Category: Fiber Arts

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WIP: Softer than Clouds

TGI Hump Day, I’m already looking forward to the weekend.

I’ve been a bit under the weather this past week so I have not been as fibery these past few days as I normally am.  I did however mange to spin up a skein from the new Cria/Tencel roving I have.   OH MY GOSH! Is it soft and OH so silky.   There are a few VM bits that snuck through the mill process but since the fiber is so fine and slippery they are really easy to pick out if I happen upon one.

I’ve listed the skein I worked up on Etsy but it will only be available in it’s natural state until the weekend.  Otherwise I plan on dying it.  So, if you want it as is act quickly!

Speaking of alpacas these animals totally freak me out sometimes.  I seriously have no idea how their necks work, it’s just too weird to see how flexible they are and poses like this one just look wrong.

Got fiber Animals? Share your photos with us every Wednesday!

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Fiber Arts Friday – Surprise Package

Well I haven’t gotten much done since my WIP post.  I still need to stage and photograph the rest of my wine koozies that I’ve been making.  I’ve also posted a lovely skein of yarn up on my Etsy shop with some wine colors in it.  It will only be available until Monday should someone like to purchase it otherwise I’ll be using it to make more koozies.

I was out doing chores last night and the UPS guy came bouncing down our driveway.  I met him at the barn and received a rather large box.  Usually “M” orders things so I didn’t even bother looking to see if was for me until I got it inside.  To my surprise it was addressed to Dutch Hollow Acres from Battenkill Fiber Mill!  Yippy, my cria roving is here!

7.2 lbs of luscious cria/tencel pin drafted roving.   This is the first time I’ve used Battenkill Fiber Mill after reading about them in the NY Farm Bureau.  Looking through their website they were a new high volume fast turn around worsted mill specializing not only in wool but huacaya alpaca as well.  Not only that but they have buyers for raw white/beige  huacaya fleeces which is great news for me since that is what I breed!  Right now my herd is still small and produces just enough for my farm sale needs but as I grow it’s nice to have yet another outlet for raw fiber sales.

Anywho, I have also listed our new 70/30 Cria/Tencel blend roving up for sale in our Etsy Shop as well.  As I said I have 7lbs of this lovely stuff so if you want just 2oz or 2lbs let me know.

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WIP – Fairs and Hunt Races

Why hello everyone!

So with Tour de Fleece over I have lots of hand spun goodness in my stash and I’ve started using some of it.  All the talk of the Wine and Wool festival got me thinking about an event I attend as a vendor in the fall, the Genesee Valley Hunt Races.  The races draws in about 10,000 visitors and over the past few years they have added a rather large farmers market which has morphed into a wine market since we are in wine country.

Long story short, my booth was mingled in with tons of wineries and at this event the wineries can sell the wine and you can open it and drink away right at the races.  Open container is not a problem at this event.   That got me to thinking about adding a little fiber favor for all the wine that is consumed at the races and I came up with these very functional wine bottle koozies!

It turns out alpaca works amazingly well as an insulator to keep the wine at a perfect temperature even on these hot and humid days we’ve been having.  I tested one out at a cookout we had over the weekend and an hour later as I poured the last of the white wine it was still chilled even though it was 86 and humid out.  I’m listing some in our Etsy Shop if you want to purchase one.

The shawl in the photo I entered into our county fair and yes, that is a blue ribbon we received!  Viva Alpaca!

Fiber Wordless Wednesday

Here’s a short video of my little filly meeting 2 of our alpaca boys for the first time.  Usually I don’t turn alpacas and horses out together but these 2 boys seem to enjoy the equine company.

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FAF – Spinning fun and Alpaca Cowl Pattern

What a long month of July.  No rain, intense heat, and lots of spinning for the Tour de Fleece.   Thankfully this year we got air conditioning! Yippy, so I managed to enjoy fiber in cool comfort instead of fighting with it sticking to me in sloppy humidity.

I present to you my collage of goodies that I worked on this past month.

Spinning wasn’t the only thing I did this past month.  I also managed to knit up a lovely cowl/ear warmer out of my very last ball of grey alpaca yarn.  All but 1 of my greys have sold and I’m keeping this cowl for myself in memory of them.  Thank you George, Gus and CoHo for the lovely warmth!

For those of you interested in this pattern.

Materials
200yrds DK weight
#7 8in round

Cast on:
100 stitches, place marker, knit 1st row

Pattern 4 row repeat:
K2, P2
K1, P2, K1
P2, K2
P1, K2, P1

Complete with extra stretchy bind off.  This is the one I used.

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FAF – Heat Wave

Well I’m a Fiber Arts Friday slacker this week.  Not that I haven’t been playing with fiber but I have not taken any photos of my work.

Right now I have a some alpaca/wool on my wheel that my MIL dyed a while back.  I’ve been saving it for Tour de Fleece.  I’ll spare you the artist renditions this time.

What I can show you is what is on my needles.  I’m still working away at the cowl when I’m not spinning.  Since TdF is taking most of my time I’ve been going very slowly at the knitting end of things but it is about 1/3-1/2 done.

Big thank you to everyone who suggested I learn the Norwegian Purl Stitch.   It has cut my slow knitting time in half if not more.  Here’s a short video of me with my new stitch.

Lastly here’s a photo of one of my dogs, Brindee, napping by the lake last week.  Oh what I wouldn’t give to be back up in the mountains right now with all this heat this week.

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