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Be sure to check out our latest Custom Blends……………..
fred
After putting this upgrade off for nearly two years, I have finally upgraded the version of WordPress used to manage our site. Unfortunately our Internet Service Provider made some changes which caused our site to crash for many users. I was therefore forced to do what I had been putting off for so long.
After 5 hours, the site appears to be operational again. If you experience any problems accessing portions of the site, please send an email to me at:
fredjkeller@gmail.com
Thanks,
Fred
I was recently working on a hand-spinning order, and reached back for some additional roving from the bag. Low and behold, here is our Maine Coon Cat, Toes, cozily napping in the roving bag! Not sure how much he is helping, but he sure looks happy!
I have not blogged in awhile; perhaps a long while! …but today is perfect blogging weather. We are in the midst of a fairly heavy snow storm, perhaps 4-5 inches or more. The landscape is just beautiful and untouched. We can sit by the picture windows and look out at the birdfeeders, restocked yesterday with Chickadee’s Delight. This feed looks good enough to eat, with all its various nutty delights, and it attracts a huge array of birds, including the brilliant red cardinals, titmice, juncos, chickadees, and downy, hairy and red-headed woodpeckers. Both fox and gray squirrels investigate the nuts that fall to the ground, but so far have not been able to reach the feeders themselves. We also put out stale home-made bread for the crows. The only ones who enjoy the show more our the cats, who we’ve seen sitting right beneath the feeders, looking up with anticaption! They were dimayed when I put out higher poles so they can’t reach the birds though. As fat as the cats are, I don’t think the birds were ever in much danger. Today, with the snow, the cats are not too interested anyway.
I have some spinning orders to start and I need to finish cleaning out the four-season room where my looms, wheels and yarn are stored. The weather is just about perfect for that, since we don’t care to go out. Soup is on the stove for lunch and we are both blessed to be retired finally and not have to go to work in the mess, just stay home and enjoy it! Other than heading out to feed the llamas, we can stay inside and work on reading and some housecleaning. I also need to start a project on my big loom, but somehow something more pressing always seems to get in the way. Perhaps with the snow and upcoming cold spell (gee, colder yet! Hot diggity! ….not) I can finally get started on some weaving too. Or maybe I’ll update the yarn on the site! Stay tuned and stay warm!
It has been a very unusual summer on the farm. This is one of the first days this summer that we have been blessed with enough leisure time that I felt like doing some work on the Farmhousefibers blog.
Prior to this weekend, we had been battered by storms and heavy rains nearly ever week since April. We have been experienced flooding, fallen trees (8 total) and several power outages. Today we have been blessed with sunshine and comfortable temperatures. What a relief to be able to sit on the porch with the laptop and just enjoy the nice weather, humming birds, and other wildlife.
I spent part of the morning cleaning up the latest fallen tree which happened to fall right on top of Laura’s Chinese dragon garden ornament. Needless to say, the three foot tall dragon ended up as a pile of limestone chips! Laura has been searching the web and has already located a replacement and mentioned a potential road trip next weekend. That will give me a chance to try out the new Nuvi GPS I received as an early birthday gift.
[wpzon keywords=” isbn 0312366612″ sindex=”Books”]
Knitting looms are flying off the shelves in craft stores because loom- knitting is such an easy craft to take up-it can be learned by both children and adults alike in just a few hours. If you have fond memories of spool knitting (a round wooden spool with a central hole surrounded by four small nails) when you were a child then you know how easy it was to create yards and yards of knitted tubes. Today’s loom are just as easy and fun to use!Widely available in craft stores, looms come in a variety of shapes and sizes, some are circular, others rectangular, some tiny and some large. The size of the loom dictates the size of the knitted piece although you can easily join smaller panels together to make larger items.This book is designed as a hands on project resource as well as an essential reference for the growing band of loom knitters.Clear step by step illustrations throughout show how to cast-on, bind-off and knit a wide range of stitches on both round looms and knitting boards.Practice projects are provided for each technique, and there are more then 30 attractive patterns to get the crafter started. – the first book to provide patterns for an increasingly popular tool- comprehensive techniques and information provide the essential back-up manual to supplement the minimal instructions that come with the looms – over 30 quick and easy patterns for sweaters and accessories- written by an expert in the field An Alternate Selection of the Crafter’s Choice Book Club
Laura’s Review: I started to use a rake loom because, although I learned to knit and crochet umpteen years ago, I never seemed to advance beyond “beginner.” The rake loom was finally something I could use while watching TV without dropping stitches or destroying a pattern. And best of all, it allowed me to make hats without repeating my first (and only) failed attempt on circular knitting needles.
Rake loom brochures come with most loom kits, and give you the basics to make hats and tubular scarves. A more advanced booklet that came with my hand-made wooden looms showed how to make more complex tubular thingies; why, I even made socks with a turned heel! But the Loom Knitting Primer is far better than the basic instructions. The book teaches you many techniques until you can probably loom knit anything that you could make with regular knitting needles. And there are several projects included to test your skills.
Perhaps knitting is still faster or ultimately more flexible than loom knitting. But, if you have Knitting-Phobia or you just want to try something different, with this book by your side you will find the rake loom much more rewarding and versatile than you ever thought possible.
Have you ever had an activity that you did not really like to do, and then, when you found you could not do it, you missed it? Our extreme winter weather lately has posed one of those dilemmas for me right now. I have been trying to get my stash of llama fiber either processed at the mill or ready for hand-processing. Step one is washing the fiber. Since I am now set up with two wash tubs, hot water, and a recycled washing machine to spin the fiber dry, my washing efficiency has improved considerably. Still, it is hard work. On a work day or weekend I can generally wash two to four fleeces per day. Fortunately I run out of drying racks about that time, so I usually have a couple day break between batches. Late in the fall and even on Christmas break from work I have been able to push through a few loads while the weather was warm. If it is at least in the 50’s, things go pretty well, but the 40’s are tolerable. Once I got caught when a cold front moved in and the fiber was freezing to the tubs! That was miserable, and even wearing liner gloves under my rubber gloves failed to keep my hands warm. I was glad to be done with washing fiber for awhile…maybe even until spring!
We had a brief respite from the weather in early January, which of course was touted as a global warming event. A couple days even broke records and reached the mid 60’s. You are darn tootin’ that I took advantage of that. But since then, we have been flirting with zero degrees at night and winds that have begged me to close the westward doors on the llama barns. Marlene from Timbre Ridge Farm, who supplies the kid mohair and angora bunny for the Lla-Moh-Bun yarn, is ready with another lot to ship to the mill. But I still need to wash the llama fiber before sending it. I look longingly at my wash tubs, laced in icicles, and wish we’d have a break in the temperatures so I could get busy. Just a little touch of that global warming would be welcome right now. I might even dare to try some fleece if we get into the 30’s this weekend; that shows how desperate I am! And to think just a couple of weeks ago I was secretly happy it had gotten cold enough that I had to stop washing fleece. Like a cat on the wrong side of every door, it seems we always want what we can’t have.
—Laura
[wpzon keywords=” isbn 1600592236″ sindex=”Books”]
Needleworkers no longer have to settle for what’s available at the local yarn shop! Alison Daykin and Jane Deane, who have decades of experience spinning, weaving, and dyeing, show how easy it can be to create personalized and gorgeous skeins of one-of-a-kind fibers. Designed for complete beginners, this attractive guide offers 30 beautiful projects that teach a repertoire of skills on both the hand spindle and spinning wheel. It starts with simple, basic combing, twisting, plying, and finishing, then goes on to offer a primer on working with fibers. All the chapters are organized by yarn type, including short wool and down, medium fine wool, long wool and lustre, hill and mountain, rare wool, animal hair, silk, and vegetable fiber.
Laura’s Review
This is a great idea book, similar in layout to Creative Weaving. The photos are beautiful and the entire book is wonderful for generating ideas.
Laura and I were awakend this morning around 3:00 am by the loud roar of the wind as it howled through the trees surrounding our house. We sat up and listened as the wind pounded the house with small twigs it was trimming from the tops of our trees. The two wind chimes on our porch were in constant motion playing an eerie tune that was somewhere between Handel’s Water Music and an electronic jam session by Massive Attack. Suddenly Laura heard a crash outside and immediately dressed for a barn trip to check on the llamas. When she returned she gave me the bad news that a large limb had blown off of one of our trees and was blocking the road. It looked like I was going to have a couple of hours of chain saw work once daylight arrived–still a few hours away on one of the shortest days of the year. Since all of the llamas were safely tucked into the barn and I couldn’t work on the fallen tree until daylight we decided to go back to bed and finish our nights sleep. 
We had just gotten back to sleep when we were awakened by the sound of a chain saw and flashing red lights tracing a path across the wall of our bed room. Apparently the county sheriff and our local road crew had decided they could not wait until daylight for us to reopen the road. After about 30 minutes of constant chain saw work they had the road reopened and had saved us hours of work with our light weight chain saw. At least we had gotten to see our tax dollars at work. Our local government really does a great job taking care of our county roads We certainly owe them a nice cup of Java the next time we see them.
Winter has been a little late coming to Farmhouse Fibers but it came in with a fury yesterday. Yesterday morning Laura and I headed to Bloomington, Indiana (about 20 miles away) to pickup bread and bagels from Panera Bread. We thought we had a few hours before the weather hit, but by the time we arrived in Bloomington it was snowing heavily and the roads were already covered with a slippery layer of snow.
We were both surprised when I turned into Panera’s parking lot and the car got half way through the turn and decided to continue in a straight path toward the mediun divider. I was only going a couple of miles per hour, but it was still pretty scary. Needless to say, we were having second thoughts about our Saturday morning road trip.
We walked through the heavy snow into Paneras and loaded up on coffee, bagels and bread and headed back toward Martinsville before the roads got much worse. Once we had the car tucked safely back in the garage we ate a quick breakfast and headed out to the barn to check on Lewis and the other llamas. They were obviously much smarter than we had been because they were all snuggled in the comfort of the cover of the barns.
A family of natural color 3-ply yarn, all about 600-700 yards per pound. This is light to medium worsted weight yarn that is great for knitting.
Left: Smokey, (140 yard skein, $14.00) Sorry, sold out.
Middle: Sassafras, (140 yard skein, $14.00).
Right: Pinata, (140 yard skein, $14.00.)
(Shown with woven scarves from Pinata and Sassafras and Pinata hat. White accent is 2-ply Winter white llama yarn.)mg-
Left: Super Silky Kona Black, jet black light sportweight at 1050 yards per pound. (200 yard skein, $12.00).
Middle: Black Walnut color fingerling weight at 1700 yards per pound. (275 yard skein, $15.00 Sorry, sold out).
Right: Soft black fingerling weight at 1600 yards per pound, (275 yard skein, $15.00 Sorry, sold out).
Two colors of single ply yarn are twisted to create this bi-color 2-ply yarn.
Far left: Tan and white, sportweight at 920 yards per pound. (230 yard skein, $16.00).
Second from left: Gray and dark brown tweed, sportweight at 900 yards per pound, (275 yard skein, $17.00: Sorry, sold out).
Second from right: Gray and white, sportweight yarn at 950 yards per pound, (230 yard skeins, $16.00).
Far right: Slate Gray sportweight, 950 yards per pound, (230 yard skein, $16.00).
If you have visited our site in the past you probably noticed that the site has gone through a significant makeover. We have re-created the site in WordPress. Using WordPress will enable Laura and I to provide a more up-to-date and better organized site.
We hope that you enjoy the new site.
Fred
We are finally offering our custom blend Lla-Moh-Bun for sale online! This is a special yarn for your special projects. It is about 47% Silky Llama, 47% Kid Mohair, and 6% Angora Bunny. This yarn has an especially silky feel to it, with extra high luster. The Angora Bunny will add a bloom to the yarn as you work with it. We are very excited about this yarn. It is the culmination of effort between Yellow Wood Llamas and Timbre Ridge Farm, who provided the kid mohair and angora bunny. Spinderellas in Utah worked with us to have the yarn custom blended and spun. We invite you to try some for that next special project!
Worsted weight yarn, available in two colors:
Winter White and Light Silver Frost
Price: $15 for 100 yard skein
This lot is about 104 yards, at 8-9 wpi. It is a bulky weight 2-ply. The color is predominantly a dark gray, with some variation in color throughout the skein. It is softly spun with some thick and thin variation. This is a soft yarn of medium fineness. It is suitable for bulky knitting or for weaving on a triangle loom.
Price: $15
(Larger custom orders of this yarn may be available upon request.)
A light sportweight of 1050 yards per pound. Available in colors (left to right): Plum, Hibiscus, natural white (undyed), Lily (middle), Avocado (top), Lucerne (bottom).
Dyed colors: (200 yard skein, $13.50).
Natural White: (200 yard skein, $12.00: Sorry, Sold Out)
Far right is Light Fawn Alpaca/Silk blend, (200 yard skein, $16.50).
Alpaca Yarns (Pure and blended with silk)
From left: Phantom Red Baby Alpaca, 100% alpaca, light sportweight at 1050 yards per pound. (200 yard skein, $16.50)
Second from left: Phantom Red Alpaca blended with 20% tussah silk. 1050 Yards per pound. (200 yard skein, $16.50).
Top: Light Fawn Peruvian Acooyo alpaca blended with 20% tussah silk. 1050 yards per pound. (200 yard skein, $16.50).
Far right: Phantom Red 100% alpaca, 2-ply heavy worsted weight, about 560 yards per pound. (150 yard skeins, $17.00).
Not shown: Phantom Red 100% alpaca, 2-ply heavy worsted weight, about 650 yards per pound. (140 yard skeins, $15.00).
Llama and Alpaca Roving
Left: Curry red 80% llama/20% wool, very consistent fine roving. ($10 per 4 oz ball).
Middle: almost black and white twist; spin it different ways to get different effects! Fine and fun to use. ($12 per 4 oz ball).
Right: Phantom Red alpaca. From our favorite farm alpaca! ($12 per 4 oz ball).