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.

Blokes like handspun too!

Howdy all...it's soooo cold, isn't it! brrrrrrrrrrr..hehe knitting beanie weather, to be sure! I am doing this quick posting on men's hats as I received the cutest customer feedback via Christine at "Stitch This" in Allen Street, Kyabram. Hehe...and I have to agree....Almost all Sheepychic yarns are really "girlie"...how about a few more for Guys hats....? Sheepychic "Rustic" yarns are perfect for guys hats for some reason. Of course "rustics" look great on everybody...but they really lend themselves to men/boys hats. Sheepychic Rustics have no dyes used...all of the colour is the natural varied colours of the animal fleeces themselves... Come to think of it....animals are put together pretty nicely. I mean...you never really see an animal with a colour scheme that clashes or looks wrong, do you....? These cute little guys are alpacas, of course, and I am lucky enough to have their four fleeces here with me...available to spin. I've used this little photo in a previous posting. (you'll have to look in the archives one day...grab a cuppa) Their colours are breath taking! Here is an example of a Sheepychic Blokes beanie which I knitted up for my Darlin'...it is a mixture of Brown Merino, Chocolate Corridale, a Sheepychic 'varied black' dyed Merino with tiny black beads spun through and a highlight yarn which is the white Merino plied through with all four little alpacas randomly. A similar beanie...but with a little more of the beautiful Merino / Alpaca plied high light yarn. This hat is available for sale at 'Stitch This'..(lucky Kyabram..hehe) Oh...and don't worry guys. I have it on a blokes authority the the Sheepychic labels are waaaayyyyy too girly. I can offer you a new mens label. It's just the same, but has 'Mr. sheep E. Sheik'....(You'll be safe!) hehe All the best, everybody, and thanks for logging into Sheepychic. Remember..I have the comments area made so that anybody can leave a little comment. So...say Hi...it'll make my day! Especially if you're the guy who wants some blokey yarn...we're alllll coming to your place for a bbq!! hehe Regards, Ruth...

Back to Yarn....

A lovely weekend at home. The children have been playing relatively nicely...washine machine humming, mower mowing, swings swinging, stir fry stirring...and frying...hehe I wanna get back to basics...back to what we alllllllllll love...yarn. The Multi coloured yarn pictured is Sheepychic "Gollans garden", from Sheepychic "my town" range. Mrs Gollan and our Mum were really good friends. Mr. Gollan had an amazing garden with dancing birds, beautiful flowers and also interesting things like peanuts and popcorn which he popped for us in an old fruit can in the shed. hehe...it obviously had an impact on me. Mrs. Gollan spoke once about how she and mum used to sit and chat for hours on the porch while the children played around them. It kinda' shocked me a little 'cos that is exactly what Tye and I have done a lot of. I guess it's too easy to let time sweep over and forget that your own mum was once a young mum like we are now. Of course, sadly...Mum has passed away. I often draw on her examples now as I parent my own little ones. Hopefully I am doing her proud.

This pinkie purplie yarn is my Sheepychic"Grace Woods" yarn. Grace Woods was my gran and she would have liked these colours.

He he...check out the two rascals. I had to go out to feed the chook in our backyard, but it was soooo cold I couldn't bare to take off my big fluffy slippers. With the lawn being damp I popped two fruit bags over my spippers to protect them...of course this sounds quick and easy...but NOTHING at our house is quick and easy!! Thankfully the effort was worth it, as the bags provided an hour of fun (peace for Mum) with a scrunch, scrunch, scrunch sound proving to be rather amusing if you're two.

This photo reminds me that I'm a bit 'behind' in my spinning. Double that!! Thanks for popping into Sheepychic...bye for now. Ruth xx

Some new yarns made especially for Kyabram!

Hello to all the Kyabram and District yarnies out there who seem to be really wrapping themselves in a little Sheepychic!!

Thanks to Christine of 'Stitch This' in Allen Street Kyabram...Heaps of Sheepychic yarns in the hands and hopefully on the needles of wonderful Ky knitters.. I've been so busy...dying, plying..getting together another big parcel of yarns destined for Stitch This. I love a bit of inspiration...so I sat down with pen and paper and brainstormed the first things that sprung into my head about the colours and textures of Kyabram and the surrounding districts. Having grown up in Merrigum, a town not too far from Ky...it wasn't hard. My Grandparents lived in Kyabram and eventually so did my Mum, so I had plenty ideas to draw from.

(this picture is of the very beautiful 'Grace Woods' rovings from the Sheepychic 'My Town' range)

I came to thinking...wouldn't it be really cool to have a yarn range made and designed with each local area in mind??? Imagine browsing through handspun yarns in your local yarn store or gift shop inspired by your tree lined avenues or local landmarks. I love this idea...it's a long, long way from acrylic mass produced stuff imported for sale in those huge craft shops!

May I introduce da-da-da-dahhhhhhhh................... Sheepychic "My Town" yarns!

Stay tuned!

The Kath in the Hat...

Friends are friends be they nearby or far away. I used to see a lot of my galpal Kathie but sadly 'n' gladly she has found love (the gladly bit) but it was oh soooooo far away...ie. the sadly bit. It 's great to know she's still thinkin' of me though...she knows a lady with a pet white alpaca and Hooray!! Kathie sent down a whole alpaca fleece! When I saw the huge parcel by my front door a couple of thoughts sprang instantly to mind. The first: "Oh My God...I've bought something off eBay and have no recollection of it." hehe! This is a true story. Second thought..."Oh wow...this bag is huge!!!" Third thought..."Thank god for my ol' carding Machine". I am really keen to lightly rinse out a batch and run it through ol' spikey...I've never carded Alpaca before. I little while ago Kathie and I planned out a beanie...because it's so damn cold in Northen NSW. hehe. Kathie was really keen on pink or purple...but assured me that she would be happy with any of the ol' sheepychic. Thank goodness for that because I have done a lot of pinks and purple lately and I need to scream to the world.."Other colours can be cool tooooooooo!!!!!!!!!." Well...it's fair to say there's a fair bit of purple and a twink of pink in there...in among the metallic Purple thread I used to ply with. I also used a dusky sort of rainbow hank I had in my yarn stash. I knitted that through with some extreme goldie omgliness spun through with the white Merino. It is FULL ON. I hope not toooo full on!! I used some Chrissy deco that I first spun through Merino on my second only posting...peep in my archives (Jan). Kathie..if you want to give it a quick trim down with some scissors I will TOTALLY understand...it is very, very stickie outie, I know. Well I have stacks of cool photos...but for 3 nights running Blogger won't let me load them..oh well. Thanks for logging into Sheepychic bloggings, Bye for now..Ruthxx