Courtesy of Occasional Insomnia

I don't know if this is more or less personal, but this post was going to be an email to my spinning knitting pal, and I thought I might share w/ the rest of yas. (All 2. :)

I just spent three hours trying to figure out the invisible cast on for Meg Swansen's Mananita. Well... I got it, but the join on the needles isn't cooperating w/ this amazing silk laceweight (Claudia's handpainted) I bought myself as a booby prize (virtuous head on the shoulders, life swimming like a sewage pool around my ankles this week) for being Lauren. Plus, I felt no guarantee that my happy 80 stitches would really fit around my neck. I'll be ready for attempt #3 w/ new needles, I'm sure.

In the meantime I'm getting started on a "bonk." My daughter made up this name for a little bag w/ an i-cord that carries everything. I made one out of Lambs Pride Bulky for her a couple of years ago (it was a trike basket), this one will hopefully be done, and a little more refined (bamboo silk blend, sparkly), holding the box w/ her bday present (a locket). This one will have a picot cast on.

That's what's live. I've got a Morning Surf scarf in Alpaca, a few rows done. And one sweater body, plus 85% of one sleeve.

I have to be patient with myself. I know that I'm bored w/ a lot of the "same ole" in my knitting, but it's the garter stitch projects I'm most likely to knock out (and enjoy in time). But spending so much time on technique is kind of frustrating, but hopefully temporary. I've got to work out how to devote good mental time to more complicated and rewarding projects. While still getting things done like the incessant responsibilities I feel.

And on the spinning front: just finished plying 1 lb. of Wensleydale. I'll wash it this week. Next up: some Merino, Ashland Bay in colors, for the Northern Lights Bohus hat in the Handspun Homeknit IP book I look at so often. I wanted to try something different w/ the yarn, inspired when Pal Up the Hill and I were talking about "spinning ruts" earlier this week. Lo and behold, Spin Off arrived the next day, and an article by J M-K (ha! that's a funny initial coincidence) had an article on cable yarns, but it's the 4 ply Merino she contrasted it w/ that caught my attention. That should be something of a technical challenge, and it sure is purdy.

On the fiber front

I just finished two months of knitting for a baby surprise sweater. It's a washable synthetic, from Sildar, so nice enough to handle, but: I've resolved to enjoy me fancy schmancy natural fiber yarns more, and do less of my "obligation" knitting for a while. I'm burned out. Two months felt like an eternity, somehow.

Spinning: a pound of Wensleydale top, and it's lovely. It's going to be a two-ply, I'm guessing about 700 yards of it. I've had it for years. Almost every Saturday morning I wake up, listen to Scott Simon (I love you, Scott!), and spin for a couple of hours.

My resolution to use what I have has been incredibly motivating, I've got a ton of projects I'm dreaming up, and a ton more I'll start on as soon as I seam up the damn baby sweater.

Books

Nat talked about how The Time Traveler's Wife rocks. And it does. Some stories take over and make their own life with you, others don't. I finished "Thousand Splendid Suns" last week, and when I walked away, it was over. Yet Wicked, with all of its long and boring passages, should somehow be an American classic, set on high schoolers that will never understand, as meaning it does have.

What sayest y'all? Which stories stick?

Our book club chose The Book Thief for next, I'm looking forward to it.