Tag Archives: Yarn

Let yarn do the work

2 Mar

There’s nothing like browsing your favorite knitting magazine and finding a beautiful garment that looks incredibly complicated – and when you read the pattern, you realize that, too, is complicated and, perhaps, beyond your current skill level.

I’m all for taking on ambitious projects, but now and then I like to create something beautiful that doesn’t tax the brain.

One of the many reasons I love yarn is that, in many cases, when combined with a fairly simple stitch pattern, it can create a really beautiful design (without all the headaches).

This is a simple four-row pattern consisting of nothing more than knits and purls – no fancy maneuvers here.  The end result?  A beautiful, subtle tweed pattern – but the miracle occurs here with Lion Brand’s “Amazing” yarn (seen here in the Rainforest colorway).  The yarn automatically transitions from deep greens to vivid sienna and soothing chocolate.  With every pull of the skein, surprises abound – and when all is said and done, a beautiful item emerges without special stitches or techniques.

Even simpler is this 2×2 rib – every row is the same pattern.  Yet, this handspun, kettle-dyed wool by Manos del Uruguay brings in shades of green, brown and a hint of lemon chiffon to appear like complicated color work (a la Fair Isle) without doing anything more than knitting and purling!

If you are a new knitter still strengthening your knitting and purling skills, do not be fooled into thinking beauty only comes with more time and practice (though in some cases it does).  With the two basic stitches – and the right yarn – you can create a really unique item to be cherished through the ages.

And if you are among the skilled Knitterly folk and have a few extra techniques to your credit, imagine the possibilities when your talents are matched with a delicious yarn in a captivating colorway!

Today, I ask my readers: What yarns have you savored for the beauty they helped you create with minimal effort and simple pattern?

A Visit to Woodfield Ranch

28 Feb

Peter Brown and his uncle, Steve Hoban, were gracious hosts yesterday as I dragged three willing companions out to Eustis, Florida to visit Woodfield Ranch.  Besides having a beautiful, spacious home, Peter and Steve also have a beautiful array of animals – including Huacaya Alpacas.

After a tour of the home, we first met a llama and a llama/alpaca mix…one in particular was quite friendly.

We had an opportunity to meet Newton, a beautiful brown baby alpaca, the newest addition to the Woodfield Ranch menagerie…

I learned there are two types of alpacas – Suri and Huacaya.  Suri alpacas have silky, lustrous, hanging locks, and the Huacaya sport a thicker, finer and fluffier fiber.  The alpacas at Woodfield Ranch are huacaya and are of Peruvian origin.

While Peter was putting Newton back in the pen, Steve brought around an adorable Nigerian Pygmy Goat named Farley who behaved more like a house pet than a farm animal…absolutely adorable!

It is a particular challenge to raise and keep alpacas healthy in Florida, primarily because of the heat and also particular parasites native to the region.  It is clear that Peter and Steve have a deep love for the animals they care for, and whether for the reason of maximizing the land on their ranch, or for offering their alpacas for sale or for selling their luxurious fiber to the Weavers Guild of Orlando, they take every effort to keep the animals healthy and happy.

We ventured into the main female pen and took a look at their luscious coats up close.  I found it interesting that, as it had rained prior to our arrival, the top layer of the fur was moist, yet below that, it was dry.  It’s incredibly thick and luscious with a fair amount of crimp.  Certainly the younger alpacas sport a more notable crimp than older alpacas – but all of it was incredibly soft.

We went in to the barn to see where the shearing process takes place.  Alpacas are normally sheared once per year; however, to keep the animals comfortable in the Floridian summer, Peter and Steve shear their alpacas twice per year.  A rotating table is used to prepare the alpacas for shearing – with the table tilted vertically, the standing alpaca is stood next to the table and then strapped to it to ensure its safety.  Once secured, the table is tilted horizontally and the shearing takes place.  Although it is not something the alpacas appear to enjoy, it does not cause them pain and again, their safety is the first priority for Peter and Steve.

We reviewed fiber samples from three different colored alpacas at Woodfield Ranch…all absolutely luxurious, each with their own unique nuances and texture.

And I was excited to not only walk away with these three samples of the fibers available from their alpacas, but as we finished our visit, Peter presented me with another large bag of alpaca fiber that is destined to propel me into a new budding obsession, in addition to knitting…spinning my own yarn!

It was a fun and educational visit to learn all about and meet the beautiful creatures that share their fiber to make wonderful yarn with which we can create luxurious garments.

Thanks, Peter and Steve, for a wonderful afternoon at Woodfield Ranch!

A Luxury Yarn Oasis in Sarasota, FL.

21 Feb

On an overnight get-away to Sarasota last Friday, and driving around town in search of a Starbucks (they aren’t found as frequently there as in other cities), one word struck my partner and I as we were turning down random streets, passing time until our hotel room was ready: YARN!  An immediate U-turn was in order, and upon walking in, we were met by Debra Lambert, the friendly and passionate owner of Picasso’s Moon Yarn, nestled in a charming antique district of the downtown area.

Despite the fact they recently moved a few doors down from their previous location, the space looks comfortable, cozy and lived-in.  As you enter the front door, you are immersed in amazing yarns, many handspun and/or hand-dyed.  The heart of the shop is a circular gathering of eclectic armchairs, a knitter’s Stonehenge, a place for spiritual connection to the fiber arts.

One of the other offerings in this store that really sparked my imagination was that they have recently developed a passion for yarn spinning.  Debra talked of adventures she’d taken to fiber festivals and her myriad test drives of spinning wheels.  She eventually landed on the Louet Victoria, a beautiful wheel that folds up and is easily stored in a bag that, as Debra points out, “fits in an airplane overhead compartment!”

What comes out of her time at the wheel, as well as those of other local artisans, is amazing Art Yarn, into which are incorporated incredible, vibrant colors, beads, ribbons and other objects, that emerge into a chunky yarn.  There were a number of hand-knit shawls and throws that had been created from these dazzling handspun yarns, and since Friday, I’ve been thinking about when to plan a day trip back to Sarasota to learn to spin on the wheel and knit with the kind folks at Picasso’s Moon Yarn!

Handspun art yarn skein drying

Surrounded by so many beautiful luxury fibers, and as our time at Picasso’s Moon this visit was coming to an end, I found myself incredibly drawn to 3 skeins of 100 percent Alpaca in a unique colorway called “Camo.”  It called my name and I walked away, already thinking about what would be really cool to knit up in this exciting and luxuriously soft, warm fiber.

In just under an hour, I discovered:

  • Beautiful hand-dyed 100 percent Alpaca
  • The concept of Art Yarn and the creative possibilities that evokes
  • The Louet Victoria spinning wheel
  • A really comfortable space with really good energy for fiber artists to gather!

Never underestimate the significance of a wrong turn…they can be exciting, inspiring and even life-changing!

Knitting as Remedy

26 Jan

Waking up with my stomach in knots, I thought it better to stay home, rather than be sub-productive amidst cramps and other side effects of what may have been an unfortunate dinner decision last night.  I reached for the blackberry, alerted those with whom I was scheduled to meet that we would re-schedule, and after business was complete, I laid in bed, curled up like a cat, and staring out at the morning through the window.

The empty moments, when I was there with only myself, generated myriad thoughts about yesterday, today and tomorrow.  At one point, they became too much so I got up out of bed, made a cup of tea and relocated to my favorite chair.  As I sat alone with my thoughts once again, I looked over at the reassuring bag of fine yarns, wooden needles and a project in progress.  My stomach was still punching me from the inside as I considered how I might spend this day in a low-key manner, operating from the expectation that I would, preferably quickly, recover from what was ailing me.

I reached over with minimum exertion and began demonstrating the natural rhythm that occurs when knitting a 2×2 rib…knit one, then knit another, purl one, then purl another, back to knit, knit another, then switch to purl twice.  As I worked one row, and then another, I realized yet another wonder about knitting.

To fill the moments of silence, what we would call when I worked in the radio business, “dead air,” but this time, between the ears, knitting can provide your mind with a point of focus, a target for thoughts that may seem to meander in a variety of directions.  The activity itself creates a comfortable, affirming rhythm, so although the idea of morning calisthenics was clearly out of the question, my arms were still moving while I sat in a position that kept the cramping to a minimum.

I realized today that, whether in times of great joy or sadness, in times of great health or not-so-great, knitting makes all right with the world, everything calms, all that exists is this moment as the yarn loops between one stitch, then the next.  Knitting subdues stress, overcomes emptiness, and miraculously evolves, as a caterpillar to a butterfly, into a beautiful Finished Object.

I learned today that, despite my demeanor, as long as I show up with materials in place, knitting is a trustworthy and reliable friend, consistently delivering on the promise of focus, calm and healing.

Home from NYC/Stash Update

18 Jan

It was the weekend to beat all weekends.  A long weekend in New York City to celebrate my 40th birthday was the most incredible of all birthdays.  This week I’ll be writing about a few of my adventures, and sharing some photographs – but I wanted to take a moment to share a quick update on my wonderful yarn finds from the weekend.

I visited three yarn stores: School Products, Purl SoHo and Lion Brand Yarn Studio.

At School Products, the oldest yarn store in Manhattan, I found 4 skeins of a beautiful blue/black/white merino wool made in Italy (Kirabella).

At Purl SoHo, I picked up 3 skeins each of 2 colorways of Manos del Uruguay Classica.  One a mixture of blacks and grays, another a mixture of brilliant turquoise and browns.

At Lion Brand Yarn Studio, I picked up 2 skeins each of 2 colorways of recycled cotton, and 3 skeins of “Rainforest,” a wool/acrylic blend that takes on the look of hand-dyed called “Amazing.”

Another thing (among many) that I enjoyed on this trip was that, with it being cold in NYC, many people were sporting scarves.  I was an active observer, taking note of knitted neckwear at the theater, in shops or on the subway to get ideas about patterns, colors and yarn.  The yarn stores I visited had a lot of nice knitted projects on display that gave me a great deal of inspiration for exciting projects to complete this year.  My “Turning 40 List” also includes a few specific projects I will work into the knitting portfolio – and will certainly write about my knitterly adventures and learning along the way.

I finished the meandering rib scarf for myself just prior to my trip – and it served its purpose well during the course of the weekend!  I have a cashmere/angora scarf that’s 2/3 complete and then the sky is the limit – and with all of the new yarn I have to play with, my only quandary is to figure out what project to start next!

I’d love to get your ideas or suggestions on how to use my new yarns – let me know what you think!

I also received some wonderful birthday notes from readers during the weekend, and I appreciate hearing from you!  Thanks for joining in on the celebration.

It’s good to be home.  Happy Knitting!

Set to Spin!

5 Jan

One of the things I recently wrote on my “Turning 40 List” post was that I wanted to learn how to spin yarn.  Now, rather than invest in a spinning wheel (and I could just hear the groan, “And where will we put it?” in the background), I thought I would start small with a bit of Ashland Bay Wensleydale Top Wool from Paradise Fibers, and a spindle from The Woolery.  While I was shopping for my spinning basics, I also picked up an educational DVD on Drop Spindle Spinning (also from The Woolery) and the book “Respect the Spindle: Spin Infinite Yarns with One Amazing Tool” by Abby Franquemont.  I think I have all the supplies I need to do this (at least for starters).

I added this to my list because, having worked with a number of fibers over the past year in my knitting, I have become fascinated by yarn, where it comes from, how it is made, and how it goes from fiber to finished object.  I’m looking forward to watching the DVD and skimming the book in preparation for the moment I sit down this weekend and spin my first yarn.

For those of you who do spin, what are some things I should watch out for?  What was the most important thing you learned early on in your spinner’s journey?  I’d love to hear from you!

Happy Knitting (and Spinning!)

Finding Inspiration

31 Dec

One of the most exciting things about being a fiber artist and knitter is that one’s eyes open up to a whole new concept of inspiration and collection of ideas.  You look in new and different places for designs, textures, colors and patterns.  And we know, seeking inspiration for a scrapbook page is much different than seeking inspiration for a knitted or crocheted project.

Here are a few tips to find inspiration as you plan out your projects for the New Year:

Yarn

I find such tremendous inspiration with yarn, and often my creative process begins with the yarn – and once I get the yarn, I then look for interesting patterns (or make my own combinations) that work best with the type of yarn I have purchased.

If you approach projects by getting the pattern first, and then looking for the yarn with which to create it, yarn can still be very inspiring.  The colors, textures and techniques available to us today can almost be overwhelming, but also give us so many ideas about how to combine colors, pick different combinations than what the patterns suggest to make the design our own.

Region

Where you live may also play a role in finding inspiration.  Your area may be known for certain fibers that may then generate project ideas.  Your area’s weather may also play a role, helping you to make yarn and design choices based on how warm or cold your home city is.

Living in Central Florida, I rarely have the opportunity to wear scarves or winter wear, so making things in cotton or smaller gift items is where I have recently focused some of my knitting efforts.  Conversely, I don’t let weather stop me from knitting things I find interesting – which includes scarves, and I made a few for different friends and family members this past holiday season.

Color

I touched on color a bit when discussing yarn earlier, but I also think being observant in your daily life can help you discover inspiration.  Looking at color combinations in your home can help you think about possible knitted decor projects.  Noting seasonal color schemes that have been incorporated into your home or wardrobe are also places to find inspiration for new projects.

Yarn catalogues or yarn seller websites are also great places to really get an appreciation for the wide variety of colors available in today’s market.  They really are endless and give you the chance to find colors or unique combinations that speak to you or the person for whom you are creating.

Texture

Texture is another element for inspiration.  Do you want a smooth project? An open, lacy project? A thick, bulky project?  Would it create interest to have a bulky project made of lace weight yarn – or vice versa? Brainstorming and experimenting can help you see what works, what’s interesting, and what, clearly, should be frogged before anyone sees.

These are just a few of my sources of inspiration for new projects and I would love to hear more about where and how you find inspiration.  Please leave your comments – I want to hear from you!

Here’s to fiber!  Happy New Year!

Exploring Crochet

13 Nov
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Learning crochet samples

Now, I am a knitter at heart.  That was my first craft and will always be my favored.  I love the way a knitted fabric looks like, and I enjoy the process of knitting with two needles and watching the yarn dance between them.

Lately, though, I’ve wanted to expand my skills, as I know sometimes a crocheted edge on a knitted item is called for, and, if I’m in the mood for a quick project, the possibility for small crocheted items is always there.  It’s a new skill to add to the toolbox, and, I must admit, it’s fun.

Yesterday, as I laid at home recuperating from a fall head cold, I found myself tinkering with shapes, trying some with holiday striped cotton, as well as solid colored acrylic.  Not the highest quality yarns, but it’s all test swatches, so fancy is not called for here.

Although not perfect (perhaps the counting was off, perhaps I didn’t connect to the right stitch), but in general, I don’t think these turned out too bad.  During my practice with crochet, I learned:

Crochet goes much quicker than knitting – you get a fair amount of fabric worked up in a short amount of time.

Crochet goes in all different directions – the concept of knitting in circles, and even hexagons, is unimaginable to me in knitting – crochet takes interesting shapes which makes the process interesting.

Crochet makes a chunkier fabric – the designs remind me of thick, chunky afghans my grandmother made.  The stitches and fabric have a noticeably different look – and for some projects, that look may be exactly what is needed.

I’m certainly not a total convert; but I enjoyed trying out this fiber art form … and continuing to build my skills in both knitting and crochet.

A Knitter’s New Year

2 Nov

It was officially one year ago this month I began my journey as a Knitter.  It’s hard to believe for a few reasons.  First, I often go through “phases” of interest that last anywhere from two weeks to months – rarely if ever do my phases evolve to the 1 year mark!  (This is a good sign!)  Second, as I reflect on all of the projects I’ve completed over the last year, I get excited.  I’ve done scarves, hats, dishcloths, socks, and shawls.  I don’t think that’s bad for Year One, and the great thing is that with each of those projects, I have improved my technique, learned ways to do things correctly, or to take a pattern and creatively make it my own.  But it wasn’t always this way…

Lesson #1: Give yourself the space and permission to learn.

My first days with yarn and needles was not attractive.  I quickly grew frustrated and put a tremendous amount of pressure on myself to create something that looked perfect and was ready for the racks in a boutique.  This, I soon discovered, was an unrealistic expectation to have of myself, and I actually stepped away for a few weeks. Then the urge returned, and I couldn’t ignore my desire and sincere interest to learn to knit, something that millions of people before me have mastered with a little practice.

Lesson #2: You can learn on your own, but it’s a lot more fun with others.

I had read stories and essays about Knitters, about their lives and the communities they form by nature of a common passion for yarn and for creating something beautiful.  My first projects were self-taught, using videos on YouTube and trying to decipher instructions from “Knitting for Dummies.”  I had moderate success, but it wasn’t until I started taking some classes, and meeting other Knitters, that I really expanded my technique.

I have also made some really great friends, both locally as well as virtually, and from whom I continue to learn and to be inspired.  This, too, is another bonus of stepping out to be a public Knitter.  You will find a welcoming, friendly community of people who understand your penchant for wool, your craving for cashmere, and will gladly encourage your accumulation of far more yarn than a small village could knit in a long winter.

Lesson #3: You get a lot more from knitting than just fabric.

In the year that I’ve knitted, I have gained so much more than just some nice knitted items.  I have found an activity that is meditative and helps me calm myself, collect my thoughts and get grounded and centered.  I have found something that gives me an incredible sense of satisfaction and sense of accomplishment when the last stitch of a bind off is pulled off the needle.  I have also found that my knitted project is something that I can control.  There are all kinds of things that happen in any given day – and most of them I have little to no control over.  When I am sitting in my chair with needles and yarn, I control my project, how slow or fast I go, what the yarn does, where it goes and what it creates when I am done.  It is an empowering feeling.  And, as I mentioned, you also can gain some wonderful friendships – friends that you may never meet in any other venue.  There are myriad benefits to knitting and I am sure I’ve only enjoyed the first of many of them.

It’s been a wonderful year, a beautiful beginning to what I know will be a lifetime of knitting memories, milestones, learning and finished objects…and here’s to the same for you!

Happy Knitting!

 

The Value of Experimentation

29 Oct

One thing I’ve learned in the year that I have been knitting is that experimentation is the key to success.

Unless you are using yarn specifically referenced by a specific pattern (and that you are even using a pattern, versus developing a design of your own creation), I have found value in being willing to try a design, note progress, and then be willing to rip it all out and start over if it doesn’t go where you want it to.

I went through this very process earlier this week.  I have this beautiful Manos del Uruguay (which is hand-spun, kettle-dyed wool and absolutely gorgeous) in a mixture of colors that include purples, grays and blues.  The unique thing to working with hand-spun yarn is that its thickness can vary from wide to very thin as you knit along.  Now, the good news is that when you block the item the yarn blooms beautifully and fills in all the holes where the thin strands appeared.  But, I found that it is important to pay attention to shape and how certain patterns knit up in this type of yarn.

I used this yarn to make a scarf earlier this year (my first experience with Manos del Uruguay) and found that a double reversible moss stitch filled in quite nicely.  This was on my 3rd attempt – having tried 2 other patterns (of my own compilation) and not liking how they were knitting up.

This scarf is no exception, though I only had to start over once.  My initial approach was to do a small border of 2 rows of garter stitch, and then use trinity stitch.  Now, I experimented with trinity stitch in Lion Brand Wool Ease, a consistent sized yarn, and found that trinity stitch knit up beautifully.  However, when I tried it using Manos del Uruguay, the irregular shape of the yarn made an irregular shape for the scarf and because you are purling 3 together and knitting 3 stitches in one, it tightens up the wool.  As a result, the border flared out and the main body of the scarf tightened.  It wasn’t pretty.  It looked like a mistake.  It was time to frog.

I am pleased to report, however, that I did find a nice, and very easy pattern, in a book called “Knitalong: Celebrating the Tradition of Knitting Together” by Larissa Brown and Martin John Brown called the Traveling Scarf and am really enjoying how it is knitting up.  It creates a nice, flexible, thick fabric and the irregularities of the yarn are not as noticeable (while the beautiful colorways are illuminated beautifully).  It’s also a one-row pattern (meaning you do the same thing each and every row).  So – no counting rows!  So easy!

PurpleManosScarfinProgress

My point here is that if you are going to stray from existing patterns (which I highly recommend you do), and you attempt to create unique combinations of stitches that are interesting to you, you should be prepared to rip out and start over once or twice.  You may end up going back to an approach you had already tried – and that’s okay.

You won’t know the possibilities unless you explore them.

Happy Knitting!

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