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

Shop update!

Today we have yarn (Phouka) and fiber (jacob). Lovely stuff both, but some notes…

Phouka: The Phouka yarn has been increased in length from 400y to 400m giving people another 37 yards of leeway when making socks. If you need larger skeins, feel free to ask for larger skeins, I’m happy to dye them! I’m also likely going to start dyeing a few “Big Phouka” skeins at 600m a skein, but these will be fewer in number.

Jacob: This is an awesome roving from a lovely flock of spoiled rotten sheep down south. As it is roving, it’s much puffier than the top I carry. This limits me in how much I can dye at once. Most colorways are only available in single 4oz batches. If you would like 8oz of a colorway, email me and I can attempt it for you.

Now, the actual stuff!

Yarn Colorways: Deep Sea, Paprika, Sunrise, Dusk, Sunset Over the Trees, Crocus, Zombie! (Little Phouka), and Mountain Paths

Jacob Colorways: Old Barn Door, Farewell to the Gold, Red Clay Halo, Rusalka, Spring Flooding, Midnight, Leaf Pile, Heart of the Forest, Amethyst Fractures, Purple Finch

Upcoming… ecclectic collections! I’ll be clearing out the last of some fiber types to make way for more. Also, I’ve got a bunch coopworth and corriedale waiting. Soon as the funds are rejuvenated, I’ll be putting in another order of the most popular fibers.

And now, before we go… your terminal cuteness of the day, awkward sleeping positions! No, Dad, it’s really comfy!

~The Gnome

The Gnomespun Shop

Ok. Yarn and fiber…

In Phouka: Swampland, Sun and Sand
Falkland: Rosy Finch, The Princess’ Petticoats, Forest Shadows
Exmoor Mule: Dark Spanish Shawl, Scarlet O’Hara, Waterfall, Moose

And a new addition to the Gnomespun family, light silk and silk/wool scarves. These are discounted right now because they are new, and because I thought they’d make extra nice gift-exchange or stocking stuffer gifts. They are, however, hard to get good photos. If they’re popular I may need to get myself something to hang them on.

These come in two sizes and two varieties.

Small: 8″x54″ these are small ascot style scarves, very nice. They come in both 100% silk and the 63%/37% Silk/Wool blend.

Large: 11″60″ these are just a little longer and wider. They can be worn either as light shawls or as scarves. Long enough to double over and still have a bit left hanging down. These only come in the Silk/Wool blend right now.

Colorways: Thistle, Sunflowers, Dark Nebula, War for the Oaks, Oil Slick, Among the Roses, Islands in the Rain, Heart of the Fire, The Rising Flame, Smoke and Fire, Blood in the Water, Pollen, Earth and Sky, Windowpanes, Sea and Sunset.

That’s all for now. More blog posts coming soon, and hopefully another shop update before xmas (we’ll see, stuff keeps being… stufflike).

~The Gnome