Just How Big Are My Arms?????

Since starting this blog I've suffered something of a "Sweater Curse." Prior to my blogging life, I knit a few. It was never an overwhelming obsession since they take a while and I lack the patience. But, seeing that I was all up on them internets, it seemed like the thing to do. And they all failed miserably. Each and every one became the bane of my very existence and drove me to bore what was, at the time, my 3 loyal readers with an endless series of garter stitch scarves.

I didn't cast on another for almost a year. OK...that's a lie. I did actually start a few. But I learned to do it under cover of darkness and with all the secrecy of an covert agent. Good thing, since they were also doomed to failure. I had some pretty good luck with a couple of vests, though. I figured that ought to count for something...

But, the lure of the handknit sweater is a seductive one for even the most dedicated of small project knitters and I am well into my most recent attempt to get a full-on upper body covering in the FO column. And, if you must know, it is going swimmingly. I chose a pretty straightforward pattern that avoids those things that give me the fits (like evenly spaced button holes) and am knitting it out of my own handspun. Thus, I can blame any and all inconsistencies on the one-of-a-kind specialness of homemade yarn. I can even toss a little of the guilt at the sheep that donated the fiber if need be. Life is pretty sweet here in sweater land.

Flush with optimism, I made a detour on the way home Friday to secure a few buttons. I was, after all, in the home stretch. In the event of a world-wide button shortage or the zombie attack that I know is coming at some point, I wanted to make sure I was ready to finish this masterpiece without incident. I am nothing if not a forward-thinking Sheep. One minor issue, though...

I forgot about sleeves. Sleeves are deceptive. Once you've knit a sweater back, you tend to believe that the worst is over. The shaping of the front parts might require a little of the brain activity, but it is short-lived. And it's not like I have cartoon arms or anything. They are just average arms. How long could a sleeve take, really?

Sleeves are tricky that way.

I'm about half-way through sleeve #1 and have actually made good progress thanks to lots of "marathon" style TV today. (it seems like every channel is running some sort of marathon in order that those of us who are not football fans might be somewhat entertained) But sleeves take a long time. Even in plain stockinette. That or I have seriously underestimated the girth of my biceps.

One can only sit and knit stockinette for so long. A Sheep needs distractions. I decided to see if I couldn't do a little something to pump up my spinning mojo which has been sadly lacking of late. A few months ago, I was gifted with a rather large amount of very pretty, very soft roving by the nurse at my school. She purchased it to use with her Sunday School class and had somewhat overestimated the amount she would need for her project. Not being a spinner herself, she gave it to me gratis in the hopes that I might be able to use it. It has been sitting on a table in my living room ever since and I have spent many an hour staring at it and wondering what it wanted to be. Being one of The Pale People, I don't wear white. It needed to be dyed.

I opted to use a rainbow dyeing technique (because I am really just the laziest Sheep you'll ever stumble across) with acid dyes. I applied four colors in varying amounts and completed the process in two batches. The first round involved a bit more blending of the color than I'd planned and the effect, rather than being muddy, was a very deep blue. The second batch gave a bit more of the color play. If I blend carefully while spinning, I think they will actually work together quite nicely. I'm also pleased to say that I managed to avoid the slight felting that I always seem to get when dyeing.

A successful experiment!

Not bad for a freebie! I have absolutely no idea what this fiber is, but I'm leaning towards a blend. It is certainly soft and reminds me of merino. It held up extremely well in the dye pot and I don't think I will need to recard any of it at all. I'm looking forward to this drying fully and being able to get it on the wheel. I'm also thinking I need to ask where this fiber came from...as I recall Mrs. School Nurse said she got it directly from the folks who processed it. That may mean a little side trip to New Hampshire, but could be worth the gas!

In kitty news, The Big, Fluffy Kitty has recovered from her bout of the sniffles and has been snot free all day. She was feeling so much better last night that she decided to make her sense of overall well-being known by playing aggressively well into the wee hours. Mommy was awakened several times throughout her much-needed beauty rest by surprise attacks and the sudden landing of four double-pawed feetsies on her stomach. Nice to have the baby back to normal...

But if she could have used that extra energy to work on a sleeve or two that would have been helpful.

SA