Spinning a Hobby into a Business:

Sheri Tyler's Fiber Art and Knitted Dolls

Submitted by Terry McLaughlin

Sheri Tyler

Most people begin a knitting project with a trip to the local yarn shop. Sheri Tyler begins hers with a trip to her backyard to care for her llama and alpacas. Before she picks up her knitting needles to cast on the first stitch of one of her original designs, she shears her animals, cleans and cards the wool, hand spins it into a thin yarn and then again into a two-ply yarn, and dyes it.

Sheri taught herself to knit and crochet during her first year of marriage. Her mother-in-law financed her new hobby with skeins of acrylic yarn, but Sheri yearned to use natural fibers

for her projects. In 1981, she borrowed a spinning wheel and took a class at a local yarn shop; four years later she was teaching spinning classes at that same shop.

Like many spinners, Sheri first chose to raise angora rabbits as a source of homemade yarn. Several years later, she purchased two angora goats, and then a friend called to see if she wanted a llama. “Louie the llama arrived with his aunt Bamboo,” says Sheri. “Over the past few years, we’ve had four llamas, five angora goats and dozens of angora rabbits.”

Louie the llama.

One of Sheri’s beautiful hats knitted

with her handspun alpaca yarn.

Louie still roams Sheri’s yard, keeping company with two small alpacas. “The alpacas provide as much fiber for my business as all the llamas put together,” explains Sheri. However, she doesn’t recommend that people with busy lives consider raising animals for their wool. “Raising animals takes a lot of time

Sheri spins her yarn beside her display of knitted products at her booth at the Farmers’ Market in Arcata, California.

and commitment,” she says. "Animals need to be fed and watered every day. And they can get sick and die unexpectedly.”

Sheri’s spinning skills and high-quality yarns have earned her several awards at fairs and craft conferences throughout the country, and her articles about her knitted products have appeared in trade magazines. “I’m a compulsive knitter who challenges myself to create new designs,” she says, “and I enjoy knitting caps for charity.”

On market mornings, her fans can find her at her traditional spot at one corner of the Arcata Plaza, where she spins while visiting with passersby. “The Farmers’ Market provides me with a small income to keep my spinning and knitting hobbies going,” she explains, “as well as a connection to other spinners and knitters.”

Lately, Sheri has enjoyed knitting small, folk-style dolls. Here are her instructions, based on Val Love’s “Pocket Pals”:

Knitted Doll

This pattern is for a six-inch doll knitted in the round, which also can be knitted back and forth on regular knitting needles. The doll consists of a series of stripes knitted to create pants, sweater, face, and hat. The hair, eyes, and mouth are embroidered, and the hat brim is crocheted. The height will be determined by the size needle used and the amount of rows knitted.

Supplies:

Scraps of yarn in different colors

12-inch Addi Turbo size 5 or straight knitting needles size 0-6

Darning needle

Stuffing

A basket filled with Sheri’s adorable pocket dolls.

Instructions:

With a size 5 circular needle, cast on 28 stitches.

For the pants: leave a six-inch tail and knit six rows.

For the sweater: knit 12-14 rows.

For the face: leave a six-inch tail and knit six rows.

For the hat: knit four rows. On row five, decrease every fourth stitch; on row six, knit; on row seven, decrease every third stitch; on row eight, knit; on row nine, decrease every second stitch; on row 10, knit.

Break off a four- to six-inch tail from a ball of yarn. Thread a darning needle with the tail, and pick up the remaining stitches from the knitting needle. Pull the stitches tight, and insert the needle into the top of the doll; at the same time, turn the doll inside out.

Finishing: With the doll inside out, start at the hat and weave in all color-change ends. Use a running stitch around the first row of the face (with a six-inch tail), and gently gather and secure for the neck (not too tightly — leave room for the stuffing). Finish by gathering the tail of the pants around the first row.

Turn the doll right side out and stuff. Pull the gathered bottom stitches and secure.

Embroider the hair, eyes and mouth. Use a small crochet hook and chain around the hat brim then double-crochet in every other chain stitch.

Arms: Start two to three rows in from sides and sew a running stitch down six to eight stitches and secure.

Pants: Sew a running stitch down the middle stitches and secure.

Knitting a pocket doll is a great way

to use scraps of yarn.

Other finishing touches: add a crocheted scarf around the neck, embroider flowers on the hat, or knit a pattern in the sweater.

For more information about Sheri and her handspun yarn, visit her Web site.

One of Sheri’s pocket dolls sits on Terry McLaughlin’s desk while she writes books for Harlequin Superromance. Look for Terry’s upcoming release, Maybe, Baby, the final book in her award-winning Bright Lights, Big Sky series, in August.

To e-mail this article to a friend, click here.

back to the top

Fresh Fruit Recipes

By the Noodlers

Cantaloupe and Prosciutto

Contributed by Kiki Clark (aka Esri Rose)

If you’ve never tried the Italian combination of fresh cantaloupe with prosciutto, rush out to your local deli and try it now. The combination of sweet, fresh melon with savory shaved ham is wonderful any time of day, and is satisfying without being too caloric. Get a bit of each in every bite, and picture yourself in Venice.

Yummy Bananas and Raisins

Contributed by Delle Jacobs

This is so simple, but so surprisingly good. Slice a few bananas lengthwise or at an angle, and lay them out on plates. Spread mayonnaise over the slices. Sprinkle raisins over the mayonnaise. Eat.

Short-cut Waldorf Salad

Contributed by Norah Wilson

Dice several apples and a stalk of celery. Toss together with dressing made from equal parts mayonnaise and plain yogurt. Serve on a bed of lettuce. Garnish with chopped walnuts and enjoy!

Frozen Grapes

Contributed by Norah Wilson

For an interesting summer snack, wash and dry seedless grapes. Place snack-size portions in sandwich bags and freeze. Remove frozen grapes later and enjoy. (Freezing them enhances their sweetness!)

Merrillee’s Antioxident Salad

Contributed by Karen Potter

Our own Merrillee Whren introduced me to this salad at a writing retreat a couple of years ago, and it’s been a staple at my house since:

About 2 cups spinach leaves

3 or 4 strawberries, sliced

A handful of blueberries

1 tablespoon sliced almonds

A splash of Ken’s Steakhouse Lite Raspberry Walnut Vinaigrette

This is so good for you it ought to be illegal!

Karen’s Citrus version:

About 2 cups spinach leaves

3 or 4 strawberries sliced