Spinnakees Fiber Farm's Zenyatta - What a beautiful Keeshonden. Project: Farm helment.

This is Zenyatta, my 9 month old Keeshonden pup. My Angora goats were wondering what she was doing in the front yard with me. My 2 older Keeshonden disappeared as they fear the sheep and goats. Not Zenyatta, she really loves all of my critters and is my constant companion. Lots of energy and very intelligent.

Hum, next project? How about a women's helmet using finger weight yarn from my Olde English "Babydoll" Southdown Sheep blended with Angora and Mohair? My mom made a couple helmets for the boys and used sports weight yarn from Spinnakees Fiber Farm. That yarn was wool and mohair. The pattern surprised me as it turned out to feel like Bulky and they were big. So I'm going to use size 9, 14" long circular needles (1 1/2 sizes smaller) and the fingering yarn. This might be a nice, light weight farm hat - spring or fall. Hope to have a picture of the finished project in a few days. Wish me luck!

Spinnakees Fiber Farm making Wool Cloth easily

I made this embrodiery case out of store bought wool, pearl cotton, beads, and dyed wool pieces. I decided to make my own wool cloth to make an embrodiery case from Spinnakees Fiber. This is a process, but worth the effort!

This is the inside of the case layed open.

First lay down your bubble wrap. I used a piece about 16" x 20". I then placed a piece of cotton on top of the bubble wrap. I then teased apart roving and lay it in one layer across the cotton cloth filling it. Do this first vertically then horizontally. About 6 layers.

Take a spray bottle full of water and wet your fiber throughly, then place another piece of cotton cloth the same size over the fiber, and then another piece of bubble wrap on top of the cloth.

I rolled up the layers and put elastics about every 2". Then the works begins! Roll it on your table about 100 times the first time. Then take elastics off, unrole it and see how much it has felted. Roll it back up from the side and then roll it back and forth about 50 times and check it again for felting.

This is wool cloth I have felted and wool rolled into a roll to be felted. Shultz is a Spinnakees' Farm German Angora, who is taking a break. Shultz donated his fiber for one side of the cloth making a beautiful soft surface.

Easy Mitten Pattern available soon www.spinnakeesfarm.com

The smallest pair of mittens can be tucked into the cuff of a warm jacket. I also crocheted a simple chain and inserted in at top of cuff to be tightened to keep out the snow and I think it adds character to this pair of mittens. Might be cute for larger pairs too. I think all three pairs could be either for a male or female.

I used 2 skeins of Maine worsted weight yarn: 4 oz/250 yards each. I still have 2 oz left to make a simple hat?


I have this yarn and will post it for sale soon on my website. Kelly of Romney Ridge Farm has this yarn for sale now. After I make adjustments to my mother's old mitten pattern I'll have the pattern forsale also. Her pattern tapered the tops of the mittens nicely and had a left and right mitten. I like the easier pattern of rounded tops and the thumbs are either right or left. Should be a nice pattern for beginners or for someone as busy as I am!

2 Skeins of yarn: 3 mittens using different sized needles, but not changing count of stitches

On left mitten I have 10 stitches on yarn holder. On back 2 needles I have picked up 2 stitches on each needle.

Working on thumb & picking up stitches on back of thumb: On right mitten I knit the first 2 stitches together on one needle then knit the next 2 stitches together onto the first needle and then took 2 stitches off the holder and knit them onto the 1st needle (total of 4 stitches). I then took 4 more stitches off the yarn holder and knit them onto the 2nd needle and then took the last 4 stitches off the yarn holder and knit them onto the 3rd needle. Continue knitting in the round until thumb is at desired length.

I'm on my 3rd pair of mittens using the 2 skeins of yarn I started with. Two skeins each: 250 yards/4 oz. I have 2 oz left after 3 pairs of mittens.


Planning to make a simple rolled hat out of remaining yarn and maybe make it a "kitten" hat with ears, eyes and whiskers. Will post when done!

Old Fashion Mittens

These mittens can be worn on either hand. I love the rounded tops and the simple pattern. I used size 6 double pointed needles. I'm only changing needle size to change size of mitten. Size 6 for adult, Size 5 for teen and Size 4 for youth. Adjust length of thumb and mitten for size and no need to change number of stitches used. I made a baby sweater that did the same so why not our favorite patterns.
This shows the inside of the mitten. I carried the white yarn on the backside of the blue stitch until the end of the row and then let it hang until the next 4th row.

This is the second pair of mittens out of the same 2 skeins I started with. I am using size 5 double pointed needles. I hope to have enough yarn left to make a third pair using size 4 double pointed needles.

Vest knit using my Babydoll Sheep/Bunny

"Dyeing to Knit" by Elaine Eskesen, has the most wonderful vest pattern. So simple. I used my Babydoll Bunny yarn, which Bartlett Yarn in Harmony, Maine processed for me. The yarn is listed as a light worseted, yet when washed and dried it is a light bulky! The only problem I have had with the pattern is that you need more than the 245 yards listed on the pattern.

Windsor Fair September 2, and Boothbay at the Commons Art Show September 4, and 5

The vest on the right is a new needle felting project. I like to use Angora yarn and blanket stitch around the edges of this wool vest. I then use Angora rabbit 3rds and needle felt flowers, leaves and wool "little people" hidden among the flowers and a Angora rabbit or 2. I'm also working on an Angora Tam. Will share pictures soon. I hope the weather will be nice for us in Boothbay this coming weekend. We will soon see. Hope to see many of my Boothbay friends.