We at Yarn Gallery brag about our customers all the time. “Did you see that cardigan so-and-so made? It’s gorgeous!” “I can’t believe that so-and-so made that shawl – she’s only been knitting x months!” and so on. We know how talented you all are but it’s a thing with knitters that they don’t see their own skills and always think everyone else is better at it, so it’s nice when the outside world acknowledges your talents. We feel perfectly justified bragging this week that Becky Steltz got a Best in Show in the Kutztown Fair for her Great North American Afghan, and that Selena Horning got a blue ribbon for her socks at the Oley Fair. Congratulations, guys! We’d be happy to hear from others who entered their knits or crocheted pieces – post a comment, tell us about it!
Our Dream in Color order arrived last week (along with a million other things – yes, I lost it again this year and fell in love with way too many yarns). Here are some photos to entice you into your next project:
This is Wisp, wool/silk laceweight. I’m going to steal one of the pink skeins (called Shy) to make a scarf to match my Vodka Gimlet!
This is “It’s Native”, a new lace yarn, spun from American wool and American mohair. It’s absolutely lovely. The colors are semi-solid, and the bottom color is the deepest, richest eggplant you’ll ever see (not black):
It would be perfect for a project like this, from Knit.wear Spring 2012:
And here are new colors of Calm, another American-grown wool yarn. We love it intensely; once you knit with it and feel the authenticity of the fiber, you’ll want to make and wear several things from it. Of course, my Vodka Gimlet is made from it. It’s been hanging in the shop for a couple months now and hasn’t grown one millimeter – light, holds it shape, lovely colors, a perfect wool yarn:
And here are new colors of Smooshy with Cashmere, a lovely fingering-to-sport yarn for socks, shawls, and most perfectly, lovely lightweight sweaters that you’ll happily wear for three seasons:
Just look at the richness and depth. I’m trying to resist that deep forest green (with flashes of light aqua and mauve-y nuances). Hmm, can you tell I’m probably going to lose that battle? Maybe just a pair of fabulous mitts or socks pour moi?
We received our wonderful order from Classic Elite also, with new colors of Fresco (sportweight alpaca/wool/angora), Kumara (worsted merino/baby camel) and Toboggan (super-bulky soft, soft merino/alpaca) as well an abundance of Silky Alpaca Lace, a lovely yarn alone for delicate shawls and scarves, or doubled for cushy soft dk or worsted weight projects.
I don’t know where to start! So many lovely things to make. So I started with the simplest, quickest, and really very cute project I could think of, a Buttoned Scarf made from Berroco’s Boboli Quick, a pretty blend of wool and acrylic in great colors. One ball makes the best quick gift in the whole wide world:
For a boss, for a teacher, for a co-worker, for a Secret Santa exchange, yarn plus button under $20. Anyway, it was fun and quick and now I’m back to my dilemma – What Next??
Meanwhile, while I decide, Lory Fleischer brought in this great Ridgeway Sweater she made for her son-in-law. Didn’t it turn out well?
It’s from a Cabin Fever pattern that uses Elizabeth Zimmerman’s reverse raglan shaping for the sleeves, so that it’s completely seamless – a comfortable practical sweater in Encore Tweed. Here’s a detail showing the sleeve shaping:
And Lynne Nagle brought in these crocheted socks, called “Witchy Woman” from More Crocheted Socks. They’re made from Panda Silk, a great yarn for crocheted socks because the socks are soft and comfortable, not at all stiff or lumpy like some woolly yarns can be when tightly crocheted. Beautiful!
Is this beautiful weather suiting you? I hope so – I’m going to go out and enjoy it, right now!
See you soon…
Trish
