By Tara, on September 26th, 2008%
The Localspun series is my attempt to share the process from fiber (on the animal) to finished yarn. Each is just a glimpse into a moment in the life of yarn and yarnmaker. Most everyone knows that fabric comes from yarn or thread which comes from cotton, sheep or synthetics. But how does it really GET there? From farm to cloth? In the next few week’s I’ll be working through and documenting this process. Today: The Fleece.
I purchased the fleece from Hobby Knob Farm, during my last farm visit.
It’s a Coopworth, shorn just last March from one of Elizabeth’s herd. It’s around 7 lbs and I loved the locks, even dirty:
When I was ready to wash it, I spread it out on my back “porch”. My cat was fascinated:
I was a little nervous I’d ruin it, so I gathered all the bits around the edges . . . → Read More: Life of Yarn – Washing the Fleece
By Tara, on September 24th, 2008%
Last night, I gave up on a sweater. My beautiful handspun sweater just isn’t working out. After completing the body and 1 sleeve, I realized I need more yarn. And the yoke isn’t right (too much fabric at the shoulders). And the whole thing is too stiff, not drapey enough. Most of these issues could have been solved by following a pattern (well, except for the drape, I just needed to use a bigger needle and knit it at a different gauge), but because I’m designing it myself, all these little things have to be figured out. If I had chosen a pattern suited for handspun, many of these mistakes might have been avoided. But that’s only if I choose the right pattern! Here’s a few things to keep in mind when choosing a pattern for handspun yarn
Gauge with handspun is variable. One skein might be heavy . . . → Read More: 5 Free Sweater Patterns for Handspun Yarn
By Tara, on September 22nd, 2008%
Happy Autumn!
To celebrate the first day of this lovely season, I threw open the window to my office and opened up the Fall Color Report by Pantone. This report is designed for fashion and home designers, but everyone in any industry that sells color uses it (or other trend-forcasting tools), so you’ll see these colors in clothes, furniture, even new yarn lines! You don’t have to be a designer to enjoy perusing it. I find it fascinating to read the profiles of designers in the report. It’s also interesting to be aware of the “in” colors, because once concious, it seems I see them everywhere! The new knitting magazine, Knotions, has an article about applying the Color Report to your choice of yarns and knitting projects. In the past, I’ve given it a quick once over and moved on, but this season I’ve decided to challenge myself (ya’ll . . . → Read More: Autumnal Inspiration
By Tara, on September 19th, 2008%
The Life of Yarn series is my attempt to share the process from fiber (on the animal) to finished yarn. Each is just a glimpse into a moment in the life of yarn and yarnmaker.
Most everyone knows that fabric comes from yarn or thread which comes from cotton, sheep or synthetics. But how does it really GET there? From farm to cloth? In the next few week’s I’ll be working through and documenting this process. Today: On the Farm.
Specifically Hobby Knob Farm in Weaversville, NC. This is one of the first farms I visited in my search for local wool and it continues to be my favorite sheep farm. Elizabeth is always generous with her time and information. That’s her (and my mom) you can hear in the videos. The sheep on this farm are bred for their fiber and conservancy. The flock includes colored . . . → Read More: Life of Yarn – at the farm
By Tara, on September 16th, 2008%
“I just realized that I have developed kind of a collector style in my yarn buying. I don’t buy yarn for specific projects any more but more like “oh-how-beautiful-must-have-that”. This of course results me having several single skeins of this and that (and they are all soooo pretty). So what can I make with your yarn?”
That’s an actual email I got from a customer and it expresses how many of us buy yarn. We see something pretty and we snatch it up. But what to DO with it as it starts to overtake our living space?
Well, after answering this question for myself, I’ve started collecting patterns that will show off handspun. These patterns work with the special properties of handspun yarn, not requiring an exact guage (since handspun has natural inconsistencies).Below are 5 free patterns that (can) use a single skein of handspun – the name links . . . → Read More: 5 Free Knitting Patterns for Handspun Yarn
By Tara, on September 10th, 2008%
Revel in the new yarns, just posted to the Boutique. These are my two favorites
Thriller, handspun from Cloudlover’s awesome roving. Kim, solar dyed (more on that later this week, I hope)
I’m still working on taking pictures of all the new yarns I had spun for last weekend’s market. I was making headway yesterday, until I deleted ALL of the pictures on my camera (including all the pictures from the festival!) I expect to list more yarns on Friday, maybe Saturday (depending on if the sunshine cooperates with my photography plans!), so keep your eye on the shop.
By Tara, on September 9th, 2008%
I participated in my first craft show last weekend, the Crafting Patch Market in Charlotte, NC. I was very nervous beforehand and stayed up way too late to get every last skein of yarn labeled. It all paid off in a lovely day (no hint of Hurricane Hannah) filled with fantastic people and a real sense of community. Despite being well-prepared by reading everything I could about doing a craft fair, there were still a few things that surprised me:
A festival provides indispensable feedback on your marketing plan. Online buyers see & buy without disclosing what prompted the purchase. Did they seek me out? Did they stumble upon me? At this festival, several knitters came specifically to see me (thanks to my posting on forums, the blog, etc). Others registered recognition when they read my label. The feeling was indescribable. People recognized Blonde Chicken Boutique as a brand. . . . → Read More: 5½ Shocking Facts about Craft Fairs
By Tara, on September 4th, 2008%
I am so excited to do my first craft show this weekend! I’ll be selling yarn and fiber at the Crafting Patch Market at Independence Park in Charlotte, VA on Saturday, September 6. Visit the Crafting Patch website for more information (here’s a map). If you’re in the area, I’d love to meet you, so come by my booth or shoot me an email and we’ll plan to meet up while I’m in town!
Won’t be in Charlotte this weekend? In preparation for the craft fair, I am emptying the Boutique and bringing every last skein of yarn with me. It will look a little bare from September 5-7, but don’t worry! On September 8th I’ll be restocked with new yarns and old favorites (a big shipment of Banana fiber & yarn has just come in!) I’m offering a 10% discount to my newsletters subscribers, so sign . . . → Read More: Meet me at the Crafting Patch!
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