Tag: carded fleece

Shadow Stages

denisemor 2 September 25, 2011

I got a start on the new sweater in earnest this week.

I’m well into sleeve one

and I think it’s going well. Won’t know for certain if my gauge calculations are on until I get this piece done and have a change to block and measure it.

I like the pattern. It’s got a nice rhythm to it. Somehow the cabling makes it seem to move at a good clip, too.

Dug through the stash, and it looks like I’ve got five more skeins of Edgar and Edgar/Griff to work with, so that should hold me for a bit-

And I just carded up a few more batts.

I’ve got Edgar/Griff fiber in ever stage of production right now.

Neat, eh?

Hey Howdy Hay!

denisemor 7 July 31, 2011

Got me some nice local grass hay yesterday!

2nd cutting. Just over a ton.

And I’m so pleased to be able to put it in the sheep shed this year.

We finally got the roof done, and separated the sheep half from the hay/people stuff half.

Here is a view of the hay/people half from the sheep side-

And vice versa-

Here’s Edgar, having just approved the new placement of the mineral feeder-

And Felix and Griff enjoying our unusually lush late-July pasture.

Guess all this rain is good for something!

I’m still working on getting a bunch of fiber ready for my annual Langley crafting retreat this week.

I’ve got three batts of Chone all worked up (on the right), some shetland/dyed mohair blend (center), and some misc leftovers that might come along too (left).
Hope to still do some more carding tonight.

So hard to decide what to take!

Out and About

denisemor 2 May 22, 2011

Pups in motion-

Go Walla, go!

Fetch, Sadie, fetch!

Good girl, Sadie.

And sheep at rest:

Handsome Frank (sporting an almost all white face these days. Weird, eh?)

Edgar on the rocks (with a twist?)

Snuggle sheeps getting their chin schritches

Chone trying to nibble my earlobe

Stashbuster top-down raglan sweater marches on-

I really like how it’s coming together, but it’s becoming apparent to me that there is not going to be enough of the darkest color to finish up the sleeves, so I went back to the stash to formulate a Plan B-

I think I’ve got enough of Mariah, (of Little Country Acres) to pull me through
And it’s an amazingly close match for the Border Leicester I used at the neckline.

Long live the stash!

New ‘Dos for Sheeps

denisemor 12 March 13, 2011

So, finally here are some post-haircut photos of Edgar:

He seems so happy with his new ‘do, and he’s been super friendly since our bonding experience last weekend.

So, I thought I’d try Chone next.

He’s a friendly little guy, but has less of an attention span Edgar, so I had to take it in stages.
Here he is in the ballerina stage:

Silly, eh?

I finally got the rest off of him today, and now he is naked and lumpy like Edgar.

Also got a start on Felix. Just the neck and chest so far. But it looks like he’ll be a good cooperator.

I have to say, I’m really glad I decided to shear the guys myself.
Would have been a lot faster to have someone come out, and the fleeces would probably be a lot better (not in hunks and chunks), but I am really enjoying harvesting all this wonderful wool from the boys. It’s been a good experience so far-

Here are some samples of the goods they guys have donated:

That’s Felix on the left and Chone on the right.
Both about 5.5-6″. Chone’s fleece has quite a bit of veg in it,, but I was expecting that, and plan to comb it.

I’ve gotten most of Edgar’s fleece washed up already- here it is fresh off the drum carder-

And all swatched up-

Wally has suggested that I use the fleece knit him an “Edgar suit”, so he could go undercover.
But I think his ears would give him away.

Other suggestions?