Fleece Number 2 Washing, a Day at Slater Mill's Event, Spinning, and Knitting

Saturday morning was really hot here. I had already planned to wash at least one more fleece and this was a perfect day for it. I pulled it out of the bag and found there was almost no VM to clean. My doctor had skirted this one nicely. I pulled the edges away from the "blanket" part so I could do that part separately. It all fit in 4 mesh bags and took very little work or time to prep for the buckets.

My DH hooked up a rubber pipe to the kitchen sink for the hose to run from. We stuck the hose through the window and it was so much easier than lugging buckets of hot water through the yard. Yesterday was cooler around here, so the fleece were still damp. He flipped them over on the screen for me so the under side can dry better and evenly. The fleece looks nice and fluffy now, as it dries in the shed away from the possible showers we might have tonight.

Sunday also was the end of the National Spinning and Weaving Week. Slater Mill in Pawtucket, RI had an all day event I really wanted to go to. We arrived around 12:30 and stayed until around 2. As we were leaving, I called Kimberly to let her know and she begged me to stay til she got there. How could I not? I waited for her and we finally left around 3:30.

I had a great time with the spinning guild, which I just signed up to join. After spending some time with them, I feel very comfortable and know I will enjoy the meetings. Several ladies also told me about some processing mills if I don't want to do my fleeces myself. I might use one if DH doesn't want to help me, but for right now, he seems to like doing it.

There was a roving where everyone could trying dyeing some of it. This was a community project and next year it will be a community spinning project. So cool.

Also, I learned how to use a hackle and a drum carder, both of which are now on my wish list. Jonne spoke on the proper cleaning of your wheel. I didn't realize you were suppose to clean the oiled parts after spinning for an hour. I came home and immediately cleaned everything on mine.

There were quilting, spinning, weaving and great wheel demos all happening. Hot chocolate was available, but I had a drink in the car so didn't get any.

Last night, I was heading into the bedroom, when I heard Pat ask me "You going to spin on your wheel for a while or what?" He just knew what I had planned. I plied the two bobbins waiting for me, spun a bit of my alpaca just to see what it felt like, and then did a bit of my natural colored roving before I quit. In all about 3 hours of spinning. I felt quite happy with that amount accomplished. Might do a bit more of the roving tonight.....

As for the knitting, it's all progressing at a snail's pace. I need to focus on one project and just finish that before moving on to another.
And since this is Socktoberfest, I must complete the socks first. All my Retro Socks need is the toe kitchenered. Meida needs 2 more repeats of the pattern and the decreases for the toe. The Lacy Anklets haven't been touched. My toe ups are crying for attention.

MS3 is almost to Clue 4, Clapotis 1 is on dropped stitch 5, Clapotis 2 is in the increase part. I cast on Secret of Chrysopolis, but frogged it because I didn't like my yarn color choice. I saw it in red and loved it. Now I need red lace weight yarn.......
My stained glass alpaca pattern is numbered and taped, waiting for me to cut up one copy and start with the glass.......

That's all my projects for now.