Meet Squiggles

Isn't he (pos. she) cute? We're keeping this little one. Two and a half weeks old. I can't get over how big the kittens have grown in such a short time. They're trying to escape from the box and Honey's not too happy about that. The all black kitten is going to a good friend but the neighbour didn't want to take the little black and white one when she saw her and I fear I'm becoming more and more fond of her. Must.... remain... detached. So, if you know of anyone in the Berkshire area looking for a particularly gorgeous kitten - when she keeps still, I'll get a non-blurry photo for you.

The weather has been downright tropical here. After my spinning lesson, we had a go at washing an unidentified fleece using the method my spinning teacher, Linda, had shown us.

But it wasn't good news - the wool was like brillo pads when it dried. I mixed it with some white BFL and put it through the drum carder, but sadly I think it's going to be unspinnable.

Saturday night was an impromptu Britain's Got Talent party, BBQ and pool party with Skein Princess going back to a friend's for camping in the garden.

On Friday, we went to the Children's Art Festival in Reading organised by Jelly and then onto see Coraline - which, be warned, is not for children of even a slight sensitive nature unless you want nightmares.

Yesterday, me and Skein Princess got all my spinning fluff scraps and drum carded them into this little cloud of colour.

Then I decided that I didn't have enough knitting projects on the go, and because Linda had asked us to knit up our samples of kid mohair and angora, I decided to start another Zig and Zag pram blanket using all my handspun samples.

Other than that, still working on the Cloud Nine socks in Summer Pudding Plushness for my friend, Sandra. Not much progress there.

Have been dyeing today and the next update will be a large one and will include the long-awaited launch of Exquisite - merino, cashmere and nylon - and the equally long-awaited launch of SQ tops (roving) for spinning.

From the Snooty camel

Ok, what have I got for you this week? Hmmm... eventful week. Having problems with blogger so have to keep it short, sweet and photo-heavy.

I've been a busy girl stocking up the shop before I go on holiday next week .
This week's yummy yarns are, in no particular order:

Caramel Blue
Lime Violets (sold)
Someone who shall remain nameless had her nifty fingers on tonight!

Kingfisher
Iguana
Sugared Almonds
Lemonlips
(There's a story behind this name)
Dewberry

And last but not least
Waterlilies
From time to time in this dyeing game you get a little happy accident, and Waterlilies is one of them. Was aiming for turquoise, magenta and chocolate brown. Hmmm. Not quite. But I like it.

Here we have a custom order for a fab customer in Delaware - 5 skeins of Golden Plum.








And another order before it got wrapped in tissue:

Phew! This lot has taken it's toll on my good looks:
Whoa! You're not kidding.
(This snooty camel is really my Ravelry avatar)

For the first time in weeks, I got something started on my needles.


This is the Watermelon yarn from Freshisle Fibers which knits beautifully. I've done a bit more since this photo and started turning the heel and got myself into a bit of difficulty by starting with a purl row instead of a knit by the time I'd divided the stitches (how?) but will bore on and see what happens. It looks good so far and I love it when I get to knit the black seedy bits.

And finally, thanks to the lovely Piglottie for a glowing message on her blog and for the mention on the Ravelry forums. My head is so big it's lolling off my shoulders:)

I got mine!

Yay! I got my Ravelry invite this morning. (She does a victory dance in the style of an Egyptian!) Now I've just got to get some time to figure it out - have managed my profile so far, and included my favourite curse word?! Now have to work out how to register as a Yarnie. If you're looking for me on there, by any chance, I'm on as skeinqueen.

Also I got my first return customer! She purchased Fruit Salad last week:

And placed a custom order for four more skeins which I dyed up this afternoon. It was a bit nerve-wracking as I'd used a slightly unorthodox method for this one, but the old memory kicked in and I think she'll be pleased with the result. Just have to skein them up.

I got a treat in the post yesterday when I finally got my hands on some wait-til-you-see-this-it's-incredible watermelon yarn from Marian at freshislefibers
OK, rather nice I hear you say but look what it can do - self-striping watermelon socks. Amazing, aren't they! Marian is so clever.

Self-patterning socks

Have been getting into making socks lately, using Opal's self-patterning yarn.



I love working with this wool as the pattern develops "by itself".




They're perhaps not the coolest item in the world, but it's the fun of making them that counts and they'll do fine for wearing with Timberlands on winter walks.





One more still to make...