Merrily

I've been enjoying my new spindles and pretty Polwarth roving. And I'm amazed what a difference having two spindles makes, slow spindler that I am. In one week I've spun up half the braid, a speed record for me.



As expected, I love the Golding spindle! The Spanish Peacock spindle is beautiful and functional, but not as suited to my particular preferences. Hm....

Fair Enough

Now where was I (literally and figuratively)... right, listening to sheep baa. Did not know they stick their tongues out so faa.



On the drive down to the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival I finished my little cardi, Summer Open Cardigan by Diane Soucy worked in Noro Taiyo (colorway #18 on the body and sleeves, #23 on the ribbings). Some Facebook friends demanded a proof of sweater photo, which Risa obligingly took. Being a camera-shy blogger, I lost my head for the blog.



The sweater is a quick knit on oversize needles for the yarn, which yields a comfortably drapey fabric that some entitled people cannot forebear to fondle, without asking and with me in it (boundaries, eyeroll). I knit the version with side shaping, a silhouette that seems better suited for dresses than trousers. However that may be, the cardi was just right for the festival, which (unlike some years) had fine weather, short lines, and a relaxed atmosphere.



As for my fairings, I bought a beauteous Spanish Peacock spindle: 32 g, Bolivian rosewood whorl, maple shaft. It has a different balance than my usual.



A Golding Celtic Ring #2 spindle also followed me home: 1.3 oz, cherry whorl, walnut shaft. I love fast, rim-weighted spindles, so the cut outs should make this one close to ideal for me.



I've been trying to spin down my fiber stash, but this pretty Polworth roving called my name. After the crazy fall and winter I've had, pretty looks good to me.



And I got the festival T-shirt, pictured above with the cardigan. A long time ago a chatty festival official told me T-shirt sales were sufficient to cover all costs. This year there were 40th anniversary buttons for those who made a free will donation to "Help keep the festival free!" Sounds fair enough to me.



After all, I want to keep Big Bo Peep and others like him a-walking their sheep in the Parade of Breeds for a long time to come.

Shameless Temporizing

Baah! At MDS&W, and still no cardi pix!!!



Never to worry, I'm hoping to get them posted Tuesday Wednesday Friday next Monday.

Cookie Time

The little cardi is finished. There's not enough light for a photo at the moment, so here's a previously photographed plate of molasses cookies instead.



If you see me tomorrow and ask nicely, I'll give you one (= a cookie, unless I've run out).

Improv

A quick canvas of area yarn shops for more Taiyo colorway 18 came up empty (other than some unproductive carping, eyeroll). So I used colorway 23 from stash for the ribbing. Colorway 18 has some wintry tones amid its spring brights, which makes me hope the addition of 23's ultramarine tones isn't too jarring. Sometimes with Noro it can be difficult to tell.



The ribbing gave me lots of practice with a new-to-me 2x2 rib bind off from Cast On, Bind Off by Cap Sease. I quite like it. The book is a must-have, it you have any liking of knitting technique.



On to the (short) sleeves! I plan to be at MDS&W on Saturday. Tomorrow is my travel day = knitting time. Above is what I have left of colorway 18, with colorway 23 and some mystery leftovers. Think I'll make it?