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WHAT DOES "SHOP LOCAL" MEAN TO YOU?

4/11/2019

 

Do you know where your yarn comes from?
​Or your soap, your cheese, yogurt, or even your wine?

Welcome to the first in a series of blogs where I am introducing you to my friends – local PEI farmers who work tirelessly caring for their animals, their crops and their land.  It is only because of their hard work that I am able to share with you such unique and truly local items!

​Meet James and Toby Hill, the owners of Blomidon Farm – a small Icelandic sheep farm about a 20 minute drive from our Knit Pickers’ studio.  You can tell from this photo that Icelandic sheep have the sweetest personalities.  A huge part of that is because of the way they are raised – in the most humane and sustainable way with loads of love, and of course plenty of sunshine and grass in the summer.
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​As I’m writing this, it’s lambing season at Blomidon Farm.  If I’ve kept things straight, Toby and James have helped the expectant ewes deliver 6 sets of twins and 4 singles within the past week!  Mid-afternoon or 2 a.m. – they have to be there when Mother Nature calls.  Only 4 more deliveries to go….
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​In the pic on the left, Koko was looking pretty ready to meet her new babies and she proudly delivered healthy and strong twins – a boy and a girl!
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Icelandic sheep have been treasured for their wool for over 1,100 years!  Their fleece is made up of 2 layers – a fine undercoat known as “thel” and a longer outer coat known as “tog”.   When spun together, this wool will keep you toasty warm and dry!
​
Icelandic sheep are shorn twice a year.  James and Toby let the wool shine in its original colours – natural black (almost an espresso colour), shades of warm brown, and a light natural grey.  When the skeins are made up, they label each skein with the name of the sheep that provided the wool.

​Recently, I designed and knit this “Diamonds and Pearls” cowl
with wool “donated” by Peggy and Iris!  
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Of course the wool and the pattern for this cowl are available at our Knit Pickers’ studio or through our online store.  I would rate the pattern at an easy “intermediate” knitter level.  It knits up quickly on 6 mm knitting needles and the Icelandic wool is absolutely delicious!  I would strongly recommend stitch markers to help you keep track of pattern repeats.
Happy knitting!

    Author

    Live life luxuriously!  Classic simplicity is what I enjoy the most - in clothing design, home decor and in life! 

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