The Battle of Waterloo

I won the battle of Waterloo!


Phew, that took forever. Part of the problem is that the stitches and yarn and hook were so small. (F Tunisian hook, sport weight yarn, Tunisian slip and purl stitches.) Part of the problem is that I mis-measured the sleeves and had to redo them as fast as I possibly could. I started last Friday afternoon, worked in the car and in the hotel during our weekend trip to Astoria, and grew roots on the couch where I sat all week, working all day long. I was hoping I could do them in a day each, which was a laughable wish but I wished it anyway.

So the week ticked by, and I have no recollection of it, except for waking up sore. (Did you know you could get sore from sitting on the couch and crocheting as fast as you can? Of course you did.) And yesterday evening I boxed it all up and emailed the pattern to be tech edited, and got to actually sit and do nothing for a little while! (And of course I felt weird and wanted to start another project.)

I'm awaiting yarn for two new projects now. They will go MUCH faster than the Waterloo, and my husband will be pleased with that. And so will my muscles. (They'd rather be sore after a more cardiovascular workout.)

Spinny

If you follow my Twitter, you know what I've been up to - making the world's slowest Tunisian jacket! It's pretty though; now that I'm in the home stretch, and SO worth the time it takes to do it. I love making finishing touches to garments: crocheting the trim, placing buttons and buttonbands, being able to lay it out on the blocking board as a garment rather than pieces of fabric. And then comes the brain-overload of pattern grading, so I can send it to Julie, editor extraordinaire.

With finishing, though, comes thinking about the next fun project. Even though I'm waiting for yarn for two more designs, I have been researching spinning wheels while I weave in ends. If I go just on looks, I like the Ashford Traveller best. It's compact and tall, which works well with my living situation (and my height), and it's decently-priced. And it's not overly modern-looking, nor too antique-y, which I like. I've asked in my local Ravelry forum if anyone would be willing to give me a lesson or two, so that if I end up going to Black Sheep Gathering or Oregon Flock & Fiber Festival I can try out the assortment they have and get a better idea of what I like. I have to decide that it's something I want in the first place, but judging by the drop spindle I have nothing to worry about - except a lighter wallet, heh.

Hopefully I'll be able to share better pictures of my project soon. For now, this will have to tide you over. I met some friends in Portland for the Starlight Parade, and as two of us waited in the hot afternoon for the rest of the party to arrive and for the parade to start, we passed the time with yarn.