I'm wearing my own sheep!

So, it has been about a year and a half with our very own sheep. 3 Border Leicesters, and one......cross. I think she is a Shetland and a----

Last May was our first sheering, and I sent the wool to a semi-local mill to be made into Aran weight yarn. I currently don't have the time, skill, or if I am completely honest, the inclination to spin my own yarn. Someday maybe. Let me tell you what I've discovered:

I had each sheep spun separately so I could compare the wool.  I did this because when they were being shorn the gentleman helping us was discussing how they felt to him as we went. I wanted to see how this would translate into wearable yarn.


I've so far knitted with Evia's and Caitlin's (she is my favorite sheep by far). Evia is a ginormous sheep and I've got the most of her wool. Tiddler is the smallest and I haven't used hers yet (also because it feels the roughest). I'm in the process of working with Zoom Zoom's (the token black sheep that we actually bought for meat but she was too small and too adorable to even contemplate that fate). So far, by far, I love Zoom Zoom's wool best. It is the most squishy, lovely stuff imaginable. It is not as scratchy as the Border Leicester wool. However, I washed Caitlin's a couple of times in Eucran and the sweater was pretty good to the touch. A wee bit scratchy to begin with, but certainly bearable. 


Evia's Wool Projects:

I had this pattern in the closet. I don't particularly like the way the collar turned out, and I'm not sure I will ever wear it. I only washed this once and it is still pretty rough. Pattern: 7187 Woman's Jacket by Sirdar

This was super fun to knit and I love it. My family makes fun of me for knitting a bonnet, but look how beautifully it turned out! I haven't washed it yet, but I will for next winter!

Pattern: Neon Ski Bonnet this is a free pattern!










Caitlin's Wool Project:

I knit another Ross by Pam Allen. I had previously knit one for my daughter, and I think the sizing is weird. It is meant to be boxy, but the arms are skinny. Anyway, I learned from my previous knit and I am happy with the result of this one. 






Zoom Zoom's Wool:

This is the back panel on a Highway 61 Pullover. It is from Interweave, and so far, I love love love it. I was a bit leery it would turn out too small, but I am currently at gauge so fingers crossed. I am always to nervous it won't fit when I am done. This project is seamed, but I like to pretend I don't like but I secretly think I do. At least, for Aran jumpers. 

So that's what I've been up to. I am looking into natural dyes, so I have a long road ahead of me. I'm going to see what I can plant, or what I can harvest naturally around here and see what colors I can get. Fun!!

Winter is for crafting

I have come to the realization (very recently) that I am starting to really like winter. *GASP* And I mean real winter. Not the southern California winter I grew up with. It has been snowing, it is cold, and going to get very cold in a few days. However I am happy with it, because it means I get to be inside reading, cooking, and best of all, crafting. I also have the next several days off work for the holiday, which would help anyones mood.

This whole crofting (homesteading, small farming, whatever you want to call it) lifestyle is hard work. Good, satisfying work, but hard nonetheless. Spring through fall we worked our regular jobs, and worked the rest of the time on the farm. I'm proud of what we achieved, and I'll be even happier when the pigs and sheep are in the freezer next month. Winter means less outside work, and more relaxing and more time for creating, which I enjoy. Oh seasons, you are so wonderful. 

A year or two ago my sister cleaned out her craft cupboard, and I added a few things to mine. I do love this sort of cleaning that other people do--when it involves me getting new things for free. I got a shaggy baby blanket kit, which I stored away in my cupboard. Then this baby boom hit, and this morning as the snow fell, I knew it was time to get it done. The blanket is for my co-worker, and she isn't due until May. However, in May I'll be busy getting the garden started, and going on a trip to Peru, and there will not be time for sewing. I'm planning ahead!

All you do it sew the rectangles together in the manner laid out in the pattern, and then cut the pieces to be "shaggy." It only took a few hours, and is currently in the washing machine. Great, right? Yeah, my weak little wrists are sore from all the cutting.

I've also been on a real bag-making kick. I think because they are small and fairly easy to make, yet you can challenge yourself. I found a free pattern on Pinterest called Trail Tote, and made the small one first.Quickly realizing that it was nowhere near big enough for me, I made the larger size, using what I'd learned making the first one to make it even better. 

 This picture is me wearing the larger bag. I've been using it as a purse for a month now, I love it!

If I can find the pictures, I made a couple more bags for presents, I'll post them next. Until next time, thanks for stopping by and have a very Happy Festive Holiday season!

I'm mostly canning tomatoes

When I looked at my blog post list and saw the last time I posted was in March.....I was a little ashamed of myself. But only a little. Spring, summer, fall, they are all busy times here on our little farm. I've been knitting, but I've also become caretaker of some sheep, planted a big garden, went on vacation (yay!), and currently I'm canning. A lot. Mostly tomatoes but today I made some pickled miso vegetables I'm eager to try. 

Before I go much further, because this is a crafting/knitting blog, these are my future yarn providers. They are Border Leicheters, and really rather spoiled girls. The ewe in the background there is going to be bred in a few weeks, the others will wait until next year when they are old enough. The black sheep is actually something else......part Icelandic I think. She was bought as a meat sheep but we all sort of fell in love with her.
 

In April I went on a trip to Seattle with my sister and niece, and I bought myself some Frabjous Cheshire Cat Mini Skeins. Then I came home and made a Sugar Maple top. I had almost enough, but ended up getting another skein to finish it. Poor me, I have almost an entire skein I'll have to use up on another project. I really love how the top turned out, and last night I wore it to dinner. I finished it in July and just managed to get my daughter to snap a few pictures. This yarn is so super soft, it felt wonderful wearing it. 





I've got to run now and get the girls to someplace or other, I'll post my latest project as soon as I can (it won't take 6 months, I'm too proud of it).

Oh my it has been a while

Hello to any friends that are still out there!! It has been months since I've been in this space, and I have been busy! We bought a small farm in February of last year, and right after we got moved in and got settled, I started gardening in a big way. We had a big (and productive) vegetable garden, which meant lots of weeding, canning, freezing and eating all summer long. We also have 15 chickens, 2 cats (in addition to the 2 dogs) and we raised a sheep. We had a great time, and developed a lot of goals for next year.

I have been knitting all the time I'm wasn't blogging, sometimes less, and sometimes more, but now that it is winter, it is definitely more. 

Recently I finished the Unity Pullover, from the book Finish-Free Knits. I used up some yarn I had purchased for a different project (Drops Alaska and Drops Big Delight), but ended up not making. Now, I should say that I am not normally a fan of so much color--but the yarn is pure wool and I figured it would keep me warm outside this winter. Oh man does it ever--I love how warm and comfortable this sweater is. Plus, it was easy and fast.  

I didn't knit a whole lot of Christmas presents this year, but I did make three of my co-workers Gap-tastic cowls. 

I've got a few more things to share, if I can get pictures taken. I'm also working on a cardigan for myself, and a pullover sweater for Dave. Fun!!

Take care, and thanks for stopping by.

2015, finding balance

Hello! I has been months and months since last I wrote on the blog. I'd like to feel bad about it, and maybe a small part of me does, but man oh man, we've been busy. 

We bought a house!!

I guess because of my history with international moves, I should state that we are still in MI--for good. This will be the last move for a long time, if we have our way!

The first week of April we moved in to our new house on 11.6 acres. I am so very excited/tired that I almost stopped knitting for a few weeks. It felt so good to pick up my needles the other night! My parents have been here to help, and we still have a few boxes to unpack, and life swirls on as normal. I did finish a few things before we started packing (and bought a wee bit of yarn), like this Aran jumper:

But more on that later.


We have big plans for the new house and land of ours. We started on it yesterday, with the purchase of 15 chicks. They are darling, and I'm pleased the girls get to watch them grow (the last time we had chickens, in Scotland, we bought them almost full grown).

So while I get unpacked, and help Dave build/finish the chicken coop, keep on knitting. I may not be posting, but I most certainly am reading. I'll be back one of these days, unless the sun stays out and then I'll be playing in the garden.  I've got this patch of ground to fill with veggies:

And Sally, if you are reading this, this dog, she loves the country.