A Quik Chat

Yesterday morning!

It was 3 degrees at the coldest point that morning early!

But this was tucked up nice and warm inside to finish drying! This strawberry icecream merino angora handspun is destined to a special person who I will not name in case they see this page!

More stuff through the mail,kids fight over who takes in the red card to pick up the parcel ! There for a while they would ask as I picked them up from school "can I get the parcel today?",and be dissapointed when told" no, there was nothing today".
I have just recieved a parcel from Norway which held the ragg wool that I ordered a while ago from a lovely lady who was offering free freight! Enough for about two pairs for me!

This was through Ebay but Nicole Bow has since started up an online shop where you can source all different things from Norway,including more ragg wool!! I love the outfit that the girl is wearing on the opening page!Have a look www.greatnorwegianstuff.com ,I like to see the landscape photos of other places probably "cause they differ so much from our own.No wonder Europeans say wow when visiting down under!

I am going to use this wool to knit some warm socks(what else!) and am keeping an eye out for more of the thicker types!These socks will be just a basic sock easy no brain ones!

And another of my favourite 8ply sock yarn is the Filatura Di Crossa501, the last Fila that I did was a pair for my Mum(which I still haven't posted) and it was lovely to work with but not nearly as soft as this wool, to touch anyway.I have a strict list to finish, so as much as I want to!!!!These stay locked in the increasingly bigger Sock yarn Bin! Jane from Sweetfern( Ebay) has included some heel reinforcement and a sample of the yellow.There was a really nice green so maybe next time!

All the wattle is flowering around here at the moment and I have been wondering if thats why I have not been feeling on top of things,verrry crappy in fact,( even though I am still in the grip of this fluey type of bug). I had the flu shot at school a couple of weeks ago so am also thinking it could be part of trouble too! The last time I had a F shot was when I was only 8yrs old (my parents were spooked by a huge gossip thing going around that a very bad bug was going to hit the area so off we were dragged kicking and screaming to the doctors).

I am hoping that we will get some rain in July this year so the wild flowers will flower properly,we've been in WA for 6 yrs this Xmas and I have hardly seen any yet,only the little pink paper daisies and they were lovely!

Well things are looking very much on the go for the One Skein Swap, I am very busy planning a project to do with one ball or skein and I am really stumped as apart from scarves and mittens,what can I do! I don't want to felt as I haven't ventured into that yet, the skein itself should be okay as I have heaps in my stash,including handspun/dyed yummies! and a great friend in the LWS for ideas but the gift thingy.......The more lucky peoples have found the One Skein Book!www.oneskein.blogspot.com/Though with the samples showing knitted cupcakes, I would like to see more inside before parting with some hard earned sock wool dollars. I'm not sure if we 'talk'to our Pals or just answer the questionaire, but being the first time I have done this, maybe I will just stay quiet!

Well I managed to post a bit,I beat my teenage son as he commandeers the computer when home from work and I can usually only have free rein at 430 in the morn!

• I have cooked tea/dinner(pasta bake tonight!) and then I will
• pick up kids from school,then
• have to be ready to go to a School Council prep afternoon at 430 to 6(another first for me) then fly back and
• pick up kids from home then back to our school to attend a school Country Week meeting......Biggggg Breath...... so Son No 2 has a chance to go in the Hockey team in Perth and
• hopefully remember to put some fuel in van in between!

I really feel like crap,

Oh I also have to do reading with No 4 son who is struggling, (he has a learning disorder) and he has a new Dragon of a teacher who will probably do wonders with him but is very pushy,and not very happy when told ,no we didn't do reading last night as kids were over the top and they are lucky to be alive this morning...........

Stay in tune,I have some wool angora handspun soaking ,waiting to be transformed into some gorgeous pinky something!

Whoopeee

I found out yesterday that Pat has another hockey game today(must be to make up for the June long weekend) so I HAVE to go in for a 5 oclock game,which means I can drop him and a friends boy off at stadium and fly down town to Kmart and grab a bit more of the Clinker yarn for me to play with(please note yarn diet long since gone!) and this time I shall also get 4 balls of black to make a plain v-neck to wear over school shirt at work,warm,practical and son no2 shares same size as me, so economical.
I am trying to be good as I have found some nice fleece,in my fav colours too, that I want to try with the spindles that I have just recieved from Canada!I have plenty of stuff here, buuttttt,(long pause) I want this particular type of fleece and any excuse will do! Shhhhh DH might hear......
Has anyone tried spindle spinning ? I have some info with pictures so will learn by trial but hearing from others would be great!

Edit,Mission accomplished,

• 6 balls white clinker
• 6 balls Black for work vest!
• 2 sets needles
• more rows counters,Lost old ones

Now I think I did okay,my other secret purchases are safely in reach...........................

Some progress

I went and took some piccies of a few things ,then rang my Mum for a usual 3 hour weekend chat ,and finished a few little projects that I then didn't photo.....however

This is a jumper I did Winter 2004 and on surfing some journals(sounds better than Blogs) I came upon a person(please forgive me,I can't remember who) knitting a Savannah from Nundle Mills(Minx Knits) and this person was worried that a certain colour was a bit standoutish so I am posting my jumper to show how the bright Sweet Pea colour from Bendigo(thought Nundle mill wool a bit coarse).My point is, I was worried too, but when finished it was just right and still earns comments even today when it is my least worn article!

Kogo skull cap is actually finished,I will get a "model" tomorrow if I am lucky as it is quite good fit on a 7 year old.

The best bit I have more left over to do the scarf,and that I am fudging as I haven't done a childs one before! 30 sts on 41/2 mm needles,soft rib and just wide enough to wrap around a childs neck,I hope anyway!

This is my Clapotis,Yep I joined the club in making one,I haven't used any markers as I found it easier and faster than to negotiate around the fiddly things.Its done in a lovely burnt orange Zivargo and it hasn't come up very well in the light but it is quite lovely! Now I have got to the first dropped stitches and it appears a bit too soft as it is 8 ply and the original calls for more of a 10 ply,and I have used 5mm needles ,probably a mistake but I was after a softer one anyway(well thats my excuse and I'm sticking to it!) Its a gift so am pushing to get it done!

Now I have finally picked up the Country Silk 8ply that the lovely Beatlewear has already finished so at least I can see how fantastic it looks, and am glad the girls at Cheryls (LWS) talked me into getting this colour.I have asked them however to put away 8 balls of the lighter green as I still like that colour too which is destined to be a vest like the cashmerino(Heirloom) pattern in a Australian Creative knitting Mag had some time ago!I really want to do a Jo Sharp vest(same mag) but all the projects keep popping up!This new purchase is my reward that can be started upon finishing the clapotis!

I found some goodies in Kmart yesterday, but as I had DH and Kiddies with me I couldn't focus but this was a obviously a good buy.I won't say a great buy till I have done something with it of course but the bonus is the meteridge ,machine washable and pure wool! I opened my mouth too much and have had two people ask me to do hand dyed socks for them and of course I said I can(kick me KICK ME HARD) no time to do my own fun spinning bits and experimental patterns and I had to do this! My fault,I am too nice,these people don't knit and I can't help but share the joy of colour and form.NO I am not just showing off either and neither am I going to make any money.They will only paying the cost of the materials! Kmart have this big sale and half the stuff they had I haven't seen in there before, I would like to go back and get some more so hoping it is a stocked item.I think I payed just under $3 each , 25 to50% off,its reasonably soft so I will see how it goes!

I love this froggy photo,Hanging On is its title ,I pinched it from a journal from some guy in the USA ages ago,I look for these sorts as I find them inspiring..............darn it I just love photography..........

I have these two portable projects I carry everywhere for those few moments when a couple of rows can make a difference!

This the latest Kogo beanie which I changed to a skull cap style thing more to alleviate the boredom than to be different but I think it looks neat.I will get one my boys to model it when finished!

And the Patonyle pinks is still going!!!!! Poor hing is alone too,I really do a lot of knitting and have a plan in place to finish projects: 15 mins at smoko (school) to work on Kogo, 1hour or more at night before sleep, locked in bedroom away from kids who should be asleep(they do if they think I am!), and a few rows while things like posting ,cooking(burnt chops,he he he),sitting in car waiting for school bell(but only on cool days! I think every knitter does these but the first two are nearly a garrantee(unless DH complains of course!

And lastly I couldn't help but have another rose..........

Behold the other rose purchase,a Pink Peace,I haven't seen one in full bloom and couldn't resist,Nurseries are the same as Wool Shops to me ..........

PS Isn't it huge!!!!!!

I don't know if I have been blind or just out of touch, but has anyone seen www.beadopalwoolqueen.com.au/store.html, I just finished buying some opal wool and she sent the address on the invoice! Its about time we had access to some different opal at affordable prices!

Edit,The blog won't link to this site but thats the address!

And this is the silly jonquils that have jumped up at school,mine are covered in emerging flower buds just in time for them to be hit by frost!
We are having some very warm days but the nights are really fire hugging!
Cheers

To all the Mums out there, hope you had a lovely day(spent mine watching No 3 son playing hockey in Kal so no sleep in for me!)
But they were ready for me first thing with all the goodies they had managed to secret away in their little hidy spots with items as photo frames(very nice ones ) candle holders,cards,character soup cups(huge), bath salts etc
My DH not having planned anything as per usual,gave them $20 this morning, to go shopping at Waldecks(garden centre) and of course I leapt at the chance to get a Eureka Lemon and an Empera Mandarin, that I had wanted for a while and also managed to use a gift voucher that I had been given last year for my******* B'day,,,,
In short its been a great day!
Cheerio all..................

Not much to show

For this week as yet,might to try to swing a couple of photos tommorrow. The weather has been lovely here during the day but crikeys 5 in the morning is curling the toes! We had a light frost on Monday morn and our lovely science teacher Terry told us cherrily that it was 1' in Kal when he was out doing his walkies before coming out to Kambalda.Something I didn't need to hear as my fingers were decidedly numb even inside mitten(not hand knitted ones yet, as usual too many things on the go)
Heres a photo of another gehko that the boys found,no idea what he is but he was feisty little fello and gave No 2 son a real nip on the finger!
There a photo! Not knitting but at least its not all boring writing, see how I go on weekend.......

Isn't it fantastic, I woke this morning to hear the Tassie miners are out and safe ,at last!!!!It brought tears to see the reunion they had with their families and to see them walk was wonderful!

Here is the St Ives Mine Resue Team thathas just completed the competion(above ground) and did very well!

They came close by a whisker to getting alot more awards but as it is they

• were awarded the Best New Team
• First aid
• and came 5th in the 15 teams that competed!

They came very close to a couple of other wards but they were thrilled with what they won!

And I am back at part time work which is great as I can be home before anyone else and get a little peace before the boys arrive! I shall miss the extra money as all the this months full time work went into paying for a great big stove and new washing machine! However my partner is expecting so she will be on maternity leave in the next couple of months and I will resume the full time job for while!This months has been great as a training time for mr to get used to being on call and all the organisation that comes with the job! I particulately enjoyed each days routine so that the maximum was achieved !

See these handsome fellas, these are some of the mine rescue team that are training here in Kambalda at St Ives which on Lake Lefroy.Not exactly sure what their base is called but thats it roughly!
I put this in ( hope they don't rouse on me) as a thought going out the team of rescue people who are at this moment trying to release the two fellas in the Beaconsfield mine in Tassie. there aren't many training here(Kambalda) so they are very important peoples. These are the silent and often annonamous faces who risk their lives to rescue others! They know the risks and the danges to be faced when doing their job and most are volunteer!
One of these blokes is my DH( and I'm not tellin which one!) and already he has been involved with a few underground emergencies so I can say I understand what the Rescue teams are doing in Tassie and salute them for doing it!!!!

And isn't little fella gorgeous too, the boys found him one night after begging me to let them go out Steve Erwin style looking for lizards that come out at night! This little fello was actually more colourful in life than the night flash shows him to be! Hes on my hand so that gives an indication what size he is.I can't remember his name but will try to edit later for those interested!
The boys are so keen on this stuff that they have their own sites to tell all about their exploits!
Rest assured that this "slow" gecko was released unharmed back where they found him!


Here is a bit of progress on the Freedom cotton zip up(sounds better than cardigan I think) Very slow but I have heaps to do and its a bit boring and the cotton isn't so nice to knit with,hoping it will soften with the first wash!!!!!!!!







This is another KOGO beanie finished at last but I have started another grenn and gold one as the co ordinator sent another bundle of Totem and Cleckheaton this time with enough to do the scarf as well!
This blue/pink one isn't machine washable but was only$10 to knit while I was waiting for the second bundle so I though it was okay! I love knitting with these brands so I don't mind the same colours either .The Holiday one actually feels a bit felty but not bad to work with and it is made by the same Australian Spinners Group!
And this is my next spinning project,as after looking at Yarnivorous efforts I have split the roving into 8 lengths so I can try to keep the colours from mixing too much,well this the theory any way! All I have to do first is get the last of the White wool that has the wheel in its grip so I can try out this experiment!Should be fun!






Lastly this acute photo of my oldest taking my littlest to the little boys room while we were at the park on Sunday, he did this voluntarily and without be asked and it looked so cute watching T. looking after B.

A Warm Sunday

Its a lovely barmy Sunday here, I felt like a nanna nap at 11 o'clock but managed to get most of the washing done and even folded, shocked myself. I think the kids were amazed too!
They have gotten used to finding waht they need in the baskets this week since it was holidays I wasn't really bothered .If I ,DH and OS(oldest son) had work clothes then it was ookay!

Here is the stripey dyed wool that I did last week and managed to nearly finish at smoko time at work,very quick to work and soft too.The colours seem to wind down the leg and as they paled off towards the heel ,became more random.I like them and hope to start the pink and white ones shortly.

This a close up of the colour.(anything to brighten up the page!)
I have checking Ebay to see if I can find some white 5 ply or 4 in corredale (merino seems too dear) but one of my favourite sellers seems to have run out of what I need and theother one I think has doubled her price,maybe I will just but some from Bendigo.At least its washable and fairly priced!
Here are two quick scarves(one finished ) that have been on the go for a while,one is a cheap yarn picked up at WA salvage for $2 and the other is the Patons velvetine that was $3 at Kmart.These are for the Mothers Day Stall at School though I have been told since buying the yarn plus others that they may not hold it this year even though the lady who usually organises it has not said anything!I hate things like that. This money could have bought me the Tiger yarn that I have been lusting after!

Looky at this,I have to do this one!!!!!!!!!, I love the colours but also the textured stitch has me in as well.Fluffa has done a jumper using this stitch ,will at link later, but its very effective!

And just in case anyone wants to know where to find it! Vogues Knit Simple Winter 2005, I think my paper shop recieves this sort of stock late as I have seen this issue at other peoples blogs.I consider myself lucky as they only get Creative knitting(Aussie) ,Yarn and I think one other European title in.Very envious when other people talk about a few different ones I have never seen.Oh well,these offer me plenty to pick from to add to my never ending list of MUST DO'S.

I badgered my second longest sone to mow the lawn on Saturday after appeared not to do much for the entire week!I don't mind doing it but lately I have been everything and it was telling on my nerves and patience as well as health! I have to have a CAT Scan on my neck this week as I appear to have damaged a couple of discs somehow! Headaches,numb hands(mainly left) and being very tired .Doctors have wagged their fingers at me as I have put it off for a while and finally made appointment for tomorrow afternoon.As it would have to happen,the business people are coming to school to install a flasho new scanner and being the head gaaaaardener at moment I have to stay to lock up after they finish so I have a big intuition that I won't make the appointment!Hubby is cranky and my dear concerned boys are also saying bugger school and go in to Kal but I have to make the effort as I want to apply for the Head Gardener Job when the other Gardener resigns etc.

I can soon make another appointment, but at least our Back yard is looking fantastic!

A Little Note

Happy Easter Everyone From The Easter Bilby

EASTER Yeeeeh

4 days off ,hmmm now to work at home getting all the boys mess under control!!!!!
But not until I have done a bit of wool dyeing first........

This time I've done the dipped ball method described by someone(can't remember sorry) on their site.I was intrigued, so after soaking the wool in vinegar for....a week...yes a week!!! (I didn't have time as we were busy at work!) I squeezed the excess out and rested them end up into the dye bath, let the dye soak up for a few minutes then zapped in the micowave for 10 minutes, 5 at a time to make sure the wool at the top didn't dry out! I like to make sure so do the extra time cooking.

This is the other colourway that I tried! This time as soon as the first colour(green) was cooked I dipped the balls the other way up into a yellow though not as much as the green as I wanted to keep some white showing.It was hot too......

These dye efforts will be streaky patterns and can't wait for them to dry so I can ball them up and start.

The wool is Cleckheaton country 8ply, its lovely and soft(especially after bathing in the vinegar so long) and resonably cheap from my LWS. I couldn't wait for Bendigo to send an order but will be ordering next time as I have so many things going at the moment that to dye more now would be asking for trouble! Besides the wool is cheaper at Bendigo and machine washable!

And here we have the latest efforts, I think they are going to be pretty!

I really need a niddy noddy, today, not next week, so after taking kids to movies to see Ice Age 2(and DH) I am going to hunt through his wood pile and make one up!(And Bunnings are open today in Kal,so convenient for a movie day,he he he he he)

This week has been really full, I took a quick trip after work(kids are out early on Tuesdays) to Bunnings and florist as the so called flowers that the florist sent out for the Anzac Ceremony at school were all green filler! I had ordered natives with a bit of fill but all green? Also these green bits looked like they would wreck the foam as the school council kids put them in!

So off to Bunnings for chicken wire to wrap foam Anzac Letter shapes and the other florist in Burt St Boulder,( Kalgoorlie and Boulder were two cites and have grown over the years to join up as one KalgoorlieBoulder, though Boulder is almost a suburb) .... BIG Breath, where was I.... Oh,I needed some sort of floral colour in case the school gardens couldn't bear enough, hence trip to see them ( Red on Red florist, lovely lady)

I was up till 11 o'clock that night doing the chicken wire bit as they were needed next morning at 8, and then I had to prepare something for the morning tea for the special guests, only because I offered and ddidn't expect to be chasing chicken wire! It was late by the time I got to the last couple of bits of foam that I grabbed the kitchen scissors as they were quicker than the pliers.

Worth it though, the gardens beared heaps of native Grevilleas and wattle and yellow gum flowers that everyone including myself were stoked at the result .All my efforts were appreciated and the buttermilk scones were great with compliments abound( my flags are really flying here!_ Oh and the school camera died so in I trooped with my new beauty and saved the day......

Looky at this, the lawns are trim and green and it was a beautiful day..........

I'm off to get ready for the movies, have a Great Easter and don't eat Toooo many choccies......

Ps I have joined the One skein group too, that will be fun!!!!! I chose this button as it is lovely,hand spun, looks unique and simply 'cause I love the colours!

I have had a very busy weekend and haven't done much in the way of anything.No housework,though the washing went through, its still in the baskets so everyone is rifling through them looking for what they need each morning!
Hopefully I will be on top of things this week.DH is on night shift again so there goes my chance for forty winks before getting Dinner ready(I work from 5 to 1.30 pm at School!) and he heads off at 5.15pm so his dinner has to be ready for him to take at 5pm.
He works under ground as a bogger driver but has aspirations to get into Airlegging which is hard work but he theorizes that a couple of years and we can get our heavy debt load under control and start working towards something of a retirement plan. Five kids keep us broke, LOL!
Back to the weekend:
We went to a party on Friday( DH and I) a big family has its advantages as no 1 son had to work on the Saturday Morning so was willing to babysit his brothers,
We went to Kal Saturday, to pay bills and laybuys (at least I got to LWS)
Sunday I had to drive to Kal again for no5 son to attend a birthday party,
Very tired so didn't do anything else!
Though I did manage to soak 8 balls of wool ready for dyeing sometime this week!
Anyway I had to try my new camera out,check out the definition!

Isn't this lovely! Its a Penestemon,Hope I spelt it right! I think this would be my most favourite colour in the plant world!(among many others)And the Clivias are a real surprise as I wasn't sure what they were until they flowered and it was worth the wait! There are a few things that have come to life since I started as gardener ,maybe its my green thumb!On the knitting front,I have started another Kogo Beanie in navy and pink(as you must have guessed, if you read previous entries)
And that Freedom cotton jumper that has turned into a zippered cardie( a sexy one if you go by the picture,hope I don't ruin the image when I finish it LOL...)
Will post piccies of finished things soon(the worst habit I have is leaving socks on two needles as I never have the will or desire to kitchener graft the toes until I am desperate for needles.......

Out of Dye Wool!

Here I am again with a 'normal' post to show off my lastest dying efforts!


remember this.....








well here is a finished sock,I couldn't be happier! It is lovely to knit and each row was exciting to see the pattern come out!
These are bound for a lovely person at school who has gone on holiday to Vietnam and doesn't know about them,so I have to wait for her return to present them!









And here is a close up of the colours that are pretty well in a stripe pattern of about 2 1/2 rows.The next one I hope to try to imitate this colour but have broader stripes.














This another similiar one but the colours are more defined and richer.I had to cook this for nearly 20 mins to get it to soak up the last of the dye(water to be clear)but it looks good.














This is the skein rolled up to show the colour more!The last photo is of the yellow/blue/white combination ,that looks fantastic.I would like to try the Gaywool dyes next to get the colours that I cannot mix with food dyes that I have found to spit up a bit at the edges (bits of blue coming out of the purple etc).
See how I separated the white wool with an oven bag (I finally found a use for the ones I bought at Xmas),and used small containers sitting in a large one to prevent spillage in the microwave,and
easier to handle when hot!














The blue is Way Cool and Out There ,can't wait to knit it up.
The best thing thing is ,the sock I have just knitted hasn't used as much wool as I thought ,so I may have enough to do another pair even if I have to combine with a solid colour!
This is way to much fun!
cheers for now!

WIP

Well here I am with my WIP post and really I am shocked as I thought I had more ,probably do but DH is on night shift and I can't access my hiding spots!

Here they are!

• my youngest sons yellow,green and blue socks that are stalled at moment
• a pink rolled brim hat from homespun wool
• the first sock in handdyed corredale
• grey ragg socks
• pink patonyle fairisle socks that I love!!!!
• a fluffy scarf ,pink again,the first of a few for the mothers day stall at school,but not the same colour!
• and a Zivargo throw that is also stalled as I cannot get into the pattern even though I finally understood it after Frogging 4 times......
• not shown is a maroon Merino and Fur jumper,half way through last sleeve
• DH dk blue Merino/fur jumper sewing up stage (does that count)
• dk purple mohair lace tunic ,my design from Bendigo Mills special,worked under $30 for jumper
• mult coloured blanket for no.3 son
• blue/grey socks for my Dad
• lovely rust coloured Country 8ply socks also for my Dad!

Well how does hold up with everyone else's WIP's

I think I have probably the same or more projects yet to be put into" Progress"............

I have managed to gain control of computor to make a post.
Sunday is my day to do these posts as giving myself a deadline helps to plan the weekend and somehow I cannot sleep in Sundays anyway.
I was woken several times last night with the local boys partying on, after their Footy match(think it was their first or second game of season,held here in Kambalda as it would have been a lot quieter if they had played in Kal!). Having a group of highly enebriated up to twenties aged peoples racing around the street doesn't help for a good nights sleep,so I will be having a catnap later!Might watch the ABC Gardening show at midday and drift off for a while!

On the knitting front I have only to close off and make the pompom for the Kogo beanie! Just enough to do this too.
I was in Kal on Friday and forgot to get another lot of wool to make another to send back with this so I will email them to see if they mind waiting a bit longer so I can get the wool in couple of weeks!
I would like to make a different colourway though so it doesn't get boring, maybe navy and pink! does anyone have any ideas as I have boys only ,I don't really have a feel for what girls will wear colourwise, not little ones anway!
This wool was beautiful to knit with and I am really glad that KMart have decided to boost their stock as Cheryl at the LWS doesn't stock Totem though she has Cleckheaton.

I didn't buy the Country Silk book at KMart as I would be tempted to buy from Perth and if the LWS isn't supported (she isn't a bad price wise and anyhow I love to feel before I buy!!!!!), she will close.Everytime there' s a conversation about craft etc I urge everyone in the group to try Cheryl as many don't even know her shop exists ,(the only Wool shop in Kal)!I spend so much of my time reserved for "personal" shopping,re wool and patchwork,I haven't even made it into the bead shop I have been told is across the street from Cheryls(but I did see it as I wizzed past Friday).Stitchmarkers are on my list you see and buying them is not on! as they look fun to make!

I 'm making progress on the pink Patonyle socks but have to check pattern as they have a calf decrease somewhere and haven't been back to book to look but have a nasty feeling it said twenty rows then decrease and I've done more than that, sitting in the Doctors Friday(Dr was very curious about what I was knitting,and there were a few looks from other patients too,LOL)


That visit won't be forgotton for while as he found a lot of pre cancerous sunspots(12 I think)...so ladies wear your hat even if you look a dag.Mine most likely are from the years I spent chasing sheep and cattle as well as in recent times watching kids at their school sports!My poor nose,and now it looks like it may have a little infection, bugger,I don't like my nose as it is, now it looks or feels even more promiment! Was thinking of taking a day work tomorrow because of the dust but I will see how I go.Normally these burnt off sunspots blister and the last thing I want is nasties getting in there!

The latest of the food dyed wool.This time I've tried to get the stripes that you find in the other sock wools,and the technique is in the length of the skein.
This one was about two and half metres long,though it doesn't look it here,(wound around two chairs across the loungeroom,and had me dizzy by the time I finished)
* which roughly a third was dipped in a mix that was suppose to be dark purple but more like dk mauve,
*a portion roughly the same length was sealed in an oven bag(I eventually found a use for those I bought at Xmas) to try to keep it clear of dye(a little seeped in but on the whole it worked) ,
*then I dipped the other end into the bright pink colour.

The different colours were left in small containers and the white oven bag rested on the edges,the whole lot in a large dish and into the microwave it went .I did the whole thing wearing a sparkling white tee(new too!) and not a splash on me(came close though!!!!!)
The wool was cooked for five minutes and after dribbling some vinegar over the exposed bits to keep them moist,(hot dry wool can catch alight) back in for another five to make sure!
Next time I am going to do a blue green colourway and will be more
prepared and will take a photo record of what I did.
This lot had been soaking in vinegar for five days but I couldn't get to it .The kids always want to help and this time it was too fiddly,so tried to do it before they got home from school.I was held up during the week as Kids wanted to go to pool,bus left oldest son behind in Kal ,so had to travel 68km in to pick him,worked late another time and heaps other things just simply prevented me getting to it.
Think of me as I try to wind this very long skein in to a ball.
Its corredale wool that
came from the Hawthorne Cottage via her Ebay Shop and bought in a huge 500g skein(I bough 500g and recieved another 100g free as a deal) which was fun in itself to wind into 100g balls which I then wound back into a 200m skein to get enough to make a pair of8 ply socks.The lady a HC sells the kits for hiking boot socks using this wool so it should be good.I will try toe up if I can find a good pattern as I don't know much about short row heel,if I chicken out it will be a simple sock pattern instead!

Well I went to Check outhttp://ladybug326.blogspot.com/ this morning so decided to have a go at Wipe out which is where you post a photo of projects OTN at that moment(or close to) so it gives others the urge I suppose to complete their ownUFOs? Anyway 31st March is the day/night,it'll be interesting to see how it goes!

PS wonder if it also means those sleeves that have been sitting there since last winter!

Ta for now