Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Today's dedication is to BFLB. Above is the shawl that you saw earlier in its unblocked state I especially like that it is designed so it wraps completely around me and is anchored in the back so I am not struggling with it all day and I can wear into the stacks where I may be either on a step-stool or standing on my head. The yarn is some hand-dyed handspun I bought at a guild sale that I knew I could never do justice to. It's not obvious from the photo, but it's a variegated purpley eggplant/dark blue. I love it and thanks again.

The next two are the result of yarn gifts from BFLB. I am so lucky when she wants to clean out her stash. Left is most recently finished socks out of Mountain Colors Bearfoot in lovely deep cerise, purple, blue. Right is Sakiori II vest from Chryl Oberle's Folk Vests knit from a variegated wool single from CMD. While it is superficially simple in construction, I didn't like how the neckband/collar was knitted in. I think I would have preferred knitting it separately and sewing it in so I could ease into squareness. The yarn I don't believe is hand/random dyed so you get some weird pooling effects.

Both cats are basking in the dining room. This too has a link to BFLB. When we brought the Senior cat home from the RSPCA in January 1992, the first thing that happened was a phone call from across the world, so BFLB was right there when we named the Senior cat, As a kitten the SC was adorable, and has a white tip to her tail which is very good for chasing. When I was attempting to do consulting work from home she wore me out demanding attention and preferably vigorous play. She'd chase a shoe lace forever and loved jumping; even as she grew up she preferred a vulture-like pose on the top of the china cabinet and thought nothing of jumping down in one leap. To see her so frail and creaky with arthritis is just another reminder of how time keeps passing, no matter what we would prefer.

I felt honored yesterday to subvert a novice into the dark side to spinning. We have a student doing a rotation through the Library and she somehow told my boss she was into knitting so of course, spinning lessons followed. I loaned her my Kundert drop spindle and gave her some wool and basic instructions, including pointers to the many spinning videos now on You Tube. Then I took her on a run to the Guild as I had books to return, where she bought more fiber. Sometimes I think I should get a commission. I was very pleasantly surprised to see young women with infants and even someone with a table loom, so perhaps there will be a generational change in the Guild.

As I type, I have alpaca in the washtub, but not the free stuff. This is one of 2 bags of raw fawn alpaca I bought online long before I knew I was going to be given masses. I am very very slowly re-arranging thing in the back bedroom to make it work as a studio and to find the top of my dining room table.

1 comment:

rcclive said...

Hey, dear! Thanks for the "dedication". If any of your readers is curious, the shawl is Judy Pascale's "Eyelet & Garter" Shapely Shawlette, with an extra pattern repeat to accommodate your height.

The vest is lovely - now I remember that yarn!