The shop is, as always, here

A shop update! With an entirely new to the shop fiber, coopworth! Also an answer to a question at the end of the post.

Fibers: BFL, Shetland, Polwarth, Perendale, Coopworth, Corriedale, Jacob, Rambouillet, and Dorset

Colorways: Rusalka, Springtime, Fiddler’s Green, Sparrow’s Wing, Cupcakes, Sunburst, Spring Flowers, A Heady Brew, Stonework, Waterfall, Soft Tidepool, The Tide Turns, Moose, Walnut, Garnet Shadows, The Salmon of Knowledge, Crocus, Bluejeans, Shadows of the Green, and The Shore at Fife.

Handspun Yarns: Snowstorm, Rust, Sandstorm, Midnight Magic, Across the Sea, and Sunrise

Question: Diane asks – A question related to the protein fibers – do you know how the presence of the medula (sheep) vs a hollow core (alpaca) effects the dye take up? I’m assuming there are just fewer sites for the dyes to attach to but didn’t know if that was a simplistic explanation.

Answer: Not simplistic at all. The big difference is that alpaca scales are much shorter and less numerous than on wool. This provides less binding locations, but also makes the fiber less likely to felt and feel more silky.

That’s all for now, more coming!

~The Gnome

The Shop has reopened after Rhinebeck!

Fibers/Yarns: Phouka, Romney, Tunis, Wensleydale, and Perendale!

Colorways: Asters, A Meeting at Midnight, Across the Garden, Bryophyta, Chestnut, Chai Tea, City Sunset, Coreopsis, Dogwood, Evergreen, Frog Hop, Gold Mine, Goldenrod, Heart of the Fire, Indian Corn, Iris, Land and Sea, Luna Moth, Moose, Pocket Change, Rhubarb Cobbler, Saffron, Squash Vine, The Flame Rises, Swamp Thing, The Flickering Flame, The Lawn Needs Mowing, Tidepool, Vinca, Waterfall!

Also, the Exmoor Horn Mule is here. I’ll start dyeing it shortly. Also there will soon be a full report on Rhinebeck and the Adventurous Backpacking Trip.

That’s all for not!

~The Gnome

Shetland fiber, a bit of Cheviot, and Phouka yarn!

As always the shop is here

More blogging soon. Things are a bit hectic here as suppliers and such are changing.

~The Gnome

The Shop

There’s an update to the shop up. Long, lustrous wensleydale! Several colorways even have two braids if you want more than 4oz.

Will post about NH Sheep and Wool in a bit, and such. I’m preparing for an interview early next week so I’m a bit all over right now.

And a new Phouka colorway

That’s all for now. See you soon!

~The Gnome

Like I said, here’s an update. Any orders made by Saturday mid-day I should be able to get out. Orders made after that will go out Saturday of next week.

We’re in the middle of getting my paper out for review, so the descriptions will be sparer than normal.

New fiber: Finn, SW Merino, Tencel/Merino, Wensleydale, BL, and Undyed BL

The summer is warm and dry when the storm rolls in. The lightning strikes the dry ground and thunder rolls… soon, all that’s left is smoke and ash, leaving the way open for new growth and new life.

Smoke and Ashes – 4oz – Combed Wensleydale Top

Long fronds sway in the “wind” of the current, hiding fish, urchin, and mystery in their shadowed fronds…

Soft Seaweed – 4oz – Combed Wensleydale Top

Soft iridescent feathers glowing with warm browns reds and golds… I struggled with this photo. This top is quite luminescent and warm, it almost glows. Could not get it right. It’s one of my all time favorites.

Pheasant – 4oz – Combed Wensleydale Top

Deepest blue sapphires buried in glinting white quartz, waiting to be discovered. Not normally a fan of SW, but this is a nice non-squeaky prep of it.

Sapphire Surprise – 4oz – Superwash Merino

Shadows and play across you, tinted green from the leaves, weaving patterns of light over the world as you slip into the Greenwood…

Into the Green – 4oz – 50/50 Merino/Tencel (not superwash)

The fires burn low, leaving the air thick with the smell and sight of ash, figures littering the ground in the aftermath…

Blood and Ashes – 4oz – Combed Finn Top

And finally, my fiber is starting to come back from the mills. This batch is pin-drafted which is a little tricky to work with for dyeing…

The rain falls and water rushes down the mountain in a torrent, pouring over rocks and earth…

Water on the Mountain – 4oz – Pin Drafted Border Liecester

And undyed… naturally heathered pin-drafted roving. Expertly prepped at a small local mill without stripping out all the lanolin, leaving the fiber with a lovely luster and crimp. A gorgeous prep. Border Leicester, a longwool with a great lustre, and a wonderful handle. This batch is similar in softness to a romney, but with longer staple length and more shine.
This is a pin-drafted roving, which means it’s a thinner, more open roving than the “ropes” you may be used to. Easy to draft.

Granite – 4oz (or other) – Pin Drafted Border Leicester Roving

Whee! Ok, back to finishing off edits and helping boss with the bibliography (I use some fairly obscure sources to the field).

Oh, and tomorrow I’m picking up another rather interesting fleece. Hush, I totally don’t have enough fiber. Really. Yeah. Ignoring the fact my 40lbs are coming back in the next few weeks…

Paper.

~The Gnome