Support a Wool Mill in California

I try to keep an eye out for interesting fiber-related projects on the crowdfunding sites, and I just recently saw this one from Mendocino Wool & Fiber on Indiegogo. It’s a great one if you have the means to support it.

They’re trying to open a wool mill that will enable the production of 100 percent locally sourced and processed yarn in California. There are no local mills in Northern California, and shipping fiber across the country or overseas is cost prohibitive for small producers, time intensive and harmful to the planet.

The idea is to use contacts they — being sheep shearer Matt Gilbert and knitter wife Sarah — already have in the fiber animal community to get their raw material and to use this funding to get the equipment that will be needed to produce the yarn. They hope to be able to offer certified organic as well as non-organic yarn that is still produced to high standards of sustainability (for farmers who have high standards themselves but are not certified).

They’re looking to raise $20,000 and are already well on their way. You can pledge as little as one dollar and as much as $900, which gets you a tour of the mill and dinner with the family. This sounds like an amazing project and just what the country needs more of — local production that uses available fiber in a sustainable way that’s good for those who raise animals, for knitters and for the planet. I hope you’ll check it out!

[Photo via Indiegogo.]

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The felted slipper craze that began last year doesn’t seem like it’s fading away. The Sailor Slippers, often striped knit and felted slippers made with super bulky yarn, because the project of the moment late last year (check out more knit slipper options in this post all about sailor slippers) and they’re still consistently popular with knitters.

Which makes sense because they are fun and fast to knit, and seeing them go from this giant thing to something that actually fits a foot feels a little magical.

I have always loved felting (in fact my first book was about felting knitting) and it’s always fun for me to see people rediscover this technique.

If you’ve knit enough plain slippers to fit all the feet you know, maybe it’s time to stitch up some tabi style slippers instead.

Maymade Knits has designed these cute tabi ballerina slippers, made with bulky yarn and felted. They’re worked flat at first and then in rounds, and are available in 10 EU sizes (the Internet tells me add 31 to your American shoe size to get your EU size). The designer says the slippers are meant to have a close fit and you should choose a size a little smaller than your foot for the ideal fit.

The pattern includes a video tutorial along with the written pattern.

You can grab this pattern on Ravelry. The same designer has her own version of the striped felted slipper as well, called Sarah’s Striped Slippers. These are worked in super bulky yarn and have a contrasting foot and a striped body. These are knit flat and seamed and there are 7 size options available. Check that pattern out here if you’re looking for a more traditional slipper shape. They also look roomier so you can wear them with socks if you like.

[Photo: Maymade Knits]

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