Just a quick one tonight because it's late and I'm tired and I still haven't spoken to Bren about the bushfire planning meeting I've just been to.
I'm so excited to introduce you to Cardigan, Socks, Beanie and Mittens, the newest members of our Daylesford Organics team and the start of our wool project.
They are two years old, they are Corriedale x Finn, they are two sets of twins, we bought them off our friends Nat, Jono and Ruby and although I am ridiculously happy to have them here, they run the other way whenever they see me coming. But that's OK, I'm patient.
I feel like I've been waiting forever to have sheep here. The thought of knowing and caring for the sheep that grow my wool is ridiculously exciting to me.
Last Friday I went to my first knitting and spinning group meeting and learnt how to pull a staple and how to comb the staples in preparation for spinning. My hands were covered in lanolin, there was fluff all over me and I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. Hopefully next time they'll help me get my old wheel working and I can start to learn to spin.
Years ago I read a blog about a woman's sheep to jumper journey. I can't remember whose blog it was or find the post but I think she planted the seed in me. Her gorgeous relationship with the sheep that was shorn, watching her spin the fleece, wash it and then dye it before she knitted it into a jumper for one of her children was really beautiful. My sheep won't be shorn again until next Spring but in the meantime I have two bags of their fleece from their last shearing to practice on.
Everything about the wool journey excites me and I am over the moon to have these girls on our farm munching away on the grass under the apple trees. I hope they're as happy to be here as I am to have them. I'm also pleased about the fact that they'll be keeping the grass down, and their poo and the thought that this breed are good milkers should we decide to go down that road sometime in the future.
Big hoorays all round!
Oh my goodness, it's LATE and I can't think straight any more. I hope this reads ok and makes sense.
Sweet dreams.
Love Kate
xoxo
Can't wait to read about your woolly adventures. I would love to learn to spin. Have fun!
ReplyDeleteMy goodness, the dream has come true! They are darlings.
ReplyDeleteLove the new members of your family, particularly their names. There is something about sheep that always makes me smile, they are so comical the way they look at you. Looking forward to following the journey from fleece to clothing. Good luck and have lots of fun.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful! Congrats!!! I look very much forward to your journey with the wool factories. ; ) Best of luck with them!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great adventure beginning am sure it will all turn out fine. Try not taking your knitting needles into the sheep paddock with you, be patient and the sheep will come.
ReplyDeleteI love it! Maybe you are going to be my example;-)
ReplyDeleteThey are so cute! I'm also a member of the spinning and knitting Guild here in the United States. I don't have my own sheep and so I have to buy the roving yarn shop. But there's nothing like watching the yarn collect on a school on your spinning wheel. I can't wait to watch this adventure as you have it . Blessings, Betsy
ReplyDeleteSuper exciting! As someone who grew up close to Daylesford (in the much smaller Bullarto), I'm waiting eagerly to be able to buy wool from Daylesford Organics. Watching each step on the journey is definitely part of the fun. :)
ReplyDeleteThis immediately came to mind when I read this....saw it on Landline years ago.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.abc.net.au/landline/content/2006/s1977599.htm
I'm so excited for you Kate! I'd love to have wool sheep one day too, but I don't know if there are any that could handle the subtropical climate up here. And I'm pretty content with our Dorpers anyway.
ReplyDeleteSheep are suspicious animals, give them a while and they will get used to you. A few buckets of feed and some hay might help them get closer faster too.
I'm looking forward to following your spinning journey,
Sarah x
Oh I love their names!:-)
ReplyDeleteHow exciting! Corrie X Finn should be lovely to spin :-)
ReplyDeleteI'd love to have sheep. Actually I'd love someone who knows what they are doing to look after the sheep, I'll just pay for the fleeces :-) I'm guessing you've been given a primer on things like coating sheep for spinning fleeces and avoiding fleece destroying bugglies?
Aaah those sheep are so cute! I'm very curious about your own wool journey! Hope you'll share it here so we can follow along! :)
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Austria
Emma
Ooh Kate. Welcome to the dark side. Spinning is awesome. I have been a spinner since I was thirteen years old and I still get the most satisfaction out of a project that I dye, spun and then knit/weave/crochet myself. Happy spinning!
ReplyDeleteHappy woolly adventures Kate! x
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Cute names! Have fun on your new learning journey with spinning. I do hope you will share your learning with us here.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous time with your woolly crew! It's so exciting! Your post reminds me of my Nanna who was a member of her local Spinners and Weavers group; she also used fleece straight from the sheep's back, carded, sorted etc. I have her spinning wheel now - just need to learn how to use it!
ReplyDeleteI'm knitting with wool from my aunts farm, spun by my grandad and I'm telling you it's amazing! It's as wonky as hell but there is some serious live in my shawl.
ReplyDeleteOops I meant love
Delete