Sheep to Shawl.......

Before we even built this farm, I knew I wanted to raise sheep. I was born and raised on a horse farm. I had lots of other animals growing up, and did many other "farm" chores but we didn't have sheep. I'm not sure what the desire to have them really was but it wasn't long after we built this farm that we added sheep to the mix.

We hadn't been here very long when I received a phone call about a very large ewe that really needed a home and would I come and get her. I really didn't need more but who can't make room for one more sheep? It was coming winter and this sheep was alone and needed a home. So...........we made the short trip, took one look at her and brought her home in the back of our Ford Explorer. It took three of us to load her! She rode all the way home with her head over the seat on Tyler's shoulder. We loved her already. Her name is Freida.

"Freida"

We have had her five years now and we love her more than we ever thought we could. She is a real Maine mutt. Her breeding consists of Lincoln, Romney, Corriedale, Blue Hexam & Border Leicester. We discovered the first time we had her sheared that she has a big hernia on her tummy. Our vet advised us not to breed her because of this. It does not trouble her and she doesn't have any other health issues. Her wool is many beautiful shades of grays and browns and she gives us 15 pounds of wool each year. She has become the "matriarch" of our flock and babysits all the lambs. She wears a collar with a bell and we know where everyone is all the time just by listening for Freida's bell.

"Granny Freida"

Over the course of the years that we have had her, I have made several shawls from her wool. Some woven, some knitted. Their is nothing like a soft, cozy shawl on a winter's evening. Below are some of my shawls.

Handwoven wool shawl. The gray is handspun Freida. Woven on a portable Ashford Rigid Heddle loom.

Handwoven wool - angora shawl. Woven on an Ashford Rigid Heddle Loom.


Handwoven wool - angora shawl. The brown wool is "Freida" wool. Woven on an Ashford Rigid Heddle Loom. Now owned by my friend, Jan. Doesn't she look lovely?


Knit shawl made from Freida - 2007 fleece. This was a gift for my Mom last year.


Handspun, knit alpaca - wool blend shawl. The fiber was a gift from a dear friend of mine. It was a joy to spin and knit. This is a small shawl and adorns the back of my needlework chair.

Hand knit, hand dyed shetland-finn wool shawl. I finished this shawl the beginning of the week. Just in time for some real cold weather that has blown in. I've decided to keep this one for myself :)

Freida's fleece from this year is at the processors. It was darker than the last few years. I've asked her to spin it all worsted weight. I have a friend who wants enough yarn to make a couple of sweaters. I'm hoping this winter to set my rigid heddle loom up again and weave another shawl with some of the yarn.

I love all my sheep, but Freida is a special old gal. She will live out her days here at Tylerfarm.