Year-End Reflections and Miscellanea

Sarah wants to know what the measurement of the Russian Prime sweater is. From side to side, it measures 17.5 inches, so that would make it 35 inches in circumference. Taking away 3 inches for ease, this would be perfect for someone with a 30 - 32 inches in the bust. Hopefully there's a teenager out there who would love to have this sweater.

Lately I've been feeling the desire to get back to spinning, in a quest to find enough yarn for that Eris cardigan. So I went poking around in the rubbermaid boxes in the garage and found a large bag of washed Border Leicester fleece, which I'd forgotten that I had. So, I took a good quantity out of the bag and started processing. First, here's what it looks like when separated and sticky, dusty tips flicked with my hand carder. I'm thinking this is as far as I am going to go, though. Why?

Here's what it looks like, washed. There still is quite a bit of lanolin in. Although the color is a truly lovely gray, with the tips being sun-browned, it looks to me at least, after flick-carding the tips. I bought this several years ago, back in 1999, I think, at Maryland Sheep & Wool. This was when I was still a bit of a newbie and not as picky as I'm now about the quality. Now, let's take a much, much closer look.

Yes, this sheep apparently loved to roll around on the ground full of leftover hay and straws. Or the sheep's owner didn't realize what a gorgeous fleece was on the hoof that would fetch a ribbon if entered in the fleece contest. Do I really want to spend my time trying to comb these neps out and then picking out as I'm spinning?

I'm. Not. So. Sure. I think I may just send this out to be processed, if I can find a processor with no minimum weight of wool and decent fees. At least I won't have to be bothered with whipping a could-have-been-contender.

As I go around visiting the blogs on the left, I see that folks are making new years' resolutions. Resolutions don't quite work for me because I end up not keeping these to the letter. However, here's one resolution that I think I can safely make - get a job that will allow me to feel part of the working world again.

Allow me to wish everyone best wishes, not only for yourself, but also for your loved one. May the new year be full of prosperity and success.