The Christmas Mouse

First let me introduce a NEW Felted Creation, my Christmas Mouse! It may be way early for this post, but I sure have heard about Christmas in July a time or too, so I think I’m okay at least for today. My cute little mouse was needle felted, meaning I administered lots and lots of pokes with a barbed needle, using alpaca and wool wrapped around a fiber core. His arms are movable, his tail bendable, and he sports a Santa suit and hat complete with fur trim.

I’m also offering a class to make this cheery fellow, for those you that live in Ohio or not too far away. New classes always fill up quickly, so don’t delay registering for the Christmas Mouse Needle Felting Class.

Learn How To Spin With A Drop Spindle

I had learned how to spin on a spinning wheel, but not a drop spindle. My daughter had figured out how to spin with a drop spindle, and my neighbor, and I’ve been to fiber festivals and seen kids walking around spindling. It looked hard. Finally, when a group of gals wanted me to teach a drop spindling class, it was time for me to learn. It takes some practice, and it takes some time. Here are some resources that will help you on your journey into drop spindling. It really is quite relaxing, therapeutic even, once you’ve learned.

First you will need a spindle. The top whorl spindles pictured above are made by Amelia Garripoli of Ask The Bellwether, and her family. They are well weighted, general purpose spindles. Which Spindle Spins The Best is a very detailed article by Amelia in which she compares the different kinds of spindles. There are various different kinds of spindles, some very beautiful made from exotic hardwoods, others painted with fun designs. A spindle can also be as simple as a dowel rod, a CD, and a hook. See How to Make a Drop Spindle to make your own.

There are three parts of a drop spindle, the shaft, the whorl, and the hook at the top of the shaft. The shaft is basically what the drop spindle revolves around and it holds the yarn after twist has been applied to the fiber. The whorl acts as a weight to help the drop spindle continue to spin. The hook, or sometimes a notch, in the shaft holds the yarn while the drop spindle is spinning.

Productive Spindling

Amelia has also written a book called Productive Spindling, which is a terrific resource for drop spindling.

Next you will need some roving. Some say you need to use wool when you are learning. I learned with alpaca, so soft and nice to work with. Might as well enjoy the fiber you’re spinning! There is some Spinning Fiber Terminology that you might want to familiarize yourself with. Drafting is a spinning term meaning to pull apart fibers to the thickness desired before introducing twist to create yarn. Pre-drafting or splitting the roving is helpful, and makes the business of spinning go quicker. 3 Simple Steps to Preparing Fiber for Spinning explains and pictures how to prepare fiber for spinning.

Spinning with a drop spindle involves these easy steps:

Spin

Park

Pinch

Draft

Release

Wind On

Drop Spindle Spinning: The Ultimate Guide to Drop Spindles from Interweave is a great article with more detailed instructions.

Our Drop Spindle Kit includes a top whorl drop spindle, six ounces of alpaca roving in three different colors, and illustrated instructions, a very nice beginner’s kit.

Drop spindling does take practice, and learning anything new can be frustrating at the onset, but worth it once you master the skill. Check out Craftsy’s blog post on Tips and Troubleshooting for Drop Spindles .

One of the first things I wanted to learn after purchasing alpacas was how to spin. Though a drop spindle is far less of an investment than a spinning wheel, I just knew I would like spinning, so I took the plunge and went straight to a spinning wheel. It can be done. Drop spindling is not a prerequisite to spinning on a wheel, though they are nice to travel with. The essence of spinning is to twist the fiber so that it holds together in the form of yarn, whether it’s with a spindle or on a wheel.

The group of gals that wanted to learn how to drop spin asked if they could bring a picnic. They sat in the alpaca pasture and had a ball. Be sure to check out Picnic in Alpaca Pasture is Highlight of Farm Tour. I do teach a Drop Spindle Class here at the farm. Click on the link to see when it might be scheduled.

How to Use Hand Cards

Needle Felted Bears

I’ll be teaching a Needle Felted Bear Class at the farm this weekend. For those of you attending, or trying this at home, I’ve put together a Pinterest Board with lots of inspiration for you! There are bears of all shapes and sizes and colors and breeds, felted by many talented felting artists. You can keep it simple but making a roundish shape, adding some bears, a face, and a little bear muzzle, or spend more time adding legs and feet, and feet pads, even clothing and accessories.

Be sure to check out the classes at Alpaca Meadows, including the Bear Needle Felting Class. Felting Supplies such as Felting Foam, Felting Needles, Multi-Needle Felting Tools, and Finger Protectors are available online and in our Farm Store. You might also be interested in our Needle Felt An Animal Friend Kit by Back to Back Alpaca, a great kit for learning the techniques of three dimensional needle felting.

Learn how to transfer a design of your beloved pet onto fabric and needle felt your pet with these instructions on Craftsy, How to Needle Felt Your Pet for Truly Unique Keepsake.

Explore online classes at Craftsy, over 1500 from which to choose.

Felted Rabbits and Bunnies

In preparation to teach another Bunny Felting Class, I thought I would gather pictures of some of my favorite bunnies. Pinterest was a great place to do that! Felted rabbits really do come in all different shapes and sizes, some that are very simple designs that would be great for a beginning felter. Those that have some experience with felting might want to tackle a bunny with more detail, perhaps even with bunny clothes and accessories!

Follow Alpaca Meadows’s board Felted Rabbits on Pinterest.

When it comes to needle felting, there is more than one way to felt a bunny. The following are some tutorials to help you to decide what your preference might be.

Mama Bunny and Three Bunnies Felting Tutorial
Needle Felting a Bunny: A Photo Tutorial
How to Make a Cute Needle Felted Bunny for Easter

Though I don’t have a Bunny Felting Kit available yet, the House Mouse Kit or Needle Felt an Animal Friend Kit both come with instructional DVD’s to help you learn three dimensional felting.

House Mouse Kit

Needle Felt An Animal Friend Kit

If you don’t live too far away, and would like to learn how to needle felt a bunny in The Fiber Studio at Alpaca Meadows, click Bunny Felting Class. Organize a group of friends to come do a class with you, or join a class already scheduled!

Private Lessons – Knitting and Crochet

Been wanting to come to a class, but your schedule never coincides with mine? Or you’ve come to a beginner’s class and now you’re ready for more? Perhaps a private lesson is in order. Some people learn easier one-on-one. Schedule the day and time that works best for you. An hour lesson is just $20 and you get a one-on-one lesson focused on what you need the most. Or bring a friend and share the cost. Choose a project you’d like to start on, or I can make suggestions. Bring your own yarn, or enjoy a 10% discount on any yarn in The Fiber Studio. Fiber friends ages 7 and over are welcome.

Check your calendar then call or contact us to schedule your private lesson!

Beginner Knitting

Knitting is the new yoga! You will learn to cast-on, knit, purl and bind-off. Your private lesson also includes an overview of knitting vocabulary, materials, accessories and more.

Beginner Crochet

Bulky Ribbed Crochet Scarf

Crochet is is enjoying a renaissance and is my personal favorite. This cherished fiber art is faster than knitting, and easier to correct mistakes. Yes, I make them! Learn to crochet or refresh your memory. You will learn to create a foundation chain as well as single, half-double, double, and triple crochet stitches. Your lesson also includes an overview of crochet vocabulary, materials, accessories and more.

Back to Class Schedule.

Picnic in Alpaca Pasture is Highlight of Farm Tour

A group of gals from Columbus, Ohio came for a Farm Tour over the weekend. They had asked if they could bring their lunch, then do a Drop Spindle Class in the afternoon. Though they enjoyed learning to spin, and they enjoyed shopping in The Farm Store, their picnic in the alpaca pasture was the highlight!

Picnic in the Pasture

When given some options where they could have their lunch, they opted for in the pasture under a shade tree.

Bunny Felting Class

Enjoy pictures from the Bunny Felting Class held a few weeks ago here at the farm!

Bunny Felting Class

The craft I was teaching is called needle felting. This is the process of poking a special felting needle with barbs at the end of it, into fiber, which agitates, compresses, and locks the scales of fiber together into a more dense mass of fiber, in this case a bunny rabbit!

It is always fun to see how different each bunny turns out!

Bunny Felting Class - Jill's Bunny

One gal purchased roving and tools to take home and later added some color to her bunny!

Felted Alpaca Easter Bunny

This is “Sweet Pea”, one of my bunnies. See more of my needle felted one-of-a-kind creations here.

Interested in learning to needle felt? See the Class Schedule and register for a class! Don’t live nearby or want to try felting on your own? It is not difficult. Felting kits are available in The Farm Store online and in The Fiber Studio at Alpaca Meadows.

For inspiration, tutorials, and tips on needle felting bunnies, see Felted Rabbits and Bunnies!

FREE Crochet Pattern – Headband Ear Warmer

This year in my Learn To Crochet Class, we’ll be making headbands. As I began to prepare for the class, I found there are many different styles, and FREE patterns too! And headbands seem to be very popular right now!

Learn To Crochet

The headband we will be making in class is pictured above in a handful of different colors, using our Snuggle yarn. I love to use this bulky yarn because it works up quickly. It is nice when first learning to be able to complete a project in a relative short amount of time. This yarn makes it that much easier! Snuggle yarn is available in Snuggle Solids and Snuggle Hand-Dyed.

For those that have never crocheted before, there is some helpful information is below:

How to Hold a Crochet Hook

How to Hold Yarn for Crochet

How to Make a Slip Knot

Here’s the pattern:

Simple Ear Warmer Crochet Pattern

The stitches used in this pattern are the most basic, chain stitch and single crochet stitch.

You will need a Size N crochet hook.

Ch 11.

Row 1: Place a stitch marker or safety pin in the first ch from your hook. Sc in 3rd ch from hook. (Ch 1, skip next ch, sc in next ch.) Rep across entire row. Ch 1, turn.

Row 2: (Sc in the next ch-1 sp, ch 1.) Rep the sequence in parentheses across the rest of the row. At the end of the row, work a sc st into the st where you placed the marker (you can remove the marker before working the stitch). Ch 1, turn.

Rows 3 and Up: The rest of the rows are all exactly the same as row 2, with one minor difference. At the end of the row you will work your last sc st into the turning chain of the previous row. Rep this row until the headband is the length you want it to be.

I worked 49 rows total. Depending on how tall your stitches turn out, you might need to crochet a different number of rows.

If you would like to check the fit before you sew the edges of the headband together, put a safety pin in your active loop and pin the sides of the headband together. Try it on. If i t is too big, you can unravel a bit. If it is too small, crochet another row or two until it is the size you want.

Finishing the Ear Warmer

When you are satisfied that the ear warmer is the correct size, cut the yarn leaving an extra long length of yarn (around ten inches long.) Thread a tapestry needle using this end of yarn. With right sides together, use the tapestry needle to stitch the ends of the headband together. Weave in your ends. Turn the headband right side out. You are finished!

For notes on Gauge, Finished Size, and Design, go to Simple Crochet Ear Warmer Pattern.

Abbreviations Used In This Pattern:

ch = chain
ch-1 sp = chain-1 space (This is the space formed when you crocheted a chain stitch in the previous row.)
rep = repeat
sc = single crochet
st = stitch

Simple Ear Warmer with Flower

If time allows, we’ll make a flower too! I have found there are many patterns for Knitting and Crocheting Flowers. The pattern for this flower is here.

A good book on crochet packed with hundreds of tips and ideas is The Complete Photo Guide to Crochet.

Be sure to check out my FREE Headband Crochet Patterns board on Pinterest!

Follow Alpaca Meadows’s board Crochet – Headband Patterns on Pinterest.

Enjoy more …

FREE HEADBAND CROCHET PATTERNS

Crocheted Headband with Flower – Celestial’s Creations
This pattern uses chain stitch and single crochet with rows going horizontal across the band, and has a button closure.

Stretchy Headband with Flower – Flower Girl Cottage
This pattern uses chain stitch, single crochet, and double crochet and has a lacy look.

Knit Look Crochet Headband Earwarmer – Craftster
This pattern uses chain stitch, double crochet, front post double crochet, and back post double crochet, and would be a little more challenging pattern for a beginner.

Crochet Headwrap Pattern – 4T Designs
This pattern uses some special stitches like back loop single crochet which is just like it sounds, a single crochet through the back loop of the stitch. The pattern has good pictures showing how to do this. I love the flower on this headband!

Adorable Headwrap Pattern – Sweet Sweezers
This pattern uses chain stitch and double crochet, and something new, double crochet two stitches (dc next 2 sts tog) together!

Amazing Grace Headband – Beatrice Ryan Designs
This pattern uses chain stitch, single crochet, double crochet, half-double crochet, and reverse single crochet. The pattern was designed in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness. Opportunities to crochet and donate headbands are available on this site.

Knot Knitted Headband – Cotton Fables
With this pattern, you will learn to use a foundation single crochet, and also a back post double crochet. It is a crochet pattern with a knit look.

Headband and Cuff – Little Birdie Secrets
In this pattern you will learn single crochet in back loop only, and how to crochet a half-double cross stitch. Both have videos showing this technique.

Textured Headband/Earband – Cotton Gin Studios
This pattern uses three stitches, slip, single crochet and double crochet. A chainless foundation technique keeps the headband from tightening up on one edge.

FREE VIDEO

How To Crochet an Earwarmer Headband

Learning to Knit – What You Will Need

Learning to knit can be a bit overwhelming, but once you’ve learned it can be very enjoyable, calming your mind while your hands stay busy. All you really need is some yarn and a couple of knitting needles.

Choosing Yarn

One of the pleasures of knitting is working with beautiful yarn textures and colors. That being said, choosing which yarn to use can be puzzling. It is important to choose the right yarn for your knitting project. This E-guide on How to Choose and Use the Right Yarn Every Time is a very helpful resource.

Or take it a step further with a Craftsy Online Class by Clara Parkes called Know Your Yarn: Choose the Perfect Yarn Every Time. The description of this class is as follows: “Join acclaimed author Clara Parkes for comprehensive guidance on identifying and choosing the yarn you need for the project you want! Find out the meaning of fiber terms such as staple, crimp, luster, and micron. Then, discover the benefits and challenges of fiber from sheep, alpaca, goats, rabbits, and other animals. Learn about the advantages and disadvantages of plant fibers: cotton, linen, hemp, and bamboo. Explore the strengths and weaknesses of different silks, as well as for synthetic fibers. Clara will even demystify the different types of twist and why they matter. Finally, get tips for identifying mystery stash yarns, evaluating yarn from your local shop, and much more. Match the right yarn to the right pattern with confidence and create projects you’re thrilled with every time!”

Scarf Crocheting Class

Eight people braved the weather on Saturday and came for the Scarf Crocheting Class at the farm. Three of them were teenagers! It did my heart good to see young people interested in something non-electronic!

Growing up, I enjoyed doing most anything with my hands.

According to an article titled Knitting & Crocheting are Hot by the Craft Yarn Council, creativity is, by far, the number one influencing factor that attracts women (28%) to the craft and it’s most important to women in the 18-24 age group (31%).

Creativity is followed by “keeping hands busy” at 15%, “making gifts” at 13%, and “stress relief” at 10%. Most respondents, 26%, spend 1–5 hours on their craft per week, 16% spend between 6–9 hours and 18% between 10–19 hours.

The yarn we used in this class was a bulky yarn called Snuggle, available in The Fiber Studio here at our farm or in The Farm Store online. It comes in a number of great colors, including NEW multi-colors!

The pattern we used is called Fast and Easy Scarf, which works up quickly and is good practice for chain stitch and double crochet. The pattern calls for chaining 87 stitches which is not near long enough, in my opinion. I chained 101 stitches and even that was a bit short.

Skinny Scarf - Winter White

I have found some links that I would recommend if you are wanting to learn how to crochet. Stitches – For Dummies has great pictures of the different stitches and simple, easy to understand directions. At the Craft Yarn Council there is a Crochet Abbreviations Master List, Crochet Chart Symbols, and help for How to Read a Crochet Pattern.

If pictures and written instructions don’t work for you, the You Tube video below may help.

Are you left-handed? There are Crochet Lessons for Left-Handers available on the Crochet Guild of America website.

If you find you just can’t stop crocheting once you have learned how, you could always Crochet for Charity. There are many worthwhile causes and people in need that would benefit from the work of your hands.

Some sites I found with FREE patterns are:

All Free Crochet Patterns
Crochet Pattern Central Lion Brand Free Crochet Patterns Naturally Caron Free Crochet Patterns
Ravelry – Just do a search for Free Crochet Patterns.

Of course, there are lots of good books on crocheting too!