#alpaca wool hat patterns

[chrismerle]

Elsa's Crochet Commission Info

So, it occurred to me that my editing and writing commission info had actual posts, which were linked in my pinned post, whereas my crochet commission info was just a separate page on my blog, which means all the people who only use mobile probably couldn't see it. Considering that, I figured I should make an actual post for my crochet commission stuff.

Things To Know:

I'll take three crochet commissions at a time, but they won't necessarily be first come, first serve. I'll probably work on all of them simultaneously, which means if Person A orders a shawl and then Person B orders a hat, Person B's hat will likely be done before Person A's shawl.

I do clothing items, accessories, plushies, blankets, etc.

I crochet. I do not knit. I do not know how to knit. I don't have any imminent plans to learn how to knit.

The price of the item will be determined by the complexity of the end result, the amount of time I estimate it will take, the type of yarn you want it made of (wool or cotton are more expensive than acrylic, alpaca is more expensive than sheep wool, etc.), and the cost of the pattern if you want a specific item and the pattern costs money.

Payment will be half up front, then half + shipping afterwards. I have Paypal and Venmo. (I prefer Venmo.)

The item will be made in an environment where cats and dogs are present, if you need to worry about allergies. I can't really feasibly escape them.

What To Do:

If you're interested, get in touch. You can DM me here on tumblr or email me at widgets.apparel@gmail.com. In the unlikely event I already have three commissions lined up, I'll let you know, but if you want I can let you know when a slot frees up later.

Give me as many details of what you want as you can.

If you haven't presented specific patterns and yarn choices, I will supply options for your approval.

Once the details are determined, I will give the price and you'll pay half.

I will commence working. I can offer a rough estimate of when the item will be finished, but I can't make any guarantees.

When I'm done, I will take photos and show you. You'll send the second half of the payment + shipping.

I will package up the item and give you the tracking info, and get it to the post office, at which point it is figuratively and literally out of my hands.

Assuming the post office doesn't shit the bed, your item will arrive! Yay! I don't require photos of you with the item, but I will appreciate them.

Examples (under the cut):

Dragon scale fingerless gloves, acrylic. $32.

Granny square purse, acrylic (with lining). $45.

Headband/earwarmer, acrylic. $22.

Semi-posable dog plushie, acrylic. $175. (took about 25 hours)

Triangle shawl, acrylic. $160.

Fingerless gloves, acrylic. $28.

Textured slouchy hat, wool. $35.

Tunisian crochet plaid hat, acrylic. $35.

Pokeball hat, acrylic. $28.

Mosaic crochet makeup bag/pencil zipper pouch (with lining), acrylic. $36.

Tunisian crochet scarf, acrylic. $42.

Capybara plushie, acrylic. $30.

Rustic bunny plushie, acrylic. $15.

Laptop bag (with lining, buttons, and strap), acrylic. $95.

Medium purse (with lining, strap, and buttons), acrylic. $70.

Stegosaurus plushie, acrylic and wool/acrylic blend. $75 (he's a Big Boi)

Narwhal plushie, cotton/acrylic blend. $20.

Ribbed scarf, wool/acrylic blend. $42.

Chevron scarf, acrylic (I think?). $45.

Flower hat, acrylic. $38.

R2-D2 hat, acrylic. $30.

BB-8 hat, acrylic. $30.

[wigglebox]

Not a copypasta do you know any good resources for knitting I have been trying to learn and I don't understand what I'm supposed to do even though there are instructions 🫠🫠

Sure nonny! I'm more experienced with crochet but I do have my favorite places to go for knitting stuff lol.

So I'm not sure if you're right handed or left handed — if you're left handed just come back and tell me because learning how to knit as a lefty is a little harder, only because you have to read patterns a little differently.

But, to get started, Very Pink Knits is my favorite youtube channel, she's really great at showing how to do stitches. She's how I realized I was accidentally knitting twisted stitches for three years!

This is her YouTube channel.

She has MANY videos on how to do certain techniques for knitting and how to get started, even how to cast on!

Scrolling through, looks like she's starting on Crochet tutorials as well!

But she explains things very well and has a good tutorial lighting set up and everything. However, if you don't find her videos helpful, just keep typing in stuff into youtube and see what video tutorials are out there because there are many! Yarn companies, pattern writers, etc etc, they all have youtube channels. And, in the future, if you pick a pattern and find yourself getting stuck, a lot of the time the pattern maker will have a youtube video for you to follow to help.

I'm useless as making a video to help get started because I'm left-handed and I primarily crochet lol.

ALSO: SIGN UP FOR RAVELRY

There are communities, you can see notes people make on patterns to see if they had any issues you had, you can sign up to test patterns once you're getting good enough, and a lot of patterns are on there and you can really filter what you wanna find even down to the kind of yarn you have and how much of it you have. You can also save them as favorites and when you buy the pattern you can keep it in your library for safe keeping!

But here are some things to know that sometimes they don't tell you in these beginner videos:

When buying your knitting needles, don't use plastic for plastic yarn. If you're getting acrylic yarn, using plastic needles won't provide a kind of smooth working motion you need. Metal needles for plastic yarn. Slippery yarn like bamboo yarn or cotton or baby alpaca/merino wool can go on wooden/plastic needles. If they go on metal, you may have some issues keeping tension. If you google what kind of needles you should buy for what yarn you can also find this advice!

Buy shit yarn to practice with. If you have a Dollar General around you or anything, assuming you're American, get some of that yarn to first practice on. It's polyester/acrylic but it's so cheap that it's good to practice on. Don't get black! Not when you're first learning!

Plastic/budget yarn is okay to make things out of, and don't let any knitter try to tell you otherwise. There's more forgiveness in the crochet community when it comes to yarn type because we use so much of it and make bigger things than knitted things usually are. Therefore, we can't always afford the big fancy wool and baby yak yarn blahblahblah. So don't let anyone shame you for using yarn from Joann Fabrics.

When you're done with your knitted project, BLOCK! Always block your things, even if you just make a hat or a scarf. It helps with the drape and it helps with being able to see the stitches you just made! If you're using plastic yarn, buy a handheld steamer [mine was like $30 on Amazon], rust-free pins, and knitting block foam squares. You don't have to buy them specifically for knitting like you can buy children's foam play squares, but i like the ones specifically for knitting bc they have 1-inch x 1-inch grids on them so i know how much to stretch my blocking out lol. There are tutorials online for blocking. It's tedious sometimes, but it makes a world of difference and IMO, as you're learning, always make a habit of blocking your stuff. I didn't do it consistently until recently and boy oh boy

Always make a gauge swatch. Once you're starting looking for patterns to make, you're going to see stuff that's like: 10 rows x 10 rows stockinette stitch = 4 inches ... or something like that. And sometimes they'll tell you whether or not your gauge should be blocked before measuring. If you get into crochet this is even more crucial because crochet is less forgiving when it comes to measurements especially after you wash and block stuff. I made a cardigan once and didn't gauge swatch and essentially it'd look great on a woman who is 7 feet tall but not so much on me lol.

That also being said, if your gauge is off, sometimes you have to change your needles. It depends on how tightly you knit. I am a tight knitter so I usually have to go up a needle size lol. If you're struggling, google how to correct your gauge and it'll tell you what to do if you have too many rows going up or going left to right. Or, too little rows.

WEAVE IN YOUR ENDS! With crochet, people have found workarounds [even tho i still think weaving in ends with crochet is vital] but it's really vital when it comes to knitting because the fabric is thinner and it's more unforgiving and it's always good to have some extra yarn stashed away between the stitches just in case you ever needed to go back and adjust something. there are videos out there on how to weave in your ends without them showing in knitting. It's tedious if you've done a lot of colorwork especially but it must be done!

Be gentle with yourself - knitting can be hard to learn at first bc you're learning how to work both hands essentially at the same time. Same with crochet. Knitting takes a little longer because your stitches are smaller so use knitting as a meditative practice and just get in the zone.

When it comes to knitting, I find that working on circulars helped me with my hand-eye coordination and my tension. However, that may not be as easy for you to start off with. And yes you can knit flat pieces on circular needles. The weight of the straight needles sometimes made my hands tired. However, there are tutorials out there on how to get started on both! Also, circulars are great for teeny tiny decreases in the round like for sleeves or socks — instead of working with double-pointed needles which are my nightmare lol.

But — you're not gonna be making a sweater likely as your first thing so here are some patterns that I think would be simple for a beginner knitter!

You will be making a lot of squares first lol. But it's good practice, and it's good to do! These are all free:

CARON SIMPLE KNIT OMBRE BLANKET SCARF

I have this yarn and it's very lovely, and the scarf itself is very simple to make and will be good, especially to learn stockinette stitch!

LILY SUGAR'N CREAM GET LOOPED KNIT DISHCLOTH

This is a cotton yarn available at most craft stores. This is a free pattern and you're essentially making garter stitch squares. I actually recommend this first because garter stitch is essentially the first stitch you learn, THEN you learn stockinette. The different being stockinette is when you learn how to purl. Garter stitch is when you're just doing the knit stitch on both sides so you get the little wavy-looking thing.

SEAFARING SCARF

This looks cozy lol and it'll help you with practicing ribbing! And this one is FANCY ribbing called fisherman's rib! This is a little more advanced but they have videos in the pattern explaining things like "knit one below."

If you're done scouring the internet for free scarf patterns and have looked at tutorials on how to work in the round, here are some simple and basic tops you can make [I'm unsure how you like to dress or your gender or your presentation so I'm linking sweaters that are on the more feminine side just because it's what I have in my list lol]

GINGERBREAD SWEATER

This is a basic, simple, top-down raglan sweater. Raglan sweaters are ones i prefer to do lol i like the slant at the arm.

CLASSIC RIBBED BEANIE HAT

I make these so much especially when I don't know what to do with my yarn lol.

If you want to start getting a crack on triangle shawls, here's a good free first foray you can try!

THE AGE OF BRASS AND STEAM KERCHIEF

This has some fancy eyelets but they're not intimidating! I promise!

And here's another basic raglan sweater you can try!

WARM-UP SWEATER

Again, another basic, no fancy stuff sweater that is good to begin with when learning how to make sweaters.

---

I know this is really long, I'm sorry nonny lol.

My favorite knitwear designer is Andrea Mowry who you can find here. She has basic patterns and more complicated ones. I find her patterns very easy to follow and she comes up with fantastic ideas. I was very close to finishing the bee sweater once lol. Find your Fade is a BIG one everyone made but that one is a commitment both of time and money so...

But yeah! If there's anything else I can help you with let me know! I'm more experienced with crochet now since I've been doing it longer and made more things, so if you ever wanted to venture into Crochet I got even more stuff for you xD

Woof this got long. I hope some of this helped!

[unchartedthelostlegacy]

Nadine would buy an alpaca farm in Iceland with her finder's fee from the ministry of culture + the profits from auctioning off the last of Shoreline's assets, vehicles, and munitions. It would be an impulsive move for her after her father verbally eviscerates her at a party.

And she feels she can't show her face around Johannesburg, or even Cape Town ( where most of Shoreline was based) again.

Chloe would sniff at the beautiful scenery. "Quiet. Unspoilt." She'd mutter, walking down the two tire tracks that were the driveway. Three animals were currently visible in the pasture to her right. They looked like sheep and ponies and giraffes fused together.

Chloe tried to imagine Nadine, with her manicured fingers, shoveling alpaca shit. Or shearing these behemoths. She always had a grace to her under the military veneer, and Chloe knew for a fact she dressed in Burberry when not on the battlefield.

There was a little off road vehicle parked by the front door. Chloe looked around for the other source of the tire tracks, but there was none. She gave the door some knocks. Hope she lets me do some stunts on it, Chloe thought, looking over at the handlebars.

"Who is it?" Came through the heavy light-wooden door.

Chloe chuckled at the nerves in Nadine's voice. "The Easter bunny."

She heard a couple of latches and deadbolts open and the door opened, and she got her delicious eye full of Nadine wearing a rather well-fitting sweater. Chloe stepped over the threshold and embraced her, not waiting for words.

"Chloe you--didn't--oof--call--"

"Yeah, china. Your line was always dead or busy," Chloe said.

"I--the battery--died," A blush was filling Nadine's cheeks as Chloe cupped them in her hands.

"A likely story. You wouldn't be avoiding calls from family, right?"

The ex-Shoreline leader finally shut the door behind Chloe and pushed away from her.

"Why did you come all the way here?"

Because Nadine had sent a wool hat and a postcard with the northern lights and Chloe felt the chill when she pressed it to her heart. And oh yeah. The gig.

"Is that a loom," Chloe said instead.

"Don't play with it," Nadine snapped. "And you didn't answer me."

"Did you expect me to write a letter back? Thought I'd save money posting myself over instead of paying for international package."

Nadine snorted as she sat down by the window. It was, Chloe now saw, a nook. Her tea and book were on a table in front of her armchair.

"Ja. Only polite to write back."

Chloe took stock of her surroundings for the first time. Besides the antique-looking loom, the high ceiling with huge wooden beams, the long windows drawn with patterned curtains Chloe was almost positive Nadine had brought from home, it was sparingly decorated. There were rugs warming the stone floor and an old black stove with chopped wood stacked beside it. Its pipe went out to the wall instead of a chimney.

Chloe put her bag down on the table and plopped down in Nadine's lap.

"Hey!"

Chloe pressed her ear into Nadine's clavicle, closing her eyes as the woman made an indignant noise.

"Chloe what are you doing."

Chloe made the universal "I don't know" mumble. She felt Nadine slip the hat off her. The woman's thighs shifted a little under her own.

"You're not really going to fall asleep on me are you."

"Not...with that attitude...china..."

Chloe ended the sentence with a yawn and felt Nadine's ribs rumble with a small laugh. She curled more into her, feeling Nadine's arm come around her back as she got back to her book.

The smell of Nadine, and the berry-like aroma of the rooibos, and the distant calls of the alpacas already felt like a dream. She slipped away from wakefulness.

[dawnthread]

Hi!! I’m just getting into knitting things like garments (I’ve only really done little things like scarves or hats or toys) so I don’t really understand what blocking is? Or why to do it?

oh, yeah, okay!!

first of all, congratulations on getting into knitting, i hope you're having a ton of fun with it!

second of all, my local yarn shop has a whole article about blocking basics, which is super helpful, but i'll give you my spin on it too

so there's a couple different methods of blocking, but the one i use the most is called "wet blocking," which is where you soak your thing in lukewarm water (with a bit of no-rinse-needed wool wash like Eucalan or Soak, if you have any!) for a while, squeeze it out gently until it's still heavily damp but not dripping, and lay it on a mat to stretch it out and pin it in place to dry like that. this is the method that gives you the most dramatic change in both shape and fabric density, because soaking the knit relaxes the fibers in the yarn and lets you really haul away at it to open up the design, and that's important for lace knitting because basically all lace just looks like a sad yarn lump when it's fresh off the needles. when you block it, though...

this was a past project i finished - see how much nicer that looks?

for lace (and cabling, to a different extent), the way your fabric tensions itself as you do all the texture work makes it scrunch up weirdly, and blocking it is how you get it to smooth itself out and look pretty. for lace, it means you can also get some dramatic shaping going on at the edges that you wouldn't have been able to see otherwise, like those pointy curves in the one up above, or the little bats in this other one!

it's also important for doing fitted garments like sweaters, because it gives you more control over how big the fabric you're making is actually, ultimately going to be.

it's a great safety check against a sweater getting awkwardly stretched out in the wash, because if you knit a test swatch and block it, you get a preview of how the fabric is going to behave later, and use that to inform your sizing choices now. it can also give you some wiggle room on a pattern gauge that you can't quite match with the yarn/needles you're using! if you're trying to do a sweater and your gauge is just a little bit smaller than what they say will give you your pattern size, try blocking a swatch and seeing what it looks like when you stretch it to match the pattern gauge.

if you're doing anything with seams, i would also strongly recommend blocking the pieces before you seam them together! it makes it a hell of a lot easier to get at the selvedge stitch when you start sewing, and it also lets you ensure that all your pieces are the exact size you want them to be before you put them all together. especially if you're knitting with wool (and i think other animal fibers like alpaca?) and you use steam blocking, like they said in the article - that will physically change the shape of the fibers and lock your piece in place at the exact size you want it to be.

i would also recommend getting some blocking mats to do it on? you can just pin it to a towel, it's what i used to do, but believe me, it's SO much easier with a set of blocking mats. you can see how they have those gridlines marked on them, right? that helps you keep track of how your work is lining up with itself, and whether one side is proportionally the same as the other side! it's not crucial, but it's definitely a quality-of-life upgrade.

i have three sets of the hephaestus crafts ones, they come with a box of pins, a tape measure, and nine interlocking foam squares with a 1" grid printed on them that you can set up however you want. they cost about $30, and i've been pretty happy with them, even if one of them did come with the gridlines printed on the wrong side ;P

anyway, i hope this answered your question!! tl;dr,

[pseudacrisregilla]

The Pinned Post

About Me

I've been knitting for the past ~13 years or so, and picked up crochet in the past three. This is a sideblog where I mainly talk about my knitting, but also what crochet and other clothes- and fashion-related things I'm up to. Hands-on projects are my way of relaxing, so I've typically got multiple projects going.

I can also be found on Ravlery as pseudacrisregilla.

Pseudacris regilla is the scientific name of the Pacific tree frog. If you want to call me by a name other than my full URL, Regilla will work just fine. I use she/they pronouns.

Projects List

WIP

Maille by Bristol Ivy - knitting in Quince & Co.'s owlet (50% American wool, 50% alpaca) in albertine (project tag | yarn tag)

Contrast Cuff Hat + Hand Warmers by Purl Soho - knitting in Purl Soho's Speckled Hen (80% baby alpaca, 20% fine merino wool) in field mint and fennel green (project tag | yarn tag)

HIBERNATING

Seashell Lace Wrap by Purl Soho - knitting in Purl Soho's Tussock (60% super fine kid mohair and 40% silk) in blue fjord

Interests

I primarily knit for myself, so I like choosing projects that I will wear for years. I tend to knit sweaters and light shirts, as well as fingerless gloves. I like knitting projects that I can pack in a bag.

I enjoy lace knitting and cable patterns. I'm aiming to learn how to do colorwork, but I haven't picked that up yet.

I tag knitting projects that inspire me as #inspo. I tag cool tips and techniques for knitting with #tips & techniques.

[outofangband]

Morwen, Rían and the Survival of Bëorian Traditions and Language Past Dagor Bragollach (Part One)

also known as “I wrote this when I should have been studying Myself connecting to the language of my own culture rather than fixating on fictional ones I resonate with”

I talked about clothing and language here. I will absolutely make more posts about this as it’s impossible to cover everything here

As always please feel free to ask stuff!!

Morwen and Rían were both young children when they came to Hithlum following the destruction of their home and the deaths of their families during the Dagor Bragollach. In the text, we are told very little about the effects this has on their culture, language and traditions or what ways they work to preserve them. We also have almost no information on what family members of members of their people and communities survived with them as they are the only named Bëorians who are in Hithlum at the start of the Narn. 

Morwen for her part has a very bleak outlook on the survival of her culture.  “The House of Bëor has fallen,” she says bluntly in chapter one. But her pride, mentioned repeatedly in the book, seems to be linked with her Bëorian culture and identity too, and the inevitable burden of trying to preserve it 

Note One: more on this topic can be found in my tag “houseless for exiles” which is my tag for the generational trauma of the house of Bëor focused mainly on Morwen but also more generally 

Note Two: We have very little canonical information on either Bëorian or Hadorian Taliska or any other human languages of the first age. I talked about language here but much of this has to be speculation or headcanon. What we do know is that the Bëorian and Hadorian dialects of Taliska were distinct (though how distinct we don’t know) and that the Haladin spoke a different language 

Clothing: Bëorian and Hadorian clothing has many differences due to both cultural differences and practical ones (weather and climate, etc). For example Hadorian women and girls tend to wear more dresses for both work and formal wear while Bëorian women wear more skirts and robes and dress similarly to men for farming and other manual labor. Colors and dyeing are different too. The Bëorians used more natural dyes and often used more intense colors especially for ceremonial wear. Patterns and motifs differ greatly in theme and placement upon clothing.

Both Morwen and Rían lost almost all their possessions including clothing during Dagor Bragollach. For a long time, what they wore were borrowed or donated clothes, sometimes ill fitting and often unfamiliar materials and styles. Morwen’s clothes at the time of the flight were destroyed when they were cut off to treat her injuries in Brethil which she feels significantly resentful for (and also is harsh with herself for feeling resentful)

Morwen doesn’t always have the time or resources to make clothing entirely in the Bëorian style but she often draws from it. She embroiders familiar patterns on her children’s clothes, uses the traditional colors for formal wear, scarves and other significant items, and knits hats in the style worn by Bëorian children. Many of the supplies used by her people, such as red madder root used in distinctive red dyes, were no longer available. The base materials used for textiles also differ between the people of Ladros and Hithlum. (I have a post on this with more detail but the Bëorians typically use goat and alpaca wool with occasional rabbit and Guinea fur while the Hadorians use sheeps wool and use leather from cows and horses more. Imports or trade of fibrous plants also differ)

Language

Morwen and Rían both grow up speaking Bëorian Taliska. Their parents speak this about half the time but speak Sindarin fluently as well and Morwen was taught Sindarin too starting at the age of seven.

I talked a bit about their learning Hadorian Taliska here. It was a profound change especially for Morwen who resented having to learn new words and customs

I do headcanon that Morwen teaches her children her own language and both Húrin and Aerin end up learning some of it from her. She and Rían continue to communicate almost entirely in Bëorian Taliska though Rían is more prone to mixing. Húrin and Aerin working to learn the language is something that is very important to me. Also it could potentially help later if Morwen and Aerin have a language in common that isn’t widely known or spoken. But I’m getting off topic

Language is one of the strongest areas they hold onto. Morwen especially. I think she feels the urgency more than Rían does at least in the beginning (which makes sense of course as Rían is barely more than a toddler at the time)

Obviously I can’t cover everything here! So As always please feel free to ask more either about Bëorian or Hadorian culture or the individual characters or anything else!

I think I’ll talk more about these subjects then also food and meal routine

[a-bee-wizard]

it is once again time for knitting WIPs show and tell

Light blue/purple Oslo hat

My first mohair+something else project. I always thought that mohair looked kind of gross in pictures, but actually touching it with my hands? Yeah I get the hype.

I especially like how the colours work when you use two strands of yarn like this. It's like the thing is two colours at once, which is pretty cool.

Also this thing is probably my most expensive project per stitch because all yarn in this projects has some % of silk.

Forest Poet

Hey, finished object! I actually finished this in like august or september, idr. Very soft and comfy (alpaca/silk blend) and knit up surprisingly quickly considering it's lace knit on a 3,5 mm needle.

I wish i knit the cuffs a biiit longer though. I made the sleeves elbow length, which i'm happy with, but the cobination of bending my elbows+body heat makes them scrunch up a bit more then i like.

Poppy Waffle

I could probably finish this in like a week or less if i just put my mind to it, it's pretty chunky yarn on a 4 mm needle. I'm typically a wooden needles kind of gal, but this non-superwash regular ass wool is NOT AT ALL as slippery as I'm used to. Kind of wish i had more metal needles.

Bound off using my beloved icelandic bind off on the sleeve instead of doing an i-cord like the pattern calls for. I'm just not a huge fan of the look of i-cord bind offs. Might do it on the body just to try it when the time comes.

Doing the sleeves first to make sure i have enough yarn. The body is going to have a somewhat cropped fit, but i actually think i have more yarn than i need anyway - despite the fact that i kind of cheaped out and got 11 balls instead of 12.

"how come you spend money on all of these silk blends, but cheap out on regular wool?"

I contain multitudes.

Hippa Tulippa mittens (not pictured)

I just wanted to add to the record that i DID finish them, i just can't be bothered to take any pictures of them.

UPCOMING PROJECTS

Socks using some yarn i got this summer. Will start probably as soon as i finish the hat.

Cardigan using the same type of wool as my woolly waffle sweater + the same kind of mohair as in the oslo hat. I need a cardigan. I can knit a cardigan. So I will make myself a cardigan. Should probably start buying materials since i plan on starting it as soon as i finish the waffle sweater.

BONUS - NOT KNITTING

look at this bracelet i made for my mom, boy

[smileymoth]

things to finish/do:

1 ) that goddamn ETHUBS FIC IM BEGGING DANNY PLEASE FINISH IT 2 ) the hexagon cardigan. hyou only need the sleeves and a bit of a single crochet aruond it for an extra flare. 3 ) figure out the yarn youll want to knit your mom a sweater for her birthday which at the end of december 4 ) knit up the vertical stripey sweater. jsut do it the easy way ok. do it as 2 rectangles with maybe a bit of a shaping and then the sleeves. itll look ok i promise bc the stripes will line up (also see what pattern stripes youll want) 5 ) you should probably . knit your friends some hats or mittens .i know you want to. you have a lot of yarn left over

the thing about yarn is that i dont want to use 100% acrylic bc its just too hot on the body since youre basically wearing a plastic bag but decent yarns that arent 100% wool that make your body cry are too expensive or difficult to find. like rn im thinking for moms sweater i may use this yarn ? it has a horrible concoction of materials but i think its pretty cool looking. and ofc it has to be blue bc my mom LOVES blue. and

like look at the amount of MATERIALS. i hope they have it in ther local store bc i want to touch it first. but if not ill just idk gamble. i mean it has 40% alpaca, 23% nylon, 15% new wool (??) 10% silk, 6% cotton, 6& viscouse so it SHOULD be pretty soft. right. LIKE THIS YARN LOOKS SO PRETTY from the pictures i wonder how it knits up

[whywolfprincess]

I was looking for nice pattern for baby hats, and a very cute one uses baby alpaca wool which is one of the best materials for winter gear imho.

Since the yarn used in the pattern isn't avaiable in germany I was looking for alternatives and the first related search I was shown is

Baby Alpaca Animal Abuse

People are so disconnected from natural processes they really believe we skin alpacas for their wool to clothe babys...

🤡

Anyway I am gonna make the kid a pair of cute pants and a baby alpaca shirt too.

If the winter is too warm I will just gift it to the next baby available 🤷‍♀️

[professorpski]

Interweave Knits, Fall 2023

This issue has several cable sweaters perfect for colder weather and some oversized wraps, plus a color-work hat that is charming. The total is 4 pullovers, 3 cardigans, 3 wraps, 2 hats, 1 vest and 1 blanket.

The cover features the Mim Sweater by Debi Maige, only a 2 out of 4 for difficulty despite the slipped stitched color-work pattern. It is made in a yarn weighted only 1, Illimani Yarn Sabri which is a blend of cotton with a little bit of baby alpaca.

The grey pullover with cables and set-in sleeves is Silver Plume Pullover is my favorite sweater of this issue. It was designed by Therese Chynoweth and is a 3 out of 4 for difficulty. Its cables broaden as they move upwards, a nice way of creating more attention towards the face as well as creating more apparent width as you move from the waist to the shoulders. The yarn is Berroco Lanas Light, a fingering-weight yarn of pure wool.

Cilin Sweater in pale purple is knit in one piece with the sleeves knitted out sideways and is also a 3 out of 4 for difficulty. Vera Marcu designed it in DK weight yarn, Purl Soho Good Wool. Its ribbing which changes to cables as it moves upwards also moves the eye towards the face and broadens the upper body.

Memoir Cardigan by Evelyn Siatra in a pumpkin color also boasts cables, but not buttonholes. Since my whole purpose in donning a woolly sweater is to stay warm, and this one is made of Juniper Moon Farm Patagonia Organic Merino, I like cardigans to close all the way. One could change the front width and add buttonholes to the band, or just move to a less chilly latitude I guess ;-) The other cardigan you see in grey with buttons is a reprint, which you obtain via a QR code and a download, of the Essential Cardigan by Laura Grutzeck.

There are several interesting wraps including Revel Light Shawl by Jennifer Miller Comstock which uses several different colors of blue and green in The Fiber Seed Sprout Sock yarn, and is 2 out of 4. The pinks and purples of Stack Bond Wrap is done with a 6-row windowpane stitch and some knitting below in Manos del Uruguay Allegria a lace-weight yarn, designed by Jennifer Kent.

My favorite accessory is the Tilted Hat by Laura Barker which here uses two shades of grey in worsted weight Hazel Knits Cadence merino yarn, a 3 out of 4, but I think would be worth the effort. You can imagine a lot of nice contrasting pairs of colors for this one.

The patterns are the highlight in this issue, as the one article on yokes is a basic introduction, and then there is a bit on the fall yarns used and on new fall notions.

Find it at your local yarn store, or online here: https://www.interweave.com/product-category/knitting/knitting-magazines/knitting-magazines-interweave-knits/

[dreamsinombre]

I made a bunch of things for the holidays, but took pictures of virtually none of them! Here's a quick list:

• two Shawl Collar Vests

• a cowl (leftover yarn from one of the vests; not a gift)

• two scarves (one a single skein of fingering in crochet, one a single skein of dk in knit)

• six hats (one Sacramental, two 1x1 rib, three Deers & Beers (super love this pattern! Possibly my new favorite hat pattern, especially with the alpaca/wool blend I was using))

• finished up a sweater for a good friend's daughter

• and the one thing I did take photos of: a succulent planter

Haven't been able to get to spinning this season yet, between making these and other life things that came up, but I'm still hoping to.

[chrismerle]

Elsa's Crochet Commissions

I am perpetually broke (I have $25 to my name at the time of typing this post) and I crochet well, so I am attempting to capitalize on that fact!

Things To Know:

I'll take three crochet commissions at a time, but they won't necessarily be first come, first serve. I'll probably work on all of them simultaneously, which means if Person A orders a shawl and then Person B orders a hat, Person B's hat will likely be done before Person A's shawl.

I do clothing items, accessories, plushies, blankets, etc.

I crochet. I do not knit. I do not know how to knit. I don't have any imminent plans to learn how to knit.

The price of the item will be determined by the complexity of the end result, the amount of time I estimate it will take, the type of yarn you want it made of (wool or cotton are more expensive than acrylic, alpaca is more expensive than sheep wool, etc.), and the cost of the pattern if you want a specific item and the pattern costs money.

Payment will be half up front, then half + shipping afterwards. I have Paypal and Venmo.

The item will be made in an environment where cats and dogs are present, if you need to worry about allergies. I can't really feasibly escape them.

What To Do:

If you're interested, get in touch. You can DM me here on tumblr or email me at widgets.apparel@gmail.com. In the unlikely event I already have three commissions lined up, I'll let you know, but if you want I can let you know when I slot frees up later.

Give me as many details of what you want as you can.

If you haven't presented specific patterns and yarn choices, I will supply options for your approval.

Once the details are determined, I will give the price and you'll pay half.

I will commence working. I can offer a rough estimate of when the item will be finished, but I can't make any guarantees.

When I'm done, I will take photos and show you. You'll send the second half of the payment + shipping.

I will package up the item and give you the tracking info, and get it to the post office, at which point it is figuratively and literally out of my hands.

Assuming the post office doesn't shit the bed, your item will arrive! Yay! I don't require photos of you with the item, but I will appreciate them.

Examples (under the cut):

Dragon scale fingerless gloves, acrylic. $32.

Granny square purse, acrylic (with lining). $45.

Headband/earwarmer, acrylic. $22.

Semi-posable dog plushie, acrylic. $175. (took about 25 hours)

Triangle shawl, acrylic. $160.

Fingerless gloves, acrylic. $28.

Textured slouchy hat, wool. $35.

Tunisian crochet plaid hat, acrylic. $35.

Pokeball hat, acrylic. $28.

Mosaic crochet makeup bag/pencil pouch (with lining), acrylic. $36.

Tunisian crochet scarf, acrylic. $42.

Capybara plushie, acrylic. $30.

Rustic bunny plushie, acrylic. $15.

Laptop bag (with lining, buttons, and strap), acrylic. $95.

Medium purse (with lining, strap, and buttons), acrylic. $70.

Stegosaurus plushie, acrylic and wool/acrylic blend. $75 (he's a Big Boi)

Narwhal plushie, cotton/acrylic blend. $20.

Ribbed scarf, wool/acrylic blend. $42.

Chevron scarf, acrylic (I think?). $45.

Flower hat, acrylic. $38.

R2-D2 hat, acrylic. $30.

BB-8 hat, acrylic. $30.

[avalonspringsfarm]

Happy Holidays! OPEN Saturday, 12/10/22 from 11am till 4pm @fiberartstudiotour At @avalonspringsfarm tour stop- All our hand dyed and specialty yarns, roving, kits & patterns, felt hats soap, honey & finished goods, dryer balls and more. And this month special additions !! @colorwae_fiberarts Wae is bringing her beautiful yarns and fibers over for the day!! -and- @thescrapmasterstudio Kira is bringing her wonderful bags and patterns and stuffed knit animals over for the day too !! Can’t wait to see you. #avalonspringsfarm #fiberartstudiotour #holidayshopping #yarnshop #shoplocal #localyarnshop #handmade #handmadeholiday #knit #yarn #crochet #weave #needlefelt #handspinning #wool #mohair #alpaca #makeitbyhand (at Avalon Springs Farm) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl9y6eaJ48y/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[swakknit-blog]

These polka-dot mitts from Pam Powers Knits are so much fun! Knit with Chibi Paka Chunky from Ikigai Fibers, a cuddly soft blend of baby alpaca and superwash wool with bright, cheery colors. Shop Chibi Paka Chunky @ https://www.swakknit.com/chibi-paka-chunky.html. Twister Mitt pattern is a Ravelry download. Matching Twister Hat is available, too! #swakknit #chooseguthrie #makersgonnamake #localyarnshop #IkigaiFiber

[allaboutonlineshop]

Tips for styling your Tank Tops- Summer and Winter Edition!

Tank tops are versatile wardrobe essentials that can be styled in numerous ways, regardless of the season. Some call it Tank Top, while others call it a sleeveless t-shirt or Sando. Despite its various names, it is the best outfit for fashionistas. 

Whether you're soaking up the sun during summer or layering up for winter, tank tops can be your go-to piece for creating stylish and comfortable outfits. When it comes to styling tank tops, the standard techniques genuinely represent fashion and maintain the image. 

In today's fashion world, various types of women's tank tops are available in prints, styles, and colors. The wide variety of options sometimes makes it hard to style an attention-grabbing look. To recover the problem of stylish, we bring you this blog. Here we will explore some tips to help you style your women's tank tops effortlessly for both summer and winter seasons.

Different Ways to Style Women's Tank Tops- 

Summer Edition 

Embrace vibrant colors and prints: Summer is all about embracing vibrant and lively colors. Opt for women's tank tops in bright shades like coral, yellow, turquoise, and more. Opt for boho graphics prints or quotes like 'Best Buds Women's Racerback Tanks'. One of the best to style your tank top goes through experimenting with playful prints like florals, stripes, or tropical patterns to add a fun element to your outfit. Always look for varieties of prints that suit the fashion trends. 

Keep it casual with denim: Pair your women's tank tops with denim shorts, skirts, or jeans for a relaxed summer look. This combination of a tank top and denim creates an effortless and chic style, perfect for casual outings or beach days. To complement the denim tank look you can also add a scarf or bandanas with various classy prints. Printed Women Tank Tops paired with Denim and minimal accessories create a timeless classic look. 

Layer with lightweight fabrics: On cooler summer evenings or for added sun protection, layer your women's tank top with lightweight fabrics such as a sheer cardigan, a linen shirt, or a kimono. Printed long sleeve shirts also add a cool vibe if paired with women's tank tops. boho printed tank tops, layered with the ideal fabric, add dimension to your outfit while keeping you comfortable in varying temperatures.

Accessorize for stunning looks: Add a touch of glamour to your women's tank top fashion with accessories. Consider statement earrings, layered necklaces, or a stylish hat to elevate your summer outfit. Classy women's sunglasses and printed tote bags are also great options to complete your look! You can shop 'black and Magenta-Women half framed aviators' and 'peace love alpacas- tote bags to perfectly accessorize your summer tank look. 

Winter Edition 

Opt for cozy fabrics: In colder months, choose women's tank tops made from warmer fabrics like wool, cashmere, or thick knits. These materials keep you warm and add texture and depth to your winter outfits. You can layer your printed women's tank tops with cozy fabric clothes like long-sleeve-printed women's sweatshirts or turtlenecks. The layering will keep you warm and help you maintain the style. 

Layer with denim jackets: Layering is key for winter styling. Wear your women's tank tops under denim jackets to create a stunning and elegant look. Demin series with 'Graphic Rainbow prints' and 'Love prints' is perfect to style this winter. It gives an elegant look while keeping you warm. Experiment with different color combinations and textures to create interesting layered looks. If you pair this long, hooded, printed denim jacket with a women's tank top, you will definitely create the most stunning look. 

Pair with blazers or cardigans: For a more polished winter look, layer your women's tank tops with blazers or cardigans. Opt for structured blazers in neutral colors for a professional appearance, or cozy cardigans in chunky knits for a casual and comfortable style.

Add tights and boots: To keep your legs warm, wear your women's tank tops with opaque tights or leggings. Complete the look with ankle boots, knee-high boots, or even over-the-knee boots. This combination not only adds warmth but also creates a stylish winter ensemble.

Accessorize with scarves and hats: Winter accessories are functional and provide an opportunity to showcase your personal style. Wrap a cozy scarf around your neck, wear a beanie or a beret, and don't forget to wear gloves to stay warm and fashionable.

Conclusion 

Women's tank tops are versatile pieces that can be styled in numerous ways for both summer and winter seasons. By following these tips, you can create stylish outfits that keep you comfortable and on-trend throughout the year. Remember to experiment with different layering techniques, fabrics, and accessories to personalize your tank top looks and express your unique sense of style. Enjoy creating fabulous outfits with your women's tank tops and complement them with women's sweatshirts for added warmth and style during the winter season!