Iris' Knit n Things

  Baxter is loving the cooler weather. He runs out and doe not come back in. This is what I find when I go out looking for him.  He’s just meditating and enjoying the cool fresh air. I think I’ll join him. 

 Bom Dia! What a great time I had in Portugal! Saw Tomar, Nazare, Alfizerao, Fatima, Salir do Porto, and Lisbon! The food was delicious, and the wine devine ! Would you believe I found a yarn shop right next to our hotel lol! I took it as a sign that I was meant to be there  

Nothing more rewarding than being able to pick vegetables from your garden! I also enjoyed a little crochet. Check out my granny shoes

In the knitting community, I am contemplating getting a group together to meet up and have coffee, and knit or crochet. It would be a great way to make friends and share ideas. I’ll throw the idea on the neighborhood’s website, and see if anyone is interested. Meanwhile, I’ve started another WIP, that I’ve started years ago.. it’s an Icelandic style piece from knit picks.  https://www.knitpicks.com/lofoten-pullover/p/41203D .  Another one of those projects on the “ Work in progress” basket. It feels great to get the numbers down. Garden time is here! I’ve decided this year I will start a vegetable garden. Considering the prices of food, I might as well think wisely about saving money. I’ll try to plant mostly vegetables I enjoy, and are easier to freeze. You know tomatoes and peppers will be on top of the list. I had chickens, but it was difficult to travel as often. A veggie garden you can set a timer to water. My sprinkler system reaches the garden, so that’s also handy. Chi...

 I started the sweater in the fall of 2006, when the air was crisp and the pages of Vogue Knitting felt like possibility in my hand. The yarn was soft, the color just right—something I imagined wearing on a day that hadn’t happened yet. Back then, I believed projects always got finished. But life has a way of setting things down for me. The sweater had many lives before becoming whole. It moved from basket to box, from one home to another. It waited through busy seasons, through ordinary years, through moments when knitting felt like a luxury instead of comfort. I would find it sometimes, needle still sticking in the stitches, as if holding its breath. I’d promise, “soon”, tuck it away again. Twenty years is a long time to carry something unfinished. In 2024 my mother passed. I had taken care of her—sat beside her, tended to her, loved her through the slow, tender unraveling of time. When she was gone, the world shifted in a way I wasn’t prepared for, like a dropped stitch racing b...

There’s nothing I enjoy more than listening to a book, while I knit. It’s been so cold and Baxter really could use a warm sweater when he goes out doors. I am using yarn from my stash. Noro silk garden, color 2190. I love the colors. The pattern is free from Lion-brand.  I think he likes it, or is debating whether to leave.  I think he looks good in it. The pattern is easy and a quick knit. I will try another, however,  I will knit a little longer.  

 Here’s GogoDynomo ! I have her blocking.  She turned out lovely.  I love how she makes me look like an Aztec warrior when I wear her!

 I am stuck home due to snow and icy roads. So I crochet some slippers. I really love how warm and cozy these feel. On my next try, I think I use a harder, more supportive sole. Right now, these feel more like socks. This is my first winter in retirement, and I am so happy I do not have to be out in that cold.  For now, I’ll complete the other slipper and probably make a couple more as gifts. I also will prepare for an interview I have tomorrow, for a volunteer at a Hospice service.  It’s for an administrator. I figured something to do a couple of days a week.  For now I’ll wait and see what six more weeks of winter feels like with my new slippers! 

 Guess who graduated from Tampa University ? So happy for her. 

 I finally completed this project!  I used all kinds of scrappy yarns I’ve had in my scrap box. She’s become my meditation blanket . Currently , I am in a mission to complete every project I have started. The excuses were never having time, well now I have plenty of it. So far, I’ve completed four. Here’s another project I’ve been wanting to complete, a before and after of the two rocking chairs . So excited with the results. As you can see in the before pictures, I am also working on repairing the deck . Looking forward to seeing the end results. 

Meet Baxter, he's a puppy mill rescue. Was a stud for over 6 years. This guy is the most stoic Yorkie I have ever met. Now that I've retired in September, he has been keeping me company. Baxter enjoys riding in the basket on my bike. We can't wait until the family park is completed, as it will soon have a Dog Park as well as other great features. I've had him for a year now. He's a really sweet dog.       I am new to retirement, and I'll have to say, the first few weeks, it took some getting used to. The feeling that I can do whatever I want with my time, was really empowering. After a month, I started doing some volunteering in my community. I found this used bike, which was brand new for only $45. I've installed a basket and now Baxter sits inside and rides around with me.  I've started some projects around the house. Like repairing my deck, which needed painting and some of the wooden planks replaced.  Brioche stitch is now my new passion.   It...

This Summer I had a visit from my granddaughter. She is so much fun to have around, so full of life and so very mischievous. She is a little like her mother but does not have a single shy bone in her body, even though she loves to say she is. I've been missing her dearly since she has returned home. Forgetting how much energy it takes to entertain a six-year-old. I must admit that after she left, I was quite exhausted. In this picture we both had our hair done, and I was so ready to take a nap. Even so, I had a great time and truly miss my little ladybug. I've not knit as much as I would have liked, currently, just trying to complete some projects I've started some time ago. A vest in silk, a cardigan, in a soft alpaca, Moreno blend, and a Shawl, using Knit Picks, Alpaca Cloud. For the shawl, I am using the EZ 100th Anniversary PI Shawl, which was free on Raverly. This will be my first-round shawl, I image you would fold it in half in order to wrap around your shoulders. I ...

Here she is finished and ready to dry.   I will be participating in this year’s West Knits, MKAL. This is the yarn I will be using. Looking forward to starting this mystery project. We know it’s going to be a shawl, and Steve West , always has the most interesting patterns, you’ll never get bored knitting anything he creates, the man is very talented. The yarn I’ll be using is by Twisted Ambition, sweet sock, in La vie bohemian, and Amber, and some burnt orange mohair that I found in my stash, which I'll plan to blend in somewhere along the pattern to give the shawl some texture.  

 I started a knit along online and it was for a huge, over 900 stitches, shawl. I had random balls of yarns I wanted to use up, so unfortunately, don’t really remember the brands names. I do know that it’s Moreno, alpacas and wool blends. Here’s the results.  I love how it looks like a stain glass in the middle portion.  This was really a special Shawl for me. It will forever reminded me of this time of deep changes and adapting to the world and this pandemic.  

Off to work. I rather knit a sweater. Happy Monday!  

 Another pattern from Cookie.  I just had a little skein of yarn, decided to make these shorter than the pattern’s instructions.  I have no red socks and it’s my favorite color.  These are so cute and perfect for keeping my toes warm. 

This was a project from WestKnits.  The yarn was a finger weight, in which I have dyed in a berry wine, and indigo blue. The yarn is alpaca wool from a local farmer. 

The year of CHANGE  ! This has been a year that is truly testing us. I say is, because it’s not over, and thus far, not giving us a break, with all the current events, and it being an Election year as well. You have to truly give thanks to stress relievers, such as, knitting or any other hobbies that help distract for a couple of hours, from the serious stuff around us.  Here’s what I’ve been doing to help me relax. I have started a garden, and it has been such a joy. Not only do I get many fresh vegetables, I get to share with friends. I tie dye shirts! This was so much fun! 

Exploration Station Here's the completed project. I love Westknits patterns. Not my best color combinations.  I don't know why, but this pattern just makes me feel so happy when I wear it. It's so carefree, and wild.  Steven West's patterns are creative, and I adore his color ideas. Its so liberating. https://westknits.com/

Sewing Fever This year is going to be the year that I will complete a sewing project at least once a month. I made a mental promise to complete at least one sewing project a month. My list of things I want to make has gotten totally out of control. I have patterns, fabric, notions, and thread. Everything to complete every pattern I planned to sew. Everything, except. Time. Well that's about to change this year! I will  conquer those patterns, even if it's just  20 minutes a day. Once a month I will have something to show for my efforts, as well as, put a dent on my fabric stash.  So lets start with my first project for this month. Simplicity pattern 2766. What I love about this pattern is you have several items to choose from. The skirt, pant, dress, blouse, and long jacket are what I plan to sew. I started with the dress. I like the retro look of this style of dress.  The blouse can go with both skirt and pants, that's two outfits...