I’m Hillary, a farmer and maker living in Winnipeg. I was introduced to wool when I became a volunteer at a living history site near my childhood home in Minnesota. For nearly 8 years, I would become “Thelma, the Weaver’s Apprentice” on Saturdays, under the mentorship of a skilled fiber artist who taught me to spin, knit and dye. After getting my art degree and an accidental interest in farming, I moved to Fairbanks, Alaska to pursue a farmer training program at Calypso Farm and Ecology Center. At Calypso, I built up my fiber skills with their lovely Shetland fleece and was inspired by the successful integration of art and fiber production into their farm system. I moved to Winnipeg in 2019 with my husband and our two malemutes, and have found participating in Pembina Fibreshed projects a wonderful way to delve into my new farming and creative communities. I currently farm with Slow River Gardens in St. Adolphe, and hope to someday have a farm of my own that celebrates color, creativity and (of course) sheep.

Materials + Sourcing:

I purchased lovely Rambouillet batting from Longway Homestead (courtesy of the Rannie family flock) in the spring and gradually spun it on my Ashford Elizabeth II over the summer months.

With the exception of black hollyhock from a friend's garden and the avocado pits/skins saved from taco nights, I grew all my dye plants from seed. I harvested and dried french marigold, dyers coreopsis, calendula, yarrow, rudbeckia and japanese indigo through autumn.

Item #1: Burdock Shawl

Burdock shawl pattern by Ash Alberg, Sunflower Knits. Handspun Rambioullet dyed with coreopsis, fresh and dried French marigold.

Item #2: Shik’is Headband

Shik’is Headband pattern by Jennifer Berg. Handspun Rambioullet dyed with marigold, coreopsis and black hollyhock.

Item #3: Seed Cowl

After learning the tubular join on the Shik'is Headband, I wanted to try cowl with the same construction. The design was inspired by many hours of online seed shopping. Handspun Rambioullet dyed with coreopsis, marigold, avocado pits/skins, and black hollyhock.