On the Road Again

Greetings from the Relentless Atomic Knitting Book And Teaching Tour!

On Tuesday I met the Snohomish Knitters Guild,

Led by the Unsinkable Charisa Martin Cairn:

Who, in addition to rocking this sassy "Worldwide Knit In Public Day " apron, rallied her happy troops to attend that event, the Seattle Mariners Stitch and Pitch, and their very own first-ever knitting and eating retreat.  This lady does more before breakfast than most people do in a day, God bless her.  And the knitters are fearless, in the finest sense of the word.  Their show-and-tell parade was a mile long, and included everything from cables to colorwork to lace.  I want to be them when I grow up. 

And speaking of lace:

I've been working on the shawl - I think it is starting to look a little bit shawly!  I may cautiously state that I am getting the hang of the lace (Universe, please smite me not), but I still have to lock myself in a room and concentrate HARD to work on it.

And the Rare Gems cardigan has received one sleeve (three times, first two wrong, natch), and part of another.  Totally unreasonable goal # 512: Wear it to class on Saturday.  Which is today.  What could possibly go wrong? 

Last night I got to hang out with the knitters at Village Yarn and Tea , who threw a special Knit Nite, just for me.  Can you believe that?  I am nearly dying of honor.

Today we are going to knit some mittens together, which is about the most fun I know how to have, legally.  Best of all, my talented and beautiful niece, Katy, will be in my class.  As ever, I'm the most blessed and lucky knitter in the world.

Tonight after class I'm going home, to the Smallies, the Dog, and the Husband-Who-Lives-In-The-Garage.  Things are looking up for his eventual forgiveness:  I ordered a new fleece.  Many thanks for the love and concern of those who feel my pain, and wish for his continued survival.

Love and Loss

Sometimes emotion overcomes me and it's easier to tell my story in pictures than in words:

Or to put it another way, Phillip, who usually fails to operate trash receptacles, never mind round up and discard unwanted items around the house, managed to throw away my fleece.

That's right.  Beloved Caora Dubh, which I have been chipping away at processing for an entire year, has been donated to the toy drive.  I'm not sure which mental image taunts me more painfully:  The 5-ply gansey of my dreams which I now will not have enough yarn to make, or the poor kid who opens that plastic bag expecting teddy bears and gets half a smelly sheep. 

Either way, I am in mourning.  And Phillip is sleeping in the garage until further notice.  

I only wish I could express my pain properly.  I recognize that in the scope of losses, this one does not qualify as tear-worthy, or even really more than an emotional hiccup.  Which may be part of my problem.  How can I be so utterly wrenched by the loss of something that effects my loved ones and the rest of the world not at all?  It's not as if the roof fell in, for heaven's sake.  But I'm just so sad about it.

In an attempt at healing, I have washed all the rest of the locks that I had picked and ready for scouring (fortunately those were in a different bag):

That's all there is, there ain't no more.  It looks like a fair amount in the photo, but believe me, it's only half a sheep.

I decided that the only way to work through my grief is to finish processing all the fleece I have left.  When I really have yarn, and know how much, then I will be able to alter my goal accordingly.  Maybe there will be enough for a vest?  

Here are the singles: 4.5 bobbins, plus whatever I get from the locks I have left.  No clue what that will be, but something tells me I'll be able to let Phillip back in the house once it's yarn.  Probably not before that.

I'm keeping my chin up by promising myself a new fleece.  Black Sheep Gathering is in a few weeks, and I wrote to my favorite vendor for samples.  This one is a serious contender:

Behold the crimpyness!  What's not to love about a Coopworth lamb called Gigi?  Perhaps one day I shall love again.

All the Cool Kids are Doing it

Happy Mother's Day!  Here's a quick update:  I had no idea how many of us are closet shawl-wanters!  Your outpouring of support for my shawl saga is absolutely rocking my world.  Thank you thank you thank you, intrepid shawl makers who have joined me on my maiden quest!  For those on the fence, let me enable encourage you to participate this way:  Send me photos of your progress (and carnage of your frogging, if need be), and I will post them so everyone can share successes!  There is no deadline, no trophy for finishing first (except for my undying respect), and no pressure of any sort.  And though I'm a rank amateur, we have Maria's experienced hand for guidance, should things turn dodgy.
 

Here's my progress so far.  I have to admit a degree of surprise:  there is a certain "potato chip" quality to this project.  Way more compelling than I would have imagined.  It doesn't hurt that I really love working with handspun yarn - just an added bonus.

If you are hesitating, come on in!  The water's fine!