Episode 20: Rare Swiss Sheep

In this episode I visit a Swiss fiber farm. There are videos of the wool processing steps (washing, carding) and lots of animals. We also hear a bit about the “Roux du Valais” – an endangered Swiss sheep breed and watch a cashmere goat being brushed.

Finished Project

EYF 2018 shawl

Pattern: Improvised triangular shawl with some stockinette, garter stitch and short rows.
Yarn: My own handspun out of Malabrigo Nube in the colorway Pocion
Needles: 3.75 mm (US 5) Lykke Needles
This shawl was cast on on the way to EYF 2018 and I knit on it while at the festival. So it carries many sweet memories of all the people I met there.

Knitting in Progress

Improvised colorwork sweater

Pattern: Improvising a bottom up sweater
Yarn: Lana Rara Rare Swiss Wool – a Sport weight woolen yarn from endangered Swiss sheep breeds (2/3): Saaser Mutten, Spiegelschaf, Bündner Oberländerschaf, Engadinerschaf. Plus mulesing free merino wool (1/3).
Needles: 4.50 mm (US 7) Lykke Needles

Spinning

I am spinning 100% Blue Faced Leicester (BFL) in a natural color on my Ashford traditional spinning wheel. My goal is to achieve a DK to worsted weight in order to knit the Telja sweater by Jennifer Steingass out of the yarn. In this episode I show you my first plied skein which turned out very nice.