At deer camp, Uncle Mark observed I really need to get back to blogging. He's right! It's been far too long, and there is so much to share.
The delay can be partly attributed to my desire to have a video with each blog, which ended up taking much more time than initially anticipated, time I just don't have — but more on that later. Also, my phone storage is full again. In the past, that was solved by using google to back up my photos so they could be deleted, but now my google storage is full, too. I take a lot of photos!
Why don't we get to the goodies right away? I have a pattern to share with you! This little fox is incredibly simple to make, and the results are just too cute. It's a basic chevron stitch and whips up in no time. The full pattern is available for free as a ravelry download.
The fox design and my lack of time are actually very much related. The story started a couple years ago when my Auntie Becky met a lady named, Lois. Lois had alpacas, and my Auntie, always looking out for me, forwarded her information. I got in touch via facebook regarding buying some alpaca fluff, but when it came time to pick up the phone and call, I totally ghosted. I hate talking on the phone! Seriously, it's almost crippling. I have to rehearse calls to schedule my kids' well-checks. It is pathetic.
Fast forward to a couple months ago, I got a facebook message out of the blue from Lois. Cook's Country Connection is a cute little petting farm just north of us. It also happens to be Lois' baby, and she and her sister were looking to add some items to their country store at the farm — handspun items from their fiber critters. Would I be interested? Umm… yeah! I would definitely be interested.
We had been meaning to take the kids up to farm for a while, so when Lois invited me up to do a spinning demonstration, we made a family day out of it. It was a lot of fun. Laney and I had been there before, for a yoga on the farm event on her birthday, but it was a first for Darren and the younger kids. The demo itself felt a little awkward for me, since it was my first one in that type of setting. There was a real audience, not just passersby. I've since done a second one that felt much more focused.
Anyway, long story short, I have nearly unlimited access to fiber, absolute freedom to spin and make whatever I want on whatever timeline works for me. It does not get any better than that!
I was completely overwhelmed at first. One alpaca blanket (prime fleece) weighed about four pounds. I was sent home with four — well, three alpaca and one llama. It felt a little bit like trying to dig to China with a spoon. The fluff stayed in the bags for quite a while while I came up with a plan of attack. But really, the only way to get anywhere is to dive right in. The goal was a nice yarn which is easily repeated and efficient to make. After a bit of sampling and playing around with different preps, I found a method I think is going to be effective.
Once a method was established, it was time to make something! The crochet plaid hat by, Whistle and Ivy, jumped out right away, because it would allow me to play with all the different colors. Alpaca is sorted into 22 different natural shades. I brought home black, chocolate brown, and white. Some of the white I dyed with onion skins to make gold. Once the hats were finished I had quite a bit of brown and gold yarn left. Inspired by a scarf in my Instagram feed, the fox headband was born!
My first delivery to Cook's Country Connection was three hats and two headbands. I have since made a white fox, as well, but it isn't ready to be revealed quite yet. There is another project on the needles he is waiting to be photographed with. Definitely follow the farm on Facebook. Items ready for the Country Store will be posted there.
It is funny the way things work out. Who would have thought the lady I ghosted a couple years ago would pop back up with this incredible opportunity. It has been so much fun! And I have so many ideas…
The delay can be partly attributed to my desire to have a video with each blog, which ended up taking much more time than initially anticipated, time I just don't have — but more on that later. Also, my phone storage is full again. In the past, that was solved by using google to back up my photos so they could be deleted, but now my google storage is full, too. I take a lot of photos!
Why don't we get to the goodies right away? I have a pattern to share with you! This little fox is incredibly simple to make, and the results are just too cute. It's a basic chevron stitch and whips up in no time. The full pattern is available for free as a ravelry download. The fox design and my lack of time are actually very much related. The story started a couple years ago when my Auntie Becky met a lady named, Lois. Lois had alpacas, and my Auntie, always looking out for me, forwarded her information. I got in touch via facebook regarding buying some alpaca fluff, but when it came time to pick up the phone and call, I totally ghosted. I hate talking on the phone! Seriously, it's almost crippling. I have to rehearse calls to schedule my kids' well-checks. It is pathetic.
Fast forward to a couple months ago, I got a facebook message out of the blue from Lois. Cook's Country Connection is a cute little petting farm just north of us. It also happens to be Lois' baby, and she and her sister were looking to add some items to their country store at the farm — handspun items from their fiber critters. Would I be interested? Umm… yeah! I would definitely be interested.
We had been meaning to take the kids up to farm for a while, so when Lois invited me up to do a spinning demonstration, we made a family day out of it. It was a lot of fun. Laney and I had been there before, for a yoga on the farm event on her birthday, but it was a first for Darren and the younger kids. The demo itself felt a little awkward for me, since it was my first one in that type of setting. There was a real audience, not just passersby. I've since done a second one that felt much more focused.
Anyway, long story short, I have nearly unlimited access to fiber, absolute freedom to spin and make whatever I want on whatever timeline works for me. It does not get any better than that!
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| Carding dyed alpaca fiber |
Once a method was established, it was time to make something! The crochet plaid hat by, Whistle and Ivy, jumped out right away, because it would allow me to play with all the different colors. Alpaca is sorted into 22 different natural shades. I brought home black, chocolate brown, and white. Some of the white I dyed with onion skins to make gold. Once the hats were finished I had quite a bit of brown and gold yarn left. Inspired by a scarf in my Instagram feed, the fox headband was born!
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| 18 ounces spun alpaca yarn |
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| Items made from yarn pictured above |
It is funny the way things work out. Who would have thought the lady I ghosted a couple years ago would pop back up with this incredible opportunity. It has been so much fun! And I have so many ideas…
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