A Sheep In Wools' Clothing

Qiviut

In my reading about Alaska before my cruise in June, I not only learned about the Russian heritage of Alaska (which I hadn't really thought about previously, though I seem to recall learning something about that way back when), but I of course set my sites on some qiviut.  I first learned about qiviut as a fiber in the mid-80's when I first really really got into knitting after learning as a child.  I think I've always wanted some, but held out to be able to touch it, feel it and choose my own.

SO, in my Internet reading about Alaska prior to my trip, I went to maps.google.com and searched for yarn shops in every port of call I knew I'd have daylight hours to spend.  I found yarn shops in Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan, but the one in Sitka was a bit out of town, and I wasn't feeling up to the hike (though the kind shop owner said if I got there, she'd get me a ride back to the ship).  I did manage to visit the shops in Juneau and Ketchikan.  In Juneau, I found Skeins Fine Yarns (I can't find a webpage for them).  There I selected a sage green qiviut/silk blend that feels heavenly.  I got a single skein, from which I will make myself a narrow scarf.  Qiviut being a very warm fiber, a narrow scarf should be sufficient.

In Ketchikan, I found the Mission Streets Arts and Fibers a few blocks from the pier.  There, I found a lovely screen print canvas bag for DD as well as a skein of 100% qiviut in the natural brown color, and 2 oz of qiviut spinning fiber to play with on the wheel.  I feel like I've died and gone to heaven with these three finds!

Anyone have any suggestions for one skein luxury lace scarf patterns for the qiviut?

July Sheep (from my Scottish Desk Calendar)

June Sheep (from my Scottish Desk Calendar)

Lambing Season

I think every knitter and spinner should have a friend who keeps fiber animals. Spring has a special charm when our fiber beasts bring forth their young, and we see them frolicking and kicking up their heels.

My knitting/spinning friend, Megan, has a spinner's flock.  Her flock has grown over the years I've known her from four to nine, and she has four lambs on the ground this season, and two more ewes due any day now.  This year's deliveries have included a set of twins - one black, one white, one female, one male and a premie who unfortunately didn't make it past 24 hours. He was so tiny it was obvious the first day he wouldn't survive.  Since then, another singleton, white male, has hit the straw -

Megan's flock has two who are natural black and sun fade to a smokey gray color which is beautiful.  One of her ewes is geriatric and too old for lambing.  Two were too young this year and had the same father as the ram being used anyway, so they weren't bred.  These lambs will not be staying with the flock due to the large increase in the size of the flock this year.  Megan adopted four from someone getting out of the sheep owning stuff.  Megan's husband, Robert (of the Santa Claus photos and the Bubba Tree story fame), takes care of the flock for her and says not a word about the volume of fleece in their attic (processed at a mill and returned ready to spin).  Talk about the ultimate fiber spouse!

May Sheep (from my Scottish Desk Calendar)

April Sheep (from the Scottish Desk Calendar)

March Sheep from the Scottish Desk Calendar

February Sheep from the Scottish Desk Calendar

January Sheep from my Scottish Desk Calendar

Rare Sheep Breeds Project

My project is starting to take form - I've acquired a scrapbook in which to hold my sample native locks of fiber, singles, plied yarn, sample hanks and knitted swatch of each fiber.  I may even take it to an all-day crop session at the scrapbook store for some display help.  Before I do that, I'll need to print up some photos of sheep breeds, and little blurbs about the fiber source, be it animal or plant.   

Several kind fiber people out there have facilitated my project but offering links to specific breed fiber sources, or sharing with me.  In some cases, I've worked out trades.  And it has all kept my sweater drying racks full of drying fiber, and my bathroom decor altered towards the natural fleece side....it's probably a good thing I am single, so it doesn't have to meet anyone else's approval!  LOL  I have Targhee, Jacob, Scottish Blackface, Pygora, Karakul, Max Logthan, Columbian, Navajo Churro, Teeswater,   and Whitefaced Woodland in this week's mail.  Some are one pound increments, and others are in quantities sufficient to sample and play only.