Tag Archives: yarn

The Enabler

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That’s me, much to the chagrin of every husband whose wife knits with me.

Case in point – Yesterday my Knitting Buddy was here and she used my computer to place a Mr. Yarn order. Her goal was some Malabrigo Sock in Archangel (that’s example number one. She knew she wanted that because she saw this in my yarn cabinet).

Malabrigo Arroyo in Archangel, slated to be Saffron for The Munchkin later on this year.

Apparently, archangel is a popular color, for it was already out of stock there and at Eat.Sleep.Knit. That was when I swooped in.

“Well,” I said, helpfully, “What about Finito?” This was partly selfish – Finito is a new yarn and I want to get my hands all over a ball of it ASAP. “Or,” I continued, “You could make sport weight socks. Arroyo is what I have here.” I pulled out the skein to remind her. “Or, you know what? You could…”

And on it went, and I don’t even remember now what she decided. She did end up with some archangel in some base in her cart.

Now she was going to check out (and I am sorry about this) but there was only ONE ball of yarn in her cart and I just couldn’t keep quiet.

“Is that all you need?” I started with need.

“What else am I going to need yarn for?” She wondered out loud. She really is a good girl. (Note to her husband – it is all my fault.)

“What about just getting some inspiration yarn?” I ventured. “You know, yarn that has no plan, but is just yarn for the sake of yarn?” I handed her a skein of Handmaiden Casbah. I know, I know. That isn’t fair. I am ashamed of myself.

“What are you going to make out of this?” She asked, and I think she may have swooned a little.

“I have no idea,” I replied cheerfully. “That is inspiration yarn. I bought it because it is gorgeous and maybe someday I will make something with it. But for now I just pet it and enjoy it for what it is – a skein of very beautiful yarn.”

She thought about this for a second. I could see the gears turning. But then, “No” she said, handing it back to me. “I need to have a plan. What else do I want to make?”

I let her stew a minute longer before trying again. (I told you that I am bad)

“You know,” I spouted philosophically, waving the Casbah in the air as I spoke (I tend to talk with my hands), “Yarn is not really ‘material’ for me. It is more of a collection. People collect spoons, and no one ever says, ‘Why don’t you ever use all those spoons there on the wall? Why are you buying another spoon when you already have hundreds of spoons on little racks in your dining room? You don’t even use the spoons that you already have.’ Yarn is my collection, and I don’t think it needs to have a purpose…” I trailed off, letting that idea sink in.

She ended up with four balls of yarn in her cart at check out.

Ahem.

I just realized something. I am doing it again. While I am telling you this story about what an enabler I am, I keep flashing pictures of gorgeous yarns with links to those yarns making it so easy for you to fall in love and have it in your hands for a small monetary sum and a few days wait.

Whoops! There I go again. (That happens to be Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Select in the Dusk colorway, available here. Heeeheeeheee)

Yup. I am an enabler. Maybe you should hide this post from your husbands…..

Cleaning Out the Queue

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I know you were wondering what all that yarn was for yesterday.

Well, I cleaned out my Ravelry Queue. I like to use it as a list of things that I am actually going to knit, but I often get carried away. It does tend to get cluttered up with things that I would love to knit but know that I probably never will. From time to time I like to pare it down to reality, as in “I can (and will) knit all these things this year”.

The yarn that I showed you yesterday is for the first seven items in my queue. Yarn for the eighth and ninth item came yesterday in the mail. Items 10 and on are still a kind of dream and I will probably run out of days this year. If I still like them next year, I guess they might have a chance.

I feel really good about this. I have a list of knits that I want to make and a box of yarn with which to make them.

So, how do you use your Ravelry Queue?

The Other Mister

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The Man came in the door with a big box last night.

“This came in the mail for you,” he said as he set it on the table.

“Ooooh” I gushed. “Who’s it from?”

“A Mr…..” he searched for the return address, “A Mr. Yarn.”

A box from Mr. Yarn! And this is what was inside:

I love that guy!

Clockwise from left to right – Dream in Color Classy, Peacock Shadow (4 skeins); Malabrigo Sock, Light of Love (2 skeins); Handmaiden Mini Maiden, Wine (3 skeins); Malabrigo Sock, Ochre (4 skeins); Malabrigo Rios, Archangel (2 skeins); Dream in Color Classy, Emerald Darkness (4 skeins); Malabrigo Rios, Cumparsita (4 skeins)

Like I Needed Another Hobby

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Look at what I am learning how to do:

I have been resisting the desire to learn to spin for years. I wanted to learn so much in knitting and to perfect my art. And, while I wouldn’t say that I have attained perfection in my knitting, I have learned all the techniques that I am interested in so far. Knitting presents fewer challenges for me than it did three years ago, and so I figured it was time to branch out.

I ordered this inexpensive drop spindle (from this Etsy shop) and a friend gave me some Knit Picks roving and I watched some YouTube videos (the most helpful being this one) and read every post in this Ravelry group and away I went.

Now I make yarn. It’s not great yarn, yet. But I am loving the challenge.

A Thank You Note

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Dearest Santa Claus,

I wanted to send you this little thank you note for the lovely gifts you left in my stocking this Christmas.

I can see that you got my letter because of the lovely, fibery goodness that I found hanging over the fireplace yesterday morning.

Rowan Creative Focus Worsted with it’s 75%/25% wool/alpaca blend in such a luscious purple caught my eye at once.

Followed by another in teal…. swoon.

I must say, Santa Darling, that your color selection is impeccable. The glorious reds of the Chocolate Cherries colorway are to die for. And to choose a hand dyed DK weight yarn shows that you really do know me pretty well. I have never knit any Baah! Sonoma, and I am so excited to cast this on my needles.

All that yarn, plus the antique darning egg and mushroom? You really went the extra mile, Santa, and I must say that I am impressed.

Thank you so, so, so much.

woolandchocolate

PS – did you notice my new stocking? I finished it just in time for Christmas. :)

Dear Santa (Christmas Countdown Day 2)

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Dear Santa,

How are you doing? I am fine. How is Mrs. Claus?

I wonder if you have heard that I am a knitter now? I thought I would let you know because choosing a gift for a knitter is so simple, and I thought it would make your job easier. But just in case you don’t know what to get for a knitter, I will help you out.

1. Yarn

That’s it.

Maybe you don’t know how to pick out yarn and that is why I haven’t ever gotten yarn from you. Ever. I can help you with that with a few simple guidelines.

Rule 1 – All yarn is good yarn. This is true if you are shopping at any yarn store or at EatSleepKnit.com. Craft stores do not sell yarn, they sell extruded plastic made to look like yarn. Do not be fooled. If it is sold by the pound, it is not yarn.

Rule 2 – Sweater quantities of yarn, while very nice, are not necessary. A single skein of sock yarn (aka fingering) will make a pair of socks. Don’t worry about quantity, any amount will do.

Rule 3 – All colors are good. While I lean heavily towards purples, pinks, and reds, I also happen to think that brown, orange, green, yellow, grey, black, and blue are lovely as well.

I hope that helps. Give my regards to Mrs. Claus.

Shelly

The Stash Dwindleth, Yet Hope Remains

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Despite my itchings and cravings and yearnings for new yarn, I have been very good about not buying new yarns. It has not been easy, my friends. The stash is shrinking alarmingly and my knitting has changed because of it. I no longer browse patterns for inspiration and then go stash diving to find a suitable yarn. No, my Dearies, I have to first go stash diving to see what is there and then look for a pattern that inspires. Granted, there is still a little of everything. I have sock weight and lace. I have bulky and worsted. The sport weight and DK are all used up except a few cottons, but that is okay. I have wool and alpaca. I have superwash and cotton blends. It is just that they are all old news, uninspiring, boring if you will.

And that is why when I was given a $25.00 gift certificate to eatsleepknit, I went a little crazy.

Okay. A lot crazy.

Can you say cashmere?

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Handmaiden Fine Yarn Casbah Sock *Midnight*

And, while I was there, I got some sock yarn for a gift of socks for The Man (gift yarn=still legal).

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Handmaiden Fine Yarn Casbah Sock *Ebony*
Also cashmere.

Then, I broke a few rules in my yarn diet. I got these, also.

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Cherry Tree Hill SuperSock Select *Dusk*

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Sanguine Gryphon Traveler *Gaudi House* (already cast on, but we will leave that story for another day)

Hey, you know I had to get the free shipping!

Ahem.

And now back to your regularly scheduled Stash-a-thon.

The Clause

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I bought yarn this week.

It was totally legal, thanks to the clause.

And, I quote: “1. If, when planning Christmas gifts, I cannot find the right yarn for the gift in my stash, I may buy the yarn required.”

Okay, okay. It isn’t for a Christmas gift. But, it is for a gift. And I honestly and truly did not have the yarn for this gift.

That, my friends, is a pile of Palette from Knit Picks (bark, lipstick, almond, salsa heather and forest heather).

And, here is the story….

When I was making that cute little elephant top for the new baby, my dad was here visiting. He was somewhat impressed with my colorwork skills and quickly put in a request for a hat for his birthday. He described what he wanted – earflaps, pointy crown, lots of colorwork, some deer – and so after he left, I hit Ravelry, looking for the perfect pattern.

It isn’t there. But I found one that should work with some tweaking.

I have until his birthday in July, but when I realized that I was going to have to buy yarn, well…

True Generosity

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As most of you know, I have vowed to knit only yarn from the stash for a whole year. I will not be spending one single cent on yarn until 2012.

This is a very good goal, both for my brain and my budget.

And, so far, I have enjoyed the challenge. When one must knit only stash yarn, she finds that she must use a greater amount of creativity than if she could just buy yarn fitting to the project she desires to knit. It is fun to make it work. It is stretching me. Plus, I have so many nice yarns that I am happy to use up. I really don’t need to get any more yarn. The stash is full of lovelies that are yearning to be crafted into the next work of art.

But, this has also had a less than desirable affect on me.

You see, I am generally a very generous person:

You’re out of tea? Oh, no, we can’t have that. Here is 1/4 lb of Earl Grey to get you by.

No row counter? How do you keep track? I have three – take one, please.

You want to learn to knit? I have plenty of needles and yarn. Pick one. I’ll teach you with good needles and soft wool.

And, I am an enabler.

Want to try Malabrigo? Feel this. Nice huh? Knit a little of it. Now, I have you hooked.

Sure, it may have cost me a skien or two, but I am more than happy to spread the wooly love around. If I have it, it is yours. No problem.

Until now. A strange stinginess has come over me. I want every yard. Every inch. I have none to spare. This stash has to last me the year, and I may not have enough. Get your own. Especially the Malabrigo.

I guess that means that I am not really all that generous. True generosity is selfless, isn’t it? True generosity would give you my last skien of Madelintosh. True generosity wouldn’t hide the laceweight when you mention a desire to knit a shawl.

I set out to save money and use up what I have. And I have turned into a greedy, yarn hoarder. Or, maybe I always was a greedy, yarn hoarder. But now the mask is off and I have been shown a side of myself that definitely needs some work.

Maybe I will work on it next year…

My Black Friday Take

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I knew that it was coming, so I didn’t buy yarn for a whole month in anticipation. The Eat Sleep Knit Black Friday Sale. This is what I scored.

Remember my Wispy Cardi that I made? I lamented that it wasn’t suited to my “maternally soft” (great phrase, Missi!) physique. However, I wear it all the time! The yarn is whisper soft and so heavenly against the skin. I don’t love the way it looks, but it just feels fabulous. And so, I ordered enough Malabrigo Lace to try another of Hannah Fettig’s sweaters, the Featherweight Cardigan. Maybe this one will look better on my frame. At least I know that I will love how it feels. (The color is Tortuga)

And, yet more Malabrigo Lace, this time in olive, for another Wispy. My cousin, if I may say, has had an amazing year – premature twins with a two year old already and her hubby between jobs. She needs a little Malabrigo to wrap herself in. When she admired my Wispy, I knew she had one headed to her. (I love you, K!)

Misti Alpaca Hand Paint Lace in  Senta. I don’t know why I bought this, except the obvious reasons – it is lace weight, it is alpaca, and it is beautiful.

I confess that this purchase was just out of curiosity. I have used Madelinetosh only once before, and it was the one-ply Tosh Worsted, which pilled so terribly that I am hugely disappointed. This here is a skien of the two-ply Vintage. I wanted to get a skien to check it out. Madelinetosh has such lovely colorways, but I won’t ever use the Tosh Worsted again. (The color here is Kale)

So, there it is. You are now up to date on all my stash enhancements of the past couple of months… I think. :) The stash got shoved in the closet in favor of a Christmas tree, but will come back out in January. We will see then if I forgot anything….

And, hey! Progress is happening on the Christmas knitting. Yay!