Yarn Snobbery

Pam MacKenzie wrote a blog post entitled "Being a Yarn Snow has it's Limitations" last week and it got me thinking.  In her post Pam talks about yarn snobs limit themselves to all natural fibers or just wool.  It really made me reflect on how I perceive yarn snobbery.  I had always thought that a yarn snob limited themselves to more expensive and fancier yarns and wouldn't be caught dead purchasing yarn from a big box store or a craft store.  I know some knitters who are like that, which was where my train of thought was coming from.  I also have considered myself to be a full blown yarn snob because I only knit with yarn that I really like and isn't that what knitting is all about?  Having a yarn that feels wonderful and is even prettier to look at, glide across your needles and produce something that you or someone you care about will enjoy wearing?   I think we are all a little bit biased when it comes to our favorite yarns.

When I go shopping for yarn, the first thing that always gets my attention is the color.  I think that's the case for most knitters, we are naturally drawn to colors that we like.  If I am shopping in person and not on line the next thing I notice is how the yarn feels.  I have a really hard time putting a skein of yarn down if it is really soft and luxurious to the touch.  The final decision maker is how the yarn smells.  Yes, I know it's weird, but I smell the yarn.  I have no idea what the ladies at Maple Creek Farm use to wash their yarn with, but they really should sell it.  It's fragrant but not overpowering and smells nice while I'm knitting.  It's a little bonus feature that I think is pretty cool. 

Of course we all have our favorite fibers to work with, and mine happens to be wool or a wool blend.  I really enjoy the softness of cashmere and silk and when added to a nice merino it's like the icing on the cake.  Cake is good by itself, but put some icing on it and now we are talking! 

There are so many different types of yarn and fiber out there that to limit yourself to just one is like only eating one food for the rest of your life.  I like to try different yarns and fibers because you never know what you might like or how they will knit up.  A friend once gave me a skein of yarn that had been made from recycled bottles.  Sounds weird, I know.  It was kind of a boucle' and I wound up making a reusable market bag out of it.  

There are some yarns that I really don't enjoy knitting with and tend to avoid.  They tend to either be scratchy, contain a large amount of soy which makes me itch like I have poison ivy,  or just don't feel good when I fondle them.  It doesn't make them bad yarns, or yarns that shouldn't be used.  They just aren't right for me. 

Are you a yarn snob?  If so, what makes you one?  

Yarn and Fibery Goodness

I recently got a very lovely package of yarn from Deborah at Yarn Indulgences.  Deborah has a fantastic online shop that specializes in hand dyed yarns in a fabulous array of colors.  I had a really hard time choosing between them because each skein is a work of art.  This is what arrived in my mailbox:

This first lovely is the Indulgent Style Fingering base in the Campfire colorway.  It's an 80% Superwash Merino 20% Silk blend and feels absolutely decadent.  It's screaming that it want's to be a shawl so be on the lookout for a new design in this!

This next lovely skein is in the Indulgent Fingering base in the Maleficent colorway.  Can we say fabulous purple and green?!  Indulgent Fingering is a 100% Superwash Merino base which has a lovely luster and the colors really pop on it.  I have to say that both of these yarns are much more vibrant than what my pictures are showing.  My camera has been a bit of a party pooper recently and I fear that it will need to be replaced in the near future.  I'm hoping that a new memory card will improve things a bit and will try that first.

I also received this beautiful batt as a prize for participating in the Tour de Fleece in the Dropped Stitches Podcast group on Ravelry.  The batt is from Knit Spin Farm and is a beautiful blend of Blue Faced Leicester, Angelina, Corriedale, Finn, Merino, Sari Silk and Silk Noil.  The colorway is Violets at my Feet which is the perfect name for it!  It's quite soft and scrumptious feeling and is going to be a dream to spin up.

Julia tucked in a few other little goodies into the package. I feel very spoiled!

Wentletrap

My love of seashells started when I was a small child. I would collect them in my pockets on trips we took to the beach in Maine. Even in the cold days of winter my family would walk on the beach to enjoy the fresh sea air. 

 

Wentletraps are a family of small high spired mollusks. Their shells are one of my favorites – delicate and complex looking with their spiraling forms. The spiraling pattern of the Wentletrap Sock is reflective of the beauty of these exquisite sea creatures.

  I really enjoyed designing and knitting these socks.   The lace pattern is very easy to remember and makes Wentletrap a perfect project to take to the beach or pool this summer.  I strive to make my patterns easy to follow and as uncomplicated as possible while still being interesting to knit.  I hope that you will enjoy knitting them as much as I have.

Wentletrap specially priced at $4.50 until this Saturday, July 20.

My test knitters did a fabulous job.  Thank you so much Jan, Lyz, Bhama,  Lydia, Tamsyn, Jenna, Margi and Ann! 

Ribbon Street Cowl

Ive been having such fun designing!  I really enjoy seeing my ideas come to life and it pleases me to no end to see someone else knit something that Ive designed.  Back in the late 90's I had a small business designing and sewing custom riding clothes.  It was always a thrill to see someone wearing something I had sewn.  Making the change from designing sewn garments to knitted ones wasn't really that difficult.  There have been a few instances where Ive had to frog something to redesign it, but overall it's been a very smooth transition.

                                          Shown in Malabrigo Silky Wool Cape Cod


I'm so excited to announce the release of my new pattern, The Ribbon Street Cowl.  It's named after the street that my Grandmother lived on in NY when I was growing up.  It seemed like such a magical place when I went to visit her in the summers.  She would take me to Rath Park for swimming lessons.  Sometimes I would get to go to work with her for the day.  Her boss, Mr. Diabler, would always call me into his office to sit and chat for a while.  The best memories of my childhood are from the times I spent with my Grandmother.  She is even the person who taught me to knit.

The introductory price is just $3.50 until the end of February.  No coupon code needed.  You can find the pattern on Ravelry: Ribbon Street Cowl or by copying and pasting this link into your browser: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ribbon-street-cowl

I hope that you enjoy knitting this pattern as much as I have enjoyed writing it!

                                                   Shown in Shalimar Yarns Breathless DK Loden

                                    Shown in Knitspots Breakfast Blend DK Morning Smoke


And a big THANK YOU to Beth for test knitting once again!  Daisy makes a wonderful model, don't you think?

Frost in Bloom

Im so excited to announce the release of Frost in Bloom!  It's my first published pattern, and I hope that knitters will enjoy knitting this infinity scarf as much as I have enjoyed designing it.  Ive knitted two of them and am getting ready to cast on for my third one.  Frost in Bloom is a quick fun project perfect for working on at knit group or while watching tv.  It's a one skein project, so you can go stash diving for the yarn.  Shown here in Shalimar Breathless Sonoma.

Over the past several years Ive been testing knitting for several designers.  Going through the test knitting process has taught me a lot about what elements need to be in a pattern, and the importance of clear concise instructions.   Ive included both written and charted directions so whatever your preference is, it should be covered.  Of course if you have questions, Im available via email to answer them and help out if you need it.

The day Andy and I decided to do the photo shoot, it was freezing cold and the wind was blowing like crazy!  We wound up driving around downtown to find a spot with good lighting with shelter from the wind.  This is a stone foundation of the basement of one our favorite antique shops.  It worked out really well.

 

Thank you so much to Shannon and Laura for test knitting, and to Kristi for the final proof read and encouragement, and to Anne for the kind words of wisdom on copyrighting.

Congratulations to Helen who is the winner of the handspun yarn and pattern from the Grievence post!

Knitting!

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to take Anne Hanson's Sweater Fitness Class at the Shalimar Yarns Studio in MD.  Ive always been particular about my clothing and how it fit's.  Anne's class really helped me to get to the next level in my knitting.  When I returned home I immediately cast on for Sprossling in Breathless Hemmingway.  My goal was to have the sweater completed by TNNA so I could wear it while working in the Shalimar booth. 

Because the pattern sizes didn't match my measurements, Anne showed me how to make adjustments to ensure a proper fit by changing needle sizes in one area.  Since I prefer a lower neckline I dropped it down by two inches.  In the past Ive been hesitant to make changes to a pattern.  What if it didn't look right?  Or the fit was off?  Knitting can be ripped back, but Im one of those people who is in constant denial if something isn't going right.  I just keep knitting and ignore the problem until sleeves are miles too long or a hat is so big it could fit a giant.   I did make some mistakes on the decreasing and increasing and had to re-knit the fronts of the Sprossling.  I kept telling myself that ripping back was the right thing to do and I wouldn't be happy with they way the finished sweater looked if I kept going.  It was worth it!  I wound up with a beautiful sweater that fit's really well. 

Here is the finished Sprossling on our manniquin.  Her measurements are actually very close to mine, but she does have an annoyingly smaller waist.  She must spend more time at the gym that I do, which would be anything over five minutes!

Andy, Kristi and me in the Shalimar Yarns booth at TNNA

I also started a fun project that uses up left over sock and fingering weight yarns.  It's the Beekeepers Quilt by TinyOwlKnits.  It's really popular on Ravelry and I couldn't quite figure it out until I saw one of them in person.   Once you start the little hexipuffs you won't be able to stop.  Ive knit sixteen of them in two days! 

I can look at each hexipuff and remember what the yarn was originally used for.  The variegated pink, green, yellow and brown is from the very first skein of  Zoe Sock that I purchased.  The colorway has been discontinued - Pillow Mint.

Happy Knitting!

It's been a fantastic week!  Ive been spinning every day for the Tour de Fleece and making great progress.  Here is one of the skeins of Cotswold that have been spun, plied and then finished (washed).  500 yards so far plus one fully plied bobbin that needs to be skeined and measured.  The Cotswold has such an incredible luster and sheen.  It's really a joy to spin.  I'm looking forward to knitting a sweater with it later on this year when the temperatures cool down a bit.

Ive also been having some fun in the kitchen!  Last week Beth and I took another trip to Morris Orchard and this time picked black berries.  They are sweet and oh so good.  Hard to stop eating while we were picking!  Beth shared a recipe for Black Berry Liqueur and of course I had to try it.  It takes 10 days to process.  Andy and I anxiously awaiting the results.  I think this is a good excuse to find some cordial glasses!

Our garden is producing tomatoes almost faster than we can eat them.  I canned salsa on Sunday and it's really good!  I'm not much for using mixes for anything, but found this at the store and thought I would give it a try:  Mrs. Wages Salsa  It's very good and super easy to make.  I also made some seedless black berry jam.  Yum!

The Stripe Study Shawl for the Shalimar Yarns KAL is off the needles and blocked.  I changed the width of the stripes from the original pattern and love how it turned out.  It took one skein of Breathless in Cranberry and Black Truffle.  We are getting ready for our next Shalimar KAL and would love to hear your ideas!  Please join us on our Ravelry Group.