It seems counter-intuitive, especially on a hot day like today, to be reveling in and ordering fall and winter yarns. But that’s what I’ve been doing in my off time, even though the store is full to bursting with beautiful things. Doesn’t matter, even after all these years, I can still fall in love at the touch of a wonderful wool or a silky alpaca blend. Show me an unusual hand-dye or tell me about a great bargain on something practical that everyone should have, and it’s yes, yes, yes!
How to decide? I try to think of what the store may lack in specific areas. Washable baby/blanket yarns? Luxury fibers in different weights? Workhorse yarns for enduring sweaters? What if there are no gaps, but the yarn is beautiful and irresistible? You can guess what my response is, I’m sure. And, as the industry changes, I also look for replacements for certain yarns. For instance, superwash wools have changed a lot since they were first introduced. Early versions are slick, feel synthetic and tend to sag in big garments. Current superwash wools have solved that problem and are lovely to knit with and to wear.
But to really make a decision, it helps to have the yarn in my hands. If people send me samples of new yarns,
I spend a lot of time swatching and making notes of anything I like. What will it make? Is there a project out there that I love but don’t yet have the perfect yarn for?
It’s a fun and interesting time of year but a little fraught, since the decisions I make will, I hope, bring the best of the season to our knitters!
Meanwhile, more sock yarn just popped in! All these great colors are from Opal’s new Wasserwelten (Water World) collection:
Opal continues to come up with new color combinations that will keep you knitting socks forever. And speaking of socks, I’ve shown you this nice silk blend from Lang, called Twin Silk, before:
Well, here is my pair of the pink colorway, perfectly matched!
I don’t often make fancy socks, but these were a lot of fun. They are (mostly) from Nancy Bush’s old sock book called Knitting on the Road, a favorite of mine. In this sock, called Canal du Midi, she does a double cast-on and a different kind of heel turn that results in a short gusset. I did an “eye of partridge” heel flap, just to tart things up a bit more. Each ball of yarn is dyed in two sections and allows you to match your socks perfectly. It’s also just lovely and smooth, and the silk in it really shows off texture.
If you’re interested in different kinds of sock features, stay tuned for more information about Deb Cech’s sock club that she’s designing for later in the summer.
And, speaking of later this summer, I’m going to be doing a knit-along of this sweater
starting after July 4th. We’ll meet every Sunday through the end of August. There will be a registration fee but because it’s not a formal class, we’ll keep the cost down. The sweater takes 3 – 4 skeins of Noro Sonata, a yarn I’ve raved about too many times already, so I won’t bore you again. (BUT isn’t it just wonderful? You can pay twice as much for this semi-solid effect!) We have a huge color range in it, and it’s a lovely spring-fall yarn. (You can also use a more wintery yarn if you wish, of course.) One of the many things I like about the sweater is that you can decide how tricky it gets. Don’t want to do short rows? Okay. Tired of doing the texture rounds? Stop at the armholes. Lace on the bottom too much trouble? Do ribbing instead. You’ll still have a lovely well-fitting sweater. Come in to choose your color and get started swatching. We’ll help with sizing and fit. I made mine at a smaller gauge than recommended, so knitted a larger size to get the size I wanted.
Cute sweater, right? Despite the model!
BTW, the store will be closed this Saturday, June 18, because Art on the Avenue is happening. Come for the food and fun, but don’t come for yarn!
