Friday, March 18, 2011

Fiber Arts Friday

Ishbel Beret and Seafoam Cowl
Boy, I'm still struggling with this new world of blogging, but I am determined not to let it get the best of me!  Last week I tried to post on Fiber Arts Friday but I could not get my photos to up load.

I don't know what I did wrong before but when I signed on today, everything worked like a charm.  I guess I was just not supposed to post last week.

So for this Fiber Arts Friday, I want to share a couple of items I knit using, drum roll please, alpaca yarn.  There seems to be a recurring theme to the type of yarn I like to use.  Please excuse my picture taking as this is a skill I'm also learning.

I traded some of my Suri fiber for this beautiful gray Huacaya fiber.  My husband and I helped Circle R Ranch with their shearing day last year.  Once I got my hands on this little girls fleece I knew it had to be mine. Luckily for me, Rita was interested in a trade.  I love trading and bartering with fellow fiber friends(hint, hint).

I sent Shay Bonet's fiber to be processed at Stramba Farm in PA.  My favorite yarn is fingering weight so of course this years shearing was all processed into, you guessed it, fingering weight .   Then I found this wonderful beret pattern from Ysolda called  Ishbel Beret at Your Local  Yarn Shop.  I just love how it knit up.

There is also a matching scarf I hope to eventually knit.  I don't know of any of my knitting, spinning, weaving friends who don't have the same problem.  Not having enough time to do what we love most!.

Little Colonnade
The Seaform cowl shown with the beret is a pattern by Kalamazoo Knits.  It is made out of 100% alpaca fingering weight yarn purchased at Your Local Yarn Shop.
 

Then I found this awesome designer by the name of Stephen West.  I have become addicted to his patterns!  I have just about everyone he has published.

Little Colonnade is the first of his patterns that I knit.  The yarn is a blend of Suri, yep,from our animals, mixed with merino and silk. It was a joy to make and I like to wear it as pictured, like a scarf.  Sizing can be changed by repeating more or less of the column lace or by choosing another yarn weight and/or needle size.

So, that's it for me on this Fiber Arts Friday.  Don't forget to check out all the other Fiber Arts Friday postings at Wonder Why Alpaca Farm's blog.
   

11 comments:

  1. Thank you for posting so many great knits that use not only Alpaca but our beloved Suri Alpaca and better still...some using your handspun. So many people don't know what to do with Alpaca yarn...I think you gave them enough pattern ideas to keep them busy for awhile.

    Happy Fiber Arts Friday!

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  2. Hang in there, you'll get the hang of this blogging thing eventually — looks like you did OK today!

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  3. That Ysolda Teague beret is really sweet - and the perfect knitting vehicle for alpaca. She's got several patterns that I love.

    Keep blogging away ... and happy fiber arts Friday!

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  4. I love the Little Colonnade! It's gorgeous! I've just discovered alpaca for knitting and crocheting and I'm loving it.

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  5. Beautiful work! I love those colors. It must be very satisfying to knit with fiber from your own animals.

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  6. Oh, I love the second wrap ... lovely colors!

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  7. Your projects are all so wonderful!! You have absolutely nothing to apologize about with your photos or blogging, either. I look forward to seeing more of your lovely work.

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  8. Nice post, I love the beret and I think blogger gets a little squirrely sometimes, it's not you (that's what I tell myself anyway lol)

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  9. Hello! Your knittings are so beautiful! Good luck for blogging - I have had also lots of difficulties to learn (still there are). Your blog address doesn't show on your comments. I find in from google. Thank you for your visit and lovely comment! Teje

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  10. Welcome to the blogging world! Your projects are beautiful, especially the beret. I love Ysolda's designs.

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  11. I used alpaca for the first time for a knitting project at Christmas. I had no idea what I was missing. I love all natural fibers but the heft of the alpaca I used, and it's amazing hand. It was heaven! You're obviously a talented knitter and I'm glad you decided to begin sharing via the blog world!

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