side tracked

it always seems that when i have lots of projects going on.... and deadlines to meet.... i'm launching myself into another!

how cute are these??? my nephew and his wife are anticipating the arrival of twin boys this fall. since i'm the knitting auntie it was only right that these be made. yarn is reynolds -wash day wool- in navy, blue and maize. i found it on sale at village yarn and fiber and knit these using the yarn harlot's pattern from knitting rules. using a size 3 (us) i cast on 95sts and knit away changing yarn every 5 rows. eldest child added the much needed pom pom as a fashion touch.

i'm thinking about sweaters to match?

yarn thief!

this sweet little gal came to visit her auntie caroline this week. nella, a 14 week old yellow lab, is the newest family member for my niece. how adorable is she?

well....... she found my knitting bag that was innocently sitting on the deck. and she made a run for it! all the way across the back yard.

cullene (the wonder pup) didn't know what to think! she knows that this is not what you do with mommies yarn! mommy gets r e a l l y mad when her yarn is used as a toy.

the best part..... not a stitch was lost!

what else did you learn?

in addition to spinning that nonsensical amount of fiber, i also achieved my additional goal of learning fleece. amythefibergoddess has been coaching me through this process, from choosing the fleece, to skirting the fleece to washing the fleece.

i again enlisted her expertise to check my work. i was able to wash the grey fleece in a washer with scalding hot water (thanks mom). i wasn't sure if i had used enough soap, or rinsed it well enough and in the land of endless rain, was it dry enough. i was deemed wonderful by amy, so she gave me instruction in drum carding, in fact, she even made me do it..... myself!so i now have three lovely fluffs of carded wool and i'm working at spinning it. surprisingly enough, my arms have recovered from the tour...... so i'm off to spin!

ps..... my honey is soooooo happy to not have huge piles of cleaned fleece in our bedroom :)