Zoom Loom Shelby Sheep Kit from The Woolery - Done!

Aw...baa...

It's adorable.  I know it's not knitting, and it's arts and crafts, and it fell soundly outside of most of my skill sets, but I love it anyway.

And it doesn't look anything like an insect.

A few onlookers raised eyebrows at the rainbow fleece, but I have to say I think it's the best part.  If God actually made rainbow fleeced sheep, I know I'd want one.

Thanks to this sheep from The Woolery in Frankfort, KY and its long-ago predecessor from Fancy Tiger in Denver CO, I know own a flock.  Granted, two isn't much of a flock, but I maintain my shepherdess and woolcrafter pride anyway.  Thanks, Woolery, for a fun and novel crafting adventure!

Zoom Loom Shelby Sheep Kit from The Woolery - Day 5

The perils of pom-poms...

Pom-poms.  

I have a sketchy history with the little buggers.  Mine never come out looking fluffy--mine often end up looking like little mangey puppies.  So you can imagine my trepidation at the prospect of the more than two dozen of them awaiting me for this project.

Luckily, the kit provides super-detailed instructions on the size and construction of the pom-poms.  They are loopy--you don't cut the ends--so that helps with the unevenness that always plagues my pom-poms.  While mine always seem to look like they are weeks overdue for a decent haircut, these are supposed to look uneven.  I stand a chance!

The tedium of making 27 one-inch pom-poms, however, should not be underestimated.  It’s a lot of looping and tying.  Make sure you have some really compelling or amusing television on hand for this part of the project.  In my case, a couple of episodes of my new television fave Scorpion fit the bill.  

I am daunted by all the sewing that will be involved in affixing these colorful little fluff balls to my sheep.  As I’ve stated before, hand sewing is not my thing. But I take heart in the knowledge that adding fleece will most certainly doom the "sheeping mantis” mystique. Fleece installed, my creation will finally resemble the right species (even with the rainbow fleece) and all will be well.

Zoom Loom Shelby Sheep Kit from The Woolery - Day 4

Beware the sheeping mantis...!

I am a very good knitter, but I rot at crafts.  

The trouble with sheep assembly, in this case, is that it feels very much like arts and crafts.  Actually, it feels like an invitation to an appearance on Pinterest Fail.  I just know this is not going to turn out as sweet and charming as the picture on the kit package.

The body and legs were pure geometry.  Make a tube.  Sew ends on the tube.  Stuff said tube.  Make two rectangles.  Wrap pipe cleaners with the rectangles and sew them shut.  Bend wrapped pipe cleaners into legs and sew them onto the body.  These things went relatively as planned.

The head however, gave me fits.  I worked it twice, and even then it looked, well, not exactly sheepish.  The real kicker came when I showed it to my husband, who got that not-quite-hidden “what is that?” expression on his face parents know all too well.  We use it when our toddler children show us a blue blob from finger painting.  We apply that face until they tell us “it’s an elephant,” after which we gush about “Well of course it is!  What a pretty blue elephant!” 

My better half looked at the black body for a moment until he pronounced the head looked like…a praying mantis.  And, don’t you know, he was right.  I had a sheep body with a praying mantis head—something out of a horrid 1950’s sci-fi flick or the Don Dixon song.   For the whole next day, every time I looked at the thing, I saw “sheeping mantis.”

Finally, after looking up half a dozen photos of sheep, I realized it was the ears.  I'm going tack the ears to flop down. Then I'll have a sheep.  Or something close to a sheep.  At least something closer to a sheep than to a praying mantis.

The fleece will save me.  No one thinks of a fluffy, fleecy praying mantis.   

Do they?

Zoom Loom Shelby Sheep Kit from The Woolery - Day 1

It's not kid stuff...

Let’s get this out of the way first:  If you’re even half my age, you probably had the same reaction I did when you first saw this gadget: It reminds you of that loom we all played with as kids, one that came with colorful jersey loops, that created mostly potholders.  It was a toy.

This isn’t a toy.  This is a grown up, spiffed up version of that same idea, but it’s definitely intended and built like a crafting tool.  You rather have to get your mind out of the “toy” concept at first, but using this won’t feel like you’ve borrowed your niece’s craft kit and gone back to your eight-year-old self, trust me.

The package says “on the go,” but I wouldn’t take this anywhere but to a knitting group or other craft gathering.  As a matter of fact, I had a plane travel during this project and didn’t take it with me.  Not because of the long needle involved, but because to me it just didn’t feel portable.  And while I knew it wasn’t a toy, I couldn’t shake the notion that other people would think of it as such.

Having said all that, I was truly surprised at how much I enjoyed using it.  It’s a remarkably clever little thing.  The manufacturers advise you make one or two out of scrap yarn first, which I heartily recommend. And for extra fun, use a hand-died or other yarn with a long variegation, because watching how the colors interplay is half the fun.

The kit says I have to make nine of these in black.  That sounds a bit tedious, but doable.  How those nine squares turn into a sheep?  You got me.  We’re going to have to find out together.

FRANKFORT, KY

Thanks to the fine folks at the Kentucky Book Fair, I spend a weekend in the state’s capitol of Frankfort every November.  Imagine my surprise to discover recently that the town houses a wonderful yarn shop that I somehow missed!  You can be sure I fixed that grievous error right away.  Should you find yourself in the charming town of Frankfort—here’s how to have a great yarn-y visit.

Start your day with a little local sugary goodness at: 

Magee’s Bakery

225 W Main St 

Frankfort, KY 40601 

502-223-7621 

www.frankfortmagees.com

They've got a location here and in the neighboring city of Lexington, and have been family owned since 1956.  This tiny little shop serves up some wonderful doughnuts going far beyond the standard flavors while utilizing fresh ingredients.  Word has it their Cheddar Cheese bagels are splendid, too.  They offer a variety of breakfast and lunch fares, but with a bourbon (“Buffalo Trace,” no less!) doughnut calling your name, it’s hard to opt for anything as ordinary as chocolate sprinkles.  I also got to taste the waffle flavored doughnut with bacon—yum!

Right across from Magee’s, you’ll find:

Nitro of Frankfort

220 West Main Street

Frankfort KY  40601

501-226-2400

nitrooffrankfort.com

There’s a certain color of blue you’ll find everywhere in these parts—that belonging to the University of Kentucky.  The UK Wildcats are nothing short of an obsession here. One stop in this store will let you know that Wildcat fever extends far beyond jerseys and sweatshirts!  This small store packs a whopping selection of clothing, accessories, and other gifts.

Next, wander down to Broadway, arguably the town’s “main street” running right beside the train tracks.  There are a variety of shops and businesses worth your attention here.

Poor Richard’s Books

233 Broadway

Frankfort, KY 40601

502-223-8018

http://poorrichards.indiebound.com/

Bookstores tend to come in two varieties—the common and the uncommon.  This falls clearly into the uncommon variety.  You know the kind where you walk in and it smells like books (not retail)?  Where you know you’ll be lost for at least two hours if not more?  Where the people are as interesting as the literature?  That’s a find of a bookstore.  You owe it to yourself to go upstairs, where the real treasures lie waiting. If you’re already in the mood for lunch, you can duck into the Coffeetree Cafe right next door.  Otherwise, continue down the street to:

  

Completely Kentucky

237 W. Broadway St.

Frankfort, KY 40601

800-457-1990

completelykentucky.com

The vast array of locally produced gifts, food, art, soap, and a dozen other things makes this a must-do stop on my annual visits.  Burbon balls are a no-brainer, but don’t leave without buying a box of Modjeska’s candies by Bauer—there’s nothing else that compares with these sticky, gooey, caramel wonders!  If you can’t decide on one thing, they offer fabulous gift baskets as well.

Venture off Broadway down St. Clair when you are ready to visit our fiber find of the day:

The Woolery

315 St. Clair St 

Frankfort Ky 40601

800-441-9665

www.woolery.com

Owner Chris Miller and his wife run this marvelous spinning and weaving store that has embraced just enough knitting to keep everyone happy.  While primarily an on-line business, the Woolery still boasts a satisfying retail experience thanks to a depth of stock and a staff that truly “knows their stuff.”  “We really care,” says Miller, “You can’t hire that or buy that.” Indeed!

As for the spinning, you'll find everything from artfully made drop spindles (collector’s items in themselves!) to starter Cricket looms to elaborate full size floor looms.  Walk in here, and chances are highly likely you’ll come out with a new hobby—or just a new way to do your present hobby.  

“We’re not contagious, but we are addictive,” Miller jokes, but it’s true.  On one shelf you’ll find one-of-a-kind art yarns.  On another you’ll find roving in a gazillion colors for felting, spinning, or ornamentation to make your garment unique.  Tools, gadgets, fibers—the diversity expands your world as you realize all the different things we can do with fiber.

Want to dip your toes into spinning?  Start on a small scale with one of The Woolery’s extensive selection of handcrafted drop spindles.  They are as much art as tool, and very simple to learn.  But beware—we all know drop spindles are the “gateway drug” to a much larger spinning addiction!  Should you need them (and you know you will), the Woolery offers a full selection of classes in a variety of fiber arts.

Does weaving catch your eye?  Start small with The Cricket Rigid Heddle Kit.  Compact enough to fit on a table top but large enough to tackle a substantial project, this mini machine can introduce you to the craft without a huge investment.

How about a new spin on your knitting?  I was fascinated by the Addi Express King Size knitting machine.  It’s a spool knitter on steroids!  This behemoth can tackle large flat or tubular projects at lightening speed.  If you were ever daunted by too many rows of garter or stockinette, this would whiz you through a large garment in no time. Personally, I think the thing’s large enough to double as an end table—what a conversation piece!

Our “Knit Along” from here isn’t knitting, but my first introduction to the weaving craft.  No, this isn’t that jersey-loop loom you played with as a kid. Schacht’s Zoom Loom brings an adult vibe to modular weaving.  But that doesn’t mean you have to get all serious.  I’ll be making the adorable “Shelby the Sheep” from JDE handwoven’s Swatch Critter Kit especially created for the Zoom Loom.

Frankfort is just the right size for an afternoon of exploring.  Another little gem on St. Clair is

Village Arts

226 St. Clair Street

Frankfort KY  40601

501-330-1968

www.thevillagearts.org

When you shop here or at the sister store in LaGrange IL by where I live, you support Angels Outreach and the Lake Eyasi Girls Vocational School in Tanzania, Africa.  Buy stuff and feel good—a perfect match! I liked the colorful, textured bags and the handcrafted earrings.

For me, there’s really only one way to end a day in Frankfort, and that’s with a “Hot Brown.” I first discovered this amazing (if not healthy) dish back during my visit to Lexington, and it’s been a favorite ever since.  Nothing compares to the cheesy, saucy, savory goodness of all that meat.  The best I’ve had can be found at:

Sarafini

243 W Broadway St

Frankfort, KY 40601

502-875-5599

serafinifrankfort.com

Yes, as the name implies, they do great Italian, Yes, they have the quality bourbon selection you’d expect at a Kentucky establishment. But for me, Sarafini’s is all about the Hot Brown.  Exquisite.  I’m sure my cardiologist dies a little bit every time I eat one, but since I only get there once year, I figure it’s a fair trade for one night of gastronomic bliss.

If you are in to horses bourbon, or both, there are loads of other great things to do in the area that you can check out here.  Enjoy!