds the need to see growth happening, the other a totally seductive colour and handle, and a hearty lace fix.

What’s a girl to do?

I really am very, very tired indeed. Just ready to slump but unfortunately I have a meeting to go to tonight. I shall need matchsticks to keep my eyes open…

I almost got up at 4am. I almost got up at 5am. I seem to have nodded off at around 6am, but had to take Nell out at 7am. I got on with making a tomato sauce for lunchtime pasta, and whipped up some nutty meringues as my gluten-free offering for today. I had made the brownies yesterday and the gingerbread had been maturing since the weekend. All together, a fine spread for the spinning ladies today.

With one and another thing, I got no spinning done this morning, but I made up for that by getting my wheel out after lunch and I have a skein to show for my efforts.

There are ten repeats done on the Clapotis and two on the Spiraluscious that I began yesterday. I could finish the both of them if I didn’t have to go out later…

The sun showed his face today. The wind has dropped a long way and it has been dry almost all day. I was practically roasting when I went out to clean the salt spray off my windows so that the spinners could have some daylight. One day like this is worth all the bad weather that we get. On the other hand, we still have no mobile phone service, and some land lines are still not working. I think that everyone has electricity now, though.

I filled another bobbin of erratic singles today. That makes three. Perhaps another two to go. I knitted just a few rows on Mr L’s socks, and a few more on my Morning Surf project. Since I came home from spinning I have been trying to make some sense of the craft room which has decayed again since its recent tidy. I have to let somebody in there this evening and it was just too shaming…

I have also finally sewn the pink and turquoise buttons onto the pink and turquoise neck warmer. It still isn’t washed and blocked, though. Nor have I made the second one yet. I must do that before the second pair of buttons go missing. We probably need a photo of the neckwarmer soon. It’s quite nice, in a functional kind of a way.

And now? I’m not sure. I may skein my spinning. Or I may knit sock. Or possibly more Morning Surf, because I did enjoy knitting on that today.

Blink seems to be steadfastly resisting the halfway point and I seem to be spending more time going backwards than I am spending going towards my goal. This scarf is turning out to be anything but the quick knit that I intended it to be. I don’t know what it is - because it is a simple enough pattern. Perhaps it is because I am stressed and upset at the moment and that is causing lapses of attention. And it does not help when one corrects an error from the wrong pattern row, either.

Well, all I can say is that I must spin a good yarn, as it is holding up well to all this punishment.

I had hoped to take my knitting and sit quietly in the back row with it tonight but as I have been conned into doing asked to do chairs and teas, that will not be possible.

In Other News - I just bought a kilo of gorgeous natural BFL. It’s not all for me, I hasten to add.

Frankly, the thought of spinning an even yarn for a whole jumper is even more scary than tonight’s elections or my job application!

Ah, well - back to Blink. Let’s hope for some forwards progression!

Spin! Beth

I think that it has to be done, don’t you?

I have a migraine brewing today so didn’t fully enjoy my not-spinning (I took the knitting). Highlights were the Sephardic Cake, meeting F’s two new rams, and my bravely greeting Barnaby (even though he showed me his teeth.) Barnaby is a pony, BTW, and belongs to SpinningGill. Or maybe he’s not a phony but a real ‘oss. What would I know? I tend to keep out of their way as much as I can. Equines make me nervous.

The rams were wonderful - one is a little black Hebridean, very pretty, the other is an Ewok and I want to steal him and take him home to bed to cuddle. Actually, he’s a Ryland - and the cutest little thing ever, and really tame and friendly.

Ewok - Ryland - spot the difference!

I want to buy some of this: BFL roving. Actually, I want to buy quite a lot - a sweater’s worth. It’s time that I worked my way up to a proper spinning project and practised some consistency for a while. I really enjoyed spinning the BFL tops that I was given. - and these look to be a stunning shade. J is going to have some too, if I send for some.

And now it is time to sit and soothe myself with a few more ripples on the Blink.

My Hypotenuse scarf/wrap thing (Pythagoras) is now suffering a light blocking. It was fun/easy/quick to block due to its geometric pattern - there are lots of straight lines to measure and straighten. Of course, with my lack of blocking skills, and the lack of a set of wires, it’s anything but straight in fact. But it’s no dog’s hind leg either, so I am quite pleased.

Blocked to 81.5″ by 15.5″ - no doubt when I take the pins out it will be closer to 80″ by 15″

It’s in the utility room, so Lulu has to stay outside until it dries.

My washed skeins are dry.

Time to wind them into balls and look for some knitting needles!

I resisted the temptation to cast on for Blink without washing my skeins - and they are currently drying on the line. Much more colour washed out of these skeins than I had anticipated. I can’t help but wonder if the colour will be significantly changed. I have run out of Eucalan and couldn’t find more on eBay, so I washed these skeins in shampoo. I wonder if that was a factor? I have used it before with success - it’s a Lavender and Jasmine (ooh, look at that, Superdrug do online shopping AND deliver to Scottish Islands at no extra charge!) “Herbal Essences” 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner. I might pop over and ask Natalie what she recommends.

It’s reheated leftovers today, so I have plenty of free time. I am trying to decide whether to wash and block the Hypotenuse, or to get on my bike and go look for a thimble and pins. At the moment it’s the blocking that’s winning. Though I suppose I could leave it soaking while I go to the shop, and kill both birds. To tell the truth, I am wary of leaving my washing for any length of time, it keeps looking like it might rain again - and I do not want those skeins to get a soaking, even if I’m not too worried about the laundry

When I was trundling down the drive with my bin bags this morning it occurred to me that today would have been a good day for exposing my cyanotypes. Blue sky, sun, minimal wind. I was busy beating myself up about not having prepared the fabric - due to not having a clue as to how I can dry my fabric in darkness.

Anyway, as it happens - the clouds are already gathering. The chances of clear skies around midday would seem to be minimal. In fact, I am already doubting the wisdom of putting my washing out on the line.

It’s the Equinox today. (Yes, I know many people think it always happens on the 21st, but it doesn’t.) The sun, when we see it, will be sinking ever lower in the sky, making it less suitable for my exposures as time goes on. I have an inkling that I may have to wait until next summer to play this particular game.

Craft Club tonight. Quilting. I’ve packed my needles. Oh, my… scary stuff indeed. I shall be all nerves and thumbs.

Actually, I packed a crate full of stuff. I am still short of a couple of items, which I might try to find at the shop today (dressmaking pins and a thimble) and those quilting needles are still not here - let’s hope that postie brings them today.