BIG News from the Farm
Sunrise, Lambs, Brand New and Old Projects and More
Hello Colorful Friends:
Good morning from the farm. Isn’t that the most stunning photo? I got lucky one morning this week. When I was doing the morning dog walk with crazy sheepdog pup Annie, I noticed that the sheep were looking gorgeous and in a spot where I could take a decent photo. I rushed Annie back in the house because at this point, she can’t be anywhere near the sheep or else chaos ensues. I grabbed my phone and some warmer clothes and ran down to the fence. The sun was just poking up over the mountain. It was a visual feast and luckily I caught it and I can share it with all of you.
Evenings this week, I’ve been finishing up another Farmhouse Crochet Hexagon Blanket. Here’s Daisy “helping” me.
We’ve been watching the three previous seasons of All Creatures Great and Small over on PBS Passport. I love this series almost as much as I loved the first iteration from back in the 70’s. There are great handknit sweaters, beautiful scenery, sheep, dogs, lovely interiors, lots of color on set and colorful characters. Check it out if you haven’t. Season Four is on now on PBS. Julia is listening to the audiobooks read by the original James - Christopher Timothy.
Here’s the finished blanket photographed yesterday as the snow was coming down gently. For this blanket version, I added some darker and more earth tone shades. I like how it came out.
This is the fifth Hexagon Blanket I’ve made and I’ve got more hexies left. It’s hard to stop. Crochet hexies are such a perfect on-the-go project. I often make them at slow times at the farmer’s market. You can’t believe all the young and old folks I have met just by crocheting in my Leyden Glen Lamb booth at the Amherst Farmers Market. You can purchase a kit and/or the pattern for the Farmhouse Blanket and 4 other Hexagon projects from One Big Happy Yarn Co. here. Watch the five how-to videos over on the One Big Happy YouTube channel here.
Like I predicted last week, there was a lamb explosion this week. We went from 4 to more than 25 lambs. Hard to keep up with the count as since I started this newsletter, 2 more were born. So far, so good. Only two bottle lambs thus far (their mamas rejected them - it sometimes happens unfortunately). Many, many more lambs expected. Lambing season will probably be a bit drawn out over a few months because we have a lot of first timers. Here are some photos from the barn.
Lots more to share today…… Do you know what BARGELLO is? It’s a needlepoint technique that creates a fabric that has an undulating color pattern frequently in a chevron design. Like this…..
Bargello was big in the 70’s when I was a teenager. I dabbled in it a bit. Recently it’s been having a bit of a renaissance. I think it is going to become more popular as more people learn about it and try it. It’s fun and rather addicting. (Below in the Links Section, I’ve added some current Bargello Links that I’m Loving.)
So why am I writing about Bargello? Because it’s is the name of my newest knitting pattern and video series for One BIg Happy Yarn Company. Back in early October, I flew to Missouri for the second time in a year and taped a new series of videos. The first project is my Bargello Mittens.
New to colorwork? Don’t be afraid. It’s much easier than it appears. Here’s a video trailer on the Bargello Mittens and the upcoming Nordic Flower Mittens……
There are three free How-To Videos on the One Big Happy YouTube channel for the Bargello Mittens. You can watch them all HERE. I’ve also included all of them at the bottom of this email. Although the videos are very detailed, you’ll have to get the pattern for the exact instructions.
The yarn I chose for both mitten designs is Rowan’s Felted Tweed in 6 fun colors. One kit should make both pairs of mittens except for the largest size. There are also two alternate colorways available.
You can purchase a kit for the Bargello Mittens from the One Big Happy website here. The kit comes with the yarn and pattern and you can also purchase the PDF or printed instructions for the Bargello Mittens HERE. I hope you like this new design and might give it a go.
Here are this week’s interesting links……
• The Fabled Thread is a UK stitchery kit business begun by Eppie Thompson who quit her finance job to begin her own business. Eppie and her team make beautiful contemporary stylish embroidery, needlepoint and bargello kits and hand painted frames unlike any you will find here in the US. I love her style and color sense. Read more about Eppie here. Her apartment in London was featured in this article in The World of Interiors.
• My friend Brett Bara who was host of the PBS Knit and Crochet Now TV Show that I was an “expert” on a decade ago, has started a new biz called Hello, Bargello. Check it out here. Lots of fun and easy bargello projects that are great for beginners.
• Ruth Reichl writes a Substack Newsletter called La Briffe. I’ve read some of her books and always enjoyed her work as Editor in Chief of the (sadly gone) Gourmet. You can find her newsletter here. She is also doing a podcast with foodies Nancy Silverton and Laurie Ochoa called Three Ingredients. The most recent newsletter is called Offal, Offal. It was especially interesting to me because I sell our lamb (including offal) at the Amherst Farmers Market. Folks are always asking me what to do with liver, kidneys, hearts and tongues. I’ll point them to Ruth.
• Last week, you all responded so wonderfully to the dog video of LLangwm Cap - our new Border Collie Annie’s grandad. Today I’ve got a fantastic 90 minute video I found on YouTube called The Year Of The Working Sheep Dog. I embedded it at the end of this email. It follows one UK farmer -David Kennard - and his family and their dogs through a year. Nice to stitch by. If you have kids or grandkids, you can watch a kid’s series David did called Mist- Sheepdog Tales here on YouTube. Border Collies are amazing dogs.
• My sister Laurie suggested this Peanut Butter Cookie Recipe. Do you ever find a recipe that brings you way back in time. These taste just like the cookies that the cafeteria ladies made at Dover High School back in the 70’s. Bet the DHS cafeteria buys mass-produced cookies now. P.S. I added chocolate chips to mine.
• Most likely you may already know about the Coral Reef Crochet Project. It was written up in a huge article - The Crochet Coral Reef Keeps Spawning, Hyperbolically - in the NY Times this past week. Find it here! As a crocheter myself, I love the flexibility the single hook gives me for free-form crochet as opposed to knitting on two needles.
• This article by The Honest Broker Ted Gioia discusses music and the return and rise of the Folkloric Music Tradition.. Who knew Taylor Swift was a folkie.
Yesterday was the coldest day of the winter thus far. It was low in the single digits. I feel for any of you who are dealing with -30 degrees. Stay warm and safe and drink a lot of hot beverages!
Thanks for all the lovely notes and comments from last week’s newsletter. I really appreciate it.
Until next time, I’m colorfully yours,
Here’s the Border Collie video - The Year of the Working Sheep Dog….
The NEW Bargello Mittens Video Series. Click on left hand corner to play on YouTube.
There are three How-To Videos on the One Big Happy Yarn Co. YouTube channel for the Bargello Mittens. Please follow and like the videos (if you don’t mind) to help more folks find them. Comments on the videos would also be great if you have the time.
EPISODE 1: 38 minutes
EPISODE 2: 28 minutes
EPISODE 3: (24 minutes)
I love knowing that Bargello is making a comeback. My mother made many Bargello pillows in the 70's - She passed away 2 years ago and always wanted to keep her hands busy almost to the day she died. When she wasn't able to knit anymore she asked me to find some Bargello kits for her. There were few I could find and very expensive so I never bought any for her. :-( I also knew her eyesight would not allow her to follow the pattern. Lucky for me, her handywork lives on, as I have all the pillows she made in the 70's. They are beautiful and add a pop of color like nothing else! (and my cat really loves the warmth of the wool yarn!) Now I'm thinking I need to continue her legacy with Bargello of my own. I love your colorful emails/posts/etc !!!
Thank you Kristin for your cheerful and colorful news letters. I've been a fan of yours since the 90's when your Kids Knitting Book was first published. My friend Lisa brought it to my attention because of her connection with the Ashwood Waldorf School. Since then, I have acquired 3 more of your publications. I love color, texture and fabric. I watched the tutorial on the Bargello Mittens yesterday.
Now I believe I am able to conquer my fear of knitting with more than one colorway at a time. Your instruction really simplified the process for me. Love, love, love the photos of your home. Although i am not quite as brave as you are with color, I manage to sew, paint, garden and knit to bring more color to my life. I look forward to more News from your Farm. You are a delight!