Starz Above: Happy May Day 2006

Happy May Day 2006 - delayed

· posted 05/10/2006

Purple Iris from our front yard.

Life has been a RIDE lately. So, out of pure exhaustion, I’m going to attempt a sort of pictorial wrap-up, with more details to follow soon.

The last day of April we went and met up with a group of local spinners at the gracious Sherry’s house. It was a blast! We were able to try a Roberta electic spinner, and some double and single/double treadle spinning wheels. And what wonderful gifts from the hostess (made by her husband), sock blockers!:

And then there is a Finished Object! It’s already been sent to the recipient and should be received any day now, The Ribbed Eyelet Baby Hat:

Gaining more confidence in my spinning, I tried out some of the silk/wool blend that I picked up at Greencastle from Little Barn Fibers on both the wheel and the drop spindle and it is WONDERFUL to spin!:

The one pound of Finn roving from Firefly Fields came in this package:

And fluffed out to this huge pile:

It’s wonderful, lofty stuff to spin, as you can see here:

Continuing on the spinning front, here is my first real attempt at handspun angora:

I did most of it a couple of weeks ago, and had to park and draft it, and had to be in just the right mood or it was frustrating. But I put the bobbin back on the wheel yesterday and tried it again and it was much smoother, even actually ‘live’ spinning it. This is about 35 yards (not sure on the weight) – and I need about another 15 yards for the pattern I plan to attempt to knit it up into.

The baby bolero pieces are done, except for the collar and finishing:

And last, but not least, I did cave in and start the Yukon Leaves socks with the gorgeous Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock, in Icehouse, that my secret pal 5 gifted to me, way back when.