The Ohio Natural Fiber Network

Find us on Facebook

2012-01-26T12:42:00.000-08:00

For up-to-the-minute info on what's happening in the Ohio fiber world, be sure to join the Ohio Natural Fiber Network group on facebook.

Even if you're not a member of the group, you can certainly follow the day-to-day questions about how your future sweater is being raised, discussion about the various shows you can find us, and upcoming classes we are teaching.

Join the fun. Join the group.

Fiber Frenzy Retreat 2012: A Weekend Devoted to Fiber

2011-12-16T09:59:00.000-08:00

The Ohio Natural Fiber Network is on the move!

Join four of the network's members, as well as other fiber art teachers, in Kentucky this February for a fiber weekend retreat.

Lee Ann King, Barb Baker, Lisa Allomong and Andrea Wargo will travel to Park City, Kentucky for the second annual Fiber Frenzy Retreat at the Park Mammoth Resort.

The retreat is right when you need it most -- the dead of winter -- February 17 - 19, 2012. It is a weekend full of knitting, spinning, hooking, crocheting, carding, beading and basket-making. Not to mention local chocolates and wines.

The wonderful Jacey Boggs will teach thick and thin spinning, thick and thin, coils and core spinning.

Her spinning techniques are inventive and out of the ordinary.

For registration information, download this application:
http://fiberfrenzyretreat.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/fiber-frenzy-retreat-registration-2012-2.pdf

We hope to see you there!

A Spinner Becomes a Mill Owner: Hampton Fiber Mill & Spinnery

2011-11-02T14:49:00.000-07:00

Over the years, I've asked countless people how they got started either knitting, spinning or raising fiber animals. Never once did I get the answer I got from Michael Hampton, owner of Hampton Fiber Mill & Spinnery in Richmond, Vermont.

As a child growing up in Montana, Michael and his sister had a great-aunt named Ruth. I have never met Ruth, nor do I pretend to know any more about her than this: Ruth was one smart lady. Faced with the task of babysitting two young children, Ruth put knitting needles in their hands and taught them to knit. It is certainly hard to crayon up a wall or cut fluffy the cat's hair if you are busy counting stitches. And thus a life-long knitter was born.

As an adult, Michael moved to Vermont where he learned to spin. Armed with a couple of books, a bag of border leicester/romney roving and a Louet wheel, he started down what was to become his career path.

It wasn’t long after starting to spin that he earned “Best Skein” at the Vermont Sheep and Wool Festival and decided that prepared roving was expensive enough to warrant purchasing a drum carder and later, a manual wool picker. Little did he know that he was on the slippery slope of hobby leading to addiction.

Next came a greasy fleece purchased from the same small, local farm where he bought his first roving, and he was soon hand-processing his own custom rovings. Another “Best Skein” at the Vermont Sheep and Wool Festival sealed the deal - he knew he wanted to take the next step and run a small fiber mill.

After many months of research, planning, and waiting, the mill equipment was delivered in late 2010. Michael spent the first two months processing his extensive stash of fleece trying to get the system "just right" -- to make the quality of yarn he wanted. When finally satisfied with the results, he sent out an e-mail announcement to about 130 potential customers and has been busy ever since.

As with all mills, turn-around time varies depending on what's in "the queue." Roving usually has a shorter turn around time than yarn.

Since his company's start-up, Michael has successfully processed a variety of fiber, including Finnsheep, Border Leicester, Romney, Shetland, Cormo, Cheviot, Montadale, Shropshire, Hampshire, Navajo-Churro, Jacob, Icelandic, Tunis, Bluefaced Leicester, Lincoln, CVM, Coopworth, Corriedale, Dorset, East Friesian, Rambouillet, Debouillet, Wensleydale, Gotland, Merino, Alpaca (Suri and Huacaya), Angora (blended with other fibers only), Mohair, Pygora, Southdown, and Teeswater.

So let Michael's babysitting story be a lessen to all the care-givers out there. One quick lesson in fiber arts can lead to a life-long obsession and career!

Adding Product Photos to Your Website

2011-10-26T10:39:00.000-07:00

There is a brand new knitting book called 10 Secrets of the Laidback Knitters, written by Vicki Stiefel and Lisz Souza. It is an excellent book for inspiration, and a great place to learn more about the joys of knitting with fiber fresh from the farm.

I would highly recommend it for the beginning and experienced knitter alike.

One of the subjects the authors talk about is how to photograph knitting, which can be quite difficult. It is hard to get the colors right. To make the yarn pop. To not wash out a black yarn while trying to show detail.

Suggestions offered were to take your yarn or finished item outdoors and use natural light. Early morning or late afternoon are the best times, when the light isn't so harsh. Avoid using your camera's flash.

Lee Ann King from Midwest Fiber Company did just that recently when her fall mums were in full bloom. Tobie, Lee Ann's faithful companion, got into the photography session and adds a nice personal touch to the shot of her top-of-the-line, hand-dyed llama and alpaca yarn. Lee Ann is currently working on new colorways for 2012 that are sure to be stunning.

Stiefel and Souza suggest looking around your home or fields for a simple background, something natural. Rocks, grass, a wood floor or even snow are great backgrounds.

If your camera is equipped with a maco setting, use it to get stitch definition or to show the texture of unspun fiber or skeined yarn.

The Network will soon offer a class in basic photography for knitters and fiber farmers, along with a more advanced class in product photography. Both classes will be taught by Sarah Karr of Roving Acres Farm and will be free for Fiber Network members and $10 each for non-members. Details will follow shortly.

Fiber Tour Basket Winner

2011-10-11T14:07:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a winner!

Meet Allison Molecki.

Alison is one lucky lady. The Fiber Network sponsored a fall Fiber Farm Tour of member's farms in late September. Visitors could take a self-guided driving tour to the various farms across the state. At each farm, they were able to register to win a basket filled to the brim with hand made fiber goods.

Alison registered to win at only one farm on the tour, Melody Lane Farm in Valley City.

But the fiber gods were smiling on her as she got to take home the basket of hand made, finished fiber. It only takes one lucky ticket and Alison had the magic!

The basket was valued at more than $250 and included such things as felted soap, alpaca Christmas tree ornaments, a woven chair pad, and lots of beautiful scarves and cowls to wear on a cold Ohio day.

Congrautulations to Alison and a big thank you to all who came out for the tour. We appreciate your support of your local farmers.

The Network is in Hobby Farm Home Magaine

2011-10-05T11:44:00.000-07:00

The Ohio Natural Fiber Network is all about promoting Ohio-grown-and-raised fiber, and now the whole country knows about us.

The Network is the subject of a feature story in the November/December issue of Hobby Farm Home magazine.

Be sure to check us out! The article, entitled "Woven Tight" starts on page 70 and details the history of the Network, outlines our goals, and offers insight as to where we see ourselves heading.

We think it's fascinating reading and highly recommend that you go out today and get a copy!

If you are an Ohio-based fiber producer, artist, or plain old fiber-holic, you are welcome to join us for our next meeting on Sunday, Octobr 23, 2 p.m., at That'll Do Farm in Grafton.

We usually meet once a month at various farms around the state. We have alpaca, goat, llama, rabbit and sheep farmers among us, as well as very talented dyers, spinners, weavers and hookers.

This month's meeting will re-cap the recent Fiber Farm Fall Tour. We'll also discuss fiber events for 2012 and start the process of creating a Fiber Ewe-niversity. All are welcome.

For more information, call 440-829-3644 or e-mail OhioFiber@aol.com.

Fiber Network Farm Tour

2011-09-02T17:53:00.000-07:00

Some of the Fiber Network's farms are opening their barn doors for you!

Saturday,September 24 -- 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Sunday, September 25 -- Noon – 5 p.m.

Drive from farm-to-farm through beautiful Northeast Ohio, visiting with lots of fiber animals, including alpacas, sheep, goats, and rabbits.

Meet the farmers that bring you Ohio-grown fiber for knitting, spinning, weaving and felting.

Shop for luxurious handspun and dyed yarns, watch demonstrations on skirting a fleece, carding fiber into roving, spinning, needle felting, hand dyeing, knitting and crocheting.

ENTER TO WIN!

At every farm you visit, sign up to win a basket of handmade fiber products. The more farms you visit, the greater your chances of winning!

The basket includes:

A hand felted alpaca from Willie of the Valley Farm.

A woven chair pad, made from the alpacas at Alpaca Sunrise Farm.

And a beautiful, hand-knit cowl from Little Mountain Alpacas

And many more! Check back often for more pictures of the prizes and a map of the farm tour.

Participating Farms:

1. A & J Alpacas*                        * Open Sunday Only
Andrea & John Niehaus
9363 Beeson St. NE, Louisville
330-935-0110
Offering demos in carding and spinning. Fiber products for sale.

2. Alpacas of Sugar Creek
AT: Alpacas at Turtle Creek
Brenda Burns/Paul Leuan
4199 Beachler Road, Medina
440-356-9130 or 330-239-4215
Alpaca products for sale.

3. Alpaca Sunrise Farm
Chris Barty/Eric Lorince
355 Marks Road, Brunswick Hills
330-220-0621
Offering demos in carding, felting, and dyeing. Yarn, rovings, raw fleece, and finished products for sale.

4. Cubic’s Country Alpacas
Karen Cubic
6863 Spencer Road, Spencer
440-479-7392
Raw and finished fiber products for sale.

5. Gemstone Alpaca Farm
George & Sheryl Mandeville
40061 Jones Road, Wellington
440-785-5650
Raw fleece and fiber products for sale.

6. Hidden Hilltop         Open Saturday Only
Holli and John Cox
3073 Gass Road, Lexington
419-884-3665
Demos on the whole fiber process, including the show side of fiber.

7. Little Farm In the Woods
Carol & Bill Thombs
8189 Friendsville Road, Seville
330-948-1343
Meet the alpacas! Felting and spinning demos. Fiber products for sale.

8. Little Mountain Alpacas
Diana& Mike Pratt
5247 S. Arlington Road, North Canton
330-896-0735
Roving and raw fiber for sale.

9. Melody LaneFarm Alpacas
Mimi & Jim Foster

5546 Hartneck Road, Valley City
330-460-2274
Fiber products for sale.

10. Roving Acres Farm
Beth & Sarah Karr

3069 Middle Road, Pierpont
440-594-1230
Skirting demos and light refreshments. Yarn, rovings, and batts for sale. Get your picture taken with a lamb!

11. Slow & Easy Alpaca Farm
Judy & Jim Keske

39136 State Route 18 East, Wellington
440-647-9502
Spinning demos. Alpaca products for sale in the mini farm store.

12. Stewart Heritage Farm
Brenda Hanes
1669 Sunnymeade Road, Xenia
937-430-0603

13. Sweet Criations
Jo Anne & Terry Leonard
2096 Ravenna Street, Hudson
330-548-3077
Felting and spinning demos. Fiber products for sale in the farm store.

14. That’ll Do Farm
Andrea Wargo & Marilyn Kennedy
34634 State Route 303, Grafton
440-821-4104
Light refreshments available. Fiber products for sale in the farm store. Sit-N-Knit, Sit-N-Spin, and Sit-N-Hook from 10-1 on Sat., Meet the bees and beekeeper on Sat. @ 2. Dyeing with natural materials demo on Sun. @ 1. Meet the alpacas up close and personal!

15. Top Notch Alpacas
Linn Parise
3500 Dayton Road, Madison
216-513-1128
Fleece skirting demo. Alpaca products for sale in farm gift shop.

Criation Station Has a New Website

2011-08-29T15:51:00.000-07:00

Fiber farmers throughout the state often have quite a lot on their plate.

On any given day, a fiber farmer is apt to be caring for animals, cleaning barns, mowing pastures, putting up hay, going to fiber animal shows, or going to fiber product shows.

The animals may be lounging in the pastures, but the farmer certainly is not!

And this holds true for Barry and Marcee Stephenson of Criation Station Alpaca Farm in Oberlin.

In between their farm duties, the Stephenson's have just completed a major overhaul of their farm's website.

In addition to their animals, be sure to check out the Stephenson's yarn and roving, made in the USA socks and gloves, and their woven alpaca rugs.

Marcee is also an apprentice certified fiber sorter and more than qualified to answer any fiber question you may have.

Be sure to check out the new website. Not only are they good fiber farmers at Criation Station, they are good website builders.

The Mid-Ohio Fiber Fair

2011-08-22T16:36:00.000-07:00

Several Network farms participated in a new Ohio fiber festival over the weekend: the Mid-Ohio Fiber Fair in Newark.

Little Mountain Alpacas, Midwest Fiber Company, Roving Acres Farm, Slow and Easy Alpacas and That'll Do Farm had a booth under the Ohio Natural Fiber Network banner. Another member farm, The Black Sheep Fiber Farm, was there, too, with their own booth packed full of fiber.

It was a small festival, but very nice. We talked with many fiber addicts who are just as crazy about fiber as we are.

We had patterns, raw fleeces and feed-bags-turned-into-project-bags for sale.

Along with some really fun needle felted soaps.

And cinnamon rolls.

O.K., these aren't really rich and gooey cinnamon rolls. They are boxes full of rich and delicious alpaca roving. They won't wreck your diet. Unless, of course, you are on a fiber diet.

We had a variety of fiber, including llama, alpaca, Jacob sheep, mohair and Merino -- everything you could want to knit, crochet, or needlefelt.

The Network is done for the year vending as a group, but our individual farms will continue to attend shows around the state.

We will keep you updated here so you can get your fix of local, farm-fresh fiber.

Stewart Heritage Farm & New Network Members

2011-08-01T05:12:00.000-07:00

The Network held its July meeting in Xenia, Ohio at the home of member Brenda Hanes.

Brenda is the alpaca farmer behind Stewart Heritage Farm.

We quickly got down to business, discussing upcoming fiber events, on-going marketing efforts and exciting new tools, like the tags you'll soon see on member's fiber.

(front)

(back)

These tags will identify member's farms as members of the Network. They will also tell customers that they are purchasing an Ohio-made product, created by a local farmer or fiber artist -- keeping their purchasing dollars in the local economy.

Several guests were at the meeting and we are happy to announce that they have decided to become members of the Network.

Welcome to Gail Targett of Green Acres Llamas in Xenia. Gail processes all of her fiber by hand, from shearing to carding to spinning. Llama fiber is a wonderful luxury that is lightweight, extremely warm and quite versatile.

Also joining the Network is Susan Forman of Dewey Morning Alpacas in Washington Court House. Susan is trying to downsize her herd a bit and concentrate on the finished fiber product. She talks spinning with all the passion and knowledge of a true artist.

Member Kathy Cunningham and her daughter Kim from The Black Sheep Fiber Farm in Sardinia were also at the meeting. They raise Angora goats, Lincoln Longwool and Romney sheep. Check out The Black Sheep Fiber Farm at these upcoming events: Mid-Ohio Fiber Fair in Newark and AWool Gathering in Yellow Springs.

The meeting ended, like most meetings of fiber people do, with a visit to the barn to see the new babies.

After all, who doesn't love a baby. Especially one as cute as this young lady.

If you are a fiber producer or fiber artist, we'd love to have you join the Network. Please contact us at OhioFiber@aol.com for more information.

The Network Visits River Colors in Lakewood

2011-07-12T18:39:00.000-07:00

The Network is taking its show on the road!

Join us Saturday, July 16th from noon to 4 p.m. at River Colors Studio in Lakewood, Ohio.

Erika, the owner of River Colors, is an enthusiastic supporter of local yarn and fiber. She has put together a day showcasing local producers and the Network is proud to be involved.

Several of our member farms will be there with Ohio born and raised yarn, fleece and roving. We'll be demonstrating yarn dyeing and painting at 1, 2 & 3 p.m., for about 15 minutes each time.

We'll also have a spinner or two showing you how to create your own yarn from some of the prettiest roving around. And for the adventurous, experienced spinners, we'll have raw fleece for sale.

So come on out and talk to us. Buy an Ohio produced product. Support your local fiber farmer.

I think once you've held some of our fiber in your hands, you'll be hooked!

The Fiber Network is a member of Ohio Proud and would like to encourage you to support Ohio-based yarns and fibers. Come meet our local people, learn about the importance of local yarns in the fiber world and celebrate our fiber-rich state!

The Fleece and Fiber Sourcebook

2011-06-30T12:42:00.000-07:00

Calling all fiber-holics. Run, do not walk, to buy this book.

This wonderful, beautiful, informative book is the "breed standard" for fiber lovers everywhere.

Written by Deborah Robson, the former editor of Spin-Off magazine, and Carol Ekarius, author of Storey's Guide to Raising Sheep, it is an in-depth look at more than 200 varieties of fiber, from alpacas to yaks.

There are in-depth pictures of the fiber as it goes from its raw state to carded, spun and then knit up.

There is also a section with breed history and the best uses for each specific fiber.

This is a must-own book for any fiber producer. You will love it.

It's Baby Time at Many of the Farms in the Network

2011-06-06T08:48:00.000-07:00

Spring (what we're having of it this year) is a time of great expectations at many of our member farms. All across Ohio, fiber farmers are anxiously awaiting the birth of lambs, kids, bunnies and crias.

Marcee Stephenson at Criation Station Alpaca Farm in Oberlin is no exception. Her first cria arrived on April 16th, an excellent young girl named TCS Allie Cat (below right), followed soon after by Pablo's Peruvian Cortez, a fawn colored male born April 19th (below middle).

After a month break, the next set of crias started arriving.

This still-unamed beautiful white female arrived on May 24th.

And, not to be outdone, this young lady arrived on June 2nd.

Marcee has a little break until July, when she is expecting two more crias.

Things were also hopping at Melody Lane Farm in Valley City, Ohio.

Jim Foster had his hands full with two new crias, one male and one female.

Beth Karr and her daughter Sarah welcomed some adorable Jacob sheep this spring to Roving Acres Farm in Pierpont.

They are too cute for words.

Many more outstanding fiber animals are being born at farms across the state this Spring. And just as many fiber farmers are excited about their arrival.

Llamas and Three Acres of Prime Ohio Farmland for Sale

2011-05-14T13:49:00.000-07:00

Ohio has some of the prettiest farm land in the whole country. Part of our state is filled with rolling hills, wooded lots, and beautiful views. Other parts of Ohio are pretty flat, with plenty of wide open space for large-scale farming.

Sure, there are things about our state that are less than perfect -- as of today, I would say this Spring's constant rain is one of them! But, all-in-all, it's a great place to live.

That being said, occasionally one of our fiber farmers has to leave Ohio for another beautiful state. That is certainly true for Lisa Blidar and her husband, who was recently transfered to Colorado.

Lisa was a llama farmer in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, just outside of Cuyahoga Valley National Park, between Cleveland and Akron.

Since it's a little hard to be an Ohio llama farmer while living in Colorado, Lisa is selling her herd through Baker & Company Llamas.

She is selling her beautiful, three-acre property through Realtor.com, MLS@3226158.

If you are interested in either Lisa's house or herd, check out the links above.

Ohio is a great place to be a fiber farmer.

U.S. Fiber Mills, Part Three

2011-05-10T10:30:00.000-07:00

Fiber Mills are coming out of the woodwork! It never fails, as soon as you assemble a list, the list is outdated or incomplete. It is certainly true for our recently assembled list of fiber mills in the United States.

If you are keeping track at home, please add the following mills to your list:

Autumn Mist Alpacas and Fiber Mill
Prattsburgh, New York
http://www.autumnmistalpacas.com/

Carothers Country Fiber Mill
Minnesota City, Minnesota
http://www.carotherscountryfarm.com/

Fantasy Fibers
Canby, Oregon
http://www.fantasyfibers.com/

Going to the Sun Fiber Mill
Kalispell, Montana
http://www.gttsfibermill.com/

New Era Fiber Processing
Lebanon, Tennessee
http://www.newerafiber.com/

Rach-Al-Paca fiber Processing
Hastings, Minnesota
http://www.rachalpacafarm.com/

Star Castle Fiber Mill
Coquille, Oregon
http://www.starcastlefarm.com/

Worthington Acres Alpacs Farm and Fiber Mill
Unityville, Pennsylvania
http://www.worthingtonacresalpacas.com/

And finally, the network received word that a new, small fiber processing business has opened up in Wellington, Ohio called Rag Works. They do not currently offer spun products, but return roving or batts. They also offer coloring services and blending services. I have not discovered a website for this new business, but they can be reached at ragworks@ncwcom.com

If you have a favorite mill, let us know about it. If you are a mill and are not listed here, drop us a line. Fiber producers are always shopping for that "perfect fit" mill.

Fiber Mills, Part Two

2011-04-19T06:54:00.000-07:00

Several fiber farmers have spoken!

Our last post listed a number of fiber mills that members have used, or are thinking of using, to process their wool and fleece. Since that post, I've heard from a few farms wishing to add mills to the list. If you are shopping for a fiber mill, please add the following to your list:

Capon Bridge Fiber Works
Capon Bridge, West Virginia
http://www.caponbridgefiberworks.com/

Stramba Farm Alpacas & More
Wampum, Pennsylvania
http://www.strambafarmalpacas.com/mill.htm

The Shepherd's Mill, Inc.
Phillipsburg, Kansas
http://www.kansasfiber.com/fiber-mill/home.html

Most mills are estimating four to six months for processing. Keep that in mind if you need your yarn/roving back in time for a specific show.

Please continue to e-mail information about mills. We're trying to put together a comprehensive list so farms can shop for mills armed with a bit of knowledge.

Processing Fiber from Alpacas, Sheep, Goats and Llamas

2011-04-15T18:55:00.000-07:00

For fiber animal owners, one of the biggest questions that frequently picks away at the back of the brain is where to have their fiber processed. Different mills offer different services and they all spin with different amounts of twist, producing a slightly different product from each mill. What's a fiber producer to do?

Recently, members of the Ohio Natural Fiber Network toured Morning Star Fiber, a mini mill in Apple Creek, Ohio. Morning Star specializes in Alpaca and Icelandic Sheep, but they do spin many other varieties of natural fiber.

J.C. Christensen, the mill's manager, lead an information-packed tour, patiently explaining each step of the process.

There are many, many mills across the country processing fiber. The key for the farmer is to decide which one to use. The Network has compiled a list (by no means complete) of U.S. mills currently processing fiber.

If you are "mill shopping" check out the following links. But note, being included in this list does not necessarily mean the Network endorses or has first-hand knowledge of the mill and the products they produce. This is a simple list of some of the better-known mills across the country.

If you are a mill owner and we've left you off the list, drop us an e-mail and we will be sure to include you. If you are a fiber farmer and have used a mill, you too drop us an e-mail to let us know what you liked and didn't like.

A+ Alpaca Fiber Mill

Jordan, New York

http://aplusalpaca.com/index.html

Aunt Jane's Fiber Mill

Whitethorn, California

http://auntjanetsfibermill.com/

Bear River Fiber Works

Park City, Utah

http://rio-oso.com/FiberWorks/index.php

Blackberry Ridge Woolen Mill

Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin

http://blackberry-ridge.com/

Blue Hills Fiber Mill

Bruce, Wisconsin

http://www.bluehillsalpacasandfibermill.com/11401/index.html

Fingerlakes Woolen Mill

Genoa, New York

http://www.fingerlakes-yarns.com/index.php

Frankenmuth Woolen Mill

Frankenmuth, Michigan

http://frankenmuthwoolenmill.com/index.htm

Green Mountain Spinnery

Putney, Vermont

http://www.spinnery.com/

Hidden Valley Woolen Mill

Valders, Wisconsin

http://www.hiddenvalleyfarmwoolenmill.com/

Morning Star Fiber

Apple Creek, Ohio

http://www.morningstarfiber.com/

New England Alpaca Fiber Pool

Fall River, Massachusetts

http://neafp.com/

Ohio Valley Natural Fibers

Sardinia, Ohio

http://www.ovnf.com/

Ozark Carding Mill

Durant, Oklahoma

http://www.ozarkcarding.com/

Pufpaff's Fiber Processing

Nashville, Michigan

http://fibermill.yurtboutique.com/

Spinderella's Creations

Salt Lake City, Utah

http://spinderellas.com/index.html

Still River Mill

Eastford, Connecticut

http://www.stillriverfibermill.com/

Stonehedge Fiber Mill

East Jordan, Michigan

http://www.stonehedgefibermill.com/

Wooly Knob Fiber Mill Inc.

LaOtto, Indiana

http://woolyknobfibermill.com/

Zeilinger Wool Company

Frankenmuth, Michigan

http://www.zwool.com/

Happy Shearing!

The Fiber Network Welcomes a New Member

2011-03-22T10:31:00.000-07:00

Welcome Spruce Hill Fiber Farm, the newest member of the Ohio Natural Fiber Network.

Spruce Hill is in Edon, Ohio, which if my google map is correct, is so close to Indiana if you spit, you'd hit it. (Not that we want you spitting on Indiana. We are Indiana friendly here in Ohio!)

Will and Lisa Allomong are the owners of the farm and you can reach them at sprucehill@myfrontiermail.com

They raise alpaca, Angora goats, Shetland sheep, and Romeldale/CVM sheep. Romeldale/CVM are some of the county's rarest breeds.

The wool from these sheep is wonderfully soft and can be worn next to the skin. It's a hand spinners dream!

The farm also offers rug hooking kits, patterns, textured and hand dyed wool and commissioned pieces, as well as lessons.

Beautiful USA-made Yarn Available at Slow and Easy Alpaca Farm

2011-03-08T08:46:00.000-08:00

Danger! Danger! Judy Keske from Slow and Easy Alpaca Farm in Wellington has some beautiful Alpaca/Merino yarn that you are going to fall in love with. If you go weak in the knees for the feel of a stunning yarn, this yarn is going to tempt the heck out of you.

Slow and Easy Alpaca Farm is a member of the Alpaca Fiber Cooperative of North America (AFCNA).

AFCNA is owned and operated by North American alpaca producers. The co-op's purpose is to collect alpaca fiber from across the country, process it, and then distribute the fiber and related products back to its members.

The yarn is 70 percent alpaca and 30 percent merino. It comes in its natural off-white color.

The Bulky weight is 100 grams/100 yards and sells for $14 per skein.

The DK weight is 100 grams/220 yards and is also $14 per skein.

My mind has already drifted to sweaters, cowls, scarves . . .

Give Judy at call at 440-647-9502. Be sure to check out the farm's website for more alpaca products.

Fiber Network Members go to Photography School

2011-02-11T14:52:00.000-08:00

Sarah Karr from Roving Acres Farm in Pierpont taught a Product Photography 101 class to Network members yesterday.

Sarah is a real photographer, with real skills. She had a real camera. For the most part, the rest of the members had "point and shoots".

But we all learned a tremendous amount. Sarah showed us how to build a light box to take pictures of our yarn or other fiber products. She showed us features on our camera we never new we had. And she told us a lot about white balance.

I wish she would have told us this before I took so many yellowish pictures!

These are a few of the business cards Sarah has for her farm. I wish I would have taken this shot after her class so you have a better idea of the beauty of her shots.

We have all vowed to work on our product photography skills -- and to make our own light boxes.

The yarn does look so much better when property lighted.

The class was an enormous benefit for Network members. We all look forward to more "hands-on" classes, on a variety of subjects, throughout the year.

Read All About It

2011-02-04T13:05:00.000-08:00

Nancy Smith Kilkenny, a long-time fiber artist and blogger, has written an on-line article about the Ohio Natural Fiber Network.

You can read it at Craft A Guild.

If you are a member of any sort of fiber guild, you will find something of interest on her site. Of course, we think the ONFN article is her best one yet!! Be sure to check it out.

Sign Up for Beginning Knitting Classes

2011-02-02T11:14:00.000-08:00

Winter is here and it is not being kind to Ohio.

Snow,

ice, sleet, and every farmer's favorite, the dreaded rain. We've had it all this year.

But the good news is that Winter does allow us to all slow down a bit and perhaps learn something new.

Lee Ann King from Midwest Fiber Company is hosting two fiber related classes, one in February and one in March.

Winter Classes Forming!

February 19^th 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Beginning Knitting

Learn about needles, yarn types, how to cast on, knit, purl, and bind off.

Cost $35

Includes lunch and handouts

March 5^th 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Fiber Processing Options

Still wondering what to do with your fiber? Lee Ann will give you processing

ideas and show you the options that are available to you. Mills & their requirements

will also be discussed as well as fleece preparation.

Cost $30

Includes lunch and handouts.

For more information, or to register, contact Lee Ann King at lee4llamas@aol.com or 419-368-5605.

There's a New Boy in Town

2011-01-25T07:25:00.000-08:00

Criation Station Alpaca Farm in Oberlin is proud to announce the addition of the fabulous herdsire Snowmass Royal Star, standing at their farm from April through June and again from October through December.

Snowmass Royal Star brings unique, fine fiber producing genetics to Ohio from Wisconsin. At age eight, this alpaca has maintained a 24 micron count. His fiber has remained so consistent that it has only changed one point in four years.

Snowmass Royal Star was hand selected and purchased by Wade Gease and Kevin Stoer of LondonDairy Alpacas at the 2005 Snowmass Making of Champions Auction. Since that time, he has sired 35 offspring, which range in color from white to dark brown. Of those researched, all have incredible bone structure, complete coverage, and long staple lengths. Of those with histograms, they are maintaining fineness as well.

To jump-start the genetics program in this area, Criation Station will be selling 10 drive-by breedings for $700 each. Once the initial 10 are sold out, the breeding fee will be $1,400.

For more information, go to Criation Station.

Llama Farming in Perrysville

2011-01-07T10:55:00.000-08:00

Llamas -- dignified, aristocratic, highly social. And to top it all off, they have wonderful fiber. What's not to love about a llama?

Apparently nothing, according to Lee Ann King of Midwest Fiber Company in Perrysville, southeast of Mansfield.

Lee Ann has a herd of 13 llamas, which she raises for their fiber. However, a herd of 13 llamas doesn't produce nearly enough fiber for this ardent dyer, so she purchases fine alpaca and llama fleece from other fiber farmers. Lee Ann then washes the fiber and sends it to a mill for processing into either roving or yarn, matching each fleece to the type of finished product she thinks it is best suited.

Then the fun really begins -- in the dye kettle! Knitters and spinners will rejoice when they see her new colorways, all either hand dyed or hand painted.

Lee Ann showcases her work at several art and fiber shows throughout the state.

In addition to her farm duties, dyeing and show schedule, Lee Ann leads workshops in knitting, dyeing and fiber presentation.

She can also answer one of the most asked questions out there in fiber land: What is the difference between an alpaca and a llama? Inquiring minds want to know!

Welcome to the new on-line home of the Fiber Network!

2011-01-01T06:24:00.000-08:00

Hello natural fiber lovers. I'm glad you found us.

The Ohio Natural Fiber Network is a member organization of fiber producers and artists from the state of Ohio, dedicated to developing awareness of the diversity and beauty of Ohio farm yarns and fleeces.

Our fiber farmers raise alpacas, llamas, sheep, goats and angora rabbits for their beautiful fiber.

Our fiber artists dye, hook, spin, knit, weave and felt the most beautiful fiber art you've ever seen.

So join us as we head into the new year. Check out our members' websites. Make plans to visit a few of our farms throughout the state. If you are a knitter, join our Ravelry group on-line.

We're hoping you make 2011 the year you decide to "go more local." Support your local retail stores. Support your local produce farmer. Support your local fiber producer or artist! We don't think you'll be disappointed.