Fat Sheep Fiber – Sheep to Skein from Carnation.
Keeley Richardson
Founder and Chief Fiber Officer
Whether you live in the Puget Sound or further afield, the chances are you will have heard of Carnation Farms. For most of us the Carnation heritage brand immediately evokes an image of that red and white tin containing milk, and you would be right to bring this to mind. When I first moved here I was delighted to discover that the tinned milk my Nan always added to custard originated from this region.
The farm has been through many different incarnations (no pun intended), but these days it’s a successful non-profit producing ethically farmed meat and organic vegetables. It has its own CSA Program as well as a Dinner Club. Its products are sold at The Carnation Farmstand alongside other delicious food and drink items from across the region. I’m a huge fan and a regular visitor (my son will tell you the peanut butter they stock is second to none), so imagine my excitement when I visited last fall and found a few baskets brimming with beautiful yarn!
Yes, Carnation Farms produces yarn and yes it is milled from sheep milled on the farm, and yes you can read on the label which sheep has produced this natural fiber – fabulous!
Of course, I was intrigued by this sheep to skein journey, and I was delighted to head to the farm at the beginning of April to meet with their inspirational Head of Livestock and Shepherd, Alex Hagiepetros.
Alex has worked at Carnation Farms since 2018 and introduced the sheep flock in 2020. It’s a passion project for Alex – she is a fiber artist and loves to spin, weave and knit, whenever she is not busy managing the farm’s livestock. Initially the herd was initially made up of Romney Sheep – prolific wool growers which are sheared twice a year. She has recently introduced Finnsheep to the herd known for their multiple births. Today the flock totals 11 adult sheep and 22 recent arrivals from this most recent Spring lambing season.
The herd are raised with the utmost care in the most beautiful setting – they are moved around every week and get to feast in the fields on leftovers from the farm’s vegetable crops. Every new member of the flock is given a name and Alex’s naming conventions have included herbs, characters from Encanto and Lord of The Rings. This year’s new arrivals are named after mushrooms including Baby Bella, Porcini and Fairy Cap. It is clear to see the mutual fondness between Alex and her flock – Stinkhorn the sheep was particularly insistent on getting attention during my visit!
The herd produces a beautiful fleece that becomes a soft natural feeling yarn when spun. The first batch of Fat Sheep Fiber was milled in Michigan due to lack of availability in the local area. If you visit the farm store you will still find some sport and worsted weight skeins in soft, natural hues that were hand dyed by Alex with homegrown plant based grown on the farm. These skeins are perfect
for accessories and colorwork.
Going forward, Fat Sheep Fiber will be a completely local product from sheep to skein with the fiber being spun at Skagit Woolen Works. I can vouch for the fact that the first batch is truly beautiful – the skeins had just arrived before my visit so I was lucky enough to give them a squish. Crossing the Romney and Finn Sheep has resulted in a fleece that becomes a beautiful soft gray, rustic base that I cannot wait to knit with. It makes a great base for dyeing, but it is also ideal to knit with straight away if you are looking for a rustic neutral.
Luckily for us local yarn enthusiasts, Alex has plans to expand the herd and yarn production at the farm, so there will be plenty of opportunities throughout the year to give this yarn a try. This latest batch is available to buy now and you can make enquiries
via the Carnation Farms website.
However, do consider a trip out to the beautiful Snoqualmie Valley and visit the Farmstand;
breathtaking views across the valley and delicious local produce are absolutely guaranteed. You
may even get a glimpse of Stinkhorn, Baby Bella and the rest of the flock from across the fields.
