All I Want is Yarn

I mentioned several days ago I would write about some yarns I picked up at Stitches & Scones in Westfield Indiana. Whenever I am in Indianapolis, I make a point of going to this yarn store.

I was in search of yarns for a call for submissions from Interweave Knits for a book they have in the works. Sure, I have like a million odd balls of yarns of all kinds in my “yarn room” upstairs (it isn’t big enough to qualify as a studio, though hopefully I will have one of those by this time next year). To be honest, I wanted to play with something new. Something fresh. maybe something I really liked that I forgot about. Maybe something that I had tried but didn’t have enough of to swatch with.

I emailed Molly to ask about a few that I was looking for specifically, and when I left the store I had the following:

Savoy, a yummy silk and merino blend (in a lovely chocolate brown color and white), Wool Bamboo (two balls), Indulgence, Silke Tweed (two balls), Blue Sky Alpaca & Silk (two skeins), Linen Isle, and Princess (two balls).

Also purchased, but not at Stitches & Scones, Misti Alpaca DK 4 Ply (80% Baby Suri Alpaca and 20% silk), Classic Alpaca, Korella (a linen and acrylic blend form Gedifra), Sirdar’s Baby Bamboo, and Svale from Dale of Norway.

I don’t know if any of you remember the Bugs Bunny cartoons? I am thinking specifically of Daffy Duck when he would get in a cave with hidden treasure, and he would gleefully say “I am a happy miser!!!” I suspect that is what I looked like when I was sitting in the middle of the hotel room, trying to decide what I wanted to play with first.

Seriously though, yarn is an important design element. I know that is somewhat of a “duh” statement, but I think we can at times forget that. Not every yarn is suited to every purpose.

One of the interesting discussions going on in Ravelry is about what knitting rule you are rebelling against. It is fascinating to see what makes us all tick. Some of us have a need to rebel. For whatever reason. Maybe we don’t like being told that a particular way is the right way or the best way (regardless of whether it is or not). Maybe we have this picture in our minds about ourselves and we are exciting, chic, independent, or whatever adjective you want to insert if we are “rebellious”.

For myself I have never felt the need to rebel. Perhaps it is because I do what I feel is best for the design. I am a self taught knitter so I don’t have any preconceived ideas or influences that prod me to say so there and metaphorically shove my knitting needle in its eye. That would explain why I am particular about my knitting. As I am self taught, I have had no benefit of a teacher to help me learn what “the right way is”. I have had to figure it out on my own.

There are certain rules I have learned from reading, that I follow as it makes for better knitting. There are times where I break with tradition. Not because I need to rebel but because, again, it makes the design stronger or makes my knitting better.

For example, I love the Channel Island Cast On. Who says you cannot use it on other things besides Ganseys? Using it in other applications is more creative than anything.

I will be happily finishing up my swatching for the call for submissions tomorrow. I have a little something that I want to knit up with the Korella, and I just may use the Channel Island Cast On, paired with a lacey stitch pattern. At least one with enough yarn overs to give it a lacey feel, even though at that gauge and with the amount of yarn overs that form the pattern I don’t think there is enough to truely classify it as lace.

There just are not enough hours in the day. Thanksgiving may just have to wait this year.

Peace and Knitting, JoLene Treace

Shipping to the UK: Nestucca Bay Yarns

Well I had a very kind knitter from the UK who posted to my blog today asking about Charlotte. I pointed her to my vendors (links under blog roll for those with online ordering that have my patterns on their web site). And she kindly let me know that Nestucca Bay Yarns ships to the UK. WooHoo!

That is a good thing to know, and one which I wanted to talk about. Nestucca Bay Yarns is located in Pacific City Oregon, and they have been very good to me. I like to promote local yarn stores as much as I can, and my vendors in particular. I have some really great people I do business with. Marilyn King of Black Water Abbey Yarns was one of the people who really got me going as a designer and she is a wonderful person as well. Pat Kirtland of the Yarn Barn (in Virginia) has been not only supportive of my design work, but is giving to the knitting community as well. Ruth Sybers of Knitter’s Treat is also a good resource for knitters and carries all of my patterns, however she does not have an online shopping cart.

But, back to Nestucca Bay Yarns. For those of you in the UK who are interested in my patterns, they carry a full line. Cheryl Dawson is very nice, and very helpful. If you ever get to Pacific City you should look them up. They are located in a tourist area, so visiting is not outside the realm of possibility.

We live in a day and age where our standard Brick and Mortar (B&M) yarn stores may not carry what we are looking for. Or your favorite B&M might just have a web site with mail order. In any case, these are not huge companies. I love supporting smaller businesses, as they often have good service and friendly manners. You don’t get lost among the numbers with them.

 I have had to rethink my definition of a local yarn store somewhat with the advent of the Internet. Things are more global now, and that has affected how I do my shopping. I still look to my local store first, and then if they do not have what I am looking for I look to one of my favorite on-line stores. Just as in any market, there are yarn stores that are open, warm, friendly, and a pleasure to business with. And there are stores that don’t give good service. I do believe that I work with some of the nicest people.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas…

JoLene

Yarn Review & Shop Review: Alchemy at Stitches & Scones

Well I had a nice trip to Indianapolis. I went to Stitches and Scones in Westfield first, and it is always a pleasure going there. They have a fantastic selection and are always friendly and helpful. They give great service to everyone.

They have a wide range of Alchemy yarns, also, which is really what I was after. I sent some swatches off to Alchemy at the end of the week, but was out of their yarn to swatch with. I had some of the Silken Straw, and some of the Bamboo. It is my experience that I can get about 2 good size swatches out of a skein or ball of yarn in general. So, I needed more yarn. I bought the following: Silken Straw (semi-solid 38a foxglove), Bambo0 (colorway 11a, Dream), Sanctuary (92w Moonstone and 54w, Aquamarine) and  Haiku (26m Platinum).

The sanctuary is simply wonderful. It is 30% silk and 70% wool, there are 125 yards / 50 grams, and there are 6 stitches per inch. Wonderful drape, hand and stitch definition. I have some things which will work up nice in this yarn. Texture and lace, mostly.

The Haiku I did not see on the website yet. It is a lace weight 40% silk 60% mohair blend. 325 yards per 25 grams. Kid Seta has 230, Douceur et Soie  has 225, Kidsilk Haze has 227. So this is a bit finer.

Molly, the owner of Stitches and Scones carries other Alchemy Yarns as well.

Peace and Knitting, JoLene

Alchemy Yarns: Bamboo

Okay, I have a confession. I sent out the swatches I was doing to send to Alchemy Yarns, and forgot to scan them. You’ll have to stay tuned, I guess.

I bought a skein of the Bamboo at the Shuttle Stop in Warsaw Indiana yesterday. I was in Warsaw to see my mother, Aunt Shirley, and Grandma Rhodes. They were making Norwegian Fish Balls (Herring Dumplings). I visited with them, had some dumplings, and went to the yarn shop.

I was tickled they had some in stock and now I have more to swatch with. This is a really nice yarn. It drapes nicely, has good stitch definition, and as I said before is light enough you could actually wear the garment in the summer time (outdoors, no less).

 I will be in Indianapolis this weekend, and think I will have to go to Knit Stop and Stitches and Scones. I don’t remember whether Stitches and Scones carries Alchemy Yarns, but I know Knit Stop does. I want to get some more Silken Straw, too.

Need more yarn, need more yarn….

Well,

Yarn Shop Review: Ozeyarn (Internet)

Ozeyarn is a shop located in Putney, Australia. I forget how I came across them, but they looked to have a nice range of yarns and the ordering was easy. They carry the Heirloom label (Baby wool 3 ply fingering, 4 ply fingering; Cotton 4 ply fingering, 8 ply sport; Breeze 8 ply sport; Alpaca 8 ply sport; Cashmino 8 ply), Belisa Cashemere (1.5 ply lace wieght cashmere or silk; lace weight cashmere wool blend), Fiberworks (Kid Modair Boucle, worsted; kid mohair brushed, worsted; Alpaca 8 ply, sport; 8 ply wool, sport; 8 ply silk ribbon, sport; 8 ply Silk Pearl; Silk Chunky Noil, 10 ply; Silk Shimmer, 2 ply; Silk Opulence, 8 ply; 2 ply Silk), Rainbow Wool8, 12 & 20 ply. Jo Sharp (DK wool/wool heather; Silkroad Aran; Silkroad Aran Tweed; Silkroad Ultra; Silkroad DK Tweed; Rare Comfort Mohair; Soho Summer DK Cotton; Desert Garden Aran Cotton).  This is from info I received in 2005, so their list may be a bit different now.

I tend to prefer yarns that are without a lot of contrast for my own knitting, although I love looking at the handpaints. Since I gravitate toward solids or handpaints without a lot of contrast, I will talk mostly about the basics. The Fiberworks label has hand dyed yarns in 20 some odd shades and colorways.

What I am really looking at is the Heirloom Cotton, which has 180 yards / 50 grams in the 4 ply or 130 yards / 50 grams in the 8 ply. It has a nice feel and weight. In the sample I have there are only 14 colors, I don’t know how many have been added since I recieved my color card. There is white, 3 neutral cream to taupe colors, pastels (mint green, baby blue, pink, lavender, periwinkle) , also a pale yellow green, yellow, coral, and a medium value red violet and a medium value purple. Note these are not their color names, these are my descriptions of the colors on the card.

I am also looking at the Heirloom Cashmino. This is a blend of 10% Cashmere, 55% Merino Ulta Fine, and 35% Microfibre. 109 yards / 50 grams. This is some nice looking stuff and I really want to get some to swatch. There are some jewel tones and some softer more muted tones. A nice palette.

I may have to get some of the lace weight, too.

They have good service and I was happy with the speed in which I received my order. A good online source if you want something a little different.

 Peace and Knitting, JoLene

Yarn Review: Bendigo Woolen Mills

I don’t know how many of you have ever heard of Bendigo Woolen Mills. They are a company in Australia, and I first heard of them on one of the knitting lists I belong to. I think it was Knitting Beyond The Hebrides.  I had heard that they had some very nice yarn, and they do. I bought a skein of each of what they have, and made sure I had a skein of each weight of yarn as well. Their sizes are a little different than what we are used to, as they refer to plys. Their yarns are nice, they have a good hand and good stitch definition. If you are looking for a good basic yarn that will be a good foil for stitch patterns, this is a good line to consider.

 Their yarns are as follows:

Colonial: comes in 5, 8, & 12 ply Pure Wool (the 5 ply is about a sport/fingering weight, 8 ply is about a DK weight, the 12 ply a bit heavier than Aran weight). Not a huge color range but some good basics. 33 colors (on my old color card)

Classic: 2, 3, 5, 8 ply machine washable. Fine/fingering (2 & 3 ply), fingering/sport (5 ply), DK (8 ply). This has an overall color selection that is different than the Colonial.

These two wools appear cabled, but they are plied. Their third offering in your basic wool is Rustic, which appears as your basic Worsted spun plied yarn (i.e. Heilo or Cascade 220). Rustic comes in 5, 8, & 12 ply and is Pure Wool - 24 colors.

Alpaca: 8 ply 100% Alpaca, 12 colors.

Baby Wool: 3 ply & 4 ply - 6 colors, Harmony: 8 ply Woo/Cotton/Lycra - 10 colors, Mohair: 8 & 12 ply 50% wool 50%mohair - 16 colors,  Aran: 10 ply pure wool - 6 colors. Machine Washable.

Cotton, 100%, 4 & 8 ply. I tried their cotton out on swatches for my stepdaughter’s baby blankets I am working on. 14 shades (again. old color card). I really liked the softness of the yarn and how it looked after blocking.

Their yarn is inexpensive, and while they do not yet have a website (they are working on that right now) they are easy to order from.  Their email is benwool@bendigo.net.au , or if you want to call they have a number for their USA customers: 1-888-235-1993.

As far as I know, their color cards with actual samples are still free. Included with the color cards are fliers, and order blanks, and a postage paid envelope. I don’t remember about the shipping, although I have read online at other folks sites that if your yarn is more than $40, they will ship free, within a very reasonable period of time (2 weeks).

Peace and Knitting, JoLene

Yarn Review and Yarn Shop Review: Yarn & Needle

I went to Dayton Ohio Monday, where my stepdaughter Erin and her husband Andy live. Erin and I are members of the Dayton Knitting Guild. This is a wonderfully active guild and has two meetings, a morning session and an evening session, on the third Monday of the month. The nifty picture on the home page with the sheep and yarn is one that I took in my great room. The sheep toy belongs to Katherine Misegades, and the yarn is from my stash. I took it in a window seat. That is available as free wallpaper for your monitor too, if you like it.

Erin and I went to the evening session, I spent the night, and we went to yarn stores the next day. Well, Stores for Knitters anyway. One of the stores we went to was the Yarn & Needle, a nice shop in Centerville, Ohio. This town has a quaint feel and many, many old buildings. The town originated from the late 1700’s and is rich in history.

The yarn store is on the second level, above an antique store. The people were friendly and inviting, and they have a nice selection of yarn. They had something for everyone, which is nice as I don’t really “do” fashion/novelty, or yarns bigger than worsted weight. I like the effect of finer weight yarns, and the knitting I like to do just doesn’t look good in the fashion and novelty yarns.

One thing that I enjoy is seeing the selection that is so different from what I can get at home. My local yarn store carries Cascade 220, for example. This store does, too, but they also have Cascade Yarns Arcadia. Arcadia is a machine washable and dryable cotton angora blend. Yum, yum. I bought three, a yellow with a hint of green in it, a lime green, and a wine color. At 5.5 sts per inch according to the label,  this would be about a DK weight. I would not wear it at it’s hottest in Summer, but I would wear it in the Spring or Fall. I have no idea whether I would wear it as a Winter garment (not due to weight but because I get so cold I think in terms of wool, wool, or did I mention wool?)…but I would be willing to try.

I also picked up two other yarns I have been wanting to try. Zarina, by Filatura Di Crosa. Zarina is an extrafine Merino. At 26 stitches over 4 inches, and 181 yards in 50 grams (1.75 ounces) this is considerably lighter. It is nearly the same yardage as Louet Gems Fingering Weight Merino. The Zarina has a looser twist than the Gems does. I bought some of that, too, but that was at the knitting guild meeting. I am still thinking baby things for most of this, but I am also thinking lace, socks, and for the Arcadia, pullovers. Last but not least is Idea, from Katia. I bought two, one in a pretty lavender and the other in a monochromatic variegated wine. This is a flat ribbon yarn (a tube that is flat), 50% cotton, 35% viscose, 15% linen. I am thinking of trying Brioche knitting with this or reversible cables. That might be kind of fun.

Peace and Knitting, JoLene

Yarn Review: Rovings Custom Carding and Dyeing

I discovered this yarn at Stitches Midwest a couple years ago. I absolutely love it, it is to die for. Rovingsis a company that is a breed specific mill. They import premium polwarth fibre from Australia, and in turn offer fiber for the handspinner as well as yarn for handknitters.

They have pure polworth yarns as well as blends which include: Polwarth/Leicester, 60% Polwarth Wool & 40% Angora, 34% Polwarth Wool/33% Alpaca/33% Kid Mohair, 60% Polwarth Wool & 40% Tussah Silk, 75% Polwarth Wool & 25% Cultivated Silk, 100% Polwarth Wool - Lace Weight, 2 ply , 100% Polwarth Wool - Cobweb.

The sheep are bred specifically for handspinning. They are coated for 12 months which yields an extremely clean fleece. The micron count of 22 to 26 which is similar to merino. The fleece has a longer staple, too, at 4.5 to 6 inches long. They use equipment from mini mills to turn it into yarn in blends and straight polworth.

Another advantage is that they will color match.  Send a sample if you don’t see a color you like. For myself, I have purchased the undyed yarns. They are stunning in and of themselves. I do not remember how many different natural shades they have, but they are by no means restricted to white.

 I don’t have a picture right now to show you, but as I swatch and design, I will share the swatches and yarns with you.

Peace and Knitting, JoLene

Yarn Review: Alchemy Yarns of Transformation

I met these folks at TNNA last June in Indianapolis. Gina Wilde has a wonderful line of yarns, and I was fortunate enough to go home with yarn to swatch with. In particular I have been playing with the Bamboo and the Silken Straw. I will be sending off some swatches in the next week or two to Gina, and when I do I will post them here so you can see what I have sent.

I know this yarn is not cheap. It is so very nice, however, and when you want something special it is a good choice. I like finding yarns at weights that are not heavy. These are both light enough that you could actually knit something with it and wear it in the summer. This is not one of those yarns that are marketed as a summer yarn but is a worsted weight. Considering they are in California, it makes sense. They are located in the beautiful Sonoma County, amongst rolling hills and orchards. Part of the cost of the yarn is the labor involved. It is handpainted, steamed over an open fire, and then hung on Bamboo rods. This quote is directly from their website: ” We believe that our commitment to living life to its fullest – to recognizing health and healing and love and light in every breath – is captured in each skein of yarn we make. By creating Alchemy Yarns of Transformation with such intent, we trust this beauty is given over to you when you choose Alchemy in support of your creative expression”.

I have to tell you they put a lot of love and effort into each beautiful skein.  And it shows. It is spectacular. They have solids as well, which appeals to me as I can do wonderful things with solids but hopeless with a lot of the beautiful handpaints, particularly if the colorways have a lot of contrast.

They have a section on their website called Community where you can read about things related to community. Theirs (their beloved animal companions) and the knitting community (charity and so on). It is a nice rounding out to their site.

Whatever soothes the soul transforms the mind for the good.

Peace and Knitting, JoLene

Retailers who carry Alchemy Yarns can be found here.

Angel Yarns Review: Yarns from Bergere de France

I recently visited the web site for Angel Yarns, an online store in the UK that I found while looking for yarns from Bergere de France. Angel Yarns is also open by appointment, and their physical address is: Angel Yarns, Angel House , 77 North Street, Portslade East Sussex BN41 1DZ, England. My order was processed and recieved in a very timely fashion and I was quite happy with my experience and purchase.

As you may remember, I have been on the hunt for two specific types of projects. Yarn for baby blankets, and yarn for knitting counterpanes. I have pretty much decided against craft store crochet cotton. I don’t have the experience with them to have an informed opinion regarding quality, and they did not have the finish I wanted. I wanted good stitch definition but still some softness, and the twist was a little hard for the project I have in mind.

The yarns I purchased from Angel Yarns from the Bergere de France line are wonderful. I have played with them a bit, and really like them. Why can’t we get these here in the states? I would guess two reasons. Primarily I think it is because we as a culture over here live busy busy busy lives and we are focused on quick and easy. How often do you see that in advertisements? Or as titles or subtitles? Fine yarns are not something we can rush through a project with as we rusy through our lives. As I said before, I have nothing against quick and easy. But for me it is like trying to live on fast food. It is awfully good from time to time, but too much of it makes me feel sick. It doesn’t nourish me. And the same can be said for yarn.

Fortunately in this day and age we are more connected and can order yarns from around the world. I ordered Coton a Tricoter, a yarn listed as a perfect summer yarn. It is available in white or ecru, and has 200 meteres per 50 grams. I really like this yarn and it is too bad it does not come in colors. However for traditional counterpanes, it is just fine…albeit a little finer than most on this side of the pond would want to knit with.

I also bought Coton 50, a 50% cotton 50% microfiber blend that comes in colors and has a more doable yardage of 140 meters per 50 grams. I do not know what the other color choices are besides the ones listed on the web site as I have not investigated it yet that fully. I bought the color chilli.

Last but not least is the Coton Mercerise, a mercerized cotton in what appears to be about a size 10 crochet cotton. At 565 meters per 100 grams, it is even finer than the Coton a Tricoter.

Rounding out the selection is Ideal, a 40% Worsted Wool, 30% Acrylic, 30% Polyamide blend that is machine wash and tumble dry. 125 meters per 50 grams, about 6 stitches to the inch. This might be a good choice for baby blankets or things you want to be easy care.

Like most good yarns, I would assume it is best to take it out of the dryer before it is bone dry. You know, tumble dry low until damp and then lay flat.

Peace and Knitting, JoLene