Selvedges!

Hello Everyone,

Here is the current information and a few pictures of the selvedges available. We are sorting thru the boxes and separating them into bags which can be quite a task in untangling sometimes. These selvedges come from a local mill that weaves upholstery fabrics for mid to high end furniture manufacturers - chairs, sofas, recliners. The content is a mix of polyester, cotton & rayons. Some are quite matte, some are silky and some are a mix of matte & silky but most are a mix of colours rather than just one and sophisticated combinations too. When I took a tour of the mill 2 weeks ago there were over 15 different looms going all at once, including about 7 Jacquard looms which are so impressive! The manager told me with some pride that they are known for being able to get up new designs quite quickly, so there is lots of variety in the boxes now and I expect that we won't see the same selvedges over long periods of time. But since I'm new to this side of the selvedge business I will be learning and passing on what information will be helpful to you. Well on with just a few photos to give you an idea of what the selvedges are like - remember there's a lot more variety then what you are seeing here:







We are sorting the selvedges into bags and then they're classified as "light", "medium" or "dark". The minimum order is 50 lbs and you can specify which of the 3 categories or "The Smorgy Box" which will be a mix of all three as balanced as we can manage. The cost is $1/lb + shipping. Payment can be by check or paypal.

Some questions I've been asked:

Do you send samples? Yes, samples can be mailed but we can't guarantee that those selvedges will be available for any particular length of time or in any particular quantity.

Can I choose by content? Because these selvedges are quite mixed it wouldn't be possible to send you just cottons, or rayons, etc. All the fabrics woven are a mix of poly, cottons & rayons in some combination.

What's the shrinkage? I haven't done any tests yet but will soon post what I find from samplings to give a general idea. Since these selvedges are all very different the shrinkage will vary.

How many pounds do I need for a rug? I weave my rugs at a 29" width in the reed and usually to about 40" long which takes about 5lbs of weft material because of my more open sett of 8 epi. A 50 lb box then could make up to 10 rugs depending on length and your warp sett.

Do you have sock loopers? No, I haven't found a local mill doing socks.

Please send an email to littlemeadowsfarm@yahoo.com to place an order or for the phone number if you'd like to speak in person. And if there is a question you have not covered here please send me an email, I will answer as quickly as possible. Comments are welcomed too!

Thanks and hope to hear from you soon,
Liese

News from Little Meadows

Hello to Everyone from all of us at Little Meadows. Although it's been a busy time for us humans in the last couple of months since the last newsletter, the rest of the crew has had it pretty easy. But we do have a few things needing done today.

First up is Frank because he's going to be having a hornacure -yup, you've hear of a manicure and a pedicure, right? Well ol' Frankie needs to have his right horn shaped every month to keep it from growing against his eye. Now his left horn grew just fine but his right grows just a wee bit different and that's enough to make it grow too close to his face. Fortunately some very nice people at UNC Small Ruminant (that's what sheep and goats are) Center helped us and so now we take care of it ourselves. Because Frank is such a mellow guy and knows that we are trying to help he is very co-operative, standing very still so we can sand, file and then sand again. Here's a picture of how his horn looks:

It has a flat end because we could cut it back that far several months ago. This did not hurt him since we didn't cut back to where he could feel anything. Today what we have to do is trim away at the inside that's coming so close to his face. First we put in a shield to protect his eye, we have a thin sheet of plastic that's both flexible but won't tear. Then we slip in a piece of sandpaper with a cloth backing and sand enough of the horn to slip a file in. This is like getting your fingernails filed. We use a shurform file that's flexible and thin, this takes off a lot of horn pretty quickly so we aren't making him cranky by taking too long. Usually he get's alfalfa coookies now and then to thank him for being such a patient boy. Then we sand again so that the horn is smooth. In the next picture you can see the shield and how much help we're getting from Max. After all Frank is his cousin so he wanted to be sure everything was okay.

In the picture at right, we're just giving the final touches with the sandpaper. Now let's get a few words from Frank...

Mom: So Frank how does your horn feel now?

Frank: It really feels great, before sometimes when I was chewing my grass, I would feel that horn rubbing my face. Do you think I'll have to always have a hornacure?

Mom: Probably since your horn grows all the time just like my fingernails. Is there anything you'd like to tell folks in the newsletter?

Frank: Yeah, tell them that the grass is growing okay but we need more rain to make it more tender and yummy. And Teacup has been baaad

, she got out of the fence yesterday but I was good and stayed in. Can I have a cookie now?

Mom(laughing): Okay Frank, I don't think anyone can send us rain but maybe they can send us rainy wishes and here's your cookie.

Besides Frank's horn we also trimmed or at least looked at everyone's feet to make sure they're not over grown. Fancy, Faye & Fiona (the Dorsets) and Betty, Mabel & Precious (the Corriedales) need their feet done frequently, growing fast out in front which then makes them stand in ways that isn't good for their legs. Everyone else have slower growing hooves that don't need trimming so frequently. It would be nice to have a picture here but taking a picture whilst holding a leg and clipping is beyond me! And Bob is busy holding each sheep to help them feel balanced and secure. The front feet always go pretty smoothly but everyone hates to have the back feet done. I hang on and eventually they stop kicking their leg back enough to trim without either hurting them or myself. But this is where I can stab myself with the points of the trimmers.

In the photo above you can see the netting that we use to keep them in a place without permanent fencing – in this case right behind the house. I rarely have to use a lawn mower! This was taken in the morning when everyone is the most active of the day, they are so busy eating they won't even look up to see what I'm doing. Then they'll go and lay under the trees or shelters in the shade for most the day. Then in the evening they get out for another major meal and then snack sometimes at night. Now if it's really hot they'll do most of their eating at night, that's why we don't put them into a barn at night. They are happy to lay down in groups and sleep under the stars. We all love to sleep under the stars....good night all.

Sheep shelters, cheap shelters

Over on Ravelry someone asked about how to provide shelter where there is no infrastructure. Lots of web surfing a few years ago yielded Hoop houses that we've worked out thru several renditions. At first we built them on frames to haul around as some people do. Maybe it's us, probably it's our terrain and field condition but they began to fall apart; plus dragging them around is a ... drag. So we have evolved to have semi permanent hoop houses in each field. Semi because we can take them apart, permanent because they hold up to wind and sheep.

It all starts with the cattle panel which is 4' high and 16' long of welded wire, this is available at the farm supply store for somewhere in the $16-20 range. The picture on the right up there is of several tied up awaiting use. So you take this 4x 16' panel and raise up the center- the easiest way is to pound 2-3 T posts in the ground and set one 4' end against those posts and push on the other end making the centre rise up; do the same for the second panel. Now is the time to set the other T posts for the opposite side - 2-3 again. With the posts pounded in, the panels will stay put and behave themselves. Then they need to be laced together and you can do that with handy baling twine or electrical zip cords - we have lots of baling twine so that's what we use. You want to do the lacing almost along the entire join because the wind will try to have fun with it.
Now spread your tarp over the structure and tie that down at the grommets with more baling twine. Tie it on one side and then pull tight from the other so that it won't flap much in a wind - this is what really wears a tarp out. More cords can be tied from one side to the other over the top for further wind protection. In order to get the right length of tarp we're forced to get too wide, just run the extra bit underneath and tie like you see here. The final stage is to tie the panel to the posts just below the tarp - lashing it on is all you need to do. In our experience, it is better to set up 2 of these separately rather than make a big long lodge - the sheep just don't use that set up efficiently and several will be out in the rain looking miserable. Also when setting up 2 houses don't put them smack against each other unless you have lots of time extricating lambs - leave a bit of room and no-one will get hurt. Our flock is about 24 and 2 hoop house are just about the minimum necessary, 3 would be nicer. Definitely do the one extra in the winter so that you can feed hay under cover and not have a crush. Each one will cost under $100, the panel last for many, many years and the tarp maybe 2-3, more if you're disciplined to untie it when not in use. We have 2 in every field as we rotate the sheep from meadow to meadow. Shade from trees is far superior, so fence in trees when you can but where there are no trees and for rain protection I haven't found anything cheaper or more versatile than the hoop houses.

Farmer's Market or How I spend my Saturdays

This is what the little market looks like, it's a log built stable once used by the family of the Chinqua-Penn estate and so just down a bit from the Big House . The tables are set up all under roof but we're on grass and small gravel which makes standing 5 hours a little easier. Of course I don't stand as much since I bring my wheel and spin. Here are a couple views of my table: Actually these pictures are switched but you get the idea. The framed picture by the soaps are of Iris and Gardenia mugging it up. Now I have pictures of the sheep too.
My neighbor sells many things from her farm including these lovely mushrooms, these are shiitakes they grow on oak logs. She sells fresh and dehydrated, just in case anyone needs to know where a good source of these mushrooms are. She also represents the local winery by pouring out small samples of their wine and selling. Once in awhile she'll turn to me and ask "would you like a sample?" Isn't this a great neighbor to have?!
All in all, we have 10 vendors so it's not a big market but I do well enough. It's a balancing act because a larger and busier market would mean much more soap making, spinning and weaving. Since I feel as though my work is never done now, this seems to be a good fit.

Currently on the loom is a 5/2 pearl cotton baby blanket with a 15 epi sett - which is wide for a twill but a 10/2 blanket in the same sett (!) had a nice drape and hand so I decided to try out the same threading for the 5/2. Perhaps this preference is being influenced by our 80*F spring weather - this blanket weight seems just right. I'll have to try the next at a closer sett and compare. This blanket is being also woven in a 2/2 twill but I changed the treadling so that I'm stepping right to left but outside to inside and am finding this much easier to keep straight. Meanwhile I've gotten a copy of Peg Osterkamp's second book intraloaned thru my wee library. Even a quick read has given me lots of handy tips and pointers for warping the big loom. Which I'd like to happen this weekend because Sheila has sent me a note and I feel that a picture of her former loom with a warp on it is a must in my reply! An even bigger must is getting Lashes sheared, she's still in her winter coat which last week didn't seem to bad but now the temps have soared. Llew's coat doesn't grow near the length hers does but we'll have to see how matted he is from rolling around; we may have to tackle him too.

Well, it near milking time already, so off to clean the bucket and get the food ready. Have a great weekend everyone.

Postscript - here's a couple of pictures of the finished Preemie/stroller blanket:

The cloth is of course much fuller with the 5/2 than the 10/2, more "blanket" like at the 15epi. Don't think I'd want a much closer sett myself. The 10/2 at the 15 epi in the 2/2 twill is more shawl like. Temps now in the 90's! Not blanket of any type weather unless one has the A/C blasting!

Still Here!

Where has the time gone? It certainly doesn't count that I've thought about getting entries done but let me catch everyone up starting with last to first.

On May 18th we had a Fiber Day at the Farm which was a whole lot of fun for me but required an embarrassing amount of work. The house inside was a wreck and much detritus around outside also had to be taken away. Recycling is a good thing but only if the stuff gets to the recyclers! Bob took 2 days holiday just before and did a huge amount of the outside work, especially on Saturday whilst I went of to do the Market. Believe me, I had it easy. But it all came together with lots of help and I think we all had a good time if the level of laughter in our screen porch was any indication. People really came quite a distance, including Meg and her husband who drove 3 hours one way to be with us! She had blended up the most elegantly coloured batts, which she is selling. Send her an email if you'd like something custom, hollowoakfarm@yahoo.com. Thanks to Anne aka Carpoolknitter for taking photos!

The week before the party my Mother and Grandmother stopped for a couple of days and helped with the inside wreckage. My wonderful 92 year old grandmother washed and cleaned up the kitchen and then lent a hand with pinning up a lap quilt. My mother threw herself into organizing the rest of the place but I do have to admit that the pile of library books has now crept out of the study and back to their accustomed place next to the chair. Mother also came up with the way to finish the afore mentioned quilt - although I had gotten lovely advice from others when I posted earlier, I did a simple hand sewn edge after Mum and Ranny spent an hour kneeling on the floor pinning. It may not be the best edging choice
for a heavily used and washed quilt but since the batting is wool from a Faye fleece that I carded up, machine washing isn't an option anyway. It is extremely light and warm, perfect for the cool spring mornings right now.

The weekend of May 3, was the opening of the Rockingham County Farmer's Market, a new market for me that is slightly closer to home than last years venue and hopefully more lucrative. Bob, who normally stays home, came with me to man the table whilst I sat at the spinning wheel. I didn't take any pictures myself but the local newspaper covered it and I had my moment a fame being pictured spinning. It was a good turnout and I met many knitters and would be knitters, as well as, would be spinners. So I'm hoping to get those " would be's" going by teaching at the Market when time allows. Last Saturday was a bit quiet and it's anyone's guess what tomorrow will be like but I will try to bring the camera.

So that pretty much brings us up to date on May. Farm news wise it has been a excellent month for rain, the pastures are green though headed out and need cutting. Bob has been battling a fuel leakage problem on our old tractor but hopefully he'll have that under control soon. The goatlings have been growing like crazy, besides just being crazy. The play on the old wire spools gets quite rambunctious at times. Grace's twins Katie and Muggins are still managing to squirm through the field fencing but it's getting to be a tighter squeeze as they get bigger. Still at about 4 in the afternoon they are hanging out at the back door wondering when dinner will be served. I have gotten half the garden planted but have more beds to prepare and areas for the corn - it's getting quite late for planting but we do what we can. At least the potatoes are doing well. The lone apple tree has some apples beginning to swell but I'm having a terrible time keeping the llamas and big girls from it when they're out for a walk. When there is so much that they should be eating I don't know why they head for what they know is off limits. But we let them out to eat down the explosion of poison ivy, honey suckle and rose brier that threatens to engulf the place.

Currently on the spinning agenda is Dorset sock yarn which I spent 3 hours carding up yesterday and started spinning today. The Glimakra is half warped for blankets but I did finish 2 on the LeClerc. The colour selection requested by the client was so cheerful to work with that I plan to do more things in warm palettes in the winter. These baby blankets were woven in 10/2 pearl cotton with 24 epi and in a 2/2 twill. The one shown here was woven first and then the commissioned blanket second with 6" wide stripes. In person the larger check had a folksier feel compared to this one which reminds me of Bauhaus designs.

Well, now we are truly all caught up. I sure enjoy sharing our news with you and hope that you have a great Memorial Weekend. Our weekend plans are to build a better hen house - pictures coming!

The latest and last babies

We had been waiting for Zoe, one of the Nigerian Dwarf dairy goats to give a sign that she was ready for birthing and 2 days ago looked like she was near. So up she came to the nursery where Grace and twins were ensconced. Just after noon today I heard sounds of labour and sure enough she was already pushing. Grabbing fresh towels I went out to be the support. The first birth was a wee bit difficult for her since this girl decided to come into the world butt first, fortunately the other 2 girls took the proper course and within 30 min. Zoe delivered all three, they were standing and with a little help from me finding the teat and nursing. This picture was taken about 45 min. from when I found her in contractions! It is an incredibly warm day - up to 80*F so these three are having a nice introduction to the world but the sheep are less then thrilled, they are lounging out under the tree probably wondering where spring went.

It's been a week since we had any rain so I'm hoping we get some soon - the heat dries out the garden soil so fast. The potatoes from Moose Tubers, part of Fedco in Maine have come and I'm planning to get them into the trenches either tonight or tomorrow. I'm also going to try growing a few in a tire tower. Meanwhile I am making soap, finishing some weaving and measuring out the warp for some baby blankets. Last weekend I brought home a 25 y/o Glimakra loom and have been reading, studying, putting together, rearranging and generally getting acquainted- remember when you got your first bike or train set? Well, that's what it's been like for me! I think I'll wait until a couple of books come in before actually warping her up because right now I'm a little intimidated. Those papers on the bench there are what I have right now to go from; I'm sure Joanne Hall's book will help me out on some of the mysteries of this loom.
The plans for this weekend are to let the sheep graze behind the house for a couple of days while Bob and I finish fencing the tiny North area and the bigger East field, now that the fallen trees are cut back far enough to be out of the way. Shear the last three girls still in fleece and in the evening wrap and label soaps for the Farmer's Market. I hope where ever you are, it's a perfect weekend too.

Spring is about New Life

It's been a rainy week here in the Mid-East and we are so grateful for it. The grass has gone from crunchy to green and now is beginning to put on some growth. Not quite fast enough for the sheep tho and so I've been on the phone hunting down hay because we are running out. Looks like I've found some but at about $25 more than pre-drought prices. Well hopefully one more big roll will see them through to fresh green grass.

On Saturday in between the rains Faye gave birth to twin ewelings. She's always been a big girl so I wasn't sure if she was really carrying, fortunately she is also an old hand at this so she just laid down delivered these little girls, cleaned them up and was nursing them when we discovered the situation. What a great Mum eh? As usual the pairing of Dorset to Jacob has produced wonderfully colourful lambs and these 2 little girls are going to be great additions to our Adopt a Sheep fleece program. The colour plus the buttery softness of the Dorset is a nice combination that we are getting compliments on. They also are friendly and curious about us 2 legged ones.
On Sunday afternoon Grace, one of the Nigerian Dairy goats, decided it was time and went into labour. But goats aren't stoics like sheep; they yell just like we do in contractions. The first goatling was a backward delivery and not alive, very sad but we had to put him aside and look to what was coming next. Fortunately the next doeling came in the proper presentation and was alive but the third was another backward delivery, she came easily though and I kept her head down and cleared her face quickly so she wouldn't breathe in any fluids which can cause pneumonia later. Mom and babies are doing great and we haven't had any concerns. Now we watch and wait for Zoe, another Nigerian Dairy goat and our last expectant Momma.

In the meantime we have started up another "adoption" program called Adopt a Goat, the information is on a separate page of our website. We are hoping that this program will be appealing to families because kids in cities or suburbs really don't get much of a chance to see farm life up closer than maybe a school field day at a petting zoo. I know we didn't growing up and having a greater understanding may help parents and kids feel more connected to the natural things that happen around them. And it's fun for me too, since there isn't anything better than talking about our family and the farm.