Inspired by MD Sheep and Wool

Well, it has been a million years since I have posted, and that's because I probably do too much. But, the Maryland Sheep and Wool has reinspired me and we had a great time there as always. I am in fiber bliss. Girls ALL won ribbons this year. They won First Place Ribbons in different categories and the middle one even received a Special Award! Very exciting, especially for the youngest one who was only five when she finger knitted her scarf! Yeah! I am so proud of them and this event has become something very special for us.

This is by far my favorite event of the year, and I always need to get around to every vendor and touch as much yarn as I can! Added to the stash too, beautiful stuff! Finally made a purchase from Dancing Leaf Farms, had my eyes on that beautiful yarn for several years!

We had a lot of rain, but thanks to some awesome wellies and brollies we were in good shape! Dalis and I and my big girl posed for a picture featuring this indispensable item this weekend.

Knitting Class and current projects

We have now had two classes with our favorite knitting teacher, Vita Simons, at Uniquities in Vienna, VA. We are beginning a capelet project. It is a fairly straight forward project with a garter stitch border and some shaping. I think it will be a project that we all can enjoy. Iman, the seven year-old, is going to make a mini one for her doll.

Here is a great picture of the girls. We had our second lesson at home (on account of bathroom renovations), how cool is that. Our knitting teacher makes house calls!


I am also working on several things at once, of course! I have my Manos del Uruguay mitered square poncho in the works. The yarn is just gorgeous, and is worth every penny. I honestly don't like to spend too much on yarn; I have to say the $14 or so it costs is my personal max for a full skein. I can't see myself spending that amount on those mini designer skeins. The value of my hand-knits comes from the personal effort, not pricey yarns.

Here are some pictures of the yarn and the two panels I have almost completed. The green skein is actually a hand-spun, hand-dyed yarn from the Barefoot Spinner who was a vendor at a Mount Vernon fair. Beautiful color and consistency, and it was such a good price, about $8 a skein for 2-ply worsted weight.



I worked on a re-organizaiton of my yarn stash and created a really usable, tidy arrangement. Helen Buttigieg would be proud!

I will tell you more about that, with photos too, soon!

New Projects

We are all happily working on several new projects. Iman, the 7yr. old, has just completed her flute case. She used Lamb's Pride (http://www.brownsheep.com) chunky yarn in M78 Aztec Turquoise and M191 Kiwi. What exquisite stitches she made! You wouldn't believe a seven year old did it. Now she is working on her first hat on round needles. She is using a beautiful brick red yarn that a friend gave us, and two more skeins of Lamb's Pride chunky yarn in M22 Autumn Harvest and M97 Rust.





My 9 year old is finishing a scarf for our good family friend with a knit stitch border and stockinette in the body of the scarf with M59 Periwinkle. She is also making a second flute case since her first one was done when she was 6 and doesn't suit her anymore! The new one has a cable stich up the center! I don't even know how to do cables! She is also using Lamb's Pride in M120 Limeade. Lamb's Pride is a great yarn for beginning knitters because it is a single ply and helps the new knitter avoid spltting the yarn when knitting.



My project is a mitered square poncho worked in several rows. I am using Manos del Uruguay yarn which is just exquisite. It is slubby spun wool yarn which makes for beautiful texture. Check out
http://www.rosiesyarncellar.com for a tour of Manos del Uruguay's company and their process. I will post pictures soon of my work and awesome yarn.

What are you working on?

Photos of our completed work

Finally, some photos of our work. The blue and white poncho is actually a crochet project that I finally finished for my girls. It has bobbles and cross stitches in it. It was a rather complicated project for my first crochet piece, but I finally finished it! I love ponchos because they can be worn by any of my girls, and still look nice.






Here are some photos of the rainbow chunky yarn that I dyed myself and knit up on about size 15+ needles. The yarn is Bartlett's natural chunky yarn dyed with Jacquard acid dyes. The project took two skeins, 4 oz. each. I cast on about 30 stitches and knit two equal size rectangles, and pieced them together in an L shape.

Knitting updates for the Hazer girls

The girls have been working on various projects over the past several months. My eldest is working on a vest for her doll, knit up in a wonderful grey cotton. She is also working on a scarf as a gift to a dear friend of the family who recently had surgery, and she is also working on her first sweater! Our middle girl is working on her recorder case for first grade, part of our Waldorf homeschooling curriculum. And recently the little one lamented, "I don't know how to knit yet!". She is just three and a half!!

We are planning a new class for the girls at our favorite local yarn shop, Uniquities. Vita, who has taught my eldest before, will be teaching them to knit a capelet! They are excited!


I will get some pictures posted soon.

Happy knitting to you!

Greetings fellow knitters!

Greetings to fellow knitters and lovers of the fiber arts. My lovely girls and I are excited to start this blog to share our love of knitting, beautiful fibers, and crocheting too! We look forward to sharing our work and ideas with you. Keep posted for new updates about our latest projects.

Right now, Thuraya, my oldest lovely girl, is working on her first sweater! She is about to turn nine years old, and has been knitting since she was six. We are so proud of her for her recent blue ribbon prize at the Maryland sheep and Wool Festival. for her first pair of mittens.

Iman, her sweet and cute sister, who is now six years old, is finishing up her colorful swatch scarf. She has worked diligently for a long time to complete this big project.

Check out our blog in the near future for pictures of these great projects from such little hands!

I am completing an old crochet poncho project, and simultaneously working on a new one knit with chunky rainbow yarn that I dyed myself. I am working it up on size 16 or so needles, which I love working with.

More coming later!

Happy Knitting!!!

Mom and Us Knitters