Reactor coolant.

That's what I'm gonna call this color. (Never mind that not all reactor coolant is radioactive, and very few radioactive isotopes glow. Quit bogging this down with facts. I get enough of that stuff from the husbeast.) I've got half of the roving spun into singles, and half of THAT plied. I started off with four ounces - I weighed it - and yet I keep pulling wool off this stuff and the remaining wool NEVER GETS SMALLER. We need to call in Stephen Hawking to investigate, because I'm sure some laws of physics are being broken, somewhere. I'll be able to knit a car cover with the yarn if this keeps up.

For those asking about how I dyed the roving, well. I'm going to write a Knitty article about this, I think, but to give the highlights, I soaked it overnight in 50/50 vinegar and water. Then I drained off most of the liquid and poured in more liquid with dye in it and left it for about half an hour to soak through the whole dish of wool (glass is good for this 'cause you can look at the underside and see if the dye is all through yet). Then it went into the oven at 350F until the water was clear (meaning all the dye had stuck to the yarn - that's how to get these intense colors from food coloring). I carefully drained off the water, squished out the remaining liquid by putting the roving between two towels and standing on it, then hung it up to dry. That was it. Remember, agitation and temperature shock is the double kiss of death for working with wool; move it around as very little as possible. There have been a few mildly felted spots - very small - that have turned up during spinning, but with practice I think I can avoid them altogether. They're so small they MAY have been there to begin with, before I dyed it.

The Zen sweater has been SO relaxing, I zoned out through a couple rounds and missed some yoke decreases. So I have to go back and tink out about five hundred stitches and try again. I forgot my motto, "Everything in moderation, including moderation."

-... -

The Goober is coming down off a spring cold or hay fever or something. She's been running a low fever since Sunday and has been off her food. The not eating worries us more than the temperature; normally this kid is an eating machine. In a way, it's been kind of nice, with lots of cuddles and lap-sitting.

And attitude. Don't forget the attitude. (That photo was taken right before she spit bright pink cough syrup down the front of that nice white shirt.)

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go order two pounds of undyed wool roving. The husbeast is going to shit bricks.