String Notes

I have a whole bunch of things to cover, since I’ve been slack about actually posting here. Ya know, thinking about what I’m going to write, planning what I’m going to write, and making detailed outlines in my mind of what I’m going to write are just no substitute to actually writing. I’ve been busy, though, as you’ll hear in a bit.

Hm… big news first, or last???

First, how about the Ravelry contest? Three people offered up their guesses as to when I’ll get an invite. Yes, this is a blatant and shameless ploy to get people to leave me comments. I won’t deny that, because it’s absolutely true. But yet, there is sock yarn.

Self-striping, in, um, vibrant colors. Wouldn’t that look good on your feet? That’s about 460 yards of superwash merino – nylon, more than enough for a pair of socks. All you have to do is guess when I get a Ravelry invite (“never” and “2023” are not encouraging guesses and won’t get you sock yarn no matter how long it takes). You have until October 1 to take a stab at it (remember that date). Here’s some extra information:

* You signed up on August 30, 2007
* You are #29977 on the list.
* 17537 people are ahead of you in line.
* 2516 people are behind you in line.
* 37% of the list has been invited so far

If any of the three who signed up already want to change, let me know. The rest of you, leave a comment!

Moving right along… why October 1? Well, that’s the day that Stringpage Supplies will be opening its virtual doors. The long-term goal is to have all of the supplies and tools you need to do all of the string things that are explained on my web page. This is a second job for me, so it may take a while. Initially, there will be hand-dyed sock yarn (surprise!) of which the contest prize is just a small example, roving of various types, drop spindles, and a few other odds and ends.

The exciting part is that I’m working with Pennsylvania farmers and a Pennsylvania wool mill to bring you specialty wool yarns of types that are difficult to find elsewhere. S- and Z-spun singles in two weights, anyone? Dyed and not? This will take a while, since the wool mill only opened in May and they’re already 7-8 months behind, but I’ll keep you posted. Or actually, you can keep yourself posted by signing up for the newsletter.

I have a stack of skeins of sock yarn ready (you’ve seen previews of most of them), the beginnings of some beautiful and unique spinning and weaving tools, and I’m sitting here at the dining room table surrounded by wool (now packaged neatly in 4-ounce balls).

I can’t remember the last time we ate at the dining room table. Right now I’m surrounded by not only many pounds of wool but also the sewing machine, a small loom, a few pieces of pottery, today’s mail (and yesterday’s junk mail), my knitting bag… The rule is that projects that aren’t being worked on must get put away, but those actually in progress can sit out as long as they are active. As long as they aren’t either hazardous or unduly attractive to cats and dogs, that is. Nick and I both tend to be working on something or another all the time, and it’s too much hassle to pick it up, get it out, pick it up, get it out. (Although in his case, it seems to be too much hassle to pick it up, no matter when it was last used…)

The Pennsylvania Fiber Festival was last weekend. You all missed out! It was small, I think mostly because it is a fairly new festival. There was lots and lots of alpaca in all colors of the alpaca-rainbow (alpaca rainbow: white to brown to black. Maybe a colorblind rainbow?), and some wool. Grace was there with her husband Fred and their antique spinning wheels. I bought all the wool in the previous photo: Blue Faced Leicester, Finn, and Rambouillet, all to be dyed before October 1. I’ll put up the names of the sellers later.

Not only attractive, but useful as well:

These were show dogs, competition herders. A couple years ago Nick and I travelled to Scotland, and we were able to watch some real herding dogs do their stuff. I’ll dig up my photos from that trip – lots and lots of sheep.

I drooled all over some variegated brown alpaca yarn, but managed to resist temptation (I hope the vendor didn’t have too much trouble drying it off). I did buy some dyed locks for myself, though. I’ve been looking at the fingerless gloves, and these will spin up very well for that purpose, I think.

I’ve been working on the socks (both pairs, I swear), and on spinning the silk-camel-merino, but it all goes very slow, especially when combined with all the paperwork and details of starting a business. Tedious, and yet exciting. I realized last week that I’ve been here, in this town and this job, for longer than I’ve ever lived anywhere once I left home for college. No wonder I’m antsy. I like what I do, but need to keep doing different things for the challenge and the novelty. Thus, Stringpage Supplies. This is something I’ve wanted to try for a long time, and this time everything fell into place for me.

Important safety tip: don’t ever under any circumstances try playing Zuma. Those hours you lose could have been spent knitting!