Stash Appreciation Wednesday: Snowed In Edition

Stash Appreciation Wednesday is back! Well, sort of, because it's actually Thursday. Stash Appreciation Wednesday got stuck in her driveway while trying to back out in the damn snow. The snowplows finally came around last night, but until then little Wednesday had to stare out the window longingly.


This week, the spotlight is on Pagewood Farms Willow Creek laceweight in the colorway River Rock. I don't usually go for multi-colored laceweight, but this colorway is just brilliant: softly heathered colors, deep and complex like shetland, but soft enough to wear around your neck. I noticed a lack of purples in my laceweight stash, so when I went to Weaving Works over the holidays and Santa (aka my mother) asked me what I wanted for Christmas, this was immediately in the running.


And I even got to act surprised when I opened it on Christmas. I think its destined to become the Triangular Scarf in Leaf Pattern, a somewhat under-loved pattern from Knitted Lace of Estonia. Are we seeing a trend in my lace-knitting projects? Damn you, Nancy Bush, for being so brilliant!



Also joining the party: a newly-cast on Multnomah in Ella Rae Lace Merino. And yes, this is a different colorway from what's already in my stash. Yes, I realize I have a problem. But one color in my stash is reserved for a design project, two are for a large project, and one is a combination of colors that I'm only brave enough to wear on my feet. So, you see, I had to get a face-friendly, super-soft skein of yarn for this project, which I suddenly and violently became enamored with after seeing many beautiful versions on ravelry. Plus, it's perfect in-class knitting: not too much going on, but just enough garter-y goodness to keep me focused.

Now, if only it would stop snowing...

Stash Appreciation Wednesday: Second Day of Finals Hell Edition

We interrupt this Wednesday afternoon of studying the fall of the Tokugawa bakufu to bring you... well, a crazy person, apparently. Japanese history is actually super fascinating, but 3 hours of any type of studying just kinda does me in.

In between cram sessions, I've been drooling over some amazing things, working out (which is really fun when you get up to stretch from being a study-lump and all of a sudden you're like oh right, I really have calves today. thanks for reminding me, calves!) and knitting a pitiful, pathetic, somewhat disgustingly small amount. Like you get to knit four rows in between your cup of coffee and reading about the Namamugi Incident of Blahblahblahblah (actual event except for the blahblahs) and it's the most you've knitted in a week. Seriously.

Anyhow. Reading about amazing handspun sock yarn named after classic rock songs reminded me that I actually have two skeins of it in my stash, albeit a discontinued color. The skein on my head is Secret Agent Man, obtained at Yarn Con while visiting the talented and amazing Bethany in Chicago this last October. And behind me is the wonderful old Oberlin slogan.

Heck yeah, Oberlin, I'm gonna change the world. As soon as my brain stops leaking out my ears from finals. Which is your fault, by the way, Oberlin. Just to clarify.

Stash Appreciation Wednesday: Almost Finals Edition

Mmmmm silky wool. I bought a little more than a regular sweater's worth of this... oh man, probably my freshman year? It was originally intended for an Elsebeth Lavold pattern from one of the pattern support books, but after a while I realized that I wanted to try something a little different. A long jacket with a mandarin collar, frog closures, and some sort of light cable detail on the back (because I really, really love how this yarn looks with both cables and reverse stockinette) and contrasting applied i-cord edgings. I swatched for it, but didn't feel technically proficient enough to design and knit it myself, so this yarn has been sitting in my stash.

Also, I've noticed that both of the garments that I've built from scratch have ended up having applied i-cord. And, actually, both garments that I have yarn for and want to design in the future have applied i-cord edging. There's just something really great about a nice, clean, rolled edge that looks like dressed-up stockinette. Siiigh.

Anyhow. This yarn is strange in some ways; it's listed as a DK, but feels like a sport weight to me. I would hesitate to use it for anything that needs a lot of structure or weight (it's strangely light?), but it has such an interesting texture and an incredible color selection.

And, since it's just about finals time, all I want to do is pet my stash and dream about all the things I'm going to knit when I have a life outside of school. Which, conveniently, will be in about 10 days. I can't wait.

Stash Appreciation Wednesday: Jitterbug Edition

Gotta say, this is one of my top three favorite sock yarns ever. Tight twist, gorgeous color, and holds up amazingly well for merino. I've made two pairs of socks out of it, and there's an orange pair in particular that I reach for every time they're clean. This color is called Whirlifig, and I bought it in Chicago at Loopy. Sigh... all I want to do is cast on with it, but alas there is much commission and Christmas knitting to do before that can happen...

Stash Appreciation Wednesday: Two Days Late Edition

Well hi. I'm late with the stash appreciation this week, for no particular reason except that I fell asleep on Wednesday far before I intended to. Like, say, 10:30 pm when my normal bedtime is 12-1 am. This week has actually been really productive; I've been further photographing and cataloging my stash into Ravelry, which is pretty fun.

I've also cast on for a Cowichan-inspired vest. I've done the ribbing and a little less than an inch of stockinette, and, as with most of my made-up patterns thus far, I'm relying on little more than an idea of "hey that would be neat" and confidence in my knitting aptitude. I'm going to basically lock myself in Smith's tomorrow and try to get as much done as possible, then I will share some pictures. As a side note: intarsia is terrifying.

One thing that all of this pattern-making makes me appreciate even more than usual is an innovative, well-executed design. I love it when the numbers add up symmetrically and when corners turn crisply, and when pattern and yarn skip happily down the road together holding hands while singing. Which is where the blue Araucania Azapa above comes in: it's an experiment in yarn-pattern matchmaking. One of my favorite patterns from Jared Flood's CEY pattern booklet is this jaunty little cap called Quincy. It looks like an interesting construction and I love the little twist at the side; it kinda reminds me of a sailor hat. One of these days (which is to say, when the commissioned, for-school, and for Smith's knitting is finished, which will be in approximately 4 million years) I'm going to cast on. And it will be so exciting.

But for now, I can't really think of anything wrong with working with copious amounts of Mirasol Sulka.

Hee hee.

Stash Appreciation Wednesday: Casbah Edition

This week's stash appreciation is directed towards this beautiful little skein of Handmaiden Casbah, a nylon/merino/cashmere blend. I got this at River Colors, a great yarn store in Lakewood, Ohio, while on a yarn adventure with a couple of friends from Smith's in Oberlin. I saw this skein hiding below a shelf full of Smooshy and was totally taken by the color. When I was little, my best friend's mom had these amazing cobalt blue glass cups, and ever since then I love that deep, electric blue.

The only thing that makes absolutely no sense about this yarn (besides how mind-blowingly awesome it is) is the name:

Periwinkle.

..........um. When I think Periwinkle, I think delicate and non-eye punching. This skein definitely has its boxing gloves on.

Anyhow, this yarn is so, so soft and the color so incredible that I almost don't want to make it into socks just to have them wear out. Anybody have project suggestions for a single skein of Casbah?

Also as a quick little note, I maybe knew in the back of my brain that Addi Turbos and Addi Lace have differing mm measurements of US size 1s... but apparently not well enough. In Chicago, I picked up a set of Addi Lace needles to finish the silk shirt I cast on in June, but stalled out on because of the blunt regular Addis I was using. I had knit about 5 rows and thought I was just rowing out really bad, and then I looked at the marking on the cable. Duuuuuh. Below is where I'm picking up the row where I last used the real US 1.

Addi, I love you, but we need to talk.


It always amazes me how different my gauge is for 2.25 mm versus 2.50 mm. Seriously. Knitting is an exact science.

But you all knew that already.

Stash Appreciation Wednesday: Wollmeise Edition

Wow, it's been a while! Last week was fall break, and I went to Chicago to visit my yarny friend Bethany.

We had a great time! I'll have more about yarny goodness that was acquired on the trip, but for now, this is a picture of Bethany and me on the bank of Lake Michigan. There was a lot of construction on the El while I was there, which sometimes threw a wrench in travel plans, but for the most part I was seriously impressed with the transportation system. Buses every 8 minutes what?!?

Anyhow, since it is Stash Appreciation Wednesday and I've missed the last two weeks, I'll share one of my recent acquisitions from Ravelry.

Whazzat?

It's Wollmeise, dudes. Only one of the most coveted fingering weight yarns on the market, and it seems that it really does live up to the hype - massive yardage, soft, and incredible colors. It has such an interesting construction; the first time I saw it, I thought it was a cotton although it's just a multi-plied, tightly twisted wool yarn.


It's destined to become some twisted stitch knee socks for a private reading that I'm doing.

On an unrelated topic, I found a great use of a shibori scarf I finished back in August!

Combining colors surprises me so much sometimes. Who knew that grey, yellow gold, pink, brown, and dragonskin green would go together?

Stash Appreciation Wednesday: Silk Edition

First up, I just want to rave about the magic of blocking. I finished knitting this little shawl about five months ago, but it was so... meh. It looked kind of ugly, to tell the truth. Sloppy and yet glossy, and too small to actually wear. But then I had a fabulous weekend about two weeks ago in which I blew off my homework for a few hours to block three pink shawls in a row. And let me tell you, I had never truly appreciated what blocking does for a piece. All of a sudden this little crumpled ball of yarn is light and big enough to wrap around my neck, with all the drape and crispness one would associate with silk. And the color, which had started to look sort of drab and unappealing, is almost the exact color of cherry blossoms, although in the wrong season entirely!

The pattern was Shetland Triangle, I have no idea what size needles I used (US 8s, maybe?), and I used 3 skeins of a sample colorway of Louisa Harding Grace Silk & Wool.

Anyhow! Onto the yarn that hasn't been knit yet, although it's related because it's also a silk and wool blend.




This is a skein of Mini Maiden that I got in Santa Barbara, at the amazing yarn store Loop & Leaf. I have to say that I'm very loyal to Smith's for my workhorse yarns, but as far as luxury, colorwork, and unique yarns go, this yarn store is hands-down my favorite yarn store ever. It was incredibly aesthetically pleasing, with hooks on the wall to hang the skeins, and little sections of each yarn: a corner for Handmaiden; a section for Habu (also, biggest selection of Habu I've ever seen); a section for Alchemy. Seriously, seriously wonderful place. I also purchased my copy of A Fine Fleece at this store.

The yarn is a heavy laceweight, and I'm planning to use it for another project from Knitted Lace of Estonia. The color and hand is what drew me to it - I was really hoping to find a truly golden yarn, and this is it. I'm actually surprised that my camera was able to pick up the true color, but the photos above are pretty accurate.

And, as usual, I want to cast on with it right now. However, research for my materials chemistry class is calling my name - and luckily, I was able to convince my professor (who was also my boss this summer at the nanotechnology company) that fibers and yarns totally have relevance in materials chemistry. So guess what my final project is on? Yeeeeah.

Stash Appreciation Wednesday: Total Indulgence Edition

In the spirit of Stash Appreciation Wednesday, I have another yarn purchase to confess. It's not huge for some people, and I would love to say that I had a whole stash full of this wonderful stuff... but the truth is that I can't afford to buy sweater amounts of much of anything. Cute little tank amounts? Sure! Sock amounts? Sign me up! But when it comes to full sweater commitments, I fail pretty hardcore. Cascade 220 is my limit.

Occasionally I will go insane and get an entire Autumn Rose's worth of Jamieson Shetland... but that's an investment, you know? My meager student bank account can't afford for me to buy 23 balls of Debbie Bliss anything, unfortunately. So I stick with laceweight and sock yarn (because really, a whole project for $8-$20? Lots of bang for your knitting buck) and my friends all laugh at me because I own about 4 pairs of socks that aren't hand-knit. That, and I have a sock yarn stash the size of Pluto.

Actually, that's sort of a lie. At the beginning of the summer, I was down to 11 pairs worth of yarn. Considering that I was at about 25 last fall, that's pretty tiny. But then the summer happened, and, oh, you know.

Anyhoo.

Want to know what I bought an entire sweater's worth of?


If you hadn't guessed already... mmmhmmmmm. Malabrigo. And what can I say about this yarn that hasn't been said before? That it's an incredibly soft single ply merino wool kettle-dyed in luminous colors? That it feels like butter (in a good way!) and has amazing, squooshy stitch definition? Because it has definitely been described in all of these ways at one point or another.

It's destined to become Amanda, from the beautifully designed and photographed A Fine Fleece. Although I don't spin my own yarn, this book is incredibly inspiring - full of aran sweaters in wonderful, tweedy, earthy yarns. I'm planning to do some waist shaping to make it more flattering to my body type. In the meantime, I've already cast on for Halcyon in one of my few sweater-amounts of yarn, Ella Rae Classic in a burgundy color that is a pretty close approximation to Oberlin red. (Our school colors are red and gold; our mascot, the Yeoman. Yeoperson? Either way, I know: awesome.)

Now, if only there was a less conspicuous way to fiddle with a cable needle in class...

Stash Appreciation Wednesday: Grey Edition

Grey grey grey. I know that there's two different ways to spell it. I think that both are technically correct. But which is more aesthetically pleasing: grey, or gray? Grey with an "e" because it looks sleeker, more refined? Or gray with an "a" because it looks humble, just the kind of gray you could get a cup of coffee with? The conundrums of the English language, I tell you. Speaking of language conundrums: lately I've been thinking more in Japanese, which is weird. I'll be about to say something, and then realize that it's in another language that the people I'm talking to don't actually understand. Sort of mind-boggling.


Onto yarn! This yarn is called Yummy, by Fibranatura. I'm not totally sold on the dyejob of the more variegated colors of this yarn, but I'm totally ok with shades of grey. This yarn hasn't told me what it wants to be yet, but I have a feeling that it will make for some hard-wearing socks. It has a relatively tight twist, which makes me like it despite its somewhat rough hand - then again, I always find that rougher sock yarns soften up pretty quickly after washing and wearing.

Another weird note: a few weeks ago in Art Conservation, we talked a little bit about egg tempera and its various qualities. Apparently it has very saturated color due to the cross-linking of the proteins in the egg as it dries, whereupon it creates a pretty strong polymer.

I observed this phenomenon today in my apartment, in an omelette pan. My dish-washing experience was heightened by the knowledge that this same property has kept thousand-year-old paintings in their same basic form for all of that time. And now my kitchen's clean, so that's a plus too.

Stash Appreciation Wednesday: Ella Rae Lace Merino Edition

Okay, so I have a confession:

I'm addicted to this stuff.

Well. Maybe not addicted, because it's become general knowledge that Cory's yarn problem is not so much an "addiction" or "difficulty abstaining" than a "wonderful yarn sense that leads to pretty finished objects and sometimes random gifts to people she adores". Which sounds much nicer, doesn't it?


But onto the yarn. This is Ella Rae Lace Merino. My third skein. Gulp. I made a very pretty pair of Hederas with a pink skein, and I have a blue skein lying in wait until it can be used for a design project whenever I have enough brain cells to devote to the process. Which might be a while.

The wonderful thing about this yarn: the color, which is delightfully tie-dye-esque until one casts on... at which point each stitch becomes a different, slightly more magical color as you knit. Also, have I mentioned that it's incredibly soft? Because, um, it's incredibly soft.

I'll have to apologize for my absence the last few days. I came down with a cold over the weekend that threatened to eat any chance at a good grade on my Physics homework, so I spent most of the last two nights snuffling, wheezing, and poring over my damn textbooks. Because although at the time, I really could give a flying rat fanny about the velocity of the airplane as it drops a projectile into the ocean, I do want to understand physics. I do I do I do!

Not forgotten: Stash Appreciation Wednesday!

Wednesday is for blue Colinette mohair this week! I got this little skein of Colinette Parisienne in colorway Salty Dog (so cute) at a yarn shop called The Scarlett Skein in San Luis Obispo, California, while on my delightful yarn crawl with my mother. We were on the freeway probably two or three miles out from San Luis when I frantically called the store to ask about directions and parking. When we got there about five minutes later, the lady grinned at us and said, "Did you just call?"

Pretty awesome.


As for the yarn, I think it's destined to be a lacy triangular scarflet, nice and kicky. And, is it terrible that I think of this color as Gonzo Blue?

Stash Appreciation Wednesday

So, this may perhaps be a vain pursuit as the semester goes on, but I realized recently that I don't have very many pictures of my yarn stash. Which is too bad, because my stash is pretty awesome and deserves to be drooled upon more regularly.

So here goes: the first installation of Stash Appreciation Wednesday, in which I take pictures of my yarn and talk about how great it is.



Yarn: Madelinetosh Tosh Sock
Colorway: Rhubarb
Specs: 395 yards, fingering weight
Bought at: The Weaving Works in Seattle, Washington

I had heard a lot about Madelinetosh, and remembered having seen it at The Weaving Works one of the last times I was home. Overall impressions: yarn has a similar twist to Claudia Handpainted, which is one of my favorite sock yarns ever in terms of both knitting and wearability. I love the saturated colors and the yarn itself is insanely soft. This is probably one of the prettiest skeins in my stash - so pretty, in fact, that I almost don't want to knit it up.





.... key word being "almost".