goat coats

What shall I do today after morning chores?

Hmmmm.

Oh, I know!

I'll comb goats again.

These are three of my rake-style combs, which I brought in and washed last night. I use an assortment of combs and brushes, usually three or four per goat, per session. This year I've been using two slickers, four rakes, and two combs.

(I own one hairbrush, by the way.)

Someone recently asked about the length of topcoat on cashmere goats. Very variable! For example, these boys are full brothers, and yet are at two ends of a spectrum.

Betula has an incredibly long topcoat. I call it "Hollywood Hair" because when he runs his coat flows and it looks like he's moving in slow-motion. Betula produces very white cashmere. It is not easy to comb it out from under all that long topcoat:

By contrast, brother Acer has a very short, dense topcoat, much like a plush toy. He produces grey/taupe cashmere:

Some cashmere breeders have a color preference, but I enjoy all the variation in my little gang's fiber. I've been told even the darker cashmere takes dye beautifully; maybe one day I will experiment.

Meanwhile, a challenge awaits.

This is going to be a two-pockets-full-of-carrot-pennies operation.

~~~~~

wordless wednesday

~~~~~

FO friday

Lately I've noticed a lot of "Finished Object Friday" blog posts,

and since I happen to have a finished object,

and since I remembered that it is Friday...

Please note: this is not a giant hat. 

This is a normal hat on a small styrofoam head.

I made it for the Revive A Vintage challenge being hosted by raveler knitsbyjenn in the Roving Crafters group. It's the 1898 Hat by Kristine Byrnes; a free pattern available along with many others from the Seamen's Church Institute - Christmas at Sea website. I won't donate this one to SCI because they specifically ask for darker/brighter colors, but I will very likely be knitting another in deep blue, which should be perfect to send. 

In fact, this hat is so much fun to knit, it may become my go-to pattern for any single skein of worsted that surfaces in my stash.

Here's a link to my project page on ravelry,

with full knittery details.

~~~

P.S.

on the theme of "finishing"...

I don't usually plan my knitting time;

it's more of a response to insomnia or restlessness.

But I really wanted to finish the 1898 Hat because I have

another project waiting in the wings.

So this past week - when we had two snowstorms

but also a lot of sunshine -

I "scheduled" a couple of afternoons of knitting

and audiobooks, out on the porch.

It looked like this:

You can't see Piper, because she had dragged her cushy bed

right under the legrest of the recliner.

But trust me: she was there.

Despite fresh snowfalls,

overall, the snow is gradually disappearing.

There is still plenty, I hasten to add. Ice, too.

But I am hoping that by the end of April

I will be able to tackle the construction debris

both on and off the porch.

It got "snowed in" months ago,

and there was simply no way to remove it.

But soon.

After a clean-up, the final big step will be

sanding and finishing the porch floor.

Then the interior will be finished.

Huzzah!

~~~~~

for the crochet folk

I know many of my readers crochet,

so here's one especially for you:

© Galit Grosz Cabot

Galit Grosz Cabot's pattern for this crocheted bellflower

is free until 1 April on ravelry.

Right here.

Go get it, for goodness' sake.

© Galit Grosz Cabot

And while you are there,

take a look at the designer's other patterns.

I love the Yin Yang Paisley Dish:

© Galit Grosz Cabot

Love.It.

From the designer's rav profile:

"I live with my husband and two daughters in northern Israeli country side. Beautiful old oak and olive trees surround our little settlement. My family produce excellent olive oil from our grove near our house."

I love that image, too.

~~~~~

wordless wednesday

~~~~~