Author: denisemor

The Process

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Thanks to everyone that came out to the Bow Little Market Fiber Day!

It was a hot one (about 90 degrees), and so I don’t think that a lot of folks were really in the mood to try on hats and fondle skeins of wool yarn. I think I’ll try again in the Fall once the weather has turned and everyone is concerned with keeping toasty.Hopefully I’ll get accepted to participate in the Holiday Market in November.

But I did chat with a lot folks about the sheeps and my wool process, how I do it all in-house from shearing to knitted object.
I kind of take it for granted anymore, but I guess the entirely hand-processed aspect of my wares is fairly unique.

So I’ve started a page that outlines the steps that the wool takes from Sheep to Skein.
That at least gets us to the designing and knitting stage in the project life cycle.

I hope you enjoy it.

Oh, and speaking of designing and knitting, I wanted to share the recipe for my basic fairisle hat.

Pick out some cool, flashy colors.
Cast on 120 stitches on size 3 circular needles (16 or 18″ length)
Knit about 10 or so rows in corrugated ribbing.
Work two or 4 rows in garter stitch for a bit of a border.
Work chart below for body of the hat until approximately 6 inches from cast-on edge.

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Place markers every 20 or 40 stitches for shaping the crown of the hat
Decrease 6 stitches per round until 12 stitches remain.
Run two working yarns through remaining stitches and weave in all ends.
Wash and block, and there you have it!

Think Like a Chicken

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Chickens are not known for their smarts.

But they can be fairly independent-minded and sneaky.
The new crop are pretty much fulltime “yard chickens” now, though they do go back to the shed at night.

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(Stumpy the rooster is hiding in the shadows under the rhody)

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There are probably 8-9 girls who should be laying regularly right now, and I’m only finding 3-4 eggs a day.
So it seems clear that some of these crafty girls are hiding eggs.

I’ve been hunting around, but there are countless places on our property that they could be tucked away.

Also, one of the new Speckled Sussex girls is currently unaccounted for.
It could be that she has fallen prey to some wild critter, but I haven’t seen any evidence of an attack (usually there would be feathers, or some other sign of a struggle).

I can’t help but wonder if the is hunkered down somewhere out of sight sitting on all those missing eggs.
I guess only time will tell.
Until then, I will continue to try and think like a chicken, and hope that it lead me to their secret stash.

And though it seems at times that chickens have overrun the wool blog, I am still actively engaged in “wool work”.
In fact, I finally got the rest of this years’ Frank/Felix fleece washed up today-

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But I’ve been mostly focused on working up some new hats for the Bow Little Market Fiber Day, which is coming up fast!

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If you’re in the area on the afternoon of Thursday the 18th, please stop by and say “hey”.
I’ll be there with knits, yarn, and carded fiber.

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Summer’s Bounty

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This year, for the first time since we planted our fig tree, we have achieved fresh ripe figs!

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And they are so beautiful!

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I think I’m going to have to make a hat in a “green skinned fig” colorway 🙂

The garden is a bit of a mess due to chicken antics, and I’ve let the weeds get away from me, but things are still growing like crazy.
Zuchinnis in particular.

Thankfully, both sheep and chickens seem to enjoy them!

Hay Day!

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The hay is here!

Lovely 2nd cut local grass hay, stacked in the sheep shed.
And that makes me so happy 🙂

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of course, the chickens think it is for them (think jungle gym)

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Crazy chickens.

Oh- also wanted to mention that I’m planning to participate in the Bow Little Market Fiber Day on August 18.
I’m a little better organized this year, and even have a sign!

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Should be lots of fun. I’ll have hats, yarn, and fiber- and a bit of a knitalong thing going!

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So if you’re in the area, please stop by and say hi, and maybe knit a few rows-