We are growing in numbers and it would be great if everyone would introduce themselves and tell us about your fiber.

Comments

Mon, 07/20/2009 - 18:24

ilaine (not verified)

You've got me on a tear here. I'm researching mulberry trees, wondering if I have room to plant one. The maple on my front lawn is dying and has to come down. I was thinking oak, but mulberries are nice.

According to this:

Here it says the black mullberries are native, and white and red are Asian imports brought in to start a silk industry.
http://landscaping.suite101.com/article.cfm/mulberry_trees

Which kind do you have?  Have you seen issues feeding silkworms on black mulberry?  I've tried both and I like the dark ones better - and if I'm going to plant a fruit tree I'm going to eat the fruit.

Then again, I could plant the oak I was thinking of in the first place and find native silkworms that will eat it instead.

Mon, 07/20/2009 - 18:36

WormSpit (not verified)

here in Dallas, there are a lot of the black and white, both planted as landscape trees and "bird-planted" wild.  I harvest most of my leaf from wild trees around where I live.  I haven't had any issue; they switch without complaint from white, to black, to Osage orange.  The only problem I have encountered, is that the black often has tougher leaves with a little bit of hair on the backs; they can be difficult for the very young silkworms to chew. 

 

Polyphemus caterpillars eat oak, and they're a joy to raise, but you dont' get as much silk per cocoon, and you can't crowd them in to containers. 

Often, trees used for feeding silkworms are male, because the fruiting takes energy from the leaf-producing parts.  In an ideal world, you'd want fruitless white mulberry for feeding worms, and fruiting black mulberry for tastier berries.

 

Mon, 07/20/2009 - 20:01

ilaine (not verified)

Well I still don't know if I'm going to commit to worm wrangling, but you've inspired me to order a field guide to caterpillars and go appreciate my nearby park, so thank you :o)

Thu, 07/23/2009 - 21:31

djfiberarts (not verified)

Lol! Good post :)

Thu, 07/23/2009 - 22:44

francorios (not verified)

Rabbitgeek.com is my website. My sons started in 4H rabbit project in 1999 and we had a wonderful time going to rabbit shows, fairs, national livestock shows and conventions, etc. My sons no longer show rabbits.

Until recently, we had angora rabbits. My lovely wife Tracy was the chief angora wrangler. Because of the rabbits, we learned to spin the fiber. We used to throw it away until we found out people would buy all we had for $5 or $6 per ounce!

The rabbits started us out in fiber projects. We still have bags of fiber to spin and yarn to knit and weave.

I can try to help with questions on angora rabbit fiber.

Have a good day!

Fri, 07/24/2009 - 02:43

cookie48 (not verified)

Hi-I'm Andrea Shuman from Hayward, California and I go by the nicname Cookie.

My Husband has a pet Umbrella Cockatoo, female who goes by the name, Tukki (who acts like she hates me), 2 bull frogs and a pond full of koi fish and a cute mail canary by the name of Rudy.

I like weaving, but not that good at it yet.  Still learning, but have done some projects on most of my smaller looms.  I love my Weavettes, Hazel Rose and Spriggs Adjustable Looms.  I also have an 8 Harnest Table Loom, but on a floor stand with a project on it I need to finish up.

I also have 4 different ridgid heddle looms.  One of them is the knitter's loom because you can get away with weaving yarns suitable for knitting and crocheting.

I have a large variety of different crafts and I spin too.  Most of my projects are small, but I'm spinning some silk yarn that I'm going to use to crochet a lacy butterfly shawl created by Noreen Crone Findlay.  I'm also spinning some yarn to knit an Adult Surprise Jacket.

I like doing beadword, painting (not not much lately), dollmaking, etc.

Thank you for letting me join this group.  A while back when I discovered I wanted to learn backstrap weaving, I discovered a weaving book in the library at the University my Husband attended and borrowed a good book on weaving which I was able to xerox instructions out of before I returned the book.  The book showed a nice detailed illustration on how to make your own backstrap using wooden dowels which I carved the ends so the strings and heddles don't slide off easily.  I even woven my strap that goes around my back to make it authenic.

Cookie48

 

Fri, 07/24/2009 - 23:28

djfiberarts (not verified)

I have a question on angoras. I have one bunny, her name is Bunny Boop...sort of like Betty Boop, get it? yeah....anyway, she is over a year old now and she still hasn't done this mythical thing called "blowing her coat". No lumps of fuzz floating around the house, no nothing. I have to shear the fiber off of her a little at a time while I distract her with food. What gives? I thought the fur just sort of fell off these rabbits. I didn't know it was going to be a secret recon mission every time I need fiber. I practically have to dress all in black and hang from the ceiling over her grazing body like a CIA agent just to harvest her fluff. Ok...I'm exaggerating. Is she defective? Deformed? I do love her though.

DJ

Fri, 07/24/2009 - 23:36

francorios (not verified)

Some rabbit breeds like the German and Giant angora breeds generally do not blow their coats, that is their molting pattern has been changed by selective breeding. These rabbits must be sheared, usually every 90 days or so.

German and Giant angoras have been bred to be wonderful wool growers, so a fiber length of 4 inch is often available at 90 days.

Does that sound like like your rabbit? Is that your white rabbit in your avatar picture?

Have a good day!

Tue, 08/04/2009 - 11:33

Megan Cleland (not verified)

G'day.  I'm Megan and although I don't have fibre animals anymore, my husband and I had a 350 acre farm in Australia. I moved to Ontario (collingwood) in Aug'08 and he will follow when the farm is sold.

We raised fine wool merino's, (at one time we had 450), Angora goats (125 of those), 8 alpacas, 2 angora bunnies, 1 horse, 65 corriedale x merino coloured sheep(they were very fine and soft). Our goal was to raise the finest, cleanest  fibre we could so I could sell to spinners.I would have coats on my coloured sheep to stop the sun from bleaching their tips. I still have much of their fibre (probably more than I could ever spin) washed, packed and ready to be shipped. Unfortunately after 8 years of drought and record prices for feed ($24. small bale of hay), we decided to sell up and come back to Canada.

I learned to weave in college (1979) and took it back up when we bought the farm.  I also knit, spin, crochet and have just started tapestry weaving.  I love the idea of spinning and creating pictures through the tapestry and will focus more on that than anything else for the moment.

So for now I am sourcing my fibre from the farmgate.

 

Mon, 08/10/2009 - 01:56

EricaDwyer (not verified)

I just joined this site.  I raise alpacas in Massachusetts and learned to spin and weave shortly after purchasing our first alpaca back in 2000.  I mostly weave now, since there just not enough hours in the day.  I spin for demonstrations at shows and fairs.  I weave mostly for resale at shows and our farm store.  Although I do weave with alpaca, I also enjoy weaving with other fibers as well.  I welcome all kinds of suggestions as I'm always looking for inspiration. 

In addition to my alpacas I have 5 dogs ( and Akbash who guards my 'pacas, Bernese Mtn Dog, Shepherd/bassett mix, yorkie & yorkie mix.) 5 cats, a bird, and 2 teenage boys ( 17 & 19).  OH!  and a husband. 

Fri, 09/11/2009 - 18:37

LlamaGirl (not verified)

I'm Careena. I have 2 llamas, 4 sheep and a dog. My sister has Cashmere goats. They are not my goats. She really doesn't have time for them and so they come to me for attention when I go to visit my sheep. We keep trying to get her to get rid of them.

My mother thinks we should downsize, get rid of the wether, the llama with the not-very-good fleece, and all. I'd like to replace them with a better wool-producing sheep, but we'll see. Our's are Cotswolds, with a long, course, curly fleece that's better suited to rugs than sweaters.

Sun, 10/11/2009 - 21:14

kkbrown (not verified)

 I'm Kathy -- I live in Northern Virginia.  I am a knitter, very amateur.  A year ago my husband and I attended a local fair and stopped at the only yarn vendor there -- alpaca.  As we walked away he said, "THAT's what we'll do when we retire!"  A week later we were coming home from our weekend place and passed an alpaca farm -- and the rest, as they say, is history.  We now own 4 alpacas, but they live on the farm where we purchased them, as we don't have enough room for them.  Retirement seems a ways off since we have to get two kids through college.

I had done a little weaving, and wasn't sure I really liked it, but since we got into the alpaca biz, I have learned to spin, and dusted off my rigid heddle loom.  I've made two throw rugs with my home spun yarn!  My husband built me a very small tri-loom and I have made one scarf with it.  I really like that, but the scarf seems a little small.

I am envious of those of you who can "live" with your animals, and can sure relate to those of you who are dreaming of farms.  I am excited to participate in this group!

Fri, 12/11/2009 - 01:08

nina

Hi, Just joined this group.  I live in NE Ohio and have had a spinning flock that has changed over the years from pygmy goats, angora goats, pygora goats, navajo churro sheep, and most recently llamas and alpaca.  I shear myself and spin and knit or weave with the yarn. I'm anxious to hear about your animals.

Sat, 12/26/2009 - 16:15

harmonyhandwovens (not verified)

Hello!  We live in New Hampshire and have alpacas.  We have 5 beautiful males here on our farm and our 2 females and 1 cria board at a large farm nearby.  We plan to grow our farm into a large fiber male farm.  I love weaving on my tri-loom and eventually we will weave rugs on the gigantic floor loom we purchased (used).  I love to read about all the projects that everyone makes!

Tue, 01/26/2010 - 06:46

silver_shell (not verified)

Hello everyone,  I really enjoyed reading about all of the different animals we are using for fiber.  My husband and I have a suri alpaca ranch in Montana and have been at it over 18 years.  We have about 80 of the dear animals and are breeders, do alpaca investment packages for other alpaca owners, and most recently have had our fiber processed into yarn.  That one was my project of love.  I just started weaving last year and wanted to use my own yarns.  I was just given a Bergman loom, in pieces, and will gladly accept the challenge of assembling.  Next up...learn to dye.  So much to learn so little time!

Mon, 07/05/2010 - 02:20

jornada (not verified)

Good evening all!  Just had a wonderful 1/2 of rain in dusty SW Kansas.  My husband and I raise alpaca also.  We shear our herd, I skirt and sort, then some is sent for processing for yarn.  The rest I keep to spin and weave with.  I will try to get some pictures up on the site of some of the things I've done.  As one other poster noted, ".........so many things to do, so little time!"

I have two spinning wheels, Schacht Matchless wheel (I'm still learning to use) an Ashford Joy (portable and I can take it to shows and to teach on).  I started out weaving on a Schacht rigid heddle (one of the earlier ones that doesn't fold) and was given a Norwood 4 shaft/4 treadle loom.  I recently purchased a 50 year old Sabina sectional loom from a great weaver in central Kansas.  I've done some basic weaving on it and am in the process of attempting curtains for our family room using a clasped weft weaving structure.  PRAY for me.

Glad to be a part of this group.  Hope we can talk more

 

Thanks

Teresa

Jornada Alpaca Ranch

Mon, 07/19/2010 - 18:17

doc pat (not verified)

Hi!   from North Texas. Whitesboro to be exact. My farm is named the  funnyfarm... Live in a geodesic dome home, make my own electicity (solar and wind).

  I'm new on this list...Raise spinning wool sheep in natural colors (black, off white, red, brown and silver)...they are cottswald mixes...mixed with Finn, Calif. CVM and Rambolet (sp?) and Lincoln...also raise goats.  The flock is about 85 ewes, last time I counted.

Have been spinning for about 25 years...learned to knit about 1 month ago while recuperating from back surgery...and also purchased a Kromski Harp at that time.  In my spare time ;)  I'm a Psychologist and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner.

Sun, 10/30/2011 - 21:13

barb geurink

Hi Jenny:  I am in eau claire, wisconsin and have an avl industrial loom too.  It's used and I always have some sort of problem with it.  Can you tell me your experiences with your loom?  Mine is a 24 inch 16 harness that I weave chenille scarves on.  It is so touch and the shuttle is always not staying on course or not boxing properly or something!  It was supposed to make my life easier but it feels like my life is more stressful.

Sun, 10/30/2011 - 23:25

frontporchindiana

Hello. My name is Christine. I am a fiber addict. I live on a small farm in Indiana with my 8 Shetland sheep, 4 alpacas, 2 llamas and a few goats and chickens. I started weaving this summer at a living history park on an old Union rug loom. I was instantly hooked. Now I'm here, seeking a twelve-step program. Or a fiber fix. :)

Tue, 12/18/2012 - 04:37

pattilam (not verified)

Greetings, I'm Pat in the western suburbs of Chicago, on 3 acres. I've got 9 sheep: 7 Icelandic, 1 good Jacob mother, and a black shetland/jacob ewe. I love their wool! I've been shearing with my husband's assist on a fitting stand with blades for about 10 years now -- twice a year when I can get it. Most I save up and send out to a nearby mill, some I comb or card myself. I LOVE to spin & weave--mostly spin. But you gotta use the yarn!! So I make blankets, shawls, clothes, etc. I just got Betty Beard's book "Fashions from the Loom" and am very inspired! Here I go again! Love sheep!

Tue, 09/24/2013 - 19:18

Meehlticket

I live in coastal Alabama.  I bought some colored cotton seeds from Southern Exchange and successfully grew some plants at home and at the Mobile Botanical Gardens.  What amazing fiber came from those plants; incredibly soft with lovely colors of green and brown.  I've saved the seeds from the pods that were the darkest green and had the longest staple.  I will expand the acreage grown next summer in colored cotton.  The colored cotton has to be planted away from any other cotton to prevent cross pollination; to prevent my plants being pollinated by the genetically modified cotton grown nearby at the county experimental fields.

Commercially grown cotton uses the largest amount of toxic chemicals in the world; pre-emergent herbicides, herbicides, pesticides, growth hormones, and defoliants.  The interest in organically grown cotton has grown beyond just interest in children's clothing.  Unfortunately, locally, the humidity, vigorous weeds and voracious insects makes growing organic cotton a challenge; necessitating a large amount of hand labor.  Growing organic cotton in Arizona, California, and parts of Texas is much more profitable.  It has the potential to be a great cash crop.

I will keep this forum updated on my success (or failure) in growing colored organic cotton in southern Alabama.

Meehlticket

Thu, 04/26/2018 - 07:58

creaturecomforts

Hi I am Dianne . I live in Manitoba Canada.  I am a retired educator.  I have been raising angora rabbits for more than 40 years and became a spinner/feltmaker as a hobby . I had "the dream" of having a fiber farm when I retired.   Along the way I had also thought I would like to raise silkworms but someone told me how difficult they were to raise and that I should try butterflies first.  So I did . Mostly raised them for weddings and funerals at first and then started a school program .  The butterflies have an intense season for a few weeks in spring that allowed me to get on with my fiberart .  These little creatures provide the seed $ to get my larger fiber animals.    And so the dream came true and I have had it for 10 years now.  I imported colored angora goats and Babydoll sheep and got some suri llamas and alpacas including suris.  I focused on fine fiber that stayed fine into adult, and with angora goats learning about the color genetics to achieve nice dark colors.  So right now I have 22 angora goats,  7 Babydoll sheep,  3 llamas (2 are suris) and about 20 French and Satin angora rabbits.  I lost my last suri alpaca this winter.  They just are not hardy enough for our climate .  Love these animals but the winters the last few years have been difficult and when I lost my favorite red angora doe during a bad wind storm in Dec I was devastated. A tree fell on her and broke her back and I had to put her down.  It broke my heart and seemed to be the beginning of the end.  I have bad years along the way but nothing like this winter.  It began early and has been never ending with frozen pump and pipes and sewer lines .  Kidding became difficult with the severe cold and -40C temps and had to bring kids into the house.  So my little  dream turned into a nightmare... and I decided that as much as I loved it -- it was time to move on. I had a lovely red year for kids my best year ever for achieving my goals.  I decided to try and find young  people that would carry on my breeding program and sell the angora goats first (in trios).  The kids are still small and it is still too cold to shear the adults so mostly am getting deposits and enjoying my time with them until they go in a few weeks.  I plan on keeping the bunnies so will still be producing the angora I adore but need to work on reducing my stockpile of fiber .    So my production has slowed the last couple of years.  Last year I broke my ribs 3 times. And this year with the bad winter I have not produced a thing.  I decided that once the animals are gone I need a new challenge.  I have not been all that interested in weaving in the past.  I did acquire a rigid headle and a couple of inkle looms that sit in my studio storage unattended! Once  I came across some tapestry weaving  and thought one day I will learn to do that... And then a few weeks ago I saw a video on using raw wool for rugs and I was hooked! That is what I wanted to do.  And so began a hunt for a similar loom.  Make rugs and then maybe some blankets with the mohair and then tapestry...  So I have had quite a journey to find a loom.  I first got interested in weavolution as I thought maybe someone could help with the process as I wanted a vertical Dryad  loom as in the video.  They are scarce here in Canada.   But then it  got resolved before I got on weavolution.  And tonight was informed that I will able to get the 45" Tissart vertical loom that I have been on a search to find. It will be a few weeks before it arrives but I am excited about the prospects it brings to learn to weave and to make (Irish style rugged ) rugs out of raw fiber, as well as some beautiful handspun and lockspun mohair, llama and wool rugs from my animals.    So that is my story .  I am nuts for fine fiber and all the wonderful fiber animals that produce it.  Well not just the fine stuff as some of it is more suitable for rugs...   This looks to be a great group and I am looking forward to great discussions.   Here is a link to my website first and following is a link to the video that charmed me.

www.creaturecomfortscottage.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XpYWqrA8UM making a raw wool rug on a dryad loom 

 Dianne   

 

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Animal to Cloth