Becoming a yarn snob...?

I don't generally expect presents for my birthday anymore, certainly not on the scale you get when you are young. Nowadays it's mostly cash or good wishes! Jamie has promised me yarn, from my list of needs for the year of projects. But since that doesn't start till July, I don't need to order yet. So I had anticipated another month of so of crocheting from my stash (mostly acrylic or acrylic blends).

I was pleasantly surprised, then, when I received an unexpected and most welcome gift from a friend (and fellow knitter) yesterday - a pattern PDF from my Ravelry queue, and three skeins of yarn to make it with.

The pattern is the Tusculum Cowl, which I queued fairly recently after it was mentioned by another local knitter in our Ravelry group forum.



Image copyright Robyn Chachula

Isn't it stunning? Of course, as soon as I saw it I knew I wanted to make it for myself. The suggested yarns are alpaca/silk blends, so I am now the very happy owner of three skeins of Debbie Bliss Andes in a gorgeous purple.

It's so soft! So silky! So... schmooshy! I had to keep getting it out last night to stroke it, and may just have to hold off using it for a little while, just so I can keep on stroking and schmooshing it. Now I know why you lot get so excited about the posh yarn.

I haven't quite reached the stage where I'm just going to rush out and buy it, just to have it sit on my shelf though. But I am a lot more excited about all the yarn I will be getting in July (Knit Picks lace, cashmere blends, even some of the fabled Malabrigo will find its way into my stash), and can't wait to actuallly start crocheting with my Debbie Bliss Andes.

I'm going to save it though, for after my exams. So I won't be 'casting on' until June. That gives me a whole lot of schmooshing time before the yarn transforms into a cowl!