Alpaca Socks and their Benefits

It's Friday and it's a beautiful day in Havelock!

Today's news...our socks have arrived!  Our shelves are full.  We have a selection of Alpaca socks in regular length in a variety of shades, neutral and coloured.   We have a "Relaxed Fit" sock meaning there is not a fitted cuff...so if you need a sock that doesn't fit closely for comfort or for circulation reasons the Relaxed Fit is for you!

Neutral Alpaca Socks

Coloured Alpaca Socks

There are Thermal socks in two lengths, one we call a "slipper" sock, it sits above the ankle and the other is a sport sock.  These socks are absolutely terrific in boots or work shoes or to wear to bed for you with cold feet!

Thermal Slipper and Sport length

And finally we have our Mohair socks.  Theses are limited in number so you need to buy soon!  They also come in colours and neutrals.

Mohair

What is the benefit of an Alpaca sock?  The sock provides warmth when needed but because the fibre is breathable it also provides coolness!  This is due to the air pockets found in the Alpaca fibre, dry, cool and warm all at the same time, ideal for keeping your feet comfortable!  Alpaca beats both wool and cotton for keeping feet at their best!  Alpaca socks are durable meaning they are a good investment. And finally the feel of Alpaca is smooth, a luxury that is affordable, practical and durable...all in all you just can't beat a good pair of Alpaca socks!

Come see us at the store in Havelock!  We are open Thursday thru Sunday 10 am to 5 pm.  If that time doesn't work for you give me a call!  As always the store has fibre to suit your knitting, felting or spinning needs.  Oh and yes we have eggs!

Have a great weekend and DROP IN!

ANTIQUE SKEIN(Wool) WINDERS for SALE

June is finally here!  We have had lovely weather and things are proceeding nicely at Elmlea Farm.  Gardens in, animals sheared....babies growing and of course the store is filled with yarns, batts, rovings and more!

Today I am featuring 2 Antique Wool Winders for sale.  You use this item as it suggests to wind wool into a skein!  AS you will see from the pictures they are antiques.  I am asking $ 80.00 a piece.

 

In other news I have two male goats for sale, bucklings, Jake born in March out of Jill a Nigerian Dwarf and Omar an Angora.  Jake is a very shiny, very black boy who is quite funny, He loves to jump and play and generally just have a great time.  He is $ 150.00  

Jake

Jake a Nigora Bucklings

The other buckling is Jerry.  Jerry's mother is Lucy a Pygora cross and his father was Jack a Nigerian Dwarf, like Jill.  Jerry's fibre has a lovely crimp to it and he also appears to be taking after the pygmy side and staying smaller.  You can see his size from the picture of him standing on our Olde English Babydoll Southdown, Liz.  Poor Liz not only her own baby Mick is on her but a goat too!  Jerry has a sweet nature and would be a easier keeper.  He is very use to being handled and would make a great companion, breeding, weeding and or fibre goat!  He is truly multi-functional!  He is 
$ 300.00.  

Jerry on Liz our poor Sheep

Handsome Jerry

Jerry's Fibre

If you are interested in any of the above please give me a call at 705-778-2070.

Drop by the store Thursday thru Sunday...10 am to 5 pm.  Or you can call me to set up an appointment.

Our New Yarns Have Arrived!

Spring has hit the store walls and the colour is just bursting! 

Elmlea Farm Store

We have a beautiful array of colours, both dyed and natural.  There are 2 ply and 3 ply.  Mohair, Wool blends as well as Alpaca, Mohair and Alpaca, Mohair and Wool blends.  
Of course we have our pure Alpaca yarn as well as wool and numerous other specialty blends!  

New Colours

Drop by and see what we have to offer! We are open Thursday thru Sunday, 10am-5 pm or you can call for an appointment.  We take Visa&M/C or cash.  

Alpaca Corner, Hand Spun or Dyed

Mohair Blends

Just one more thing.....

A short week over.....although in farming there are really no short weeks...or weekends....actually that is a lie...weekends mean MORE work!


Today I just have two notes...one...I am very excited that our new yarns will be arriving on Monday!  These yarns are processed from our own Alpacas and Goats.  As you know I do process some of the fibre right here on the farm but we also send some out.  I will have nature colour Alpaca yarn and a nice blend of Alpaca and Mohair in lovely colours!  I can't wait!  You will have to drop in next week to see!


And secondly "Baby Mick" needs to find a home.  Mick is  black registered Olde English Babydoll Southdown lamb.  Babydolls are smaller than most sheep growing to a height if 17-24 inches.  They are stocky and hardy but their miniature size makes them easier to handle!  They are great nature mowers, weeders and heck they will even fertilize and they go!
Now besides that Babydolls are sweet in nature and are great companion animals and you can use the wool!  So any of you knitters or spinners out their their wool is great to use alone or to blend!  We are asking $ 600.00 for Mick.  Please feel free to drop by and see him and his parents Inky and Liz. 


Don't forget the store is open Thursday thru Sunday 10-5 pm.  We take Visa and M/C and of course cash.


Drop by and see us this weekend or next week! 

a bit of variety from the first batch!

Happy Friday Everyone, it's a busy one here at the farm!  Seems like there is always something that needs doing.  Cleaning fence line, mending fences, tending to new babies.....speaking of new babies...the latest babes are chicks!  The house is full of "peeps"!

The next thing I wanted to mention is Celebrate Havelock!  This annual event is taking place on May 10, 2014, Saturday from 9 am-4 pm at the Arena on 39 George Street East.   Elmlea Farm will be there....so because of that the store per say is not open Saturday, but it is "open" at the arena.
Please drop by and see us!

And finally....in keeping with our fibre learning and discussions, I have a blending board for sale, $ 120.00.  What is a blending board?  I have attached a generic picture...to show those of you who don't know.

Blending Board

A blending board is used to create a rolag of fibre, which is generally then used to spin yarn.  Rolag is a Scottish Gaelic word meaning small roll.  What you do, is you take roving and you lay it on the board, you can mix colours and different fibres together by layering to create your own special yarn.  You then "comb" the roving to blend the fibres together. Once done you roll(roll and stretch)the fibre off onto small dowels.  Now of course that is a simplified description but it is pretty much it.  You just need to be careful in your "combing" and consistent is your rolling.  The yarns you create are limited only by your imagination!  We have a great selection of fibre to choose from to make your own rolags!

Enjoy your weekend!  See you in Havelock on Saturday!!!

What is Pygora and Cashgora Yarn?

Today is a continuation in the discovery of yarns. Here at Elmlea Farms we have a variety of fibre animals and in the goat department we have, Cashmere, Nigerian, Angora and a few crosses...Pygora(that's a Pygmy and an Angora cross)and the Cashgora is a(Cashmere/Angora cross) and currently Nigora(Nigerian/Angora cross)

The Pygora is a relatively new breed developed by Katherine Jorgensen of Oregon. Aiming for an animal that would yield a fine spinning fiber, she crossed a registered Pygmy goat with a registered silky-fleeced Angora goat. This mating produced F-1 generation hybrids, which when bred together resulted in the true Pygora. The Pygora Breeders Association (PBA) organized in 1987, and according to the association, the breed’s popularity has steadily increased since that time.  The name Cashgora was coined in the late 1970's in Victoria, Australia and later came to be recognized by the International World Textile Organization in 1988.  The Nigora is a medium sized, dual-purpose milk fibre goat.  It originated in the USA in the early 1990's.  Early Nigoras contained a mixture of Nigerian Dwarf and a coloured Angora goats.  Jill(Nigerian) bred to Omar(Angora) has given us two babies a male and female pure black.  We are excited to see what their fibre will be!  Neither Pygora, Cashgora or Nigora are used to produce yarn on a commerical scale.  We however do produce these fibres, excluding Nigora at this time.

The wool of the Cashgora combines the advantages of both Mohair and Angora, while maintaining softness, brightness and shine.

 "The fiber of Pygora goats reflects the best qualities of both the Angora and the Pygmy. From the Angora goat comes long, silky-smooth, lustrous ringlets. The Pygmy goat contributes its’ very fine down, in some cases fine enough to be classified as cashmere. This combination of qualities results in fiber with an excellent range of characteristics that maintain fineness as the animal ages.

Pygora fiber may be spun and then knitted, woven or crocheted. Because of the fineness of the fiber, it spins into a lovely yarn that is soft enough to be worn next to the skin. Items such as baby garments or luxurious shawls are well suited to Pygora yarn. Pygora also felts beautifully and locks of Pygora may be used to create wigs, beards or novelty toys. Pygora pelts make wonderfully posh rugs or chair accessories. Thus, Pygora fiber is fast becoming crafts persons’ and fiber artists’ preferred choice for any number of diverse projects". ...taken from pcagoats.org..Goat Fibre Desc. 

Come to the store and see our selection of fine yarns...Lucy may even help!

The Store is now open Thursday thru Sunday 10-5 pm.  Please feel free to drop in or call first.  We have new items and of course there are farm fresh eggs!

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.