FO Friday - Flying Goat Farm

Posted on October 16, 2020 by Lisa Check — 1 Comment

FO Friday–Rhinebeck Style

So yes! This is the fastest sweater I’ve ever knitted. And I owed it to all the accountability partners that I had. But sharing my progress on my Facebook Live Thursday shows (1pm), really helped. I had to show you progress. That means I had to make progress. So you know what? It got done.

Iounn Pattern from Knitty. Made with handspun handdyed 3 ply lambswool yarn

I’m ready to cast on another one!! I’ll be swatching with some naturally colored yarns and the Shifty sweater pattern. I want to steek it and of course my yarns are thicker than what is called for… I simply can not do something by the actual recipe. I’m looking forward to more accountability too.

Do you need an accountability partner? Call on me. I’ll show up for you!!

Posted on April 24, 2020April 24, 2020 by Lisa Check — Leave a comment

FO/WIP Friday Sock Edition

I really love knitting socks, but I don’t spend a lot of time knitting. I always think I will spend the time. I’m at the lightning speed of 1 pair a year. I know, I know….most people do 1 pair per month. Still I love my hand knit socks!

I have 2 pairs going now. One, the bright pink and orange from a sock blank and the other from our chinook yarn…a luscious blend of SW Merino, Cashmere and Nylon in my Nautical colorway.

Posted on March 27, 2020 by Lisa Check — Leave a comment

FO Friday–Shawl Edition

So here is a snapshot of the shawls that I have knit in the last few years. I know it’s not a lot. But you also know that I’m the slowest knitter in the world and maybe in the universe.

Shawls that I’ve actually knit in the last couple of years.

All of these are available on Ravelry. Front left to right: Striche, Shard, Camau, Raddiant, Conflagration and Maryland, my Maryland. Some of these are available as kits in our webstore: Strisce, Camau, Raddiant and Conflagration. You can find them here.

Posted on March 25, 2020 by Lisa Check — Leave a comment

favorite podcasts for a good listen

Today I wanted to give you some of my favorite podcasts. In this time, when we should probably be turning off the TV and the news in particular. You may really like to hear some fun conversations. The first one is with my shearer, Emily Chamelin. It is a great discussion about shearing, shepherding, raising children and I really loved it.

Episode 78: Emily Chamelin-Hickman – Shearing life, Wool business, Controversy and Targeted grazing

In this episode, Deb Robson talks about what it took to write her seminal work: The Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook. And along the way we hear about this wonderful teacher’s life and how she got started on her journey into wool.

Episode 71: Deborah Robson – Weaving, Editing, Heritage Conservation and the Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook

The Lady Farmer is a local mom and daughter. They ran a slow life challenge recently and there are 4 podcasts that talk about slow living: slow clothing, slow cooking, creating spaces and taking time in your life. Again, these 4 podcasts are really relatable in this day and age. Their podcast is called The Good Dirt.

Creating Spaces for Well-Being and Healing in Your Life with Joy Hoffman

Levar Burton Reads is a great podcast. He reads short stories that are mostly sci-fi. It’s like Reading Rainbow for kids. Two of my favorites are “The Cell Phones” and “Playing Nice with God’s Bowling Ball”.

Sometimes I just want a quickie…I’m not willing to put 40 minutes or an hour into a podcast. And those times I really like Weeknight Kitchen with Melissa Clark. I particularly liked her take on a Vietnamese Caramel Salmon and the one about Harissa Chicken sheet pan dinner. I’ve made both of these recipes and they were easy and really, really good.

Enjoy! And take some time to relax, slow down and release!

Posted on March 13, 2020March 13, 2020 by Lisa Check — Leave a comment

FO Friday Sweater Edition

I’ve written here before that I happen to be the slowest knitter in the world. And part of that is because I try things that are over my head. And then I have to take things out and redo. But even with that, I just finished another sweater that is still drying from the blocking process. So this sweater is not on the stack for obvious reasons.

This Friday, I wanted to celebrate….celebrate something, especially now when the world is upside down and small businesses like mine are being squeezed by the travel and festival closures.

Cables, lace and simply stockinette sweaters I knit all by myself

So here is my pile of sweaters….these sweaters were knit by me. I have many sweaters that I commissioned. Those should be celebrated as well, and I will do that in the future, I promise. Today is about the skill of my own hands, dye pots, and animals.

What does your sweater pile look like? Are you knitting them yet? Do you want to knit one now? Reply to this post and let me know!