Opalyn Rose

While I haven’t read the book, I lived it for nearly two decades with the same core group for a decade.  I’m currently building community resilience with the Self Reliance Festival (Nicole Sauce) and Midwest Preparedness Project. I’ll be at the Living Free in Tennessee Holler next Friday.

looked fine - price is $10 again so I missed the window but I probably have it too.

While I agree that the list is short, I also interpret the instructions the same as Christopher Weeks.

Congratulations!  It’s exciting to see what happens when I open the Textile Repair Cafe. Those metered corners look great.

Thanks for reminding us to be more aware and strict with ourselves and bb submission review.  

Kate Downham wrote:The linen skirt that I made with an elastic waist got holes quite quickly where the elastic was, but a linen wrap skirt I have is still looking great after two years. The wrap skirt is made from a heavier weight linen, but I suspect that the elastic on the other skirt may have irritated the linen fibres somehow, which could also explain it.

Does mixing up different fibres this way cause the natural one to wear out more quickly?

Blending cotton or linen with plastic (polyester, for example) fibers definitely causes more wear on the individual fibers and therefore the fabric when compared to a fabric of a single natural ingredient.

I did a study on fiber content when I was making rugs.  The "stronger" polyester fibers tend to cut the cotton fibers and decrease longevity.  I'm guessing/extrapolating that pilling and other signs of wear could also be caused by the blending of fiber contents.  

I know that the benefits (and longevity) of linen plummet quickly when blended with polyester.

And. I've started stitching down my elastic waistband to reduce the free-floating elastic in the hopes that it reduces the wear you mentioned.

This is a great description.

The mechanics of what you are describing with blended materials is that one is stronger than the other and thus actually end up cutting the (usually cotton) fibers. This is particularly important when making durable items like rag rugs. Having blended fabrics actually makes the rug wear out quicker than if it is 100% cotton.

For reference I helped to raise a small flock of sheep and a small herd of milking goats for over a decade.
The Karaculs were before my time.

In the animal systems I helped manage, we always had two intact males (per species) and rarely had issues under discussion. I made a point to introduce people to the goats and their headbutting strategies and instructed them scratch them under their chin when they would come up to the gates.
I would expect to see more issues with more “primitive” breeds like the Icelandic.

I do hope some of these strategies work for you.  Certain behaviors in our animals (including humans) are not tolerated on the farm and ramming is one.  One member experienced a shattered kneecap from a Karacul ram.

If you really like his wool, then adult castration might be something to explore.  I've used this brand for a dozen years to castrate our yearlings and 2-year-olds before butcher as they grow healthier and stronger when intact.

Alexandra Malecki wrote:When something says “up to 10 points duplication allowed from sand level” does that mean I could do a 1 point item 10 times?

That is my understanding