Yet more stash enhancement
What you see above is just SOME of the yarn I bought last week and this week. What's not shown here is enough black Twinkle Cruise to make the Little Black Dress from the new Runway Knits (you can see it in this book review post), 4 odd skeins of KPPPM that I just had to add to the color stash, and 3 different so-called dk weight yarns that I bought with Nicole in mind, only to come up empty time and time again.
What you DO see above is the most recent part of the stash enhancement (minus some Jitterbug yarn which is hopefully in the mail as we speak . . .)
The tweedy orange is a new to me yarn called O-wool Balance, a 50/50 blend of organic merino/cotton which I'd read about online but never seen before. It has a nubby texture similar to Rowan Summer Tweed but it's very soft and seems like it will work up into a light, perfect-for-spring sweater. I bought 9 balls in this funny orange that seems to defy description - one minute it's sherbert, the next it's more like burnt orange. The plan for this yarn is some sort of light, comfy cardigan to throw on over everything instead of my sweatshirt hoodie. I'm fighting the urge to wind a ball to swatch, because I already started the other yarn!
What you see up there is the humble beginnings of Nicole, knit in Rowan Wool Cotton. Which, by the way, gave me a gorgeous, spot on 22 sts to 4" gauge without looking loose and sloppy (unlike several other contenders who shall remain nameless for the time being). It's kind of shocking to me that I've never knit in Wool Cotton before considering how many yarns I've tried, I can't remember even swatching it before, and I have to say I'm convinced. It's absolutely gorgeous, makes crisp, defined stitches, has enough spring to it that you forget it's half cotton. I can't say enough good things about it. After knitting the swatch I was completely won over and am already planning to buy enough for a few future sweaters. . . assuming it launders moderately well. I'm a bit worried that it might stretch out, but only time will tell. I'm glad I held out for the perfect yarn for this project, I'm really happy with the Wool Cotton!
Nicole, by the way, is a pleasure to knit and I'm having fun watching the pattern develop. Since the body is knit in one piece to the armholes, it is slow going the first few rows but then when I got to the second stitch pattern it's going faster. I'm lengthening it by 1" but otherwise following the pattern as written and I can see this being done pretty soon, too (unless I get distracted again). I plan to wear it over a black tank top or long sleeve shirt and I'd like to wear it NOW, so I'm trying to be good and not start anything new (like the LBD) before it's done . . .
I may also have bought several books, enough fabric for two throw pillows and some shirts to sew for myself (the pillows are almost done), and who knows what else.
And I'm not feeling at all guilty because I'm in a hugely productive phase right now and the projects are coming off the needles almost as quickly as I'm adding to the stash. I'm still paying my bills on time and I don't owe anyone money, so I'll keep indulging! It's not my fault that so many wonderful things keep coming on the market . . .
Pictures of the pillows tomorrow.
4 Responses
cristina
you shouldn’t feel guilty at all!! why would you?? you make awesome stuff…
Wanda
Hey, as you said, you don’t owe anyone any money and you’re paying your bills, you’re doing well. And you are being very productive, good on ya! Nicole is a beautiful pattern, glad to hear the Rowan Wool/Cotton is working for you. I’ve knit with it once and it was amazing, I really liked it. I’ve seen a couple of people knit with it, not IRL and it looks like a nice yarn.
Shana
Are you going to have any space left to store additional near-future stash enhancements?
Sonya
May 03, 2007
Lovely color of wool cotton – and Nicole a very fine knit! I’m waiting for the Runway Knits book – I got a sneak peek of it while I was in NY in March, quick trip to School Products. There are some cute things in there.