This isn’t the best picture but I think you can tell this is yarn. Last week I decided I wanted to try to spin a loopy boucle yarn. Boucle yarns have three parts, first is the core, I used some carbonized bamboo that I spun with a  low S twist and I spun it slightly thick, about 25-30 wpi. The second part is the mohair which I spun very thin, between 40 and 60 wpi, with a high Z twist. Then I plyed these two yarns in the S direction, holding the bamboo yarn straight from the orifice and the mohair at about a 90 degree angle. I let the mohair coil and loop loosely around the bamboo and occasionally pulled up a little loop to make a circle around the bamboo, it’s hard to describe and there’s a great article about it in the new Spin-Off, and it took a long time. Lastly I plyed the yarn again counterclockwise (Z direction) with some thick black sewing thread, the thread I used doesn’t have a label on it but it’s thicker than regular thread, I think it’s used for hand quilting or seaming clothing. Anyway, after all this I have about 90yds of loopy boucle yarn and it looks so much better in person than it does here.

I’ve been  moving right along on the Lace Saddle Tee. The front knit up much faster than the back did and I immediately started the saddle and sleeves. I took this picture yesterday and I’ve finished the first sleeve already. The directions have you pick up stitches from the front right shoulder, cast on at the neck edge for the saddle, and then pick up stitches on the back shoulder then you knit the saddle, attaching it as you go. Once the saddle is knit you pick up stitches on the arm holes and knit the sleeve cap using short rows. I think this is the first time I’ve done a sleeve like this and I really like it. It looks nice plus it’s just interesting to do, I had to pay attention every step of the way and that kept me from getting bored. Now I just need to do the second sleeve and I’ll be ready to knit the neck and then I’ll be done. I just hope I like it when it’s done, I think I figured out that the real problem I had with Josephine was the color, it doesn’t look too great on me. I don’t care, if I like the way it fits, I’ll wear it.

No picture, but I did finish knitting Madli today and I went right ahead and grafted the second edging on so it just needs blocked. I liked knitting it and I love how it looks but I must admit that I’m glad to be done. It was just too repetitive to keep my attention for more than a few minutes at a time and it just felt like the knitting was dragging on forever. I’ll try to block it early next week, if it isn’t raining.

I haven’t posted a Sally picture in a while, so here she is. We had to tighten up her collar just a touch the other day, she’s really lost some weight. She has a lot more energy, too. And I feel kinda silly writing that while she’s buried under the pillows sleeping on my bed.

Have a great weekend!