Wow, what a busy day! Even busier week!
So what have I been up to?...

...On Monday I wound ( and wound and wound) the LONGEST SKEIN EVER- I tied it in 1 metre lengths and there were 17 ties so I guess it was pretty long- before shrinkage. The yarn was a 50/50 Cheviot and Alpaca 4 ply in a light grey to start off with. All the "to be dyed " stuff went in vinegar water overnight.

So, Tuesday was dye day.Above is the skein after dyeing, it's all one long length wound back and forth to dry! I did a little "splodge" dyeing of some commercial 80% Wool DK, that's what's drying at the back. The Alpaca looked really mean and moody because it was wet ( the flash kinda cancelled that bit out) but that paled as it dried.

As it dried well, Wednesday involved lots of re-winding, first onto the ball winder and then into useable skeins. Of course, I forgot all about this and was later complaining how my arms ached!

Anyway, here's the finished skeins, all 185g. Interestingly, I found another skein I dyed a while back in almost exactly the same combination of colours! however, as each colour is a metre strip, it should stripe up well. I've roughly the same amount of yarn again left on the cone so I've still to decide whether to repeat the procedure all over again or do something different! Watch this space!

On Wednesday, I joined up to MS3 so by Thursday, I decided I really needed to pull my finger out and get the sample square done.

It's actually a humble 20% Mohair, 80% Acrylic but it was the right thickness and the right colour and, above all, it looks pretty. I did try a pure Alpaca 4 ply ( to keep up with the fibre snobs) but it looked hideous and, surprisingly I either didn't have enough or had the wrong sort of colour or thickness despite having a stash the size of a small country so it also saved me from buying any more!

For those that don't know, MS3 ( Mystery Stole 3) runs for 7 weeks, the first clue (first 100 rows) were posted on Friday ( afternoon here) and I completed it around 1pm Sunday. Sign ups close at the end of this week ( I think) so there's still time to join if you wish.

Pretty, n'est ce pas? I love the celtic cables round the outside and whilst I will admit to an odd grey hair or two ( concentration's the key). I mostly found it enjoyable, particularly adding the beads without stringing them on the yarn first (though you can't see them in the pics!).

So, what else have I been up to? Well, I started the 2nd pair of Jaywalkers last Friday...



...However, this 'aint them! The sock fairies have been kind and pair 2 was knitted up in every spare moment and finally finished Friday.



Just to prove I've not just done another closer pic of my original socks!

Pair 2 have made it to their new home and I've actually cast on for pair 3! I'm cheating a wee bit here, though, using 2.5mm needles rather than 2.25mm and a little jiggery pokery with the stitch count so they don't look too wide. The flip side is pair 3 is knitting up even faster than before ( which is necessary with so much else on the go!).

Also, through the week, I have been washing fleece ( the second half got washed today) and dunking in the dyepot. It's a lovely creamy Portland fleece and mostly very soft with very little rubbish in it ( which has been nice). So far today, we have a pot of Navy and Blue to add to the Turquoise and Red of Yesterday and the pale bottle green of Friday. I'm debating as I go as to whether to limit the colours to a palette or just pick up whatever dyejar is to hand, I guess I will find out when there's no more fleece left to dye!

The more regular readers will perhaps enquire as to the 5 bag challenge? You know, spinning, reducing fleece etc?

Shall we say crashed and burned?

Truth is, I haven't touched either wheel since I posted and with newly dyed fleece calling, it's doubtful whether I'll continue on the lace route. I will try to devote an hour to it later in a make or break (pardon the pun!) situation to see whether I can stick to it for a wee bit longer. Or not.

I've also joined a UFO-along. I have so many NFO's, I need a boot up the backside to finish them so just maybe this'll do the trick. I plan to root them all out this week so I can make an honest list of them all then perhaps a frogathon to reduce some back to stash.

I also have cravings to knit something EXPENSIVE. I'm surrounded by gorgeous, premium quality wool yet stuck knitting socks ( which I had to BUY wool for) and lace stuff. I may just have to cast on ONE MORE THING just so I feel like I'm making a dent in it all ( however slight!)

Floppy doesn't really care so long as he gets fuss once in a while!