Welcome . . .
I’m working on the site and trying to streamline it a bit, and removing a lot of products. If you have seen something at a show, and do not see it here on the website, please email me. I might still have it in stock, or be able to dye it for you.
The 2024 schedule is all updated for shows, and I’m still doing some teaching of workshops through CraftStudies, a local non-profit organization.
Ellen’s 1/2 Pint Farm was started in 1985 with two sheep and one spinning wheel. It’s been a great journey, and we are still going! And still loving it! We attend many sheep & wool festivals and knitting conventions. We specialize in handpainted yarns, fibers, and wool fabric.
Unfortunately, so many of my yarns are a “one-time” dye lot, and many of you like to look at all the options in my booth, so it makes it very difficult for you to place an order. If you would like something other than a standard colorway, send me an email with colors that you like, I can take pictures of the skeins that are in stock for you to choose from. OR, you could also just ask for anything in blues, or purples, etc, and I will pick the skein for you.
Some of the items you will find for sale in our booth include knitting supplies & notions, needles (we carry Knitter’s Pride, Knit Picks, and Skacel), crochet hooks, beads, stitch markers, dyes, felting supplies, ball winders and swifts, gadget and project bags. Everything you need to support your knitting projects! Remember, if you are interested in purchasing something that is not on the website, but you have seen in the booth at a show, or would like to have me custom dye a specific amount of yarn or fiber, please send me an email and we can discuss how to order it on the website. As always, there is never an extra charge for custom dyeing.
One thing that is very important to me is fighting cancer. 10 years ago I lost my sister, Carol, to lung cancer. Many of you knew her as she came with me to all of my shows. Since then I have been raising money for the Prouty, (theprouty.org). We’ve raised over $15,000 in the 9 years. Here is a picture of our team from 2019 (the last in-person Prouty)! Again, for the 2024 shows, I will have a basket of yarn that has been donated by my friend, Sylvia. She donated a large amount last year, and now has donated even more for this next year!! With every penny from every skein going to next July’s Prouty.
On a personal note, here are my two furbabies kitties who just LOVE to help on the computer, and my biggest furbaby, rescue pup, who is full of cuddles and love!
Ellen's 1/2 Pint Farm 
I bought some yarn from you at the Maine Frolic. I tried to add it to Ravelry, but the type of yarn did not exist. It is fingering, about 600 yards, 80% wool & 20% silk. Please let me know what base it is.
Thanks
LikeLike
Hi Kathie, That is actually a new yarn I just started dyeing this spring. I am really pleased with the way it takes the dye, and it has a really great hand, so I will be adding it to my regular yarns.
I’ll try to get something up on Ravelry in the near future regarding the yarn.
Thanks!
Ellen
LikeLike
I bought 8oz of your Bond sheep roving at Rhinebeck 2016. I am spinning it now, and it is absolutely wonderful! It is beautifully processed with zero VM or nupps. I am plying it with some very colorful merino/tencil. The resulting 2ply is fabulous! The prettiest yarn I have ever made! I look forward to buying more wool roving from your Bond sheep in the future.
Chris in Maine
LikeLike
Hi Chris,
Thanks, Chris! I am glad you are enjoying the Bond fiber. I carry that in my booth, but cannot actually take credit for how wonderful that fiber is, as it comes from a friend of mine. I certainly will continue to have that fiber with me at shows, and look forward to seeing you at another show! The yarn sounds fantastic!
Ellen
LikeLike
I purchased yarn to make the linen stitch scarf at the Sheep and Wool Festival in Deerfield and I’m wondering when slipping the stitch should I slip as if to purl or knit?
Thank you in advance
Tammy
p.s. I was reading your site and very excited you will be dying wool for wool applique. Will you be putting together kits or just selling the wool?
LikeLike
Hi Tammy,
I slip the stitch as if to purl, but it really doesn’t make a big difference, as long as you do it the same way every time. I just find it easier to slip as if to purl.
Thanks, and I hope you enjoy knitting the scarf!
At this point, am just selling the dyed wool in fat quarters and little pieces, although kits are a possibility in the future!
Ellen
LikeLike
Hello I have another question about the linen stitch scarf. Might not matter but I did cast on already and started the scarf on size 7 needles because I tend to knit tight and I found my first row to be really holey and further on kind of loose. So out it all came my question is after you cast on do you turn the work and work the first row then after that row cut and slide to the right or should I just cast on and cut and push to the right. I’m wondering if that might have been what made my first row really holey since I turned and worked row? I’m going to start it over on the size 6 needles. Hopefully you can understand what I’m asking here kind of confusing.
Thank you
Tammy
LikeLike
Hi Tammy,
You do need to cut each end and then start back at the beginning of each row with a new yarn, leaving a few inches just like when you cut the yarn at the end. You will never turn the work, and you will always be working on the “right side”, or “out side” of the scarf.
Hope that helps!
Ellen
LikeLike
ok so just to be clear that includes even my first row after the cast on?
LikeLike
Yes, even the first row.
LikeLike
Thank you so much so sorry to be a pain. I didn’t mean to send to messages today when I went on your site to see if you answered yet I didn’t see my message so I thought something happened and it didn’t post.
LikeLike
You are not a pain!!! 🙂 I am happy to try to help you, it really is not a problem. I am at work all day on Weds and Thurs, so am not always able to respond right away.
Hope the scarf turns out well for you!
Ellen
LikeLike
Hi Ellen I’m trying to make a linen stitch dish towel out of a worsted weight cotton yarn but it isnt coming out like my scarf. Any ideas why? It looks like double knitting instead if you know what that looks like. I’m so bummed because i love the look of the scarf and I thought a towel in that look would be great. Thank you for your help
Tammy
LikeLike
Hi,
I was looking at your BFL roving and wondering if you could send me some pictures of ones that have some red, orange, Browns, peach, and purples in them. Thank you.
LikeLike
Hi, I will take pictures tomorrow of what i have in stock. And if I don’t have what you are looking for, I can certainly custom dye any color combination you would like. Probably the closest would be Earth’s Royalty, which has rusts, brown, earthy purples. I’ll send you pictures tomorrow afternoon! Thanks!
LikeLike
Hi Sandra, I am sorry…it has been pouring all day, and since the fibers are out in the van, I have not had a chance to take pictures. Think tomorrow is suppose to be a little drier, so will take them then. Thanks for being patient!
LikeLike
Ellen,
Just received my fiber order from you and I love the colors. Can’t wait to spin it up. Thanks again! Sandra
LikeLiked by 1 person
Huge Hi to all you lovely Tye Dye shirt Folks. Iso remember seeing and chatting with you at last years SAWF. Great and fun folks..
I’m certain you dont remember me. I was in my scooter, using car hand turning signals like on the road….. and Someone mentioned that it was clever.LOL LOL
ANYWAY YOU FOLKS WERE SUPER SWEET every place we crossed pathes.
LikeLike
Thanks, Pauline!!!! We try to have fun!
LikeLike
I couldn’t get your website to work. Maybe it was too busy after the live show you did for Michigan Fiber fest. I want to buy your dyed Gotland braids. I would like 2 of the rainbow colorway and 1 of the purple mountain colorway. Also do you still have Bond fiber for spinning? I would be interested in that too. Thanks. Didnt know how else to contact you.
LikeLike
Hi Kathleen, I’m happy to dye the Gotland for you. If you would send me an email with your mailing address I can get your order ready, and will send you an invoice through Square. I’m sorry the website won’t work for you. That’s happening more frequently now and I need to find out why! Please send me an email at: ellenshalfpintfarm@gmail.com
Thank you!
LikeLike
wondering if you have Corriedale sheep wool ready for spinning?
LikeLike
Hi Roxanne, I do not have any Corriedale, but do have a Falkland wool top, which is a Corriedale/Merino cross.
LikeLike
Hi Ellen, I would like to buy the yarn and pattern you have on special this weekend. I’m not sure how to go about this!
Thank you
LikeLike
Hi Meredith, You will find that yarn on the “Specials” page, it’s at the very top. Below the description there is a link to click, which will bring you to the secure ordering site. However, if you have any problems at all, please just email me at: ellenshalfpintfarm@gmail.com, and I will set the order up for you. Thanks!
Ellen
LikeLike
Hi Ellen, I would like to order more yarn from you. I love the new color Hopeful! I would like to order a skein with the direction to the fingerless gloves. Thank you, Meredith Wagner
LikeLike
Hi Meredith, I will put in the order for you, and will send you an email with more info. Thank-you!
Ellen
LikeLike
I would like to see colors of your 50% merino and 50% Tencel yarn . I find where color names are listed but not the actual colors that go with them . Thank you.
LikeLike
Hi Penny, if you go to the Colorway page, you can see all of my standard colors. The 50% merino 50% tencel yarn is available in any of those colorways. I also dye that yarn in many different colors, so if there is something specific that you are looking for, please let me know and I can see what I have for colors, or can dye something for you. Thanks for asking!
LikeLike