Guests have been hosted, and summer is finally well under way. The time crunch was hellish but we were able to tackle all the tasks. This gathering was all in T’s honour. Two years in having this outpouring was simply wonderful.
Blooming in time for you, dear readers (not the guests as intended!).
As it happened, I also lucked into a birthday with favorite people all either in our space or about to arrive for the weekend.
It was as small as we needed it to be but included T’s teachers for the main (religious) event. The integration of these threads was so tremendous for him. We missed his grandfather on N’s side very keenly. I also could not help but miss those who started the journey with us but are fallen away.
On the Olde English Babydoll Southdown fleece
Very recently, in the past week or so, I have started to prepare some of Olivia’s 2015 fleece from Laurie’s Little Lambs farm. The link is to my post with the fleece pictures, background.
Handcarding Babydoll Southdown locks
Making floor-space for guests meant moving wheels, which in turn meant that I very much missed spinning on those wheels. This is my 2nd project started after our folks left.
Back in 2015, I had a very good plan to use the Meck paddle combs for the longer locks in this fleece. Three years later here’s the hitch in that very good plan in 1 hyphenated word: set-up. The kitchen table used to be such a good place for pointy steel wool combs!
Here we are. Schacht cotton cards, the Louet flicker brush, an old bed sheet & mornings before the house wakes up are glorious.
Pretty sweet tool for the job – antique (presumed Canadian) flax wheel
These rolags are a joy to spin fine. There is something amazing about the twist meeting the spiral character of this wool’s crimp. Plus, when spun clockwise this antique wheel has a very smooth draw-in/motion.
The surprise – for me at least – is how the strong colour-banded locks have lost that definition in blending. I noticed this morning that it starts when I flick the blocky staples before loading on the still card. Darker fibres are stretching out into what looked like strong white upper bands (butt-end) as soon as I flick.
Sneaky VM, waste, and primo rolags from Babydoll Southdown locks
All reports of Southdown locks holding an insane amount of VM are true. I am currently trying to get over just how much VM lies within.
The clear container holds the waste as I sort for the cards & flick locks. Out of the picture are short-but-useful locks. It’s slow but very enjoyable carding work.
A sweater for young T
This “Little Pixels Pullover” is now close to the hem, and is a stranded design. Another pullover that T was looking forward to had fit issues, and is going to a school friend’s little brother.
Since my thrilling April “Talland Tee” knit, kiddo was feeling a bit left out of the knits.
Much needed knitting bliss – a handspun, dyed, Talland Tee
It’s not an indoorsy summer (or life, really)
As we got along with making summer plans later than is comfortable, I was looking for a spindle-type computing solution. Spindle-type in that it can leave the relatively secluded desktop, and still be a working tool.
Jenkins Lark spindle at the library this week (Sheepytime Knits Masham wool fibre)
We know, I still don’t have much in the way of coffeeshop (or business) time – not if I also want to keep crafting. The 2 hours while T did a library program this week was such a rare type of quiet daytime moment. Still, there are days when I could do some more keyboarding if it would be both with us + not hurting my wrists.
Queen Anne’s Lace on a walk this week
Enjoying more full days together is splendid thing. The compare & contrast with 2017 this time really shows how splendid when I find the quiet moments to reflect.
This post, written after T’s bedtime, is new. The file transfer, software install work is still not complete but I like my new keyboard. We hope it will pan out as more frequent TKK shares; perhaps less Twitter ephemera.
Melly cat in healthier days
Our Mel is now a week into treatment for diabetes. Many thanks to all those who have liked, and replied to my tweets as we were finding out what had him so ravenous & thirsty. We have tests ahead, of course, but he is feeling better.
