Several years ago I dropped off a bunch of wool to be processed at Ohio Valley Natural Fibers. At the time it seemed like a lot of wool. Little did I know that in just a few years, six or eight fleeces would be nothing.
Everything came back in great order. As always. Well, except one box. Miss Ewenice. I opened it up and found a light gray fleece; definitely not her creamy white. The texture seemed reasonable, but the color was off. Way off.
I've heard stories about mills losing fleeces and sending out "replacements" in hopes no one would notice. I finally decided that must have been what happened here. It wasn't a bad box of roving, but as I didn't know who it really was, I couldn't get very excited about it.
I labeled it rug roving and set it aside. Might as well get some use from it. I moved it into the wool house and pushed it to the back corner.
During the mass loft clean out (watch a couple of those hoarding shows and they will scare you straight!) I again came across this sad box of fiber. I opened it. Still gray. It nagged at me though because I've never had any reason to question any other fleece I've ever sent up there.
I wondered if maybe I hadn't gotten it clean enough. Maybe the anti-static spray they used darkened it? I decided to spin a little, wash it and see what happened.
Guess what! It IS Miss Ewenice :-D. And it's lovely.
Of course it is. You are definitely crazy, lady.
One other "find". A stray strand of really poorly spun yet vaguely familiar white yarn. Do you know what this is? My very first spinning.
My friend Julie helped me spin this using her wheel one afternoon. The roving? Punkin. While I knew I didn't want to waste much of that, I also felt that Punkin would want to be the one to teach me to spin my first yarn. At the time I remember feeling really sad watching him literally slip through my fingers.
Sometimes that feels like a long time ago. Sometimes it feels like yesterday.
For more Farm Friends Friday...
Everything came back in great order. As always. Well, except one box. Miss Ewenice. I opened it up and found a light gray fleece; definitely not her creamy white. The texture seemed reasonable, but the color was off. Way off.
I've heard stories about mills losing fleeces and sending out "replacements" in hopes no one would notice. I finally decided that must have been what happened here. It wasn't a bad box of roving, but as I didn't know who it really was, I couldn't get very excited about it.
I labeled it rug roving and set it aside. Might as well get some use from it. I moved it into the wool house and pushed it to the back corner.
During the mass loft clean out (watch a couple of those hoarding shows and they will scare you straight!) I again came across this sad box of fiber. I opened it. Still gray. It nagged at me though because I've never had any reason to question any other fleece I've ever sent up there.
I wondered if maybe I hadn't gotten it clean enough. Maybe the anti-static spray they used darkened it? I decided to spin a little, wash it and see what happened.
Guess what! It IS Miss Ewenice :-D. And it's lovely.
Of course it is. You are definitely crazy, lady.
One other "find". A stray strand of really poorly spun yet vaguely familiar white yarn. Do you know what this is? My very first spinning.
My friend Julie helped me spin this using her wheel one afternoon. The roving? Punkin. While I knew I didn't want to waste much of that, I also felt that Punkin would want to be the one to teach me to spin my first yarn. At the time I remember feeling really sad watching him literally slip through my fingers.
Sometimes that feels like a long time ago. Sometimes it feels like yesterday.
For more Farm Friends Friday...
13 comments:
What a poignant post. I'm glad you found both Miss Ewenice and Punkin.
What a find! Ewenice and Punkin were there the whole time.
Funny, I watch those Hoarder Shows because it makes my mess seem so small in comparison with theirs hehe!
Good thing you decided to look in that box again :-)
Those fibers on your post are what we call "heartstrings". :-)
Awww, good for Miss Ewenice, poor old girl wasn't getting enough credit. ;-)
Until your post I never thought about how sheep, unlike dogs or horses, can live on in their fleece and beautiful things made from it. How wonderful to have a concrete memory of Punkin that evokes other wonderful times.
what a wonderful couple of discoveries. so happy for you!
so you see? punkin hasn't slipped away. he is still (and always will be!) right there with you.
thank you for sharing him with all of us...
i can't wait to see what you make with miss ewenice!
So, a mom doesn't know her own sheep's fleece when she sees it? LOL...there was a good reason for that whole scenario...
What a great post! I'm so glad you decided to try spinning it.
What a great post Sarah. It’s amazing how you knew that was Ewnice’s once you started spinning it. I know you cherish Punkin’s and to find that sweet piece that got you started--it’s touching :)
OK that will be enough out of you. You mad me cry. :( I have to say I am in a cleaning mood right now. Feels like the house is closing in and that little touch of spring makes me want to have it wide open.
I love your punkin yarn.
So very full of energy and promise and memory! I'm so glad that you saved it...thanks for showing it off ;-)
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