fiber and other updates

Still Life With Spindles

There has not been much knitting or other fiber activities happening around here because of everything else that was going on in September but I do have a few things to share. I envy those of you who have such beautiful artistic photos on your blogs. My Still Life With Spindles is about as artistic as I get. On the left is a Kundert spindle and on the right is a Bosworth. They're both wonderful but I especially like the Kundert.

I finished this sock and am currently working on its twin. On Line Supersocke Winter 6-Ply, plain vanilla. Bentley in the picture, as usual.

I was invited to join Ravelry, and did, but I have no idea when I will get around to putting all of my stuff there. It could be a full-time job. Ravelry is a very cool concept and will likely be very interesting when I find the time to do it justice. My Ravelry name is doglover for those of you who are also members.

In the meantime, I've had the knitting blahs and a bad case of startitis lately. Rather than finishing things, I keep casting on new socks. I started a pair of socks using the Queen Kahuna Crazy Toes and Heels method with Apple Laine yarn. Although I prefer knitting socks top-down I really like the way the QK socks fit me. Her Aloha toe is the sturdiest one that I've found. The Apple Laine yarn is wonderfully soft.

I got Cat Bordhi's new book, New Pathways for Sock Knitters, and made the Little Sky Sock. I'm not sure how much I'll use these new patterns. I don't think I have the energy to be enthused about them just now. They're certainly interesting.

Cat Bordhi likes to double strand Trekking yarn to make socks so I thought I'd try it with these two skeins that I had in my stash. The subtle color changes in the Trekking yarns, this one and that one, are very attractive together. Again, just another plain vanilla pattern that will be warm for winter.

I had a couple of skeins of JoJoLand Melody yarn so I doubled it for this sock in the Spiralling Socks pattern. It's too heavy to do justice to this beautiful pattern so it will be frogged and started over using one strand.

I carded a bit of the sheltie undercoat that I've been saving with some merino using the new Strauch carder. It's gorgeous! I love my new carder. Here is some spun up...

And finally, we welcomed a new little critter into our already pet-friendly home. This is Carmen's 4 month old kitten. The kids named him Nightmare, which I refuse to call him. He is cuddly and friendly and laid-back; Nightmare is a stupid name for this little love. My dogs haven't met any cats before and they are most interested in this one. Unfortunately, the way they are showing their interest is by barking like idiots at him so he is understandably wary of them and spends most of his time downstairs past the baby gate that blocks the dogs from going down. He's ventured up a few times so I know that he'd like to join us but it will take time for all of the animals to get used to each other.

Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Canadians! We truly have much to be thankful for, living in this country.