Do You Like My Hat? adventures in yarn

I met Laurie of Do You Like My Hat? on etsy last November when I entered her most fabulous giveaway sponsored by Kanelstrand!  Oh how I longed to win this most beautiful hand knitted scarf!

See what I mean?  Isn't this gorgeous?!  more beautiful in person.  I know, because I won it!!

It is knit out of hand-painted silk and beaded mohair yarn.  Wow!

Thank you so much, Laurie! 

 

Laurie's lovely SHOP is filled with her hand knit goodness--scarves, hats, and even a bookmark--all made from natural fibers as well as lovely natural fiber yarns.  (She is in the process of stocking up now.)

In her BLOG Kitty's fiber journey, Laurie speaks of knitting adventures as well as personal stories.  This is a place where she discusses her "passions, all things fiber, sustainable living, and making a difference in the world around us."

The first Friday of every month you can find Laurie guest posting on Kanelstrand Blog.  That link will take you to a fascinating discussion of fibers.

One of Laurie's passions is helping orphans.  "I have become actively involved in the Knit-a-Square Charity whose goal is to warm over 2 million aids orphans in South Africa and Zimbabwe."  To learn how you can play a part and even knit a square, go to this LINK on Laurie's blog.

Very exciting for Laurie, she opened her very own online yarn shop earlier this year!  In this shop you will find beautiful yarn, of course! as well as wooden needles and patterns.  She even has a section of yarn for the Knit-a-Square Challenge with all profits going to the charity.
She has been dreaming for years of owning her own brick and mortar yarn shop and she may still!  Her reason for the online shop now?  "I am a knitter and fiber fanatic in addition to being a teacher (psychology), wife and mother, and that, in no particular order! I want to make a difference in the world around me while doing something I love. This is the reason that Hands with Hearts has come to be."
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a little more about Laurie:

1.  First, why did Laurie name her etsy shop Do You Like My Hat?  This was a trademark question her father would ask, putting most anything on his head, trying to be funny.  This phrase comes from Go, Dog, Go!  by P. D. Eastman.

2.  Laurie learned to knit early in life around age 5 or 6, but didn't become passionate until her 30s.  She wanted to carry on the tradition of her mother who was a master knitter, and to have special items to pass on to her children.

3.  Inspiration comes from people, the world around her, and beautiful natural fibers.  "I spend a lot of time listening and looking at the people and the things around me and many different ideas for designs, colors and projects end up in my precious notebook!"

4.  why natural fibers?  "Natural fibers provide better insulation from the heat and the cold and water and snow than any synthetic fiber (we forget that this is the purpose of the animal’s coat!) Clothing made from these fibers is very long lasting and 100% recyclable and biodegradable."

5.  What is important to Laurie when fiber shopping?  "Buying socially and environmentally responsible is also very important to me. On my search for natural fibers I discover wonderful companies, big and small, who are working hard to empower women. Any small thing we can do to reduce poverty and illness particularly for the children of the world is very important to me. People who produce natural fibers are also concerned with the environment, how to properly treat the animals, how to produce and dye wool with fewer or no chemicals, using plants to create yarns. These are the topics that I discuss on my blog." 

LINKS:
interview on Kanelstrand blog
Knit-a-Squillion Challenge
Do You Like My Hat?  etsy shop
Hands with Hearts yarn shop
Kitty's fiber journey BLOG  
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I'm linking up with my favorite teacher, Ms Jenny Matlock!  See others' completed homework assignments HERE.  Come join in!  This week our letter is "Y."  Y is for Yarn!





photos © 2011  all rights reserved

cheery cherry red

just for fun!  All parts of this treasury are clickable.
all photos are © 2010-2011 by the individual artisans

Dizzy Dragonflies

rich, earthy golden

soothing tropical blue/green

soft Spring green

hot, hot reds

These are the luscious colors of Dizzy Dragonflies lovely hand dyed wool yarns! 
Vicki has always loved creating, and especially loves yarn, knitting, and crocheting.  She even sells some of her creations.

Dizzy Dragonflies etsy shop
Knitting Dragonflies Artfire shop

Just look at these two yummy yarns!  It makes me want to get my needles out and start creating.  

Tropical Waters

Spring Tulips

How does Vicki do it?  She shows us on her blog Knitting Dragonflies.  She has links for help, patterns, dyeing, spinning, and inspiration...and more.   Check out this cool chunky cable scarf pattern.   Go to this post to see how she dyes her yarn and to see her husband helping her!  (lucky woman!)

Dizzy Dragonflies is the etsy blogger of this month.



photos by Dizzy Dragonflies © 2009 and 2010