Black Sheep Gathering in Eugene, Oregon.

Angora goat.

The livestock barns are connected to the other barns. The show ring separates the livestock pens from the vendors that set up in the other barns, also connected. I loved the chorus of sounds in the barn. It would have been fun to record it.

My goal this year was simple. Arrive at the Gathering first thing in the morning (Eugene is 3 hours away from my home), set up my wheel in the spinner's circle, and find some fiber to purchase and spin while I enjoy the company of the other spinners.

I found 10 ounces of Corriedale in denim blue. It has been a goal of mine to try Corriedale - I think it might make good sock yarn. I also bought some mixed wool that is dyed purple with streaks of navy blue and dark red. The vendor told me it has neps in it, which suits me fine as I think I will spin a slightly untamed yarn with it. I also purchased a guage to help me maintain the size of my singles in order to ply a certain weight of yarn (did that make sense?).

I met The Bon (she bakes wonderful bread, check out her blog), Tigereye and her daughter (a talented fiber artist using felting needles), and others from whom I forgot to ask names (must of been the wool fumes). I was pleasantly suprised to see Laurie Weinsoft, my spinning teacher from last year, in the spinners circle. I counted 24 wheels in the spinning circle at one time, and many more scattered around the fringes and in other parts of the Gathering.

I left early that evening feeling refreshed and satisfied. The drive home was lovely. I arrived just as the sun set.

These singles have been gathering dust for the last few months. These colors are true to the actual colors (on my monitor). I am going to Black Sheep Gathering tomorrow, and I needed to free up my bobbins. I used a heavy weight cardboard core that is slightly larger than the size of paper towel core. I cut it in half and put it into service as a 4th "bobbin" so I would have an empty bobbin for plying.

My first 3-ply (color washed out a little by the flash) ....

fun fun fun



I think I will stick to 2-ply, though, until I can consistently spin the finer singles. Stretches of this 3-ply are sport weight (my goal) but other parts are aran weight (eek). I want to spin sock yarn.

Knit-one-below socks.



Experimented with cables.




I like the "wrong" side as well as the "right" side. I can either fold them down to make a cuff or leave them up.

Inspired by the book "Knit One Below" by Elise Duvekot.
YARN: The blue is Mountain Colors and the green is Yummy sock yarn.
Needles: 2.5 mm (US 1) on the leg and 2 mm (US 0) on the foot.

I went to the sports/outdoor store to find a line meter (for measuring yarn). Although I did not find that, I did find the perfect little box for stitchmarkers. This is made by Plano. What makes this box better than what I have seen in the craft stores is that the dividers are designed slightly higher than the outside of the box so that they meet the lid when it is closed. The stitchmarkers don't get mixed when the box is tipped. (Other organizers I have seen have a gap between the dividers and the lid.) I also like how it is see-through so I can see my stitchmarkers without opening the box. A good find for $2.49.

Pre-teen alien takes the family saucer for a joy ride and tries to land on the Washington Monument.

Time to harvest some of the lavender that is growing in the yard. It will be nice to have a few of these for the fiber.

Some days I need to know I accomplished something positive no matter how small. My positive accomplishment this day is that my hand-winding is improving. I am getting better at shaping the 'shoulders' of the ball so that it doesn't end up looking like an egg. I use a size 35 needle as a nostepinne. This is lace-weight alpaca that has been waiting in the stash for a couple of years to become the Muir. It will make a perfect lightweight shawl for air-conditioned rooms and cool evenings.

Aibhlinn is done and ready to be blocked.