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Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Yarn Along

The woven throw turned out exactly how I'd envisioned.  It's light weight and soft, pretty indoors (and out ;-) and cozy warm. 

I'm was very happy with my yarn - nearly 2000 yards of a soft woolen yarn spun from roving (not rolags, so probably technically not truly woolen spun) using a supported/modified long draw to give it a little extra loft.  Not so soft and light though as to be fragile.  I didn't suffer a single broken warp thread.

The weaving went off without a hitch and it was nice to hang out with my big loom for a few days.  I did run short of yarn and had 20 spin up some more.  He pegged it right down to the inch and as I finished up the last hem stitch, I had 4" of yarn left - just enough to weave in.  Can't beat that.  I guess that's why you need a sheep helping with your wool projects ;-).

I wanted to post this for Ginny's Yarn Along today, but as long yesterday drew to a close I realized I hadn't taken any pictures.  The only decent light left was all the way across the front field next to Stella's driveway.  I grabbed everything and started hoofing it.  The wind was sharp, but the sun was still warm(ish) and I enjoyed the walk. 




Yes, there's a tag :-). 



These come from Leafcutter Designs, a new favorite website.


There are still a few bits of hay chaff left in the yarn.  I think I'm going to leave them.  They aren't scratchy and the person this was made for threw all that hay to her sheep herself...  I think it's part of the blanket's story.


I'm just finishing up reading Knitting Yarns - Writers On Knitting compiled by Ann Hood.  It's excellent, especially Barbara Kingsolver's story.  Just perfect.  However, since this is a woven item, I pulled out This Is How I Go When I Go Like This, a neat weaving collection by Linda Ligon.  Somehow I ended up with two copies of this book and I'd love to share one.  Any weavers or aspiring weavers interested?  Leave a comment and I'll have 20 draw a winner in a few days.


http://www.gsheller.com/category/yarn-along


I want to thank everyone for their kind comments about Peabody.  I'm trying to figure out how to say something I'm thinking - about how every sheep that's come on this farm for the last ten years, Peabody was already here.  The longest other than Jester and Elizabeth, the remaining sheep from my very first group, Peabody's been here.  Before any of the others.  I can't figure out what I'm trying to say.  The barn was weird last night.

I posted that pretty picture of him yesterday, but that's not what Peabody's looked like.  For a long time.  He was old and frail and feeble and I was a little angry about that picture for some stupid reason.  That also I can't figure out why and what I'm trying to say.  That wasn't Peabody to me and I sort of couldn't remember that Peabody.  And then someone left a comment about that being "a beautiful portrait to remember him by" and I finally got it.  That is was okay to go back and remember that Peabody.  We've all been there. 

So, here's one of my favorite recent pictures of Peabody.  And it wasn't that long ago that he was still okay.


36 comments:

Dona said...

Hi from northern California! It is so much fun reading your blog. I watch the Kentucky weather reports on the national news and hope you and your sheep keeping warm. Just finished reading Knitting Yarns, too, and am passing it on to all my Farm Club friends, and also ordered the Leafcutter tags as holiday presents after reading about them on the Wovember website. Aren't they great, so cute. Have a great holiday! Dona

I'm gonna tell Mom! said...

Your blanket is beautiful and inspiring. Those tags are perfect and I am going to that website as soon as I finish my comment!
As for remembering…. my animal losses have (mostly) been dogs. But I think all animal lovers know exactly what you are trying to say. What you are feeling. A picture or two, or twelve, will never capture everything about that lost loved one. What isn't captured feels like a sort of betrayal! But those photos do inspire memories and have captured moments that can comfort or produce more tears and give us a connection, however weak, to what was.
kim

Juliana said...

What a gorgeous and wonderful blanket! I especially love the professional looking tag and the story. Wow! Great job, and gorgeous photos.

karen said...

Beautiful blanket! I have a photo of my dear sweet Zoe and it was when she was feeling the best! So it makes sense to me that you posted yesterday's phot :)

Susan said...

A very complex post (in so far as my being able to put a comment together). Firstly, your weaving is so perfect - color, texture, design. Secondly, thank you for that link to Leaf Cutter. I believe I must have a pair of those shoes - what a fine, fine idea. Thirdly, when you spend so much time with a sheepie friend, it is almost impossible to put into words what they mean to you, what they have meant to you. When Flora got old and frail, I quit taking pictures of her and am very unhappy that I didn't. But I still like to look at her in her glorious prime of life - most of which was spent with me. Thank you for that wonderful photo of Peabody and the squirt, Maisie. May she live as long as Peabody and enjoy a happy life.

Lori ann said...

what a stunning blanket, what a gift. i do understand your heartfelt words. i echo the sentiments of everyone here.

Andee said...

I love love love it! I love the tag. How fantastic is that! It is the perfect touch. I have a table top loom and not a clue how to use it, but I want to learn really really badly!

Unknown said...

Such a beautiful throw! And what a clever idea -- the tag! Cool!

Suz said...

Love that tag
and yes, I loved the photo too
and someone called Maisie, squirt...made me laugh
that's what it is all about
moments of reflection and love remembered and still felt
bless your good kind and loving heart

DJ said...

What a beautiful blanket! Someday when I grow up I want to be able to weave like you do! Love the tag.
Thanks for sharing.

Suzan said...

Your blanket is lovely!! Down to the last 4" -- That's what I call perfect - all the way around!

Michelle said...

Such a full plate you've had….

Lee Anna said...

Peabody was a lovely creature, no matter when you "remember" him. He was loved by you and that made him a very special being.

Pam said...

The Throw is breathtaking!!
About Peabody...this may sound weird, but I sometimes wonder when I'm glancing at the obituaries (which I seem to do more often the older I get) why people who die when they're in their 80's or 90's have pictures of themselves in their 20's or 30's. But I think we are all remembered at different stages of our lives. When I'm a 90 year old bat I may want a 20 year old shot of myself in the paper. Peabody was loved at every age, and his back view next the squirt is just as handsome as his glamour shot. A big hug to you.

Sheepmom said...

Ditto what Pam said. Peabody's on The Bridge and I'll bet he feels like he looks in the first picture. But it's his personality that you're going to remember and that's from the last picture - him sharing his food bowl/farm with the new members. Someone else will have to take over that job for him.

And the throw is just beautiful. Excellent job and thank goodness you had 20 to help you out in the tight spot!

Spinners End Farm said...

You are one of my favorite fiber goddesses just so you know! :)

Christine said...

I love the tag, but that blanket - oh my! Such an inspiration to get mine done.

I understand what you are trying to say about Peabody. LIfe will be different now. It just takes time to adjust.

Charlotte Scott said...

I love the label - so perfect for a beautiful handmade wool throw, or anything else wool for that matter.

Sorry to hear about Peabody :(

KC said...

The blanket is gorgeous and I'm sure the person who receives it will treasure it.
I'm so sorry for your loss... once again. "I'm gonna tell Mom" captures what I would want to say and what I feel about losing our beloved animals. The photos are precious and heartbreaking at the same time. I admire your strength and tenacity after all the losses you have endured the past years. It helps me to understand that we need to love them while we have them and miss them when they are gone but to continue on and realize the enrichment that each one brings to us and lives on in our hearts.

Mandy Pedigo said...

Your throw is lovely and I'm envious about weaving with handspun. Someday soonish I hope to do the same.

I'm so sorry about Peabody.

Keechy said...

Peabody, what a wonderful face he had! He was almost certainly one of the luckiest sheep in the whole world to get to have such a long, loved and happy life. I understand about when they are old for so long. I have had one dog and one cat who went on and on, no reason to put them down and they seemed happy enough, but by the time they really did need to go, they had been 'old' for quite a few years. It gets hard to remember how they were in their young days, but over time I found they seemed to go backwards in my memory till they were young again.

Jenny Glen said...

Oh, I LOVE that scarf! So much love put into it!
BTW, in my little world, I like to remember the dogs I lose when they were young. After they are gone, I almost never post pictures of them old. I loved that picture of Peabody. So beautiful and strong and noble looking.

small farm girl said...

The blanket is gorgeous!!!!!!!!
I do know what you mean about Peabody. We have horses right now that I feel the same way about.

Michelle said...

You are a talented person.

Tyche's Minder said...

Well, that just made me cry. It's so hard to lose one.

Tyche's Minder said...

Oh, I forgot about the weaving drawing. Count me in. I am an aspiring weaver. Definitely.

Anonymous said...

The blanket is gorgeous. I want to do one featuring all the different colors of my sheep. It's been in the planning stages for a while now.

I know how hard it is to sort your thoughts when you lose one of the beasties. I am keeping a careful eye on my old lady, Bridget, who will be 14 in April. Our sub-zero temperatures this last week have been hard on her, but she is a trouper. I dread the day when she won't be out there yelling at me to bring more hay.

LannieK said...

How beautiful Sara.... such talent you are blessed with :-) An inspiration to us all.
And yes, I think I know what you are trying to say. :-/ and I love the pix of Peabody and litt'l squirt.
)))hugs(((

DianeOart said...

Beautiful throw, wish I could learn to weave something as nice, I like your tag too and most of all I like to read your blog.

English sheep gal said...

So sorry to read about the loss of Peabody, he looks like a real gentleman in the picture you chose, and 'Grandpa' like next to Maisie when she was tiny. I too struggled to find the right words and photos to summarize a life, when we lost our 14 year old border collie a year ago this week.

Last week I was lucky enough to meet Ann Hood, she was here in Buffalo, NY for part of an 'author series' of free talks, was fascinating to hear her speak about the networking that went on to pull in all the writers who contributed. I have just started reading my signed copy of Knitting Yarns.

I have never tried weaving, but I loved seeing your pictures of your loom last week. The chance to learn more by winning the book would be wonderful. Your pile of audio books caught my eye too, I listen to them every day on my commute to work, I just finished a great one called 'The English American' about a girl who discovers, although she was raised in the UK, she is adopted and her biological family are American. As I grew up in the UK and moved here 7 years ago, it was so funny to listen to the passages about our different terminology like purse, handbag, pocketbook, fanny pack etc etc.

Thanks also for the link to those fabulous tags, I have never seen them before, but a list of knitter friends who would love those as gifts is already forming in my mind.

Mary Ann said...

I don't know all the technical stuff about weaving or knitting (I've done a little crocheting) but I know beauty when I see it, and I see it in that blanket.

I am so sorry about Peabody, and yes, the picture with the dear little Maisie is perfect.

Far Side of Fifty said...

I don't weave so don't enter me in your contest..some weaver will love it!
I wanted to tell you that Peabody and Maisie photo is really sweet.
That is one beautiful throw..well done and the tag..very special:)

Alice said...

The throw is stunning! Your meticulous measuring has paid off once again. It is a tribute to the Jacobs from whence it came.
I am quite sure the person who receives it will get warmth from the kind thoughts of the giver as well as the wool.

CathieJ said...

What a beautiful throw. You are quite talented.

Kim said...

I've wanted to learn to weave for a while but now after seeing that blanket, I've just got to. The tags are really cute!

MarmePurl said...

We may just know you well enough to know what you are trying to say. Your love for your sheep, your land, your life...comes through so well in your prose and photos. Job well done.

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