Sheepish Handspun

08/27/2026

I am always amazed that with some time and effort; some art, some skill, some science and a little math, raw fleece can become a lovely, soft, lustrous 2-ply knitting yarn. This is the 4th “Silver Sheep” - from perfect Romney/Cormo fleece once belonging to Sheep #86, Consolati Farms.

08/19/2026

The second skein of soft Romney/Cormo worsted sold last night, and will ship to Kansas today.

08/17/2026

Now on Etsy: “Silver Sheep” Romney Cormo wool - 166 yards of next-to-skin soft worsted weight yarn.
See at: www.etsy.com/shop/sheepishhandspunyarn
Next skein is in process.

08/15/2026

How do I get such an even, consistent twist and twist angle? By using basic principles of the physics of my spinning wheel, and a bit of algebra, not from hoping and guessing.

08/08/2026

I’m wrapping the first skein of Silver Sheep; it sold this morning, and on Monday, it will travel via US Post Office to a new home in Kansas!
The second skein is in progress, as you can see from the nearly full first of 2 bobbins.

08/04/2026

Here it is!! The first skein of “Silver Sheep”. This yarn is silky and soft; it has lots of lustre, and it is a bit floppy. That is because the crimp on the fleece from Sheep #86 is a wide crimp; it tends to be drapey; perfect for a shawl. Thanks again to Mary at Consolati Farms in Lee, MA - home to Sheep #86.
This new yarn is worsted weight, but it is also worsted style: carded first, then combed so that all fibers are parallel, for a smooth yarn.
See very soon my Etsy shop:
www.etsy.com/shop/sheepishhandspunyarn

08/03/2026

Finishing the first skein of “Silver Sheep”. Fleece is Romney/Cormo from Consolati Farms, Lee, MA. Thanks to Mary and Sheep #86.
Top Left: tying the freshly skeined yarn still on the niddy-noddy.
Bottom Left: just off the niddy-noddy, and this is the beginning of this yarn’s life. It’s making me happy!
Top Right: new yarn skeined - it’s floppy because it is going to be a drapey yarn.
Bottom Right: this yarn is silky and soft and I just needed to to feel it on my face…. The softest!

07/29/2026

The newest skein of “Golden Sheep” is on the left. How do you get 2 skeins with the same number of twists per inch (TPI), the same twist angle, and the same color - dyed separately?
1. Use knowledge of the wheel ratios of your spinning wheel, a little bit of simple math, and a reliable rhythm for both treadling and drafting.
2. Calculate dye amount according to the dry weight (weight of goods) of the skein.
It’s not that difficult (I never liked or was good at math)! Once I learned about spinning wheel physics and math, I changed my attitude, then my yarn got more consistent
These are the final skeins of Romney/Cormo from Sheep #121 of Consolati Farms in Lee, MA. I am grateful to Farmer Mary, and to Sheep #121.

07/28/2026

Now on Etsy: “Golden Sheep” DK weight; 170 yarns of softness!
See at: www.etsy.com/shop/sheepishhandspunyarn

07/27/2026