Just back from a pre-planning meeting this morning to begin figuring out what type of new yarns we are going have milled from the various local fibers we've been gather through out the year. It's a first for me to be working at the development stage of the yarn! SUPER EXCITING (and little unnerving since it's new territory and there is SO much to learn, but I'm ready dive in!) I feel so fortunate for all the hands-on learning my involvement with Fibershed has brought into my life. It has definitely changed my thinking process when I sit down to design which I am VERY grateful for. More details to follow on the new yarns as things unfold. . . 

Natural Dye Knit Kit featuring Syd the Squid

Syd the Squid Natural Dye Knit Kits are now available 

on-line through the Fibershed Marketplace!

Coreopsis natural dye recipe includes solar and stovetop instructions. Syd the Squid is knit flat with simple increases and decreases which makes a great introduction to toy making. All ecological packed in a ball mason jar, which also functions as your dye vessel - how cool is that? (Where were these kits when I was a kid???)

natural dye knit kit includes:

• wool yarn from Kenny Kirkland's Woolly Egg Farm in Mill Valley, California and milled at Yolo Wool Mill

• organically grown, hand-picked coreopsis from natural dye artists Rebecca Burgess's dye garden on Mt. Barnaby in Lagunitas, California

• illustrated booklet with dye instructions and a knitting pattern to knit you own Syd the Squid! (Illustrations and knit toy pattern by Dyan Ashby. Natural dye recipe from Rebecca.) 

This was such a FUN project to collaborate on, I am looking forward to creating more. . .

visit to Meridian Jacobs Farm

Meridian Jacob Sheep : Photo credit Paige Green

Over the weekend, we visited Meridian Jacobs Farm. Located on the western edge of the Sacramento valley in Vacaville, California and home to over 60+ Jacob sheep. Jacob Sheep are unique for their randomly spotted wool. 

Meridian Jacobs Farm is run by Robin Lynde who is an amazing weaver who often hosts weaving, spinning and dye classes at her farm along with selling local fiber yarn, weaving and spinning supplies. It's a short drive from the city and well worth the visit to see this unique bread of sheep.

Unique with their randomly spotted coats of white and black and their large horns (some can have up to 6 horns), Jacob Sheep are considered a dual-coat bread which means their coats are a mix of long, sturdy outer fibers and short, insulating undercoat fibers. Basically that tells us that the variety of wool from Jacob sheep will vary greatly depending on where the hairs are collected from the coats - expanding the possible range of the yarns created. The Jacob yarns Robin offers have a nice springy bounce to the knitted fabric. 

Commercially, Jacob yarns are rare. Commercial wool yarns tend to be a mystery blend of white wools that can be easily dyed and homogenized. The spotted coats of a Jacob make that crisp white dyeable fiber more labor intensive. So if you'd like to sample Jacob wool I recommend keeping an eye out for artisan yarns like Meridian Jacobs Farm - their natural raw wool colors provide a gorgeous range from cream, soft pale greys, mid greys, dark deep chocolate brown to black. Robin sells a "swirl" variety that blends 2 raw wool colors together which is incredibly rich when knitted up. The possibilities are endless. And while most people would never consider dying Jacob due to its incredible raw color range, I've found the wool takes natural dyes quiet well and can create some intriguing results.

 • Knit Shirt Knit Kit designed by Kacy Dapp •
• Meridian Jacob black/grey swirl yarn by Robin Lynde •
• Photo credit Paige Green •

Currently obsessed with the black/grey swirl yarn from Meridian Jacobs Farm. Be sure to check out this gorgeous Knit Shirt Knitting Kit featuring this lovely yarn designed by Kacy Dapp. I love how she's allowed the raw fibers colors to ombré through the use of stripes.

Very soon there will be some artisan knit accessories available on the Fibershed Marketplace featuring some of Robin's unique yarns designed by Peccadillo Collection and knitted by Tiny Textiles in San Francisco. . .