Update: Knitting people are good people

So, my husband has been ill and my work colleagues have been dropping off food and treats. One such shipment showed up with yarn and a lacy scarf pattern. I've been working on it a bit here and there - especially this weekend when the in-laws where here cleaning our house so I couldn't find anything anymore. Strange ritual, no? Confuse the caregiver...

The Scarf, on "the monstrosity" (aka: Double Recliner)

My sister-in-law fell in love with the pattern and said "we need to go to a yarn store so I can make one too!" I was SO THERE!! YES!! YARN STORE!! and then my other Sister-In-Law (the *non* Knitter) said "Don't you have extra needles and yarn that she could use?"

Drat.

"Why yes, I do indeed."

I took SIL1 upstairs to my guest room closet and started yanking canvas 'under the bed storage' bags out; "here's the wool {plonk!} here's the cotton blends {plonk!] here's the Elisabeth Lavold Silkly Wool {Plonk!} (you can't have that), here's the novelty yarns {plonk!}" She picked out a nice green silk/cotton blend and I then helped her pick a nice sized needle to get started with. I should have snapped some photos before she left with it all Sunday. I'm sure she'll be back and we can document.

(I neglected to show her the whole dresser drawer full of 'exotic' yarns. 100% angora, 100% silk, 75% cashmere... There's no way in heck I'm letting that stuff go anywhere but on my needles!)

Detail of the scarf

So, knitting people are good people. You can take that to the bank.

And non-knitting people don't understand that even though you have a closet (and drawer) full of yarn and a canvas organizer full of needles it doesn't mean you don't need to go to a yarn store when times are rough.

Update: Spinning

As promised, yet much delayed, photographic evidence of the results of my spinning class.What's on the Tsunami right now

I tried to spin with the 'fischer price' drop spindle that was included in the class price but it kept falling apart. So, I ordered 3 Goldings and the difference was immediately evident.

Tsunami, Midnight Sky and Antique Hyrogliphic

The picture isn't the best. These things are works of art.

My first double strand skein - which still needs to be washed and the twist set -

First skein.

there's not much yarn there. Might be able to knit teeny tiny wrist warmers....

One of my better FO's

Before

One of the items I get the most comments on and requests for is my husband's berret.

Ever since I moved in with p~ (almost 11 years ago) he's wanted a black berret. I looked and looked and searched and shopped (and I *hate* shopping) and couldn't find anything like what he wanted.

When I started knitting again, I heard about felting and stumbled across a pattern for a felted berret that looked exactly like what he had been looking for. I knit it up one Saturday, finishing it outside while he was up on the roof cleaning the gutters. Once he came down I made him try it on. (Note the amusement and nervous laughter peeking out from under the Elephant Man-like hood.)

He clearly didn't believe in the berret.

After a couple of spins in the washing machine and a couple of days drying with a dinner plate inside, he was won over to the wonders of fiber arts.

After - note the lack of laughter

People have stopped p~ when he's out in the wild - asking him where he got it. He enthusiastically explains how his wife made it and walks them through the process. (I've noticed that guys are more fascinated by the process of felting than any other fiber action they hear about or witness.)

I've had people ask to buy one, but I can't figure out how much to charge.

You know it's been a rough week.....

...when you get sympathy e-mails from sheep:

Dear d~,

  When my not so bright owner, "C", was out checking on us the other day, I overheard him mumbling that your husband wasn't feeling  so well :^(  Even though he doesnt have the brains to send you an email wishing you and your family well, we sheep know better. Let me tell you how stupid that "C" guy is! We pretend that we are grazing everytime he come out to the field to check on us, but the second he goes back to the house, we pilfer his wireless internet connection and google all day! (TeeHeeHee - Silly Human) The cows got us a decent laptop and we hide it in the stonewall.

   Since you were nice enough to put my picture on your website, the least I could do is show you my 2 boys I just had on Tuesday. Man, are they alot of work. Well, enough of my ramblings, it's time for me take a nap while I have a chance and count people jumping over the fence  ;) 

    Take care of  p~ and yourself. You're in our prayers.

     If I dont see you in the future, then in the pasture.


    Sincerely,

      196

aren't they just the cutest!?!

I hope to catch up on stuff this weekend - including an update of fiber projects and adventures.