Ok You Sheep People / Knitters.... Top This!

[ChocoMare]

Bride marries in gown of wool from own flock of sheep

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1205007/Shepherdess-bride-marries-stunning-dress-wool-flock.html#ixzz0NYDKG7mE


And the bride wore white - long, curly white strands of wool.

Louise Fairburn, who is an award-winning sheep breeder, decided to get married in a fleece from her own flock.

She designed the gown and took wool from her favourite rare Lincoln Longwool, Olivia.

And she extended the theme to the rest of her big day, putting her groom Ian, 42, in a waistcoat made from wool.

Mrs Fairburn even carried a Bo Peep-style crook and the ring bearer's cushion was made from a fleece.

Guests were given chocolate sheep-shaped favours and even dined on lamb dishes by celebrity chef Rachel Green.

But it was the dress that was the highlight of the wedding in Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, near their farm in Risby.

'It always occurred to me what a waste it was to turn this beautiful long wool into carpets,' the 38-year-old bride said.

'But I saw an advert with dresses made out of carpets and it twigged that I could have a dress made of wool.

'I suppose I am sheep-crackers, but the idea just came to me and I designed the dress myself with a little bit of help.'

The dress, which cost £1,500, took a spinner and dressmaker 67 hours to make. But it was worth it, as her husband said he was 'blown away' when she walked down the aisle.

'I took one look at her, my lip curled like a young sheep's does and I started blubbering,' he said.

Mrs Fairburn added: 'I wanted this dress to look like any other wedding dress and for people not to realise it was wool until they got close and that's what we achieved.

'I just wanted to prove that you could do something fantastic out of the yarn and ended up with something that was beyond my wildest dream.

'I want to prove to people that wool is not just something for knitting bobble hats from, and that our native breeds can have just as big a presence today as in the past.'

It was love at first sight for the couple, who met when Mrs Fairburn was looking for someone to install a farm track at her home. After searching in the Yellow Pages, she came across Mr Fairburn's firm.

He said: 'I opened the Land Rover door when I arrived and said that's the girl I'm going to marry.'

Now the couple are successful sheep breeders, and won top honours at last year's Lincolnshire show.

[Alagirl]

very pretty!

a horsehair gown would not look as good!

[Guin]

I think "sheep-crackers" is a pretty good description of those people. :lol:

[TBMaggie]

I'm saving my 'horse hair' -

[Huntin'Fool]

Hey, that's the *coolest* thing-in the sense of wonderful. In the sense of cooling to the body-it was probably hot as a firecracker and you couldn't have worn it in Alabama to a wedding even in February. I am btw interested in raising sheep in Alabama-any ideas?

[ChocoMare]

I'm wondering what kind of lining and how many layers of it did she need to avoid the Itch factor. -shudder-

[Aggie4Bar]

I'm wondering what kind of lining and how many layers of it did she need to avoid the Itch factor. -shudder-That was my first, and actually just about only, thought viewing the article. Just looking at the dress made me itchy.

[Huntin'Fool]

Hey, I don't find wool itchy at all (I know I'm weird, mosquitos don't like me and I'm not allergic to poison ivy either) but I bet it was just some sateen liner-here that's what we line our wool hunting jackets with-though I always swear I'm going to get a linen one-it can be *hot*!
Although the top of the dress was lovely and probably took a good bit of skill to weave I just love the bottom with those lovely long strands of wool. I want one! I would wear it to a cocktail party (short, not full length) in a heartbeat! Anyone know if we can communicate with this most artistic and original farmer? I'm sure there's a weaving blog somewhere?
HuntinFool

[hansiska]

My sister breeds Leicester Longwools. The wool is similar to what this woman used -- long staple, very soft. Very little itch factor.

Hmmm... I got engaged last week. I spin. I knit. I have a steady supply of wool....:winkgrin: Are you thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?

[Huntin'Fool]

Go for it! I bet it would be lovely!!!

[suze]

I wonder how much it weighs? Beautiful dress, but I'd think it would be heavy.

[hansiska]

:lol: I showed my sister (the Leicester Longwool breeder) the article and she said "Have you been searching Tractor Supply for wedding ideas?" :lol:

[see u at x]

My best friend is friends with a guy who knitted his wife's wedding dress for her. Apparently, it was quite beautiful. :)

[SidesaddleRider]

The dress isn't actually too bad. Although it sort of reminds me of something that the White Witch would wear in the movie "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe".

Now, his waistcoat on the other hand...:eek:

[AnotherRound]

The dress isn't actually too bad. Although it sort of reminds me of something that the White Witch would wear in the movie "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe".

Now, his waistcoat on the other hand...:eek:

that's quite a horror of a waist coat. And, I have to say, I thought of the same witch dress. I do not find it attractive, and can't help thinking that there are some men who might feel they had the best of both worlds - their youth spent on the farm where the 'wimmin' had four legs, and the one they finally got. I can just see him on a romantic night "Come on, honey, wear the dress for me. Can you say "baaaa"?" He, heh, he.

[paintjumper]

but I would have it even prettier at the top but the guy and that color of pink.............no no no.

[see u at x]

The husband's outfit would have been much better were it not so ill-fitting.

[Sakura]

I like it... very ewenique :)

[buck22]

and can't help thinking that there are some men who might feel they had the best of both worlds - their youth spent on the farm where the 'wimmin' had four legs, and the one they finally got. I can just see him on a romantic night "Come on, honey, wear the dress for me. Can you say "baaaa"?" He, heh, he.

oh yuck, :lol: am I the only person that got creeped out reading this quote?:

'I took one look at her, my lip curled like a young sheep's does and I started blubbering,' he said.

he had a Flehmen response to seeing his bride to be? yuck!

the dress is cool. I WANT those sheep... they're gorgeous!

[hansiska]

Yes, very creepy....

Just FYI, I was totally joking about making that dress. There are some decent knitted wedding dress patterns on ravelry.com, but I just don't like the overall impression they make.

I do think I'll be making this stole to wear with my dress:
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Kalessin/autumn-arbor-stole-2
I will likely make my own dress, but out of "normal" dress material.

FWIW, I can't imagine spinning with horsehair -- way too much itch factor!

[lalahartma1]

I love it!

[ReSomething]

Lovely and what? "ewenique". LOL.

The guy who was one of the groomsmen at my wedding had a couple of big hairy husky crosses, and a mom who was a spinner and weaver. She carded up the dogs' undercoats and wove some really attractive stuff including a sweater. The only problem was when the sweater got wet it still smelled like wet dog. I wonder how much that dress would shrink if she washed it. Could she wash it?

[Dad Said Not To]

Wool can be washed without shrinking-- you just have to be careful. I wash all of my wool sweaters by hand or on the delicate cycle, cold water, lay flat to dry. The loose locks in the skirt would be likely to felt with any agitation, but if the need arose, the dress could probably be hand-washed.

[Sakura]

Lovely and what? "ewenique". LOL.

The guy who was one of the groomsmen at my wedding had a couple of big hairy husky crosses, and a mom who was a spinner and weaver. She carded up the dogs' undercoats and wove some really attractive stuff including a sweater. The only problem was when the sweater got wet it still smelled like wet dog. I wonder how much that dress would shrink if she washed it. Could she wash it?

ewenique and b-ewe-tiful :D

[suze]

I do think I'll be making this stole to wear with my dress:

Gorgeous! Way too complicated for me, though. My knitting/crocheting skills are too limited to make fancy stuff.

[Woodland]

Beautiful & unique!

[Huntin'Fool]

RE: the curled lip and requests for wifely sheep impersonations-y'all ought to listen to "Scotland's Depraved" it's on youtube.com some SCA types sing it. It's really funny-to the tune of Scotland The Brave.

Yeah, the husband's clothes didn't fit at all-but I love waistcoats. I wish they'd come back. Damn that Beau Brummell (sp) making men dress drably for 250 years. Throw off the yoke men-dress with color!

And I would love to know of a spinning blog if y'all are familiar with one.

[MaresNest]

Hey, that's the *coolest* thing-in the sense of wonderful. In the sense of cooling to the body-it was probably hot as a firecracker and you couldn't have worn it in Alabama to a wedding even in February. I am btw interested in raising sheep in Alabama-any ideas?

Huntin'Fool, the best sheep for Alabama is the Gulf Coast Native (http://www.gulfcoastsheepbreeders.org)! :) They are the mustangs of the sheep world. That is, they came over with the Spanish Conquistadors in the 1500's and escaped. After 500 years of natural selection, they are now the most parasite resistant sheep in the world. They're also resistant to hoof rot, and they are good for both meat and wool.

I have four of them! Here's my sheep blog (http://maresnestsheep.livejournal.com).

p.s. There's a Gulf Coast Sheep Yahoo group that you should join if you're really interested. It's the COTH of Gulf Coast Sheep. ;)