knitting

Knitting with Alpaca Yarn

May 4, 2012 By Katy

It's coming along...

I have been inspired by some new friends to get back to knitting. I’m not really a new knitter. I just have zero three dimensional thinking skills. Up until now I have only made scarves with garter stitch. That’s fine, but I wanted to branch out.

My friend, Tara from Blonde Chicken Boutique, recommended the book Stitch N Bitch: The Knitter’s Handbook by Debbie Stoller. (Tara also writes and teaches about building your Crafty Business here. She has great ideas!)

So, I started to read the book and got overwhelmed. But I decided not to give up. I grabbed some rose grey alpaca yarn and started trying to learn to Knit 1, then Purl 1 for a cute pattern I saw in the book. It looked easy enough…(thought the woman who had never purled before.)

The beginning was a disaster and my mom had to help me pull it out. Then she taught me how to purl. After some struggling I think I’m getting the hang of it. Here’s crossing my fingers I don’t screw it up again.

Are you a knitter? If not, have you ever tried to knit? Was anyone you loved when you were growing up a knitter? Leave a comment and tell us about your knitting journey or someone you love who knits.

If you’d like to buy some homegrown alpaca yarn, visit the Alpaca Farmgirl Etsy shop. For more fiber-y fun, visit the other participants in Fiber Arts Friday and Creative Friday.

Fourth of July on the Farm

July 8, 2010 By Katy

fourth

This fourth of July we broke with our tradition of going to the beach. For one, the oil spill has kinda changed the landscape of Gulf Shores. But I am also doing things on the farm on my own these days and it is more difficult to break away so we stayed home.

My parents joined me, as did our friend Anne (above with kids). There was much talk of knitting and writing around the kitchen table. It sounded very much like my house! We made some crazy cupcakes that are our family’s traditional 4th of July baking project. I have to admit this year they were a real #FAIL. (Thank goodness they tasted great!) Some years they look like the Statue of Liberty’s torch, like they are supposed to, with real flames coming out the top. This year, it was a comical attempt, with the kids laughing at mom. They told me that mine looked like blood, like vampire’s cupcakes, or bad accidents and all sorts of unpleasant things. Most of the kids said things like, “Don’t put that stuff on mine!” So at least it was entertaining…

cupcakes4th

Later I took my little darlings downtown to see the fireworks. I wasn’t sure how this was going to go. We got there just at the end of the “Pops” concert.

They began by complaining about the music, the “weird music”. Then the didn’t like when the weird music stopped for intermission before the fireworks began.

I absolutely adore having four kids! Here is what I heard in the next two minutes:

Don’t they have food? (from the child who had eaten 2 helpings of lasagna and a cupcake 30 minutes ago)
The grass is itchy!
Mom, why didn’t you bring chairs?
I’m thirsty!
I hear fireworks, but I can’t see them. Mom, we’re in the wrong place!
Mom, can I sit in your lap?
No, I want to sit in her lap!
I have to go to the bathroom!
When is it going to start?
We need a blanket to sit on.
Mom, I can’t see. That tree’s in the way.
Can I play in your purse?
Is there a gas station around here? I really have to pee.
Are you sure they don’t have food?
Mom, can I go over there?
Do you have any gum?
Quit poking me!
Mom, he’s poking me!

and on and on….

EAttaJuly
Once the fireworks started we moved to a different location.
We actually found a great spot, nestled at the bottom of the bluff, just to the side of a bridge, behind a bench. The view was a photographer’s dream. It was a steep incline, but fabulous.

And we got to watch the fireworks on an oddly cool summer’s night.

It was a Happy 4th of July. I hope yours was too.

Tell us. How did you spend your 4th this year?

Filed Under: Lifestyle ~ 1 Comment

Alpacas, Peru, & the Peace Corps

June 8, 2010 By Katy

Touching the Void

This guest post was written for Alpaca Farmgirl by Kate Robertson, founder of Mayu. Photo credits to Kate Robertson.

Seven years ago, I received a call from the Peace Corps asking me if I’d be ready to jet off to Peru for 2.5 years. Sure, I had completed the long application process but the thought of packing up and heading to South America still seemed distant. I knew nothing about Peru and started frantically researching the country; Peace Corps told me that I’d be leaving in three short weeks. Of course I would go, there was no question in my mind but suddenly, my world turned upside down as I prepared myself to join the Peace Corps!

A few months later, I found myself in the heart of the Andes Mountains in a small community. The weather was COLD, but the sun shined bright and the snow-capped peaks in the distance were absolutely beautiful. I began working with a group of women who were talented knitters. In my mind, they were like machines; they practically knit with their eyes closed. I wasn’t a knitter so I found their abilities fascinating. As knitting is a large part of Andean culture, the women had learned to knit at young ages and were accustomed to knitting scarves, hats, sweaters and blankets for themselves and their children. It was amazing to see the women multi-tasking – babies on back, knitting, shopping, cooking. And, they never made mistakes! The products they knit were flawless and the alpaca fiber they used was beautiful. Alpaca is native to the Andes Mountains of South America so the knitters were able to go straight to the source, just a few miles away…

Working Away

After discovering the small knitting cooperative, I started helping them develop their business and market the lovely alpaca items they created. As a result, they were able to increase their income and better provide for their families in the form of higher education, better health care and more nutritious food. Falling in love with the whole project, I created Mayu, a small social enterprise that imports and sells the 100% alpaca accessories that we created during my Peace Corps experience.

My next post on Alpaca Farm Girl will profile two of Mayu’s Peruvian artisans. And, stay tuned for a special giveaway this Fall, just for Alpaca Farm Girl’s readers!

For Mayu’s short video on alpaca fiber, click here. And, to learn more about the intensive process of creating hand-knit alpaca accessories, read here.

You can visit Kate at www.shopmayu.com.

Filed Under: Alpacas, Fiber Arts, Weekly Web Finds ~ 3 Comments