Happy Easter! And you know what that means: Lent is over and I can buy YARN!! I swear for the past few days I've been like the dog in the commercial, only instead of "BACON!!" I've been jumping around going "YARN!!" So this afternoon I headed to Knitch for a little retail therapy. I kept telling myself on the way there that happiness doesn't come from material things and I didn't have to buy anything... I'm sure you can imagine how well I stuck to that.
What a great day! I ran into lots of fellow fiber junkies and ducked out for yummy sushi at Harry and Sons with the illustrious Megan. And oh, the yarn! I got to touch lots and lots of pretty yarn. I was gravitating toward the sock yarn, because 1). I'm obsessed with learning to knit socks and 2). I heard somewhere that sock yarn doesn't count as stash. The Mad Husband was all "so. Will you knit me a Tom Baker Dr. Who scarf?" and I was like "how about some socks instead?" I found some beauteous Trekking XXL in blues that will match his Hawaiian shirts wonderfully. (He really likes Hawaiian shirts with dragons on them. Basically, he's Wash from Firefly.) Funny, I had never really thought that much of Trekking before, I didn't think it was very soft, but this feels really nice and I'm thinking about starting these first. But then again, I am really impatient to play with my Numma Numma Toasty (a Knitch exclusive!), in Marinara. The colors make me think of strawberries more than marinara. I tried to convince myself that it would still be there after I used up the other yarn, but in the end my lust for yarn won out and I convinced myself that it would be okay since my total would be about the price of one of the Mad Husband's video games. It's sooooooo pretty.
But I've saved the best find for last: New Fibre Company! I am totally obsessed with the Fibre Company, and their new yarn, Canopy (so new it isn't even on their website yet), may be their best yet. It's fingering/sport weight, 50% baby alpaca, 30% merino, and 20% bamboo, so I can make love to my alpaca and continue my torrid affair with bamboo at the same time! I picked the Purple Passion, which fades beautifully between lavender and pastel blue. It's going to make me some yummy wristwarmers. If you've avoided the Fibre Company because of the price, Canopy is $13 for 200 yards. Which I know is still more than some of you will want to pay, but it's so soft and pretty and luxurious and life is too short not to spoil yourself sometimes. Pictures tomorrow!
Showing posts with label knitch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label knitch. Show all posts
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Sometimes you can get what you want
I was walking out the door at Needle Nook last night when I said something along the lines of "wouldn't it be great if Malabrigo had sock yarn?" and NeedleNut said "here!" and reached behind the counter and handed me a tiny sample skein of Malabrigo Sock Yarn. It's superwash, very soft, and lovely Malabrigo color as always. I'm really looking forward to this one.
Actually, I'm really looking forward to a lot of yarn. With Easter nearly here, I've lost sight of the contemplation that should go with my yarn fast, and I'm just acting like a really hungry person who can smell dinner cooking. I'm really a little afraid that I'm going to lose it and go on a massive yarn binge. I guess it's a good thing that yarn stores will be closed on Easter to slow me down.
....Oh, it's gonna be bad. I just found out Knitch will be open on Easter.
Actually, I'm really looking forward to a lot of yarn. With Easter nearly here, I've lost sight of the contemplation that should go with my yarn fast, and I'm just acting like a really hungry person who can smell dinner cooking. I'm really a little afraid that I'm going to lose it and go on a massive yarn binge. I guess it's a good thing that yarn stores will be closed on Easter to slow me down.
....Oh, it's gonna be bad. I just found out Knitch will be open on Easter.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
To frog or not to frog, that is the question
Today I marked a project on Ravelry -- the Unseamly Sweater from SnB: The Happy Hooker
-- "hibernating." I don't think I've worked on it since last August, and technically it's wearable; I think I weaved in the ends and all that's left to do is the lacy edging, which I could leave off anyway.
But you know that feeling you get when you realize that something is just never going to happen? Yeah. While theoretically I could knock out that lace edging in one evening, I just don't think I ever will.
I was so excited when I started that sweater. I picked it out of The Happy Hooker as my first "real" garment, as opposed to hats and scarves. And that was right around the time I started going to Knitch, and I was so excited because they had the recommended yarn, Cascade Sierra, in dozens of gorgeous colors. And it was the most I'd ever spent for one project, but that was okay because it kinda felt like my first real project, with sleeves and everything! I was so proud when I brought that yarn home. I felt like I was finally becoming a real crocheter.
And I learned a whole lot from that sweater. The initial chain stitch was way too small, and I did the seed stitch in the middle section all wrong and had to take the sweater to Needle Nook and ask Beth for help. I had to frog that thing so many times.
And back then, I thought I just couldn't figure it out and it was my problem, but now that I'm on Ravelry and can look at other versions of the sweater other crocheters have made and posted, I can see that a lot of people had some of the same issues I did. So later on this sweater helped me learn about design flaws, and trusting myself and finding workarounds (or, actually, begging on the internet for workarounds).
So the Unseamly Sweater is a bit of a nostalgia item for me, but it's also a sweater that I doubt I'll ever wear because I don't think the tight-fitting seed stitch middle is particularly flattering on me. And now that I've admitted I'll probably never finish it, I find myself thinking about what I could do with 1300 yards of Cascade Sierra in ruby.
It'll probably take a while for me to take the leap and actually frog the sweater, but I'm something of a packrat (actually, a huge packrat would be more accurate) and the fact that I'm willing to tear up something with sentimental meaning to get at the yarn really speaks to the depths of my yarn addiction.
-- "hibernating." I don't think I've worked on it since last August, and technically it's wearable; I think I weaved in the ends and all that's left to do is the lacy edging, which I could leave off anyway.But you know that feeling you get when you realize that something is just never going to happen? Yeah. While theoretically I could knock out that lace edging in one evening, I just don't think I ever will.
I was so excited when I started that sweater. I picked it out of The Happy Hooker as my first "real" garment, as opposed to hats and scarves. And that was right around the time I started going to Knitch, and I was so excited because they had the recommended yarn, Cascade Sierra, in dozens of gorgeous colors. And it was the most I'd ever spent for one project, but that was okay because it kinda felt like my first real project, with sleeves and everything! I was so proud when I brought that yarn home. I felt like I was finally becoming a real crocheter.
And I learned a whole lot from that sweater. The initial chain stitch was way too small, and I did the seed stitch in the middle section all wrong and had to take the sweater to Needle Nook and ask Beth for help. I had to frog that thing so many times.
And back then, I thought I just couldn't figure it out and it was my problem, but now that I'm on Ravelry and can look at other versions of the sweater other crocheters have made and posted, I can see that a lot of people had some of the same issues I did. So later on this sweater helped me learn about design flaws, and trusting myself and finding workarounds (or, actually, begging on the internet for workarounds).
So the Unseamly Sweater is a bit of a nostalgia item for me, but it's also a sweater that I doubt I'll ever wear because I don't think the tight-fitting seed stitch middle is particularly flattering on me. And now that I've admitted I'll probably never finish it, I find myself thinking about what I could do with 1300 yards of Cascade Sierra in ruby.
It'll probably take a while for me to take the leap and actually frog the sweater, but I'm something of a packrat (actually, a huge packrat would be more accurate) and the fact that I'm willing to tear up something with sentimental meaning to get at the yarn really speaks to the depths of my yarn addiction.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Momma's got a brand new bag
After I made my frustrated post last weekend, I decided it was time to find a project that was nice, easy, and quick. Something to get my confidence back, if you will. So I got out the skein of Louet Euroflax Linen I'd picked up at the Lucky Duck Sale at Knitch last year. I'd gotten it specifically to make this nifty crocheted bag I'd seen in the Pattternworks catalog, but by the time I'd gotten the yarn, the pattern was no longer available and I stashed the yarn. Friday night I dug through about a hundred crocheted bag patterns on Ravelry until I found one that was like what I had in mind, the Crocheted Eco-Friendly Carryall from Canadian Living. The only thing I know about Canadian Living is it has some pretty darn cool crochet patterns.
Once I wound the yarn (and that was a project in itself), I got started. It was my first time working with linen, and I was really pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed working with the Euroflax, especially considering how different it is from the yarns I usually prefer. It's rough, and very splitty. But, I don't know, there's just something about working with linen... cultural memory, maybe? I remarked to StringTheory2.0 about how I had always thought of linen as being very fine, since all the Renaissance poets wrote about "flaxen hair," and I guessed it was just because it was the only fiber they had. ST2 pointed out that making linen is really elaborate and time-consuming, so it could have been the expense that made the poets think of it.
But you don't want to hear about a couple of English majors geeking out on Renaissance poetry. You want pictures!
So there it is. So far it seems very nice and sturdy, and I plan to use it for grocery trips. See? It's green and it's green! And now I feel energized to tackle something new.
Oh! And since this was yarn that had been in my stash since last August, I've finally gotten started on Stash Knit Down 2008!
Once I wound the yarn (and that was a project in itself), I got started. It was my first time working with linen, and I was really pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed working with the Euroflax, especially considering how different it is from the yarns I usually prefer. It's rough, and very splitty. But, I don't know, there's just something about working with linen... cultural memory, maybe? I remarked to StringTheory2.0 about how I had always thought of linen as being very fine, since all the Renaissance poets wrote about "flaxen hair," and I guessed it was just because it was the only fiber they had. ST2 pointed out that making linen is really elaborate and time-consuming, so it could have been the expense that made the poets think of it.
But you don't want to hear about a couple of English majors geeking out on Renaissance poetry. You want pictures!
So there it is. So far it seems very nice and sturdy, and I plan to use it for grocery trips. See? It's green and it's green! And now I feel energized to tackle something new.
Oh! And since this was yarn that had been in my stash since last August, I've finally gotten started on Stash Knit Down 2008!
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Mmmmm, Skinny Cotton...
I dropped by Knitch yesterday and the incomparable Nell let me play with some of Blue Sky Alpacas Skinny Cotton. It's so brand-spankin'-new that it isn't up on Knitch's website yet, but it will be soon.
First impression is always how the yarn looks. I saw a beautiful display of colorful yarn in an old-style washbucket and asked Nell what it was, not realizing it was the very yarn I've been so eager to see. Nell was casting on with one skein and offered me another to hook with. I pulled a G hook (the yarn is sport-weight) out of my purse (crochet hooks, don't leave home without 'em) and went to work.
Skinny Cotton is reallllly nice. The texture isn't as fluffy as BSA Dyed Cotton, but I guess that's probably not feasible with such a small yarn. I was so excited that I think I crocheted too tight, but I'm really looking forward to trying it with different hook sizes to see what happens. I think this is going to be a really great yarn for crochet.
First impression is always how the yarn looks. I saw a beautiful display of colorful yarn in an old-style washbucket and asked Nell what it was, not realizing it was the very yarn I've been so eager to see. Nell was casting on with one skein and offered me another to hook with. I pulled a G hook (the yarn is sport-weight) out of my purse (crochet hooks, don't leave home without 'em) and went to work.
Skinny Cotton is reallllly nice. The texture isn't as fluffy as BSA Dyed Cotton, but I guess that's probably not feasible with such a small yarn. I was so excited that I think I crocheted too tight, but I'm really looking forward to trying it with different hook sizes to see what happens. I think this is going to be a really great yarn for crochet.
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