Hello!
This week I'd like to introduce you to one of my very favorite fiber producers, Dresow Family Farm! Stacy Dresow and I have been working on a collaboration project for awhile now and I'm so super excited to let you know that it's almost release day. First though, I wanted to introduce you all to Stacy and her flock of Cormo & Cormo-cross bred sheep. (Aren't they adorable!?!)
Stacy and I met a few years ago and quickly discovered that we share a love of fiber & supporting local/small businesses. She is an amazing woman who runs their sustainable farm with her family, naturally dyes her yarn, vends at local farmers markets, and is on the board for Three Rivers Fibershed. No shortage of hats there, right?
And did I mention how much I absolutely adore her yarn?
Seriously, after I started knitting up my sample shawl for our collaboration I sent her a message that she had ruined me for other yarns. The bounce and elasticity that her Cormo fingering-weight has is unbelievable! It's squishy enough in the skeins, but when you're actually knitting with it is when it comes alive. The twist that it has on it is just perfect, too. I can't quite explain it, but it works perfectly with the soft texture of the natural fibers and you end up with the most lovely, squishable fabric.
Read on below to learn a bit more about Stacy & Dresow Family Farm or just follow this link to be taken to her site where you can see her sheep & yarns for yourself. If you're wanting to start knitting on my Magic Fringe Shawl as soon as it's released next week, you'll need 2 skeins of fingering weight yarn in contrasting colors. And as a bonus, if you buy your yarn from Dresow Family Farm & email me a picture of your yarns, I'll send you a coupon to get the pattern at launch for just $2!
Have fun & happy knitting!
Shaina ^_^
PS: I would love to see your project & yarn plans! Tag me ( @yumiyarns ) on social media so I can find it or stop by the Ravelry group & join in the discussion.
All About Dresow Family Farm
From Stacy at DresowFamilyFarm.com:
Dresow Family Farm is tucked away in the rolling hills of Lonsdale, Minnesota. We raise white and colored Cormo and Cormo cross-bred sheep for their squishy soft fiber qualities. The white and cream colored fiber take dyes exceptionally well. In addition to our flock, we also raise Hereford cattle, laying hens, Idaho Pasture Pigs, rabbits, dogs, cats, a cutting horse, and a small herd of free- range children.
We intentionally conduct business with “local” in mind. We raise our flock on grasses & clover from our pastures and bedding from our neighbors' oat and corn fields. We also use organic field peas and locally milled grains from our town’s feed mill. The sheep also have free choice mineral formulated and mixed in Northern Minnesota. We rotationally graze our flock in our woods and pasture, bale graze, frost seed by hand & compost our manure to fertilize the hay fields. We restored our wetlands and are recognized as a Minnesota Department of Agriculture Water Quality Certified Farm since 2018. I use all natural dyes. The colors come from food compost and plants grown on the farm. Some, such as Japanese Indigo, are from local growers.
We sell fleeces, roving, yarn, and finished goods. You will find our product at fiber festivals in Minnesota, Montana, Idaho, Wisconsin, and Iowa and two local yarn shops. I also have a booth at the Faribault Winter Farmers Market in Faribault, MN and Riverwalk Market Fair in Northfield, MN.
I am the Producer Outreach Coordinator for the Three Rivers Fibershed. I am also a member of the Sustainable Sheep and Fiber Community of Northern Minnesota, the Sustainable Farmers Association- Cannon River Chapter and Cannon Valley Grown.
Mastering Mosaic Tutorial
My Magic Fringe Shawl that I designed with Stacy's yarn (releasing next week!) features a simple mosaic colorwork pattern. If you need some tips for this slip-stitch colorwork, I've got you covered. Just click on the "Learn" tab at the top of the page or follow this link to go directly to the full tutorial.
Can't wait for the new pattern to be released?
Here are a few of my other mosaic knitting patterns, all are 50% off from now through April 26. No coupons needed.
$10.00 USD
$5.99 USD
$5.99 USD
PS: Did you see that the Tales of Childhood Collection was featured on Episode 123 of the Crafty Toads?!? I'm so excited!!! The collection shows up about 1/2 way through the episode, but if you have time the entire show is wonderful & very enabley. (Not that I would want to help you fall into any new crafting habits or anything, lol. ^_- )
Also, the Adventure Anklets were featured on episode 125:
Comments