New garment and Van updates..

A machine knit project I have been thinking about..

 

 

And a couple of cheap shelving units added to the van

 Sheets and tablecloths hold the items in when on the road. Then all gets tidied up at the markets.

New Items..

...ready for ...
Girgarre Market, this Sunday.

OK here goes...

It, by no means has been quiet here. In fact , quite busy but have been neglecting this blog quite badly.

The new Studio and shed complex is up and running.
I have been to France for the Coloured Sheep Congress and post-congress tour.
Attended the Echuca Steam Rally.
Prepared for and attended the Australian Sheep and Wool Show.
And kept going with my regular 3 markets per month.

So will pop a few pics on and see how it loos for me.
I think I need a reminder to tell me when to post!!!

Approaching summer...

...I have purchased 4 ply cotton yarn in several colours from the Bendigo Woollen Mills for machine knitting. And have completed a few Vest/Wraps on the Empisal machine using the lace maker.

  Daffodil

  

And here is a full Lace Cardigan in Red.

This one is Orange and is Pure Wool from Bendigo Woollen Mills.

 

This is in a Natural Grey 3 ply from our sheep. This vest is more plain without any lace but similar to a mock rib with needles out of work. Very light so suitable for summer wear as well.

 

 

Recently we had an agreed sale with our farm but unfortunately that fell through after they were not able to get their full finance. We had destocked our cattle, so still have my sheep. We missed out on a smaller property as this purchase had to be cancelled. So feeling a bit raw after all these disappointments.

 

But my studio work continues while another farmer looks to see if he can get finance to purchase as his property backs on to ours.

 

Spinning a Chocolate coloured fleece at the moment and am trying to get some mixed colour blends done as well. 

It is...

....very dry here in Victoria. A recent fire across the road with the wind helping it along, was some concern, more because it could have been here with the wind blowing in our direction. But all good and 4 units put it out fairly quickly.
The garden is needing very regular watering but no weeding is getting done unfortunatly. While Leigh milks I do the garden in the mornings only.
Aso have to help my mother at times, sharing a few jobs with my sisters', as she is coming up for a shoulder repair.

Handwoven scarf from handspun Natural coloured Corriedale/Merino wool, plain weave
 



Machine knit summer cotton cardi...Bendigo cotton 4ply

Hand dyed grey fleece in 3 colours, blended once and handspun.

I have been spinning a lot, and machine knitting cotton  garments for our summer so am being very busy. I constantly look out for patterns to use or make up a few.
Above are a few items I have recently created.
Have organised a little trip to Papua New Guinea at the end of the month to visit my daughter Rebecca(Rebecca and the World) with her partner's mum as well.

More Yarn...

Carnival 8ply

Freesias 4ply
 

Machine knit cotton top in Blush
 

...added to the website. My plans are to gradually add my handdyed yarn in 1kg lots divided into 10 skeins of approx 100gms each as  they are dyed.
The colour of this garment did not come out as well as I thought it would so nay have to check the camera and do another on. A simple lace pattern with boatneck and garter stitch edging at the sleeve area.



Hanspun from hand dyed blended fleece.

This yarn I am still working on, origially deing 900gms of grey fleece in 3 colours , blending on the carder and then spinning as singles(approx10-12ply)
 

I remember...

...when I started this blog that I would keep up to date. But life, including family, new grandchildren and issues surrounding them did get in the way. Hopefully some of these issues will settle down so I can get back to what I should be doing.
The sheep have been shorn, with some fleeces with barley grass through them, some of which I can process myself, and the better ones may go to Baling Day for ongoing commercial processing into tops, or yarn.

Handspun, from Hand dyed wool tops

Handspun natural camel coloured wool

Handspun from hand dyed fleece

Machine knit from Natural 3ply yarn

Machine Jacket from Bendigo Wool 3ply

Hand dyed 4ply Pure wool

So I will add a few photos for you to peruse so you know I have not slacked off on the craft side of things.

Winter is coming...

...so I have been working hard after the Harrietville retreat. Some new yarns and other items added to the website.
Harrietville was a relaxing and learning process, with lots of fun in between. The historical dyeing was fun and interesting to note that Indigo changes as the yarn hits the air (that's another photo I haven't taken yet).
How to make better drum carded batts, I also liked, something for all those add ins that are talked about these days. I made some batts but instead of using them for Artyarns I made 2 ply yarns plying with some of my hand dyed tops.
Weaving tips, and wool combing with English combs was something else I was happy to participate in.

Muliticolour wool/fibre batt plied with hand dyed wool top

Muliticolour wool top plied with solid colour wool top

Light colour semi-solids

Handspun jumper and woven scarf

So, now I have completed a machine knit handspun jumper in Natural dark grey, a scarf completed off the knitter's loom, and some hand dyed semi-solids in light colours for a change. I am also adding 50 gram carded dyed fleece batts to my market stall as I do them, unless I spin them first.

Hand dyed semi-solid

Hand dyed semi-solid

  This big beast obtained from a clearing sale. A Gardner wool press of unknown vintage but has been in the family for a very long time.

Mooroopna Farmers Market...

...tomorrow from 8.00am. I have spun some new yarn and have a few small items added to the craft table.

Hand dyed wool top plied with natural coloured fleece.

Child's beanie

Hand dyed Machine knit Scarf/Shawl

More Rain...

...here today which means wearing gumboots to the studio. 39mm at 7am still showering on and off during the day.
Have completed the back and 2 sleeves of a cardigan for an  machine knit order. And I am continuing with spinning some hand dyed tops (mine) and plying them with natural coloured wool. Also working on carding more wool for a spinning supply. Winter is fast approaching and I will need lots of handspun for the markets.
Working on a project for myself as well. Sometimes a girl has got to get some new winter woollies.
Need to post some photos when they are done.

I am currently....

...spinning some medium-light grey Corriedale fleece from my own sheep so will be awhile before it gets posted to the website.
But in the meantime I have been knitting some mitts. A basketweave scarf in natural grey brown is also finished.
Another machine knit cardigan to be sewn up.

It is the Girgarre Market this Sunday (tomorrow) so will have thes finished items on the stal.
Visitors arriving late this afternoon for a few days. Never know how long so will have to have things at hand mto do whilst sharing a glass of wine or two.
Sheep are looking good with no hint of flystike so far. Thank goodnes!!
Cows and calves are going well, one expected soon. I think the bull must have had a rest every 3 weeks with these heifers as that is how long it is taking between each birth.

Ok...

3ply Natural coloured wool in a classic raglan style cardigan with lace fronts.

BFL/silk handspun

Multi fibre handspun yarn.

....cardigan completed, and halfway through another. More yarn has been added to the website.