Contemplating a new project is perhaps the best part of knitting. So many possible projects – something small this time – a cowl, a pair of mitts, socks, a shawl? Or dive into a sweater – cardigan or pullover, smooth or full of cables, clingy or oversized, trendy or classic? Something really special that will stand out in a crowd or something I could wear everyday? For me, for the shop, for someone I love, for charity? A sturdy and practical yarn, a fun and unique novelty, a breathtaking luxury fiber? Hand-dyed, space-dyed, heathered, tweed? Mix these factors up in all the permutations and I’m guessing that every time a knitter thinks about starting something new, there are at least a million things it could turn out to be! How to narrow this down to The Next Thing? What choices do we leave behind, undone, their potential unrealized? It’s sweet agony, yes?
I just finished a nice little cardigan (Newsom, which I talked about here). It took a lot of knittin’ and I’m glad it’s done. I’ll have it to show you next week, it is relaxing in my spare bedroom for now, and I’m relaxing as well! My decks are clear for the moment. New fall yarns have only just begun to trickle in and, even though I’m getting questions about fall classes, I’m being lazy about getting the schedule together, knowing how much work it takes and just wanting a little more summer R&R.
Speaking of yarns trickling in, we received a nice box of fun this week. Indulgence Cashmere is a blend of extra fine merino, nylon and a poof of cashmere. It comes in 100-gram skeins that contain 437 yards of this lovely fingering-weight yarn, dyed in 12 tonal colors.
There is enough in one skein to make a very lovely pair of socks, a cozy cowl, probably a couple pairs of fingerless mitts or even a soft baby sweater (it’s machine washable, cold and gentle, lay flat to dry). There is a helpful “scarf” of all the colors knit up to show you how the colors play out:
Come get your favorite – when they’re gone, they’re gone!
Remember these beauties? These are called Kindred Spirits, a combination of two wonderful yarns:
Each braid consists of one 400-yard skein of luscious Mariquita (fingering weight alpaca and tencel) and two 257-yard skeins of soft and fluffy Halo (brushed suri alpaca and nylon) dyed to coordinate beautifully.
I received my shipment and we have a limited amount of some lovely colors. I wanted to find just the right project, one that would use most or all of the yarn available and would allow each yarn to be itself, and Laura Aylor’s Stella Luna shawl fit the bill perfectly.
Here is her model on Ravelry:
and
and here is the start of mine:
This design allows me to use the brushed yarn in the simple sections, which are shaping sections that are just increases and decreases on stockinette. The smooth Mariquita is easier to see while working the trickier lace sections and will show it beautifully once blocked.
So if Stella Luna makes your short list of potential next projects, come get your favorite Kindred Spirits right away!
