Sunday, November 22, 2015

Welcome to Fiberton, Rocky and Adrian!

After a bunch of work on fencing and prepping for them, we are excited to announce the arrival of our new Shetland Sheep, Rocky and Adrian!



These two now have a nice big pasture to graze to their little hearts' content!  Here are a few quick and interesting facts about these guys:
  • Shetland Sheep are a Heritage Breed and are currently in recovery.  According to The Livestock Conservancy, Heritage breeds are traditional livestock breeds that were raised by our forefathers. These are the breeds of a bygone era, before industrial agriculture became a mainstream practice. Heritage animals once roamed the pastures of America’s pastoral landscape, but today these breeds are in danger of extinction.
  • Shetland sheep are fine boned and small in size. Rams weigh 90–125 pounds, and ewes weigh 75–100 pounds. Most rams have spiraled horns, while most ewes are polled. Shetland sheep are calm and charming in disposition, docile, and intelligent.  (They are so small and cute!)
  • The Shetland breed is especially prized for its wool, which is fine, soft, and strong. Fleeces average two to four pounds and vary in crimp from wavy to straight. (Yay!  It will be awesome for yarn!)




This is Adrain.  And guess what...we think she will be having a baby soon!


And this lovely chocolate brown guy is Rocky! He is so funny and playful!  And so protective of his gal.


They love their new home!  

It is a whole new experience getting sheep, but we are excited to learn all we can and work with these two little cuties!  Stay tuned for more soon!

Ash


Friday, November 20, 2015

Cottage Chic Crochet Stocking Tutorial

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means that if you go through them to make a purchase I can earn a commission.  But I only link to products that I recommend based on my experience with them, not because of the commission. :)

It is rounding the bend quickly (too quickly!) to the holidays, and I have been in full maker mode!  I recently made a crochet stocking that was inspired by vintage everything - colors, style, feel - basically anything that invoked a feeling of nostalgia for my Etsy shop. (As you may remember from a previous post.) And I thought, "Hey Ashley, you should share this pattern with the world!"




So this is just that!  Here is the tutorial here, but down at the bottom you can find the downloadable and printable pdf for your crocheting ease.

Fiberton Acres' Cottage Chic Stocking Pattern

Tools/Materials:

Size I Crochet Hook
1 Skein (~200 yards) worsted weight yarn (on the thicker worsted weight side) in color of your choice
Alternative for yarn: Use up your stash or small balls for striping or if you have thinner yarn, use two strands of yarn or a fun multipack of yarn like this...

Abbreviations:

Ch: Chain
Sl: Slip Stitch
Sc: Single Crochet
Hdc:  Half double crochet
Dc: Double Crochet
Dc2tog: Double crochet 2 together for decrease
Cbl: Cable Stitch

The Pattern:

Note: This pattern is crocheted in the round until we reach the heel, then after the heel, you will resume crocheting in the round.

Step 1: Chain 3 and then slip stitch into first ch to create a loop.


Round 1: Ch 2 (this will act as first dc), dc 14 into loop, resulting in 15 dc. Sl st to join.


Round 2: Ch 2, dc into same stitch, then 2 dc into each around, sl st to join. 30 dc total.

Round 3: Ch 2, dc into same stitch, dc next stitch, *2 dc next stitch, 1dc into next 2 stitches*, continue from *  to last stitch, sl st to join. 41 stitches

Round 4: Ch 2, dc into same, dc to end, sl st to join. 42 stitches

Round 5: Same as Round 4.  43 stitches


At this point will have a little 'hat'.  This is the toe of the stocking. 



Round 6: Begin the crochet cable stitch.  Ch 2, 1 dc in next 2 so you have a total of 3 stitches like this:


Then wrap yarn as to dc, but reach back across all 3 stitches and insert hook into the last dc of the prior row and dc as normal.


Basically this will create  a cable look back across the last 3 stitches.  To continue, skip the next stitch, and dc in the next 3 stitches, as seen below.


Once again, wrap your yarn as if to dc, reach back to skipped stitch and finish dc.


Continue in this fashion to end of row, sl st to join.

Round 7: Dc across and sl st to join.

Rounds 8-10: Repeat rows 6 and 7. 

Heel: The heel is worked back and forth.  

Heel Row 1: Ch 2, Dc 19 stitches - 20 stitches total

Heel Row 2: Ch 2, dc 7 stitches, dc2tog twice, dc 8 - 18 stitches total

Heel Row 3: Ch2, dc 6, dc2tog twice, dc 7 - 16 stitches total

Heel Row 4: Ch 2, dc 5, dc2tog twice, dc 6 - 14 stitches total

Heel Row 5: Ch 2, dc 4, dc2tog twice, dc 5 - 12 stitches total


Your heel will look like this (above.)

Closing the heel: 

Turn wrong side out and fold in half as pictured below.



Then slip stitch closed and cut yarn.  I like to use a little Fray Check to make sure end won't come undone.


You should end up with a heel that looks like this:



Picking up stitches to continue in the round - a.k.a - Round 11:

Now we will pick up stitches around the heel and foot to make the ankle part of the stocking.  Starting at the seem of the heel, pick up and sc 8 stitches to corner.


At the corner, skip a stitch and continue to sc across.  Do the same when you reach the next corner, skipping a stitch, and then pick up and sc 8 and sl st to join.  


You should get back to your original 43 stitches. (Hey - don't panic if the numbers are not quite right! Just rip back a little and add a stitch or sc2tog to subtract a stitch to make up for it. But 43 is the magic number to get back to.)

Now we will resume the pattern! Yay!


 Rounds 12-25: Repeat rows 6 and 7


Round 26: Ch 2, dc around

Round 27: Ch 2, turn, dc around and sl st to join. (Here you will be dc-ing around in the opposite direction, which will create a nice fold for the cuff.)

Round 28 - Scalloped Edging: Ch 2, dc 6into same stitch, skip 3, *7dc into next stitch, skip 3*, repeat from * around to end, sl st to join.  


Finishing: Cut yarn and weave in ends and now only one thing left to do!  Make your loop to hang the bad boy from!



For the loop: Chain 20, turn and skip 2 ch, hdc across. Cut yarn and then sew in your desired location for the stocking to hang how you'd like.  

And tada!  A lovely cottage chic, vintage inspired stocking of your own!  Make the whole family one, or use it as a very special way to wrap your packages.  


Or, if this all sounds like a little more than you want to bite off, you can buy one at our Etsy shop here!

We hope you love this pattern as much as we loved making it!  And make sure to share your finished creations on Ravelry, or your favorite social media (use hashtag #fibertonstocking)

Ash



Monday, November 9, 2015

Jet's big debut...

TThe rabbits are starting to molt, which makes life rather hairy. (Get it? Hehe!)

I decided I'd better give Mr. Jet a trim, as he is having a little trouble with fur block like his mom. (Who, by the way, is doing much better! Her treatment worked and she is eating and drinking again like nothing happened.) 

But that little man would not sit still! See?



That's ok, at least he's cute!

Ash

Thursday, November 5, 2015

How is it already November? (AKA - Time to start the holiday crafts!)

Ok, ok, I know November has just begun, but in the crafting world it is totally time to get ready for the holidays!  And I have to admit, I am kind of having fun.

Little Leia also likes the colors I chose for the Autumn Bunting Banners...
I have started on new bunting banners for the holidays, including this one with Thanksgiving or Autumn colors.  Perfect for decorating your front door or your dining room for the holiday festivities.



I have also begun working on stockings.  I love the chunky, big, sort-of-pottery-barn stockings.  So I created my own pattern (which I will release soon) for a fun crochet stocking.




I am pretty happy with how it turned out!  I will be offering folks the option to choose whatever color they like that will match their home.

I have a few other holiday items on the hooks and needles I will show off soon!

Are you getting ready for the holidays at all yet?  Or are you like the hubby and think I am way too early?

Ash