Meanwhile….

Dear Mom,
When I've not been weeding, or mowing, I've managed to finish a few projects. This first sweater has been on my needles for months and got interrupted several times while I knit things for classes. I finally finished and I am not sure I'll ever wear it.

This is Manu. I love the pleated yoke and the deep, gathered pockets. I am just not sure that the wide scooped neckline is flattering. And the depth to the underarm is a bit shallow on me. Of course, I am saying all this based on a pre-blocked fitting. Post blocking could be an entirely different story. I am just afraid to try it on again and have my hopes dashed.  (The yarn I used is Classic Elite's Wool Bam Boo- one of my favorites. The only modification I made was to shorten the sleeves.)
For the last few months I'd feared I lost my desire to knit. I was a little bit scared for myself. But in the last couple of weeks I've cast on not one, not two, but THREE new projects. One of them was an impulse purchase that is very different from anything I typically knit (or wear)  and the pattern is so mind numbingly boring that I want to hurry up and finish it before the impulse that got me started wears off!

On a more successful front, I wove two rag rugs. I'd been saving my own and begging fabric scraps from you and any quilters I know. I cut the legs of some jeans that were destined for the Goodwill or garbage into strips. I joined the fabric strips together without sewing them as shown in this video. I spent an evening joining my strips together, and coughing and sneezing fiber. As it turns out, my fear of not having enough fabric to complete a rug were unfounded. I had enough fabric to weave 2 rugs, and probably a third. What I am getting low on is rug warp!

These were quick, satisfying projects. I like the thick/thin variations in the fabrics and the knotted joins in these rugs and the truly random-ness of the fabric strips. It is the pattern of the warp that unites the combination in the rug. I painted a non-skid rug backing to one side of them so we can use them without sliding across the floor.

It is Tour de France Fleece time. I've not joined any "teams" or set any lofty goals. I'll just make a point of spinning everyday, even if it is only for a few minutes. Slow and steady wins the race, right?
Love,
Kim