These desert mornings are cool. I put a cardigan on before I poured my coffee. I put the chicks outside yesterday but I may need to run the heat lamp out there for mornings. It’s going to get warm though. It was ninety degrees yesterday and it will be again today (wasn’t I just wearing a winter hat Sunday?), so it may seem a terrible time to talk about fiber arts! Fiber arts are apart of our series here and a welcome skill on the homestead. Think cozy sweaters, gloves, blankets, and unique gifts all created by you.
I have found that folks that begin crocheting first have a hard time knitting (where is that darned hook?). I learned how to crochet from my grandmother, among many things (Lord, I miss her!), when I was thirteen. I entered my first blanket into the school’s art show and won first place. I was sure thrilled! I went on to make many a baby blanket (about my patience level) for friends, all of my own children and my darling granddaughters. Then moved on to cozies for candles and mugs and fingerless gloves. Lots of fun ideas. I have a loom downstairs I am just giddy to learn to how to use. It may as well be a car in a million pieces; I haven’t the first idea how to put it together, let alone use it. That is a goal for this winter.
What about fiber animals? I can’t have them here in the city (actually….I saw a weird video about folks spinning their dog’s fur), but I have had them before and will have them again. Alpacas weren’t my loves. They are cute and marionette-like, and kick. Some of my friends adore their alpacas, it just may not have been our thing. I need goofy, friendly, cuddly animals on my farm. So we got sheep. Oh goodness, I loved those sheep. Olaf and Sven were just as bright as a pine cone but they adored me and followed me around the farm, in the house, and rather enjoyed rides in the truck. They also liked to watch television. (Spoiled much?)
I have had a spinning wheel twice, and due to moving and patience issues in me (I do hope those are remedied now that I am an empty nester), I don’t have one, but that too will become one of my goals….maybe. I once dropped off a whole bag of alpaca fleece a guy sold me to a fiber mill and I got back many skeins of lovely spun yarn. I wonder if I could do it again myself.
Homesteading is a lot of doing and a little bit dreaming. We are always striving to do more, learn more, achieve more, enjoy more. In the meantime, there are a few projects I am inspired to work on. Better find some chunky wool…
Here are some old past posts and projects for y’all!
Candle Sweaters and Pin Cushions (homemade gifts)
Alpaca Scarves and Crooked Washcloths
Farmgirl School 