Wow! The new colorways sold out in a matter of minutes yesterday.
Don’t worry! I will be dyeing more today and everyday until you all get the yarn that thrills you!
So when you see this yarn or colorway is “on backorder”. Know that means that I’ll be dyeing your order especially for you.
How long will it take? Not long at all. Typically if I have the yarn on the shelf, I can get your order out in priority mail within 24 hours of your purchase, exceptions being Sundays or postal holidays. If I’m dyeing to order, your yarn will be in the mail within 72 hours of your order. And many times if the weather is good, it will be sooner, as the yarn needs to be totally dry before it goes in the mail.
Last week was momentous in our country. And I have to say that I was inspired by several things. The moving memorial to those who have succumbed to Covid. Washington’s sky deepening into night with the Washington Monument going from white marble to gold stone.
This is on Chinook Yarn: Super Wash Merino, Cashmere and Nylon. It is fingering weight with 414 yards per skein
The next day I loved the array of colors from all the women who attended the inauguration. From Michelle Obama’s burgundy pantsuit and long coat to the pastel coats of the Biden girls. And of course Dr. Biden in her blue sparkly ensemble. I just loved the power of the color. The statements that women will not be overlooked.
Sparkly Yarn is super wash Merino with Lurex. It is fingering weight with 400 yards per skein
It’s time for our Farm Chicks Open Studio. We’re calling it Yarn Affair this time and our theme is Hygge. I’ve written about this previously in the blog. We will be open 10am to 3pm on January 16th….this Saturday. We will be having a Zoom Happy Hour from 4-5pm EDT. I will be sending out the zoom link in my email blast tomorrow. So be sure to sign up for my mailing list to get the info.
Each month we pick a photo as an inspiration for the 3 of us: Flying Goat Farm, Dancing Leaf Dyeworks and Avalon Springs Farm. This month we picked the above photo of a cozy reading or knitting space.
This month I decided to make a mini-skein pack. I wanted to have all of these beautiful colors. I wanted them separate and not on the same skein. So I will have the mini-skein packs ready for sale this weekend and also on the website by Sunday. Each pack as five 100-yard mini skeins ($40). They are ~500 yards per pack. The yarn is my Corrie Sock Yarn which is a superwash Corriedale wool with nylon blend. This yarn is one of my work horses. It is great for socks, but equally wonderful for a shawl, scarf or hat. It is a fingering weight yarn with nice drapablity.
Colder weather is here. We’ve had some snow. We’ve had some ice. We’ve had some dreary, dreary days. I am feeling like I want more tea and hot cocoa. I want to be cozy and cook cozy meals like stew and soup. I feel like spinning and knitting my locavore sweater. What I am wanting more right now is “hygge”. Have you heard of hygge (pronounced hoo-ga and rhymes with sugar)?
Hygge is a Danish word that cannot be directly translated. Hygge is the embodiment of coziness along with enjoying good times with great people. It means to take the time to experience your life. It means to slow down and pay attention. Sharing a latte with friends on Zoom is Hygge. Knitting is hygge. Filling your home with candlelight and earthy stews and soups is hygge. Taking time to read a book or listen to one of your favorite podcasts is hygge. Many people think that hygge is what makes Danish people the “happiest” people on earth.
But why am I writing about hygge now? It is a strange time. We have so many hopes and dreams all bundled up into 2021. We have some hope about the vaccine being given out. But at the same time, we are in bigger and bigger surges. Bill and I have been isolating and masking and washing and all of that, for so, so long. And I know that we will need to keep in this semi-isolated state for several more months. So for me, thinking about practicing Hygge is just what I need right now. I believe that it will make me feel like I’m taking care of myself. It will make me feel more present in my life. So if you feel like I do, make some hot cocoa and read a good book….Oh and knit some wonderfully hand dyed Flying Goat Farm yarn.
I’ve been missing helping people put yarn combos together. It’s part of what I love about in person festivals and now my open studio days. And there are some of you who are just not close. But last week, I had the fun and pleasure of helping Kathleen pick out some yarn from afar. She wanted to use my Cacao mohair yarn and to pair it with my synergy yarn for a pop of color. Here’s how it started:
Cacao Mohair and Synergy yarns
Then we narrowed it down to these 2:
Cacao Mohair with Majesty Synergy
Cacao Mohair and Carribean Synergy
And finally she picked out the Carribean and Majesty Synergy yarns for a shawl. It’s funny how you don’t know what will really tickle your fancy until it just hits you!! That was so fun. We did this in Facebook Messenger. But you can also set up a personal shopping session on Facetime or Zoom. Just shoot me an email and we can start from there!!
This week Camp Yarnsie is taking place. Yarnsie is a community based group. They offer a myriad of classes and groups for all kinds of textile crafts including weaving, spinning, knitting, and crochet. They have open rooms nearly around the clock, so you may meet other crafters from a whole different part of the world. It’s a great place to see and be seen.
So on Tuesday, there is a virtual marketplace that is also a little different. There are featured artists each day. You can interact with new vendor friends as well as dear vendor friends. The “camp” takes place from 11/17 through 11/30.
Our “day” is this coming Thursday. There will be videos of our animals. I will also be walking viewers through all our yarn bases and wonderful garments you can make with them. I will also have a presentation highlighting gift ideas for your crafty friends…or for yourself too. There will be a social hour where you can share your sweaters and a free felted soap class. All these events are free but you must register. Click here to find out more.
I’ve been talking about Fibershed. And in that light, I know that I need to relearn all about natural dyeing again. I’ve done it a lot. I’ve taken a lot of classes. But I’ve never done it in a production with reproducibility in mind. I will have to really pay attention to water and temperature and weight. And still I know there will be variability….that’s just the nature of natural dyeing.
As many of you know I do have a few naturally colored yarns in my line up already. They are more rustic yarns. They are not as soft as my Livily or Trasna yarns. They are just a little more hardy. And still, there are many items to make with these yarns. They are great for outwear. They are long wearing and will last a long time.
So in that vein, I’m now knitting a truly local sweater. I’m making a Shifty sweater. And I’ve had to do a lot of math and fanageling because I am using my own yarn that is bigger than the pattern calls for. And I don’t want a pullover style. So I added a steek area and so I’ll have a cardigan at the end. The back ground yarn is my Puck which is charcoal wool, mohair and alpaca. And the contrast yarns are mohair yarn that is naturally dyed. In fact this yarn has been hanging around for a long time since I dyed it. And now I have a project for it.
So if you would like to hear about fibershed and color. Tune into Episode 12 here. Or you can subscribe to it on itunes.
Well, I do think it’s time to get started with those holiday gifts. I’ve got some great yarns that will make fantastic gloves, mittens and fingerless mitts.
Our Livily Cormo yarn is a worsted weight yarn that will make wonderful knits for your hands. It’s sister, Trasna, is just a little thinner….as a heavy DK.
I have a mitten pattern available as well. You just pick the color and I’ll add the pattern (just mention mitts in the comment section of your order) and you can get a head start on at least one gift. You can find the pattern here on Ravelry.
I also have some quick fingerless mitt kits available. These kits contain the pattern and a skein of mohair yarn. There are 4 colors available for you to choose from.
Open by Appointment! Email me for an appointment or FACETIME
We are located in Frederick MD. You can shop in person with a mask and lots of social distance! Or buy online and stop by to pick up…I’ll run your purchases out to you in your car.
Next Open Studio:
February 13rh from 11am to 4pm With afterhours zoom meeting from 4-5pm EST
