I started this wrister last winter when I never could get the house above 57 degrees. The idea of using crayon colored sock yarn (brand forgotten us #2 dpn) was that it would brighten dark days and go with anything...isn't that the same optimisim that lead us all to make our little brother a hat out of a similarly striped "Redheart" yarn back in the 70's? (that is, if you were around then) It is a bit "bright" for the wrist area, but I decided to forge ahead and mix things up a little and start on the second one on the knitting machine (LK150, T3, hand controlling upper tension) My, the second one was quick! even latching up eon using the adjustable latch tool set up with 2 latches and 4 spaces in between, passing across twice to keep tension even. Even I was surprised at how quick it went. Till this morning....
it is hanging on the machine, waiting for me to figure out what kind of bind off I should use...I sort of faked one on the hand knit wrister, and now, on the machine bind off, my mind is a blank as to what to use (I used the double knitted back ewrap cast on)

impetus at last!

Sometimes you just can't seem to get your groove going. The tools of your craft sit dusty and idle, and your ambivalence is almost depressing.
Then as if a pixie strikes the odd tool, one thing leads to another and you are back rocking in the cradle of creativity. Sometimes, you need a nudge.
I have discovered a new fabricated nudge. Pack away the tool in an inconvenient spot. The joy of unpacking it can be that impetus.
I started a project of winterizing (I do one more step each winter, and yet to feel any warmer, but that is another story) that required moving and rearranging many items in my little cabin. The LK 150 Knitting Machine had to be packed away. The project drug out longer than expected (that always happens, too) and the km, which I had lost all desire to fiddle with, started to call to me with project possibilities..so I handknit in compensation, all the while imagining how helpful the LK would be for aspects of the particular projects I was playing with...but it was packed away. When I finally unpacked it, each item lifted from its styrofoam nest breathed life into me as if I were preparing for a sacred tea ceremony. I found new inspiration and new ideas in that ceremony.
Maybe I should wrap up and unwrap my dirty dishes? nah.

Ta Da! the pleasant spindle returns!

I have spent my spare minutes for the last week or so spinning on the reincarnation of the Pleasant Spindle.

I had forgotten the bliss of autumn breezes fluffing wool as it slides through your hands with the promise of warming your feet during the cold days to come. The Pleasant can handle longer staple wool than the spindolyn, and it has been a while since I have spun romney (the future boot socks in progress) I forgot how mindless and fast long staples are. I love them!