Category: Blog

Mother Nature Wins, Field trip Cancelled

I thought I was going to Whidbey Island on Satuday.

I even was in the car, heading out (in the snow) when it finally dawned on me that I should call ahead and see if we were still on for the visit at Mutiny Bay Sheep Farm.

Good thing I called.

Winter weather is still upon us, and the mountain passes were pretty ugly this weekend. Turns out the sheep folks weren’t going to make it back from the east side in time for me to visit as planned.

So I did the sensible thing and turned around. Just couldn’t see making the almost 2 hour drive for just the fiber sale,,,, though I did think about it for a long minute or two (as the snowfall kept thickening). The call of the fleece is mighty strong.

I’m going to try and reschedule for sometime next month, hopefully on shearing day! So that might be even better.

And hopefully I will have a Fresian fleece on the way to my door from Gretchen (of Gretchen’s Wool Mill) sometime this week,, so that might satisfy the raw fleece craving for a bit….

Knit on-

Denise

Inspiration from Unlikely Places

When I’m out in public in cool weather, I am often distracted by people wearing interesting sweaters. Sometimes it’s just a texture or a cable pattern I’m drawn to. Other times it’s a neckline, or a color combination, or another interesting feature, like pockets.

I try to log these things away in my little brain, so that I might call upon them later when I’m planning a project.

I had one of those moments on the bus to work earlier this week

There was a guy sitting across the way, and he had a on what looked to be an old-ish, well worn sweater with a couple of minor holes in it. It was light gray with deep red and creamy white “tips” on the collar and sleeves. Double-thickness shawl collar with the red and white on the inside so it showed when it was folded outward.

Very sporty, yet traditional. I was captivated.

I immediately started thinking of what light gray wool I have in the stash.

Gershom, theĀ  Shetland ram. Very fitting.

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But is there enough left? I’ve been using bits of Gershom for all kinds of things – hats, socks, scarves.

I have some other grayish shetland (actually white with black fibers throughout) that I could probably blend it with. Maybe it would be enough.

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I’m tempted to call Betty and reserve Gershom’s 09 fleece.

Something about that red/white/gray combo has really captured my imagination for some reason.

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(The red in the photo isn’t quite right, I think, but was the best I could do in a pinch. Looks like I’ll have to take a stab at dyeing something for this venture…. perhaps overdying the gray? What do you think?)

BTW- Next weekend is my field trip to Mutiny Bay Farm in on Whidbey Island. Stand by for Black Welsh Mountain sheep!

Denise out-

Warm and Woolley Valentines

I am pleased to announce the almost-completion of a project, the Waldo (as in “Where’s Waldo”) Hat:

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The pom-pom is too big still, and the hat might be a bit too tall (still have to try it on and see what I think),, but the Waldo hat is essentially complete.

And, it’s kind of Valentine-y, to boot.

Here’s another smidge of kind-of-Valentine-y fiber fresh from the wheel and promptly swatched:

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That one is more of a strawberries andĀ  chocoate (or neopolitan ice cream?) type of treat.

Ingredients: Pink-y blended shades of merino top, handcombed milk chocolate and vanilla shetland. Spun separately, plied together, and then cabled. It’s more complicated than what I usually do, and I think I like it, but it is pretty busy.

Oh- and if you are in the area (western WA), I thought I’d pass the word about an upcoming fiber sale:

Whidbey Wool Producers
Fleece Sale

Saturday, March 7th, 2009, 11 to 3 o’clock Held at Crossfire Hill
Farm on Whidbey Island
3537 Day Road, Greenbank, WA 98253

Vendors will have: Corriedale, Alpaca, BFL, Mohair, Romney, Shetland

For more information you can call (360) 678-5625

Denise out.