Sheep and Wool Fest + 2 Fo's!

Wow it's been a long time since I have posted anything. I finally finished my "at work" socks.
They turned out nicely and the colors are bright and springy. I also completed my first magic loop socks in robin's egg blue. I used the "elongated corded rib" stitch pattern from the Sensational Knitted Socks book . It was an easy pattern to do and it was my first time carrying a pattern down the instep. I used Sirdar Country style yarn and #3 circs.







I made it to the wool and fiber fest in Romeo yesterday, it was a bit smaller and more low key than the one that they have in the fall but still worth the trip. And for me it's a haul! I watched a huge sheep getting sheared. I couldn't believe that these 120 pound girls were wrestling these things out of their pens and into the shearing area. The guy who was doing the clipping looked like he knew what he was doing especially when he was shearing around the male sheep's more delicate parts. It was a nice day for it too, especially after about 2 weeks worth of rainy weather.


I thought that this guy was cute scratching his chin on the post.















Now that's what I call a bad haircut!

















This ram does not look happy! He struggled quite a bit at first but then he either calmed down or gave up! I would expect back problems are part of the job of sheep shearing. The guy doing the shearing was slinging this heavy squirming animal around all the while trying to clip all parts without any nicks.

Here's the wool fresh off the sheep,
ready to be bagged



Speaking of physical problems, I finally broke down and accidentally saw a doctor for my tendonitis. I say accidentally because I just happened to run into one of my favorite physiatrists at work and explained to her the issues that I was having. After admonishing me for waiting so long to do anything about it...she wrote a prescription for me to go to therapy which I am now doing twice weekly. It's going well but my therapist thinks that it'll probably be a couple of months of intensive treatment then long term healing of about six months. It sucks because I have to limit my activity / knitting time. I am trying to pay attention to positioning myself while working on things and also taking stretch breaks. So take care of yourselves fellow knitters!!!

Next project? I started a pair of Japanese Feather Socks using Cascade Fixation, should be a bit of a challange as the lace pattern seems fairly complex. The pattern is very pretty though and of course a freebie. My "at work socks" that I just started are the always popular Jaywalker socks using an "I can't remember the name of" German sock yarn with cool variagated colors, bright of course! Still poking away at the lace scarf but it's been pushed back a little in favor of some much needed spring/summer socks.