My Mission:
Producing fiber that is a pleasure to work with has become the main focus for my flock. Dyeing fiber and blending colors is a source of joy for me. Whether it's dyed carded fiber for handspinners, dyed yarn for knitting or weaving, or fiber for surface design artists, my goal is to create subtle color interactions that are appealing to the eye and invite closer inspection.
Wool Quality:
I manage my sheep to minimize contamination from hay, seeds and burdock. Feeding haylage (as opposed to dry hay) during the winter months keeps the fleeces cleaner. Haylage is almost like fresh grass; the sheep are eager to eat every bit of it, and because it is moist it's less likely to stick in the fleece.
Kevin Ford shears my sheep using hand shears instead of electric equipment. The result is calmer sheep and a more peaceful and relaxing shearing day.
The sheep are shorn in the early spring, a couple weeks prior to lambing. Lambing and lactation can create a weaker area on each fiber due to a slow down in fleece growth; if the fleece is shorn just prior to lambing, this is not an issue. A weak point in the middle of each fiber, due to shearing midway between two lambing seasons, could lead to a brittle fleece and eventually to a knitted or woven fabric that pills.
The fiber for the products that I offer comes from two sources: fleeces from my own flock and those purchased from other local flocks or fiber sources. Each product description contains information about the source of the original fiber if it isn't from my own flock.Buying fiber from Sojourner Design:
Sojourner Design is a very small business that has evolved to sell the products of my little farm, other local farms, and a small variety of fiber art supplies.
My blog, sojournerdesign.blogspot.com, is probably the best way to keep up with what's going on in my dye lab. And Each day I'm adding more items to my Etsy Shop, sojournerdesign.etsy.com.
In addition, you can find an assortment of my yarns at the following locations:
Northampton Wools, Northamtpon MA
The Wool and Dye Works in Florence (Northampton) MA,
Metaphor Yarns in Shelburne Falls MA,
and at Knitting Off Broadway in Fort Wayne IN.
Sojourner Design is likely to have a booth at the WEBS Annual Tent Sale and Fleece Market (that's on Saturday, 17 May from 10-4 this year), the Massachusetts Sheep and Woolcraft Fair each year during Memorial Day Weekend, regular meetings of the Nutmeg Spinners, and at the Franklin County Fiber Twist on 25 October. In addition, my first annual Open Studio was a success this year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and I hope to continue that tradition. If you'd like to arrange a visit to my studio, please contact me.
Arrangements can be made to visit my studio, or to purchase directly from this website. Although I'm not set up for major credit cards, a personal check or payment via PayPal is fine. You can reach me via the Contact Link at the top and bottom of each page on this site.