The best laid plans

I had fully intended to have the bamboo project done and a second one started by now. I'd also intended to have the new chenille cabin project at least threaded.

But.

I wound the chenille on the warping board all wrong, so I think I'm going to have to unwind it and do it over. Which thought makes me tired.

And.

Last week I had three migraines and then did something unspeakable to my lower back, so weaving was entirely out of the question. At certain points in the week even opening my eyes was out of the question.

So.

In the absence of anything new, and because it's Halloween, here's an awesome humongous eyeball I crocheted back in 2005.

Those curly things coming out of the back are the nerve ends.

The power of blocking

I bought myself a sock blocker, which is basically a sock-shaped metal thing that you can hang from a shower rod or door handle. Holy cow what a difference!

Here's a sock freshly soaked and stretched over the blocker.

Here's the newly blocked sock next to its sad, wrinkly, unblocked partner.

And here's the happy couple, blocked and ready to face the world.

After this blocking success, and the more modest success I had with the thread doily, I also tackled the thread runner. I will say again: I need a proper blocking mat.

Soaked, lightly starched, and pinned to within an inch of its life.

Flat and pretty!

And ready to move to a friend's house. I have a tragic lack of flat surfaces.

And in Happy Weaving News: the bamboo project is underway at last. I had plans to spend much of the weekend weaving, but other stuff, including a book that I just simply can't put down, got in the way. But it's moving at pretty good clip so should be done soon.

A moody shot of the warp finally tied on.

And a close-up shot.

And a slightly longer view.

Old and new

I'm making slow but steady progress on the bamboo project. I finally got the reed threaded. Now it's just a matter of tying on to the front and starting to weave! With any luck at all I'll be posting the finished product next week.

Shawn the Sheep tape measure is always there to help out.

I also blocked the thread doily, and it was not horrible, although I really, REALLY need a proper blocking board. This towel stuff is for the birds. I got brave and lightly spritzed it with starch, and I have to say, it's quite lovely now and stays in its proper shape. Now if I could only find a flat surface in my apartment that isn't covered in crap...

Now that I'm feeling brave I will also block the thread runner.

And finally, I started a Super Secret project yesterday. It's done in tunisian crochet, which I continue to really like. I also learned how to increase and decrease in tunisian, so that's a huge plus.

I can't say what it is, and probably won't post the finished product until after the holidays. I am loving my DIY tunisian crochet hook as well.

Crochet in action

That baby dinosaur hat I made back in February? The teeny baby's head is finally big enough to fill it! And he's terribly cute in it, wouldn't you say?

This week I filled in the empty spots in the doily.

One...

Two...

Three...

Four!

And one million ends woven in.

Last step: blocking and starching.