Kathryn Keister

Handspun DayDreamer Tee

Stream: Embracing

100% Blue Faced Leicester Wool Combed Top Grown at Flying Goat Farm Processed into top at Zeilinger Wool, Michigan Interweave Knits pattern modified by Lisa Hand spun and Hand Knit by Lisa

I wanted to make a short sleeved, oversized top out of roving I had from my sheep and sheep from a partner farm. This naturally colored roving has some hints of white and some light and dark charcoal colors resulting from the wool bleaching in the sun while on the sheep. Since I have only 1 colored BFL ewe, I collected 3 years of her fleeces and then added some more fleece from a partner farm.

I started spinning the fiber during the Tour de Fleece in 2021. I made 1800 yards of 2-ply fingering weight yarn. I knit a gauge swatch to test for size and to see if the lace patterning would show with the dark brown color of the wool. I "wore" this gauge swatch around to see if the wool would be comfortable to wear.

I cast on this sweater at the beginning of the challenge and realized that the pattern I was following was not right. The neckline was way too big. So I had to make a decision to decrease the cast on. I ended up casting on for the smallest size and then I had to do a lot of math in order to make the sweater a little oversized in the torso. When I came to the lace part of the pattern. I switched to a bigger needle so that the lace would show more. And the last innovation I added was some lace on the sleeves as well.

I am very pleased with this sweater and I will enjoy wearing it over and over again.

Lisa Check

Lisa is a life long textile artist. She weaves, knits, embroiders, quilts, sews, spins, and dyes fiber, yarn and cloth. She is a shepherd with a flock of Angora and Cashmere Goats, Cormo and BFL sheep. Her yarn lines include a Certified Fibershed Product line. She is an enthusiastic supporter of Fibershed in general and Chesapeake Fibershed in particular.