Oregon Vest:
Zipper has arrived!
Installation to commence as soon as I can squeeze it in.
Stashbuster Top-Down Raglan:
Passed a major milestone this week- finished the raglan shaping and put the sleeve stitches on hold.
The rounds go so much faster now that there are about 1/3 fewer stitches on the needles!
Spinning:
First skein of Chone! (Sadie inspecting)
You can tell it’s him by the persistent little veg bits sprinkled throughout. That’s my little Pigpen. 🙂
So, it occurred to me that I really haven’t posted anything about knitting projects in a while.
And that’s because I really haven’t been doing much knitting lately. Been pretty focused on the sheepers and the fleeces.
So, I decided I needed to knit another Oregon Vest.
I already have one Oregon vest, and it is one of my favorite handknits. I wear it all the time.
I’ve been meaning to knit another one for a while. So, I’m finally getting around to it.
This one will be primarily Huey. I’d like for it to be entirely Huey,, but I’m not sure I have enough left. So I’ll find something else complementary in the stash to finish it off if need be.
So, there’s that in the works.
And then I just looked in on Brooklyn Tweed yesterday, and found the sweater that I’ve been meaning to design for myself!
Brownstone is all I’ve been wanting in a pullover- shawl collar, raglan shoulder, in-the-round construction.
Hurray for Jared!
I’m lovin’ the idea of a Griff Brownstone. Destined to become a wardrobe staple.
Don’t have any Griff samples spun up yet, but he’s about half washed, so he’ll be on the bobbin soon! And it’s dreamy stuff.
Here are first skeins of Felix/Franklin and Edgar, both approximately sport weight-
I’m also kind of itchin’ to make some more of those cute Estonian Sheep Puppets that appeared in Spin-Off a couple of years ago.
Perhaps one like each of the boys?
It’s been a good weekend.
Always helps when you have a couple extra days.
I really should do that more often.
Thursday I went over to Schoonover Farm to help with their shearing.
I always jump at the chance to help with something like this, because it’s a great opportunity to learn (and earn a really nice fleece!)
This year I chose Spike.
Here he is being shorn:
The fleece:
And the first yarn:
Mmmm mmmmm good.
Good show, Spike!
Saturday, we did our sheep maintenance routine- hooves, deworming, and administering the CoSeCure boluses for the first time.
It was a bit hairy, getting the boluses down them, until we developed a technique,, but they all got done. And it doesn’t look like anyone has spit them up, so I think we’re good!
This afternoon was really beautiful, so I was going to go out and get some fleece photos, but the boys wouldn’t cooperate.
So, I decided I would take samples instead.
Went back to the house to get the nice new little shears that got just recently.
Thought I would just get a couple snips worth, as a preview.
But when I got out there, Edgar just walked right up and said “Take it off. Take it all off”
And so I did.
First he just stood there while I was clipping.
Then he sat down.
And I just kept on clipping.
At some point, the other guys got curious and came around to see what was going on.
I had Frank climbingup on my back, and Chone nibbling on my ear.
Crazy guys.
But it was fun. Edgar was so relaxed, and I just kept chatting him up, telling him how sporty he was gonna look in his new ‘do.
Probably took an hour or more.
I just took it slow and made sure not to get too close to any skin.
He’s still got a half inch to an inch of wool on him everywhere, so I don’t think he’ll get too chilly.
Seems mighty relieved to be rid of the heavy coat, actually.
And I’m glad to take it from him.
Edgar’s a bit lumpy lookin’ and the fleece is a bit jumbled,, but I think we’re both pretty psyched about how it went.
Who’s next? Perhaps on we of the big boys?
