Iris' Knit n Things

Hat and more Hats! Sometimes I just want to knit hats. It doesn't get very cold around here, so when it does, I can't wait to try on my hat collections. Here are a couple of my current knits. The pic in the middle is what's on the needles below. This is actually for a co-worker, who really liked my hat and request one for herself. I don't normally knit for anyone unless a special occasions, or if someone commission me for a project. Not too many people knew how to take care of wool. Since it requires hand washing and air or flat drying. Everyone want to throw everything in a washer and dryer. Which will ruin the wool by turning into felt or shrinking. I have a couple of orders for hats with fake fur ball, which are going to be adorable, can't wait.

Happy Chinese New Year! There's always something exciting going on in the Knitting or Crochet world, YouTube is filled with tons of wonderful tutorials. I love that the younger generation is picking up the hobby and adding their personal touch to the technique. One of my new discoveries, and now favorite, is Stephen West from West Knits. He is so colorful, and an absolute genius. You will never get bored with his' patterns. Currently, I've started this pattern for a shawl, called Exploration Station. This pattern will defiantly keep you on your toes.  Also an excellent way to use up some of those skeins of yarn that you would probably never have thought would go great together. Check out his YouTube channel, or some of his patterns on Raverly.  I am hoping to run into him in any of the many fiber shows he attends. Stephen West you Rock!

Having Fun Blending all sorts of wools, and natural fibers. To spin yarn using rologs, is such a delightful experiences. If you're new to spinning, you should definitely start with a rolog. As a new spinner, the process of pulling the wool as you spin, can cause for uneven yarn. The rologs are blended on a blending board, so this makes for a really smooth transaction on the spinning wheel. The yarn comes out balance and much more even. Not to mention your spinning is faster since you don't have to stop as often to pre- draft the wool. I may make a tutorial on blending wool. Even so, I do think YouTube is already bombarded with tons of tutorials to learn the process of making Rologs.

Just wanted to say I will miss you grandma! Sorry I didn't visit you more often. Wish things were different between us. Yet I understand you loved in your own way. Fair winds. Sept 16, 2018. Puerto Rico

Come take a knitting class and learn how to knit. I'll be your instructor and would love to show you this fun and easy technique. Joann's Fabric

Is it safe to come out yet? It's been a crazy week. I wonder if the Total Eclipse had anything to do with all the crazy weather we've been getting these few months?  Normally, this is my most favorite time of the year. It's when the weather is perfectly suited to create all kinds of lovely wooly sweaters, socks and whatever my mind can conjure up. This year, I am so into vests. It's never cold enough here for most wool sweaters, but a vest can be just the thing to keep you comfortably toasty. The trick is the colors, making vest with the brightest, sunny colors, to keep you alert and ready to deal with the fact that "Winter is coming!" I've been blending wool to make wool Rolags. I sell these blended Rolags to spinners. They're so much fun to spin, making the process easier as well, since there's less drafting to do as you spin the wool. Here's a couple of pictures of some of my samples. This one is a blend of Silk, wool, and alpaca. I jus...

Can't wait to sit out here with a nice cold drink and some knitting. There's still more work to do in order to complete this project. I have to paint and seal the wood in order to protect from the weather. I will probably wait till fall where we normally get our spring like weather. Promise to post after pic of completed DIY.

Girlfriend is getting four alpacas for her hobby farm and I get to visit them any time!  This is her with two of her alpacas, the brown one is a female, who is pregnant, the white one is a cria who was born in September, and already is showing to have an impressive grade of wool. Who knows maybe I'll even get to buy one of her crias (baby Alpaca) and have her provide boarding for a fee, until I can get my own hobby farm. For now, I'll live vicariously through her, as I learn more about the husbandry of owning Alpacas.

Another year to head on down to the Buena Vista, Alpaca Farm in Beach Island, South Carolina, to help John get his' alpacas ready for shearing. This year the herd has grown and he had over 40 alpacas. Most were pretty easy to lead to the shearer, and others put up a fight. One even knock me down to the ground. Luckily, I landed on my butt so, all is well. This year we took my boyfriends' granddaughter Kalena with us, and she had a great time. If any one is looking for Alpaca wool to spin, go check out John Trolley at the Buena Vista, Alpacas farm, in Beach Island, South Carolina. He has a great selection of wool at really great prices. The color range is amazing. If you're interested in becoming an Alpaca Farmer, he also has alpacas for sell. With your alpaca purchase you also get to breed with some of his price winning breeder male Alpacas and I have some of their wool and it is to die for. Let him know I sent you and he may even give you a discount. Kalena and...

This year began pretty hard for me. Which is why I've just now had a chance to post a blog. Still in between it all, knitting, spinning and sewing has kept me sane. It really is a great form of therapy.  Now spring is here and nature is starting to blossom. It's looking pretty bright for us all. I like to give this lady a big hug, she's really been a strong woman  She had Cancer surgery in February. She really is an amazing woman with a good heart.

You have to love a man that will indulge your hobbies and take you to the SAFF for like the millionth time! Look how the ray of sun shines upon his holy head! Ha Ha! This year at the fair , it was all about felting, weaving and wool balls, t h e kind you throw in the dryer to help with static. . I notice a hug e amount of bags for sale. Bags sewn in fabric for knitting while you're outdoors. I now must make one for myself. I also saw a great idea, of sewing bags to take to the market, which w ere made from recycle pet food bags. I just love the idea, and to think my dog's food  come in the coolest  brown and pink bags! Another idea I will have to hack. Th e weaving floor loom on the picture down below was made in 1850 , and  It was used for 6 generations. A beauty and still being used today. One of my favorite things at the fair, was the fleece auction, and the Woolery's booth. I didn't buy a single skein of yarn. Surprisingly , that's a first...

 I found this cool pattern in the Love of Knitting Fall 2016 Magazine. Tittle "Day of the Dead", it's a Cowl by Tanis Gray. It's really easy and fun to knit. I've completed knitting it just in time too, it's starting to get a little nippy in the mornings, even so,  they still run the AC in my office. This will come in handy when I get a little cold during the work day. This was a enjoyable pattern, and one that I will probably do again. Happy Halloween!

Virus  Front of Virus Shawl Back of Virus Shawl This was so much fun to crochet. Which I have not done in a long while. This Christmas I plan to gift this to a special lady, my boyfriend's mother. She loves green and I so hope she loves this shawl. The yarn I used to crochet this shawl is from Cascade Yarns, I don't remember the color's name. I had so much fun making it that I must crochet one for myself. I have this beautiful variegated yarn from Germany that will look gorgeous in this pattern. I know it's only June, but I really want to send  homemade gifts to all my friends and family that have requested something from me. I never have time. So this year I have made plans to be more organized with projects both at home and at work. I read somewhere that having too many unfinished projects is a sign of bi-polar, so I guess I'm a mess.

Spring Knitting I just finished blocking Hetty  by Andi Satterlund. I am currently obsessed with her designs. I used a lovely white yarn from Debbie Bliss. Cotton and silk blend. I wanted to use pearl buttons, instead I used some shell buttons that I all ready had in my statch . Here's Hetty blocked and ready to wear, Front and back view.

What's on your needles? It's been a while since I've posted anything. So much has happen in the last year. All for the better. I've moved to a bigger house. Mother lives with me now.  I now have a studio, where I started to organize my yarns and other hobbies paraphernalia's in one room. I've completed tons of projects, as well as getting back to sewing. In the knitting department, I am currently working on this: Hetty from  Andi Satterlund , I am using a white cotton, silk blend yarn from Debbie Bliss, called Cathay. I am in love with Audi's designs! She has an eye for getting the shaping of the pattern that really compliments the curves. I've made another of her patterns called. Miette , Which you can download for free,  in a cotton blend yarn for the summer in a mint green color also Debbie Bliss. The picture is not the best, but It's really a cute,crop, cardigan which I have plans to wear with this really cute green summer dress. Hope everyon...

 My very first Haapsalu Shawl! Pattern used was free, online, called EZ 100th Anniversary PI Shawl: Camping. Designed as a tribute to Elizabeth Zimmerman's 100th Birthday. Four years ago. The yarn was Clouds from Knit Picks, baby alpaca, in a light pink color. It's perfect for knitting during the hot days of summer.

Fancy Kitty Front View Fancy Kitty Side View This is not a torture device my friends, but a Drum Carder from Fancy Kitty . Used to process wool into batting, or roving for spinning. What it does is comb your fiber out and and remove some bits and pieces of vegetable matters in the end it will produce some fluffy wool which can be easily drafted for spinning. Happy Spinning.

I found an inexpensive way to dry my alpaca wool, using PVC pipes, and some burlap cloth in which I've made a stand to place my wool to dry out in the sun, and it's working wonderfully. I love that I can just take it apart and store away for the next batch of wool. Here you see a picture of  some baby alpaca in white and black wool which I've wash with some Kookaburra Delicate wool wash, it makes the wool smell lovely, not to mention the affect it has from drying out in the sun, which brings out the natural Tea Tree and Lavender oils scent to full bloom. It 's so light and soft that once it's completely dry, I must quickly remove or a light wind will blow them all over the place  (Ask me how I know?) I must keep an eye out for birds as well, they seem to love alpaca wool to build into their nests, I've seen several nest around my yard nicely engineered  with intertwining of Spanish moss, wool and twigs. Birds are so creative. I am so looking forward to c...

So slim after being sheared Baby Crias Local Alpaca Farmer was having a Shearing day. The Shearer goes from farm to farm, it's a community effort, and a great way to learn about these great animals. There was one alpaca who had bonded with the Pyrenees guide dog named Sam, and he would not leave her side as she was being sheared. It was amazing to watch how these two had developed such a friendship, so much so, that he would keep all other alpacas away from the food until she had first bid. Amazing! I was there to help the farmer catch them and lead them to be sheared. For my help I got these in return. Baby Alpaca!

Currently, I've encounter a new love. That is,  the love for anything Estonian ! The history is very interesting too. I've began several projects which incorporates this technique, One is the Flit' n Float scarf from the Spring edition from Knitty 2009. Which I've completed thus far. The other is a round shawl which uses patterns from the book tittle Haapsalu Scarf by Siiri Riemann and Aime Edasi.It's written in Russian, however, it's been translated in English. I've also started a Lilly of the Valley lace scarf which is a true Estonia pattern. What I love most about these pattern is the fact that they're from the Victorian era which is a very fascinating time for history.  I will post pictures once I've completed knitting and blocking.  The scarf above was knitted using Alpaca which I've spun in lace weigh on my wheel. The Haapsalu shawl I am using Alpaca yarn as well, which I've purchase from Knit Pick several years ago. I am seriously...