We all know that women are masters of multi-tasking, so I sometimes allow my fantasy to include me having multiple arms like Shiva, so that I would be able to accomplish much more crafting. I asked ChatGPT to help me visualize myself in this manner, and although the spinning part lacks a little reality (my distaff is clearly not a snake), I thought it was pretty interesting. I also don’t know where Chat found this image of me, but it seems “fantasy” is the guiding instruction.
I am deep into a test knit that is due July 19, and it is clear to me that I am not going to make it. However, I will give it a good try.
Things started very slowly because I chose yarn from my stash that turned out not to work with the color work of the pattern. This sweater needs a tightly spun yarn, and I started out with Cascade 220 sport, which is loosely plied and is a bit fuzzy. Did not work. I swatched with about 4 different additional yarns, and finally found one that is working, but now I am way behind.
There are two more repeats of the color work pattern, the ribbing, sleeves (short) and neckline. We will see what happens. I should mention that it was hot as blazes over the weekend, so working with wool yarn has NOT been fun.
It also was the 4th of July weekend, and the start of the Tour de France, or for those of us who are spinners, the Tour de Fleece. I have participated off and on, but this year have challenged myself to finish off some languishing projects (i.e., half-spun batts), and make a stab at finishing the Gotland lamb that I started some years ago. The sweater is first priority, but I am hoping to spin a little each day.
This is from three little bags of roving I brought back from Iceland some years ago. I had no idea what I would do with them, but today decided they needed to be just random colored yarn I can use in one of my tapestries. I let it be thick and thin with lumps and bumps to make it more interesting. My “technique”, such as it is, was to hold the bits from each bag in my left hand, and just randomly pull from the colors. I like that it looks like a carnival. It was a happy 2 hours of spinning and I think and interesting result.
Another problem is that my studio is a hot (literally) mess right now, and I can’t even reach my wheel. On Friday with the help of a very easy-going teenager, we have plowed through a couple of the big tasks (like sorting piles of knitting needles by size). Even with that mind-numbing task, she has agreed to come back on Monday to start working on the yarn.
When we moved, I stuffed skeins of yarn into vacuum bags, sometimes managing to get like types together, but more often than not, I just grabbed what was next.
Bags have been opened and scattered as I look for this and that, and not it is a hopeless tangle. It will take more patience than I have to get it right. (Another example of where Chat seems to think I am existing on a more elevated and calm plain than reality would suggest).
After working for 2 half-days with a teenaged assistant, the yarn is at least now organized by weight. It need a further sort and some more bins to finish completely, but at least is a smidge more orderly.
I also found more WIPS. I had better get busy if I think I might actually finish some of them this year!
The other thing Bruce and I have been working on is an art gallery. Our plan is to develop a non-profit for Caldas in order to have a location for artists without brick and mortar shops to sell their work. We also want to have a space for children to learn about making art, and to develop classes around topics of interest in both Portuguese and English. We have a space, and have a meeting on Friday with an accountant who specializes in establishing this kind of business. Our plan is to get the gallery up and going, and then to be far behind the scenes offering support and help where needed. This is not to be OUR project, but rather a community project. We shall see!
Meanwhile, stay out of the sun, and craft on!