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We *finally* got the newsletter up and running, hurray!!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheIrishEwe
We will send out periodic updates, news, member only sales, free patterns, and so forth.
Updated to add that the first issue has been posted!!
Just in today - the new Ashford knitters loom. Click on over to the on-line shop to check it out. It's a great first-loom and perfect for your new introduction to weaving.
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New Ball Winders are in. Pick one up at the shop or order on-line. Below retail pricing!
Just in today, 2 big boxes of books -- Great titles -- First Knits, Fun & Funky Knitting, Lavish Lace, 365 Knittin gStiches perpetual Calendar, Essential Book of Crochet Techniques, Knits from the Heart, Knits Knots Buttons and Bows, Knitters Book of Finishing Techniques (a must have!!), Little Box of Baby Knits, Little Box of Scarves I & II, Little Box of Knitted Throws, Litlte Box of Sweaters, Modern Classics, Pursenalities, Pursenality Plus, Sensational Knitted Socks, Silk Knits, The Yarn Stash Workbook, Top Down Sweaters, etc etc. They're up on our on-line store as well.
Just tagged & put on the shelves our new line of Alpaca with a Twist. There's Big Baby, Baby Twist, Punch, and Fino. From bulky to lace weight, we've got you covered. There's several new patterns including 3 shawl/stole patterns for Fino. The Flight of the Bumble Bee is shown above and you can make it for less than $50, including the pattern!
We also have a 6 week lesson plan book so sign up for a lace class & you'll have a beautiful Alpaca sampler scarf/stole in 6 weeks for just $50. The lesson includes 6 weeks of classes, 1 hanks of Fino in your choice of many colors, and the Lesson workbook to take home with you. Stop in the shop to check this out & to look at the many colors of Fino. You'll also want to pet the other lines!
Big Baby works up fast -fast-fast, for a wonderful Valentines present, perhaps? So soft.....
Punch has vibrant colors and is a blend. Sure to be a favorite.
The new issue of Wild Fibers winter 2007 is just in. Click on over to the on-line shop to check it out. Talk about the original nose-ring, it looks like that camel has a drop-spindle stuck thru his!
Just in today, we'd delighted to add the new Cestari sock yarn to our inventory. I found this at the TNNA show and while Cestari has been one of our lines for over a year, I fell in love with their new sock yarn. After my head was hurting from looking at all that hand-painted, self-striping sock yarn, I found the Cestari to be restful, pure, and wholesome. I also had quite a chat with Francis, the owner, about raising sheep and we swopped sheep stories for quite a while. He's such a gentleman and he's been around sheep & yarn for years. The yarn is unassuming and well.... you'll see.... Long after those hand-painted merino socks have faded from fashion, you'll be wearing your Cestaris for years & years. Plus you'll be supporting the American Farmer, one who's been at it for generations & wants to continue. OK, OK, I'm gushing.... Now for the facts:
Gauge: approx 6.5 sts = 1 inch on size 3 needles ,2 oz, approx 193 yards.
This is the greatest undiscovered sock yarn. The wool keeps you warm, the cotton keeps you dry and if you get the blend with 8% Silk, the silk makes you want to keep the socks on your feet forever. If you\'re ready for a change from the busy striped sock yarn and want a yarn that will show your stitches to perfection, this is it. If you want to support a USA farm, this is it. If you want to knit socks for your whole family to be worn everyday, all year round, this is it. If you like muted natural colors, little bits of slubs & noils, and an occassional morsel of grass, this is it. If you're tired of packaging that is so flashy you can't read it, try Cestari's label. Plain, modest, honest, and it's all about the yarn. You can even toss your socks in the washer, just don't put them in the dryer. It'll even take color beautifully if you want to dye some up.
I love this company, the fact that it\'s family run for over 50 years, and the wholesomeness of their yarn. OK, I'll stop bubbling over about it and start knitting now....
See our Patterns page for a great sock pattern with a cabled top and also for a Cabled pullover and a great Cardigan pattern.
About Cestari Ltd. (Formerly Known as Chester Farms)
Cestari, Ltd and Cestari Sheep & Land Company LLC, formerly known as Chester Farms, were established by its founder, Francis Chester, in 1946, when he was 10 years old. From the beginning, quality farm products were produced for direct market. Today that tradition continues with the emphasis, as it has been through the years, on wool yarn from our own sheep. Working the farm with Francis is Diane, Francis’ wife of many years, together with their children, Francis Scott Cestari, Sabrina Gutshall and Jennifer Grimm, all very much involved in the operation.
Cestari is the ancestral Italian name for Chester. The tradition of the Cestari (Chester) family raising sheep goes back centuries to the Italian mountain province of Basilicata, some distance from Naples, where the former generations grazed their sheep on the monastery’s grounds.
Our wool and wool blend yarn is machine washable without shrinking and is sold in yarn shops throughout the country and Canada, in our sales barn at the farm and by internet, shipped direct to your door. Our pencil roving and all collections of Merino wool may be felted. Our yarns are used for knitting, crocheting, and, of course, weaving.
From an on-line yarn review :
Quality comments:
This lovely yarn, processed without chemicals, still has a touch of lanolin left in the wool and makes your hands smoother when you knit!! I loved the slight heathered effect and the yarn bloomed into an even loftier, softer fabric after I washed it. It wears well and looks great after another washing. Cestari is also a great value because you get 193 yards packed into 2 oz. so you have a lot to work with for the price.
Other comments:
This yarn offers great stitch definition and would be perfect for an aran, although I made myself a scarf for the Minnesota winter. You can throw whatever you've made into the wash machine and using a gentle soap, wash it that way, and even spin dry it on delicate. I think this yarn is perfect for an easy care, simple, beautiful project.
This yarn (the 100% worsted wool) is such a breath of fresh air in a knitting world gone mad with fuzzy, fur, and otherwise blech novelty yarns. It's a durable, hearty yarn. Grown by the shepards at Chester Farms, this yarn is non treated with any chemicals and retains a lot of the lanolin. Because of their spinning method, the yarn is machine washable, and it gets softer and cozier with each washing. I have only purchased the nautal white, so can't comment as to the softness of other colors. This yarn also dyes wonderfully with wool dye (I use gaywool) and the colors come rich, vibrant and just georgeous.
Other comments:
Perfect for everything from socks to winter slippers to sweaters to scarves and anything else your heart could desirely to be warm and wooly.
100% Cashmere. Softest fiber you'll ever knit with. Ivory color. 25 gram balls (a little under an ounce) & 88 yards. Under $20 a ball. Spun into DK weight (I'll have Dagny check the weight---I'm not good at that). This is great price for spun cashmere yarn --- For comparison, I pay $15-$18 an ounce for cashmere roving, then have to spin it up myself. One ball is enough for a small lacey scarf -- two would make a great pair of luxury mitts or a long enough scarf to wrap around your neck & snuggle into... Stop by & pet it soon -- it won't last long at this price, but we can order more and in additional colors as well.
We just got in 2 new colors from Knit One, Crochet Too in the very popular Paintbox yarn, 100% wool. We have lots of new patterns coming soon for this yarn, as well. You can order here on=line or pick up some at the shop. The new colors are Tandoor (shades of cinnamon orange) and Walnut Plum (brown, plum, magenta).
I was VERY impressed with Helene's new designs & yarns at the TNNA show. We spent about an hour chatting with her and for some reason, things just seemed to click for me and all of a sudden I was overwhelmed with desire for the new stuff. I think she's finally found her design niche---nothing too over the top, interesting constructions, great yarn, and timeless designs with a fresh twist. I can't wait to knit up some samples for the shop, but you'll probably have to just watch me wear them all summer! Her new tee pattern has 3 different sleeves and all sorts of options---invest in just one pattern and knit tons of tops for the summer.
From the Windham Maine company Knit One, Crochet Too comes this lively fun soft yarn, like a pair of well-loved jammies. Perfect for striping & mixing & matching for baby's clothes or even a favorite pair of socks. Would also make a wonderful sweater for snuggling up on the couch. Click on over to the on-line store for great colors & easy ordering, or stop in the shop & pick some up today.
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Just arrived today -- 30 balls of great self striping sock yarn in 4 colorways. Hop on down to the shop or click on over to the on-line store to order. Only $4.65 for each 50 gram ball---they won't last long at this low price and once they're gone, we can't get more, so hurry hurry hurry!!!
The Shepherds Tour of Ireland for June 2007 is now full and we are taking names for a wait-list in case of cancellations. Please contact me at info@TheWoolleyFarm.com for more information.
Deb
Coming in January 2007 from new vendor Colinette Yarn
The Absolutely Fabulous Throw Kit includes instructions for all six styles (all are easy!) and enough yarn to knit or crochet your choice of one of the above styles. Fibers used are a mixture of wool, cotton, viscose, and mohair. Available in 22 colorways. A fun and easy kit using gorgeous hand-dyed yarn.
Requires size US 11 circular needles - not included.
Keep watching the on-line shop for updates & color charts or stop by the shop to see the kits in person. They should arrive by the end of January 2007. If you've never seen an Ab-Fab in person, you are in for a treat. They are sooooooooooo over the top nice!
Another new company we picked up at TNNA last week is Bullie Woollies from Rockport Maine with fab felt kits for purses, coin purses, tote bags, Christmas stockings, cat & dog toys. Too cute!
Coming in a week or so---our new line of yarn -- Alpaca with a Twist!
Go on... spoil yourself with Big Baby! Heavenly soft & squeezable, it's the ultimate bulky weight yarn for projects that work up in a flash. The idea started right here on the alpaca farm spinning the yarn the old fashioned way - by hand with a spinning wheel. The unique chunky texture & silky handle created such a stir we had to invent a commercially spun version to keep up with the demand! Then to make it extra special, we selected our favorite assortment of richly complex heather colors for a truly luxurious knitting experience!
Plus Alpaca & Silk and pure alpaca. Wait till you feel this! I'm going to knit myself some knickers & never leave the house.
Alpaca with a Twist was started by Jennifer Orr in 2005. Working with a peruvian yarn manufacturer, Jennifer has designed a line of contemporary yarns for knitters. Along with her husband Sean they are the proud owners of Copper Ridge Alpacas in Georgetown, Indiana, where they maintain a breeding herd of 38 alpacas. Many of these animals have been winning awards at national shows. Being an alpaca breeder, Jennifer wants their yarn to be the best alpaca can be!
Join us as we knit Penny Straker's classical patterns! We're currently working on the Shalor Pullover, but any PS fan is welcomed to jump right in! Patterns can be purchased right here at The Irish Ewe.
New knitters to experts welcomed.
Let's show PS that there ARE knitters out there who love her designs, and who want her to continue with this timeless line of knitwear.
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