Knitting with Mohair and Mohair Blended Yarn

Happy Monday Everyone!

As you may have noticed there has been a theme to my last few posts.  I am hoping that by "teaching" everyone a few extra things with regards to different yarns and crafts that you may want to try your hand at creating!  I am looking outside and thinking I can't wait to be able to find a few hours; later on as Spring progresses and the farm "clean up" is done and sit outside and make a few things while enjoying the warmth of the sun.  Yes I am positive we WILL have warmth...soon!

Angora Kid

Also everything that I am showing you, you can find at the store.  Today I am talking about Mohair and knitting with it.  As you may remember...Mohair starts here with an Angora Goat just like our newest member of the family, Macy!  I have Mohair and Mohair blends in a beautiful array of colours!  Remember the store re-opens May 1st but you can certainly arrange a time to stop by just by calling 705-778-2070.

Here is an article by: The Halo Effect: Tricks and Tips for Knitting with Mohair

Posted by Ashley Little on Jan 27, 2014 in Knitting 

The soft halo effect that mohair yarn creates can add instant softness and elegance to any knitting project, but there are a few things to keep in mind when knitting with mohair. Here are a few mohair tips, plus a few of our favorite mohair yarns and patterns to knit.

About mohair yarns

Mohair fiber comes from the angora goat (not to be confused with the angora rabbit that produces angora fiber). You’ve probably also noticed mohair labeled as kid mohair. This mohair comes from a kid — a baby goat — and is both finer and softer.

A few things to keep in mind when working with mohair:

Drape

Mohair’s soft texture allows it to drape beautifully. Keep it in mind for wraps, scarves or any other type of accessory that calls for a luxurious, elegant drape. You’ll see many examples of this in the patterns below.

Ripping mohair

Mistakes happen and sometimes we need to rip our project. Because of the long, delicate fibers, ripping mohair can be a challenge. Be sure to rip your work out slowly, gripping the yarn as close to the work as possible when you rip.

Texture

Mohair creates a beautiful drape, so why not leave it at that? Don’t go too insane with the texture of your stitches. You don’t need to add any fancy cables or special stitches to the design because mohair is already making a statement on its own.

If you’re a fan of lace knitting, consider mohair for your next lace project. Its airy texture goes hand in hand with a lot of beautiful lace patterns.

Mohair patterns to try

Mohair is versatile enough to work well in many different kinds of knits. Check out these Craftsy patterns for inspiration and ideas for your next mohair knitting project.

Photo via Craftsy member irissch

Sequined mohair lace vest

Have you ever worked with Artyarns before? The sequins and beads of their mohair is already attached, so you can knit up your project without worrying about attaching them as you go. This lace vest uses just two skeins of Artyarns Beaded Mohair and Sequins for a vest that’s loose but also slightly clingy because of the mohair fibers.

Get the Sequined Mohair Lace Vest pattern.

So ...You Think You Know Alpaca Yarn!?

Today I would like to talk about Alpaca Yarn.  It is a beautiful light weigh fibre with wonderful attributes, but there are some misconceptions, so to address this I am posting an article from "Knit Picks" that gives a nice brief history on the animals and on the fibre/yarn.
In the article it talks about blending the yarn for larger scaled knitted items.  The store offers you all that is needed to start knitting, from knitting needles to Alpaca, Merino, Mohair yarns.

The Elmlea Farm Store reopens on May 1st, 2014!  If you would like to get started on any project sooner or need fresh eggs please feel free to call me to arrange a time to drop by, the number is
705-778-2070.
Enjoy your weekend!

by Knit Picks Tutorials on December 11, 2009 

Alpaca

Hailing from South America, the alpaca belongs to the camelid family that also includes camels, llamas, guanacos and vicunas. They are a docile breed whose fleece spins into luxurious yarns. More than three quarters of the world’s alpaca population resides in Peru.¹ In centuries past, the alpaca was an incredibly valuable animal, even more so than precious gems! Clothing created with alpaca was restricted for use by royalty. The alpaca has been domesticated and is treated as one of Peru’s national treasures. England has the double decker bus, the U.S. has Mt. Rushmore, and Peru has their alpacas. What a diverse definition of treasure!

Alpaca fleece is a “protein fiber”. This doesn’t mean knitting with it will make you stronger, it merely indicates that the fiber comes from an animal- namely, the alpaca. Alpaca fiber is strong, warm, and comfortable. Each fiber is hollow which makes it incredibly lightweight. Even the most delicate alpaca garments are warm for this reason. Perhaps alpaca’s greatest feature is that it can be worn next to the skin comfortably. The explanation for this is the behavior of the scales on the exterior of the fiber itself. They all lie flat in the same direction, making for a smooth surface. Less expensive than cashmere and with the strength of mohair, alpaca is highly desirable and functional. As with most natural fibers, alpaca needs to be handled with care when it comes to water exposure. Be sure to read and heed the washing instructions on your yarn or sweater.

While there are 2 breeds of alpaca, Huacaya and Suri, the former makes up a whopping 95% of the population.² Differences between the two are numerous and as you may have guessed from the percentages, the Suri is harder to come by. Suri qualities include fleece that grows downward like human hair in wavy or curly locks with a silky texture. Huacaya fleece is coarser and grows straight outwards, at a right angle to the skin of the alpaca.

YES SURI, BABY, YOU’RE SUPERFINE!

When alpaca fiber is processed, it is evaluated and sorted into one of several categories based on its micron count (in layman’s terms: the softness quotient). Micron count is a technical measurement determined by studying a sample of alpaca fleece and calculating the average diameter of the shaft of each fiber. Baby alpaca might have a micron count in the high teens whereas superfine alpaca would fall in the mid-twenties. The lower the number, the finer the fiber. *Please note that baby alpaca is a classification group, meaning it doesn’t always come from young alpacas. It merely refers to any fibers from an alpaca’s fleece that fall within said micron count. While fibers become coarser as an alpaca ages, it is possible for older alpacas to continue to produce fibers that fall in the baby alpaca micron count range.

Yarn Classification	Average Micron Count	Average Fiber Length
Baby (finest)	21-23	>=64mm. (2½ in.)
Superfine	25-26.5	>=65mm. (2½ in.)
Suri	26-27	>=68mm. (2¾ in.)

Yarns sold by Knit Picks fall within these measurements.

If all of this jargon confuses you, then you might relate better to the methods used by Peruvian women who hand sort all of the fibers and determine their classification based on how they actually feel.³ The finest and softest feeling fibers are tagged as baby alpaca, and so on for fine and superfine yarns. Fiber from various parts of the animal can have different feels.

SMOOTH OPERATOR

Knitted garments made of alpaca have some interesting properties. You should know that alpaca yarn is pretty stubborn when it comes to elasticity. It’s not that it won’t give, it actually has a tendency to be too generous. If you knit dense stitches and patterns or hang heavy embellishments on it, it will become distorted with no hopes of regaining its youthful figure. This is due to the aforementioned smoothness of the fibers. Since the scales lie flat in the same direction, the plies or strands of an alpaca yarn slide past each other instead of clinging and gravity can take its toll on the fabric. Gravity, as we know, can sometimes cause an undesirable elongating effect. So make those 100% alpaca projects light and airy, or use a blend for greater resilience and elasticity.

Speaking of which, all blends happen for a reason. There are ways to make alpaca yarn work for every project and that is by blending it with complimentary fibers. Blended yarns are not created arbitrarily. Wool, for instance, is a highly crimped fiber and therefore offers some elasticity. Since alpaca fibers contain only shallow waves, mixing in some wool makes an otherwise unyielding yarn a little more forgiving.

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¹“A Shaggy Business” The Economist. Vol. 377, Issue 8455, p. 38. 12/3/2005.

²Quiggle, Charlotte. “Alpaca: An Ancient Luxury” Interweave Knits. Fall 2000.

³Lavan, Cindy. “Evaluating Alpaca Fleece” AlpacaNation – Alpaca Industry’s Central Marketplace. June 2002. http://www.alpacanation.com/articles/AlpacaFuture_Oct02.asp

Needle Felting a New Hobby for You?

I thought today I would post something  a little different.  I am posting instructions on how to make a simple needle felted ball which can either be used for decoration, if you add pattern and colours or as a dryer ball!  All you need are a few basic tools, a felting needle and a foam board and of course some roving or yarn.  I have lots of beautiful colours to chose from.

The article and pictures are from Simple and Joyful.  Hope you enjoy this as much as I have.  A warning it is addictive!  Felting can be simply like the attached article shows or much more elaborate!  Have a look and see what you think!  Then come see me for your fibre!  Enjoy.

Needle Felted Ball Tutorial

Please stop over at the new edition of Rhythm of the Home today and see my article on Powerful Princesses for Boys.

Needle felting is rapidly becoming a passion here in our home.  Almost everyday one of us gravitates towards the basket full of soft, lovely, colorful roving, grabs the needle and foam and starts creating.  Even  the little hands around here can easily create colorful scenes to hang on the wall or soft round balls for playtime.  I am finding more and more ways to add character and embellishment to our creations.  For the littlest hands who aren't ready for long sharp needles, making wet felted balls means that even baby gets in on the play.

Here is how we create needle felted balls in our home...

Material:  Wool Roving, needle felting needle, foam upholstery block (you can also use a sponge), old nylons if you choose to wet felt in the dryer at the end

Start with a small amount of roving of any color.  You will be adding layers as you go, so start small.  Gently and tightly roll the roving into a cylinder.

 Fold the cylinder into a ball shape.  This shape does not need to be smooth since you will be adding more layers.

 

Begin to push the needle into the ball from different sides and angles.  The barbed needle will catch the fibers and push them into the ball.  Gradually work your way around the ball.  When your ball starts to form a sphere, wrap more roving around a bit at a time and continue to needle felt.

As you wrap the roving, notice that the more you stab the needle in the same place, the more compact the area becomes.  You can use this technique to shape your ball, or in the future to create different shapes.  The more you use the needle, the tighter and smaller your ball will become.

If you did not start your ball with the color you desire, you can always add roving on top and change the color at any time.

Once you've created your ball shape, you can add on whatever pattern or design you wish simple by placing the roving where you want and stabbing it into place with the needle.  The options are endless.

When you are happy with your ball and design, you can play with it immediately, or wet felt it to further combine the fibers.  The simplest way to wet felt your ball is to put it in the washer inside a pair of nylons.  You can also dip your ball in warm (almost hot) soapy water and gently rub the felt between your hands.

These balls are wonderful for gentle play, rolling, bowling, playing with baby, decorating, or even adding a small bit of yarn and hanging on the Christmas tree.  Below are several example of patterns I've created recently.  Two of these balls are being offered as a giveaway today over at the Rhythm of the Home, so stop by or make your own.

Fibre Package for sale

HAPPY EASTER

A long weekend without snow, FINALLY!  We are busy on the farm with spring clean up as is everyone one of you I am sure.  Luckily we haven't had too much concern with excess water, but we are certainly thinking of those of you who do.

I would like to say "thanks" to those of you who dropped by to see me in Maynooth last Saturday, as always it was great fun and good to see friends and meet new people.  The store is almost ready for May 1st!  until then you can call and make an appointment to drop by.  It is so much easier for you to shop since we have the VISA and MASTERCARD option.

Patrick Old English Babydoll Southdown

Being Easter, Patrick wanted his bunny ears and not to be out done so did Lucy!  So it's the Easter Sheep and Easter Goat!  What a pair these two are!  Speaking of Goats.  I have a "fibre package" for sale.  That would be 4 wethered goats for $ 200.00.  Two of the boys can be seen in the picture with Lucy.

Lucy  the Pygora goat

Have a great long weekend.  We have eggs available if you are running short for Easter!  Give me a call 705-778-2070.

Spring Yarns, and Rovings and Batts Oh My!

Another lovely day!  The animals are out and about playing in the sun.  Only 3 more goats to shear, then on to sheep and finally Alpacas and Llamas!

Hand Painted Yarn

Today's sun makes a person wish for flowers!  Still no flowers but I do have beautiful colours in yarn!  I will have yarns, roving and batts with me in Maynooth tomorrow for those of you who want to create your own! And for those of you who are looking to purchase something already made I will have hand crafted hats,shawls, scarves both knit and silk and of course I will have socks and insoles.  Any of these items would be a nice Easter gift, especially with some of the colours!

Mohair blended yarn

Alpaca Yarn

Hand dyed Yarn

I will be in Maynooth tomorrow, Saturday April 12, 2014 at the Community Center from 10-4. I do not have debit at this time but remember I take Visa and Mastercard which makes things so much easier! 

Also the store will reopen on May 1, 2014!  That is exciting news!  So it will be back to Thursday thru Sunday 10-5!  Really looking forward to that!

Babies, Babies, Babies! Boys for Sale!

Jill/Omar babies born April 5, 2014

Good Day Everyone.  What a dreary rainy day, but we have new babies and that always casts "sunshine" on the farm.  Jill our Nigerian Dwarf gave birth to two babies a boy and a girl on Saturday.  Omar, our handsome black Angora is the father.

Male and Female "Nigoras"

Macy Angora

Mary and Macy

 Along with these cuties, Mary our Angora had a baby girl Macy.  Macy is pure white and is quite the contrast to these two!  Macy will be staying here on the farm.  There are also two bucklings, that are Nigerian/Pygora crosses and would make excellent companion animals!  Louis and Jerry are both friendly and are ready too go.  

Louie the cuddler

Jerry so handsome

 Last but not by any means least is our little man....Mick, a purebred registered Olde English Babydoll Southdown.  This black boy is quite the character already.  He is not really so little and is even bigger than Louie who he is trying to make friends with!  Mick is also for sale.

Mick English Babydoll Lamb

Mick born March 2013

Mick and Louie sharing some cedar branches

 We are selling our boys.  If you are interested, please give us a call at 705-778-2070.  We also have Alpacas for sale.  No babies there until the summer!
Also I will be in Maynooth this coming Saturday, April 12, 2014.  I will have handmade products as well as yarn, fleece and rovings.  Any requests let me know and I will see what I can do!

The Picker and Fiber

As mentioned earlier in the week, the shearing has started, fibre evaluated, washed and picked....what do I mean by picked?  Picking is when you put fibre through a manual machine to "open" it up and prepare it for the next step.  The manual machine is called a Picker....and it looks harmless enough on the outside but on the inside....it looks like a medieval torture device!  

Picker

And if you don't wear your gloves and get "picked" I can tell you it feels somewhat like that too!  However, it rarely happens you get picked, you just need to watch what you are doing.  

Inside the Picker

The fibre used in the pictures is Alpaca.  You don't always have too pick fibre.  When you do, the added benefit is that along with "opening" up the fibre it cleans the fibre ...making it easier to remove any bits that maybe there.

Pieces of Alpaca Fibre

Alpaca Fibre

Opened Alpaca Fibre

Notice the difference in the Alpaca fibre after it has gone through the Picker....it is fluffy so to speak!  The fibre is broken down into manageable pieces to process.  A small tight piece of fibre comes through the outside "opened".
Next week I will show you what happens to this "opened" fibre!  
Have a great weekend.  Sunday is suppose to be lovely!  If you want to drop by the farm store please call(705-778-2070)or email
first.  And don't forget to call if you need extra eggs for Easter!

Shearing at the Farm

April 1, 2014....FINALLY April.....but not too much has changed weather wise...although there is some thawing!  So what's happening on the farm?

Well, with the "warmer" weather sheering has begun!  First on the list are the goats....next sheep followed by the Alpacas.  It really is quite the process, first we sheer the animal, evaluate the fibre and from there the washing and picking begins.  In fact Omar's fibre is washed now!  You may remember Omar, the handsome black Angora ram.  

Currently we have 4 babies, the older bucklings born Dec 31, 2013, Mick, born in March, the black babydoll, who is for sale and our newest Macy, a white angora, just born last week.  Up next is Jill and possibly Meg.  For those wondering about the Alpacas...they should have their babies in the summer, July/August.  Remember we have Alpacas for sale too, you can call our check them out either on our website www.elmleafarm.com or through AlpacaSeller.ca.

This past week I took a break from hand knitting and created a new sweater on the knitting machine, it is so fast!  For those of you who have ever though about buying a knitting machine...do it!  It is such a time saver. While I enjoy hand knitting, every now and then a machine is great for the instant gratification!  I will show you the finished product next week, just being washed now.

I am looking forward to reopening the store and having visitors!  Until then, the store is open by appointment.  Just call 705-778-7020.