Yarn Extravaganza
Well, I finally went to a real yarn store on Tuesday and boy oh boy did I have fun! First of all, I ordered some yarn online a couple weeks ago and am still trying to decide what it will be. I got two different cotton yarns since I tend to be sensitive to wool and didn’t want to order wool without getting my hands on it first. So I got some Twisted Sisters Daktari in Terra Cotta, 100% Cotton, Slubbed. I’m thinking maybe gloves with it? I also got some Rowan All Seasons Cotton (60% Cotton, 40% Acrylic) which is supersoft:
I got two skeins of the blue and one of the green and I’m not sure what they will become either. So, then I finally went to the yarn store. I got lots of needles and a nice carrying case for them. The women who worked there were super nice and friendly. I was just planning on getting some nice sock yarn. I ended up picking out this:
Isn’t it beautiful? It is Mountain Colors Hand-Painted “Bearfoot” and the colorway is called Yellowstone. It’s 60% superwash wool, 25% mohair, and 15% nylon and oh so soft! Then I was just looking around to see what else they had and I discovered heaven in the forum of Malabrigo - Kettle Dyed Pure Merino Wool:
Yup, I got five skeins. A woman who works there talked me into it. She just finished a sweater of the same stuff and said she only used 4 and a half skeins. If ever a yarn was to inspire me to tackle a sweater project, this is the stuff. The color is called “Jaen” by the way. What’s that? You want a closer shot?
Now I just need to find a pattern basic enough for me to try. I’m thinking about one I saw in a book I checked out from the library. It is a tunic style pullover with intarsia flowers and a butterfly but I’d leave those out of course. But it seems pretty approachable overall.
In other knitting news, I finished my first sock (well, technically the second but I ripped out the first due to its enormity and misshapenness) and I’ve realized I just didn’t pick very good yarn for socks. It’s Lion Brand Chenille type stuff and it’s just too heavy and not stretchy enough for real socks. But it turns out it makes great, thick slipper type socks, don’t you think?
More importantly, it fits and I’m beginning to understand and enjoy sock construction. The second (okay, third) sock is coming along quickly. I’ll be glad to be done with this yarn, though.
Hmm. I think that’s it. Oh, my fella has learned to knit! He was watching me one evening and asked how it works and then a couple evenings later asked if I had any more needles. He has learned quickly and last night we went to a different yarn store (gotta see what all is out there!) and he picked out some great yarns for himself to use instead of the crap acrylic I had given him to use while I showed him the basics. He’s begun a very nice forest green tweed rib scarf. Interestingly enough, our local news station recently ran a story on men who knit. I think he is definitely one of those guys who likes the challenge of a pattern and wants to conquer it. In any case, it is so nice to be able to sit next to each other at the end of the day and watch TV and knit together. Alrighty, that’s the end of the yarn extravaganza. If you have any awesome yet simple sweater patterns you know of, send me links!
All look like beautiful yarns
I’m so glad you found Malabrigo! I love the stuff! I unfortunately don’t have any sweater patterns to suggest to you.
That’s a lot of yarn. Sounds like you are really into it. Must be cold there now.
Oooooooo yummy yarn! You lucky thing. And how nice that your fella has started knitting, too!
It is officially time for a new post, Madam
Haha, yeah what’s going on with your wonderful new yarn?
Yeah, yeah. I think I’m still rather self conscious about the whole blogging thing. I’ll think, oh, I could blog about that but then I think, who would care? But clearly you gals do and that’s enough for me I suppose, especially since I enjoy your blogs so thoroughly. I’ll do better, I promise.
It’s hard, because you’re writing something for yourself, but also for an audience. I find that when I focus too much on who’s reading the blog, I hesitate to write as well. Just write what you’re interested in, and those that are interested will read it.
Thanks for the advice Kri, I’ll try to keep that in mind.