Rose Grey Alpaca Vest

I've started my Oat Couture Oregon Vest. I found the pattern at the PGH Knit and Crochet show. The minute I saw it I knew I wanted to use the rose grey alpaca/dorset mix. I spun it lumpy and bumpy. I am adding angora in the pockets for warmth. I plan on wearing it at my ourdoor fiber shows that can become really chilly in the mornings. So far it seems easy to understand and follow - even for me (who hates to follow directions - much better to change things and make it my own ....mistakes..er ...patterns ;) So far so good.

The spring rain has started. The tree's have that spring cast to them - and my allergies are in full swing! There's a gabillion (more than a trillion) things I want to do outside - like get that 4 tons of topsoil into the garden - that would be the same 4 tons of mud sitting at the top of the driveway where the delivery guy dropped it off in the RAIN! I love spring ;)

Socks finished!

I finished the two at a time toe up socks. I love them. They fit well - and they were easy to knit. This is the first pair I have made two at a time and from the toe up - I usually do one at a time and from the cuff down. It's very cool to finish both at once! No more 2nd sock syndrome!




I finished my Adult Chest Warmer (pattern by E Zimmerman) some time ago - but forgot to post pictures :) I didn't put buttons on it - like it open. I use it when I spin - keeps my warm but isn't bulky.

Spring Chores on the Farm

Spring is a busy time here. We clean up after the winter - the barn gets mucked out - the sheep run-in gets cleaned, fences get mended. This year my DH hired a few Mennonites (also known as Amish, Dutchies) to help - it seems the down economy has even hit them - they are usually very busy with construction jobs - but this year they have maybe 3 weeks of work total. After all the spring clean up is done we may have them put the new roof on the garage too. Works out well for all involved :)

The Sheep are shorn, the goats are next, and the rabbits are on going. Last night we met a fellow from Tennessee - he picked up three of our rabbits, a proven breeding pair and a young doe.

It is the first day of spring and it's snowing - yes - snowing. It puts down a quick coat then melts - just enough to chap my...well lets just say I CAN'T STAND IT ANYMORE! I want tulips and lilacs and even bee's! ::slinks off to pout::

Socks two at a time toe up

I bought this yarn when we were on vacation last year - hoping to get to them over the winter. Hmmm... it's spring..only one season behind :) I like the toe up pattern - but I'm not crazy about the square toe. We'll see how they turn out - maybe I can change the toe on the next pair.

Moccachino

Monday morning Diane from Rainbow Mountain Alpacas and I took a two day trip to New Jersey. We were going to look at fleece and alpacas. We ended up taking 3 huge boxes of fleece home and three alpacas. I have one of them - his name is Mocachino. He's a dark rose grey.

Diane was visiting Flutter - a girl that is at the farm for breeding - and picked up two boys named Thunderstorm and King Midas.

A day in the life....

After taking my hike thru the woods (I try to do it daily since I quit smoking and took up eat) - my two tired dogs layed out in the yard. They can see all the animals from where they lay - nice peaceful moment.... now on to the cold snap and everyone is inside - be it barn - coop or house we're all in!

Shetland Rooing

I didn't know what Rooing meant. It's not a disease - it is when a shetland throws/blows/sheds it fleece and it can be hand pulled or rooed. I started noticing that our Farm Ambasador - Clem (he does a meet and greet to anyone that comes to the farm including but not limited to the UPS Guy who now gives both the dogs and the sheep treats upon arrival)- was looking a bit ragged. He was leaving little tufts of fiber around the pen. I pulled at a lock and it came right out! I went to the net and started looking at my shetland newsgroups. I found that some shetlands will do that in late spring or early summer. I put him on the stand and started plucking - it is easy to do if it's ready - and it leaves about an inch of new fiber or rise.

Full coat :
Starting at top of back:

Section of back done:

Backside and down legs almost done:
Backside and legs done and cleaned up with scissors:

He has about and inch of new soft fiber. There is still a bit around his head and neck - I'll leave it for a few weeks and check it - hopefully it will pluck off - if not then I'll shear the rest. The fiber is very soft - I've start washing it :) Clem is a spotted shetland - the fleece is white, with spots of rose grey :)