A Happy Sheep to be Sure to be Sure

Gorgeous Kerry Hill Lamb to put a smile on your face
Photo Courtesy of Peter Bond

Time for another exciting blend on offer this weekend after another super busy week and lots of things happening at lightning speed, although at this time of year I wish I was faster than the speed of light with the McClelland Spin in coming up in April and the handknitters Guild show in May! So much still to spin and dye ! I try not to panic …LOL! Talk about panic! It has been so dry here that one of our water tanks (the one connected to the house and the dye studio) is almost empty ! That has NEVER happened before, the dam is very low. So, I have asked Paul to connect our water tank providing the dye and veggie garden to the dye studio. No way I can scour, dye and wash everything with no water.

This week it is all about Kerry Hill sheep who are as cute as a button and have the added bonus of having great fleece to spin as well !

The Kerry Hill breed (or in Welsh: Dafad Bryniau Ceri) is from Powys, on the English/Welsh borders, and it derives its name from the village of Kerry, near Newtown. There are records of this distinctive breed in this area dating back to 1809, and the first Flock Book was published in 1899. Registered Kerry Hill Sheep can be found throughout the British Isles, Ireland, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands. It is a cute sheep, with a black nose and sharply defined black and white markings on the head and legs. The fleece handles very well and is amongst the softest of the British wools. The breed crosses well with Hill and Long wool breeds to make crossbred ewes. Though still not very numerous, the breed was removed from the records of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust watchlist in 2006.

The Kerry Hill is a medium-sized breed of sturdy build, an average ewe weighing about 55 to 65 kg (121 to 143 lb) and a ram a little more.. The face is white with black markings on the nose and around the eyes, with black, wool-less ears set high on the head. The legs are white with black markings. The fleece is fine and white, with a Bradford count of 54 to 56 and a staple length of 10 cm (4 in). An average fleece weighs about 2.75 kg (6.1 lb).

The fleece has been used in cottage industry spinning for a long time and due its fineness and easy handle. In short: it spins like a dream and has great stitch definition when knitted up. The fleece is exceptionally white and lofty.

The locks are pretty dense but they separate very easily. When you spin the yarn worsted it will have a subtle shine, good loft and excellent insulating properties.
Woolen style will produce a more matte yarn with even a greater air trapping quality, which equals to a fabulous insulating yarn. Kerry Hill is great for everyday garments from sweaters, socks to hats and blankets.

 This particular Kerry Hill “harvest” is normally about 26micron but this time these beauties have managed to get far below that ! and because of the added angora bunny and cashmere together with a lush pearly tencel it feels much softer and close to skin wear, like a 19 to 20 micron.

And how can you possibly resist these cute little lambs???? !!!!

A proud Kerry Hill ewe with her babies

I have blended the Pixie blend, yes that’s the name I called it…couldn’t resist. Although the origin of the Kerry Hill Sheep are in the gorgeous Welsh Countryside, the Pixie blend Kerry Hill Sheep are from Ireland so I HAD TO call it PIXIE. Well, better let you see what I have been up to with the dye pots. I wish you could feel the tops through your screen ! Pm me if you would like to give some of these tops a good home. Enjoy looking and have a fun weekend !

Please don't hesitate to contact me at any time if you have any questions okay? Always happy to enable. All my contact details are to be found at the end of this week’s blog entry. 

Please don't hesitate to contact me at any time if you have any questions okay? Always happy to enable. All my contact details are to be found at the end of this week’s blog entry. Have fun !!!

IxCHeL Pixie Tops with Kerry Hill Sheep

Irish Kerry Hill Sheep, Angora Bunny, Cashmere, Tencel

100+gram top    AU$24

Gem Corn Magic

Natural

Sky Dancer (Dyed with woad)

Night Sky (Dyed with Indigo)

Rainforest Magic

Autumn Leaves-

Roses

Sexy Weather Man

Himalayan Berries

Odyssey

Chartreuse Dream

Galaxy

Bermuda Triangle

Peacock

Party Animal

Happy Unicorn

IxCHeL Club Sign ups for the second trimester of 2019 are OPEN for just 3 more days !!! 

 Here is the overview of all the clubs shipped out to all the members in 2018 and January 2019. 

Teasers of the February club will be posted on my Instagram, Facebook and Twitter soon !

 If you would like to join for the next round just PM me.

Here is a photo compilation of the 2018/2019 clubs to give you an idea what the "Art Journey" Theme has been all about : The interpretation of art into fibre. And I can add 2019 January club to that overview as well now !

IxCHeL Clubs 2019

March Yarn Club

March Fibre Club

March Batt Club

IxCHeL Fibre Club April, May and June 2019

TOTALLY FILLED UP !

The subscription is for a period of three months and you will receive one special hand dyed top/roving per month to the value of AU$25 or more. 

All the tops will be hand dyed and will be especially made for the members of IxCHeL Fibre Club ! Price to join the IxCHeL Fibre Club #39 and receive your special hand dyed top :)) for three months (April, May and June 2019) is AU$75 + postage (parcel post or airmail). AND there are good value double serves available !!! 

 For Australia : single serve $75+$29 postage (parcel post), double serve $142+$29 (save $8) or triple serves $214 (save $11!) + postage 

For USA + Canada: single serve AU$75+AU$57 (Airmail) double serve AU$142+AU$57; triple serve $214 (save $11) + postage

 For UK,Europe, rest of the world: Single serve AU$72+AU$69 (airmail) Double serve AU$136+AU$69; triple serve $214 (save $11) + postage

 For Asia: Single serve AU$72+AU$50 (airmail) Double serve AU$136+AU$50; triple serves $214 (save $11) + postage 

If you want to receive a fibre surprise every month then join the IXCHEL FIBRE CLUB #39 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! The April 2019 Club is going to be shipped out end of April, the May club mid May and the June club Early June. Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal. Just PM or email me your details. 

 The IxCHeL Yarn Clubs April, May and June 2019

ONLY A FEW MORE SPOTS AVAILABLE!

 Every month for three months (April, May and June 2019) you will receive: enough hand dyed luscious yummy yarn to make a pair of socks or a lush shawl or scarf of course! (the hand dyed yarn will be exclusive for the Ixchelbunny SOCK-IT-TO-ME Yarn CLUB and will range from a sockweight yarn (a 4ply/fingering weight yarn) or an 8ply / DK weight enough to make a pair of socks ; Every month a sock or scarf pattern, tips and instructions ! Now is that GOOD or is that GOOD ??! 

 I will even offer a double serve for those of you who like their socks or scarves extra long ! 

For Australia : single serve $87+$29 postage (parcel post) double serve $150( save $24!!) +$29 postage For USA + Canada: single serve AU$87+AU$57 (Airmail) double serve $150 (Save $24!!) +AU$57 

For UK,Europe, rest of the world: Single serve AU$87+AU$69 (airmail) Double serve $150 (Save $24!!) +AU$69 

For Asia: Single serve AU$87+AU$50 (airmail) Double serve $150 (= Save $24!!!) +AU$50 

Numbers are strictly limited ! Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal . Just PM or email me your details By the way: you don’t HAVE to knit socks if you don’t want to.. the hand dyed yarn is amazingly nice for scarves, cowls, beanies and even tops ! Anything goes . The April 2019 Club is going to be shipped out end of April, the May club mid May and the June club Early June.

IxCHeL Funky Bunny Batt Clubs April, May and June 2019

TOTALLY FILLED UP !

Here are all the details. Just pm me when you have any questions or want to be part of the funky bunny batt club Movement ;-) Welcome to the blingy dark side ;-D The subscription is for a period of three months and you will receive one special hand dyed funky bunny batt per month to the value of AU$40 or more . The batts will range in weight from 140grams to 170grams with luxury fibres like camel , angora, cashmere, silk, yak, llama even wallaby and bison and rare sheep breeds !!!! All the batts will be hand dyed and will be especially made for the members of IxCHeL funky bunny Club ! Every month you will receive a HUGE luxury funky bunny batt ! 

Sign up now and you will receive an IxCHeL Hand dyed , super luxurious funky bunny batt for April , May and June 2019

Price to join the IxCHeL Funky bunny for three months is : 

 For Australia : $114+$29 postage (parcel post) For USA + Canada: AU$114+AU$57 (Airmail) 

 For UK,Europe, rest of the world: AU$114+AU$69 (airmail) 

 For Asia: AU$114+AU$50 (airmail) 

 If you want to receive a fibre surprise every month then join the IXCHEL FUNKY BUNNY BATT CLUB now. Numbers are strictly limited ! 

The April 2019 Club is going to be shipped out end of April, the May club mid May and the June club Early June. Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal. Just PM or email me 

 Have a fun week Creating your Dreams!

All my contact details are here:

Please don't hesitate to contact me at any time if you have any questions okay? Always happy to enable. All my contact details are to be found at the end of this week’s blog entry. 
Have a fun weekend !!!

Please don't hesitate to contact me at any time if you have any questions okay? Always happy to enable. All my contact details are also to be found at the end of this week’s blog entry.

Have a creative week!

Please don't hesitate to contact me at any time if you have any questions okay? : Always happy to enable.

How To Order:

1. You can email me on ixchel at rabbit dot com dot au or ixchelbunny at yahoo dot com dot au
2. Message me on facebook or 
3. Message me on www.ravelry.com  where I am ixchelbunny.
4. message me on Instagram where I am @ixchelbunny

I will email you right back with all your order details and payment methods.

Any questions? Any custom orders for yarn or dyeing fibre? : Please don’t hesitate to ask! Always happy to enable.

Dates to put in your Calendar

McClelland Spinners And Weavers Guild Spin in

Wednesday April 10th, 10 - 3pm

At the McClelland Sculpture Park (follow the signs once you enter the park, you have to drive a bit to get to the right cottage)

Theme for this years SPin In is :

EASTER BONNET - HAT

It's still time to create your very own Easter Hat with or without Bunnies !

Here is a hat with bunnies you can make with a free pattern: 

and here is the link to the pattern:  

https://craftox.com/free-bunny-hat-knitting-pattern-fair-isle-jacquard/

Handknitters Guild Show, Coburg Town Hall

Sunday 26th of May, 10 – 3pm.
Coburg Town hall, 90 Bell Street, Coburg VIC 3058

I'll be there with an amazing amount of new exclusive NEW yarns (and some wool to spin as well) !!!
I  will also have spindles by the amazing Bearded Dragon and lots of fibre tools as well from darning mushrooms to noste pinne, Turkish spindles, Navajo and Mayan spindles, Turkish spindles and needle cases to distaffs.

Get ready for a fabulous SUNDAY filled with lots of craft and YARNIE fun !!!

Friday July 19th to Sunday July 21st 

Australian Sheep and Wool Show, Bendigo.

Go to http://www.sheepshow.com to see what is happening and book your tickets. The Bendigo Sheep and Wool show is the biggest wool show in Australia ! with an amazing amount of woolcraft, indie dyers, a huge amount of tops, yarn, craft, felt and spindles, spinning wheels and anything you need for your knitting,crocheting and crafting.
I will be there with an amazing amount of new exclusive wool blends and yarns, batts, felt and landscape and botanical natural dyes and so much more !!!
I will also have spindles by the amazing Bearded Dragon and lots of fibre tools as well from darning mushrooms to noste pinne, Turkish spindles, Navajo and Mayan spindles, Turkish spindles and needle cases to distaffs, and something amazing  for spinners and knitters.

Get ready for a fabulous weekend filled with lots of craft and fun !!!

 RABBIT ON !

((hugs))

Charly