Here’s my gift from my KRSecret Pal. Note how nicely everything is color-coordinated, even the notecard–not to mention coordinating nicely with my new, blue bathroom which is good, because this is [almost] all bathroom stuff. In “Peppamint” scent, there’s an exfoliating bar of soap and bath salts, a little pumice/scrubbing brush, and a gel eye mask, as well as a tin of green tea. Isn’t that lovely? (I am, of course, assuming that she’s trying to spoil me, not implying that I don’t bathe regularly, which I assure you, I do.) (And, I’m teasing, too, in case that’s not obvious–that typing tone of voice thing, you know.) I like the peppermint scent, too.,

Pal, I have a question, though–under the paper band with the eye mask is a . . . something or other. White, kind of foamy cloth, in a long rectangle . . . what is that? (grin) It was attached to the eye mask, but there’s nothing on the label or anywhere I can see that says what it actually is and I don’t have a clue.

What other exciting things do I have to tell you? I’ve started my next lace project for Summer of Lace–this time, a rectangular stole. I’m knitting it in copper-colored Zephyr yarn, in a lace pattern I picked out of Barbara Walker’s first collection. When it’s a bit longer and looks like more than just a copper ruffle on a needle, I’ll post pictures for you.

I’ve got about 3″ or so of my Union Square Market Pullover done, as well. I grant you that it doesn’t sound like a lot, but considering where I was last week at this time . . . no complaints!

In fact, I’m at that awkward stage where all my current knitting projects–all three of them–are all pretty much right at the beginning. Bad planning on my part, since it’s always nicer to have things at the beginning, middle, and end stages so as to make one feel one’s making progress, as well as to make good blog-fodder. (Which, said aloud the other evening, made my mother comment that it sounds like an insult . . . “That’s just blogfodder!” in much the same tone you might say “That’s hogwash!” if, you know, you lived on a farm in the 1930s.)

Spinning-wise, though, I’m halfway through my orange roving and surprisingly fit half of it onto one bobbin. (Yes, that really surprised me.) It also surprised me that I got that much done in just over a week. The cop of pretty teal singles on my spindle is starting to get larger–there’s still room to spin, but it’s getting close, I think, to when I’m going to need to wind it off and start fresh with an empty bobbin.

All in all, this makes me think that Rhinebeck might be coming at just about the right time for me. If I keep spinning at this rate, I’ll run out of fiber stashed in my closet right around October and, gosh, will just have to buy more! Cassie has been extolling the wonders of raw fleece, but I don’t know . . . I don’t think I have a good enough handle on combing yet (read that as “still none at all”) and anyway, am reluctant to bring stinky fleeces into the house. I have no way of knowing whether the wool I got last winter was clean or filthy in relation to most fleeces, but washing it was not something I particularly enjoyed. I mean, how could I know?? Maybe if I can buy already-washed fleece? I think Chappy was the only one in the family who adored the smell of that wool (grin).

Tags: General, Knitting/Spinning // 4 Comments »