What’s new in the studio – Moonshine Mohair at Keldaby Farm

Hats…Hats…Hats!

Yes, I have been knitting up a storm and here are some of my new hats! Here’s a quick tour through my studio. All these hats are $65

Whoa–Apparently It’s Been a Year…

…since I last wrote here! First a nod, no, a curtsey to the late Queen. And God save the King! Seventy years ago when she assumed the throne I received a letter from a friend of my Mom consoling me on the death of my Dad (hers, much older of course, had just died as well) and sending me many souvenir booklets and cards, which I still have, from the coronation. Eight years later my Mom and I were in Bath and the Queen Mother walked by with her retinue no more than eight feet from us. These are some of my bona fides for my anglophilism!

AND, after two years of trying to get back to Orkney and the stone cottage in Stromness, we five–Lynn, Jill, Jen and Orkney-newbie and longtime friend Susan–will be boarding our flight to the UK! I do intend to write a daily blog as I have in the past (never did quite complete the one from 2019) though it won’t get published until we’re back unless I can figure out how to do it on my Kindle. So, stay tuned!

BUT, more importantly, we are getting ready for the 19th Crafts of Colrain Studio Tour (Veterans Day weekend, 12th and 13th November) as well as our 2nd Crafts of Colrain Pop-up Show (8th and 9th October) on State Street, Buckland side of Shelburne Falls. And here’s an advisory for you legions of mohair sock lovers, this is the last year–barring a miracle–these beautiful hand-dyed socks will be available!!

And finally, and for the last time, socks!

18th Annual Crafts of Colrain Studio Tour Almost Here!

Come visit us here at Keldaby this Sat or Sun, Nov 13th–14th, 10 to 4 o’clock. Two of my best friends, Jen Kapitulik from Rag Hill Farm (upper left hand image) and Inge Jockers (lower right hand image) will be right here at Keldaby. Park once, visit three of us here–and then walk down Heath Road to our neighbor Tony Palumbo to visit his gallery and see his latest work.

During the weekend I know I will be asked at least once, probably more often, “How long does it take you to make a _____?” So finding myself just 10 days ago without any ruanas in my studio, I decided to actually learn the answer to this perennial query. The bottom line: It’s a labor of love!! The quick answer is that when weaving a run of six ruanas, one ruana takes seven hours. There’s a certain economy of scale here; it would take nearly as long to dress the loom for one as for six. But if you’re interested here’s my breakdown of the time I spent over the past week and a half:

10-12 hours to design the warp, fill the bobbins and dress the loom (wrapping the yarn on the sectional beam, threading the heddles, sleying the reed and tying on to the back beam)

3 1/2 hours to weave each ruana; that is, if there are no major screw-ups!

3-3 1/2 hours to tie the fringes on all six pieces

Next comes washing (a very gentle fulling of the fabric) and trimming the fringes

1 1/2 hours to measure the 96 4-yd lengths of yarn needed to create the six kumihimo braids that will support the neck of each ruana

1-1 1/4 hours to make the braids for each piece

And another 1/2 hour to sew the braid on and sew in a label

All this adds up to about 42 hours, hence my estimate of seven hours apiece.

I have also been busy knitting hats–here’s just one

Visitors also often ask, “But my cat (or my dog) will ruin these pieces.” No, not unless they are truly demonic! Mohair is a very resilient and durable fabric. Don’t forget, it has long been used for military dress uniforms and for upholstery, especially for theaters as it is fire resistant.

This message has been approved by Tommaso (left) and Elli (right)

About time to post again!

I have been busy–at last–at the loom. Here are my newest throws. Below these are photos of the run I made back in January when I was already sick and tired of winter–it doesn’t take long! These were woven on a mainly undyed (both white and grey) warp. These make perfect wedding gifts as they will go well with nearly any color theme.

So here is the earlier run of throws–bright, happy throws in warm cuddly colors. These are real morale boosters! Here are some shots of them.

What a Weekend! Tons of Dyeing–and a Winner Too!

Too bad it wasn’t the weekend for the CRAFTS OF COLRAIN TOUR but it was a time for getting so much accomplished in the dye studio. I spent two full days in the beautiful Indian Summer weather dyeing mainly yarn but also quite a few socks. And here’s the proof!

I can’t wait to weave these yarns into throws and shawls. And knit with them too. And of course, I do sell the yarn, which is made for us at the Green Mountain Spinnery in Putney VT –65 percent our mohair, 35 percent wool, both single and two-ply–as well.

Crafts of Colrain Online Studio Tour 2020

Our annual studio tour here in Colrain Massachusetts will go mainly online this year, Saturday and Sunday, November 14th and 15th, from 10 am to 5 o’clock. And if you haven’t, be sure to go to the tour website at https://craftsofcolrain.com

HOWEVER, weather (and we’ve nearly always been lucky) and COVID restrictions permitting Moonshine Design at Keldaby Farm WILL BE OPEN for visitors. There will be baskets and baskets of socks set out under our tents!

A limited number of people will be allowed at a time into the studio to see the rest of our items. All the studio doors and windows will be open and everyone must be wearing a mask.

We will also be selling online both by contacting us here at Keldaby (phone 413-624-3090 or email keldaby@verizon.net) and through our Etsy store, MoonshineMohairArt. https://www.etsy.com/shop/MoonshineMohairArt?ref=search_shop_redirect

Moonshine Design Product Gallery

After a great deal of procrastination I have finally assembled a gallery of products that I make here at Keldaby. Although some of these specific items are still available, this series of photos is really meant to give you an idea of what I offer. Of course you know me, the colors are always changing. If you are interested in a specific piece or in a general category put it into a “Comment” or “Contact Form” and I will be happy to photograph what I currently have here in the studio.

Virtually all yarn used in these products is 65 percent Keldaby-raised mohair, 35 percent wool. Unless specified as hand spun, my yarn is mostly made at Green Mountain Spinnery in Putney VT. I do have to purchase the boucle yarns which I like to use interspersed throughout my pieces or as the weft; however, I always buy white and do all my own dyeing. I sell yarn here in my studio and at the shows we go to but it is possible to order from me if you don’t live in our area. Mill spun is $20 to $28 per 4 oz skein and has approximately 220 yards. Hand spun skeins are priced according to weight and composition but are generally $9 to $10 per oz.

The mobius shawl is one of the most popular styles at Moonshine Design. The shawl sits squarely on your shoulders, no fussing with pins or loose ends, and it is perfect with jeans or to dress up with a long skirt at a more formal event. Just enough coverage for a chilly evening, a brisk fall day or a warm wrap around the house. $175

The ruana is an absolutely classic garment…Celtic, South American, you name it. It can be worn hanging straight down the front, pinned or not, or with one or both ends tossed back over the shoulder. This is for the person–man or woman–who likes to make a statement so it’s not for the faint of heart! The split at the neck is reinforced with a Japanese braid so you don’t need to worry about wearing it a lot. It will never fall apart. $350

Unless you live along the equator there are always nights when you will be chilly. If you live in more northern climes, as we do, there are many such evenings. Our mohair throw (56″ by 72″ plus generous fringes) is totally the right piece to wrap up in. Easy to maintain (mohair seldom needs to be washed; a good shake and a day out on the line will freshen it up just fine) this will keep you happy for years…and it gets softer and softer as it ages. Depending on length, $250 to $275.

Nuno is felting on a fabric, generally silk, and often on mine I have created a whole different second side by free-stitching a design on the silk, then cutting out the pattern. The first scarf here has fish on the back. Below you can see one scarf first with the two sewn ends, the second showing the two very different sides. For the price of one you essentially have two scarves! The last photo shows a cobweb felt scarf which has no fabric backing, and yes, they do hold together if made correctly and worn somewhat carefully. Each piece is unique and never reproduced. Prices range from $50 to $95

We sell a lot of hand knit hats in four or five different styles: the punta, the elfin cap, “Lauren’s” hat (a Green Mountain Spinnery pattern), also slouch berets (not shown). Hats range in price from $45 to $50.

The baby fruit caps are $20.

We have hand knit scares as well and they are generally $60. The first one shown is made with handspun yarn

Leg warmers, under or over pants or tucked down inside boots, are $50

After thinking of the fingerless mitts as a wonderfully romantic item from Victorian times…think La Boheme…it suddenly occurred to me one day that the reason so many teenage girls bought these was because they are perfect for texting! The mitts are $30 and $35. These shown are $35

Ahhh, the burnoose…or is it a monk’s robe or a wizard’s cloak? Here is the garment you can live in. Long, warm, hooded, this can be worn (as can the ruana) over another coat or heavy sweater in the depths of winter. These are custom made (though I still have two of these shown); this garment is $400.

Then of course there are the socks. The best sellers and for good reason. They may seem expensive to the uniniatiated, but these are the perfect socks, lasting for years and years (they are mill-made and very strong), always wicking dampness away, warm but not too warm. Then there is the little “dirty” secret about them–they don’t need to be washed that often! They come in two sizes: women’s medium (size 7 1/2 to 9 1/2) and men’slarge for women’s size 10 and up and most men. There are two weights, the regular which work well with most any shoes ($28) and the thick boot sock which I love to wear around the house in Krocs or Birkenstock-style sandals all winter long. Not bad in bed either! ($40). There is also a very small size for little kids and women with shoe size up to 6 1/2 that is somewhere between the two regular weights. These are $22.

Check out these very small socks. Unmistakedly cute! $22

Mill-spun yarns are $20 for a 4 oz skein, approx 220 yds per skein

Coming up for air!

I now realize a truth about maintaining a blog. You can’t let the bloody thing go too long with out creating a new post. Events which seemed fresh and interesting one day and you think Oh, I must write about that and in your mind you do write it and revise it, adding here, subtracting there, become very flat very quickly. So you sit down to write and then think Oh, I can’t be bothered to go through all that again! I am already sick and tired of that story.

As the season has progressed from soft autumn to harsh winter ,which although we missed the great snows that swept into New York State south of Buffalo, the next storm though amply forecast caught us unprepared so that our Thanksgiving feast, uninspired spaghetti and a sliced avocado, was eaten sullenly by the light of three icy-white LED flashlights. It was our own fault, we didn’t have to be there, we were to have drinks and dinner with a good friend in Shelburne Falls but by dark I had already slid into a slough of despair and self-pity. Land lines and cell phones had both failed us but not our wonderful Tempwood stove which kept us warm nor our cook stove which works fine with a match.

The next day we did go into the Falls