Duckworth Wool
Men’s Journal did a very nice article about Duckworth Wool. Duckworth is a new outdoor clothing company out of Bozeman, Montana, is concisely told on their tagless label: “Grown-Spun-Knit-Sewn — Made in USA.”1 Duckworth is using “Helle Rambouillet Merino”wool. This seems to be a cross between a Rambouillet and a Merino being grown by Helle Farms. The Helle family, a third generation sheep farm in Dillon Montana, specialize in range lambing Rambouillet sheep. They seem to be selectively breeding for both meat and wool, with an emphasis on wool.2 The Helles...
read moreOh no! A setback and decision making
This week has been a series of setbacks and experiments. My sock is in time out, my spinning is back, but brings with it a set of decisions that need to be made. What to do? I’ve had a setback on my Mojo sock. Yesterday I found two dropped stitches. I’m not sure how they happened. I was able to fix one, in a most inelegant way, but the second one, combined with heel issues has this sock in time out. Do I frog it? Do I try to fix it? I have to make a decision. But wait, I have still more decisions to make this week. A while ago, I washed up some cormo fleece....
read moreSocks and Spinning and Fleeces OH MY!
A quick list, while I have 30 seconds to post: 1) My friend Beth Smith’s new book is out!!! You can pick one up at The Spinning Loft (I just ordered mine this morning). 2) I am highly suggestible, so I also bought The Field guide to Fleece, and a Fleece Sampler. Or maybe it is because it is summer, which is prime time to wash fleeces. Or maybe it’s because I’m crazy. One of those. 3) I’m still chugging along on my Mojo Socks. I finished the first one, and I’m at the part where I start putting in a gusset on the second one. The blue marker is where I started the...
read moreWell this is nifty
The last time I was in my LYS (The Village Knitter in Babylon), I picked up a really useful tool: a Needle Keeper for circular needles! Mine is silver, but they come in a variety of colors It works wonders at keeping my sharp Chiaogoo size 1s from poking holes in my project bag (or through my purse). I only wish I had one of these when I was dragging my Pi shawl around. I wouldn’t have ended up with a zillion dropped stitches! In other news, Shannon Okey, Mad Scientist at Cooperative Press and all around good person, is trying to buy back the rights to her book ‘Spin to...
read moreEvolution of a Sock
This week, I only really have enough brain left for a pair of socks. I’ve been working on the first of a pair of Mojo socks by Donyale Grant. This is a pair of unmatching socks, fraternal twins. I started with the right foot, and after a while I noted how… unusual looking it was: I posted a picture to Facebook and chuckled about its appearance. I kept knitting. I get to knit during my commute in to and out of the city. It’s probably two hours of knitting time, all told, although my commute is much longer than that. I have very little knitting time on the weekends, and...
read moreIn Which I Attempt Organization
I have a fiber and yarn stash. I’m so lucky that I have a family that’s ok with my collection. The fact is though, that I’ve been spinning and knitting a very long time, and so I have a LOT of stash. Into the Whirled – Just Figs My stash is stored in what is ostensibly my guest room. There’s an Ikea couch that folds out into a bed, my writing desk, and a lovely rocking chair in the room. My drum carder, swift, ball winder, and several shelves worth of books also live in that room. I have a guest coming to stay in a few weeks, and realized that the room is...
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