Off the Loom

Blocked and drying

Close up of colors

Well, I did get the shawl off the loom and I still can't decide if I like the colors or not!  It is nice and snuggy warm, which was my intent on that account.  It is a good 6 feet long, so plenty to cuddle up with.  I am just not so sure about the pattern.  Regardless, I am happy to be done.  Now I want to make one the same size in all natural shades of alpaca, in a planned and definite plaid pattern.  The problem with this piece was I was in arrears with the weft and had to replace my idea of the weft with a new design to accommodate my insufficient quantity of  colors.

Some of Gloria's alpacas

Today I am going off to the north to visit Glo as I need to get her the last fleece I washed.  Soon it will be time for shearing!  Hard to believe. It is a beautiful day after the storms of yesterday.  The drive up is just lovely as I have to go by several lakes.  We will spend time spinning and visiting, then she will feed me lunch.  Glo is one of the most generous, hospitable people I know.  So, off I go to have fun!

All's Well

Girls in their "aprons"

Wanting to keep you up to date on the Chicken home front.  Lil' Roxie has recovered quite well and is with the rest of the flock now.  She is wearing her hen apron, as are two others in the flock.  They seem to tolerate them well. I like them as they are definitely keeping their backs covered.  I had made little shoulder protectors to velcro to the apron to cover the bald spots on their "shoulders" on the tops of their wings, but the poor little hen I tested it on hated it, and Franklin actually grabbed hold of it and ripped it off, so I didn't put them on the others. 

Lovely blue to spin

Still have not finished spinning the weft colors as I am totally distracted with life right now.  The blue is really pretty, though.  Plus I want to wind balls of yarn for a sunny, summery shawl for a friend of mine who lives in Alaska.   It is her birthday this week.  I won't actually get it done in time, but it won't be too late, either.

A Tale of Two Yarns, Eskimimi Challenges 2KCBWDAY1

Right now I am in the mood to have my mind given a good shake up. When I read about this challenge, I knew that it would be a good thing for me to do. We shall see!

Little balls of yarn

Being a handspinner, I have made my share of good and not so good yarn. Lately, one of my favorite yarns is actually only half mine. The other half is kitchy fun yarn. This is the yarn I have previously spoken of, the funky stuff I wind into little balls with my handspun. I found that it is a good way to use up bits and pieces of stash. I use these in a shawl that is a perfect showcase for this yarn. The ironic thing about this is that when I was introduced to "making" yarn this way, I totally rebelled, as it seemed so wrong, somehow. Now I love to do it with my left over oddments, but I still only use it for my lacey shawls.

Finished shawl

One of my 'not so good' yarn experiences was the yarn I was going to use for my warp. Now there was really nothing wrong with this yarn, it just did not live up to my expectations. And then I didn't like it because it was far more muted than I wanted it to be. However, it is making up into a nice scarf.

Beginning of a scarf

The sad part of today is that I have another hen in the Critical Care Unit, aka the Bathroom.  It is Buffy (the Vampire Slayer).  She is one of my original hens of unknown age.  I am not sure if this is the same ailment as befell my Little Red Hen, or something else, but thought she had better be isolated from the others and kept warm.  I am not hopeful about the outcome, as she is not drinking water.  Always a Bad Sign.