Been shopping again

Last weekend I took a trip out to Kilburn in North Yorkshire. I'd bought some raw fleece on ebay and rather than getting it posted I asked if I could pick it up instead. Boy am I glad I took the trouble to do so.

The day started miserable, wet and windy and I wasn't too happy about driving up there having driven down to Leicester and back the day before. (Bit of a busman's holiday for me!) But by the time I hit the A1 the sun had come out and I was cursing leaving my sunglasses behind.

I'd bid for two lots of wool (or rather Ro had bid on my behalf; the auction had ended on Tuesday evening whilst I was parked up for the night in Bourton on the Water without access to the internet.) I'd won 500g of Coloured Bleu-du-Maine and 500g of coloured Ryeland/Jacob cross (both raw fleece).

I'd arrived a bit early and took a turn round the village and a couple of pictures for my blog. I was quite surprised to see the white horse on the hill behind the houses. I knew there was one there but didn't realise I was so close to it.

Sandie who was selling the fleece met me at half twelve and when we got back to her house proceeded to pull out sacks from all over the place with different kinds of fleece in them and chat about sheep, spinning, knitting and the Maryland sheep festival which she's planning to attend later this year. It was amazing. Needless to say I didn't come away with only the gear I'd bought on ebay. I was pretty restrained though. An hour and a half later I left with my two ebay purchases plus 300g of Colored Ryeland/Corriedale/Manx cross, some of which was raw fleece and some of which had been washed and carded. Sandie was able to get back to keeping an eye on her ewes which are currently lambing.

Here's a picture of one of the raw locks of the Ryeland/Corriedale/Manx fleece. Isn't it lovely?

I've washed and dried the remainder of that and the Bleu-du-Maine is currently soaking in an Ecovery bath.

Sandie says she doesn't even bother carding this, she just teases it out and spins it in the grease, but I've been thoroughly indoctrinated now and I wash my fleece first like a good girl! It is beautiful though, even without washing.

Knitting news is that the cardigan is coming along nicely. I've just got about three inches of the collar left to knit and the underarm seams to sew up. I'm well pleased with it, though I'm not sure if it will be big enough for the intended recipient. Being a bit of a twit I neglected to take her measurements before I started. I just thought "Yeah, she's about the same size as me".

Ro says she isn't!

Oooops!