Training and Pre-qualifiers

Ravelympics 2010. My first time participating. Oh the stress and pressure to perform.

My event is the "Fleece to Finished Object" in which I will spin the yarn, dye it and knit it into a completed item. In my case a hat, since its a simple pattern, doesn't use much yarn, and can be very forgiving. Which will then most likely be donated to Warm UP Winchester, supplying hats to the homeless during cold weather months.
The fleece can be in any shape, so I washed and prepped some Brumbaugh fleece. Carding the roving 3 times for good uniformed fluffiness. Afterward cleaning the drum carder. And then did not move it from it's spot on the floor because I am lazy and didn't know if I would card some more. So each day it appeared to start showing more wool in it.
Did I have gnomes or brownies helping out? Little house spirits carding fleece while I slept? What was happening here. And then I discovered. My long haired furry little princess has thought that the carder made a perfect brush to keep her fur in beauty salon style. In other words, my cat was carding herself.But, I have carded a bin of fleece. I need to get a new battery for my scale so I can figure out how much I have and need to do. But, I've got some done, and test spun it to see what it's like and am awaiting the official start time.
At least I have my Fleece prepped. Without extra cat hair.

Give me wool

So the time has come for planning for the Ravelympics. For those of your who are not in the know, or haven't heard me ramble on at length, the Ravelympics is a knit-along challenge to occur during the Olympics.

The idea is to pick something that is a challenge to you. Something you haven't done, or want to accomplish. There are various events, such as the Hat Half pipe, in which to choose from. You create your team with members and then pick your event and at the opening ceremonies, cast-on your project. Or begin. My understanding of the whole thing, anyway.

Now, if I want to be in the spirit and do something that challenges me, I would have to Follow Pattern Directions. But since that isn't an event, I won't. :) I decided on Fleece to FO. Fleece to Finished Object. This event includes spinning the yarn and then knitting it up to something complete. Just so I don't over do, I figure I could pull off a chunky hat. Remember, you event must be finished by closing ceremonies.

After Checking the Official rules, I can prepared the fleece ahead of time. And this is what I see.





Each bag is filled with fleece. Raw, unwashed, straight off the sheeps' backside fleece. Smelly, lanolin-y, dirty and straw filled raw fleece. I had asked for wool from anyone that has a sheep. It arrived. By no means is this my fleece, I am merely the keeper of the fleece, the protector of the stash. With the facilities best suited to process it. (I'll admit that this was a consideration when buying my new house) But I don't think anyone will mind if I use a portion for my event, especially if I wash more at the same time.

So, I am beginning by running test in the Lab of the best way to wash it including which products and processes to use. Small tests in Mason Jars. I figure that I will need 4-6 ounces of washed fleece for my hat to be on the safe side.

So as I set all this up, blessing those who donated the bags of fleece, something occurred to me. In about 3 months, MORE bags will be arriving from the spring shearing which has already been scheduled for March.

Ahh....gulp! Well, I asked for it.

Tiny bit of funny

So, today is painting day and I feel incredibly unprepared. Yesterday I spent hours and hundreds of dollars getting what I should need for today. Many of my wonderful friends will be coming over to paint the new house.

So going to bed tired and stressed last night on a chaise lounge surrounded by unwashed fleece in my home office, was really bound to make for some interesting dreams. Smelling raw fleece all night and having paint anxiety do not go together. I'm sure most people's minds can work out some interesting ones at the with little effort. It was the wake up that did it.

I can feel someone watching me. The sheep are safe next to me and the paint is locked safely away from thieves.

Someone is watching. I can feel it. No, no I am safe from the furniture salesmen. But I can feel the watching. Maybe if I peek they won't notice and I can tell if and where we need to run to. Just a half-eye-open peek.

Slowly opening my eyes, I see a dark shape with green eyes in the haze of sunrise peering at me. Unmoving. Green eyes.

Okay. Maybe the creature is friendly or trying to tell me something. I'll open my eyes again to see. maybe it just wants to communicate.

The dark form takes shape of a four legged creature. It slowly gets up while still staring at me from what I now realize is the desk. Slowly rising, it suddenly pauses, eyes going wide. The creature then begins to "spin" like the Tasmanian Devil of cartoons. Dangerously close to the edge of the desk, heedless of the risk of falling off. Spinning faster and faster. One foot goes off the side and the creature in panic uses the other 3 feet to launch it's self off the desk on to me. Never slowing the spinning.

I, finally, am awake and grab for the furry monster before it accidentally rips into the bags of raw fleece. And I discover the cause for the panic.

While the cat was stalking me sleeping from the desk, she sat on a piece of tape.

Dangerous stuff that.