This past Tuesday Christopher and I headed out to a lovely farm in New Paltz NY. White Barn Sheep and Wool is a beautiful farm and fiber shop run by Paula. It was shearing day and we were invited to jump in and help and learn all we could about the process.


Paula has a herd of about 40 sheep. She has Cormo sheep and a cross of Cormo and California Red. This cross produces a fleece that is slightly coarser then the Cormo but still with loads of crimp. The red faced sheep are the cross's.






After the warmer weather  we have been having the sheep seemed happy to be rid of their heavy coats and after shearing they ran out to the pasture to sun themselves.






Just watching the shearing process was amazing. It is quite a skill and the shearer made it look easy. The sheep seem to just relax when they are placed on their backs and there is very little protest from them during the process.

After a sheep was sheared we took the fleece to the other side of the barn where tarps were laid out for skirting. Skirting means taking and removing all the really dirty bits and pieces of the fleece that are not usable. Mostly around the neck and rear area. Then the fleece is rolled up and bagged for sending off to the mill. It will then be made into roving and yarn which Paula sells in her shop.



 One benefit of working with the fleeces was the lanolin. I love the feel of the lanolin on my hands and although they were dirty they were super soft and moisturized! I also loved picking the fleeces up off the shearing floor. They still had the amazing warmth of the sheep radiating out of them!

Many people came by to help and young and old alike jumped in and took part in the process. Christopher helped to move sheep......carry fleeces and by the end of the day could skirt a fleece with the best of them.


As we were skirting I came across one of the cormo cross fleeces that just really spoke to me. That sounds silly but in a way it was true. It had beautiful crimp and not a lot of vegetable matter. I scooped up that fleece and put it to the side because of course I was bringing that one home! I love that I met the girl it came off of and was part of the process from the beginning. I now have 6 lbs. of fleece to process!



Paula is so knowledgeable and is more then willing to share what she knows with others. She has created a community of fiber enthusiasts and a place where others can learn and grow in fiber arts. I am planning a trip back very soon.

I will leave you with a little video of the shearing.........

Some days there is more time for sitting and crafting then others but really I do sit and knit and spin almost every day. Because on the days when I don't.......well those are not good days. Not like I become mean and nasty but that I am aware that something is missing. Something which makes me sit and be in the moment and become aware and create. I am a person that needs that .......every day. With 7 kids living at home and 5 of them being home schooled our days are full and busy. Making that time to jut sit and create is so good for my mind and my spirit. I know most of you will totally understand and relate!

I was spinning last night and looked up over my bobbin and spied my youngest daughter sitting at the loom weaving on her scarf. I wish I had my camera right there to snap a shot of that but I have it in my memory and that is good enough. My kids need this time too and that is what I truly love about our fiber arts. The whole family can join in and participate. We have seasons were everyone is knitting......lately there has been a lot of needle felting and weaving. And spinning is being learned as well.I find my boys especially love to work with their hands and they might not sit still with a book for long but put them at the loom and they are absorbed for an hour or more.

I believe we are created in God's image. Our God is the most awesome creator of all and so of course we have a need in us to create as well. So making time for that creating is important and I am realizing that more and more!

I have been caught up in spinning this week. We are having an Unexpected Combo Spin a long in the Three Waters Farm group on Ravelry. The color combinations have been amazing and I had to jump in! I decided to use a braid of super fine merino in the Sunbleached Colorway and Light in the trees on organic polwarth. I'm spinning up a bobbin of each and will ply them together.

Sun Bleached Bobbin

 

Light in the Trees Bobbin

 The spin is going along quickly and I will be plying these together over the next couple of days! I'm very excited to see the resulting yarn!

I am also working on a test knit using hand spun. It is a crescent shaped shawl. I always love knitting with my hand spun and this pattern is so much fun. I will let you know when the pattern is released.


Yesterday my son and I attended shearing day at a local farm. I will be doing a blog post all about in a day or two. If you are interested come back to hear all about our adventures! This is one of the cormo cross sheep we had the pleasure of meeting!


 I picked up Knitlandia this week as everyone else has been talking about it! I'm hoping to start reading it today! I'm joining Ginny over at Small things for the Yarn Along. Happy knitting everyone!!