tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24529160591935384442024-03-06T04:16:00.116-05:00Let Me Say This About ThatLaurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09908397962476959083noreply@blogger.comBlogger154125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452916059193538444.post-85805506757017613682013-05-05T15:30:00.000-04:002013-05-05T15:30:40.074-04:00MDS&W 2013When it's the first full weekend in May, every fiber fanatic knows what that means: it's time for the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival!<br />
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Everything at the Golding booth is a piece of art -- a feast for the eyes and nourishment for the soul.<br />
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The craftsmanship that goes into each piece is just breathtaking.<br />
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I didn't set out with any "must buy" preconceptions this year. However, when I got to the Bosworth booth, all of these spindles just started singing my name.<br />
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Those creamy white spindles are made with moose antler. They're a bit out of my price range, but that doesn't stop one from dreaming, right?<br />
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I was happy to see that the folks at Bosworth are customers of <a href="http://www.moo.com/" target="_blank">Moo</a>! Where else can you buy business cards with a different image on each card? I'm in love with Moo.<br />
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Before I left the Bosworth booth, I took a long, hard look at this specimen of engineering genius. Love it!<br />
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And there's The Lovely Stacey (back to camera), who thought long and hard about what spindle she was going to add to her collection. She made a great selection ... of course.<br />
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This booth was full of Shaker artistry, as well as the luscious scent of wood polish. It took me back to my father's basement workshop. He was always crafting something wonderful with wood, and that scent of polish can trigger a flashback like no one's business.<br />
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This is about half of the fleece sale area. One year I might just have to buy a fleece, no matter how hard I'm sure it is to choose (just one!).<br />
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The festival has all sorts of things that I just can't live without. I vow that I will make myself a rolled brim hat of my own one of these days.<br />
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This was a very popular spot. I really want to add a "I knit so no one has to die" sticker to my car.<br />
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No, wonderful vendor. Thank <i>you</i>!<br />
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One of my favorite parts of festival was visiting all the livestock, like this wonderful guy. His name is Moe -- seriously.<br />
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Oh, and the lambs! I just wanted to climb right into the pens and cuddle each one.<br />
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Oh, you lovely sheep! I gave this guy or gal lots of skritches and ear rubbing. It was very hard to walk away from all the love.<br />
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Note to self: Find this book.<br />
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I've seen pics like this on the interwebz, but I thought they were Photoshopped. Sadly, this is what some shepherds have to do to convince thieves to keep their mitts off sheep that don't belong to them.<br />
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I desperately need a haircut. This gal was quite skilled with the clippers. Hmm ... naaah!<br />
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Hello, Deb Robson! She's the coauthor of <a href="http://www.fleeceandfiber.com/" target="_blank">The Fleece & Fiber Sourcebook</a>.<br />
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This kind of mind-blowing array of color and texture is <i>everywhere </i>at the festival. It can easily become overwhelming.<br />
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Say hello to my little friend. I do believe that this wheel will be part of my future.<br />
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Glad to see that I'm not the only one who doesn't always look my best in pics. Derp!<br />
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See that guy in the kilt? Well, that's none other than the handsome, talented, and crazy-smart Brewergnome! I stepped outside my comfort zone and actually introduced myself to him. (He's kind of like a fiber rock star in the LSG group on <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/" target="_blank">Ravelry</a>.)<br />
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The Lovely Stacey was one happy camper with her new spindle and color-coordinated fiber.<br />
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By the time you've finished tramping all over the fairgrounds and are ready to find your car, this guy and his trailer comes along to make the trek just a little easier.<br />
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The weather was sunny and cool. The companionship was wonderful. The festival-goers were friendly and numerous. The food was messy and delicious. The day? The day was perfect.Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09908397962476959083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452916059193538444.post-1658444422226027812013-04-25T17:18:00.001-04:002013-04-25T17:18:51.070-04:00My own yarn cabinet ... inspired by KnitsforLifeEarly this month an image showed up on Pinterest from<a href="http://knitsforlife.com/2013/03/26/the-worlds-best-yarn-storage-idea/" target="_blank"> this wonderful blog</a>.<br />
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The lovely Lorna had a fabulous idea for yarn storage and shared it with the world. I quickly pinned one of her images to my<a href="http://pinterest.com/redhen215/fiberliciousness/" target="_blank"> Fiberliciousness board</a> and dreamed of a fantasy house in which I'd have just the right wall to have my own fiber display ... uh ... storage.<br />
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Really, if you look at Lorna's wall, it's more than mere storage. It's an ever-evolving work of art comprising different colors and textures. Form <i>and </i>function -- genius!<br />
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One morning I overslept and had to drive da boyz to school. Before we'd even left the neighborhood, I saw that someone had put a gun cabinet out for the garbage guys -- or someone like me -- to pick up.<br />
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"If that thing's still there when I get back, it's coming home with me," I thought.<br />
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It was there, and when I brushed away the thin coating of snow, I was delighted to see that the door was glass (unbroken, thank goodness).<br />
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I tried shoving it into the back seat of the car, but it was about 6 inches too long. So I slid it into the trunk and put my mittens in between the trunk latch and the glass.<br />
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Traveling at about 1 mile/hour, I made it home in about a week, terrified that the cabinet was going to leap out of the trunk or that I'd hear the sound of breaking glass.<br />
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Here it is, and I've already pulled out the pieces of wood on the bottom and along the back that were there to support guns.<br />
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I knew that for the pegboard to work, it would need to have a gap behind it so that the metal pegs could seat properly.<br />
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I found some scrap wood and glued them into place. It didn't take me long to realize that glue wasn't going to keep my spacers where I needed them.</div>
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Because the back of the cabinet is absolutely flat, I ran the screws in from the back. Once I'd done all six, I installed the pegboard. Then I had to redrill about three of the holes because the were off-center from the holes in the board. *sigh*</div>
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After that, I painted. And painted. And painted some more. It took about four coats of the off-white paint to really cover the darkness of the wood. My husbeast wondered why I was painting it at all. It was just too dark, too dated-looking. Besides, I wanted a light, neutral color to go with the white pegboard so that all the color would come from the yarn.</div>
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Inside, I just painted about half of the sides, top, and bottom. My yarn is going to have the royal treatment: cedar. I bought cedar tongue-and-groove boards and found it to be fairly easy to saw. I used wood glue to install the boards, then used whatever I could find to hold the pieces in place while the glue dried (i.e., three long tool handles and a rolled up yoga mat).</div>
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I still have three whole boards left over and will use them in my dresser or maybe in storage boxes or bags. I used the scraps to sort of line the drawer.</div>
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You can find the pegboard, wood glue, cedar boards, and screws at Home Depot or Lowe's. I forgot about the actual pegs while I was shopping but found them at KMart (~$2 for four pegs). I replaced the drawer pulls with plain wood ones and covered up the hole in the door where the locking mechanism had been removed with a wood knob. The knob is held on with a screw and a big washer, which let me tighten the screw and keeps the knob in place so that the hole is covered.</div>
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And here it is:</div>
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The cedar doesn't line up exactly, but that's OK. Every time I open the door that delicious scent wafts out -- mmm!</div>
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I bought a "peg" that's designed to hold screwdrivers but will end up holding my spindles.</div>
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And just because there was some yarn in a bag right where I was working, I stuck them on the pegs. Yeah, they're gray, but they'll soon be joined by a host of colors.</div>
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Now all I need to do is figure out where to put this beauty!</div>
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<br />Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09908397962476959083noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452916059193538444.post-63237115114572471222012-11-18T14:15:00.004-05:002012-11-18T14:15:52.721-05:00The right tool for the jobGiven all the sweaters I unravel, I really needed a yarn swift. The expanding metal ones left me cold, as did the wooden ones. All I could picture was them collapsing in the middle of the job, leaving a tangled mess of yarn.<br />
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A friend of mine, George, is a carpenter, so I approached him about making a swift for me. My specs were that I had to be able to wind two-yard skeins and that I had to be able to use it both horizontally and vertically.<br />
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Last weekend I picked up George's masterpiece. Here it is set up horizontally.<br />
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And here it is set up vertically.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisUyuX2eEyM8VHYkBcJkycbbuWFhbZuyXZesx7SDEbGFIWb5M6_JXBXVeZZef1nAMPryhB9hgKbKwDa-bW8HEEhhT6yn1pl9OkGtACl00VpNHm2SCrpaQUEZchWJQobOnwUta0n-UFfF6j/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisUyuX2eEyM8VHYkBcJkycbbuWFhbZuyXZesx7SDEbGFIWb5M6_JXBXVeZZef1nAMPryhB9hgKbKwDa-bW8HEEhhT6yn1pl9OkGtACl00VpNHm2SCrpaQUEZchWJQobOnwUta0n-UFfF6j/s320/005.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
Obviously I can't use it in the vertical orientation as shown here. I just took the picture to show that it can be done.<br />
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This is my model for this photoshoot, a lovely lavender sweater of silk, angora, and nylon.<br />
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The first thing you do is attach the end of the yarn to one of the pegs.<br />
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This is my preferred unraveling position: fabric clamped between my knees so that I can pull the yarn alternating between my left and right hand ... like a maniac.<br />
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I unravel several yards of yarn and just let it fall where it will. I'm not fussy about it. The leaves are easy to pick out, and I'll be washing the skeined yarn once I'm done anyway.<br />
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The only caveat I can give is that you don't want to get too excited and have, like, 20 yards of yarn sitting in a heap. Since you'll be winding on by pulling from the bottom of that heap, the more yardage you have lying there, the more likely you'll create a tangled mess. As always, your mileage may vary; however, I've learned my lesson. :o)<br />
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As I wind the yarn on, if I come to an end, I just tie on a new end, being sure to leave a noticeable tail to make it easier to spot when I'm knitting.<br />
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As I go, I push the yarn down to the bottom of the pegs to keep the loops exactly where they need to be: on the peg.<br />
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Once I've wound enough on or have finished a piece of fabric, I tie the skein in four places using the scrap yarn I've saved from the reclaiming process.<br />
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I use a figure eight and knot loosely. If I find that the two ends of the yarn are close enough that I can use them to tie the skein, I do it, but I finish by putting them in a bow. That way I know not to just cut the knot willy nilly when I'm ready to turn the skein into a ball.<br />
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Once it's tied off, I pull off my beautiful skein, ready to be washed.<br />
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Is it any wonder that I unravel sweaters? For just $3.75 at my local Goodwill, I can magically produce a sweater's worth (natch!) of yarn. All I have to put into it is a bit of work -- totally worth the effort!<br />
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And if I come across, say, a cashmere sweater that fits me ... that baby's coming home with me!Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09908397962476959083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452916059193538444.post-38558269525967338472012-10-22T14:10:00.000-04:002012-10-22T14:10:14.962-04:00Dyeing at Hagley's Craft FairYesterday Linda Shinn, Carol Ireland, Gerry Scarfe, Sjon Gravenhorst, and I put on a natural dyeing demonstration at the Hagley Craft Fair.<br />
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It was a beautiful fall day, and we spread out and took up quite a chunk of real estate just outside the library.<br />
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I believe these are calendula blossom petals. They didn't really give good color of any sort, but that's part of the fun of dyeing with natural materials: you never know quite what you'll get.<br />
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Even though my point-and-shoot camera doesn't do a very good job at accurately capturing true colors, I think you'll get an idea of the range of final colors we got from indigo, walnut hulls, cochineal, chrysanthemum petals, onion skins, madder, and goldenrod blossoms on wool, cotton, silk, and angora.<br />
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Linda brings along a small basket filled with naturally dyed mini-skeins. See that orange tie at around the 9:00 position? That's connecting the three yellowish skeins. All were dyed with -- gaa! drawing a blank. However, they're different because they were mordanted with different products. Interesting, no?<br />
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As I type this, these four 4-oz. lengths of roving are drying (still!) out on my deck. Left to right, they are walnut hulls (late in the dyeing session), walnut hulls (early in the dyeing session), madder (nearly exhausted dyepot), and dried yellow chrysanthemum blossoms. The walnut requires no mordant, but the madder and chrysanthemum both had alum and, I think, cream of tartar, in the dyebath. All four colors will be rolled into bumps and put into the Greenbank Mill gift shop since the roving is from the Greenbank Leicester longwool sheep.<br />
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Now is the time to begin plotting and planning on what natural dyeing you can do now and in the coming year. Have fun!Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09908397962476959083noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452916059193538444.post-40629037653467997522012-10-16T18:24:00.000-04:002012-10-16T18:24:02.627-04:00Indigo blues make me happyOn Sunday, a bunch of FiberGuild members descended on Linda's house to brew up a batch of indigo. In the spring, I gave Heather and Natalie some Japanese indigo seedlings for their gardens. They donated their leaves to the effort, and I sacrificed my entire patch.<br />
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This is Heather's pot o' indigo, freshly denuded of leaves.<br />
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Here's what's left of my contribution. Kind of sad looking, no? Later I went over each stem in the box to capture as many seeds as I could so that those of us who want to grow indigo next year can. Right now the seeds are on a cardboard box on top of my dryer, drying out so that I can clean out all the stems, leaf remnants, and other detritus before dividing up the seeds.<br />
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And here's our pot o' leaves. Such excitement! Let me show you why.<br />
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This is a jar of indigo ... slurry? ... that Carol brought.<br />
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Mmm! Check out that color on the glass and on the scoop.<br />
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Linda put a damp skein of natural fiber into the jar.<br />
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She gently pushed it into the goo to make sure every fiber was saturated.<br />
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In less than a minute, Linda pulled her skein out. You can just see it starting to turn blue as the oxygen hits it.<br />
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She smooshed out most of the liquid back into the jar. Waste not, want not, right?</div>
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Just <i>look </i>at that color! And that's after very little time at all in the indigo goo. Swoon!</div>
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Meanwhile, our leaves were heating up. I don't "do" indigo dyeing unless someone else is there to take responsibility and tell me what to do. I don't do well with measuring, recording, and the like. I'm definitely a seat-of-the-pants dyer, and you can't expect to succeed with indigo if that's your approach.</div>
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While I was off playing with one of Linda's dogs, the gang had strained out the leaves, and this is what we had in the pot.</div>
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This is the lovely Stacey, our photographer extraordinaire and bright ray of sunshine. Hi, Stacey!</div>
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At some point in the process, you have to test the liquid's pH. Again, not my specialty. Anyway, if the liquid's too acid or basic (is that the right word?), you need to add washing soda. That's WASHING soda, folks, not BAKING soda. Big difference.</div>
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After the first tablespoon of washing soda was added, blue is starting to appear on the back of the spoon.</div>
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At this point, you need to remove the oxygen from the liquid. To do this, some people pour it back and forth from pot to pot; others give it a vigorous, constant stirring. What we did was use a bubbler. If you've ever had an aquarium, you know exactly what this is.</div>
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Bubbles are good!</div>
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Maisie, the younger of Linda's two dogs, was great entertainment while we were waiting for the indigo to reach the right temperature for dyeing.</div>
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"Pay attention to meeeee!"</div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">That scummy film is a sure indicator that we're good to go!</span></div>
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Our very first indigo-dyed yarn! I didn't realize it until this point in the process, but neither Linda nor Carol, my go-to gals for all things dyeing, had ever made an indigo dyebath from fresh leaves. Nicely done, ladies!</div>
Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09908397962476959083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452916059193538444.post-45651169310882221672012-09-27T13:45:00.002-04:002012-09-27T13:45:57.672-04:00A box o' socks!I went to Goodwill yesterday. As I always try to do, I brought things to donate (two boxes of clothes that, alas, no longer fit) before I went into the store.<br />
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I found two sweaters that I'll be raveling (unraveling?) and two whose yarn is too tender for the ripping out process and are thus destined for the felting pile.<br />
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But that's not what's got me all excited. Check this out:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAD1nHWa68GrLhFkIIjVEQHY8f89p1tFqGd3tY05UrJ0p_WGAL5OVD5VkMk7mOCvvrv_uJkR5eLqa9domOY8TAIiH3KAHYzp3ag5LL-WQCjvuwUO5-HgMDRv3yF6D00CGnzWG9KxkUVGgM/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAD1nHWa68GrLhFkIIjVEQHY8f89p1tFqGd3tY05UrJ0p_WGAL5OVD5VkMk7mOCvvrv_uJkR5eLqa9domOY8TAIiH3KAHYzp3ag5LL-WQCjvuwUO5-HgMDRv3yF6D00CGnzWG9KxkUVGgM/s320/005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
It's a sock kit!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrcUkDQBGVu6XPRWyuaZkLZMitVgyrli2YNzetyq5iZZnejtwtPy-GIsEooOCeEliI3iYHNIwKhgrAGwO6L67syznG58mAVAITAGBAhidnqHht_astGHQnxgav6UBO5a15LJn4BgGgiYvl/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrcUkDQBGVu6XPRWyuaZkLZMitVgyrli2YNzetyq5iZZnejtwtPy-GIsEooOCeEliI3iYHNIwKhgrAGwO6L67syznG58mAVAITAGBAhidnqHht_astGHQnxgav6UBO5a15LJn4BgGgiYvl/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
And not a kit for just any old socks, either.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6H2i94qlHbRp6sSDgyo-XU5Pl-CN9sG256Kv7rWfj-ZrZJvH_yq9utZVBgc6GCWl5Qi2Gk1hF9dDpXNpo7MpA3pEN0HpaY0e2CQIfuYlbNvei14TqxIVG74g_yFtk-KXhi9yCjUayNIg9/s1600/011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6H2i94qlHbRp6sSDgyo-XU5Pl-CN9sG256Kv7rWfj-ZrZJvH_yq9utZVBgc6GCWl5Qi2Gk1hF9dDpXNpo7MpA3pEN0HpaY0e2CQIfuYlbNvei14TqxIVG74g_yFtk-KXhi9yCjUayNIg9/s320/011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Argyle -- squeeee!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59uyOoT3R_SWqUqH1NYKy2ov6omtZzsk68RWFmTHIxpKiFW3RVDTnA3CogMG_7Sn0Gfbwczlm1uDmfRQJqOY22zlgaxYZVmljIRvzE0-iTHlk6jnlZbiyIY-Q5XjgollxAbbr-r0pai7h/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg59uyOoT3R_SWqUqH1NYKy2ov6omtZzsk68RWFmTHIxpKiFW3RVDTnA3CogMG_7Sn0Gfbwczlm1uDmfRQJqOY22zlgaxYZVmljIRvzE0-iTHlk6jnlZbiyIY-Q5XjgollxAbbr-r0pai7h/s320/007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
The yarn in the box hadn't even been taken out, although the plastic wrapping wasn't intact. (Sorry the pic isn't centered. I'm a reforming perfectionist, so even though I'm itching to retake this one, I'll be strong and ignore the impulse.)<br />
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The insert looks and feels fairly dated. I don't know ... maybe from the 1960s or 1970s? And now that I've written that, I guess that means I'm fairly dated, too -- ha!<br />
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And there's the chart. But wait, there's more!<br />
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Two other charts. Fortunately, the choice is a no-brainer. I'm all about the argyle, baby.<br />
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All in all, not a bad find for just $3, eh?<br />
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The $3.00 was the original sale price; you can see the Goodwill sticker in the first picture. Nice to see that inflation hasn't had an adverse effect on a box o' socks.<br />
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<br />Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09908397962476959083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452916059193538444.post-6773762149465615492012-09-20T18:09:00.001-04:002012-09-25T13:31:19.734-04:00Dyeing to dye with walnut hulls<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's that time of year again when walnuts are falling off the tree and into my greedy little hands. I love dyeing with walnut hulls because I don't have to mordant my fiber. Believe me, that dye will work on just about anything, unlike many (most?) natural dyes.</div>
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This was all I could find at <a href="http://www.greenbankmill.org/" target="_blank">Greenbank Mill</a> on Monday. They're kind of battered, but that's OK for my purposes.<br />
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I pulled out my trusty soup pot, which is used only for dyeing. It used to be nonstick -- not so much anymore.<br />
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Next, I located my technologically superior bashing tool. Sure, I could use a hammer, but then I'd have to clean it up. Besides, with the larger surface area, it's impossible to miss whatever it is that I want to hit.<br />
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I have no idea how I managed to take this (i.e., it's sideways). It's also out of focus, which is probably a good thing. This particular nut has already begun decomposing. See those white lines just above my middle finger? Yeah, um, those are larvae of some sort. Alive. For now.<br />
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This shot is marginally better. No critters but still out of focus. My bashing tool deposited some of itself, but that won't affect the outcome at all. This nut is in really good shape. I prefer to use the nuts while they're still bright green and with minimal to no black spots.<br />
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Be sure to put the nuts out for the squirrels or chipmunks. Important safety note: put those nuts somewhere where the lawnmower won't turn them into lethal projectiles.<br />
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I should mention that it's really important to wear gloves while you're handling these nuts. Of course, if you don't mind black stains on your skin and under your nails, then go for it. Walnut hulls stain like crazy, which is one reason why I'm smushing them on the driveway. Another reason is that I'm too lazy to find something else to do it on (e.g., newspaper, an old shower curtain, etc.).<br />
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Here are all the hulls in the pot. Ideally, you should probably break them into smaller pieces, although, now that I think about it, I don't know if it matters, especially if you have a ready supply of walnuts. Don't worry if leaves, "helicopters," or some dirt winds up in the pot.<br />
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I'm good to go!<br />
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I took a stroll over to the wading pool (aka our dog's pool) and put some rainwater in the pot. You can see that already the dye is starting to leach out into the water. Excellent!<br />
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It's now the next day. Just so you can see the kind of color you might expect, I grabbed a small handful of grayish white Wensleydale and put half of the fiber into the pot.<br />
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Just look at all that dye!<br />
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Right out of the pot after about 10 hours of just sitting and soaking.<br />
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And this is how it looks after a quick rinse under running water. Mmm! A lovely orange-brown, which is exactly what I was going for. I've seen a lot of muddy (to me) browns from walnut hulls, but I got this surprising color last fall, so I knew the key: use those green hulls. Caveat: your mileage may vary. In other words, I'm sure it all depends on what kind of walnut hull you use, the condition it's in, and whether you heat the dyebath.<br />
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I'm an imprecise dyer. I prefer to just throw things around (safely, of course) and be surprised by what I get. I suppose it's a good thing I didn't go into a profession where precise protocols are required. Hmm ... although as a writer and editor, I do try to be precise. The difference must be that I don't have to measure and record data.<br />
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There you have it. Embrace dyeing with walnut hulls. Just remember to wear something you won't mind being stained!Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09908397962476959083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452916059193538444.post-61763638191888181072012-09-05T11:49:00.000-04:002012-09-05T11:49:42.475-04:00Frustration, thy name is FioriFirst off, let me say that the<a href="http://www.interweavestore.com/Knitting/Magazines/Jane-Austen-Knits-2011.html?SessionThemeID=7" target="_blank"> Fiori Pullover</a> is a well-written pattern. It was a challenging project, but one that didn't make me want to slam my head in a door. That being said, I suppose I should really confess that poor fiber choice and my figure caused all the problems.<br />
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For my first attempt, I used a lovely reclaimed silk-and-mohair yarn in a soothing periwinkle blue. However, as a relatively uninitiated ... um ... yarn chooser, this was the wrong choice.<br />
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My apologies for the tremendous amount of bustage in this shot. I've included it for science. I'll explain in a second.<br />
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And in this view from the back, you can see ... well, I was going to say "too much fabric," but now, it doesn't look too bad.<br />
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See that patterned bit circling my waist? Yeah, that's supposed to be right below my bust -- an empire waist. (What do you think? Think it looks OK where it is? I just don't know.)<br />
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Was I sleeping while I knit this thing? No, it's just that mohair/silk is rather heavy and stretched as I worked. Had I been more experienced, I would have known that this fabric would be heavy and would have taken steps to keep the vertical growth under control.<br />
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So, not to be cowed into giving up, I tried Fiori again, this time with a cotton blend (again, reclaimed yarn -- hey, at $3.75/sweater at my Goodwill, you can't beat that kind of deal with a stick).<br />
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So far so good...<br />
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Not bad...<br />
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Wonderful! The band is right where it's supposed to be, the length is great, and the finishing will cover up some of that ample flesh (again, my apologies for the Busty McBusterson show).<br />
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[facepalm]<br />
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*Le sigh*<br />
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Where do I start? First off, because the front and back shoulders didn't have the same number of stitches (my fault, not the designer's), I had to, um, get a little imaginative with the back of the neck. That pulled the front up, throwing the front out of whack. It's supposed to have two right angles, with the base of the neck being a straight line. Because the neckline was pulled up so much, it pulled the empire waist up onto the bottom curve of my bust. It also hiked up the bottom edge of the top. You can see where I was pulling at it to try to make it magically longer.<br />
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The end result? I look dumpier than normal and I've turned a lovely top into a series of lessons on both what not to wear and how to knit something you won't be happy with.<br />
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Before I started this post, I'd been thinking about adding an oval inset just under the bust. Now, however, I think what I'm going to do is remove the neck edging and just do a couple of rows of seed stitch ... or maybe a small hemmed edging.<br />
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As for the blue top, I haven't yet decided what to do about it. I may cut, ravel (unravel?), and rejoin just below the bust ... or I may not. It's just too beautiful to stay shoved in a bag, unfinished.<br />
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I suppose this post should really have been titled: Figure Frustrations or Finishing Flops. What these projects really are, though, are learning experiences. :o)Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09908397962476959083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452916059193538444.post-49398108751267485412012-09-04T10:56:00.003-04:002012-09-04T10:56:58.756-04:00Nerd Wars Tournament 5Now that I've participated in all five Nerd Wars tournaments, it dawned on me that I should be keeping track of what I've done. Not too quick on the uptake, obviously.<br />
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For the first challenge, I knit a pair of socks. (They snugged up a bit after a tumble in a lingerie bag and drying on sock blockers.)<br />
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The challenge was to create something that was inspired by one of the Google doodles. I thought that this kid needed some socks, so I used yarn reclaimed from a Dean's sweater and ta-dahh!<br />
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For the second challenge, I knit a skirt.<br />
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Too bad it was about a billion degrees out when I had Skimbleshanks take these pics. Too bad as well that I didn't have on Spanx ... or double Spanx, for that matter. Oh, well. I still love the skirt and can't wait to wear it this fall.<br />
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For the final challenge, I knit another pair of socks in one category (green hand-spun) and finished knitting a long-abandoned sock (multi-hued and challenging!) in another category.<br />
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So there you have it: Tournament 5. I hope to post my previous Nerd Wars projects ... hope being the operative word here. :o)<br />
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<span id="goog_2078891699"></span><span id="goog_2078891700"></span><br />Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09908397962476959083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452916059193538444.post-4392191249185915142012-07-29T10:54:00.001-04:002012-07-29T10:54:19.988-04:00Ravellenic GamesI'm participating in <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/" target="_blank">Ravelry</a>'s version of the Olympic games: the Ravellenic Games (renamed after the term "Ravelympics" offended the powers that be).<br />
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Several weeks ago, a lovely lady decided that she needed to jettison a fair amount of her fiber and fiber-related tools to make room in her home and life so that she could pursue her desire to become a massage therapist. "Take it," she said. I felt like I should offer her something; however, since 1) my income is nearly nonexistent and 2) she truly wanted nothing for her treasures, I agreed to haul everything home in the dad-mobile.<br />
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Among the items was one I've wanted but had no hopes of ever having: a picker. This is a Pat Green picker, a fearsome and awesome tool that transforms clumps of fleece into clouds of fiber. It's not a tool for sissies or fools. You can do some serious damage both to body and wardrobe if you're not careful. I wound up with a small scratch and put a couple holes in a shirt before I figured out what I was doing. Safety, my dears, is the name of the game.<br />
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The fiber I was given is lovely Wensleydale, a longwool that's as shiny as can be and curly, too. It has no "kink," as does, say, merino. Still, it's soft and luminous, begging to be spun.</div>
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Picked and ready for dyeing. This batch is destined to become shades of purple, thanks again to my generous benefactor.</div>
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Ta-daaah!</div>
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Dyed, picked, and carded. I'm good to go!</div>
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A friend of mine, whose father owns many, many alpacas, gave me a suri fleece. She did, because she knows that I'll actually spin it up and make something. She can't wait to see the result, and neither can I!</div>
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So, until next time, I'll be spinning up a storm, fighting deep-vein thrombosis (yes, it's a medical benefit of spinning), building lovely calf muscles, and soothing my psyche at my wheel.</div>
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<br /></div>Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09908397962476959083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452916059193538444.post-56393054308917166332012-01-05T13:22:00.000-05:002012-01-06T07:00:28.858-05:00Branching outOne of my resolutions for 2012 was to light a fire under my butt and do something with what I've been calling my "mom book." I started writing it years (and years) ago, but somehow life just seemed to keep getting in the way:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Changed jobs</li>
<li>Started knitting again</li>
<li>Said goodbye to one of our dogs (*sniff*)</li>
<li>Began learning kenpo karate</li>
<li>Welcomed a new dog into my heart</li>
<li>Visited my mother and stepfather in California</li>
<li>Was laid off</li>
<li>Took up spinning (spinning fiber, that is)</li>
<li>Started freelance writing and editing</li>
<li>Provided a variety of support to</li>
<ul>
<li>My big bruddah, who went through a painful divorce</li>
<li>My husband, who had major surgery</li>
<li>My father, who had a stroke</li>
<li>My sons, who continued to be a source of delight -- and frustration (of course)</li>
</ul>
</ul>
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And while all this was going on, I worked on my mom book off and on. Three years ago, on a whim, I decided to participate in National Novel Writing Month. The goal is to write a 50,000 novel in 30 days. It doesn't have to be perfect -- hell, it doesn't even have to be coherent. The purpose of this insane endeavor (insane because it's held in November, always a busy month) is so that you can prove to yourself that you can string together that number of words, relatively painlessly, by getting into a daily writing habit. So far, I've participated in NaNoWriMo in 2009, 2010, and 2011 ... and I won each of those years. Boo-yah!<br />
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Early this last December, while I was preening over my most recent NaNo win, my older son said, "Yeah, mom, but how many books have you finished writing?" I sputtered and squirmed, but the fact is that I hadn't finished any of the four ... no, wait, make that six ... books I'd started writing. Whoa.<br />
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During the last week of December, I decided that I'd try blogging my mom book. I have bits and pieces of it written, so those posts would be easy. I had chapter heads and subheads, so I had a road map of what still needed to be written. And it wasn't like I'd have to post something every day, right?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPNI7Yl3e4d9pNmUEBYOPlsvTEvJ4yUIBI56XU1MzHsgb0mhmDlwrllWsN1y4RyrfjhCx503qKldv-D9napH56DfAGeBFjsaHe2JSpBSSQZg6hCnjeIgVRT6vFXpifjIWnf2eCJbWRYGaT/s1600/Mom+blog+header.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPNI7Yl3e4d9pNmUEBYOPlsvTEvJ4yUIBI56XU1MzHsgb0mhmDlwrllWsN1y4RyrfjhCx503qKldv-D9napH56DfAGeBFjsaHe2JSpBSSQZg6hCnjeIgVRT6vFXpifjIWnf2eCJbWRYGaT/s320/Mom+blog+header.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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So on January 1, 2012, I clicked <i>Publish </i>on my first post on <a href="http://the-blog-of-mom.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Blog of Mom</a>. The year stretched ahead of me, and I'm pretty excited to see where it will lead me.Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09908397962476959083noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452916059193538444.post-15051498419383651132011-12-07T16:42:00.001-05:002011-12-08T12:56:28.916-05:00Looking for affordable yarn? Try unraveling!NOTE: Yes, the header is a mess, but I do plan to get to it ... sometime ... and make it both legible and lovely.<br />
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Since money is extremely tight and yet I still have the need to spin and knit, I've found a new source of extremely inexpensive yarn: Goodwill. My name is Laurel, and I'm an unraveler. I have become an avid troller of the wonderful world of Goodwill for more than just new-to-me clothes. Where else can you buy a sweater's worth of cashmere for $3.50? How about 100% merino wool for $3.50? Maybe some silk for ... you guessed it, $3.50.<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">
This past trip, I snagged a cashmere cardigan in my favorite green that fit. That baby is now mine, all mine, to have and to hold and to wear. Bwahaha!</div>
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There's an art and a science to unraveling sweaters, and I've become fairly proficient at it. At the risk of enabling local fiber aficionados to cut into my turf, I thought it might be fun to try posting a how-to. There are many, many excellent how-to's out there on the intertubes, and I am well aware of them -- seek them out if you'd like more info than I have here.<br />
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So, what do you look for? These are the basics:<br />
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<ul>
<li><b>It's gotta have knit seams.</b> No matter how much you love the fiber, a sweater that has serged seams will break your heart if you have said heart set on unraveling it. A sweater with knit seams will (usually but not always) magically unzip, leaving you with opened up sleeves, a front, and a back. Sometimes you'll end up with the turtleneck or collar portion, too.</li>
<li><b>It's gotta be in good shape.</b> A sweater that looks tired and felted will look tired when unraveled and knit up ... if you're able to unravel it at all. Believe me, I've tried unraveling semi-felted sweaters, and it's been the opposite of fun and satisfying.</li>
<li><b>It's gotta be fiber that you love.</b> If you love working with acrylic, then by all means snag that sweater for your stash. If you prefer wool, then only buy sweaters that are 100% or mainly wool. The same rule applies to whatever fiber(s) you're drawn to.</li>
</ul>
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<br />
It's important that you check labels. Touch will tell you a lot, but it's not absolutely reliable. Even cotton can sometimes successfully masquerade as silk. Equally important is the sweater's construction. Your best bets are pullover sweaters. A cardigan is going to be frustrating, because that right front (in women's sweaters) is going to have buttonholes breaking up the yarn. Sure, you can pick out the sewed edges, but the yarn is still cut. It's up to you. If you love the fiber and are willing to have lots of short runs, then go for it.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCzVfk8Ep_Z3pJ62TNfxFgXvTwYZkJaniRqLuHkf1ewMrUQMxiiRJeOO6Xht2HWV-gZkILjTaX9auQLGA_mnnHdBPlBEK_W7D2odhLv5GRRmpvXfjeRxawGrHvHxvpcXH3Z-oms17DA_Xk/s1600/020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCzVfk8Ep_Z3pJ62TNfxFgXvTwYZkJaniRqLuHkf1ewMrUQMxiiRJeOO6Xht2HWV-gZkILjTaX9auQLGA_mnnHdBPlBEK_W7D2odhLv5GRRmpvXfjeRxawGrHvHxvpcXH3Z-oms17DA_Xk/s320/020.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">A mild-mannered sweater I found</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">that's super-soft, but w-a-y too tight</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So, here's my donor sweater. I loved the way it felt, all soft, warm, and smooshy. Even though it didn't fit (and I wasn't really shopping for clothes that day, just yarn), I can use the yarn to make a sweater that will fit. As an added bonus, it is a turtleneck, meaning that I'll have extra yardage to fit my extra bustage once I decide what kind of top to make myself.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJV1Ovnz7bUXfcu33ndP0K-8Ct94wuD3nLxGnUzQOR7Ud9G1Grg9rTDSGW2ZKA3hmRpDxRDKB5oPkO7u6z1bW0g1mLN07mnXYZ8GCBekGihkAMUknqtUIxM-gdR967rQiI4xGocxsy8sTi/s1600/021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJV1Ovnz7bUXfcu33ndP0K-8Ct94wuD3nLxGnUzQOR7Ud9G1Grg9rTDSGW2ZKA3hmRpDxRDKB5oPkO7u6z1bW0g1mLN07mnXYZ8GCBekGihkAMUknqtUIxM-gdR967rQiI4xGocxsy8sTi/s320/021.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Excellent! A lovely blend of wool for warmth</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">and acrylic for less-temperamental laundering</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I don't really care who makes my donor sweaters; however, I do have to say that the better-known labels tend to be attached to items with better-quality yarn. And as an aside, I don't know who The Limited is kidding. This particular sweater could be considered large only if the prospective buyer was a child. Harrumph!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5u4eCAwTJ-8HLReydGbxyP2ipBdsLjHdAzi65-o8etb-cVS9MA_mzle_eqDhyphenhyphenFbtQwjUf-Jfx1j_H_TPM202X6S6EkC1qXm8gE1MqbMfyvkNJlWAx6zkcBsZK9jTXgxEjAvx9Ly8dbEX6/s1600/022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5u4eCAwTJ-8HLReydGbxyP2ipBdsLjHdAzi65-o8etb-cVS9MA_mzle_eqDhyphenhyphenFbtQwjUf-Jfx1j_H_TPM202X6S6EkC1qXm8gE1MqbMfyvkNJlWAx6zkcBsZK9jTXgxEjAvx9Ly8dbEX6/s320/022.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Check those seams!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">This is an example of a knit seam.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I liked the feel of the fabric. I liked the fiber it was made with. The next step is always to check that the seams are knitted. You can be sure you have a winner if you gently pull apart the two edges and see what looks like a ladder running up the middle. Sorry, but that's one shot I forgot to take. Experiment with sweaters you already own, and you'll see what I mean.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKjOd9_imk0lKyVVkvQxwyf3fVyvo3nKAdiUCPgY692UjBJrOeTTToFtMWQE2WdMQFaCnzcKJJRI1q5EOtNLIwUMvKnMvTRpx_FwWFM9fWdqLgtK9S6a_0hhP3zjgFyMmhLV6FCib3quE0/s1600/024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKjOd9_imk0lKyVVkvQxwyf3fVyvo3nKAdiUCPgY692UjBJrOeTTToFtMWQE2WdMQFaCnzcKJJRI1q5EOtNLIwUMvKnMvTRpx_FwWFM9fWdqLgtK9S6a_0hhP3zjgFyMmhLV6FCib3quE0/s320/024.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">A seam ripper is the best tool for unraveling.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">The pointy end will let you gently tease the yarn (as shown here)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">without cutting it. Scissors are not nearly as forgiving.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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To begin your unraveling, look at the seam, One side will be like what's pictured above. A line of V's will run up or down the seam. In this case, the Vs run from left to right. The key to remember here is "the points of the V point the way," meaning that you should be able to unzip this seam from left to right. Cut just one of those V's, then tease up a loop or two, just enough for you to be able to grab the yarn between your forefinger and thumb.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfSKe4R2sOTFwFnemQ5l-tL1AbsC5dV1czg3txdmmEMhpDtnrMdw1BlYVs8iOM2vbRbT0fq2bvUBSxAKSPYjsUgvrZ5WREjKlksmSvKHE3S8xLbS6gLvHEBD8Yp9VNzwGbfmLNfTb2wOA/s1600/025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIfSKe4R2sOTFwFnemQ5l-tL1AbsC5dV1czg3txdmmEMhpDtnrMdw1BlYVs8iOM2vbRbT0fq2bvUBSxAKSPYjsUgvrZ5WREjKlksmSvKHE3S8xLbS6gLvHEBD8Yp9VNzwGbfmLNfTb2wOA/s320/025.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Let the unzipping of the seam begin!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">As long as the sweater hasn't felted, you should be able</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">to just pull the thread (looks like this one is actually two,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">or maybe it's two-ply?) and go. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This is the same seam, but I've pulled a couple of the stitches out. You can just see the largish holes there between the thread and where the seam picks up again. You can also see that the first V in line there is pulled kind of tight. It's about to come undone. (It was very difficult to stop and take pictures. I love ripping the seams out ... too much, maybe.)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeHwQiSWV7izxKFaHhwIr0sV0dgwweGWHbr20ZTTOK1K4451EV6cGCUDTQQyBHOQunYCzbZ-Z3sg5JAxizWguwM5ADHDyQCvZz_3K3KsMnT3sSMOXvK-DM4xbj_dTaA3V4ydLpo5_eE971/s1600/026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeHwQiSWV7izxKFaHhwIr0sV0dgwweGWHbr20ZTTOK1K4451EV6cGCUDTQQyBHOQunYCzbZ-Z3sg5JAxizWguwM5ADHDyQCvZz_3K3KsMnT3sSMOXvK-DM4xbj_dTaA3V4ydLpo5_eE971/s320/026.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Sometimes the pieces will pull apart, leaving loops of yarn like this.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Sometimes you don't even need to pull the yarn more than just a little bit. The pieces will just come apart, like this one did. In this case, you'll have the loopy bits that were just a moment ago chained together to make the seam.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWK4kJ_NZ2BWuHDCqt6gBJCd7-z8Z2GOK93hllG2LA11DFyu0aZ20O7GmcTlk-tvPmSbAL4Voke69ZAZ7kuywzK6AcO-QxRt_496SeOBCpKovTw06odAxp5wUd9AAqes0KxNIH-1YfDC9_/s1600/027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWK4kJ_NZ2BWuHDCqt6gBJCd7-z8Z2GOK93hllG2LA11DFyu0aZ20O7GmcTlk-tvPmSbAL4Voke69ZAZ7kuywzK6AcO-QxRt_496SeOBCpKovTw06odAxp5wUd9AAqes0KxNIH-1YfDC9_/s320/027.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Goodbye seam!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
You'll want to hang on to bits like this, the yarn that formed the seam. Just throw it in a Ziploc bag, along with the tag (for future care reference). You never know when those bits will come in handy.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1J07GbLTX4Vk2roGeSdwKluqNEvI5SBF43nIFdJUAKRNluF5Z1fkfPm-266JF54TuXSi1_FgfmkBWq3E7Y0G5WIb29xU2ll326yt1tDH8nF2Clll-IFyTfaFAv3X3n-z_PymWGWGRPju/s1600/028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1J07GbLTX4Vk2roGeSdwKluqNEvI5SBF43nIFdJUAKRNluF5Z1fkfPm-266JF54TuXSi1_FgfmkBWq3E7Y0G5WIb29xU2ll326yt1tDH8nF2Clll-IFyTfaFAv3X3n-z_PymWGWGRPju/s320/028.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">This seam, which attaches the turtleneck to the sweater body, will</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">unzip from right to left. Think of the Vs as arrows that point the way.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Just go along and separate the sweater into its component pieces, one at a time.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKxXx9yU3UYv2XLKOfSaIOtwFUuz_wAVDYXbAMuVEzv-lRyFFfHin-zxwcTv-hBg8-x9GRkhEd71YOvUl7gyxMgfFPUPr6fQcBWh4BUKOSN1gEEBuyoC4BcqxfyIgmr2Y-95GRIfhNLUE/s1600/030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKxXx9yU3UYv2XLKOfSaIOtwFUuz_wAVDYXbAMuVEzv-lRyFFfHin-zxwcTv-hBg8-x9GRkhEd71YOvUl7gyxMgfFPUPr6fQcBWh4BUKOSN1gEEBuyoC4BcqxfyIgmr2Y-95GRIfhNLUE/s320/030.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Off with its head!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This sweater couldn't have been easier to disassemble.<br />
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-X7DXLk5_imiNTxqHuUgXJiHeHHXbUQVvla6iZGLT-NTVQ57_toW80uUxud4azqUIVX9RC0XOk72NxT8ciksVDd4dFKOXWq8-nTamglmP5MaAFFXJvPsnm7SV0NJMRhdzMNSqeAr3pMg/s1600/033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-X7DXLk5_imiNTxqHuUgXJiHeHHXbUQVvla6iZGLT-NTVQ57_toW80uUxud4azqUIVX9RC0XOk72NxT8ciksVDd4dFKOXWq8-nTamglmP5MaAFFXJvPsnm7SV0NJMRhdzMNSqeAr3pMg/s320/033.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">The tricky bit where the underarm meets the body</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Often you'll find that the intersection of the underarm seam where the sleeve meets the body is kind of tricky. Just take your time and figure it out. I've found that sometimes the seaming is reinforced, which isn't a problem for the seam ripper, which is slender enough for pinpoint cutting.</div>
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhrgMrU3dLKU3gpYArc6EOmy7F8Ub4DYI5-U_lN3nDJeNdUzuKhnxFiANtuFo9CHgD67AsitS6YwarLKcRRNMgw__crzbkMCwWbfuKwl7tZ38wDgO8SPIyqlljUXxMRxs93YlBlgDstiuQ/s1600/034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhrgMrU3dLKU3gpYArc6EOmy7F8Ub4DYI5-U_lN3nDJeNdUzuKhnxFiANtuFo9CHgD67AsitS6YwarLKcRRNMgw__crzbkMCwWbfuKwl7tZ38wDgO8SPIyqlljUXxMRxs93YlBlgDstiuQ/s320/034.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Can you spot the knotted bit on the left?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
In this case, I tugged on the knot that you can see on the lower left piece, just at about the 8:00 position. By pulling it out, I found that the ends had been kind of braided together. If you want you can fiddle around and unbraid these bits. Me? I just snip the knot off.</div>
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiug7ndPGkEHfMTcTcoI0hhx6GsVItcJcAf28Z240rMHQTMNLCUQSTRElFaD03fRUEcwIymqpdLGCSi754SHm0ntLfOJKgVomLkhzEWQbW15NOb9JSsvXFTxLU0RRPdc5_FsRl3fKjSTCyC/s1600/035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiug7ndPGkEHfMTcTcoI0hhx6GsVItcJcAf28Z240rMHQTMNLCUQSTRElFaD03fRUEcwIymqpdLGCSi754SHm0ntLfOJKgVomLkhzEWQbW15NOb9JSsvXFTxLU0RRPdc5_FsRl3fKjSTCyC/s320/035.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Unraveled seam thread and label: save it all</span></td></tr>
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<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Again, save the unraveled bits and the label. Your future self will thank your present self for doing it, trust me.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkVo8dbBn2a2IEPW6600T6Uqj71GiFLdPjBURRvt08DDa21nn6lqzVdsK9HnRYX3KHTzUNbZvATPgf-2L8jgdmrGMGVD6C9XPSbk8nhPRM2icmUAXNFI-iHdzV9E4_FwtwB3sOm6PGoyJJ/s1600/036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkVo8dbBn2a2IEPW6600T6Uqj71GiFLdPjBURRvt08DDa21nn6lqzVdsK9HnRYX3KHTzUNbZvATPgf-2L8jgdmrGMGVD6C9XPSbk8nhPRM2icmUAXNFI-iHdzV9E4_FwtwB3sOm6PGoyJJ/s320/036.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Zzzzzzip!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Pick a piece, find the beginning, cut one thread (maybe two), and unzip.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyLL6DU5bqU2fTCSQCF2Hzvto3c0JAo_6jy2jqnAsOXxyLfJPF-FZjL1KSv4kSDqvICEdy7iJPFQ6mDEVq9uCVdp6PF7Bg-Cs0ENEsJcP9IXZ00V5lzRAmBZjeRawsFrWrZ9p_Xu7-WXKN/s1600/037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyLL6DU5bqU2fTCSQCF2Hzvto3c0JAo_6jy2jqnAsOXxyLfJPF-FZjL1KSv4kSDqvICEdy7iJPFQ6mDEVq9uCVdp6PF7Bg-Cs0ENEsJcP9IXZ00V5lzRAmBZjeRawsFrWrZ9p_Xu7-WXKN/s320/037.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">The top of one of the sleeves. See the braided knot?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
This sweater was perfect for a tutorial. Here's the top of one of the sleeves. The little braided bit (i.e., the beginning) was neatly tucked into the little line of Vs that forms the top of the curve.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCK5CuYViBfI12pBZGn6npLcIrIM2n3RJ3XcPv_EvS9txBqRZN-xcPzMObEPvnFxWGoSim1KGetlkxiRnPhPc2Q-xVnSOcOihKZP6r_jQBCdT3yPpWi6A0p8a2XeNbOmktY5N1g8_87iCg/s1600/038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCK5CuYViBfI12pBZGn6npLcIrIM2n3RJ3XcPv_EvS9txBqRZN-xcPzMObEPvnFxWGoSim1KGetlkxiRnPhPc2Q-xVnSOcOihKZP6r_jQBCdT3yPpWi6A0p8a2XeNbOmktY5N1g8_87iCg/s320/038.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">This is a bit that you don't really need to keep.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
I amputated the knot, and that released the sleeve for unraveling.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaypxMUKttIaYOCwrWlBr2ibfot3q752f3bEl45arKb5rHH6ElEGlRqWUJNlv6RtJiYzzQG4dDOfKYc92pcymvZfiF8ca5xLgXLvyAsXdGKvecpe2EomGiMUGLtdDhYpPEZV6JOc5pAYpt/s1600/039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaypxMUKttIaYOCwrWlBr2ibfot3q752f3bEl45arKb5rHH6ElEGlRqWUJNlv6RtJiYzzQG4dDOfKYc92pcymvZfiF8ca5xLgXLvyAsXdGKvecpe2EomGiMUGLtdDhYpPEZV6JOc5pAYpt/s320/039.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;">Be free!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
And that's all there is to unraveling. If your pieces are very cooperative, you might be able to use a ballwinder to unravel. I prefer to wind a loose ball, then wind that with the ballwinder to take some of the tension off the yarn. Then I use my niddy-noddy to make skeins, then wash the fiber.</div>
<div>
<br />
And that's it! From thrift store find to usable yarn. As a side note, it was all too apparent that the economy is brutal right now. Usually Goodwill has one rack full of sweaters. On this last trip, it was extremely difficult to find them. Here's hoping that things turn around. I don't really need more sweaters to unravel, but with winter setting in, many people in these parts can use affordable cold-weather clothing. All of us -- yes, I mean me, too -- need to donate things that we don't like, aren't using, don't fit, etc. Even though I may not wear the sweaters I purchase, the money I spend at Goodwill is put to good use.</div>Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09908397962476959083noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452916059193538444.post-49988979441947997742011-06-21T15:21:00.000-04:002011-06-21T15:21:06.454-04:00My Nerd Wars dissertation: silk and fun with indigoA couple weekends ago on Worldwide Knit in Public Day I went to Greenbank Mill. Of course I'll knit anytime, anywhere; however, I was compelled to go because of one thing: an indigo dyepot.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3DohHDHHxRqKw_AElilL7xIXojlE237rNHY_x8ts3xtqqGc-y6CBb6c-eOspyHf_-Tp4ZcsIDB1Fd_PhSImI-ziiNkWe0qj9eHNp3Xsq9DfnW47xRqyNN3Wks7jgAWO_PIsKg9tQQhQM/s1600/016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3DohHDHHxRqKw_AElilL7xIXojlE237rNHY_x8ts3xtqqGc-y6CBb6c-eOspyHf_-Tp4ZcsIDB1Fd_PhSImI-ziiNkWe0qj9eHNp3Xsq9DfnW47xRqyNN3Wks7jgAWO_PIsKg9tQQhQM/s320/016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>That greenish tinge and surface scum let you know that it's good to go.<br />
<br />
A fellow Raveler named Pallas sent an envelope of Japanese indigo seeds to me last fall. I did as instructed and put them in the fridge for the winter. Wonder of wonders, they weren't thrown out and weren't lost. What are the odds? (Hint: not good).<br />
<br />
Here are some of the seedlings I grew and donated to Greenbank Mill's dye garden.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoiWT-0dNFfdtEIpwBk1uEhELnD25_DD-nW-_m-wFOFPJ-QUZdOnKIrPjvkHvcXoo9z-5lNDdgNmwJnwD7C68lYH8LRD2SRienKHVt6ww3fGKbKJjpx7vWfdvkh4Nrk9vBBY7HOGGw3O7Z/s1600/017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoiWT-0dNFfdtEIpwBk1uEhELnD25_DD-nW-_m-wFOFPJ-QUZdOnKIrPjvkHvcXoo9z-5lNDdgNmwJnwD7C68lYH8LRD2SRienKHVt6ww3fGKbKJjpx7vWfdvkh4Nrk9vBBY7HOGGw3O7Z/s320/017.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>One of the attendees was a lovely young woman who'd brought along her wedding shawl for a dip in the dyepot. Since I'm terrible with names, I can't remember hers. I do, however, know that she's a friend of Heather, who was in charge of the day's dyeing. (For a bride-to-be, she was remarkably calm for being just 7 days away from the big event.)<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKilPBoIm3S98-Mqsqtb5BDzyxaaXC7Un4AmBd9LBlrSIEXU8pLSnOM9n6So5MpJDwGLa3qfIDB0vRUutJytMdLLwRd-lGnmH9ttcH8g9z6oSQtXjberr5-0l19mX36xYjxnqbSnUL4P5/s1600/029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKilPBoIm3S98-Mqsqtb5BDzyxaaXC7Un4AmBd9LBlrSIEXU8pLSnOM9n6So5MpJDwGLa3qfIDB0vRUutJytMdLLwRd-lGnmH9ttcH8g9z6oSQtXjberr5-0l19mX36xYjxnqbSnUL4P5/s320/029.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Here is the before shot of her shawl (unblocked, naturally).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4iy52vdnffDyGI-pfKyr9RNzFka7I5BW_DWNwhvHRiKlal4VsPjadqp77w6M5aekowu36DlkpVuoV_7fD-vjMtttACwnjAKEjMHD8EsRytzze4GTtZg1XtImQzxoEDzjpW-Z_qxBA4-nk/s1600/014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4iy52vdnffDyGI-pfKyr9RNzFka7I5BW_DWNwhvHRiKlal4VsPjadqp77w6M5aekowu36DlkpVuoV_7fD-vjMtttACwnjAKEjMHD8EsRytzze4GTtZg1XtImQzxoEDzjpW-Z_qxBA4-nk/s320/014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> After a dunk in some hot water, it's ready for dyeing.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg27tdcHEbaFPxpWRpaDWXiqtGiUBLpuhIeoCJ5NQdJeA-fAOdcGYmQ1xwlFJqlmBrmq9Ur3ugXuuN5Gx81tVev0mpO6lZ6QoI2SCN98f0w_m2YgsgmNgqn3-yG3iOAKicVOMhyL3iqOOLF/s1600/023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg27tdcHEbaFPxpWRpaDWXiqtGiUBLpuhIeoCJ5NQdJeA-fAOdcGYmQ1xwlFJqlmBrmq9Ur3ugXuuN5Gx81tVev0mpO6lZ6QoI2SCN98f0w_m2YgsgmNgqn3-yG3iOAKicVOMhyL3iqOOLF/s320/023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> After just a few minutes, dyemaster Heather pulled the shawl out of the pot and made sure that every bit of the knitting had a chance to be exposed to the air. With indigo, you have to go on a bit of faith that the blue will magically appear. When you pull the item from the dyepot, the color is initially yellow. It's only as oxygen permeates the dye that the blue develops.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcpmiBMuqlXgaJaBG3ZqlFvNO-3g9TW7DFBztLaDwo_TAFnzvDWBFXSgi8wl_JgMSarT3gFALVRgtcH5PvZBdTM5FM0udDBmraj50R6xLImXv_q-uS6hSQTBFGG0A-yk8eZvIg_xlzhu-_/s1600/026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcpmiBMuqlXgaJaBG3ZqlFvNO-3g9TW7DFBztLaDwo_TAFnzvDWBFXSgi8wl_JgMSarT3gFALVRgtcH5PvZBdTM5FM0udDBmraj50R6xLImXv_q-uS6hSQTBFGG0A-yk8eZvIg_xlzhu-_/s320/026.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> And voila, a lovely blue shawl for the bride. Everyone oohed and ahhed. Dyeing with indigo never gets old.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5OkQrkcDz24b0Cb29xfL4BKz-W1Lm63z2aWEfd6UJl-33dL_wjTR6iVwniJeqbcuAfEcV8oR7h2p3q_iWzEeXm5xoeoyxveLw27oPa1KBAQz0WSktdkTFd1CA7it01ob0sA0DbRqfAHB/s1600/027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5OkQrkcDz24b0Cb29xfL4BKz-W1Lm63z2aWEfd6UJl-33dL_wjTR6iVwniJeqbcuAfEcV8oR7h2p3q_iWzEeXm5xoeoyxveLw27oPa1KBAQz0WSktdkTFd1CA7it01ob0sA0DbRqfAHB/s320/027.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> I hope that Heather posts pictures of her friend wearing the shawl. I'm not a girly girl and so don't get all squee-rific about weddings; however, there's just something about a handmade shawl hand-dyed with a natural plant one week before the wedding makes me just melt.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaT-c4a2L9-VIMcI54t8Enp14cdkSD3jMjykuARiIitAPicz1xLBPyVrU-QdwI4VcsnalT5GRhMr63VA500mmN_SnQfRsoX8Avw2wHl0Zp3SjPQo3cLELhx-fguxsBI4bMIk1yvDUgZG80/s1600/030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaT-c4a2L9-VIMcI54t8Enp14cdkSD3jMjykuARiIitAPicz1xLBPyVrU-QdwI4VcsnalT5GRhMr63VA500mmN_SnQfRsoX8Avw2wHl0Zp3SjPQo3cLELhx-fguxsBI4bMIk1yvDUgZG80/s320/030.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> Here's my "stuff," waiting to be dyed. For this second tournament in Nerd Wars (over at Ravelry), I'm on the Supernatural Team. My project is a "dissertation," meaning that it will take me three months to complete.<br />
<br />
So, here's the first part of my entry: nearly 1,000 yards of hand-spun unbleached Tussah silk from this year's Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival. I'm telling you, spinning that silk is just about a close to a drug-like state as I can get these days. The way it handles, the way it shines, the way it plies -- it's all just a fabulous dream. Happy happy, joy joy!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qpJogJ5F5rLHaRy_O3Z4OthPLLBRPH7WEipE3t-nmpRU0D6sNHyGNmKVTQ32q0uQR6sfVIZcByTAmbJhY0_U7zQ5vmbs1FjUvE7pKWc5QHVMClOhsp6LOM-UsNOuN5th1GqBAlyf64HI/s1600/034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qpJogJ5F5rLHaRy_O3Z4OthPLLBRPH7WEipE3t-nmpRU0D6sNHyGNmKVTQ32q0uQR6sfVIZcByTAmbJhY0_U7zQ5vmbs1FjUvE7pKWc5QHVMClOhsp6LOM-UsNOuN5th1GqBAlyf64HI/s320/034.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> Here goes my pre-wetted silk into the hot pot.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUpFnw7Eh5Ekbc8vUW0HS05j1LjkQOUJzLqr0ZXUGSAtLZJdsl2Jbbn7TGj7afFRGJWLr_fWCjlxuzzuF8me8vEhGgXVOXoccdMzuhEzI_0hRfAsaa6Ts7r3_pBVi4RS7Bba1fs3XeLdGv/s1600/039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUpFnw7Eh5Ekbc8vUW0HS05j1LjkQOUJzLqr0ZXUGSAtLZJdsl2Jbbn7TGj7afFRGJWLr_fWCjlxuzzuF8me8vEhGgXVOXoccdMzuhEzI_0hRfAsaa6Ts7r3_pBVi4RS7Bba1fs3XeLdGv/s320/039.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> And here it goes into the dyepot. Just look at that beautiful dark-blue scum -- mmm! (Not quite sure why the Rit dye box was there ... maybe Heather brought it along as a backup?)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBRxkm9lQevZxg_mWWRc1CHUp6udQWPUAcMXKktvx26K83pD1tilmkvoQAKhYHE7mcbrK0qse5DAqWc1K311iowgnZsrwMxicMxiBAv_yfRJ2Y2bUroUTSJcnesM04cEGzBzOnxi1bT7AL/s1600/040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBRxkm9lQevZxg_mWWRc1CHUp6udQWPUAcMXKktvx26K83pD1tilmkvoQAKhYHE7mcbrK0qse5DAqWc1K311iowgnZsrwMxicMxiBAv_yfRJ2Y2bUroUTSJcnesM04cEGzBzOnxi1bT7AL/s320/040.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Just look at that! You can see that the yarn is primarily yellow. If you look at about the 11:00 position, though, you can see where the yarn is turning blue. It must have been just above the top of the dye.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYmLREMxseyqd7L9jkbaDgdI9-7M8rCOT8n2yxWjMB7F3Fy_HPteWHhZfdmQIRoPRAgiyO9VrcnZXM_LSw0e9OY8kVdfvIlahjpW3oIXqi23IGnBxrn8OukQnp80R6FI77rC8ns_14LCX/s1600/041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYmLREMxseyqd7L9jkbaDgdI9-7M8rCOT8n2yxWjMB7F3Fy_HPteWHhZfdmQIRoPRAgiyO9VrcnZXM_LSw0e9OY8kVdfvIlahjpW3oIXqi23IGnBxrn8OukQnp80R6FI77rC8ns_14LCX/s320/041.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> And here we go. The yellow gradually gives way to a faint blue, then a teal-ish blue.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI7CbzIi-V_B3ZIEpiCDxii6dUMUbz4GiMYPeNtPdmR354JSmMd-eML3_kyzAAk7TAcGqMofAdU_ZfEEDTktBKJKXplb5PZU2VEW3u2DBWwjypOvoYcViBL4-6xzCoRkyvycJSAXhB7iTx/s1600/043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI7CbzIi-V_B3ZIEpiCDxii6dUMUbz4GiMYPeNtPdmR354JSmMd-eML3_kyzAAk7TAcGqMofAdU_ZfEEDTktBKJKXplb5PZU2VEW3u2DBWwjypOvoYcViBL4-6xzCoRkyvycJSAXhB7iTx/s320/043.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> The blue just keeps developing. Now it's more of a Wedgewood blue. We had quite a time with the skeins -- they tangled a bit and I'd tied each off just a tad too tightly. I only discovered the latter when I wound one of the dried skeins into a "cake." Oh, well. If I wanted absolute uniformity in my yarn, I'd just buy it, right?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQtaabiHqLcMjc93EJ7LEYgwcDy2boUZrsEzDWVrzWaCeFYAPAGoVw3f7GyGthAZReoSpx9Jfpdz0R4f7LiT55poBN_NrqxlDzonS02nEBUMjBacPXG5ZXIrHanY6TCm0TDciJXirB0-1/s1600/047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQtaabiHqLcMjc93EJ7LEYgwcDy2boUZrsEzDWVrzWaCeFYAPAGoVw3f7GyGthAZReoSpx9Jfpdz0R4f7LiT55poBN_NrqxlDzonS02nEBUMjBacPXG5ZXIrHanY6TCm0TDciJXirB0-1/s320/047.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> The first dip left the yarn a bit lighter than I wanted, so it went back in for a second dip. And here it is, in all its glory.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDoGw5rOdKNEipsIDO0LT-Eg7P47Xbrkn1hQ3hiZdTwZsjTDBpe2dotVQj170TvTqFHsZ-lCtqU0gav-huaapT6nOC11fFZGOvA0HuTWoP05fgIn_XsStaBkS4Gs9A_3nrIY6Ds2aw5tq/s1600/054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDoGw5rOdKNEipsIDO0LT-Eg7P47Xbrkn1hQ3hiZdTwZsjTDBpe2dotVQj170TvTqFHsZ-lCtqU0gav-huaapT6nOC11fFZGOvA0HuTWoP05fgIn_XsStaBkS4Gs9A_3nrIY6Ds2aw5tq/s320/054.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> See what I mean about the tangles? But this picture is really accurate when it comes to both the color and sheen of the yarn.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_I8E33umhnTZ_q_DgKGr2QduafupUpQ6pkJpyP0KIj5tsambTisiqSYdIFxCn5lqcIN8trGMZwuh4Ankof0w6G_jrGqc8Cy5ligyIVMKuxy0URkRnlo7RWv61iXUO4Tt_4uOhruRAJAf/s1600/059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH_I8E33umhnTZ_q_DgKGr2QduafupUpQ6pkJpyP0KIj5tsambTisiqSYdIFxCn5lqcIN8trGMZwuh4Ankof0w6G_jrGqc8Cy5ligyIVMKuxy0URkRnlo7RWv61iXUO4Tt_4uOhruRAJAf/s320/059.jpg" width="240" /></a></div> I just now took this picture, and Im not exactly happy with it. The day is overcast, and I just don't have the time or patience to futz around with settings, lighting, etc.<br />
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So there's the indigo silk yarn and the shawl I'll be making with it. The project has to relate to Supernatural, and my take on it is pretty much that shawls make me think of hugs, and those Winchester boys sure could use 'em (hugs, that is) as they hunt demons. Since I am my father's daughter, I also related Dean and Sam constantly having to leave one town for the next one to the leaf motif (get it? leaf / leave -- awful, I know).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9YslgP-MDs2Q_EXPtOVxncyWk_8LdqtZT847V2peXgc3vrkxSLzFj4hJNtHLwOUVk7-Dz5ckbTH1cYxfgjAkgV9ZW-EVCOg7t5F-TOL3xfSvXeUfGVhP6jCYbzPFaC2Kl-ZBr1cJ6P-o/s1600/001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9YslgP-MDs2Q_EXPtOVxncyWk_8LdqtZT847V2peXgc3vrkxSLzFj4hJNtHLwOUVk7-Dz5ckbTH1cYxfgjAkgV9ZW-EVCOg7t5F-TOL3xfSvXeUfGVhP6jCYbzPFaC2Kl-ZBr1cJ6P-o/s320/001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> And just another shot -- going for artsy here. Again, without changing the lighting. I do just love that macro setting, though. Up close and personal!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRmB-tqcas7llsJReNIhysf8zXqV-rRPP43wkdPxX-JxJWYdUPQRwuCo_QSXOm69yr1q2WcOHuEVoeGOsDNOO-AaDpqYbvYtEOWH9hZjmrP-3-7PD9wfdf7OkQgLU-A0LJZrxleBFZvMW/s1600/003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCRmB-tqcas7llsJReNIhysf8zXqV-rRPP43wkdPxX-JxJWYdUPQRwuCo_QSXOm69yr1q2WcOHuEVoeGOsDNOO-AaDpqYbvYtEOWH9hZjmrP-3-7PD9wfdf7OkQgLU-A0LJZrxleBFZvMW/s320/003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>There you have it. Indigo dyeing and my awesome silk. I'll do my best to post progress pictures. I have through the end of August to complete my project. Guess I need to "man up" and cast on already!Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09908397962476959083noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452916059193538444.post-67789408146456851502011-01-23T19:30:00.000-05:002011-01-23T19:30:03.258-05:00Spinning thin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkp-aDEUA6EVAILcYhmMcrV6GgJYEcMdo-c4xOAsVw2k13IxDN-P5DssYar87dn-ZlkOMcJ3l1uHzExWbeHkqggvGogj4lrSNfAs4NE9pFK0-cPcRRU0Gj1ttKQJ66NZ-gNsPB03CPvx-A/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkp-aDEUA6EVAILcYhmMcrV6GgJYEcMdo-c4xOAsVw2k13IxDN-P5DssYar87dn-ZlkOMcJ3l1uHzExWbeHkqggvGogj4lrSNfAs4NE9pFK0-cPcRRU0Gj1ttKQJ66NZ-gNsPB03CPvx-A/s320/018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Christmas was warm and lovely and filled with lots of fibery gifts.<br />
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This is the first fiber I decided to spin up. It's a 75%/25% blue face Leicester/Tussah silk top and it's just the softest, most wonderful fiber ... mmm!<br />
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Now when I sit down to spin, I don't make any decisions in advance. When I want to spin, I spin. I take a zen approach to it and just live in the now, loving every minute.<br />
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I've had discussions with my father, an engineer, about spinning. In his mind, I should always spin with a particular project in mind. In my mind ... well ... is nothing. I spin without a care in the world. Once I'm done, I ply to match my mood (2-ply or Navajo ply [3-ply]). After plying, I skein, tie off, and wash the finished yarn. Only when it's all dry do I discover how many yards I have. With that information and the WPI (wraps per inch) of the finished yarn in hand, I sashay over to <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/">Ravelry </a>and use the advanced search function to see what patterns match my two specs.<br />
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My father and I will never see eye to eye on the whole issue, and that's OK.<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGGMKT6QpgvexGtGhgO3cN0xe_f5notuftwJfKE04TkaDUTP87E5I0pGHylq_GDAh-h7nXGIucPs5k8I_1XjHz8Rz5OLUhOpmycaklrJNcIvSxgaSbQVFIxkKPlR7zKf2rqlplDi2h2kV/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGGMKT6QpgvexGtGhgO3cN0xe_f5notuftwJfKE04TkaDUTP87E5I0pGHylq_GDAh-h7nXGIucPs5k8I_1XjHz8Rz5OLUhOpmycaklrJNcIvSxgaSbQVFIxkKPlR7zKf2rqlplDi2h2kV/s320/014.JPG" style="height: 240px; width: 320px;" width="320" /></a></div>One of my tendencies is to spin thin -- really thin. This picture shows the thickness of a single ply of the luscious BFL/silk fiber.<br />
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I'm always kind of amazed at how consistent my yarn is. I'm self-taught, so I don't know how I'm able to do this. Interestingly, I spin fast -- really fast. It's like I'm in a race. Whatever the reason, it makes me happy.<br />
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When I was demonstrating at the Hale-Byrnes House in December, one of the other spinners commented on my speedy treadling. She then added that she spins slowly so that her yarn will be consistent. (I wish I had the exact phrasing, because it was one of those pointed remarks some women are skilled at making. There's a hidden sting, but if you comment on it, you just end up looking thin skinned. I once worked with a woman who had a black-belt in this kind of verbal combat. Let's just say that she and I weren't the best of friends.) But I digress...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3GP01cHntwnVNwQ7JRQwsa0I1eT-Vg0XylSf7F2pLOaH4e-Nv6OmvCE_VqhPjQQ7YEUQx7EsxeghmTkfKUZQK35M34zk0AFoS6q3zBtfPeT-X34uxt2mu5HW5RZRnFRh7rr0gdMsScIoJ/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3GP01cHntwnVNwQ7JRQwsa0I1eT-Vg0XylSf7F2pLOaH4e-Nv6OmvCE_VqhPjQQ7YEUQx7EsxeghmTkfKUZQK35M34zk0AFoS6q3zBtfPeT-X34uxt2mu5HW5RZRnFRh7rr0gdMsScIoJ/s320/015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>So here is the finished yarn. I decided to Navajo ply this because it was just so thin that I thought that a two ply wouldn't be sturdy enough for whatever it will end up being used for. Besides, I find it hard to wait until I have two bobbins. Working from both ends of a cake (i.e., a puck-shaped "ball" of yarn) is fraught with danger. I can't tell you how many times I've tried plying using this technique and had it blow up in my face.<br />
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I'm not looking for any applause here. I'm as mystified as the next person how I'm able to 1) spin so fine a single and 2) end up with such a beautifully plied yarn. Whatever the reason -- and there really doesn't need to be one, right? -- I'm perfectly content to spin thin. (I predict, though, that I'll find spinning fat to be quite a challenge.)Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09908397962476959083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452916059193538444.post-53456022755124914232010-12-19T18:13:00.000-05:002010-12-19T18:13:28.088-05:00Playing Rev War Dress Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvtI24Z7fbqJXp6j8Sh3rxTHtfBlfwV6fdore21UnFkpPfWfrIgQPXgtVc8Mrd-m2yLYhiSx79rtYhFzQITb14vaoHbcKxmCo3F16gbjMP7tKGWRoX57GyJ6G_PHiWwClKRfP2UZnpXe6/s1600/The+Modesty.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoiXbx63UGuaKPWu_rAEIwZ2yTiIhAHPI7AQJZo_MUu5pMJEWwq6TQYYwo7KaFrWiIEBnPR7pfp8jH5Ho1V85T5QFyJYhMNp6rwafvrE1tQxsqPwRH7OVWEfHLPUK6X3QAtjKMs9CFAxw6/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoiXbx63UGuaKPWu_rAEIwZ2yTiIhAHPI7AQJZo_MUu5pMJEWwq6TQYYwo7KaFrWiIEBnPR7pfp8jH5Ho1V85T5QFyJYhMNp6rwafvrE1tQxsqPwRH7OVWEfHLPUK6X3QAtjKMs9CFAxw6/s200/005.JPG" width="150" /></a></div> On Saturday, December 4, I spent the day spinning at the historic Hale-Byrnes house. I'm a native Delawarean, but I'd barely even noticed this house before I googled it. In fact, I had many, many doctor appointments at each of the medical offices that flank this house, and even so, I never saw it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtGKRZfqlvM1V3yH3J8uFv6wa8fXAkgHs_JSPhX_FnBvPFVw3YSVeEAskg_2Xvoe25s-lRt3t0cOcb9sG6gsYF4QtuLWHVCfMuZnaAr3b6VYZURa190PH4CHoN7V9wiF9XsWLXt6VsCMX/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtGKRZfqlvM1V3yH3J8uFv6wa8fXAkgHs_JSPhX_FnBvPFVw3YSVeEAskg_2Xvoe25s-lRt3t0cOcb9sG6gsYF4QtuLWHVCfMuZnaAr3b6VYZURa190PH4CHoN7V9wiF9XsWLXt6VsCMX/s200/003.JPG" width="200" /></a></div> I'm not sure if this will be legible once it's posted, so here you go:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Hale-Byrnes House</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Stanton, Delaware</i></div><i>George Washington's "General Staff Headquarters" on September 6, 1777. Here Generals Washington, Lafayette, Wayne, Maxwell, Sullivan, and Greene planned defense of Wilmington. House built circa 1750 by Samuel Hale. Owner 1776 -- Daniel Byrnes -- a miller and preacher. Restored by Delaware Society for Preservation of Antiquities. Donated to State in 1971.</i><br />
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A friend very kindly lent me a selection of period clothes to wear while I spun. I'm no purist, so I wasn't period-correct from the skin out. It was quite cold that day, and old houses are notorious for being marginally warmer than the outside temperature.<br />
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I'm putting aside what little vanity I have to show you, from the unmentionables out, what a woman might wear during the Revolutionary War. I did have serious thoughts about decapitating myself in these pictures but figured that looking wan and tired was also probably period-correct and so should stay.<br />
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Note, please, that any errors in description or naming are mine. My friend, K.B., who loaned me these clothes, is period-correct and knows everything ... I don't.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYTPNbVAj6fcsju-PZcQST4VaD-k-tJvJJAsSkV-yNa8ZK_iZJnLDmuB8JHi7Nzr9SGG-tfHMi6LOICP6JvD0l-ITzTetV0y5uFwJU3aAe4tRTwcqN-X8O7LawszFuCtks2vFWduXHzgX/s1600/The+Petticoat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil_ELV14XjwEH4lw0OaoV3JtDQ8CD_NH9upINPmuxT6goTKD20_sNqh0MctY_xaIQ4DAzDyq5rMO4-b6F89Il4OwN9ou8YW9oW6sexbrl1xczlDVvmddpXa_za3cQmxRc1t4usld1sh7xr/s1600/The+Shift.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil_ELV14XjwEH4lw0OaoV3JtDQ8CD_NH9upINPmuxT6goTKD20_sNqh0MctY_xaIQ4DAzDyq5rMO4-b6F89Il4OwN9ou8YW9oW6sexbrl1xczlDVvmddpXa_za3cQmxRc1t4usld1sh7xr/s320/The+Shift.JPG" width="137" /></a><br />
Here we have the shift. A woman wore this next to her skin -- no underwear, no bra. She might wear a corset or stays over her shift, but that's it. I chose not to go the period-correct route primarily because I knew there wouldn't be any "costume checkers," but also because it was pretty cold that day.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYTPNbVAj6fcsju-PZcQST4VaD-k-tJvJJAsSkV-yNa8ZK_iZJnLDmuB8JHi7Nzr9SGG-tfHMi6LOICP6JvD0l-ITzTetV0y5uFwJU3aAe4tRTwcqN-X8O7LawszFuCtks2vFWduXHzgX/s1600/The+Petticoat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYTPNbVAj6fcsju-PZcQST4VaD-k-tJvJJAsSkV-yNa8ZK_iZJnLDmuB8JHi7Nzr9SGG-tfHMi6LOICP6JvD0l-ITzTetV0y5uFwJU3aAe4tRTwcqN-X8O7LawszFuCtks2vFWduXHzgX/s320/The+Petticoat.JPG" width="128" /></a></div> Over the shift goes the petticoat. Now I'm not sure if this is actually a petticoat or if it's a skirt. I think it's the latter, but who am I to argue? The waistband of this baby is twill tape, which means one size fit most women, regardless of girth.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvtI24Z7fbqJXp6j8Sh3rxTHtfBlfwV6fdore21UnFkpPfWfrIgQPXgtVc8Mrd-m2yLYhiSx79rtYhFzQITb14vaoHbcKxmCo3F16gbjMP7tKGWRoX57GyJ6G_PHiWwClKRfP2UZnpXe6/s1600/The+Modesty.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvtI24Z7fbqJXp6j8Sh3rxTHtfBlfwV6fdore21UnFkpPfWfrIgQPXgtVc8Mrd-m2yLYhiSx79rtYhFzQITb14vaoHbcKxmCo3F16gbjMP7tKGWRoX57GyJ6G_PHiWwClKRfP2UZnpXe6/s320/The+Modesty.JPG" width="126" /></a></div>Next is the "modesty." It's basically a square of fabric that's folded once to make a triangle. The small pointed ends are tucked inside the shift, and the large point is outside the shift in the back. I pinned the front ends to my bra so that I wouldn't have to worry about it creeping out of place. For a piece of cotton, it did a really good job of keeping my neck and decolletage warm.<br />
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The dog is optional.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMe0VBeopSdbzqqKY2tb7aYnn0YR-JQxYAlJjcvrLMOVVB3VJEkYAe4ol4cNEjB1ig7Tem37xiLr1l9Q1OIRGLn9fkDmZrMKjf-kY94EgkXNidFWTLEAwrvYwjrxM7QPaMU8wIJo2h4-dS/s1600/The+Short+Gown.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMe0VBeopSdbzqqKY2tb7aYnn0YR-JQxYAlJjcvrLMOVVB3VJEkYAe4ol4cNEjB1ig7Tem37xiLr1l9Q1OIRGLn9fkDmZrMKjf-kY94EgkXNidFWTLEAwrvYwjrxM7QPaMU8wIJo2h4-dS/s320/The+Short+Gown.JPG" width="141" /></a></div> The short jacket comes next. K.B. made this with fabric that came from Williamsburg -- pretty zippy, eh? And speaking of zips, this jacket has neither a zipper nor buttons. During the Revolutionary War era, the buttons went on the men's clothing; women's clothing was secured with pins.<br />
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Remember the song in the musical 1776, when John Adams's wife asks him to remember "pins, John ... pins"? Well, this is one of the reasons why she wanted them. It would be pretty hard to get things done if your clothes were flapping open in the breeze.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWmE5eL2HWAz_KG2U9Z_S_TNMZWlg0b923w2VdcUQ3YpbiOKEfGF6vrOetmBATnySb6-c-m_i0NCa-S6w5kh1xU-Fy1D6o-WAazoxFPB00y8lUXxn368qrJk8rbqSomauaJUh2cC1Xeup/s1600/The+Apron.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWmE5eL2HWAz_KG2U9Z_S_TNMZWlg0b923w2VdcUQ3YpbiOKEfGF6vrOetmBATnySb6-c-m_i0NCa-S6w5kh1xU-Fy1D6o-WAazoxFPB00y8lUXxn368qrJk8rbqSomauaJUh2cC1Xeup/s320/The+Apron.JPG" width="121" /></a></div> The next layer is the apron. Notice how my figure is looking more and more like a packing case? Well, a woman's silhouette was pretty much a rectangle with a head and two arms sticking out.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYHSr1Tk_G6uf2LXyf5KaW6v688aTFE_maw34aDNdm-ohoqOuaOJPuW5iCcBmcjqltThYqMzbQyWsQeNOdgPQJf_327PzhFUQqUUaGNZcfBpTQV2_rvxbBUgU-FZ031FHJFUB2cKuOKbom/s1600/The+Cap.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYHSr1Tk_G6uf2LXyf5KaW6v688aTFE_maw34aDNdm-ohoqOuaOJPuW5iCcBmcjqltThYqMzbQyWsQeNOdgPQJf_327PzhFUQqUUaGNZcfBpTQV2_rvxbBUgU-FZ031FHJFUB2cKuOKbom/s320/The+Cap.JPG" width="126" /></a></div>And the piece de resistance (sp?) is the cap. This one was a tight fit -- I don't know what I would have done if my hair were any longer than it is (about 3 inches all over). If it were a better fit and I did have long hair, the hair would be stuffed into the back part of the cap. Women wore these caps to keep their hair clean and to keep it from falling into the fire or whatever else they might have been working on. This was a practical and functional article, not (as some may think) a symbol of women's oppression by men. I don't know about you, but I sure wouldn't be happy if my hair fell into the soap vat, the fireplace, the baby's dirty diaper, or whatever else I'd have been attending to in the 1700s.<br />
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So, that was my outfit. Underneath I wore black tights, a pair of SpecialEd's black socks, and a pair of black ankle boots. Everything worked out great.<br />
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So, the next time someone asks me if I'd be willing to come demonstrate spinning somewhere, I'll know what to wear for the Rev War era. If I don't need to dress in period-appropriate clothing, then I'm good to go.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvtI24Z7fbqJXp6j8Sh3rxTHtfBlfwV6fdore21UnFkpPfWfrIgQPXgtVc8Mrd-m2yLYhiSx79rtYhFzQITb14vaoHbcKxmCo3F16gbjMP7tKGWRoX57GyJ6G_PHiWwClKRfP2UZnpXe6/s1600/The+Modesty.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09908397962476959083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452916059193538444.post-91797570499289581392010-12-01T07:57:00.000-05:002010-12-01T07:57:34.072-05:00We have a winner!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvHncyVk8PsCbpMiCNSpLur7ldEfjSXK0PyglDxkN75ovqpi58Ljo95A1F0GDMOZp4T08yp0SQ8zT4dCt2IkrmNLrG82P4hzfBkj1jzC5Dd70tzV_XNf8C11pvG1uw6N1WoaBh5Ms3YfnM/s1600/nano_10_winner_120x390-8.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvHncyVk8PsCbpMiCNSpLur7ldEfjSXK0PyglDxkN75ovqpi58Ljo95A1F0GDMOZp4T08yp0SQ8zT4dCt2IkrmNLrG82P4hzfBkj1jzC5Dd70tzV_XNf8C11pvG1uw6N1WoaBh5Ms3YfnM/s320/nano_10_winner_120x390-8.png" width="98" /></a></div>Wow! It's hard to believe it, but I actually churned out 50,000+ words in 30 days. Not only that, but I did it while dealing with my everyday life, which is chaotic at best. And, on top of it all, I had two rather intense freelance jobs arrive right in the middle of the whole thing.<br />
<br />
Well, it just goes to show [me] that if I can write that much while dealing with all that, then I guess I really am a writer.<br />
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Yeah, I know. I've been earning my living for the past <i>mumblemumble</i> years as a writer, but I've always had to qualify the "I'm a writer" statement by adding "but not that kind of writer." Now that I've won National Novel Writing Month two years in a row, I can hold my head up and say that, yes, I <i>am</i> that kind of writer.<br />
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I hope that you consider NaNo'ing along next November ... or just write whenever you feel like it. I really think that we're all writers -- yes, <i>that </i>kind of writer.Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09908397962476959083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452916059193538444.post-20751947188640321052010-11-18T21:02:00.000-05:002010-11-18T21:02:14.092-05:00NaNo statistics<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7jbwnDPJl0vMQe4C-ve3JmQvGuiTXzmWlvzZ-ufLqdSQasAEqoJkFwlG2qjNaLdwB0KTGvjKjuUea8U5eNqrLELQYwv7EFRL6Bg2zu5uUl1gPSIvyA7Gsx2PJDttzqV_5IRx6oR_Oat3U/s1600/Nano+11-18.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7jbwnDPJl0vMQe4C-ve3JmQvGuiTXzmWlvzZ-ufLqdSQasAEqoJkFwlG2qjNaLdwB0KTGvjKjuUea8U5eNqrLELQYwv7EFRL6Bg2zu5uUl1gPSIvyA7Gsx2PJDttzqV_5IRx6oR_Oat3U/s320/Nano+11-18.JPG" width="302" /></a></div>Here's how things look on Day 18 of NaNoWriMo. I'm making steady progress, true, but I'm still lagging behind in terms of per-day word count.<br />
<br />
For reasons that are valid but won't be enumerated here, I've been NaNoing in the late [relatively] evenings, when my brain isn't usually firing on all cylinders. Somehow I need to do my "thang" earlier in the day or, as a second-best solution, earlier in the evening. I suppose I could always tape The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, but I like the idea of watching them at 7 p.m. (a repeat of the previous day's shows). Oh, well.<br />
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I'm thinking that this weekend I'll first do a broad-brush outline of the climactic scene, then grit my teeth and grind out maybe 3,000 words at one shot. That would be a serious shot in the arm, statistics-wise.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I've included a capture of my NaNo statistics page. It's actually pretty neat. Love the graph. The numbers under the Total heading, specifically those for "at this rate you will finish on" and "words per day to finish on time" are the ones I pay attention to. Today my rate dropped from finishing on December 3 to finishing on December 4 -- one day too many, as far as I'm concerned (for some reason, I've always liked "3" -- weird). My goal from here on out is to reach 2,000/day (aside from the previously mentioned 3,000).<br />
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Onward and upward!<br />
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(Interesting note ... Today I was fascinated when a great big whack of humor showed up all on its own. I'd been sticking to fairly grim and gloomy, but maybe my so-called muse is telling me to lighten up and have some fun.)Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09908397962476959083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452916059193538444.post-39523840295010291102010-11-15T22:31:00.000-05:002010-11-15T22:31:09.761-05:00The halfway mark<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaskhyphenhyphene_2S3zbjt8Z9PDQFIho5O_ITH9xScID3rUmVk6XFlxFE4I8j68mUerfT8U50H37SGoz1KoOHbNWqFiukGsIG14oRIFFVMjhQ9sZkKjNphLw8fLls44y1m9c6Gr2ecyWrtjC9Xp1I/s1600/nanowrimo_05_120x240.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaskhyphenhyphene_2S3zbjt8Z9PDQFIho5O_ITH9xScID3rUmVk6XFlxFE4I8j68mUerfT8U50H37SGoz1KoOHbNWqFiukGsIG14oRIFFVMjhQ9sZkKjNphLw8fLls44y1m9c6Gr2ecyWrtjC9Xp1I/s1600/nanowrimo_05_120x240.png" /></a></div>I've just finished my 15th day of NaNo, and I'm only at 22,767. That's not bad, but it means that I'm going to have to get my skates on if I want to win this year. Yeah, I know -- it's not all about winning. Uh ... wait ... yes, it <i>is</i> all about winning.<br />
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So I've killed some characters, I've introduced some menace and mystery. I've even thrown in some romance. What to do, what to do ...<br />
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I guess what I need to do now is break out the climactic (or is that "climatic" -- har har) scene. I don't know who's going to save whom, but I sure know who's going to die. And, knowing me, the death will probably be gruesome. The worse, the better, as far as my word count goes.<br />
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Overall, I have to say that the whole NaNo experience is worth it. Putting the pressure on yourself to apply your butt to the chair and just write, day after day, is great for strengthening that discipline muscle. And who doesn't need a bit more discipline? Or a bit more muscle, for that matter?Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09908397962476959083noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452916059193538444.post-47210319226890233242010-11-03T12:53:00.000-04:002010-11-03T12:53:51.770-04:00National Novel Writing Month<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6G3FGr7kpXgL5-jeuafyNA76ZJlZhltJ3N63JtYmYWGHB4Of58CQW48VZ8hmfnnshMTBEGtFC37gUOrqxKjrftgT6Kv37mHHhvMvGPA0cDakk1AKE9KZaIzIachYjrDEYsSX6_FekTUcj/s1600/nanowrimo_participant_08_120x240.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6G3FGr7kpXgL5-jeuafyNA76ZJlZhltJ3N63JtYmYWGHB4Of58CQW48VZ8hmfnnshMTBEGtFC37gUOrqxKjrftgT6Kv37mHHhvMvGPA0cDakk1AKE9KZaIzIachYjrDEYsSX6_FekTUcj/s1600/nanowrimo_participant_08_120x240.png" /></a></div>Day 3 = 4,504 words<br />
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It's that time of year again -- National Novel Writing Month -- and for the second year, I'm taking the plunge. Last year's entry centered around a wool mill, and, keeping with that theme, this year's entry will feature a spice mill.<br />
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Now the mills I'm basing these stories on actually exist (Greenbank Mill) or existed (the Fell Spice Mill). However, I'm taking liberties with all sorts of things, not the least of which are time and space. It's nice being master of the universe, you know?<br />
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I did learn a lesson last year, and that is to keep each day's writing in a separate file. That should make cobbling them all together into a coherent whole so much easier. I've been flailing about with the wool mill story and haven't settled on how I'm going to beat it into submission. I'm under some pressure here because two people have asked to read it. I've chosen to set aside the worries about "this is just so much crap" and instead focus on dealing with what is and quickly turning it into something I might not be thrilled about others reading but at least won't die of embarrassment after I hand it over to them.<br />
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NaNoWriMo turns out not to be scary at all. In fact, I'm entranced by the whole experience. I've heard that writers have had characters just show up and take over the story or found the story shooting off in weird, but unplanned, tangents. I'd never experienced either myself until NaNoWriMo.<br />
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The whole point is to just write. The pressure of coming up with 50,000 words in just 30 days is supposed to turn off your internal editor, who thinks that everything you write must be deathless prose. It works. Each day when I sit down to "NaNo," I just close my eyes and start writing. This morning I wrote about a thrilling robbery. Yesterday featured an unexpected comedic bit. Of course, on the first day I killed three people and sent one to an asylum.<br />
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See how much fun you can have?<br />
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It's not to late to set out on your own NaNo adventure...Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09908397962476959083noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452916059193538444.post-87202002785560881602010-09-13T18:32:00.000-04:002010-09-13T18:32:30.659-04:00From Raw to Rawr: My Silk-Spinning Adventure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of the things I bought at this year's Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival was silk.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAc7guz-yglMmZL3MR1afzDWN7Ot1Wt2Zgh8z4yJEFL2Fh03zVyyOuitEQMPadO8mhlmMOEhlhyVm_J1a3jnhQc8NjJRigOo0YMNc4Dr-O1Uu90FOSjAycrIwmJSa5QA1dl2dMm_4YiLWP/s1600/MDSW--Haul+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAc7guz-yglMmZL3MR1afzDWN7Ot1Wt2Zgh8z4yJEFL2Fh03zVyyOuitEQMPadO8mhlmMOEhlhyVm_J1a3jnhQc8NjJRigOo0YMNc4Dr-O1Uu90FOSjAycrIwmJSa5QA1dl2dMm_4YiLWP/s320/MDSW--Haul+002.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I bought two bags of natural (i.e., not bleached) Tussah silk. Not having heard that silk is "so hard to spin," I just sat down at my wheel and gave it a whirl. I spun that silk obsessively (hmm ... seems to be the case anymore for <i>anything </i>I spin), including at this year's Highland Games. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_heGb-vOGyfmFRUoez_pOo3lReo4nyz4ajdTA2DPkqFCpwrN2_E2I_JtNWLk22HduQWCdyANusKB2tI7-T0DyTL1SJJRDm6kEb5YBsA3cF6wE_qC8BOL5NKnxlC7CgBojFUMwvM8BCDJp/s1600/Me,+spinning--cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_heGb-vOGyfmFRUoez_pOo3lReo4nyz4ajdTA2DPkqFCpwrN2_E2I_JtNWLk22HduQWCdyANusKB2tI7-T0DyTL1SJJRDm6kEb5YBsA3cF6wE_qC8BOL5NKnxlC7CgBojFUMwvM8BCDJp/s320/Me,+spinning--cropped.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yes, I like to spin without shoes -- sue me. I'd applied a lovely shimmery gold nail polish the night before, so my toes were rockin'.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>So, once I was done, I had about enough two-ply silk yarn to knit the Clementine Shawlette (pattern: Interweave Knits).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0O9xmY4aWL252CD_IWek4zcxnUAbTJX1LwfUAR-kEHDht_jB8PbHyjlz93uEIBY5yeeBnEC7sUt7um3pKlmMBnIGKAtUT4aXd0TUY0ye5fcpxujOXjYjnFwpotaVlDbnmbNqo2s45pnNI/s1600/Clementine+Shawlette.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0O9xmY4aWL252CD_IWek4zcxnUAbTJX1LwfUAR-kEHDht_jB8PbHyjlz93uEIBY5yeeBnEC7sUt7um3pKlmMBnIGKAtUT4aXd0TUY0ye5fcpxujOXjYjnFwpotaVlDbnmbNqo2s45pnNI/s320/Clementine+Shawlette.JPG" /></a></div>When I say about enough, I mean that it was going to be touch and go. But I do love to live life on the wild side.<br />
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So here's a closeup of my shawl. The color is a kind of really old, slightly dirty ivory -- not my best color.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-blK0fRI39_gyIpmOewCG4YGRNNPKGE8ZgmoJuB0POxkDqjWYEMNRq5IRz1BxYZJt2Y90rJWpZUZQ2U5K_IO6ZK878fDmiKhjIDKSt111MkyPWsW9dlRyddSZfERZE1_pFuCw6OnsHDV/s1600/024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL-blK0fRI39_gyIpmOewCG4YGRNNPKGE8ZgmoJuB0POxkDqjWYEMNRq5IRz1BxYZJt2Y90rJWpZUZQ2U5K_IO6ZK878fDmiKhjIDKSt111MkyPWsW9dlRyddSZfERZE1_pFuCw6OnsHDV/s320/024.jpg" /></a></div><span id="goog_30168084"></span><span id="goog_30168085"></span>The last weekend of August I attended an all-day workshop on dyeing with indigo and other natural plants. The program was held at the University of Delaware, and one of my FiberGuild buddies was there, too, so I felt a bit more comfortable. Having her there helped me avoid either of my two default settings for social nervousness: either silence or nearly nonstop talking.<br />
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I'd thought I might like to dye the shawl blue (i.e., with the indigo), but when I saw the results of the black walnut hull dyebath on another participant's silk fabric, I knew that this was the color for me.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIk2SqBiKiBscedCRzGe1CcJocqBma8OHeti0ZWmhQTmyckH8X2zvnevsopKLKoIp56Vu3FgEjxIsEOqlKxBiK-Gnxc5LsbSKpqSulwmUiMJo9sFvSKHj_8cqVaJXvYBEeKh3A5Mlyp5YE/s1600/027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIk2SqBiKiBscedCRzGe1CcJocqBma8OHeti0ZWmhQTmyckH8X2zvnevsopKLKoIp56Vu3FgEjxIsEOqlKxBiK-Gnxc5LsbSKpqSulwmUiMJo9sFvSKHj_8cqVaJXvYBEeKh3A5Mlyp5YE/s320/027.jpg" /></a></div>I took this picture on a really sunny day, so the green is really way too vibrant compared to the shawl's real-life appearance.<br />
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Take a look at this. This is more what you see when you look at the finished product. There's that true silk shine!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi661qmUfV2vfLfZQkDO_pv_OCtvQOJRANQXje3fUBbUSSzbdFWs8Xep_6hK9uOf7YkPphG6kimey-9NJCfUsdLicUrz8Gc9JSViSFLClxV7TkmAgp6y4WsnItN9Lzqm4uruZqQgKlbwIKE/s1600/036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi661qmUfV2vfLfZQkDO_pv_OCtvQOJRANQXje3fUBbUSSzbdFWs8Xep_6hK9uOf7YkPphG6kimey-9NJCfUsdLicUrz8Gc9JSViSFLClxV7TkmAgp6y4WsnItN9Lzqm4uruZqQgKlbwIKE/s320/036.jpg" /></a></div>And here's a shot of the whole shawl and the tiny ball of leftover silk. (Excuse the crappy "styling" in this photo. I was trying to get pictures as quickly as possible to keep Loki from suffering a nervous breakdown. He's <i>such </i>a momma's boy, and he didn't like being left inside.)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsyZPbo1DDyr2LUYJCxUSKYh56d7IpUjBh2DLhlYk7C8mfzIskEv1xPe2qA62V_tivFmyMjbybECY-GG8IeNvck6gcLU5F0h6WiaCVXmnX76zP0qqMe205w-zUHbFeeUx4lK2WFeFkJnYG/s1600/038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsyZPbo1DDyr2LUYJCxUSKYh56d7IpUjBh2DLhlYk7C8mfzIskEv1xPe2qA62V_tivFmyMjbybECY-GG8IeNvck6gcLU5F0h6WiaCVXmnX76zP0qqMe205w-zUHbFeeUx4lK2WFeFkJnYG/s320/038.jpg" /></a></div>I can't wait until the next opportunity to spin myself some silk. If you haven't tried it yourself, why not give it a whirl?Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09908397962476959083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452916059193538444.post-43144433030751279222010-06-02T08:08:00.001-04:002010-06-02T08:09:34.125-04:00You realize, of course, this means warThe day started like any other. It was a beautiful, early-summer morning, and sunlight streamed into the yard. I sauntered from the back deck out into the grass, heading for my little garden.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUEL1ulWugFlYrHsQhWpMunb9ewX82WXODRg51fF65ByVqyI-Xct1VCWI61TlecM5i-9GOtioZfMa2TWyC8F8P9bSlqst0bqj0SgmlnXaffs1bE2o7qRA1NMdB_ezHHAQy4RUZPuIUw2Ch/s1600/003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUEL1ulWugFlYrHsQhWpMunb9ewX82WXODRg51fF65ByVqyI-Xct1VCWI61TlecM5i-9GOtioZfMa2TWyC8F8P9bSlqst0bqj0SgmlnXaffs1bE2o7qRA1NMdB_ezHHAQy4RUZPuIUw2Ch/s320/003.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div>I could see the beans working their way up the white trellis and the newly planted tomatoes squatting near the ground, gaining the strength for their explosive growth.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLi1d3B_KUGzg7RygggckM4fVEdBS-DJPvWMysO3rOodtNsl-77Car_5jSENKyQBgJE9mRI56jIUsErcsNL_UXqHbY_c7WoilbuVTx7PNRbMCbvK-CVPLKwO1SUQvCK1x9QHdFqAxwMqeF/s1600/004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLi1d3B_KUGzg7RygggckM4fVEdBS-DJPvWMysO3rOodtNsl-77Car_5jSENKyQBgJE9mRI56jIUsErcsNL_UXqHbY_c7WoilbuVTx7PNRbMCbvK-CVPLKwO1SUQvCK1x9QHdFqAxwMqeF/s320/004.jpg" /></a></div>Gaa! What the hell was that?! The telltale hole leading under the shed ... he's back ... oh, the horror! Our elusive groundhog, Fat Bastard, was back, and he obviously was making himself at home.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SUtEOheoFZl4WRYPCqr1RW_jiMfmosReOXRHVK8jVkkDsEdFWSDpjizcMrUzIB075iXVV1z0S4ODk_CeaQbDZr032OKYs5RD8Cc7DMzKFEfosCff75X17QppIWC-p2G_l_kJCjcpeQJ3/s1600/005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SUtEOheoFZl4WRYPCqr1RW_jiMfmosReOXRHVK8jVkkDsEdFWSDpjizcMrUzIB075iXVV1z0S4ODk_CeaQbDZr032OKYs5RD8Cc7DMzKFEfosCff75X17QppIWC-p2G_l_kJCjcpeQJ3/s320/005.jpg" /></a></div>I don't know that I've planted enough to be able to share.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZbkbW1dLfZINPu3e0S7rhmnZ_Ir0BgzOd7JUhip7-bUOGp978Ie-09bDLJ4b85m7FzOCrpfwjkiUIMu6HgkI9Nm-HsUGmEkzRYLenOziqSOnZfxxktF4Q9TuA9dEsRet3KSMIc3zKXCu/s1600/006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgZbkbW1dLfZINPu3e0S7rhmnZ_Ir0BgzOd7JUhip7-bUOGp978Ie-09bDLJ4b85m7FzOCrpfwjkiUIMu6HgkI9Nm-HsUGmEkzRYLenOziqSOnZfxxktF4Q9TuA9dEsRet3KSMIc3zKXCu/s320/006.jpg" /></a></div>Bugs Bunny, one of our household heroes, rarely instigated fights; however, when forced to fight, he invariably won. It remains to be seen which of us -- the novice gardener or Fat Bastard -- will be playing the role of Bugs.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09908397962476959083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452916059193538444.post-8690224534986602312010-05-27T11:45:00.000-04:002010-05-27T11:45:46.187-04:00Growing thingsThis year I'm trying to grow things ... on purpose.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqsa39MkEQV9rYpNIi2b3Gs8nypUPXa9IY2iTZayQFeGeJSF7pwiWdMVOErkDQ0VS-0KRjlVXdX5sjR3DRs9PjuBaupFoCzYN430g5HfnLUuXYXjZKPdFzYs7VqkqH7His-Pi0Eq37Znl/s1600/004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqsa39MkEQV9rYpNIi2b3Gs8nypUPXa9IY2iTZayQFeGeJSF7pwiWdMVOErkDQ0VS-0KRjlVXdX5sjR3DRs9PjuBaupFoCzYN430g5HfnLUuXYXjZKPdFzYs7VqkqH7His-Pi0Eq37Znl/s320/004.jpg" /></a></div>This is my newly claimed garden. This spot in the back left corner of our yard has always been a problem child. The ground, while fairly good, is full of rocks. The previous owners apparently used this area as a dumping ground for said rocks, shingles, pull tabs (remember those?), and other stuff they didn't feel like dealing with.<br />
<br />
So, after I dug up the dirt and Skimbleshanks and I took turns sifting out most of the rocks and other junk, my big bruddah installed those posts and the lattice. (Very cool: the lattice is plastic ... no painting! However, once the gate is installed, that will have to be painted. Oh, well.)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVu8JS3eWY6_C-Z1nrBVy1U1fo5bY3mX1q-DIPlH5TzgW8JttRCr7a1zMpU1rYNhqlkJh96a8Y2yywqP_A1Mnk4b6bfE9PAzzkllfVdTz0ZfcRL6eVOkwzhvWzDuD7Hd3Nn1qbd0D3K2rY/s1600/001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVu8JS3eWY6_C-Z1nrBVy1U1fo5bY3mX1q-DIPlH5TzgW8JttRCr7a1zMpU1rYNhqlkJh96a8Y2yywqP_A1Mnk4b6bfE9PAzzkllfVdTz0ZfcRL6eVOkwzhvWzDuD7Hd3Nn1qbd0D3K2rY/s320/001.jpg" /></a></div>This is the inside of the lattice, where my first growing thing is being very obliging and actually growing. Green beans -- mmm! I've planted them on both sides of the lattice, hoping that they'll creep their way all over it both to look pretty and to make it easier to harvest the beans.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDpZ5zPzsx65-8cmgwkhBTd4GWwuHCRHJgNuZ546Ru8_sg-QoCgekuYwJwLDk_32yWkK6Lmz98UwOwA156ruewzWswwYCiIBvbt6r_qsFtF56pK8iv3Dh-zrmBom4V2O05Kb8QKq-pxDu/s1600/002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiDpZ5zPzsx65-8cmgwkhBTd4GWwuHCRHJgNuZ546Ru8_sg-QoCgekuYwJwLDk_32yWkK6Lmz98UwOwA156ruewzWswwYCiIBvbt6r_qsFtF56pK8iv3Dh-zrmBom4V2O05Kb8QKq-pxDu/s320/002.jpg" /></a></div>Grow, beans, grow!<br />
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So far, I've planted lettuce, carrots, and, green peppers (seedlings).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigiI0KKXp4tsjIXW2vzfHamou6HpE0FQldBJER5R5809yDiFfTIqZjlrTJSZVZjdjUyUTbh3foxJ7R1da7ZHvus2nEuW_WLw6TEPKBHa4WshJVh606xujC8_hgIa0mTm4CExGhbqno3plJ/s1600/003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigiI0KKXp4tsjIXW2vzfHamou6HpE0FQldBJER5R5809yDiFfTIqZjlrTJSZVZjdjUyUTbh3foxJ7R1da7ZHvus2nEuW_WLw6TEPKBHa4WshJVh606xujC8_hgIa0mTm4CExGhbqno3plJ/s320/003.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I've planted some peas, pumpkins, and cantaloupes in a different spot, again hoping 1) that they actually grow and 2) that they'll send their vines up, over, and around a preexisting structure (swing set/fort combo). If they cooperate with my plan, the result should be pretty cool. I believe that the squirrels have been raiding the pea spot, but that's OK. What they haven't figured out is that there's another row of peas planted on the other side of the structure. We shall have to see who wins this battle of wits. Stay tuned.<br />
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On the other side of the shed I've planted some herbs. (Yeah, yeah, I know it's messy; I don't have the "tidy" gene, so sue me.) <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg08a5Z3mbRtqWA1No6l-jBfizWK34_-TF9QK_6ZvrZFo5V4fkFB3E8Gj89VbevPZ_50S_xl1qzhaNuGjzaX44YhWmF5XUu7qS28HVwIUbv0u0NTesP9NzFbO9a5bcs9rKYr1G0vBAMr56n/s1600/005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg08a5Z3mbRtqWA1No6l-jBfizWK34_-TF9QK_6ZvrZFo5V4fkFB3E8Gj89VbevPZ_50S_xl1qzhaNuGjzaX44YhWmF5XUu7qS28HVwIUbv0u0NTesP9NzFbO9a5bcs9rKYr1G0vBAMr56n/s320/005.jpg" /></a></div>Let's see, obviously, that's a hosta in front. Behind it is a lavender plant, and it already has one flower spike. Such excitement! I have three other lavender plants, but they didn't produce any flowers last year, the ingrates. OK, beyond the lavender is nasturtium...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9-GPpMERGJjeUeaEJvhuGwueS3H46uTISgVrnBy1NqUGIFC7VOKyiDkLDRIWSmAWWzBN7uJtcHf0zl4Ev8yK0GllJYedt1Y1HXIHq1QGmv0dKlUENNnjiSPWmytFN-NHgGJKdIXubaLvN/s1600/009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9-GPpMERGJjeUeaEJvhuGwueS3H46uTISgVrnBy1NqUGIFC7VOKyiDkLDRIWSmAWWzBN7uJtcHf0zl4Ev8yK0GllJYedt1Y1HXIHq1QGmv0dKlUENNnjiSPWmytFN-NHgGJKdIXubaLvN/s320/009.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg36lr8xnlNwJgxow8ZRYWiUP7lBQr_NczruaPybKRo-EikO9NGZFhc_jv4DHLVrCqgQG8wqv2t1o0wMB2j01VAsiMqJ57cYj-3CaaJpcrEEffaKahhCDKEyLblbfcv_dh3rrXJme7obC-D/s1600/006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg36lr8xnlNwJgxow8ZRYWiUP7lBQr_NczruaPybKRo-EikO9NGZFhc_jv4DHLVrCqgQG8wqv2t1o0wMB2j01VAsiMqJ57cYj-3CaaJpcrEEffaKahhCDKEyLblbfcv_dh3rrXJme7obC-D/s320/006.jpg" /></a></div>... and two scented geraniums ...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRg-FhUxHb7fICHk3jSHULelsbIlFC2o4ZiwG5PLdrEZle4IBKr6DxSd0zV61uHoEZnMJqlzhxheXlqKhyYjk9T_MhMJ2Ir6uVFIB_00SuLGNL5UCGV046D0c4xzvuGyHTDlfZDTksN3a-/s1600/007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRg-FhUxHb7fICHk3jSHULelsbIlFC2o4ZiwG5PLdrEZle4IBKr6DxSd0zV61uHoEZnMJqlzhxheXlqKhyYjk9T_MhMJ2Ir6uVFIB_00SuLGNL5UCGV046D0c4xzvuGyHTDlfZDTksN3a-/s320/007.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdqFzjhRIeI5XinZxQvMP3sgtl9eVW7PTxN_veu-0D8yeZ4ESKasygaPgigf70rbU9xWNR4l_nEUnSZbbGNkX9hjJ2brqLO9P-KtdrmYnfKL35O6S2TTzykd9FvuB4Dhs6A-1Vwx9bYBV/s1600/008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdqFzjhRIeI5XinZxQvMP3sgtl9eVW7PTxN_veu-0D8yeZ4ESKasygaPgigf70rbU9xWNR4l_nEUnSZbbGNkX9hjJ2brqLO9P-KtdrmYnfKL35O6S2TTzykd9FvuB4Dhs6A-1Vwx9bYBV/s320/008.jpg" /></a></div>The geraniums are still a bit "weedy," but I'm sure they'll fill in ... if they survive. I also have tarragon, sage, rosemary, basil (this one's a goner, sadly), thyme, and marjoram. I think that's it. It's enough, anyway.<br />
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Time to share one of my favorite growing-thing secrets. It may not be a secret at all, but when I was a kid, I just thought it was the neatest things around. So, here we have your basic honeysuckle.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpknkxf_lAZpL2HbXwIC4aPcx1tzYVm-4YMcSq1ddmYOhujNIvGwR841LLXdgpeTN89-wuliolZMqP8-A-i8bBeevPzh9cERK7bF14UdPsvGW-ZcqG3RC1j8KYdVbCEpZaS4pQDQWT9BOV/s1600/010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpknkxf_lAZpL2HbXwIC4aPcx1tzYVm-4YMcSq1ddmYOhujNIvGwR841LLXdgpeTN89-wuliolZMqP8-A-i8bBeevPzh9cERK7bF14UdPsvGW-ZcqG3RC1j8KYdVbCEpZaS4pQDQWT9BOV/s320/010.jpg" /></a></div>At our house, this stuff is all over our fence, and it smells wonderful. So, pick a flower or two, making sure that you keep the, uh, end caps in place, like this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_nViHDSizdlWSaS6A6HPlHEsO7gk3334GFoOIanz_BcuhTUrugCQzsgGGk8xt9oqdXex4aysGJCejP0r0jT-24H7L2LvPl31rJRny1Lw0y-47aJ2oyDYHpYZS46SnmuMwVKJkFYLUap2q/s1600/012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_nViHDSizdlWSaS6A6HPlHEsO7gk3334GFoOIanz_BcuhTUrugCQzsgGGk8xt9oqdXex4aysGJCejP0r0jT-24H7L2LvPl31rJRny1Lw0y-47aJ2oyDYHpYZS46SnmuMwVKJkFYLUap2q/s320/012.jpg" /></a></div>Very carefully, use your thumbnail to cut the flower stem on the top side, being very careful not to cut through the ... pistil (I think that's what it's called -- the thing that grows from the cap end and extends beyond the trumpet end). Very slowly, pull the bloom and pistil apart ...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8Ygm-trjnTuQZWmep40ZWGgIeU7bS6lQZPHZBxTNp5teyLW547u_Zu-RRnI25vcfgCn49vD7d7_aAtBRCZlx_rhRplLWgeLm20ZEG2ZF1RNUSEl2LkNzlPszThJoyokcWVrS85_R1-9k/s1600/013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8Ygm-trjnTuQZWmep40ZWGgIeU7bS6lQZPHZBxTNp5teyLW547u_Zu-RRnI25vcfgCn49vD7d7_aAtBRCZlx_rhRplLWgeLm20ZEG2ZF1RNUSEl2LkNzlPszThJoyokcWVrS85_R1-9k/s320/013.jpg" /></a></div>(The white flowers weren't cooperating with my little demonstration, so I had to try again with a more-cooperative yellow flower.) See that little drop of liquid? It's sugary sweet and wonderful. Yummy! Of course, you get just the barest hint of the sweetness and floral scent, but it's oh, so worth it. Another flower that will share it's nectar is the tulip poplar.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhup79w76DQLESSx5M2L-WoVK8w-g8lo7oN8eAABTp0nLrfjYjspQA9_xDAdx5jCwKazKyIkdBlap8up3SJ0sIOJ1R2EGs2mv-mSN-uk3aV5f3dFC1jZJpb68FRDGcHJRhyD2fmefxIGnTo/s1600/Tulip+poplar+flower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhup79w76DQLESSx5M2L-WoVK8w-g8lo7oN8eAABTp0nLrfjYjspQA9_xDAdx5jCwKazKyIkdBlap8up3SJ0sIOJ1R2EGs2mv-mSN-uk3aV5f3dFC1jZJpb68FRDGcHJRhyD2fmefxIGnTo/s320/Tulip+poplar+flower.jpg" /></a></div>(Source: http://image48.webshots.com/48/2/11/23/2154211230089814797LGEFrk_fs.jpg)<br />
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The flower shown here is a bit too open, but you'll get the idea. Anyway, once it's open, you hope for rain. After the rain, you have to climb the tree and make it out to a blossom. Look inside and you'll find a very small puddle of sweet, sweet nectar. Climbing the tree, shinnying along its branches to the flowers, and sipping that sweet liquid is one of my favorite childhood memories. Of course, as an adult, I feel a bit queasy at the thought of just how high I climbed and how far out on those branches I went. Oh, well. Isn't there a saying about God watching out for kids and idiots? Buddha must have been exhausted every night when I was a fearless little tomboy.<br />
<br />
Oh, one more flower. Here's a rose. This little guy just keeps hanging on by the skin of its teeth from year to year. I've decided that the kindest thing I can do for it is to just keep my distance.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT5SKjKiCMhtTGsEimOshx5tzt5n5E-VnUGuJGBI2kIC4UuQGgK79EV7xOCt7Jk46yaIKB48E8mwvzzSDRfPjR2lM2_IQi2XNn_vEx_jNQn5fZmJMA4sd6ChYq6mGIDawCERppPrZVUH4m/s1600/016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT5SKjKiCMhtTGsEimOshx5tzt5n5E-VnUGuJGBI2kIC4UuQGgK79EV7xOCt7Jk46yaIKB48E8mwvzzSDRfPjR2lM2_IQi2XNn_vEx_jNQn5fZmJMA4sd6ChYq6mGIDawCERppPrZVUH4m/s320/016.jpg" /></a></div>And no selection of yard pictures would be complete with my constant companion, Loki.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZqKjcjKooZ8l8QPo23Ih_zBQ5v-XWM2RP-0NUWeGpUv0YD_hJYJ-PVn26biTIYd-95w3I9wAGNryBNx0pQHXHYFz6qOcSWbrFJyTMKCJYRE_Zpl8LxV37j4df_hnR4stKbW5EmZT-eRl/s1600/019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZqKjcjKooZ8l8QPo23Ih_zBQ5v-XWM2RP-0NUWeGpUv0YD_hJYJ-PVn26biTIYd-95w3I9wAGNryBNx0pQHXHYFz6qOcSWbrFJyTMKCJYRE_Zpl8LxV37j4df_hnR4stKbW5EmZT-eRl/s320/019.jpg" /></a></div>I wanted to get a head-on shot of him, but he kept getting in my face every time I squatted down. "Me ... and my sha-dow!"Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09908397962476959083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452916059193538444.post-68848746090854547212010-05-16T20:14:00.002-04:002010-05-18T18:58:04.541-04:00Fair Hill Scottish GamesSaturday was the 50th Annual Fair Hill (Maryland) Scottish Games. The day was -- glorious!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwyXdrZ1MhWn5IdUiIEQH6o4Ba9u6Clki7GzoDZ8AIhASgG8vUCRUsHBnTVF2x4_aoVauNBG2EmBASCel9EhoJS4AflZp1mRi6fIY5SSBxG7_IaVlc94eqdYQMq8X9B2hogmxZm5x147Ma/s1600/Scottish+Games--2010+058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwyXdrZ1MhWn5IdUiIEQH6o4Ba9u6Clki7GzoDZ8AIhASgG8vUCRUsHBnTVF2x4_aoVauNBG2EmBASCel9EhoJS4AflZp1mRi6fIY5SSBxG7_IaVlc94eqdYQMq8X9B2hogmxZm5x147Ma/s320/Scottish+Games--2010+058.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Everywhere you looked there were men in kilts.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR9xLT_0QSLKDXxSXX-DwmiX0s9XNy4RCv9eBS3WZFuDNKgFbMNcasVuvVhqVB-_47rkLYIlvfRkLzkO3w0ACRqtuV7_HU7VH-m_CA7Q2dyYV-QuDEeJ1t961g_FxusSQ3zia_bQw0bUaf/s1600/Scottish+Games--2010+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR9xLT_0QSLKDXxSXX-DwmiX0s9XNy4RCv9eBS3WZFuDNKgFbMNcasVuvVhqVB-_47rkLYIlvfRkLzkO3w0ACRqtuV7_HU7VH-m_CA7Q2dyYV-QuDEeJ1t961g_FxusSQ3zia_bQw0bUaf/s320/Scottish+Games--2010+021.jpg" /></a></div>Nicely turned calves were in abundance.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxn-poAh5CwgsWXKdd-7qAMXsJR1yGKlxBAfg0HR6leFRXOR_ZcoUPs2_4xw5bEhWP50yNy_rCJiEZmf4CthaACL2PKVw6l4r4ixh4890UBMw5gL7YDN2sr13NA3AiHr2SGlcPUAjFZX7/s1600/Scottish+Games--2010+075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxn-poAh5CwgsWXKdd-7qAMXsJR1yGKlxBAfg0HR6leFRXOR_ZcoUPs2_4xw5bEhWP50yNy_rCJiEZmf4CthaACL2PKVw6l4r4ixh4890UBMw5gL7YDN2sr13NA3AiHr2SGlcPUAjFZX7/s320/Scottish+Games--2010+075.jpg" /></a></div>As were nicely knitted kilt hose. My, my!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixP6ep_NxBLjKnvrsoLv3xPT8ImgU_uPTLI7v147bdMULAGdP41LdH7AKr9hmt_RyQ2UdgJj72o-klzYkEJQ2x3pFxD_AXVVB4rT4EeA7H5-1tkRLxGI6g5EvTS9SDUPq53lqev_gc0GTT/s1600/Scottish+Games--2010+024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixP6ep_NxBLjKnvrsoLv3xPT8ImgU_uPTLI7v147bdMULAGdP41LdH7AKr9hmt_RyQ2UdgJj72o-klzYkEJQ2x3pFxD_AXVVB4rT4EeA7H5-1tkRLxGI6g5EvTS9SDUPq53lqev_gc0GTT/s320/Scottish+Games--2010+024.jpg" /></a></div>Nice socks, fella! Um, someone needs to take these lovely lads aside and explain to them that proper laddies always sit with their knees together.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHY9xRbLNQ4UvAMsUwJBBSVJ1Sia5q23jJhYDiZvl68jwgUv1B2CdfQ3kJS4Ix_AWrRVJMOj-YNq9R0e9051RRrt68dp-KezF9Wkoy5NWNgGCcYmywRCTEcQ1ZHsMvnte5SoM8vLuKqA1U/s1600/Scottish+Games--2010+028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHY9xRbLNQ4UvAMsUwJBBSVJ1Sia5q23jJhYDiZvl68jwgUv1B2CdfQ3kJS4Ix_AWrRVJMOj-YNq9R0e9051RRrt68dp-KezF9Wkoy5NWNgGCcYmywRCTEcQ1ZHsMvnte5SoM8vLuKqA1U/s320/Scottish+Games--2010+028.jpg" /></a></div>I mean, seriously. The judging table for the pipe and drum bands was sitting right across from where our fiber guild was set up. So after watching each band perform, I and everyone else on that side of the field saw more manly thigh than some might deem seemly. All I can say is, thank goodness these guys were fully kitted up with their sporrans.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmALiHXMrbefCEHTERv4tjrqoEpNFyleNmNYM0zFxgOIFqULDz5tUF0gnwe5etJmRP7O0qWUvcllWH9TJEaCjI_5U5VO88enWIm_WRAP51NLIfiuVjefAW00rJVPglnV1XWbW3CWNp7K2l/s1600/Scottish+Games--2010+043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmALiHXMrbefCEHTERv4tjrqoEpNFyleNmNYM0zFxgOIFqULDz5tUF0gnwe5etJmRP7O0qWUvcllWH9TJEaCjI_5U5VO88enWIm_WRAP51NLIfiuVjefAW00rJVPglnV1XWbW3CWNp7K2l/s320/Scottish+Games--2010+043.jpg" /></a></div>It was great to see so many women participating.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOL_JI8oG1P5I8IEkmDnz7It6RQn81gwRysYOSQ6dYeG-EYDO3TdIzOPU4CA2vH4ilZsw_OdE7XCBmtoWMpBMnxtpphqOgIxw2_D1oErRCT-DnTfrJdnMQksH1F-wFBhB8RX7aSftYNEv/s1600/Scottish+Games--2010+053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOL_JI8oG1P5I8IEkmDnz7It6RQn81gwRysYOSQ6dYeG-EYDO3TdIzOPU4CA2vH4ilZsw_OdE7XCBmtoWMpBMnxtpphqOgIxw2_D1oErRCT-DnTfrJdnMQksH1F-wFBhB8RX7aSftYNEv/s320/Scottish+Games--2010+053.jpg" /></a></div>And girls, too.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSWnZKwpXVQq9fH941-5rU7T7bLIk_6IJkciBeZupEg5NsVkhaObC_FUp9ZmSvDVmfIyhK4cdAboJyT0lZhUVxKE-nlZtZ_EMKGF7AXRe3xlr7as3OwDTqMJ7JY6NGRD4R509tANcPC_-/s1600/Scottish+Games--2010+026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSWnZKwpXVQq9fH941-5rU7T7bLIk_6IJkciBeZupEg5NsVkhaObC_FUp9ZmSvDVmfIyhK4cdAboJyT0lZhUVxKE-nlZtZ_EMKGF7AXRe3xlr7as3OwDTqMJ7JY6NGRD4R509tANcPC_-/s320/Scottish+Games--2010+026.jpg" /></a></div>The boys were fairly represented, too.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQlvhiDfJ2Do6Uec47abo4WuBvBOlJd7y1DokpD7gkHeC0bsNNW8SPFvZxyRCybfmJASW5Y_Z9HPHuOqPdBsYjU65yrExcyyltTStSGCNzoZB8UJ-lUc5zcmQ30e85bbNqH7k58A8MULq/s1600/Scottish+Games--2010+027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQlvhiDfJ2Do6Uec47abo4WuBvBOlJd7y1DokpD7gkHeC0bsNNW8SPFvZxyRCybfmJASW5Y_Z9HPHuOqPdBsYjU65yrExcyyltTStSGCNzoZB8UJ-lUc5zcmQ30e85bbNqH7k58A8MULq/s320/Scottish+Games--2010+027.jpg" /></a></div>Hard work builds character!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLpim_ZKJUmo29QdwbXbivk1n3Jtp7jL7MYhWFaCab8Mqi-voXHVyar4Y5heWtB-wkgmXtnKv0mg31UzGgA77dI-NSzP3iB2UJlYS1wwX8Ue6yMUhqKqJ-1_lG1Srh0qvIhSv89VVtFNgk/s1600/Scottish+Games--2010+050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLpim_ZKJUmo29QdwbXbivk1n3Jtp7jL7MYhWFaCab8Mqi-voXHVyar4Y5heWtB-wkgmXtnKv0mg31UzGgA77dI-NSzP3iB2UJlYS1wwX8Ue6yMUhqKqJ-1_lG1Srh0qvIhSv89VVtFNgk/s320/Scottish+Games--2010+050.jpg" /></a></div>Hey ... knees together, buddy.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7XKcWKOKfnMoN5A5pRD_MD6GRWJcTvpg9jx3rpStMscNDzs3Tn_WqUV0P6e6BuqlOWBpoUnhkOkAuzyqDkYru_ohpinTAPPIdZF-UsXmWPrE7R2JIKl9LdDBTHgf_BC-BVNt7q0qk_bY/s1600/Scottish+Games--2010+090.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7XKcWKOKfnMoN5A5pRD_MD6GRWJcTvpg9jx3rpStMscNDzs3Tn_WqUV0P6e6BuqlOWBpoUnhkOkAuzyqDkYru_ohpinTAPPIdZF-UsXmWPrE7R2JIKl9LdDBTHgf_BC-BVNt7q0qk_bY/s320/Scottish+Games--2010+090.jpg" /></a></div>Lots and lots of dogs attended, including this little heartbreaker. His owner very graciously allowed me to kiss his forehead and fondle his silky ears.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBpjAUmOYvwvGilpM6Sg8vwGVmI4mGSyepx9NdkmFOm-Fp6P8ntMkJrl5PgklIKR2iGjUpRZ8ilidgvPsl_5aNkxnEB-qugIuxFdPKDtjNnavHJAwQkdDKokkZa3p2mCdNcUpBmqD8vG8V/s1600/Scottish+Games--2010+088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBpjAUmOYvwvGilpM6Sg8vwGVmI4mGSyepx9NdkmFOm-Fp6P8ntMkJrl5PgklIKR2iGjUpRZ8ilidgvPsl_5aNkxnEB-qugIuxFdPKDtjNnavHJAwQkdDKokkZa3p2mCdNcUpBmqD8vG8V/s320/Scottish+Games--2010+088.jpg" /></a></div>This is Corky, a highlands cow (I think that's the right name). He's a very sweet, placid guy, and his haircut reminds me of the one that Skimbleshanks sports. Well, to be fair, most of the 15-year-old boys wear their hair like this.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUeR7rjFdvsjsRTbSUS9P6uejzAXrE84zWupJlUSv15ejvrEa95wes45qoLqW72FqtKlLHq5BHkEdqiDlvaeXZjtIjAglxrvRZuuoY7aYNOAefVPz0P8Vz0fN3gMfvE9GXQBdB3dc8TWyq/s1600/Scottish+Games--2010+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUeR7rjFdvsjsRTbSUS9P6uejzAXrE84zWupJlUSv15ejvrEa95wes45qoLqW72FqtKlLHq5BHkEdqiDlvaeXZjtIjAglxrvRZuuoY7aYNOAefVPz0P8Vz0fN3gMfvE9GXQBdB3dc8TWyq/s320/Scottish+Games--2010+014.jpg" /></a></div>So, our fiber guild attended the games to demonstrate spinning and weaving. The loom was already prestrung as you see here. The small bobbins of grayish thread were spun by four of us throughout the day.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMKwH9jNEOKmJAafyff5iD3rFojlMqLa2fRpDPu1rSuHTPBcr_UrYob5zruhykrRdX29wdLNkpfTYqUGECtFqmixiFiYLX7LGMNmuwFLbc4CCqamsbtCoif5xf_MPDinT4Gz-t5yAFf-J/s1600/Scottish+Games--2010+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMKwH9jNEOKmJAafyff5iD3rFojlMqLa2fRpDPu1rSuHTPBcr_UrYob5zruhykrRdX29wdLNkpfTYqUGECtFqmixiFiYLX7LGMNmuwFLbc4CCqamsbtCoif5xf_MPDinT4Gz-t5yAFf-J/s320/Scottish+Games--2010+013.jpg" /></a></div>The finished piece, a shawl, was to be auctioned off to the highest bidder at 3:00 p.m.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr_0VeSg66vq0svelQemjQqWh4H2eJgRTRiH0UrXs2uOXYIH9dzg9YwTDHlCcY90lTyFv4ufAqmaihNp8f6seUNXuuehXC1GrHNHnVHmIhPt8Rjpy5stwvCtRDgagz9ik3KDorKFzm1hS8/s1600/Scottish+Games--2010+039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr_0VeSg66vq0svelQemjQqWh4H2eJgRTRiH0UrXs2uOXYIH9dzg9YwTDHlCcY90lTyFv4ufAqmaihNp8f6seUNXuuehXC1GrHNHnVHmIhPt8Rjpy5stwvCtRDgagz9ik3KDorKFzm1hS8/s320/Scottish+Games--2010+039.jpg" /></a></div>Almost done!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3DnEkcLd2O-4M6H3sugUrigIhq3RqEUhoVMdqiIwu1lbvtPsIviFQZpJflBsRE2HS_72OwjovonxMmkXhjKH30p17HOzO_pMul-YJVJq3wxF5HBDKJnujOc9VmXTJ01ZuYJOYei8QsgKG/s1600/Scottish+Games--2010+061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3DnEkcLd2O-4M6H3sugUrigIhq3RqEUhoVMdqiIwu1lbvtPsIviFQZpJflBsRE2HS_72OwjovonxMmkXhjKH30p17HOzO_pMul-YJVJq3wxF5HBDKJnujOc9VmXTJ01ZuYJOYei8QsgKG/s320/Scottish+Games--2010+061.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And here it is. What a beautiful piece of fabric! Linda (holding it) was the highest bidder -- lucky her!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkipLZ_gyX8L6M3ky9eM8sfmbRa0eZN_jyl09soLxfr5phyphenhyphenfPJsVWo-pt5w0MdzmmuZlnn4e-e0TICXp7LgcDBQMkBBsAa4kvVtQHtUj9Q5dXoezx34vkCmLc-ApFlyJElubz9cLpCm-8K/s1600/Me,+spinning.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkipLZ_gyX8L6M3ky9eM8sfmbRa0eZN_jyl09soLxfr5phyphenhyphenfPJsVWo-pt5w0MdzmmuZlnn4e-e0TICXp7LgcDBQMkBBsAa4kvVtQHtUj9Q5dXoezx34vkCmLc-ApFlyJElubz9cLpCm-8K/s320/Me,+spinning.JPG" /></a></div>This is me, late in the day, spinning silk. (Photo credit: my big bruddah)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZs81fElAD09aybFz6lXnymYKolTxIlfMcJVlOf34pK-W07ti2hbmHLXAJkc9fpzwXm4QLYqn_v6Zc5pF_oLs5_hHnOwmfPdvjOdfSNv5D7H9vbK6uxxL7SpP5ZM7oq7NXqjccerHcT6tQ/s1600/Scottish+Games--2010+067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZs81fElAD09aybFz6lXnymYKolTxIlfMcJVlOf34pK-W07ti2hbmHLXAJkc9fpzwXm4QLYqn_v6Zc5pF_oLs5_hHnOwmfPdvjOdfSNv5D7H9vbK6uxxL7SpP5ZM7oq7NXqjccerHcT6tQ/s320/Scottish+Games--2010+067.jpg" /></a></div>So, to recap, nice legs.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPlFVUnw3gBfO5G83ecF2bC9jqolQwDIfgu0P0tevRsCsLc0Wwc3aEr0I4CdMhTyVPkQWGEt8e2rQogcFl6X3mLFzVUoHMMQsj4fCC70FTc9B6SPd5dTTZlXAoOG3Pp5HWK5e_wktwXN4A/s1600/Scottish+Games--2010+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPlFVUnw3gBfO5G83ecF2bC9jqolQwDIfgu0P0tevRsCsLc0Wwc3aEr0I4CdMhTyVPkQWGEt8e2rQogcFl6X3mLFzVUoHMMQsj4fCC70FTc9B6SPd5dTTZlXAoOG3Pp5HWK5e_wktwXN4A/s320/Scottish+Games--2010+018.jpg" /></a></div>Drummers of all ages.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHq4sq9_7viAE4F4zZtc9Z4voRDPjnCUkXQ3CO24599rXdj8YJPF4w1ie65-LD9myhXMJGPJLBkIhZQMaMWJACJK39K-PXPy-8oGKJUBRYFH6b6Ca4gpFMK8QWN77deBOmIOe4rzBNcTQ/s1600/Scottish+Games--2010+066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHq4sq9_7viAE4F4zZtc9Z4voRDPjnCUkXQ3CO24599rXdj8YJPF4w1ie65-LD9myhXMJGPJLBkIhZQMaMWJACJK39K-PXPy-8oGKJUBRYFH6b6Ca4gpFMK8QWN77deBOmIOe4rzBNcTQ/s320/Scottish+Games--2010+066.jpg" /></a></div>But all with the same intensity.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRiVBoIVM1c4C67cS5nlTaz98L3oWOey-wUo1Sc9z0Q1-1ca8DcEFKDcH-2EZ6rifoi0z4PIV1A98EltmpTQcYYOiE5d0O2dwD-0YvJoe6rHox6Il8FtsvFyY_effmRTz5fY2FzQaYnPaJ/s1600/Scottish+Games--2010+081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRiVBoIVM1c4C67cS5nlTaz98L3oWOey-wUo1Sc9z0Q1-1ca8DcEFKDcH-2EZ6rifoi0z4PIV1A98EltmpTQcYYOiE5d0O2dwD-0YvJoe6rHox6Il8FtsvFyY_effmRTz5fY2FzQaYnPaJ/s320/Scottish+Games--2010+081.jpg" /></a></div>Except this guy. He was about the same size and shape as his drum, and he was rocking and rolling and having a grand time.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0aJJ887uBqOpnP7KYROBoBLTr-sxIyYejrGZiJ8jv6PWOPhU6nvtuSlUxFlGGI6n6bBklj272RlZmseGnmy3-KD8-gkp6wRS6ejAbTSZ4x4-pCESYqFm6-543vbWtMXAlDUlUKKfNggf3/s1600/Scottish+Games--2010+047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0aJJ887uBqOpnP7KYROBoBLTr-sxIyYejrGZiJ8jv6PWOPhU6nvtuSlUxFlGGI6n6bBklj272RlZmseGnmy3-KD8-gkp6wRS6ejAbTSZ4x4-pCESYqFm6-543vbWtMXAlDUlUKKfNggf3/s320/Scottish+Games--2010+047.jpg" /></a></div>Pipers, too, were into the day. The guy second from the right was completely absorbed and paced throughout the tune.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0z38V36yU-FHDUDuUwqNR0O53tx53ALzs_JiW7q-O-I0XvtrW8ZfrV6s0l85vbRmfm9chIu_h1CiWUkqh1pXOcMBY6oPgoWD1jW4sJ_gxR5tATYGswASoWE6D_HrtiEmpeyC23DkICioh/s1600/Scottish+Games--2010+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0z38V36yU-FHDUDuUwqNR0O53tx53ALzs_JiW7q-O-I0XvtrW8ZfrV6s0l85vbRmfm9chIu_h1CiWUkqh1pXOcMBY6oPgoWD1jW4sJ_gxR5tATYGswASoWE6D_HrtiEmpeyC23DkICioh/s320/Scottish+Games--2010+015.jpg" /></a></div>So, as I wrap this up and say goodbye to the Scottish Games, I leave you with this image ...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfS79Uzoc-7wE_XEa1722bP3gJLgwRjcOLVwZPcCIHWzXSutV06FluwzY8PyXVOBsfA8OVEeLJZJB6slmpre4wTO8vB6Wa5uc5avXi5xI9fwQM0cftznR1TOSrCHhYObTdbGezDpGfvjc0/s1600/Scottish+Games--2010+029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfS79Uzoc-7wE_XEa1722bP3gJLgwRjcOLVwZPcCIHWzXSutV06FluwzY8PyXVOBsfA8OVEeLJZJB6slmpre4wTO8vB6Wa5uc5avXi5xI9fwQM0cftznR1TOSrCHhYObTdbGezDpGfvjc0/s320/Scottish+Games--2010+029.jpg" /></a></div>Men in kilts ... <i>le sigh</i>!Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09908397962476959083noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452916059193538444.post-18827276184402447232010-05-10T11:06:00.012-04:002010-05-10T11:34:18.779-04:00MDS&W Festival GoodiesLet me preface this by saying that my shopping at MDS&W was underwritten by my guilt-free money. All year long, I put my pocket change into a jar. Periodically I'll wrap the coins, then set them aside. Once a year I take everything to the bank and exchange metal for paper. I can tell you that you'll be surprised by how much accumulates in one year. Oh, it also helps if your spouse puts his money in the jar, too. So, thanks to the money jar and a wonderful surprise gift from Ed, I was able to feed my fiber need.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpb3362LQCs_ukZ4MKSm65JIKQaHe5Stoz0lmQ9Dp8Qkq0yUmt5mbHz6ymoHXhl8ghLxhzBYd22XsqnkMXQJfSZlzFSzgRxtuc_dOGXY4AuVSJ7kqxUI-lqmnGdX2sMWW694dutoZWSLOX/s1600/MDSW--Haul+001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpb3362LQCs_ukZ4MKSm65JIKQaHe5Stoz0lmQ9Dp8Qkq0yUmt5mbHz6ymoHXhl8ghLxhzBYd22XsqnkMXQJfSZlzFSzgRxtuc_dOGXY4AuVSJ7kqxUI-lqmnGdX2sMWW694dutoZWSLOX/s320/MDSW--Haul+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469659051950418962" border="0" /></a>Wonderful tussah silk -- I'm spinning this up right now, and it's absolutely wonderful. I thought that silk would have a fairly short staple (don't ask me why), but it's long, lustrous, and, well, silky.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtOLg5EklrDg8nuZCIYY9OCI-dTu8szFsfC82nDK3_sCH6ApgU0fkeq5JtyVV1H2Ut7g_F3-f9mr2H-K50oXfmWlGWFoV8aKiZgevxoipzo8bGy6iLaNeUhy-ch9K2o7zIay2J8Q91JxJB/s1600/MDSW--Haul+004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtOLg5EklrDg8nuZCIYY9OCI-dTu8szFsfC82nDK3_sCH6ApgU0fkeq5JtyVV1H2Ut7g_F3-f9mr2H-K50oXfmWlGWFoV8aKiZgevxoipzo8bGy6iLaNeUhy-ch9K2o7zIay2J8Q91JxJB/s320/MDSW--Haul+004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469659127819684754" border="0" /></a>Cotton -- This I'll be spinning on my charka. The cool thing about cotton is that you set the twist (or finish it or whatever it's called) by boiling your skeins. The cotton Ed gave me with my charka turned from a kind of light mildewy ivory to a beautiful olive color as I watched. Cool!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQSkF4m4VPEg89NyTo5oWZkK4tRoRazhegFw_u7dCYqiM3vyKjXf5ItTjbCurTgMYjqjJ6pdQpCmpypVtdCfjle0KhCLa-9RAm7BD2LJXqFKSWARNhyJ2J_wvnYq5stsotFnSqkDI-K5J2/s1600/MDSW--Haul+005.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQSkF4m4VPEg89NyTo5oWZkK4tRoRazhegFw_u7dCYqiM3vyKjXf5ItTjbCurTgMYjqjJ6pdQpCmpypVtdCfjle0KhCLa-9RAm7BD2LJXqFKSWARNhyJ2J_wvnYq5stsotFnSqkDI-K5J2/s320/MDSW--Haul+005.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469659197971502578" border="0" /></a>Blueface Leicester -- I bought a bag of this to see what all the fuss is about. Some people talk about BFL as if it were a miracle or the be-all end-all. Well, I've spun all this up (~525 yards, 2 ply), and it <span style="font-style: italic;">was </span>wonderful to spin. I'm looking forward to my next encounter with this fiber.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-V7H69aGxxUjQdkuX5rL043BRnyCPyyRl3jne3QR4Y77SC4E1j5dVl3wEu-K1fD8fIo6UJrl5fiWXs8dJoEOLVtUp-Pj71BDWMk0ZCbVOnXT7h0C3NOPxUWn0MWrM_FbHMuEXMSfl82W/s1600/MDSW--Haul+008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-V7H69aGxxUjQdkuX5rL043BRnyCPyyRl3jne3QR4Y77SC4E1j5dVl3wEu-K1fD8fIo6UJrl5fiWXs8dJoEOLVtUp-Pj71BDWMk0ZCbVOnXT7h0C3NOPxUWn0MWrM_FbHMuEXMSfl82W/s320/MDSW--Haul+008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469659292849034962" border="0" /></a>4-pitch English wool combs -- A woman on Ravelry was offering this set for sale, pickup to be at the festival. I've wanted wool combs for a while now. In fact, I made a set myself, based on instructions I found on the interwebz. I used nails, and they worked fairly well, except I had to hold both of the combs and wound up straining muscles in my forearms. Not good. I've used these new combs (which were available at less than half the current going rate for a set like this), and I'm ecstatic. They do what they're meant to do. And I haven't impaled myself yet!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuEnXVOSk7YbX8gtdIx13dm6sfAowG9b2OGGFsTx64TK2LdQQSQDV3Hi93P8SrAshku4jX99P06XcRelVI-HQjsRhvHz-c6zyqyN7UJd1N6ntyP3OLX7nU0F9ayILtZqvSMCWz8cr4Yk0/s1600/MDSW--Haul+010.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTuEnXVOSk7YbX8gtdIx13dm6sfAowG9b2OGGFsTx64TK2LdQQSQDV3Hi93P8SrAshku4jX99P06XcRelVI-HQjsRhvHz-c6zyqyN7UJd1N6ntyP3OLX7nU0F9ayILtZqvSMCWz8cr4Yk0/s320/MDSW--Haul+010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469659385074250146" border="0" /></a>Duster, niddy noddy, needle/project tubes, and hand-comb cleaner -- Since we live between two major highways, the dirt is a constant presence. And since I don't have the necessary housekeeping gene to keep things from getting out of hand, we need all the help we can get. So far I've been really happy with my little duster -- this is not to say that I like dusting, though. The mini niddy noddy (say that 10 times fast) will be a great addition to my spinning tools. The needle/project tubes should help keep me from tearing my hair out over missing needles and socks that have tried to escape their needles before they're done. The tiny hand-comb cleaner (touted to me by <span style="font-style: italic;">the </span>Mr. Strauch himself, no less) will be so much more efficient than using a junk needle to pick out the leftover bits from my combs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH6dYr7pd_cPjm2dhJIwBGjIhHLMc1pukd4h1P9gr7HkM5jJctDmzITpAiBbEmYPz-6fJTpx4zaMIITLhY2rseRLvm1YopN_geVdsRg9HARGSQNeUREBxAci2a96gPigNUJpHxZaaRDK7A/s1600/MDSW--Haul+011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH6dYr7pd_cPjm2dhJIwBGjIhHLMc1pukd4h1P9gr7HkM5jJctDmzITpAiBbEmYPz-6fJTpx4zaMIITLhY2rseRLvm1YopN_geVdsRg9HARGSQNeUREBxAci2a96gPigNUJpHxZaaRDK7A/s320/MDSW--Haul+011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469659478881222898" border="0" /></a>WPI tool and shawl pin -- I've been trying to make my own WPI (wraps per inch) tool, and it just wasn't working for me. Bill Hardy, who has the most wonderful wood products imaginable, solved that problem nicely. The shawl pin will be a wonderful addition to the black one I have. These little things are unbelievably useful.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3BERp2mYQouWlj760w-a_aJZw3jkqfPSBrk8k6wjGUM4aILVnHjZ9mEkz9Njwu0tB5tmZYhjxL4RLNeIJr7uIlylB0AVarW7r7UVmDHava5G_LXVs9Js3PdYCODrHMZ7B-Cx47_5fiPG2/s1600/MDSW--Haul+014.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3BERp2mYQouWlj760w-a_aJZw3jkqfPSBrk8k6wjGUM4aILVnHjZ9mEkz9Njwu0tB5tmZYhjxL4RLNeIJr7uIlylB0AVarW7r7UVmDHava5G_LXVs9Js3PdYCODrHMZ7B-Cx47_5fiPG2/s320/MDSW--Haul+014.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469659578594283458" border="0" /></a>Soap, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Complete Guide to Natural Dyeing</span>, measurement cards, earrings -- I just love the smell and feel of handmade soap, so Leslie's Garden was my first stop after the Little Barn. The book and cards I bought at The Mannings and should be interesting and helpful, each in their own way. The earrings were a happy find. They're old typewriter keys -- one is the ;/: key and the other is the @/[cent symbol] key. Since I'm a writer, I did a happy dance right in that vendor's booth.<br /><br />And that's it. A year's worth of fiber-related goodies, all purchased with my guilt-free money. Hmm ... I was at the store this morning. Time to start filling that jar again!Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09908397962476959083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2452916059193538444.post-57353089594712739942010-05-10T10:20:00.020-04:002010-05-10T10:57:31.874-04:00More MDS&W FestivalI'm trying something new and uploading all my pictures first, then adding text. We shall see if this way works better (i.e., makes me feel less like chewing off my own hands).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimA62XI0WSqZZtBkwyoUXV_2KmJIxTTdkioSuRrZLbEz2jEd_skZQ4z9-TTWYiSxDksLfRaKdBJyJb313E2dGS5IP6ht-q9D0yQkdvdL9QcPvd8mgPmRAPiE1rf5BSrYOZUz1AD4OGy3DL/s1600/MDSW--2010+023.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimA62XI0WSqZZtBkwyoUXV_2KmJIxTTdkioSuRrZLbEz2jEd_skZQ4z9-TTWYiSxDksLfRaKdBJyJb313E2dGS5IP6ht-q9D0yQkdvdL9QcPvd8mgPmRAPiE1rf5BSrYOZUz1AD4OGy3DL/s320/MDSW--2010+023.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469646693270258146" border="0" /></a>For me, the highlight of the festival is always -- always -- the animals. I don't know why, but this part never gets old. Here's some sort of long wool (I think) getting a touch up. I finally got up the nerve to ask this woman why the sheep didn't just kick her through the wall, especially since she was working around his ... um ... tender bits. She told me that sheep don't kick. Really? No, seriously ... really? Wow!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-X6qk6b_f4isfUzothq2SmmGMy3AVx1DohNOeNpni_9HUrOREXm04mImZMCsUV0wxrSpSKeEZBN924N6J2ezv2SGy8Zszxj5A2TJK3TioE5FMmbwhXiiytEnF1ZY-V9iYo3gprRAGArcR/s1600/MDSW--2010+026.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-X6qk6b_f4isfUzothq2SmmGMy3AVx1DohNOeNpni_9HUrOREXm04mImZMCsUV0wxrSpSKeEZBN924N6J2ezv2SGy8Zszxj5A2TJK3TioE5FMmbwhXiiytEnF1ZY-V9iYo3gprRAGArcR/s320/MDSW--2010+026.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469646889635370114" border="0" /></a>This guy is going incognito to keep clean. I felt so bad for him (or her) because it was so hot.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zSIsjSnQpsjaUa4BOd_Bi6DaoLtZlgUvuyAurGPf_5E0qksW1oBoLsCWNKlhy-oV74pIDIMmhdB062qxJ7jaQ5D1UfSkwlSW6cn32JOhgJ6tv5cc-Agur5BpPN6YYntBO9yV5K2XfPjz/s1600/MDSW--2010+012.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zSIsjSnQpsjaUa4BOd_Bi6DaoLtZlgUvuyAurGPf_5E0qksW1oBoLsCWNKlhy-oV74pIDIMmhdB062qxJ7jaQ5D1UfSkwlSW6cn32JOhgJ6tv5cc-Agur5BpPN6YYntBO9yV5K2XfPjz/s320/MDSW--2010+012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469646976510172194" border="0" /></a>I worked up the courage to ask the man tending these sheep why they were wearing clothes. I figured it was to keep them clean, and it was. However, they wear these sweaters or jammies to keep their skin taut, which is, the man said, a good thing. Huh. Learning new things all the time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSou_ksVr1nk-_tMN0Z42zm1n7leKsve16ekEC4dYNnExG2sSMhyphenhyphenMbczSA70MJiQ5ijusc5jHhTfhkgfszc_9LOlSKEtP5Sl7JlvarsgsZI99tPR4fJvr1vWcugbDOiSz-2WhMKelUAcmO/s1600/MDSW--2010+046.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSou_ksVr1nk-_tMN0Z42zm1n7leKsve16ekEC4dYNnExG2sSMhyphenhyphenMbczSA70MJiQ5ijusc5jHhTfhkgfszc_9LOlSKEtP5Sl7JlvarsgsZI99tPR4fJvr1vWcugbDOiSz-2WhMKelUAcmO/s320/MDSW--2010+046.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469647114977714786" border="0" /></a>Just look at that black wool. Yummy...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCYkhWR_xEYbadF66OneRQ2ZsnfUoEpdqsxtFCXDO0V8rCs_KlvDwUz04EIGzc42QAiAoTBqRTQMxLc8eondVSXgtLoT0BoAI0EiWOYkKtsGwOtMuf3Bd-dvYv77RU2-FeaXsA9L8GoHjx/s1600/MDSW--2010+028.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCYkhWR_xEYbadF66OneRQ2ZsnfUoEpdqsxtFCXDO0V8rCs_KlvDwUz04EIGzc42QAiAoTBqRTQMxLc8eondVSXgtLoT0BoAI0EiWOYkKtsGwOtMuf3Bd-dvYv77RU2-FeaXsA9L8GoHjx/s320/MDSW--2010+028.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469647246488695074" border="0" /></a>Hello to you two, too!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUd3eVISMWiyrtcsq-bmFupJpZIUOcEAnZxd0c_8b5G-Z90j3VkK5vEXTSQxMmhokC1ranh5sIC-7FsiU7aNKGA8x6fkF2oQsvoQkjR4n3QCtzK6WZ5qC_PMiB2_qpYwUPMY8m0MLxy2t8/s1600/MDSW--2010+056.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUd3eVISMWiyrtcsq-bmFupJpZIUOcEAnZxd0c_8b5G-Z90j3VkK5vEXTSQxMmhokC1ranh5sIC-7FsiU7aNKGA8x6fkF2oQsvoQkjR4n3QCtzK6WZ5qC_PMiB2_qpYwUPMY8m0MLxy2t8/s320/MDSW--2010+056.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469647934984518434" border="0" /></a>At about 3:00, I headed to where the sheep dog demonstration would be held. Unfortunately, I had to schlep there from the opposite end of the fairgrounds. Between the heat and the crowds, I was fairly tired by this point.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAm0EhCCoofoWq-yX5jhE90_A9o-lNN56pPIs94M6klvlUyl6mhgeM4yErEc3XmVmmT3nQKjrSILtOpEZtvDrfXDHoLfkTXfjR-_wVuuRYVMsaiqSdhQRnGds4jCf_QZHcvXta3DCvXO2a/s1600/MDSW--2010+057.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAm0EhCCoofoWq-yX5jhE90_A9o-lNN56pPIs94M6klvlUyl6mhgeM4yErEc3XmVmmT3nQKjrSILtOpEZtvDrfXDHoLfkTXfjR-_wVuuRYVMsaiqSdhQRnGds4jCf_QZHcvXta3DCvXO2a/s320/MDSW--2010+057.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469647859570766114" border="0" /></a>This woman had a microphone clipped to her shirt and told us everything she was going to do and why. This was a great part of my day, both because I was able to sit on the cool grass in some shade, and also because a little boy of about 1 or 2 decided to plonk himself down on my lap to watch the demonstration. The father was a bit anxious that his son was bothering me, but I told him that, since my "babies" are now 12 and 15, having such a little guy want to spend time with me was a treat.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIY3tzO_TtgEWEUcpw2hRs7YzP4U8KcE1rQMkz8LSdVSDl4x-sNkdw8z-7TiIOdKGjaCOrcnLcubPIIY95kcjoKxe2_-yYm94RuWFipXJRup_xZ-Ol5rLQZUnG9ju51Cr5XW3hEd_5vDdB/s1600/MDSW--2010+062.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIY3tzO_TtgEWEUcpw2hRs7YzP4U8KcE1rQMkz8LSdVSDl4x-sNkdw8z-7TiIOdKGjaCOrcnLcubPIIY95kcjoKxe2_-yYm94RuWFipXJRup_xZ-Ol5rLQZUnG9ju51Cr5XW3hEd_5vDdB/s320/MDSW--2010+062.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469648049306673762" border="0" /></a>Once the demonstration was over, I turned around to see this. Ugh. A sea of people, and many, many more in all the buildings. Still, this is a once-a-year deal, so I set out to take a look at the main exhibition hall again. (I'd missed seeing a lot when I was hurrying to get to the Little Barn.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqWewkCGyF8_DwxPLAkfiJknJoc-TbzZZvGFpCYDfURAldYhPgPk27iOnn6O8VbDm86LNMKEemj69-Hz18HXo5H2nil9RkxH99ThXg9xKqGbwJFf91T_XIj9agRB5NaueFhD0JfxQbets/s1600/MDSW--2010+063.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqWewkCGyF8_DwxPLAkfiJknJoc-TbzZZvGFpCYDfURAldYhPgPk27iOnn6O8VbDm86LNMKEemj69-Hz18HXo5H2nil9RkxH99ThXg9xKqGbwJFf91T_XIj9agRB5NaueFhD0JfxQbets/s320/MDSW--2010+063.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469648166632404130" border="0" /></a>This exhibitor was just inside the main door. They were from some sort of coverlet museum in Pennsylvania. What stopped me in my tracks is that my father has two of these coverlets, which have been in his family for umpteen years. I'll have to have him haul them out so that I can photograph them. I sure can't actually use them, not in this house!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbc1QzMWT1XYNVQ0qfEKe29ZoYxAawfWV7pCNmtveA9v4bh-e_TKLSNcTv5KdlUMAgGXhJXsCQ8gih_IxbJZko68kF2xHJ2iBQQXCk-5YlIhBfCe27KdnWuYN6PdtgZuDLYTjshyJUy1i/s1600/MDSW--2010+050.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbc1QzMWT1XYNVQ0qfEKe29ZoYxAawfWV7pCNmtveA9v4bh-e_TKLSNcTv5KdlUMAgGXhJXsCQ8gih_IxbJZko68kF2xHJ2iBQQXCk-5YlIhBfCe27KdnWuYN6PdtgZuDLYTjshyJUy1i/s320/MDSW--2010+050.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469647506245666962" border="0" /></a>Here's a yurt. Those panels are felted wool, thick and heavy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI9bv5MubAHtLFUARv-3cGzf_7YQDcKdEPYDYx8XaIdGbmCE5pn5YSFsejHSdf4SxH3lM96o6yT6bbwHMT1ORhdfdkcBy7L3eLzQwGdq9mdj8w-NSHeRxgOewnPt3dLmrLyaxjgdvKcqmQ/s1600/MDSW--2010+051.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI9bv5MubAHtLFUARv-3cGzf_7YQDcKdEPYDYx8XaIdGbmCE5pn5YSFsejHSdf4SxH3lM96o6yT6bbwHMT1ORhdfdkcBy7L3eLzQwGdq9mdj8w-NSHeRxgOewnPt3dLmrLyaxjgdvKcqmQ/s320/MDSW--2010+051.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469647730133375586" border="0" /></a>Inside the yurt, you can see the way the thing goes together. Don't ask me how they get the panels up onto the roof.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirNQhwXkNM0TnlLmYNWZ6WSLl5FNk3ja8i3EXqnG1UWFTKJD2ZIYv_J7-ap9j5ahgBOSHzk9-PtT6_Y5tJRy4SoW1Qm3NafjJMtxCPrv7sr5Bu8lthzBh4FLp7MuqDl6-XwpCmbahCup5-/s1600/MDSW--2010+052.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirNQhwXkNM0TnlLmYNWZ6WSLl5FNk3ja8i3EXqnG1UWFTKJD2ZIYv_J7-ap9j5ahgBOSHzk9-PtT6_Y5tJRy4SoW1Qm3NafjJMtxCPrv7sr5Bu8lthzBh4FLp7MuqDl6-XwpCmbahCup5-/s320/MDSW--2010+052.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469647625197982002" border="0" /></a>Even though it was very hot, it was quite cool in the yurt, and there was a wonderful breeze coming in through the doorway and up and out the top. I think I want a yurt of my own. I know that Ed wants one, too. Maybe we can get a yurt for ourselves and leave the boys and dogs to take care of themselves.<br /><br />By this point, I had to sit down and take my shoes off. Yes, I was wearing hand-knit socks of wool. I felt less like a bum sitting there with my shoes off since I had my Kai-Mei (pattern by Cookie A.) socks on.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiueuXS56oYxtOFb_2D_WhUe0rvcvke95UsSx89xK22qBgnw0KTXK0O2K1Q2pWxBKLsRxVH8f64wMxUOW4UU9LSaICqH2YmMI57gD8VZMM8BJDw7QjqH-B1I_FZSqV3DtB1DHMnefTzMbe5/s1600/MDSW--2010+067.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiueuXS56oYxtOFb_2D_WhUe0rvcvke95UsSx89xK22qBgnw0KTXK0O2K1Q2pWxBKLsRxVH8f64wMxUOW4UU9LSaICqH2YmMI57gD8VZMM8BJDw7QjqH-B1I_FZSqV3DtB1DHMnefTzMbe5/s320/MDSW--2010+067.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469648477237813522" border="0" /></a>Where I was sitting (back where that woman is with the red tank top, I was able to admire the alpacas, including this guy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUlOy-5VfR9i65anYVVBBXC9Q-SzLRdtNIvRSkJIqQXtybnjVR_ilxC1rlf9bP1_l32O91FpOsR94Pu6ExBufcAq8RtKXQBqptm-8aTDoCvQH_nK4YZx0-hgtVc9K2mYs1hnRy73PcXBp/s1600/MDSW--2010+082.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZUlOy-5VfR9i65anYVVBBXC9Q-SzLRdtNIvRSkJIqQXtybnjVR_ilxC1rlf9bP1_l32O91FpOsR94Pu6ExBufcAq8RtKXQBqptm-8aTDoCvQH_nK4YZx0-hgtVc9K2mYs1hnRy73PcXBp/s320/MDSW--2010+082.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469648572854085922" border="0" /></a>And this one, too.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkKNs9vbFNMzDV5MvYgd91Bsgivh78Hn0S-R9xGVFlT_DhGeJlyqaUBQbhJvmqTTuc5Qd060VmCdS3mVkUpEZxkGzWlPMdktsdaHL5uqMV7AjbkfCtj81IvOxAo87Zm6m5ELQWuqmjbnNE/s1600/MDSW--2010+073.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkKNs9vbFNMzDV5MvYgd91Bsgivh78Hn0S-R9xGVFlT_DhGeJlyqaUBQbhJvmqTTuc5Qd060VmCdS3mVkUpEZxkGzWlPMdktsdaHL5uqMV7AjbkfCtj81IvOxAo87Zm6m5ELQWuqmjbnNE/s320/MDSW--2010+073.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469648695294885666" border="0" /></a>The pen next to the alpacas had llamas. I kept my distance, though, since our family history includes an incident of llama spitting on my brother. No spit for me, thanks.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0AuUyCg1zNc6wY-3fOSsRykJEX8g2i1ZIqkS3cRsdOWYEibHeRRhyphenhyphenV1UhoktFcoKM0j1qVqphRIwSiYXZMnZ9Iw-enXPhwheMiHdk8HSE_epb_9bSOjSaYG-eY6TTV5HS30LEwYvx-yO0/s1600/MDSW--2010+066.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0AuUyCg1zNc6wY-3fOSsRykJEX8g2i1ZIqkS3cRsdOWYEibHeRRhyphenhyphenV1UhoktFcoKM0j1qVqphRIwSiYXZMnZ9Iw-enXPhwheMiHdk8HSE_epb_9bSOjSaYG-eY6TTV5HS30LEwYvx-yO0/s320/MDSW--2010+066.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469648255233726610" border="0" /></a><br />And this is my haul. Man, were my shoulders aching by the end of the day. Once I resize the pictures, I'll do another post to show off my goodies.Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09908397962476959083noreply@blogger.com0