Tag: wool

2022: Knitted Shetland beanie & Woven Finn Wool Scarf projects

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This weekend, I started and completed two (small) projects, so I’m hoping that I’m back in the groove. This gets me back on track for my 52 projects a year goal now that I have three projects under my belt for 2022.

First projects of 2022: All handspun yarns; 2 from raw fleece samples

First weekend project: Handspun Finn wool leno lace scarf (woven on rigid heddle loom): this yarn was spun shortly before the 2021 Tour de Fleece from Finnish humbug roving from Hearthside Fibers. I decided on a leno lace pattern because I wasn’t sure if I would have enough yarn for a plain weave project. (I ended up with plenty of yarn left, so I may have enough to knit a beanie with the remaining yarn.)

The second project for the weekend was from a ‘raw fleece to finished yarn’ project I completed during the Tour de Fleece: “Eowyn” a Shetland ewe from Ballyhoo Farms (Bagdad, KY). I had just enough yarn to knit a beanie from the raw fleece sample I had. I still have almost two pounds of this fleece, so this will give me an idea of what I would like to do next with her fleece.

1st Project of 2022: Handspun Icelandic/Balwen Welsh Mtn yarn from Raw Fleece Neck Warmer

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First project of 2022: Handspun yarn from raw fleece knitted neck warmer sample from “Olwen” Icelandic/Balwen Welsh Mountain cross from Ballyhoo Fiber Emporium (Kentucky).

I finally got up the energy to knit a small project from some of the raw fleece yarn samples I spun during last year’s Tour de Fleece. I had about 82 yards of worsted/aran weight 2-ply from this sample, so I decided to knit a small neck warmer–something I can use over the next few days now that it’s actually cold here in Alabama. (We’re even expecting snow on Sunday). I have two fleeces from Olwen, so I’m looking forward to working with them now that I’ve processed her fiber from raw to finished object. (I also have Olwen’s father’s fleeces “Akoya”–he’s pure Icelandic).

“Olwen” Icelandic/Balwen Welsh Mtn ewe from Ballyhoo Farms (Kentucky) (Photos courtesy of Madeline Rosenberg)🐑

Merry Christmas (and Happy New Year)

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I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!

This year has been a fiber adventure for myself to say the least. I spun 20+ new breeds of wool this year, bought over 300 pounds of raw fleece from various farms all over the United States, & knitted, spun, and wove more than any other year before. 2021 was my first year to participate in the Tour de Fleece and I’m looking forward to 2022.

Let me know what goals you set each year for fiber projects! I’d love to hear about them.

Until next year!

Pop-Up Shop Last Weekend & Knitted Beanie

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Last Saturday, I held a pop-up shop at Artisan’s Cove in Owens Cross Roads, AL (where I also teach classes). It was a first alert weather day–meaning tornado watches and thunderstorm warnings, but most of the bad weather had cleared out by the time I opened at 11am. I had a handful of people stop by despite the rain, so I’m thankful for the sales I got. This finished up my 2021 in-person events, so I’ve been taking it easy since then–only knitting beanies for Christmas gifts.

Sold objects from my Pop-Up Shop at Artisan’s Cove on Saturday, December 11th.

This beanie was knitted for my neighbor, but now I’m working on a similar one for my sister-in-law. I’m not sure how many more projects I’ll knit/weave this year, but this may be the last few until 2022. It has been a long, productive year, but I can honestly say I’m ready for a short break from spinning, weaving, knitting, fiber washing & processing, etc.

Happy Holidays, Everyone!

100% Peruvian Highland wool knitted beanie

Another Handwoven Wallace Hunting Scarf & Handspun Wool/Alpaca blend Scarf

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After a crazy weekend selling at the Hartselle Holiday Market* (Hartselle, AL), I got a custom tartan scarf order for another Wallace Hunting Scarf (after just finishing one a few days before). Because I ran out of the yarn, I couldn’t begin weaving the second one until the yarn arrived yesterday. Normally, I give myself a few days to weave a tartan, but because my customer had already patiently waited for the yarn to arrive, I wove the scarf the same day and will be mailing it out today to New York.

Wallace Hunting Tartan Scarf in 100% Peruvian Highland Wool for a customer in NY

I also finished weaving a scarf on my other loom from some handspun wool/alpaca yarn I picked up from a yarn/fabric store in Florence, AL (Thread) back during the summer. I originally thought this would be a table runner project, but the finished item is next-to-skin-soft, so it will be a scarf instead.

Handspun Wool/Alpaca blend scarf
Handspun Wool/alpaca Blend Scarf

*Items I sold at the Hartselle Holiday Market pictured below (the best results I’ve ever had at this event).

2021 Weaving/Knitting Projects (as of November 25)

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Every year, I attempt to finish at least 52 projects (one project a week on average). This year, I’ve exceeded that goal by a small number as of November 25th. I’m not sure how many more projects I’ll squeeze into 2021, but I’m happy to have surpassed my goal with time to spare. (Many of these projects were sold or commissioned, which is why I make so many items each year. Otherwise, my numbers would be much lower.)

2021 Projects as of November 25th

Fleece arrival from Brush Prairie Farms, Three Creeks Farm (NH), & Cactus Hill Farm

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Nine fleeces arrived from Brush Prairie Farms (Brush Prairie, WA)–a farm I visited when I was in Washington/Oregon in late October. These fleeces are a mix of Gotland, Finn, BFL, + more. Since I knew I would be visiting the area, I contacted Tara, the owner of Brush Prairie Farms, a month before I visited to see if she had any local raw fleeces for sale. After looking them over, I decided to take all that she showed me and she was kind enough to ship them back to Alabama for me since I couldn’t take them on the plane.

Sheep from Brush Prairie Farms (Washington)

Raw fleeces from Brush Prairie Farms (Washington)

I also ordered more Dorset Horn raw fleece from Three Creeks Farm in New Hampshire. I ordered 2-3 pounds a few months ago because the price was so good and I LOVE working with Dorset Horn. This time, I ordered 5 pounds, so I should be set for a while with this breed.

Dorset Horn raw fleece from Three Creeks Farm (New Hampshire)

The final fleece that arrived was a Wensleydale cross lamb fleece (8.5 lbs) from Cactus Hill Farm (Colorado). I’ve lost count of the fleeces I’ve bought from this farm, but this is the first Wensleydale I’ve ever purchased. (All Cactus Hill Farm fleeces are organically raised.) And because they had another sale, I’ve ordered two more fleeces from this farm which should be arriving next week.

Wensleydale cross lamb fleece from Cactus Hill Farm (Colorado)

More knitted things, GCN handspun yarn and raw fleeces from Ballyhoo Fiber Emporium

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In two weeks time, I’ll be setting up shop at the Hartselle Holiday Market (Hartselle, AL) and the week after that, I have a pop-up shop at Artisan’s Cove in Owens Cross Roads, AL–so I’ve been knitting beanies like crazy to have something else to sell to those who don’t wear scarves (which is 85% of my handmade inventory).

Here is the most recent beanie I’ve knitted, using 100% superwash merino (handdyed in Vermont).

I’m currently knitting a beanie from Gulf Coast Native handspun yarn (from Freddie’s raw fleece–Yellow Bell Farmstead in Arab, AL), but I’ll just show the yarn here since I’m not finished knitting the beanie yet.

Last week, I received four raw fleeces from Ballyhoo Fiber Emporium. Two were 2021 fall shearings from Akoya the Icelandic ram and his daughter, Olwen, an Icelandic/Balwen Welsh Mountain cross. The one pictured here is from Cherry Pie, a Shetland wether. The fourth fleece is from a dark Finn sheep (not pictured). I’ll post pictures of the others when I start processing them.

Today, I’m waiting on fleeces from Brush Prairie Farms (Brush Prairie, WA) that I picked out on my recent trip to the Pacific NW. I think I have nine in total of various breeds, but they include Gotland, Friesian, BFL, and more. I’ll post pictures when they arrive.

I also ordered five more pounds of Dorset Horn raw fleece from Three Creeks Farm in New Hampshire. I had ordered three pounds a few months ago at a great price, so I decided to get some more before it’s all gone. Those will be arriving today or tomorrow. Stay tuned for pictures.

Gulf Coast Native X Fleeces from Summer Fields Farm (Monteagle, TN)

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I totally forgot to mention the nine fleeces I picked up from Summer Fields Farm in Monteagle, TN on October 20th. I had originally purchased three fleeces from this farm on Etsy, but after messaging the seller, I arranged to pick them up in person, since Monteagle, TN is less than two hours away from where I live in Alabama. So, I bought three online and came home with nine (purchasing the other six after seeing them). I purchased a GCN/Romney fleece (which I’m super excited about) and the others were mostly lamb fleeces that are GCN/Navajo Churro crosses.

mer Raw fleeces from Summer Fields Farm (Monteagle, TN)

This week, I sampled one of the lamb fleeces and knitted up a beanie (“Be Loving” pattern by Melissa Simpson) from my spun sample. Although the staple length was much shorter than I’m usually comfortable with, the finished yarn turned out good and I love the oatmeal/beige color of the yarn.

GCN/Navajo Churro cross lamb fleece (Fall 2020 shearing)

Duncan Scottish Tartan Woven Scarf & Several Knitted Beanies, and Misc.

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Before I left for my trip to the pacific northwest, I wove a pickup stick pattern scarf–more to just experiment with new patterns than anything else. The scarf below is the result of that project.

After I returned from my trip, I wove a Duncan Scottish tartan scarf for my friend from Washington, who happens to be a Duncan. This was the first time I had woven this tartan, and because of the width of the pattern, I was only able to do a portion of the warp design…but otherwise, it is a balanced tartan.

Duncan Scottish Tartan Scarf

Since I’m planning to have a booth at the Hartselle Holiday Market this year (Hartselle, Alabama), I have started knitting beanies for those who might not want any of my woven items. The yellow/white beanie was knitted from GCN raw fleece that I handspun and dyed with annatto seeds.