Settle in — this could get lengthy. That’s what happens when I only post sporadically.

My mother is a collector of, well, many things. She loves pretty things, and until recently, more was always better. She’s in downsizing mode now though, so the mantle has been passed to me, her eldest child.

Everyone knows what I collect. If it’s spun or spinnable, I lust after it. I collect cookbooks too, but that’s the subject of another post for another day.

When I first started spinning, 14 or 15 years ago, I collected fiber. Natch. But 14 or 15 years ago there was only the glimmer of The Internet in our home, and certainly no one shopped there. So fiber availability was limited. Then I stopped spinning, because I became mistress of all the yarn in Huntsville, and the fiber waited patiently in its closet.

Two years ago I returned to spinning, and my collecting of fiber resumed. Last month I dyed some superwash merino in bright, cheerful colors

and had a blast spinning it into a cushy, sproingy three-ply sport weight yarn. I had a baby sweater in mind. This one.

I was sad when I finished it, because I wanted to knit some more. I really liked that Baby Surprise Jacket. And then I remembered my stash (though it’s not too likely that I would ever forget it). I have a generous collection of reds just waiting to be played with.

What you see here is just the tip of the iceberg. There’s more that wouldn’t fit in the picture. The idea started to percolate as I fondled the batt from Red Stone Yarns, a gift from Elizabeth when she came to visit last month. As I rummaged through the bins, I remembered that several of the fiber club offerings from Adrian had red in them, including the latest (bottom left corner) called red velvet. Mmmmmm, Shetland. I love Shetland wool.

I added a batt of Corriedale from Grafton Fibers (far left), some BFL from Lori Lawson, pencil roving dyed by Teyani and a gloriously textured batt from Crosspatch Creations. All of my favorite fiber folks, in one project. Except for one.

“Dear Abby — Do you have any red?”

Progress reports will be forthcoming.