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This week finds Dottie in the lockup.

She’s not charged with any crime, but she’s somehow managed to injure her knee (back right side). I’d been trying to get a hold of her for some time, but she’s still faster than me out in the open even on three legs, and I really didn’t want to stress her out by chasing her down.

The recent heavy rains gave me the advantage tho, and I was able to catch her in the shed, which I have reconfigured to provide her with a secure space to rest and hopefully heal. But of course she’s not thrilled about being in lockdown.

Daphne and Fiona have been being pretty decent about it, coming hang out nearby and keep her company some of the time. And I’m trying to make it more tolerable by giving her treats like zucchini (she is the only sheep who will eat them), and apple branches, which is a favorite with all the girls.

In other news, the JUiST sweater is progressing well. Need to do a try-on sometime soon, but thinking I’ve got maybe 3-4 inches left on the body.

As is spinning Esther wool for the next version

I’m spinning the singles on the lateral treadle spindle wheel (larger whorl, ratio of about 20:1) and chain plying on Moto. Roughly worsted weight. I haven’t swatched it yet, but I’m guessing it will work out to about 5 st/in

That wheel really needs a better name. She’s getting a lot of use, and deserves an official appellation. But it’s just not coming to me yet.

And again, I will sign off with a summer veg offering-

Because you’ve got to savor these summer treats while they last-

This week found me diving back into the stash to see what else might be of use in my current sweater project.

I’d already repurposed most of my original attempt at a contiguous pullover. A quick search of the blog revealed that it had been sitting in limbo since 2013 (and photos have since been lost to Flikr purge). It was (over)due to be frogged. Those natural shade got me as far as the underarms, but I knew I was going to need something else to make up the rest of the body and sleeves.

Enter Gulf Coast native and Florida Cracker sheep three ply (circa 2022)-Aged to perfection in the stash 🙂

The spin was really nice, but the yarn was quite yellow-y (more than you can tell in the photo), so I’d thought for a while that I’d probably end up dyeing it eventually. Turns out, Thursday was the day!

Had one packet each of Malbec and Strawberry Wool Tinctures left, and so combined them in a dyebath and came up with a garnet-y shade that I’m really happy with

Got a little bit of resist effect from skein ties that I should have loosened, so will have to see how that plays out in the knitting. So far, I’m really liking the effect-

Now we’re down to the vast stretches of stockinette, with just a little shaping. I think that once it is functionally complete I’m going to do some embroidery on the white in the dyed yarn to kind of pull it together. Not sure what form that will take yet, though.

And to round out today’s post, I’ll leave you with some gratuitous garden veg photos

Alrighty folks- have a good week!

Don’t know if I’d shared this previously, but for the last couple of years I’ve been resolving to start participating in my local Spinning Guild. Each January I would think- “I could use a little more engagement with other fiber folks in the area.” I know that I’m lucky to live in a place where there is a lot of interest and activity in woolcraft, but I’ve been mostly doing my thing in isolation for the last few years.

Yesterday the stars aligned, so to speak- and I had a day with no particular agenda, and a meeting happening. So I packed up my small upright wheel Sophie, some fiber, and my current knitting project and headed out!

It was a beautiful day, and nice that the trip up to Everson is all on back roads. Meeting was easy to find, and the group was very welcoming. There was a little bit of group business, sharing of projects and materials, and lots of spinning. I got through a flashy multicolor batt that I took to play with, and plied it once I got home-

(Blendy batt yarn on on the left, plied up bobbin ends on the right)

This week I’ve also decided to take another run at the JUiST pattern that I bailed out on last year. I really want to do an Esther memorial sweater, and JUiST seems to have just the right comfy vibe. But I needed to do a test run, since the short rows and new-to-me kind of increases kind of threw me last time, and I had a hard time visualizing how the should shaping would come together.

I’m very pleased to report that it’s going much better this time around.

I did a quick wet block yesterday, just a couple inches short of where I’ll separate the body from the sleeves, and it’s looking really promising. I think that last time I messed up the short rows, because I have very little patience for written out directions.

Now that I’ve worked through it once and the shoulder shaping makes sense to me, I really like the scheme. I’ll finish this sweater up with miscellaneous stash yarn, and assuming it fits and it comfy, will begin to plan and spin for my Esther pullover.

Have a good week everyone-

Ps- Also starting to think about the next WSU Country Living Expo, and if it might be fun to mix up the woolcraft class offerings. Suggestions are very welcome.

We lost Esther this week.

It’s hard to write about it because I still don’t understand exactly what was at the root of her decline. But by Tuesday she’d lost the strength to get herself off the ground, and I knew that we weren’t going to get her through it. The kindest thing that we could do was give her a soft landing and not draw it out any longer.

So this week I’m just sharing some photos and short videos of Esther and her beautiful wool over the years.

She was such a cool girl, and I’m very thankful for having known her.

Rest in Peace, sweet Esther.