Tatjna
@tatjna.bsky.social
Sheep farmer, founder of KnowYourStuffNZ, fibre nerd, relentless poster of wholesome content. Will try anything once.
I have a lot of opinions, and occasionally have a rant about drug policy and other social stuff if that's your cup of tea.
I have a lot of opinions, and occasionally have a rant about drug policy and other social stuff if that's your cup of tea.
I swear the boys are trying to get themselves on an album cover.
The ewes spent Friday evening in this paddock and now the rams are back in there going "Smells like ladies but no ladies, woe is me."
They are probably writing emo haiku as we speak.
The ewes spent Friday evening in this paddock and now the rams are back in there going "Smells like ladies but no ladies, woe is me."
They are probably writing emo haiku as we speak.
October 18, 2025 at 8:03 PM
I swear the boys are trying to get themselves on an album cover.
The ewes spent Friday evening in this paddock and now the rams are back in there going "Smells like ladies but no ladies, woe is me."
They are probably writing emo haiku as we speak.
The ewes spent Friday evening in this paddock and now the rams are back in there going "Smells like ladies but no ladies, woe is me."
They are probably writing emo haiku as we speak.
Only 2 hours old and already giving a credible version of White Person Linemouth
September 9, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Only 2 hours old and already giving a credible version of White Person Linemouth
Experimenting with acid dye on 18pi handspun Finn yarn I spun last month.
The clear water in this dye bath shows that it's exhausted completely and all the dye has gone into the yarn. I'm stoked!
The clear water in this dye bath shows that it's exhausted completely and all the dye has gone into the yarn. I'm stoked!
September 4, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Experimenting with acid dye on 18pi handspun Finn yarn I spun last month.
The clear water in this dye bath shows that it's exhausted completely and all the dye has gone into the yarn. I'm stoked!
The clear water in this dye bath shows that it's exhausted completely and all the dye has gone into the yarn. I'm stoked!
These two have been named Coke and Ket because they look like they've been at the white powder
August 28, 2025 at 11:18 PM
These two have been named Coke and Ket because they look like they've been at the white powder
This is my pet Speckle with her new baby who's been named Marbles. He's her first and she loves him a lot but would ditch him in a second for some pellets.
August 28, 2025 at 12:47 AM
This is my pet Speckle with her new baby who's been named Marbles. He's her first and she loves him a lot but would ditch him in a second for some pellets.
I've been making felt for about a year on and off and I'm finally getting proficient at laying it out so that it comes out even.
Felt is a commitment - basically you have to get the first step right or you'll go through the whole process and end up with an uneven result and there's no going back.
Felt is a commitment - basically you have to get the first step right or you'll go through the whole process and end up with an uneven result and there's no going back.
August 23, 2025 at 9:27 PM
I've been making felt for about a year on and off and I'm finally getting proficient at laying it out so that it comes out even.
Felt is a commitment - basically you have to get the first step right or you'll go through the whole process and end up with an uneven result and there's no going back.
Felt is a commitment - basically you have to get the first step right or you'll go through the whole process and end up with an uneven result and there's no going back.
I haven't posted on here for ages so here is a picture of one of my sheep. She's learning to walk on a lead so she can be a public relations ambassador at our local show.
August 3, 2025 at 12:11 AM
I haven't posted on here for ages so here is a picture of one of my sheep. She's learning to walk on a lead so she can be a public relations ambassador at our local show.
Barn down the road looks way spookier at night with the full moon behind it
July 9, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Barn down the road looks way spookier at night with the full moon behind it
"How's it going?"
"Bit wet"
"Bit wet"
July 4, 2025 at 11:01 PM
"How's it going?"
"Bit wet"
"Bit wet"
Aaaand, here is the result. I was looking for an ochre type colour and I'm pretty happy with how it came out.
I've also got 10L of dye in the freezer for next time I have a rush of blood to the head and decide to get creative.
I've also got 10L of dye in the freezer for next time I have a rush of blood to the head and decide to get creative.
June 28, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Aaaand, here is the result. I was looking for an ochre type colour and I'm pretty happy with how it came out.
I've also got 10L of dye in the freezer for next time I have a rush of blood to the head and decide to get creative.
I've also got 10L of dye in the freezer for next time I have a rush of blood to the head and decide to get creative.
Getting ready to mordant my home woven linen, in preparation for dyeing it. It's this brown because I gave it a tannin bath yesterday to get better mordanting.
I've never made linen before, never mind dyed it, so this is a new adventure for me. I have nerd excitement!
I've never made linen before, never mind dyed it, so this is a new adventure for me. I have nerd excitement!
June 26, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Getting ready to mordant my home woven linen, in preparation for dyeing it. It's this brown because I gave it a tannin bath yesterday to get better mordanting.
I've never made linen before, never mind dyed it, so this is a new adventure for me. I have nerd excitement!
I've never made linen before, never mind dyed it, so this is a new adventure for me. I have nerd excitement!
Been a while. Have a picture of the latest skein - 400m of dark brown corriedale with golden tips adding warmth.
This will be woven for a competition piece. Only another 400m to spin!
This will be woven for a competition piece. Only another 400m to spin!
June 23, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Been a while. Have a picture of the latest skein - 400m of dark brown corriedale with golden tips adding warmth.
This will be woven for a competition piece. Only another 400m to spin!
This will be woven for a competition piece. Only another 400m to spin!
New spin - this single is from a corriedale ram who had managed to grow a 18cm staple. It's a fun spin and that's a good thing as I have 6kg of this stuff.
For those wondering, the ram smell washed out completely, which it will if you don't shear them right on tupping.
For those wondering, the ram smell washed out completely, which it will if you don't shear them right on tupping.
June 1, 2025 at 8:31 PM
New spin - this single is from a corriedale ram who had managed to grow a 18cm staple. It's a fun spin and that's a good thing as I have 6kg of this stuff.
For those wondering, the ram smell washed out completely, which it will if you don't shear them right on tupping.
For those wondering, the ram smell washed out completely, which it will if you don't shear them right on tupping.
This morning I had cause to pull out all my random 50g skeins and photograph them.
They are very pretty, but I'm also going "What to do with a 50g skein?" Most of these are samples and there isn't any more wool to turn it into a useful amount, so I'm a bit "Um...what now?"
They are very pretty, but I'm also going "What to do with a 50g skein?" Most of these are samples and there isn't any more wool to turn it into a useful amount, so I'm a bit "Um...what now?"
May 17, 2025 at 11:50 PM
This morning I had cause to pull out all my random 50g skeins and photograph them.
They are very pretty, but I'm also going "What to do with a 50g skein?" Most of these are samples and there isn't any more wool to turn it into a useful amount, so I'm a bit "Um...what now?"
They are very pretty, but I'm also going "What to do with a 50g skein?" Most of these are samples and there isn't any more wool to turn it into a useful amount, so I'm a bit "Um...what now?"
This is Panda. She likes people, and has the most boopable nose of all my flock.
Her wool is like a wire brush but she gets to stay anyway because I like her.
Her wool is like a wire brush but she gets to stay anyway because I like her.
May 16, 2025 at 9:01 PM
This is Panda. She likes people, and has the most boopable nose of all my flock.
Her wool is like a wire brush but she gets to stay anyway because I like her.
Her wool is like a wire brush but she gets to stay anyway because I like her.
I love this little spindle. Now watch me obsessively spin with it every spare moment until I do myself some kind of repetitive strain injury!
Currently spinning - the last 100g of corriedale sample from the spinning course I did last year. Will make a nice soft hat, maybe cabled.
Currently spinning - the last 100g of corriedale sample from the spinning course I did last year. Will make a nice soft hat, maybe cabled.
May 2, 2025 at 8:30 PM
I love this little spindle. Now watch me obsessively spin with it every spare moment until I do myself some kind of repetitive strain injury!
Currently spinning - the last 100g of corriedale sample from the spinning course I did last year. Will make a nice soft hat, maybe cabled.
Currently spinning - the last 100g of corriedale sample from the spinning course I did last year. Will make a nice soft hat, maybe cabled.
Turkish spindle arrived today, with a little bit of roving. It spun up like this.
Does anyone recognise the fibre? It has no crimp and the sheen reminds me of linen but it smells like animal protein when burnt. Feels coarse but a little bit silky.
Does anyone recognise the fibre? It has no crimp and the sheen reminds me of linen but it smells like animal protein when burnt. Feels coarse but a little bit silky.
May 2, 2025 at 6:26 AM
Turkish spindle arrived today, with a little bit of roving. It spun up like this.
Does anyone recognise the fibre? It has no crimp and the sheen reminds me of linen but it smells like animal protein when burnt. Feels coarse but a little bit silky.
Does anyone recognise the fibre? It has no crimp and the sheen reminds me of linen but it smells like animal protein when burnt. Feels coarse but a little bit silky.
Today I sat on my flick comb.
This is a flick comb.
You wish you were special like me.
This is a flick comb.
You wish you were special like me.
April 26, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Today I sat on my flick comb.
This is a flick comb.
You wish you were special like me.
This is a flick comb.
You wish you were special like me.
Rams have come out of the ewe flock today. The ewes are now brightening up the mushroom paddock with their gaily-decorated bums
April 23, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Rams have come out of the ewe flock today. The ewes are now brightening up the mushroom paddock with their gaily-decorated bums
Gosh - all my sheepskins sold before I got a chance to list them. So I listed the excess show fleeces instead, and they're selling already!
I think everyone must be gearing up for the winter crafting season or something
I think everyone must be gearing up for the winter crafting season or something
April 13, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Gosh - all my sheepskins sold before I got a chance to list them. So I listed the excess show fleeces instead, and they're selling already!
I think everyone must be gearing up for the winter crafting season or something
I think everyone must be gearing up for the winter crafting season or something
Here is a picture of my stripey ewe lamb whose name is Coffee. I have a few with these stripes but she's the stripiest. I bought her with no idea these were lurking under her wool, and I'm super happy that she seems to be keeping them as she grows.
April 12, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Here is a picture of my stripey ewe lamb whose name is Coffee. I have a few with these stripes but she's the stripiest. I bought her with no idea these were lurking under her wool, and I'm super happy that she seems to be keeping them as she grows.
After 10 days of following the girls around singing "Lonely, I'm Mr Lonely" and wondering why they don't love him, Handsome is now very happy that they appear to have simultaneously experienced a change of heart.
April 9, 2025 at 10:05 PM
After 10 days of following the girls around singing "Lonely, I'm Mr Lonely" and wondering why they don't love him, Handsome is now very happy that they appear to have simultaneously experienced a change of heart.
This fleece came 3rd in the National competition and was immediately sold. The ewe it came from, Bandit, is one of my quiet achievers who doesn't go to shows but just gets on with being a top quality sheep at home and making nice fleeces. She's a keeper.
April 8, 2025 at 7:43 PM
This fleece came 3rd in the National competition and was immediately sold. The ewe it came from, Bandit, is one of my quiet achievers who doesn't go to shows but just gets on with being a top quality sheep at home and making nice fleeces. She's a keeper.
I know sheepskins aren't everyone's cup of tea but I'm pretty stoked to have just got 6 back from the tanner. Trimmed and floofed them today - this one's going aside for next year's national competition and the rest will be listed for sale.
April 7, 2025 at 5:26 AM
I know sheepskins aren't everyone's cup of tea but I'm pretty stoked to have just got 6 back from the tanner. Trimmed and floofed them today - this one's going aside for next year's national competition and the rest will be listed for sale.
Looks like Shy Boy is first off the block this year. He was last year too, and boy does he look smug about it!
April 1, 2025 at 5:21 AM
Looks like Shy Boy is first off the block this year. He was last year too, and boy does he look smug about it!