The return of Sharna....a mouse tail!... hehe

A ripple of joy and amazement yesterday as Wondermum...(ol' Sheepychic here) managed to locate our children's precious pet, Sharna, after she went missing in OPEN FARM LAND and bring her home!! Impossible?!?!..No..Highly improbable...but not impossible. She found her way to the topple mouse trap we set....hooray! Thank goodness! A huge sigh of relief for us all. A big drink, a cashew nut and a quick cuddle...then a big rest back in her tank. (And a line up at the bathroom sink with the anti-bacterial hand wash for all) Sharn..you're still a mouse after all... Its amazing how even the tiniest of pets can become important members of the family. Now Cloe (aka Speedy mouse) if you a reading this...go to the topple trap...(not the light!!!) to the topple traaaapppp!!! We miss you! More yarn posting soon...thanks for logging into Sheepychic Bloggings... Ruth xx

Hippy String Bag Mission. (Tye can I borrow some Size 20 Needles?) hehe

Hello to all...I hope you're enjoying some Spring Melbourne Warmth (Those of you from Melb, anyway!) I'm a little excited at the moment 'cos I'm on a mission. It's funny how 'Missions' can put a spark in your step...hehe! I was grocery shopping the other day and spied, lining up at the Deli, the cutest, funkiest hippy string shopping bag ever! (Slung over the shoulder of it's nifty owner, of course) I was inspired. I want one! Well with such a large family I guess I'll need a few! So...Yarn... It'll need to be somewhat inelastic (hehe...visions of a shopping bag with a few tins in it dangling around my ankles ) It'll need to be pretty strong...which handspun usually is. Cool! Check out what I've come up with so far. All of these yarns are an Alpaca Merino Blend, in black, brown and grey. The ratio of Alpaca to the Merino is apparently about 80:20...but the Merino seems quite course. The alpaca is a lot less elastic than Merino...Ideal for what I'm after, but you wouldn't want a scarf from it, as the course Merino is a little scritchie. These first hanks are just what I'm looking for. I've spun them off...and plied back with some interesting commercial highlight yarns. With the grey I plied back with machine thread and tossed in some silver fibres at odd intervals. Now I better figure out a string bag pattern....any hints will be sooooooooo appreciated in the comment or by email (see address in my profile). I wish I could crochet...I think this may be the way to go. That's that for the Hippy string bags... but I thought I might post a photo of some really cute yarn a made the other night. I'm loving this...it's cute. Thanks for popping into Sheepychic bloggings. Hope to hear from you soon. Ruth xxx

Glitches of witches!

These sheepychic Witchie beanies are proving a hit...but the best thing about them is that they are so fun to knit! This Witchie beanie features the "Morning Muster" yarn from a few postings ago...("Everyone likes new stuff")combined with some more of that adorable purple I spun up at Tyes house. The silver fibres sparkle beautifully! The new owner of this Witchie is a lover of purple...I wanted to move away from having the purple band/blue hat "thang" so I've staggered the two yarns together...kind of like a "melt". The handspun Morning Muster throws a really unusual wibbly wobbly look...and I've also blobbed through some of that georgeous purple throughout the Morning Muster......looks really nice. Thanks to Felix the cat and his little Wizard owner for the modeling...it's wayyyy to big for you, though, little D!! If you know somebody who would be interested in a Witchie beanie could you please pass them to this site....they cost $65 (when ordered through this site) and are all knitted with my own hand dyed, hand spun yarns. Thanks so much for coming to Sheepychic bloggings...see you soon, Ruth xxx

Witchie Beanies are magically disappearing!

Things are quiet on the Sheepychic front, lately... which is baaddd 'cos I should be oh-so busy!(pictured: Sheepychic "Waterwheel")I have been really tied down with a horrid virus that has been through the children...my arms are aching from carrying around poor little D. He has been sooo hot and so clammy that I've actually had to change his Jarmies and bedding during the nights. It just went on and on and on. I know I've been having a whinge about still feeding them...but thank god they're still nursing 'cos nothing else was eaten. (And don't even mention our renovations. It's going to be great when it's finished...but o m g! I don't even know where my fleece stash is. My entire house had to be stuffed outside for a week under the verandahs. My spinning wheel is jammed somewhere in my room..(I think)

As usual Tye managed to pop into the void (thank god) and I had a wee spin at her house...magic happened. I spun some adorable purple yarn that I have ear marked for three different projects. The cuff on Tye's promised Witchie Beanie is the first....

This project began when Tye and I noticed that the freshly spun purple yarn seemed to complement this hank of Sheepychic "Waterwheel" yarn that I had given her ages ago. It was a funky Witchie Beanie in the making!

I decided to go a little higher with this one...so it flippy flops down nicely. I've left a sparkley tufted runner at the end which is screaming "I want a jingly little bell..I waannntt a jingly little bellllll". I think I'll put one on. That way Tye won't be able to sneak around and tidy up when I feel like being messy! (or pass near the kettle without making coffee...hehe)

Well...I just love it. Mostly knitted while P & D where running around a indoor cricket court filled with toys and puzzles and I endured the most absolutely insanely disgusting coffee I've ever tasted. (Not made.....tasted!) <---- This is my Darlin's favourite quote when he's cooking. It's a little test to see whether or not he actually reads my blog or quickly glances at the photos!.

Bye for now..and thanks for logging into Sheepychic Bloggings. Ruth xx.

Whatcha gonna do with a "Gothic Take two?"

This posting is a bit of an update on the Sheepychic "Gothic Take two" hank featured in the previous posting...take a peek if you haven't seen it! Here is a quick look at Sue's Witchie and warm winter beanie before I post it out to her...I am really happy with the result. I've knitted it freehand without a pattern...so I guess it is truly a Sheepychic original! You can see I've balled up the hank with the coloured ply to end up on the top. I wanted the Cuff Yarn to be the bulkier and I used 8mm Needles here. There is also a long stitch included in here so we can add a cool sheeny deep purple ribbon through if we like. I'm even wondering how a piece of raffia would look...or nothing at all..I'm still deciding. The second part of the hank kicked in nicely just past the cuff. It is a slightly finer yarn so I went onto some smaller needles... I love the shimmer and sparkle and the yarn is so amazingly soft...being spun from 14 micron Merino. (pictured: Tiny witch in a beanie knitted from Sheepychic "Gothic take two" hank. - Magic!!) She's small but oh-so powerful....hehe! One sweet smile and a magical batt of her eyelids can send Mum or Dad to the biscuit barrel...every time! The cutest little witch this side of Melbourne! She's sitting so nicely...the hat is about to flop down over her eyes. I wonder if I should knit her one of her own in a junior size? hehe...add it to the list! Thank you so much for popping into Sheepychic Bloggings. Feel free to contact me via my profile if you would like a beanie similar to this one to magically appear in your mail box !! See you soon, Ruth xx

We all like new stuff!

I have an old friend who I've been trying and trying to knit a winter beanie for...and for whatever reason each attempt has been..well...not what I'm looking for, or what I can imagine her being delighted with. She's after something really different and colourful, true...however Sue is often draped in lovely darker fabrics and creating alternative looks...mainly in dark colours and rich purples. She's a very mystical, warm person. On the third try I really want to get this one right. So I reached for the big guns. I'm talking 14 micron 100% Merinoo rovings (so fine it seems like spiderwebs), I'm talking my favourite Japanese gold metallic thread, my much loved metallic purple thread (I'm off to heaven for sharing that purple thread!!) my extremely funky commercial colourful yarnish stuff that Tye gave me..(She'll come too!), my "coal" wool dyes. Then I created this...it is Sheepychic "Gothic Take two". Half of the hank is the black/grey rovings spun then plied with the commercial highlight yarn, and the second half is the same rovings spun and plied back with the gold and purple threads. I love the idea of the "Take two" yarns...and I'm really trying hard to stock up on a few different ones. The beauty of it having a great 2 yarn base for a project...neat! Other projects on the boil include this gorgeous "Morning Muster". I've also spun this up in a tight slubby which come up beautifully as well. This yarn can be made in larger lots, so if anyone would like to order "Morning Muster"either spun or in dyed rovings please feel free to email me. (address is in my profile) The pinks here are also pretty. Pinks are amazing this year...Imagine this in a neat little beanie...especially teamed up with some hand spun white. wow! This hank is a very cool little one-off, too...so you know you won't run into another woman in the lift wearing your beanie!! Well..just a sneak peek! hehe. All the very best from Sheepychic..bye for now. Ruth xx

Lavender Hank Update...update...update...update....

As promised in the previous posting...some pictures of Lynne's Lavender Patch inspired Sheepychic handspun. I've called it Lavern. hehe (pictured: Lavern in the pot)

You can see my Lavender Patch intentions here in the dye pot...but as you can see with the rovings drying by the fire the lavender's base colours have gone walk abouts.

I looooooovvveee this accidental result. But please....hehe don't order this one..I can't remake this! It's an absolute ONE OFF...and even more the charming this way! (pictured: dyed rovings drying by the fire)

(pictured: Sheepychic Lavern spun in a slubby style)

Lynne's keen to knit up a winter beanie with this lot...so I spun 80gms of the rovings into a slubby style...leaving 100 gms. 80 gms went into a neat gold ply hank leaving 20 gms. over. hmmm...what to do?

I grabbed another 60gms of white Merino (my bobbins hold about 80 to 95 gms depending on the technique I use) and spun them off together throwing in a little gold fibre as I went.

(pictured: Lavern Snowy....very chunky)

By blending the same rovings through the 2nd. hank it's a guarantee the two hanks for this beanie will go together beautifully....

(pictured: Lavern with a neat gold metallic thread ply)

I'm just loving this extra little hank...imagine this hank knitted up in a shoulder scarf under a nice winter jacket.

Well...that's about it for Sheepychic bloggings for this posting. I'm looking forward to an upcoming Sheepychic spinning demo with Broughton Lea's knitting group...so a big hello to all at Broughton Lea...put the kettle on!

All the very, very best...and thanks so much for logging into Sheepychic. Feel free to add a little comment...they make my day!!

Ruth xxx

How Sheepychic is thaaaattt?!?!?!?

When you're at your spinning wheel late in the evening, oh-so-lovingly spinning some rovings that you have dyed off...you become really close to that yarn. (I know this sounds bizarre..!) You combine the shades, you feel the textures, you choose which embellishments (if any)...you know the perfect lengths and maybe some not-so perfect spots. I dedicate quite a bit of time to each hank, as you could imagine. This all combines to form the finger print of the yarn...and is also a reflection of the fibre-junkie spinning at that ungodly hour! So when you parcel up your handspun and send that ol' Sheepychic yarn on it's way to a shop..or on to a keen knitter I sometimes wonder where it will end up and what it looks like. It's for this reason I want to start a segment on this blog called.......big drum roll............"How Sheepychic is thaaaattt?!?" So please...blogsters....if you have something neat you'ld like to show 'n' tell that you've knitted from Sheepychic yarn, email me the picture and you may get a gurnsey on...."How Sheepychic is thaaaattt?!?!" Wow!! Ooh! Ooh!! Good Idea!! : Let's see if we can get some photos taken with a Sheepychic beanie or anything with Sheepychic yarn in really far out places. Anyone going overseas?? Photos in front of the Eiffel Tower or with a famous person...mega! Maybe we could get a photo from the top of a mountain!

If I get a few photos...who knows? I might have to put up a hank for a prize!

(pictured: Kathryn's Sheepychic Arvo by the fire scarf) This hank pictured up the top has been posted before...(check out the archives for more information.) It went off to Kathryn who knitted it up in a Sheepychic pattern "An arvo by the fire scarf". I easily remember spinning this hank up 'cos I went all out with the beading and sequins. It looks lovely, Kathryn. It was a real thrill to see how it came out! I love the way there is no front and back...the beading and sequins sparkle equally beautifully on both sides. I'm also pleased of the neat size...being a one hank project! Very nice! On to new things...I have dyed some rovings destined for my dear friend, Lynne. She was after something reminding her of a lavender patch...combining the light purples and greens. I dyed some Merino...only to see that some colours had leeched away from the purples. Dyes do have a mind of their own sometimes. I'm still happy with the result, though. Pictures and more information next posting. All the very, very best...and thanks for logging into Sheepychic. Feel free to leave a little comment. They make my day! Ruth xx

Shop meets Sheep

If you surveyed the general population I bet many, many people associate the words hand spun yarns with brown or cream wool (albeit beautiful) for country style knitwear.... however my spinning comrade Tye and I are always looking for ways to push the boundaries a little. (pictured...Sheepychic Falls. Care for a swim? hehe)

Take a look at the three hanks to the left of Sheepychic falls...we have 100% Merino handspun plied back with all sorts of goodies. (Tye's find...she has a wonderful knack of finding groovy stuff to incorporate with handspun - check out http://merrymunchkindesigns.blogspot.com/ )

(pictured: Sheepychic "Hearth-Side")

The neat fluffies are mohair bound in polyester and are commercially available. When running this back through with the Merino handspun I tossed in intervals of gold metallic fibres. Oh wow!...it actually looks warm! hehe

(pictured: Sheepychic "Glacier-side")

Same technique...different colours. Can you imagine working this yarn through a beanie with...say...some Sheepychic varied blue Slubby? Winter hat heaven!

Earthy colours work well, too..."Sheepychic Shaggy"

Everyone loves a funky novelty yarn at the moment but with these hanks you can have that wonderful hand spun Merino warmth...with a cool eye-catch. Neat!

Thanks for popping in to Sheepychic...and thanks soooo much for the great little comments. They make my day!

Ruth xx

Here she is...Sheepychic herself!! hehe

Having introduced the very cooooll mannnn Sheepychic 'Woolstock' range, I'm gonna spread a little more love 'round....with some yarn I made at Tyes place while she was socking it to some yarn. hehe Meet Fleeceia, my very special model. Warning....don't gaze for too long into her eyes....I promise...she'll hypnotise you and implant subliminal messages... (mass produced imported synthetic yarn is eeevvvillll... e v i llll.... evilllllllllllllll...... or ...You need a beanieeee... a beannnnieeeee...... a hand dyed, hand knit, one-off beanieeee.. and I know where you can get one!)

Fleeceia's left eye is my favourite...and made it to the ranks of Sheepychic Woolstock thanks to Tyes suggestion. It's called "Janets Jumper".

Right eye is a Rainbow dye pattern. Old, tried and true.

Fleeceia's lips are almost outrageous. The 'varied Musk Stick pink' rovings I used for this hank I prepared myself with my old carding machine. It's fun and rewarding...but phew!!! Big job!

This pink yarn would knit up beautifully, though, with heaps of daisies and white slubby. (Would have any little girl grin from 'ere to 'ere...) Come to think of it, I have a very special little neice in mind...and her birthday is coming up!

That's that for this posting...thanks so much for popping in. Feel free to leave a comment, 'cos it's fun and rewarding to see that people are logging in and catching up with a little Sheepychic. All the very best, Ruth xx

First there was Woodstock...now we have "Woolstock"

Sheepychic "Woolstock" yarns are made for the hippies among us....hehe and the hippy in us all. I've drawn inspiration from the hippy era, 60's music... naturalism...flower power...Mamas and the Papas...the list goes on. Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair and enjoy some little lovin...and some Sheepychic Woolstock Yarns.

This Chocolate Brown Corridale Woolstock Slubby looks seriously similar to this guys dread locks. hehe...I bet my Slubby smells a heap better. (even before scouring!!) Can you believe there is an identical amount of fleece in those two Corridale hanks?! The bottom fleece is plied back on itself. I've even left the odd prickle 'cos it...like...adds to the vibe, mannnnnn. Yeahhhhhhh..

Speaking of vibe...I guess hemp and marijuana use was a big part of the hippy scene...but not for making yarn...hehe

This photo here (looks like a close up of Lucille Ball's hair-do...) is actually my stash of raw industrial hemp. Industrial hemp is a strain of cannabis valued in times past for it's strength and usefulness. Note the old picture of an Industrial hemp farm.

I am slowly working on blending hemp fibres and Merino to create the coooolest Hippy yarns ever! I am sooo interested in how these fibres will take up dyes and run through the wheel. Its a Sheepychic 'Woolstock Yarn' work in progress...but right now I'm off to meditate..and to paint the Family Wagon like that hippy bus! (and that's all I'm doing...I promise!)

All the very very best to you all...thanks for popping into

Sheepychic bloggings.

Bye for now, Ruth.

'Mystery Lake'....A My Town Yarn. (Kyabram)

He he....kids haven't changed a bit. Still easily amazed. I rarely, rarely go up to the country these days, (or the 'crunchy' as my boy puts it - too cute to correct!) but when I do go I enjoy showing the children some of the things we all got up to when we were kids. One of Mum's old yarns still brings a smile. Especially as a mother myself. She could make anything exciting. For example....the "Mystery Lake". ohhhhhhhhh (hushed amazement from all-believing children). "Its a mystery 'cos nobody knows where the water comes from...and nobody knows where it goes" ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. hehe Would you believe I found the "Mystery Lake" on a recent return visit...and managed to (suck in) intrigue my own little ones...in the (swampy bog) mystical, magical Mystery Lake. Which is all a ridiculously long winded introduction to a recent "My Town" yarn which I'ld like to show you. It's from the Kyabram Range and obviously it's called the "Mystery Lake".

Spun here in two ways....a solid slubby style and also a blend with white rovings, plied through with beading and Japanese gold metallic thread..

Here, in the centre, all knitted up as a Sheepychic Beanie..now in the loving ownership of Carol. (That's the Carol with the toasty ears.)

A close up of a knitted swatch. I love this...I'm wondering how a jumper would look like...phew!...big job, though!

All the best..and thankyou for logging into Sheepychic. Keep an eye out because the fabulous new Sheepychic kits for scarves and beanies will sooooon be available! Bye for now...Ruth xx.