Busy Summer

I thought I would give you an update on some of the projects that I've been working on.

Here is the first one. I did a dye pot last week using Coriopsis flowers. The wool is even brighter than it looks in the picture. I was really surprised by how bright the color was just by using a natural dye plant and citric acid for a mordant.

I wanted to make a fabric that was a common home spun in the 1800's. This is what I came up with. It called Linsey Woolsey. The warp threads are 20/2 linen and the weft is my handspun wool. I dyed the wool as roving and there was variegation to the wool, so I decided to spin it as was and got a very pretty blue variegated thread. When this fabric is finished I hope to make a blouse out of it.
On the other loom I decided to use up some of the handspun wool from last year. So I put on a cotton warp and chose a weft faced pattern to make a shawl. The colors are hard to see in this picture so I'll just tell you that there is grey and then greens dyed from yarrow and dock. I have some yellows that will be added to the fabric as well. So far it seems to be working up fine.

This project in on my loom at home. I wanted to make some more dish towels and see if I could use up some odds and ends of other threads. I remembered this pattern when I took my weaving class so this was how I used it. I really like the pattern, it's any easy treadling, and I can use up my small amounts of warp. I plan on making more of these.

And now for the last of the big projects. About a month ago we had the sheep in the village sheared. I got a call from Lynn at Spinderella's and she let me know that my order was ready. This is Sam's wool all spun up and drying. (I needed to wash out the spinning oils) Bella and Lottie's wool looks much the same. I'm very happy with the results, and I can't wait to start knitting or weaving with these yarns.

My Sheep

Okay, so it's been a while since my last post but that doesn't mean that I have just been slacking off. I've been very busy. About a month ago a family donated 4 sheep to the village. There is a corral at the back of the my site so, since I deal with wool this is a perfect match. Let me introduce you to my flock.
This handsome 6 year old Columbia whether is Sam. He is very gentle. The baby in my arms is my granddaughter, and even though she is not to sure about Sam, he let her sit on his back.
As you can see it didn't take long for her to warm up to him. Here they are looking for the best grasses in the lawn.

The next sheep in the flock is Lottie. I think she is a Columbia - Suffolk cross. She was a little more skittish around strangers, but she has warmed up to me, especially if I have grain in my pockets.

When the sheep arrived they had not be sheared for the year, so we made arrangements for Mr. Will Cory to come up and take care of them.

The sheep that he is working on here is the next ewe of the flock. This is Annie. She is a Dorper sheep. She was not bred to be a fiber animal, she is a meat variety of sheep. She has very course hair, and not much wool, but we still gave her a trim.

The last of the flock is Bella. She to is a Columbia - Suffolk cross like Lottie. She is also a gentle soul, but every once in a while she gets that look in her eye, and you just know that she is up to something. Usually that means she wants to get in my garden.

When all the sheep were sheared I took the fleeces of Sam, Lottie, and Bella to a local fiber mill here in Salt Lake. The name of the mill is Spinderellas. Since there was so much wool to be done, I thought I would let her wash, card, and spin it up for me.
So that is my flock. So far I have had a great time working with these four and learning about their individual personalities. They have really brought new life to my site.