Forward & Back

Only one FO for May, but it's a lovely one, and (for a change) these socks fit me perfectly.



Pattern: Forward & Back socks (Ravelry link)
Designer: Ruth Greenwald, The Yarnarian.
Yarn: Hazel Knits Artisan Sock in Cami Chic
Needles: 2.0 mm (US 0) 6" aluminum Inox DPN
Gauge: 7.5 st/inch and 11 rows/inch in stocking stitch
Pattern notes: 56 stitch cast on; substituted a round toe
Ravelry project link

The photo above was taken outdoors in natural light. The following one was taken indoors on a cloudy day, and shows the beautiful flow of colors on the heel and sole of the socks.

Black Sheep, Black Sheep

Black Sheep Gathering: more wool in more formats than I have ever seen in one place before. I was positively giddy from the wool fumes. Wool on the hoof, fleece, batts, roving, and yarn, yarn and more yarn. Also, the tools to make yarn, and to turn yarn into fabric: carding machines, spindles, wheels, looms, needles. Spinners and weavers everywhere. You will be amazed to hear that I left with only four skeins of yarn:



These are (left to right) Blue Moon Socks that Rock lightweight "Grimm's Willow Wren" and "Puck's Mischief" and Chameleon Colorworks Twinkle Toes (beautiful glossy smooth merino/tencel) in "Peacock" and "Stonewashed."

I took some photos, but there are better ones on Marnie's blog. Be sure to scroll down and watch, and especially listen to, the video she recorded in the sheep/goat barn. Be happy they have not yet invented Smellavision.

Twelve Things

Wendee tagged me with this meme: twelve things about yourself, interpreted through the compound lens of Flickr. Here is how the meme flows, if you want to play along:

Go to the mosaic maker page, and create a 3 column by 4 row mosaic. You'll get a page with twelve fields in which you can paste photo URLs.

For each question below, key your answer into the Flickr search box.

Choose an image from the first page of hits.

Copy (right click and Copy Image Location) the photo link into the corresponding box in the mosaic maker.

These are the questions:

1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name.

Shorn

Today we walked up to Weaving Works, where Al and Lin Schwider from The Pines Farm demonstrated the noble art of sheep shearing. This sheep is a pet of the family, chosen for the demo because of her mild temperament.



She maintained a fairly resigned demeanor through the whole ordeal, with only a few plaintive bleats.



Note the nicely crimped fleece - she is a natural coloured Romney.



Ah! Done at last! We were allowed to pet her after the shearing. Her stubbly hide was very soft, warm and full of lanolin.