More Excalibur

I'm currently working on the Excalibur yarn base, and the next installment of photos is below.  I have finished washing, labeling and making into pretty skeins for sale these next colors:  There are two solids: a kind of lilac and a dark night-sky kind of purple, then there are two versions of plies - a lighter and darker.

The solid light purple is named "Camelaird," after the royal court of Gwenivere's heritage; and the solid dark purple is named "Camelot" for Arthur's court.  The two related versions of tweeded colors are "Chilvary" and "Courtly Love".

The two photos with the bundles of skeins were taken in my informal farm shop that is in the 100+ year old part of the house.  There is very little electric in there and the windows are not big, so the lighting is not great.  I don't think these photos truly reflect the rich and pleasant nature of the colors.

I am very happy with the fleece quality that went into these yarns, they have turned out wonderfully.  In particular, I think I could have called Camelaird "don't squeeze the Charmin" instead.  It is simply irresistible.  This grouping, plus the color called "Fairy Wings" were all part of the same group of fleeces, they all have some of the same fiber family in them, and they are awesome!

The details are the same from my previous listing of Excalibur.

Description:
These yarns were all 1/3 Targee cross wool, 1/3 Mohair and 1/3 Alpaca.  They are all sport weight, International yarn gauge #2 Fine.  Each skein is 375 yards and approximately 4 ounces.  The reference to farm yarn means that they are all my animals and fiber from farm friends.  Care suggestions are to hand wash and dry flat.

Inquiries are welcome at AvalonSpringsFarm@comcast.net

Two New Roving Colorways

I really like these two new rovings.  I am definitely exploring a deeper and darker tonal color palette.  "The Vineyard" has a traditional mix of fibers for me:  Corriedale wool, Mohair, Alpaca and glitz.  In the "Knotty Oak" I kind of went out on a limb (ha ha), and it is a little bit of everything including some silk noil for fun in ocher and two shades of green.

Knotty Oak

Both rovings make use of some natural fiber colors.  I will be bringing these to my up coming shows in March, but inquires are always welcome.  Please feel free to email me at:  AvalonSpringsFarm@Comcast.net.  

The Vineyard

Excalibur

I am so happy and excited lately.  I have been working for months at skirting, washing, and dyeing some fiber for yarn in which the milling was just finished! Hurray!  It is for the Excalibur yarn base, that in 2012 I offered only in a worsted weight and now I am offering in sport as well.

Lady of the Lake, full skein

What's in the name...  The poetic connection between "Excalibur", King Arthur's famous sword, and this yarn is that this entire yarn base is produced with a tiny bit of glitz.  It is a little shine and a little sparkle that maybe one could see when the Lady of the Lake rose out of the water to give Arthur the sword -- shining and reflecting from the sun and the water.  Or perhaps, it is Arthur rushing into battle with his gleaming sword risen with courage.  I thought it would be fun to infuse some yarn with a little of that poetry, magic and imagery in mind.

Fairy Wings, full skein

The first two colors that I have finished labeling are pictured.  The blue is "Lady of the Lake"  -- a very deep rich true blue with sparkle for The Lady.   The gray is a natural gray from the alpaca, mohair and wool - all natural gray fleeces.  I generally am not known for my work with a natural color palette, however, this was too beautiful to do any thing else with!  It would have been just "gilding the lily" as they say.  The gray is named, "Fairy Wings."  I am so pleased with its softness and lightness.  I think my customers will really enjoy it.

Lady of the Lake, close up

Description:
These yarn runs are all 1/3 wool (Targee X), 1/3 mohair, and 1/3 alpaca.  They are all sport weight, international gauge #2 Fine.  Each skein is 375 yards, weight is appx 4 ounces +.  The reference to "Farm Yarn" means that it is my animals and some fiber from some friends' farms.  It is all cottage milled and hand dyed (not to mention all the other steps done by my hand too).  Care suggestions are hand-wash and dry flat.  Inquiries at AvalonSpringsFarm@comcast.net are welcome.

Fairy Wings, close up

Fairy Wings, many skeins

Lady of the Lake, many skeins

More to come, stay tuned...

Always, Karen