Josie Cooke

she/her

Spinning - Knitting - Weaving - Felting

Duluth, MN

Instagram: bokettoknits

josie_cooke

From Sheep to Shawl Project

Josie made the Sea Glass Sweater pattern by Wool & Pine because it fit the project well, providing a great display of the myriad of sheep wool colors. Because it is 1 x 1 colorwork, it is double thick and very warm.

Other Interests

My other major craft area is basketry - black ash, willow, and birch bark. I am interested in looking into oak swill baskets. I love nature and hiking, kayaking & camping. On the side I do home remodel, and love talking about old houses.

First, you learn to knit in Girl Scouts. Then, you make everyone in your family rectangular scarves. Next, you go to Lake Superior Traditional Ways Gathering and learn to make fingerless mittens, and with your newfound confidence, teach yourself socks from Silver’s Sock Class on the internet. While you’re aking socks form your receptionist desk at work over the following years, you dream of more crafty adventures. You fall in love with baskets and library craft classes. Finally, a big break, you apply and are accepted to be a Craft Education Intern in 2019 at North House Folk School.

Opportunities abound - you learn how to process wool from the sheep, flax from the field, and spinning on the spinning wheel. Your eyes are opened to the thousands of sheep breeds beyond merino and the rabbit hole of uses for fiber - felting, weaving, knitting, and beyond. You begin a sheep breed study to make samples (knit, felt, woven) of sheep (common, conservation, and rare) from all over the world. Each one is a delight.

You must share this knowledge, so you begin gathering spinning wheels to teach classes. Women’s Work by Elizabeth Wayland Barber and Worn by Sofi Thanhauser give rise to the desire to add your efforts to the Slow Fashion movement.

An opportunity to work with your local sheep farmers and processors arises through a great organization, Three Rivers Fibershed, well aligned with your goals. You apply to be a Sheep to Shawl Maker and are accepted. Life is good.

the project

 

The fiber

 

Sheep Breeds - Jacob, CVM Romeldale, Shetland, Hog Island, Cormo

Sourced from -

  • Cold Valley Farms (Mt Horeb, WI)

  • Oak Creek Farm (Norwalk, IA)

  • CE Acres (Charles City, IA)

  • Holly Hill Ranch (Almond, WI)

  • Dresow Family Farm (Lonsdale, MN)

All breeds, except Cormo, are on the Shave Em to Save Em list with the Livestock Conservancy, meaning their flock numbers are low.

They are all on the softer side, since this project is aiming to be enjoyably wearable. Most are a medium staple length with a tight crimp and are making a very lofty roving to be spun.

The colors are absolutely amazing- deep browns, soft greys, cream, and white.

Processing

All fibers came as raw wool except Cormo. Josie will be washing, carding, and spinning.

 

Carding

 

Unprocessed fleece

Fleeces in a variety of natural colors

Washing the fleece

Carding

Fleece drying after being washed

Finished roving after carding

 

the pattern

 

Sea Glass Sweater pattern by Wool & Pine

This pattern fit the project well, providing a great display of the myriad of sheep wool colors. Because it is 1 x 1 colorwork, it is double thick and very warm.

From Josie: “This pattern is meant to use up scrap yarn of many colors. I thought it would be a great way to showcase the beautiful colors of the sheep wool I would be using- the chocolate brown and deep grey of Jacob wool, creamy mocha CVM Romeldale, cool-tone pale grey Shetland, matte white Hog Island, and bright white Cormo. Each row is a combination of two colors in 1 x 1 colorwork, and every row is different than the one before. This style essentially makes the sweater double thick, so it should be very warm.

The fiber worked great. All the fibers I received were soft enough to be next to skin wear, and I spun them so they would be relatively the same weight for knitting. The pattern allowed for some variation, which was helpful to bridge the gap between the naturally squishy Cormo and the naturally smooth Hog Island. I found the Cormo really fluffed up the collar ribbing, which gives the sweater a more artistic look & I came to like it that way instead of re-doing it.”