I’m also going to try overdyeing once again. The gray CVM is pretty, I think, but I’d like to try another stab at dyeing it. This time it’ll be with just a single color; there’s enough variation in the fleece itself to make some interest. At least that’s the idea.

Margaret, the sweater from Mason-Dixon Knitting: Outside the Lines that I’ve been working on for well over a year now, is almost ready to have some words put on it. Almost.
Last week I installed the sleeves, sewed up the sides and sleeve seams (Fun! W00t!), and went ahead and finished the neck. Instead of the ribbing the pattern calls for, I just did 7 rows of stockinette. It curled up nicely, and matches the ribbing and bind-off on the saddle sleeves. At least that’s what I’m telling myself.

While I was getting ready for School Girl’s field trip, I inadvertently found my good mini Bosworth spindle with the baby alpaca, and decided to bust out the stockings for another go. I think I have enough already spun to at least get up past the heel on Stocking #1. No pictures yet because well, you’ve all seen what a sock toe looks like. Right? That’s what I thought.

I also finished a card for my mum for Mother’s Day. You won’t get to see that until next week, when it’ll already be there. I can’t tell you how happy I am to have something for Mother’s Day done on time.

Best of all, I didn’t miss the Kentucky Derby today. Go SuperSaver!

I really love this pattern, both the children’s pattern and the adult one. The adult link leads to the revised version of the clogs; I’ve got a pretty wide foot, so I think I’d prefer the older version I have anyway.

I also made a teensy bit of headway with the sweater. See these? Yes. Those are sleeves. 2 of them. If it wasn’t for the fact that I have to seam them now, I think I’d prefer this, making both sleeves at the same time. It doesn’t actually go faster, but it feels like it’s faster.

It isn’t knitting, but I finally finished the sundress I’ve been working on. It was my first experience with an invisible zipper; which would have gone a hell of a lot better if I hadn’t screwed up the rest of the side dress seam. The zipper’s in the side, which is kind of weird and awkward to get into, but looks really pretty when worn. Nope, no pictures of that one.

It’s Heart, from the Winter 2008 Knitty. That’s my handspun Coopworth from ages and ages ago, recently dyed with cherry Kool-Aid a summer or two ago.

Heart, from the Winter 2008 Knitty

It’s either K’s or School Girl’s Valentine’s Day present. He laughed like hell when he saw it, because it doesn’t look like a heart exactly. But it was quick and easy, and it’s done.

My present, on the other hand, may possibly arrive on Friday. Maybe.

I’m still working away on a few things: my Cathedral socks and Margaret. Plus I’m casting on for these during the final/long program of the pairs figure skating tonight. If I feel like it – go Team Angstylvania!

For example, I had to improvise the black yarn for the bag. As I mentioned in the first post, I had to dye dark gray wool instead of using black. The woman at the store and I guessed at the amount of yarn I’d need. To be really blunt, I guessed wrong.

I did luck out and happen to have at least 2 skeins of black worsted (you know, like the pattern calls for) and am working with 2 strands held together. Not my favorite thing to do, but it’s working.

Now I need to figure out how to do the design I had in mind. Right now I’m not sure whether to make it a part of the flap or part of an outside pocket, which would be partially covered by the flap.

• Realize that you really, really need a carry-on bag to properly take advantage of your Xmas present.
• Realize that you really really cannot afford one now.
• Come up with an insane plan to make one yourself.
• Set out on the Epic Voyage to your favorite yarn store.
• Wait patiently in the parking lot until it opens.
• Find out that, sadly, they don’t have nearly enough black yarn to complete the project. But the owner has an idea…
• Come out of the store with 3 skeins of dark gray yarn, 1 skein of variegated scarlet, and 3 packs of dye. Head home.
• Soak yarn in warm water and dish soap. Eat lunch.
• Finish lunch, discourage dog from eating the table and chairs, and dissolve dye packs into boiling water.
• Fill up rest of pot with cool water, put in skeins of yarn, fire up the stove hood and open the door to the garage, turn up the stove very slightly, and wait.
• And wait.
• And wait some more.

And well, that’s where we are right now. I’m hoping that the dye will exhaust someday; and when that someday happens, I can rinse it and hang it up to dry. Then I can get started on this.