Blog

The Next Sweater

The Holiday Festival was a great sucess, and I’m feeling like I’m ready to embark on a new sweater project.

No firm plan on the pattern yet, but the yarn is coming together nicely!

It’s 100% 2015 Chone, spun on Sigrid (new wheel) and chain plied on my lateral treadle wheel.

20151115_163217

My little sample swatch knit up to 4.5 stitches and 6 rows to the inch on size 5 needles, so I guess that’s roughly worsted weight.

20151115_163502

It’s wonderfully squishy and fuzzy (but still has the occasional reminder of what a messy eater Chone is).

20151115_163529

I’ve got two skeins all finished and one ready to ply.

20151115_163720

Guess I’ll just keep spinning until I figure out what I’m making it into.
My first thought was a simple roll-neck top-down raglan. So comfy and casual and cozy.
But perhaps that might be too toasty for all but the coldest weather.

So then I started thinking about a vest. I’ve got a couple of nice vest patterns “favorited” on Ravelry.
Moussailon
Wood Hollow Vest

And vests are so useful for layering fall through spring.

But then I’ve always wanted to make a Burr, too. Love those Brooklyn Tweed patterns!

20151115_163144

What do you think that this yarn wants to be?

Getting Market-Ready!

If you’ve been on the blog lately you might have noticed that I’ve been busy for the last couple months making hats in preparation for the Bow Little Market Holiday Festival.

20151108_085942

It occurred to me just recently that I might need a better way to display the hats than just laying them out on the door that I’ve been using as a table.

This weekends’ DIY mission: Hat Stand for Holiday Market!

20151108_162508

Do you recognize the materials?

20151108_162617

A small tomato cage and three wire hangers never looked so good!

20151108_162626

Plus some tennis balls, and a few stray balls of yarn-

20151108_162733

Ta Da!

20151108_163037

20151108_163113

In other news, Jonasson Farm had their fall Fleece Sale on Saturday, and I just happened to be in the neighborhood. 🙂

I went there specifically to get more dyed mohair locks

20151108_163342

but came home with a Border Leicester lamb fleece as well.

20151108_163526

I tried, but I couldn’t resist.

Thank the Sheep

Last night we turned back the clocks.
It is now officially the dark season.

Over the next few months, I probably won’t see as much of the boys.
Sure, there’s a light out in the shed, and I’ll still be out there every morning and evening to say “hey”, make sure they have food and water, and tidy the place up a bit. But it’s just not the same as the “light season” when I’m out there more just hanging out with the crew.

So I thought I’d just take a minute to thank the guys for their all their hard work this year- eating down the pasture, making lovely wool for me to play with- and for being my good buddies.

Edgar-
20151011_160416
He’s my guy in charge out there. Proud and handsome, he expects (and gets) lots of attention. Always the first to request shearing in the spring, and I’m happy to oblige!

Griff-
20151011_160453
Edgar’s twin brother, but his polar opposite personality-wise! Griff is a sweet boy, but very shy. I feel like I’ve finally turned the corner with him this year- he will actually let me occasionally scritch him on the head!
He has a dense, very crimpy fleece that is a beautiful golden-taupey color.

Felix-
DSD_4542
Curious but careful, Felix enjoys getting attention, but isn’t pushy about it. If I sit out in the pasture for a while talking to Edgar and Chone, Felix will eventually wander over and say “hi”. He doesn’t like being fussed with and can sometimes be handful when I’m trimming hooves and shearing but he has heavenly soft and springy fleece around his neck and shoulders so I try to stay on his good side 🙂

Frank-
20151011_160426
Felix’s twin brother, and they are almost inseparable. Frank is very shy and doesn’t like being handled, but is usually a gentleman once you get a halter on him. Fun fact about both Frank and Felix- their facial and leg markings (Black in Frank’s case, and Brown on Felix) fade in and out throughout the year. Right now his face is almost entirely black, but in the spring it will fade out again and throughout the summer his face will be white!

And last but not least, Chone! (pronounced Shaun)
Chone 01-18-14
My crazy little black sheep. He’s a sweet cuddly little dude, but kind of a bugger when it comes to shearing and hoof trimming. Turns into a bucking bronco! (Also the messiest eater of the bunch) But he has a nice fluffy charcoal-y fleece that I love to work with.

So, thank you boys. You’re the coolest sheep I know. 🙂