Cardigan from Mork
Mork
Who would ever thought I would be living on a farm and ranch one day with camelids and other livestock! Wait, what was that? In the past year, I have been having so much fun explaining to my family and friends what is the camelidae family. To me, it’s Mork, Zirkle, Snowball, and Bianchi. And also there is Bella! Tim and I were a bit nervous (at first) to take ownership of a fiber family of ten: two ewes (Amelia and Emily); their lambs (Olivia and Daisy from Amelia and Shaun from Emily); four alpacas, old timers as their Ma Ma Peggy, who gave them to us call it (Mork, Zirkle, Snowball and Bianchi); and a llama (Bella). A little bit of reading and some help + support from our farming fiber friends have our new fiber family happy and healthy. And now, the best thing I have been waiting for- my own sheep and alpaca wool!!!
Mork 2019: 70% Alpaca, 30% Merino Wool
Just about a month ago, I came home with some processed fibers from my beauties! Thanks to my friends Lorrae and Lewis Moon at Yampa Valley Fiberworks. From year 2019, we were able to process some (70% alpaca and 30% wool) yarn from Mork, Snowball, and Bianchi. Since Zirkle’s fiber is short according to my friend Lorrae, I have his as roving to be spun into yarn. Not to worry, I will share my experience and projects with you.
Snowday Cardigan for Rowan by Martin Storey
Well, let me tell you what Mork gave me! We were able to get 840 yards of beautiful grey fiber from the handsome fella. I was super excited to work with the fiber that it took me more time to select a pattern than to actually knitting it. Of course, designing my own pattern came to mind but the thought of being unsuccessful was unbearable. After spending way too much time (probably about two weeks or more), I found ‘the’ pattern! Snowland Cardigan for Rowan by a very talent English designer, Martin Storey. This pattern is free and uses just 800 yards! This means I will have leftovers from Mork. PERFECT!
Fast forward… and the cardigan is done! Yes!: in less than the amount of time I spent on finding the pattern. But, what about the buttons?!?! Mork has given me a nice and beautiful cardigan but I don’t have any idea what buttons will deserve such apiece. Think handmade, think of something very special, think tradition, think English, think old…. and voila! Dorset buttons! I will share with you how I make the buttons later but this is the tutorial, that I used which spoke to me. I have taken a live Dorset button class at Interweave Yarn Fest in 2018. So if you are trying to make a button and not getting it the first few times, please do not be hard on yourself! Just keep trying. It took me several tries and I struggled a lot in the beginning because I am left handed.
For the cardigan, I made the traditional Dorset with white yarn to compliment the snowflake pattern. I tried keeping the traditional English theme. If you are wondering why my piece looks a little different from the original, it is because I modified the pattern just so I could have more buttons. The whole experience was amazing! With the cardigan completed, I think I am going to be making more Dorset buttons.
Everyday, I am very thankful to have the opportunity to be doing what I love. I truly enjoy the process of taking care of our animals, having my fiber friends who give me much inspirations and support and being able to make precious handmade items. I appreciate my family and friends who provide me with tremendous support no one can ever asked for! I hope to be creating more because of you! For now, I give you love and distance hugs from our farm in the Routt County, Colorado.
Please stay healthy and always be playful! Happy crafting!