Sheep On My Stuff

As any knitter can tell you, the day you discover that your lovely Basic (not) Black Shawl

Basic Black Shawl (yes, I know it's not black) in KnitPicks' Gossamer (Rose Garden), on Addi Turbo lace needles, size 5. Pattern from Cheryl Oberle's Folk Shawls.

is actually going to be much, much larger than you ever contemplated, and may indeed take the rest of your natural life to finish... that's the day you should start a new shawl.

Flower Basket Lace Shawl in KnitPicks' Shadow (Jewels Heather), on KnitPicks Options, size 5. Pattern from Fiber Trends.

At the top, you can see BaaBaa the sheep. BaaBaa is a Ty sheep, one of their larger, fluffier ones -- not one the size of a single hank of yarn, let's put it that way. I have a few of these sheep from Ty in different colors and wool styles. BaaBaa is a college-era sheep, but late college -- maybe 1999 or so.

At the bottom, you can see Tulip Sheep. Tulip Sheep is in fact the first sheep ever added to my collection. My mom got her for me one year at Easter. At the time, I was quite confused (I was accustomed to getting rabbits), but Mom thought she was adorable, and so she went into the Easter basket! In later years, of course, I could see just how wise Mom had been, because look at that face. She is totally adorable!

And now a quick word about the KnitPicks Options needles. I love them. OMG. So far they're working out just beautifully -- comfortable to the touch, the wire has little memory and no drag, I can't feel the join at all. I never thought a set of interchangeable needles would become my primary needles, but these have earned it. They're outstanding. So far I'm liking them even better than the Addi Turbo lace needles, but I'm not overly fond of really really really sharp tips, which the Addi Lace needles have.