Welcome to another rare sheep breed update to brighten up your weekend !
And, what a cool sheep it is ! Look at all those fabulous horns !! More about this rare sheep breed later and more about spinning and their fleece....
I am sure I am not the only one being extremely worried and angry about what is happening in Ukraine at the moment. It breaks my heart. I feel pretty disillusioned that a power hungry despote is still able to get away with invading another country. Two world wars and having a United Nations Security Council obviously does not help "keep Peace" and it makes me wonder why? So many people are now so impacted by the grandiose expansion plans of a despot. and you know what? Russia is the president of the United Nations security council at the moment (every member gets a month it leads the council...how about that for timing?). Have a look at the the transcripts of their meeting a few days ago and you will see what I mean. It angers me that the people in power just crave more power above anything else, without any thought about the welfare of the powerless. After two years of pandemic, now this and it makes me wonder if , in some abnormally surrealist way, those power hungry leaders think that war is the only way to "save the economy".... But that's a whole other philosophical discussion. One thing is for sure: there are going to be lots of people being hurt and displaced. They are going to need help and shelter, and , now more than ever we need to be vigilant to keep our voices being heard.
Back to the democracy of fluff, which is , apart from the fact that lots of pointy sticks are involved, are pretty peaceful !! Power to the knitters,weavers, crocheters, felters and spinners of the world !!
All the February clubs have been shipped out to the club members Monday, February 14th (Valentine’s Day ! )
The March clubs are almost ready : still a bit of carding to do but I am ahead of the game as they say. And oh can I feel it ! I have dyed, prepped and carded so much in the last two months, it has taken a bit of a toll I’m afraid. I am close to running on empty and have to replenish my internal reserves….I need to be in tip top shape , ready to get a huge amount of dyeing done for the big show in May of the Handknitters and crocheters guild Victoria ! Heaps of spinning too ! I will be talking about that and more in next week’s blog !
In the meantime: Here is a look at the inspiration for the March Clubs: a fabulous painting by the surrealist painter Leonora Carrington, called “Twins”.
If you have a chance to see some of her work or have a read of her memoir and amazing stories, please do. She was an amazing artist and quite the inspiration, her roots in England, but lived most her life in Mexico. Mexico sees her as their artist and she fits right in with the magic surrealism of that country.
Here’s a look at the teaser label for the March club:
So what rare sheep breed is on offer tonight? :
It is the Manx Loaghtan !
The Manx Loaghtan conjures up images of the movie “Hell Boy” with all of it's majestic horns, but these sheep are the epitome of gentle awesomeness ! Here are photos illustrating the flow from little lamb to adult heroism:
The Manx Loaghtan conjures up images of the movie “Hell Boy” with all of it's majestic horns, but these sheep are the epitome of gentle awesomeness ! Here are photos illustrating the flow from little lamb to adult heroism:
The origins of these primitive sheep are not fully understood but their ancestors are thought to go back to the Iron Age.
They share many characteristics with other primitive sheep and are part of the Northern Short Tail group of sheep.
These related primitive sheep were spread round Scandinavia, Iceland, the Scottish Islands and the Isle of Man by the Vikings.
The Manx Loaghtan is still one of the rarest of breeds in the British Isles and since 1973 the Rare Breeds Survival Trust has helped promote these wonderful sheep.
Up to the 18th century these sheep covered the Manx hills in their thousands. Gradually they were replaced by modern sheep that mature quicker and are heavier. Obviously modern economics are far from romantic..lol
In the last 120 years the Manx Loaghtan came close to extinction 3 times and was only saved by the dedication and foresight of a few people.
In the 1950s numbers were down to less than a 100!!!
Happily today there are just over a thousand and their future seems much brighter as people have come again to appreciate the wool which is naturally a dark tan colour, soft, light yet very warm.
The first thing that you notice about Manx Loaghtan sheep is their impressive set of horns. Both sexes have 2, 4 or even 6 horns!
As the name suggests, the Manx Loaghtan originated on the Isle Of Man. It is a small, ancient hill breed. Originally white with some grey and black sheep but few of the reddish-brown colour we see today (the word 'Loaghtan' comes from the Manx for 'mouse brown').
Like many other heritage breeds, the Loaghtan was once popular but declined in the early 20th century. The breed was rescued by enthusiasts both on the Isle of Man and in Scotland (where I got these beauties from) , and is now popular as a conservation grazer that will eat almost anything!
The breed is considered 'at risk' by the Rare Breed Survival Trust, with fewer than 1,500 registered breeding ewes.
Most Loaghtans have a medium staple length fleece, which in varying shades of brown getting paler with age, although they bleach to cream in the sun. The lambs are born black and generally achieve their particular shade of brown during the first year.
The fleece is very nice and soft with a staple length of between 70mm-100mm with around 22-28micron. It is great to spin for close to skin wear or for outerwear as well. Originally, most of the sheep were white – some were black or grey and the “loaghtan” color we attribute to the breed was quite unusual. Loaghtan is the Manx word for the brown “moorit” color of the fleece which is derived from two Manx words: “lugh” meaning mouse and “dhoan” meaning brown, or from “lhosht dhoan” meaning burnt brown. As it turned out, textiles made from the loaghtan color was prized and that color won out in the marketplace and breeders selected out the more common colors, keeping the recessive loaghtan. Today they should be of uniform colour. Sometimes a spectacled sheep shows up – this trait stems from cross breeding with Castlemilk Moorits in 1936 or some Soay rams in 1966 when they were trying to restore the breed, and is normally bred out of the flock. Fleece type is highly variable – some short, some long, and all the original colors can be found in flocks so long as the color on a particular fleece is uniform and lacking white markings. Some Manx retain the ability to roo – generally shedding their fleece in May based on weather conditions – but the majority are shorn. The grease rise makes this complicated in ewes with lambs – and frequently results in a distinct line of thick grease at the butt end of a shorn fleece. I love this sheep. It has such an old world feel to it and so ancient in a way and of course the fleece itself is just magic to spin up.
They share many characteristics with other primitive sheep and are part of the Northern Short Tail group of sheep.
These related primitive sheep were spread round Scandinavia, Iceland, the Scottish Islands and the Isle of Man by the Vikings.
The Manx Loaghtan is still one of the rarest of breeds in the British Isles and since 1973 the Rare Breeds Survival Trust has helped promote these wonderful sheep.
Up to the 18th century these sheep covered the Manx hills in their thousands. Gradually they were replaced by modern sheep that mature quicker and are heavier. Obviously modern economics are far from romantic..lol
In the last 120 years the Manx Loaghtan came close to extinction 3 times and was only saved by the dedication and foresight of a few people.
In the 1950s numbers were down to less than a 100!!!
Happily today there are just over a thousand and their future seems much brighter as people have come again to appreciate the wool which is naturally a dark tan colour, soft, light yet very warm.
The first thing that you notice about Manx Loaghtan sheep is their impressive set of horns. Both sexes have 2, 4 or even 6 horns!
As the name suggests, the Manx Loaghtan originated on the Isle Of Man. It is a small, ancient hill breed. Originally white with some grey and black sheep but few of the reddish-brown colour we see today (the word 'Loaghtan' comes from the Manx for 'mouse brown').
Like many other heritage breeds, the Loaghtan was once popular but declined in the early 20th century. The breed was rescued by enthusiasts both on the Isle of Man and in Scotland (where I got these beauties from) , and is now popular as a conservation grazer that will eat almost anything!
The breed is considered 'at risk' by the Rare Breed Survival Trust, with fewer than 1,500 registered breeding ewes.
Most Loaghtans have a medium staple length fleece, which in varying shades of brown getting paler with age, although they bleach to cream in the sun. The lambs are born black and generally achieve their particular shade of brown during the first year.
The fleece is very nice and soft with a staple length of between 70mm-100mm with around 22-28micron. It is great to spin for close to skin wear or for outerwear as well. Originally, most of the sheep were white – some were black or grey and the “loaghtan” color we attribute to the breed was quite unusual. Loaghtan is the Manx word for the brown “moorit” color of the fleece which is derived from two Manx words: “lugh” meaning mouse and “dhoan” meaning brown, or from “lhosht dhoan” meaning burnt brown. As it turned out, textiles made from the loaghtan color was prized and that color won out in the marketplace and breeders selected out the more common colors, keeping the recessive loaghtan. Today they should be of uniform colour. Sometimes a spectacled sheep shows up – this trait stems from cross breeding with Castlemilk Moorits in 1936 or some Soay rams in 1966 when they were trying to restore the breed, and is normally bred out of the flock. Fleece type is highly variable – some short, some long, and all the original colors can be found in flocks so long as the color on a particular fleece is uniform and lacking white markings. Some Manx retain the ability to roo – generally shedding their fleece in May based on weather conditions – but the majority are shorn. The grease rise makes this complicated in ewes with lambs – and frequently results in a distinct line of thick grease at the butt end of a shorn fleece. I love this sheep. It has such an old world feel to it and so ancient in a way and of course the fleece itself is just magic to spin up.
Please understand that I do not have a lot of stock of this exceptional rare breed fibre. Do not wait too long to pounce on this week’s update to avoid disappointment. I am offering you this all scoured and cleaned and pulled into luscious tops ready to spin in its natural colour AND a very luxurious Manxy Minky Silky Batt with colourful silk and absolutely heavenly soft Mink ! Spinning the batt into yarn will give you a tweedy luscious yarn.
Have a fun weekend with lots of giggles!!
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 !!!
Manx Loaghtan
Rare Sheep breed Tops
A rare sheep breed that is a magical addition to your stash !
100grams (+/-3.5Oz); AU$23
100grams (+/-3.5Oz); AU$23
Manx Loaghtan top Minky Manxy Silky Batts
Manx Loaghtan, colourful silk and Mink
this will make the most awesome tweedy rare sheep breed yarn !
110grams (+/-3.6Oz); AU$32
110grams (+/-3.6Oz); AU$32
Manx Loaghtan top 
Manx Loaghtan top Have a fun weekend with lots of fibre play, laughs and love!!
All my contact details and "HOW TO ORDER" are also to be found at the end of this week’s blog entry. And please remember: Every time you buy from a small business or a farm you are not only getting something unique and handmade but you are supporting so much more !
To order: email or message me on facebook, Ravelry or Instagram, quoting the colourway and the quantity you would like, together with your postal address and I will get right back to you with all the payment details. Lock down or not: I am still working and mailing the parcels out fast as humanly possible :-)
IxCHeL club sign ups for
April, May, June 2022
are now open !
Here are some photos of the previous clubs:
January 2022 Batt Club
January 2022 Fibre club
January 2022 Yarn Club
June 2021Club
June 2021Club
November 21 Yarn ClubNote to all International club members:
All international club parcels are now being shipped with tracking and expedited.
There is an option if you want all three of your clubs to be shipped together to save on shipping cost: Just ask me for a postage quote !
IxCHeL Fibre Club April, May and June 2022
The subscription is for a period of three months and you will receive one special hand dyed and special blended top/roving per month
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 #51 and receive your special hand dyed top :)) for three months (April, May and June 2022 ) is AU$78 + postage (parcel post or airmail). AND there are good value double and triple serves available !!!
For Australia : single serve $78+$30 postage (parcel post), double serve $150(save $6) +$30m postage or triple serves $225 (save $9!) + $30 postage
For New Zealand : single serve $78+$45 postage (parcel post) double serve $150(save $6) +$45 postage
For New Zealand : single serve $78+$45 postage (parcel post) double serve $150(save $6) +$45 postage
For USA + Canada: single serve AU$78+AU$60 (Airmail) double serve AU$150+AU$60; triple serve $225 (save $9) + AU$60postage
For UK,Europe, rest of the world: Single serve AU$78+AU$78 (airmail) Double serve AU$150+AU$78; triple serve $225 (save $9) + AU$78postage
For Asia: Single serve AU$78+AU$57 (airmail) Double serve AU$150+AU$57; triple serves $225 (save $9) + AU$57postage
If you want to receive a fibre surprise every month then join the IXCHEL FIBRE CLUB #51 now. Numbers are strictly limited ! Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal. Just PM or email me your details.
The IxCHeL Yarn Clubs April, May and June 2022
Every month for three months (April, May and June 2022 ) 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 sock weight yarn (a 4ply/fingering weight yarn); 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 $96+$30 postage (parcel post) double serve $177( save $15!!) +$30 postage
For New Zealand : single serve $96+$45 postage (parcel post) double serve $177( save $15!!) +$45 postage
For USA + Canada: single serve AU$96+AU$60 (Airmail) double serve $177 (Save $15!!) +AU$60
For New Zealand : single serve $96+$45 postage (parcel post) double serve $177( save $15!!) +$45 postage
For USA + Canada: single serve AU$96+AU$60 (Airmail) double serve $177 (Save $15!!) +AU$60
For UK,Europe, rest of the world: Single serve AU$96+AU$78 (airmail) Double serve $177 (Save $15!!) +AU$78
For Asia: Single serve AU$96+AU$57 (airmail) Double serve $177 (= Save $15!!!) +AU$57
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 Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal. Just PM or email me your details
IxCHeL Funky Bunny Batt Clubs April, May and June 2022
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 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 2022
Price to join the IxCHeL Funky bunny for three months is :
For Australia : $114+$30 postage (parcel post)
For New Zealand : single serve $114+$45 postage (parcel post)
For USA + Canada: AU$114+AU$60 (Airmail)
For New Zealand : single serve $114+$45 postage (parcel post)
For USA + Canada: AU$114+AU$60 (Airmail)
For UK,Europe, rest of the world: AU$114+AU$78 (airmail)
For Asia: AU$114+AU$57 (airmail)
If you want to receive a fibre surprise every month then join the IXCHEL FUNKY BUNNY BATT CLUB now.
Numbers are strictly limited !
Payment via direct deposit or credit card or paypal. Just PM or email me your details.
To become a member just email me on ixchelbunnyart at gmail dot com or message me on facebook or Instagram. More on how to order the clubs and anything from this update later in the blog in the section “how to order”
IxCHeL Tweed Yarn
Hand dyed
Super soft lambs wool 70% and Kid Mohair 30%
Spun singles, fingering or sock weight yarn
+/- 200meters/218yards
50grams 1.76oz
AU$18
+/- 200meters/218yards
50grams 1.76oz
AU$18
Botanical dyes
(dyed with Eucalypt, Madder root, Walnut, Elderberry, Indigo,Acorn)
SOLD
Indigo 1 available
Jewels 2 available
NEW colours !!!
IxCHeL Tweed Yarn
Super soft lambs wool 70% and Kid Mohair 30%
Spun singles, fingering or sock weight yarn
+/- 200meters/218yards
50grams 1.76oz
AU$16
Nephrite Jade
(A beautiful deep sage green colour with fun blue, lime and salmon speckles)
SOLD
Making new batch soon!
Grevillea + new !
A vibrant raspberry pink tweed with deep purple, lime and soft pink speckles)
IxCHeL Tweed fingering weight yarn
Super soft lambs wool 70% and Kid Mohair 30%
Spun singles, fingering or sock weight yarn
+/- 200meters/218yards
50grams 1.76oz
AU$16
Great Barrier Reef
Leafy Seadragon
Flying Fox
Airlie Beach
Sea Mist
Amethyst
Kata Tjuta BACK IN STOCK !!!
(an intense pure red that goes well with the Kookaburra and the Wattle and the Amethyst colourway and soooooo many others)
Kookaburra
(a beautiful silver grey with ochre accents that complement the dingo colourway)
Dingo
( A beautiful warm honey ochre with pops of royal bluebell, kingfisher and kangaroo paw)
Dusky Grevillea
(a gorgeous raspberry base with pops of royal bluebell, flowering gum, grey and daintree)
Fern Forest
( a deep forest green with accents of bright red, dusky purple and daintree) )
Jacarandah
( a fabulous deep purple with accents of royal bluebell, daintree, grevillea and kingfisher )
Wombat
( a fabulous deep walnut brown with accents of dingo and kookaburra)
Kangaroo Paw
( a fabulous warm orange with accents of fern forest, royal bluebell and grevillea and dingo )
Royal Bluebell
( a deep blue with accents of flowering gum, kookaburra and fern forest )
Wallaby
( a warm light brown with accents of soft blue and kookaburra)
Daintree ( a soft green with accents of fern forest and dingo)
Kingfisher
( a fabulous Turquoise blue with accents of fern forest, kangaroo paw, Jacaranda and Grevillea)
Want to dye your own with easy to use acid dyes? I have been selling these Landscape dyes at my workshops and shows for a long time : They are extremely easy to use and come in great shades.
Wattle
(A beautiful sunshine yellow that goes so well with the kookaburra the silver grey)
(A beautiful sunshine yellow that goes so well with the kookaburra the silver grey)
Kata Tjuta BACK IN STOCK !!!(an intense pure red that goes well with the Kookaburra and the Wattle and the Amethyst colourway and soooooo many others)
Kookaburra(a beautiful silver grey with ochre accents that complement the dingo colourway)
Dingo( A beautiful warm honey ochre with pops of royal bluebell, kingfisher and kangaroo paw)
Dusky Grevillea(a gorgeous raspberry base with pops of royal bluebell, flowering gum, grey and daintree)
Flowering Gum
( a gorgeous medieval warm red with bright red, kookaburra and fern forest accents)
( a gorgeous medieval warm red with bright red, kookaburra and fern forest accents)
Fern Forest ( a deep forest green with accents of bright red, dusky purple and daintree) )
Jacarandah ( a fabulous deep purple with accents of royal bluebell, daintree, grevillea and kingfisher )
Wombat( a fabulous deep walnut brown with accents of dingo and kookaburra)
Kangaroo Paw ( a fabulous warm orange with accents of fern forest, royal bluebell and grevillea and dingo )
isn’t it gorgeous how the Kangaroo paw knits up?! )
Royal Bluebell ( a deep blue with accents of flowering gum, kookaburra and fern forest )
Wallaby( a warm light brown with accents of soft blue and kookaburra)
Daintree ( a soft green with accents of fern forest and dingo)Kingfisher ( a fabulous Turquoise blue with accents of fern forest, kangaroo paw, Jacaranda and Grevillea)
(Out of stock but more coming soon !)
Landscape dyes
100g tubs AU$12
250 g tubs AU$27
250 g tubs AU$27
Just contact me with the name of the colour you are after and I will get right back to you.
All my contact details are here:
Please don't hesitate to contact me at any time if you have any questions okay? Any questions about custom orders: spinning or dyeing orders: Always happy to enable.
How to Order: email or message me on facebook, Ravelry or Instagram, quoting how many tops, yarns or clubs you would like, together with your postal and email address and I will get right back to you with all your order and payment details.
1. You can email me on ixchelbunnyart at gmail dot com 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
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
Shipping : I am still working and mailing the parcels out fast as humanly possible :-) All orders received and paid for of the Friday updates, will be shipped first thing monday morning. We do daily post office runs (if necessary). The recent AusPost changes to parcel pickups from businesses therefore does not apply to us because WE deliver your parcel directly to our nearest AusPost hub.
Seeing that there are currently lots of Covid cases, especially in NSW ain VIC, there can be some AusPost sorting centres that do not have enough staff so there will be delays in getting the parcel to you. As soon as your parcel is shipped you will receive an automatic email from AusPost with the tracking number so you can see where your parcel is and the approximate ETA.
Overseas deliveries are highly impacted by the very low amount of planes out of Australia t the moment and the very high pressure on AuPost. Please be patient during these pandemic times. We do our utmost to keep everything running smoothly on our end and if you have any questions: please do not hesitate to ask. Always happy to help!
Stay safe!
Keep crafting !
Be Happy !
Stay Awesome !
Keep your eyes out for any news on the
ixchelbunny Instagram feed and the IxCHeL facebook page!!
Show the Love and Follow me on Instagram
RABBIT ON !
((hugs))
Charly
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