Thursday 19 May 2011

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!


10 comments:

  1.  Pretty! I used almost all acrylics until I started a wool sweater in December. One day I was knitting on an acrylic project and then I picked up my sweater to knit a few rows and I was amazed at how much better the wool feels to knit with! I really noticed the difference going straight from one to the other. Then I started adding more wool and  wool blends with alpaca, silk, bamboo, etc. to my stash and now I don't really like using acrylics at all anymore. I've made a couple baby items and toys that need to be durable and washable, but I'm afraid I'm in the beginning stages of becoming a yarn snob too. 

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  2. Ambassador Crochet19 May 2011 at 20:30

    I love this pattern too! Someday I'll make something for myself. 

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  3. I saw this pattern today, and it's really pretty.  Makes me want to dig out the hooks.  I'm jealous of you getting Andes, that stuff is seriously yummy!  I'm sure you will enjoy your smooshing lots, I know I do.  I've still got my birthday yarn beside my sofa to stroke - my birthday was about 3 weeks ago!

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  4. Ooooh what a pretty pattern and what gorgeous yarn! I do love indulging in good yarn but it doesn't happen often. And when I do, I can't bring myself to use it!

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  5. The yarn is entirely fabulous -- what a beautiful cowl that will be!

    And kudos to you on having a significant other who celebrates your birthday in such a fine manner -- July will be here before you know it.

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  6.  What a wonderful gift!!!  (It's sad as I get older, I find the best birthday gifts are the most practical ones.  *sigh*)

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  7. last year, she made me a pair of socks, so I made her a shawl when her birthday rolled around :) 

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  8. All of my 'year of projects' are going to be made from nice yarns, but I don't think I'll abandon acrylics altogether. It's great for amigurumi! 

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  9. Yeah, I have several partial skeins of acrylic that I use for amigurumi, and I have some blends with some acrylic in them for other things. But for the bulk of my projects I'd prefer to get less yarn so I can spend a bit more for nicer fibers now.  I won't abandon acrylic and I think it has its place, but there's no going back now that I've discovered what else is out there.  

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  10.  Oh my goodness...I am diggin' that....darn....now I have to make one for myself!  I hope I can fit it in before I start my Come-Blog-along projects!

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