My new Secret Pal has come through!

OK this is what I have sent to my SP as parcelNo.3 I think I am now up to date. I just hope she likes it. I know that she received the first parcel which had some handspun samples I did for her and a 200gm ball of bendigo bouckle? in light blue. Her acknowledgment was not,, urrr what I would call happy. The last (2nd) one consisted of a knitting bag I made for her and a skein of special wool I made just for her 240mt long and needles and the pattern for a clapotis based hat. I hope that she likes it. I do try but I think that some people expect much more that others can provide.


After my first SP didn't sent me anything in three months I asked for another one and got a lovely woman in America. These are what she sent me.



They are the book "confessions of a knitting heretic" and a skein of cherry tree hill sock yarn. Bloody beautiful. The book is very useful and I do reccommend it.

I have been to the Bendigo Sheep and Wool show this past saturday and also to the Bendigo Woollenmills back room. Great place if you can get to it. At the show I bought two books and will show and tell next time.

Off to do farmwork Bye

secret pal

I have just received my first package from far away in America. It contains a book Confessions of a knitting heritic and a scein of cherry hill farm sock yarn. Fantastic! I love them both.

I have read most of the book already. I now know that I am a combined knitter. Great! And I have balled the yarn up ready to knit myself a pair of socks. I just have to finish my darling parners' pair first. As I have just finished my first short row heels with no holes! I am rolling along towards the toes. They should be finished by friday. Yay! Except that I have allready been requested to knit more, many many more sock for him. He has even bought the yarn ready. His socks will be my travelling project. or my socks will be.

Had some great finds in garage sales. A brand new coffe machine for $5 and a easeyo maker also for $5. Both work a treat! Hot chocolates for bedtime every night and the 12yo has learnt to froth his milk very nicely, thankyou. Maybe a future job as a coffee maker( dammm, I just cannot remember the proper name for this job! Bugger).

Off to do the last egg collection, out into the mud and rain. Oh the life of a farmer. Great isn't it.
At least I don't have to worry about the sheep getting flystruck right now.

Bye from a wet Victoria.

Clare

Photo's!

This is my second attempt at dying. The blue was dyed in the microwave using food colours then spun and combined with white and natural wool. The single was then navajo plied. The resulting scein is 230metres long approx.

I am going to send this to my AKSP in america. I hope she likes it.


This is the very first scein that I dyed. It was a lost scein, meaning that I spun it 10 years ago at least. I think it is corriedale still had the lanolin in it and looked and felt like string. So I felt that I had nothing to loose by trying to dye it.
After soaking it with vinegar and water then draining out most of the water I added Queen food dyes and microwaved it for 10 minutes. Took it out drained it in a colender and run cold water through it until it ran clear. Next I will try to get a photo of the finished scarf. My one and only.
The yarn, after my abusing it, revealed to me a hidden side. It is now sooooo soft and fluffy! Some of the lanolin is still in residence making it a bit sticky , but when I wear the finished scarf, I am soo warm.

I am now off to knit sock for my partner. Like many Australian blokes his socks must be BLACK. So I have to knit under the brightest light I can. And my eyesight is good!

Just a quick word about the bombs in London. I feel shocked that it happened, but not surprised. For those caught in the explosions, all the best on recovery. Bring on the famous british stiff upper lip. and show these non sentiant creatures that sentiant beings are so much more EVOLVED. And have better ways of dealing with conflict and stress than an animal that just strikes out, even when it is being helped.

Well this is my opinion. Bye.