I have a small flock of Jacobs sheep. They are very beautiful. I started with two ewes and a ram two years ago, and last spring they presented me with three adorable lambs. We had to let the original ram go to meet his maker as he developed an unfriendly attitude towards the lambs, but now we have a lovely friendly little flock which gives me tons of fleece and loads of joy as we watch them grazing contentedly in their paddock.
They have just been shorn this year, 2019, including our new ram, Blaze, who has a magnificent set of horns!
Click here to see a short video of My twin lambs
Of course if you have sheep you have to do something with the fleece! So I’ve resuscitated an old hobby and got myself spinning again! Thanks to a workshop with Sara of Lilou Laine which you can find out about here.
They have just been shorn this year, 2019, including our new ram, Blaze, who has a magnificent set of horns!
Click here to see a short video of My twin lambs
Of course if you have sheep you have to do something with the fleece! So I’ve resuscitated an old hobby and got myself spinning again! Thanks to a workshop with Sara of Lilou Laine which you can find out about here.
My three wheels - a Peacock, a Louet and an Ashford.
First Shearing from our Jacobs
First test yarn!
I'm planning to knit with the wool I spin, and will have the odd thing for sale in my studio. We get quite a few visitors to our France Passion overnight motorhome stop and people often buy a painting, some jam and maybe something else if it's on offer!
Handknitted Handwarmers made from Handspun
Handknitted scarf made from handspun blend of Jacobs wool and Keeshond fur.
One half is Jacobs, the other, fluffier half has blended-in Keeshond fur!
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| Karmen and Molly, two of our Jacobs sheep |
That must be wonderful Diane. I decided against goats on my plot though I think they are the most adorable things on the planet as I could not commit so much time to them. Are your flock in a field closeby? Do you spin? I have spun Jacob's and it is gorgeous and soft.
ReplyDeleteThe moment the first lamb was born was absolutely miraculous, and then two days later I had twins! I couldn’t believe my luck! I was glued to them like a fussy mother hen for the first month. It was a brilliant thing to experience. They are luckily in my field which is attached to the garden, so very convenient. They aren’t a lot of work as long as you’re organised, and have a shepherd to do the shearing and any medical stuff like trimming horns and so on. And yes, I do spin, love it, very relaxing!
ReplyDeleteWell that test yarn and the fleece look very soft - you have a lovely selection of wheels too. My Wee Peggy (an original from Dunedin NZ by John Rappard himself and not an Ashford copy:) is similar to your peacock. I spin rarely now as art is my world but I did a lot for 3 years very intensely and sold much fiber in batts that I spent ages creating and yarn. It is very soothing isn't it...
ReplyDeleteThe Peacock was my first wheel thirty years ago - they aren’t made any more, sadly. At that time I couldn’t afford an Ashford... I’m so happy to have my three wheels (and a drum carder!). I divide my time in my studio between painting stints and then a stint of spinning, which seem to complement each other - very soothing, as you say. How interesting that you spin (span? Spun?) too!!
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