What's on the menu for Eye-Candy Friday? Autumn?
Well, that seems like kind of a lame foliage shot, given that this is Vermont. But it's all we've got in our yard. So, how about a chicken shot? Everyone likes to see the chickens, right?
Ah, Helen. But where's the excitement? There were plenty of birds at the feeder this morning, thanks to the proper fall chill in the air. A chickadee would be nice:
And who's that, down on the porch floor, practically underfoot? 
He's a bit hard to see, since he's being shielded by the old bird feeder, the one that the red squirrels chewed the feed cups out of, so when I tried to fill it one day all the seeds poured out onto the floor. I can't explain why it is still sitting there, several weeks later.
What about fiber eye candy? I finished the mittens made with my daughter's hand-dyed yarn:
Since I made them too small, however, they will be a gift to my niece. That means I still need some mittens for myself. Fortunately, I had some hand-dyed merino singles lying around, and for no apparent reason, other than I think I was channeling Dave's plying mood, I sat down and plied 3.6 ounces.
After sitting on the bobbins for months, the singles had relaxed quite a bit so I followed some sage spinning advice and overplied them. When I wound the yarn into a skein, it was quite kinky, but a hot bath to set the twist relaxed everything into a nice balanced skein. I think it's a bit overspun, so I'm not getting all the potential softness from the merino, but it will certainly work. I think it's a worsted weight but I haven't checked yet. I have at least another 3 ounces to ply, if the mood sticks.
Here's the exciting stuff, in my opinion. I dyed up a mini-skein of the Real Vermonter wool/mohair yesterday. YUM!
To say I like this yarn is a major understatement. It's stunning. I have four regular-size skeins drying right now and they're beautiful. Unfortunately, I sat down with a calculator yesterday and did the math and the cost per skein is a lot higher than I expected. Nearly double, in fact. (This is partly due to the mill's error; the higher percentage of mohair raised the weight per skein, and I paid on weight, not yardage.) I had assumed each skein would be about four ounces and that's more than 2 ounces under the actual weight.
I will be posting the first four skeins for sale over the weekend with some trepidation. I hope when you see them, just after you regain consciousness, you'll remember that this is local Vermont fiber, custom spun to my specifications, not some generic internet mystery yarn imported from another country. It is unique; you can't find this stuff anywhere else in the world. And I have set my prices as low as I possibly can without actually losing money on my wholesale orders. Be gentle.
In other news from A Piece of Vermont, I added yarns yesterday and today. There's 75/25 wool/nylon washable yarn:
However, the bottom 2 skeins sold before I had a chance to post this picture. There is also 100% merino:
Let me warn you about the middle skein. This yarn...
...will not be around long. I know how you guys are and this is the kind of colorway that gets people all excited. Just sayin'.
I also am trying out some large (8 ounce, 500 yard) skeins of worsted alpaca/wool. I have two skeins of the top one, one skein of the bottom one:
By request, I will soon be stocking some 3.5-ounce skeins of worsted yarns (superwash).
Today, I'm off to run errands. I think I'm going to enter the Being Nosy Competition, an idea that Anne has come up with, along the lines of the Backyard Field Trip started by Knitting Interrupted and the Knitting Spot pictures collected most recently by Crazy Aunt Purl but also in the past by Scout. I find it fascinating that some of you can swing a cat and hit any one of a number of big-box stores. It's an hour drive for me. Not that I'm totally out in the sticks but here's something you may not know about me: I have never been to a Target (I don't think Vermont has any yet) and I had my first visit to a Starbucks just two months ago. Cat-swinging is a lot easier on the cats where I live. So I'm going to bring my camera on my trip to town today and give you a glimpse into all the excitement and intrigue of small-town Vermont. The anticipation will kill you.
Actually I find this very inetersting. And ya know, if I HAD to, I could live without Target, but never coffee. Besides, Starbucks can be bought in the grocery store & I CAN brew coffee ;) I think the trees are awesome, wait til I start posting trees in Jan, they stay the same all year. I can ALWAYS look at poultry pics! Love em'I hope I don't miss out this weekend on the yarn.
Posted by: Carol | October 13, 2006 at 01:20 PM
I had to check and--you're right--there are no Targets in Vermont. :) We visited Vermont last year at this time and just fell in love with it. Target-less and all. *grin*
Posted by: Amanda | October 13, 2006 at 01:59 PM
I would love to live in a small town in Vermont, I just live in a small town in Arkansas, it doesn't have quite the same ring, does it? At least this year we are going to have a really good fall. And I love the chickens! We only have the plain ol' white Tyson variety here. I love your yarn too, you really know how to pick those colors! I would love to see some of the Border Leicester you are spinning for your husband's sweater!
Posted by: Bea Apple | October 13, 2006 at 02:22 PM
Oh oh oh - you wouldn't believe how long I sat just gazing at that peacock sock yarn - willing it to jump into my basket, but I'm on such a strict yarn diet, and absolutely no excuse to break it. Must go. Must knit. Must use up stash. Must be able to buy more...
Posted by: Anne | October 13, 2006 at 02:55 PM
The new yarns are beautiful. I'm still working on the three I have and I have to be good right now. The mittens turned out great. I'm sorry they're too small. Bites. You are missing nothing if you haven't been in any particular "store". They all are about the same anymore.
Posted by: CindyCindy | October 13, 2006 at 03:07 PM
What stunning yarns!!! Thanks for the kind comments on my blog -I love your photos, Vermont has always been a place I hope to visit one day - you've just made me want to visit that much more. Gorgeous. The chicken looks like she is posing - must know the light makes her comb look good like that!
Posted by: juliet | October 13, 2006 at 05:16 PM
Definitely no Targets in VT - and only two Walmarts...which is good and bad. Good in that VT keeps it's charm but bad when you're sleeping in a leaky tent and want some cheap seam sealer ;o)
Very pretty yarn - as usual! :o)
P.S. Please don't hate me because I didn't think to invite you to the Hancock thing...
Posted by: JessaLu | October 13, 2006 at 05:55 PM
I am deathly afraid of chickens yet every time you share yours, I want to meet them and overcome my fear.
Your yarn is beautiful, as always.
Posted by: Jill | October 13, 2006 at 08:58 PM
That Helen, she's a beauty. So's the Peacock. So's the Goldrush. But wowzer, that Real Vermonter makes my mouth water.
Posted by: Dave | October 14, 2006 at 12:56 AM
I have a glow in the dark halloween cup from Starbucks, a friend got it in the US a few years ago!
But, I've only been to Starbucks twice, we don't have many of them in Austarlia.
Your yar is gorgeous!
Helen as usual, is looking happy and relaxed, she's a gorgeous chicken, well, nearly as gorgeous as Lindy.
But, I may be biased!
Your mittens for your daughter have reminded me that i still have a pair of blue mittens that my mother knitted for me, 30+ years ago to wear to school.
Yes, I know where they are and I still wear them!
They are one of my treasures as mum is no longer
here.
Posted by: Lindy | October 14, 2006 at 02:24 AM
AMEN! To No Targets! Hopefully it will stay this way. Honestly, how many more box stores do we really need? Your not missing much in Addison.
Posted by: Michelle | October 14, 2006 at 09:22 AM
Never been in a Target? Oh my oh my! I am a Target fan but not a Walmart fan. Nonono. I've never heard the expression "big box" store before. Does it include stores like Macys? Can't wait to see the photos of your VT town. And if you'd like, I'll happily take photos of my local Target (pronounced Tar-jhey for those who know the worth of the place) for you. One last thing...thanks in advance for the worsted wt wool. Cozy socks a'comin.
take care!
Posted by: Jessie | October 14, 2006 at 09:36 AM
I was just thinking it was about time for some chicken pictures. Thanks
Posted by: Judi | October 14, 2006 at 06:17 PM
I tell ya, your posts always make me want to leave school, quit the city and move to the country! I was in Vermot a few weeks ago and it GORGEOUS over there. You are so lucky.
Posted by: Ari (Baking and Books) | October 14, 2006 at 06:55 PM
love your yarns. that Real Vermonter is fabulous!
Wish I was sitting there spinning with you and enjoying the fall color show.
Posted by: Teyani | October 14, 2006 at 07:41 PM
Your yarn is gorgeous!!! And that first skein in the 2nd picture - the aqua green one, is my favorite! Any chance it's still available? :-)
Love the mittens, too -- any particular pattern you used?
I love that you live in picture-postcard Vermont, next to a red barn, for gosh sake! Heaven!
Posted by: Mary | October 15, 2006 at 01:25 PM
*sigh* i just love your yarn. especially the handspun. if you ever want to trade, um, just drop me an email ;-)
Posted by: joyce | October 15, 2006 at 04:17 PM
Oh Jessie - I grew up in southwestern Ontario, which looks very much like Vermont. My town had 500 people during the tourist season. I couldn't wait to leave it at 18, and now at 40, wish I never had!
Enjoy your time there. I sure wish I had.
Posted by: Sherri | November 12, 2006 at 08:29 AM