Dear Ellen,
You are quite good at keeping a secret. I don’t know if you put her up to it, but for weeks Erica of DesigKnit has had a surprise up her sleeve. Inspired by the picture of Argus and Io that I posted to our blog a while back, she did a special dye of some beautiful Polwarth — it’s called Fair Winds Peacock. And it was waiting for me when we arrived at the farm last week. 
As I told her, you could hear my “SQUEE!” all the way in the next county. These pictures are taken with some of Argus’ molted tail feathers…amazing how accurately she hit the colors. In the last picture I did some photo-editing to super-saturate the colors just for fun. I tell you, no super-saturation needed — it is a stunning braid of fiber and I’m so looking forward to spinning it. Thank you, Erica!! XOXOXO!!!
I’ve got to get the BFL finished first though. I thought I might spin a bit of the Polwarth to try it out this weekend, but I find I’m compulsively monogamous when it comes to this spinning thing. I’m a little over half way through the braid I bought at Sock Summit, so although it must wait, the Polwarth won’t wait TOO long. I love the little mongolian yurts that come off of the turkish spindles. At least that’s what they look like to me. This one is about 24 grams of single ply. The picture of the 2-ply is about 250 yards or so.
I don’t think I put up any pictures of the finished Sweater from Down Under, did I? Here it is and I’m very pleased with it. Despite the little pook of belly sticking out, the vertical celtic cabling has a pretty nice slimming effect. And it has a comfortable sweatshirt feel to it so is going to get a lot of wear, of that I’m certain. I feel “handsome” with it on — very warm too, so the wearing will wait till this fall or winter.
I took the dogs hiking about the property this weekend and as always we found some interesting things. Here is a delicate little flower growing by it’s lonesome in the corn. It looked like morning glory to me, but it was mid-afternoon, so must just be a relative. And here is corn that has been shucked and eaten while still on the stalk. I’m almost certain it was deer…you can see where there has been some serious tramping in the areas where this corn on a stick buffet has gone.
As we rounded the corner to come back up the driveway I got a full view of the farmhouse. I had to catch my breath. There is not doubt that we have many, many good times ahead of us here. Makes me realize that I’m really about ready to make a transition. By this time next year I hope I can finish up my work with the Navy and make myself into a full time farmer and designer. Happy thoughts.
Happy thoughts to you for the coming week! Love, Jan
Jan and Ellen are identical twins who have always had an innate fashion sense. Crafting is an integral part of their lives and they stay stitched together sharing their love of knitting, family and community.
August 21st, 2011 at 4:52 pm
Lovely fiber! (says the new spinner, i.e. me)
The ‘morning glory’ is likely bindweed, a pretty wildflower in the same family as morning glories, with a sweet scent, and which stays open into the afternoon, though it only blooms for the day. Sadly, it is also a noxious weed, hence the name. Given where you found it, it could be field bindweed,
http://www.ppws.vt.edu/scott/weed_id/conar.htm
but there is also the very similar hedge bindweed.
August 21st, 2011 at 10:02 pm
I agree with Cathy-Cate - sure looks like a bindweed to me. Still pretty, and weeds out of beds pretty easily, but you do have to keep at it.
The fiber is glorious and was all Erica’s idea. All I did was provide the address.
And as for fiber monogamy - that is good. Especially when starting out, it would be tough to come back to that fiber a few weeks from now and spin it similarly to what you just spun. You will learn new techniques and change your action a lot in just that little time. And it would be a shame to not be able to match your lovely yarn you’ve spun already.
August 22nd, 2011 at 5:48 am
Pretty colors and great sweater!
You just happened to have matching peacock feathers lying around?
August 22nd, 2011 at 7:23 am
Look at you spin! I wonder if there’s a professional out there to look at your antique wheel to get it going. (In the Twin Cities I’d send you to David Potter.)
Gorgeous new home. I know you’re going to love it! When do the alpacas arrive???
August 23rd, 2011 at 10:26 pm
Beautiful, and beautiful farmhouse. (Everything okay earthquake-wise?)
August 25th, 2011 at 7:17 am
It’s so much fun to see the fiber with the feathers! Thanks for the comparison shots. =)
I love the colors in your BFL yarn, too. And I think you’re right to be monogamous; it’s surprising how the “feel” changes from fiber to fiber, and it’s easier to keep spinning the same thing until it’s done.
Your sweater looks like the perfect weekend sweater. The one you rush home to put on and cuddle up in. It’ll be a favorite for sure!