I have been slacking in my fiber duties as of late but this past weekend brought me back into the swing of things.
Saturday I got to enjoy a day of fiber fun with my neighbor Stephanie who raises the rare breed of Hog Island Sheep. I’m told there are about 200 head left in the US but you can see them in their original home setting still at Mount Vernon.
Note: Hog Island lambs are usually born with color but 90% of them end up turning white as adults.
The most fun we had with the fiber was rug making. Using raw fibers and only hand carders we wove the raw fleece straight onto the pegloom. Stephanie really enjoyed the ease of using the loom and tells me her husband is in the works of making one for her. I can’t wait to see her first full size rug on it. I’m rather jealous since my raw alpaca doesn’t hold together even a 10th as nicely as her Hog Island does for weaving.
One thing I learned about Hog Island fleece is that it is springy! I think a small child could use a pile of their fleece as a trampoline. BOING! She left me a small bag to play with and blend with other fibers. I think I’ll save it for the Tour de Fleece to work with.
I was a total idiot and didn’t take a single photo the entire time! ARGH. I blame it on the fact I was computer-less, the darn thing blew up on my Friday night and now I’m waiting for my new computer to come in.
Be sure to check out Stephanie’s farm. She is new to the fiber side of the business and has tons of this rare fleece. I’m sure she’ll be willing to sell some, if there are interested parties.
Stephanie Dempsey
Clover Hill Farm
2747 Bronson Hill Rd
Avon, NY 14414
Anywho, having a fiber weekend inspired me to finally finish my sock yarn shawl. I am proud to say as of Thursday I finally bound off, wove in all my ends and even got some fringe on it. All that is left is to block it. Oh and of course mail it off to its new owner.
The photo is not a true blocking, I just tacked it up to my cubicle wall at work to have a look at it. I was so proud of my last bind off stitch I could help but get a photo of it too LOL.
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Be sure to check out these other great fiber arts sights!
PS I just read through this post and realized my thoughts are rambling with no real path. I guess that’s what 2 over night shifts this week will do to a person. I’m SO tired!
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