Susie and I were talking on the phone today at the vocal responses on yesterday’s CSA Blanket post. Susie said, “Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could get blankets in time for people to be able to give as Christmas presents?” I wholeheartedly agreed. “It’s too bad we didn’t think of this two weeks ago,” she said, “but there’s no way the mill could get the blankets to us in time.” I was bummed, but moved on with my work. Five minutes later, Susie called back. She had called the mill and they said that if we get them the order by the end of August, they would be able to get us the blankets in time for us to ship them out for Christmas!
So we’re going to do it. Because Susie was driving (as per usual, these days!), she told me that I could pick the blanket colors. I was about frozen with indecision, but after consulting with the Ravelry group in very hypothetical terms, I decided to go with Black Tweed with Natural Stripes and Natural with Burgundy Stripes.
We’re offering the same sizes as last time – Lap, Double, and Queen. If I wanted a blanket on the couch, I’d go with a lap blanket, but for my bed, queen size is a no-brainer – especially because it’s only $25 more than the double.
The thing that is REALLY important is that these blankets are only on sale through August 3oth. We have to get our order to the mill so that they can start making our blankets. We should be a-okay to get them to you in mid-December, but it’s important to remember that working with a mill with equipment that is a hundred (or more) years old, sometimes things happen beyond our control. That said, we’ll be doing everything we can to get the blankets into your hands so that you or a very special somebody can enjoy it this Christmas. (Hanukkah is super early this year – on Thanksgiving! – , so they’d have to be belated presents if that’s the winter holiday you celebrate.)
My cat is so thrilled, I can hardly get him to eat.
It looks like my cat’s not the only one smitten with the blanket. Mary’s Frank
and JoJo both approve! (Plus, look at how it co-ordinates with the pillows!)
Torre has a comfy corner waiting for the weather to get a little cooler…
Flarkin might cut you if you try to take away her blanket…
Melissa bought two lap blankets, both of which co-ordinate wonderfully with the pillows she made to go with the couch!
These blankets are very special because they’re made with the fleece of the JMF animals. This fleece is not as lovely as the fleeces used in our CSA yarns and the blanket CSA was started as a way to use these fleeces and ensure our commitment that all animals live their natural lives and are not slaughtered for meat. So the fleeces are from some of the older Cormos who aren’t producing as fine a yarn anymore, the Babydoll Southdowns, and the ‘Mo Downs (Cross between Cormo and Babydoll Southdowns specific to the farm). The only reason we can have such a fast turnaround is because we happen to have some extra wool from this season already waiting at the mill.
An aside – even though this wool is not as buttery soft as the cormo, it is not scratchy or irritating. I can have this blanket next to my skin and only be reminded that it’s wool for a minute with a slight prickle. Then I don’t notice it at all. And I have sensitive skin. It is a sturdy kind of soft and something that I feel will last through my lifetime, if not longer.
I’m pretty sure that most of you have abandoned reading any of this and have clicked on over to the shop so that you could get your own and several to give out as holiday gifts! Honestly, I don’t blame you. Why are you still reading this? I linked the shop already. Hurry, August is nearly over as it is!
Next time I’m in NYC I will definitely being checking out La Boîte a Epice, a shop featuring 40 custom blended spices.
