"I would rather be on my farm than be emperor of the world."
- George Washington
After retiring from the Army, we decided to return to our home state of Maine. We bought an old farmhouse and started our next dream. Hope you follow along on this journey of ours.
Tour de fleece 2024 completed and goal met!! Worsted weight woolen spun. Thanks to @mellyknits for hosting #stashdashers What a supportive community! This was great practice for long draw. Love this wool from our farm ewe, Winnie. Many steps from sheep to sweater and I love the process! I’m thinking this will become a cardigan! #stonepinefarm #stashdashers24 #tourdefleece2024
Tour de fleece week 1 update-4 bobbins completed. Used this as my practice for spinning long draw. Love Winnie’s fleece with its slight color variations ๐ค๐ฉถ๐ค Plying is next! #stonepinefarm #stashdashers24 #stashdashers #tourdefleece2024 @mellyknits
My first tour de fleece! TDF is a spinning challenge that runs during the same time as the Tour de France. This fleece is from our ewe, Winnie and my goal is to spin enough for a sweater. Let the spinning begin! #stonepinefarm #tourdefleece2024 #stashdashers
Just taking a break from sweater knitting to do some bonding with our new gosling. ๐ฃ Thanks Metzer Farms for our healthy gosling/ducklings order! Adding onto our fiber farm this new feathered crew will not only give us eggs but will also help with pasture maintenance and weeding! #stonepinefarm #metzerfarms #mainefarms
Finally cast on for a sweater for myself! After a couple of weeks of busily spinning I have enough yarn spun for a sweater. I’ve wanted to make one from Ellie’s fleece since I got her over 6 years ago. Her fleece has become a lovely gray and this is the year that I’m going to knit myself a sweater! Let the knitting begin! ๐๐งถ๐ฉถ #stonepinefarm #veteranfarmer #farmyarn #useyourhandspun #mainefarms #fiberfarm #handspunwool
Made this baby hat from a 50/50 blend of our wool and angora hand spun yarn. First time blending fibers and am pleased with how it turned out. It’s available on our store site! ๐ถ (link in bio) #stonepinefarm #veteranfarmer #mainefarms #fiberfarm #farmyarn #sustainableyarn #sustainableclothing
Are you a knitter or a crocheter? Or know someone who is? We now have skeins of hand spun ๐ฏ% angora yarn available on our store site! Please see link in bio. Many different yarn weights and yardages available, please check it out! ๐ #stonepinefarm #veteranfarmer #mainefarms #fiberfarm #farmyarn #fromthefarm #angorayarn #farmtoyarn #ethicalyarn #sustainableyarn #naturalyarn
Dog fur + sheep wool. I was honored to be asked to spin yarn from the fur of our friend’s poodle, Pierre. This was a special task as Pierre had passed away a bit ago and his owner wanted something special done with his fur. It was a short length and needed to be carded with wool to become yarn. Over 1000 yds of bulky weight yarn (my largest project ever spun!) and I couldn’t be happier with the result! ๐ค๐ค The last photo is our dog Cricket remembering her friend Pierre ๐ฅน #stonepinefarm #veteranfarmer #mainefarms #fiberfarm #handspunwool #brotherdrumcarder #dogfur
A long day of scouring!
All the wool from our 4 sheep has been washed and dried. We do 1 lb at a time. Using a biodegradable detergent specific for scouring, each batch gets 2 washes in hot water (to remove the lanolin) and 2 rinses, (picture 2). The discard water which contains nutrients is put back into the soil. Once washed and spun out the wool dries on racks in front of our wood stove. The result is beautiful clean wool that’s ready to dye or card. #stonepinefarm #veteranfarmer #mainefarms #fiberfarm #sheepfarmer #wool
My first sheep to shawl! ๐ I had the privilege of making this shawl for the most beautiful and sweetest bride. The special couple was married on a snowy winter’s day and it was just gorgeous! This shawl was made entirely here on the farm ๐งถ. -wool grown by Jinx the sheep ๐#stonepinefarm #veteranfarmer #mainefarms #fiberfarm #handspunyarn #sheeptoshawl #woolsheep #handknitting
Thanks to our neighbors, our sheep are celebrating the new year with a retired Christmas tree snack!! Happy 2024 from all of us at Stonepine Farm! #stonepinefarm #veteranfarmer #mainefarms #fiberfarm #sheep #woolsheep
Hay! Our hay was delivered and thanks to some extra sets of hands the hayloft is full! When you buy something from us (i.e. hats, mitts, yarn etc) this where your $ goes, so a big thank you to all of our customers! ๐๐๐ฐ #stonepinefarm #mainefarms #veteranfarmer #fiberfarm
Had a chance to get some work done in the fiber shop this weekend. Spun some angora yarn, dyed some wool and even got some needle felting done! ๐งถ๐ฐ๐โค๏ธ #stonepinefarm #veteranfarmer #mainefarms #fiberfarm #angorayarn
Since the weather has been nice our rabbits have been enjoying some time outside. Here’s Neo enjoying the sunshine and clover. โ๏ธโ๏ธ #stonepinefarm #veteranfarmer #fiberfarm #mainefarms #angorarabbit #fiberspinning #handspunangora
Today there was another birthday on the farm, it was Daisy’s 1st birthday! She thoroughly enjoyed the extra attention and didn’t mind at all wearing her birthday hat! ๐ฅณโ๏ธ๐๐ #stonepinefarm #veteranfarmer #mainefarms #katahdinsheep #petsheep
Today is Pablo Jr’s birthday! Check out his party pics. Everyone came out to celebrate with him. His mom gave him a birthday kiss and then of course his little sister tries to eat his party hat! Happy 1st birthday! ๐ฅณ๐ #stonepinefarm #mainefarms #katahdinsheep #veteranfarmer #sheepbirthday
The first quarter of the year has been a busy one here on the farm! Have spun 2500+ yards of yarn which became 6 hats, 9 pairs of fingerless mitts, 2 neck gaiters, 1 cowl and 1 scarf! More to spin and knit!๐งถ#stonepinefarm #veteranfarmer #mainemade #fiberfarm #yarnfarm #handspunwool #handspun #knittedgifts #smallbusiness #angorayarn
Scouring some wool. 2 washes in hot soapy water followed by 2 rinses. Check out the before and after! Nice clean wool ready to be carded ๐ #stonepinefarm #fiberfarm #mainefarms #wool #sheepwool #farmyarn #woolsheep
Can you spot the sheep?! ๐ It was very cold and windy overnight (-40 with the wind chill) so we boarded up the pen, gave extra hay and the heated water bucket is working overtime. Everyone stayed warm and normal temps are in the future ๐ก๏ธ #stonepinefarm #mainefarms #fiberfarm #sheepfarm #sheepfarming #katahdinsheep #veteranfarmer
Necco had a spa day! It’s a routine grooming where his fur is fluffed and checked for any matting. In a month it will be time for his “harecut”. #stonepinefarm #veteranfarmer #angorarabbit #fiberfarm #mainefarms #rabbitlove
On the farm last week, we were busy with the bunnies. 4 of the 5 had “harecuts” and now we have finished carding all the fiber. Looks like spinning is next ๐๐งถ #stonepinefarm #veteranfarmer #fiberfarm #angorarabbit #handspun #farmyarn #mainefarms #spinningwool
Starting the new year by casting on stitches! ๐งถ More items coming soon as we restock our inventory๐งฃ๐งค#stonepinefarm #veteranfarmer #mainemade #fiberfarm #woolfarm #handspunyarn #handknit #woolhat
A big thank you to all of customers, those who are friends who became customers and customers who became friends, that we could end 2022 as “Sold Out”! Thank you so much for supporting our farm, creativity and hard work and for seeing the value of handmade over mass-produced. ๐ฅฐ๐๐ฐ๐งถ #stonepinefarm #veteranfarmer #mainemade
It was shearing day today! โ๏ธ๐ Our shearer Jeff did a great job! 4 sheep=45 lbs of fleece to skirt and process! We’re going to be busy ๐ #stonepinefarm #veteranfarmer #mainefarms #sheepfarming #fiberfarm #woolsheep #farmyarn
Winnie and Jinx stopped grazing to pose for a picture on a beautiful Maine fall day ๐๐๐ #stonepinefarm #veteranfarmer #fiberfarm #sheepfarming #mainefarms #woolfarm #homegrownwool #shepherdess #sheepfarmer #sheepfarm
The sheep wanted to eat the hay put down for bedding, except for Daisy. She had the feeder all to herself!! (By the way it’s the exact same hay!) ๐ #stonepinefarm #veteranfarmer #mainesheepfarm #woolfarm #fiberfarm #katahdinsheep #rainydayhay
Adding a new animal to our fiber farm! Meet Necco! He’s a German/Giant angora cross. Such a sweet and friendly bunny! ๐ฅฐ #stonepinefarm #veteranfarmer #fiberfarm #angorabunny
This grain tub was discovered by our lamb to be just the right size to hang out in! ๐คฃ๐คฃ#stonepinefarm #veteranfarmer #katahdinsheep #farmpets #lambs #lovemysheep #mainesheepfarm #sheepfarm #
Introducing the newest and last lamb of the lambing season! She’s a little thing and has the sweetest baby baa! #stonepinefarm #veteranfarmer #lambs #katahdinsheep #sheepfarm
Introducing the newest lamb at Stonepine Farm! A ram lamb born to Gypsy this morning. โค๏ธ #stonepinefarm #veteranfarmer #katahdinsheep #sheepfarmer #lambs #sheepfarm
Time for an introduction-meet Jack, our newest angora rabbit! He is very friendly and obviously very fluffy! #stonepinefarm #veteranfarmer #fiberfarm #angorabunny #yarnfarm
We’ve sold our first angora item! This scarf was knit from Neo’s first shearing. We’re excited to introduce this new type of fiber from the farm! #stonepinefarm #mainemade #veteranfarmer #fiberfarm
It’s an inside play day on the farm today with extra hay in the feeder! The temp is -6 with a wind chill of -20. Brrr! #stonepinefarm #veteranfarmer #winterfarming #sheepfarmer #fiberfarm
Thanks to our neighbors who gifted their tree to our sheep this week. It was obviously needed since the second picture shows what was left of the first tree! ๐ #stonepinefarm #veteranfarmer #sheepfarming #winterfarming #sheepfarm #mainefarm
First time spinning angora rabbit fur! A little different than wool but did get the hang of it! Next is to knit it into a scarf! โค๏ธ๐ #stonepinefarm #veteranfarmer #fiberfarm #angorarabbit #farmyarn #angorayarn #handspunyarn
It’s time to introduce you to the newest member on the farm-meet Neo! He’s a giant angora. He’s such a sweet rabbit. We gave him a “furcut” and are looking forward to spinning and knitting with this wonderful fiber! Thanks! @dsyarnsfromthefarm #stonepinefarm #veteranfarmer #angorarabbit #angorafiber #fiberfarm
From hand spun to hand knit! A colorwork wool hat with matching cabled fingerless mitts. Check it out in our store! #stonepinefarm #mainemade #sheepfarmer #handspunwool #handmade #woolyarn
Hello from Gypsy the sheep!
When you go out to do chores and a sheep comes to greet you, you know there’s a spot in the fence that needs to be fixed!! ๐ #stonepinefarm #veteranfarmer #katahdinsheep #sheepfarming #sheepfarm #sheepfarmer #farmlife #farmanimals
Been working on dyeing yarn and knitting! Chose to do turquoise blue for this pair, check them out! ๐(Available in our online store) #stonepinefarm #sheepwool #mainemade #spinningwool #sheepfarming #sheepfarm #warmhands #summerknitting
They’re here! Meet the newest addition to Stonepine Farm-2 mangalitsa piglets. Thanks to all of you who have helped support us, we are growing in size, selection and sustainability! #stonepinefarm #mangalitsa #piglife #pigfarm #veteranfarmer
Look at this nest that blew out of one of our trees today, it is lined with the hair from our Katahdin sheep! Every spring the Katahdins shed their winter coats and it appears it’s great for lining nests! ๐ #stonepinefarm #sheepfarming #katahdinsheep #birdnest #repurposed #hairsheep #sheepfarm #sheepfarmer
Mitts in the summer?! Why not?! Maybe the office AC is too cold or maybe you are one of those early Christmas shoppers! ๐ Check out our store for some new products! Remember we process the fleece from our sheep ourselves, spin it, dye it and knit it! #stonepinefarm #madeinmaine #woolmittens #sheepfarmer #woolknit
Can you tell it’s black fly season in Maine?! #stonepinefarm #katahdinsheep #veteranfarmer #mainesheepfarm #sheepfarm #sheepfarmer #sheepfarming #blackfliesaretheworst #blackfliesareout
We now have 100% cotton logo t-shirts in the store! A traditional fit t-shirt in charcoal. Thanks @amy_plourde at Perfect Stitch Embroidery! #stonepinefarm #veteranfarmer #farmlogotee #farmshirt #showyoursupport #supportyourlocalfarmer
So you go out to do evening chores and you know you need to hurry back in to cook supper but this little gal asks for chin scratches-how can you say no to this face?!! #stonepinefarm #katahdinsheep #katahdinlambs #lovesheep #sheeplove #mainefarm #sheepfarmer
Just finished spinning over 650 yds of yarn for a custom order. Next is the dye pot, then knitting, last is felting!
#stonepinefarm #mainefarm #yarn #mainefiber #mainemade #sheepyarnmaker #farmyarn #spinningyarn
Meet the new chicks of Stonepine Farm! ๐ฃ #stonepinefarm #chickensofinstagram #mainefarm #veteranfarmer #backyardchickens #chickensanddogscanbefriends
This is a natural brown fleece hot pad. It is already spoken for but thought it would be good to share if anyone would be interested in the natural colors. #sheepwool #mainefarm #mainemade #veteranfarmer #knitwithwool
Fleece! Skirting and washing Jinx’s first fleece. It weighed over 10 lbs. ๐ #stonepinefarm #mainefarms #mainefiberfarm #rawwool #farmyarn #mainefarm #mainesheepfarm
Meet the new ewe lambs of Stonepine Farm! They will be mommas for us next Spring! #stonepinefarm #mainefarm #katahdinsheep #katahdinlambs #veteranfarmer #drove2hoursforthis
Set of 4 felted coasters with needle felted designs available in our farm store! #stonepinefarm #feltedwool #needlefelting #knitwithwool #feltedgifts #mainemade
Working on making friends with the new lambs. This one’s not quite sure yet but will eat grain from our hands #stonepinefarm #katahdinsheep #katahdinlambs #mainefarms #mainesheepfarm #veteranfarmer
New item added to the store! This felted hot pad will protect your table or countertop from hot dishes. Made entirely by us from our own sheep! #stonepinefarm #feltedknits #mainefiber #woolknits #wool
WIP (work in progress)
Planning on knitting with this hand spun bulky yarn and then felting it. Wonder how it will come out! Look for it on our store page soon ๐ #stonepinefarm