Oct 4, 2012
Yarn Tasting
I don't know about you, but I can be a very faithful knitter. What I mean is that I tend to knit with the same yarns again ... and again ... and again. I know that we all have our favorites. Mine are Cascade 220, Madelinetosh anything, and Berroco Ultra Alpaca and Vintage. There's a reason that we have our go-to yarns, but in my effort to be a more mindful knitter, I'm thinking that I should explore and experiment a little more than I have.
So, I'm posing a question to you, dear friends. What new yarns have you discovered lately? I'm saving up a little bit of cash to splurge on indie dyers and small producers so I would especially love to hear about them, but don't hesitate to share your love of larger companies, too. Oh, and if you have a favorite project that you knit in your new favorite yarn, please share that, too!
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Wow, this question caused me to look back at my projects from 2012, and the only new yarn I've used is the Cascade Cloud! Looks like I'm faithful too!
ReplyDeleteMalabrigo Rasta is really fun. It's a partially felted roving style super bulky yarn that is SO SO SOFT.
ReplyDeleteI'm currently knitting with some sparkly sock yarn from Storied Yarns on Etsy. I've also had her custom-dye sock yarn for me... it's so pretty!
ReplyDeleteShibui Sock!!!! It is my new favorite- and so SQUISHY!!!!
ReplyDeletePlucky Knitter. A bit of a challenge to get but worth the effort. She sells using periodic 'updates' from her Etsy store & through her blog. Read up on her & you may well catch the Plucky bug.
ReplyDeleteI <3 Spud & Chloe Sweater and Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock. I also like Cascade 128 and Malabrigo's Rasta.
ReplyDeleteI haven't knit with many yarns that are not New Zealand yarns. But my absolute favourites that I will be stocking up on at the appropriate time are Noro (you'll like Silk Garden) and Rowan Felted Tweed.
ReplyDeleteI've been using NZ yarns pretty faithfully this year which is probably not that helpful to you, but my favs are Skeinz.com and Vintagepurls.co.nz YUMMY!
ReplyDeleteI wish that I had a suggestion, but I've been knitting pretty much exclusively from my stash. I am also dismayed to report that the closest decent LYS is an hour away! I think it is wonderful that you are trying new yarns. The title of this post reminds me of the event Webs held once, it was a yarn tasting where they would give out a bunch of samples that you could try knitting up.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure if it's because I have only been knitting for two years or not, but I am all over with my yarns. Not long ago I picked up Gina by Plymouth Yarn Company that I think I am really going to enjoy!
ReplyDeleteHonestly I stick to the same few yarns, too. It's really helpful to work with something familiar: you know how much it will grow, whether the colors hold fast, how it wears, and even your approximate gauge.
ReplyDeleteThis stuff was delicious, though: http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/punta-yarns-merisoft-hand-painted-aran
And Shokay Yak I got was surprisingly soft and had great stitch definition. (http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/shokay-shambala-yak) In fact I still have a little less than 1/2 skein that I want to use every last inch of. ♥
I highly recommend Cephalopod yarns and La Jolla yarns. I am in love with the nautilace I just bought from cephalopod yarns and the La Jolla Baah! was very soft to use on my shaw's cove shawl.
ReplyDeleteI just want to say this : why not dye some yarn yourself, and become your own indie yarn designer? I love knit picks bare or overdye a sale yarn you can find anywhere (superwash merino or wool/nylon or wool/silk all just drinks in dye !). How about trying overdying a light grey or heathered yarn into deeper shades of loveliness ? Example... if you buy yarn spun from naturaly undyed fleece from a grey sheep, a brown sheep, and a white sheep, and/or a yarn blended of several (heathered) , in the single dyebath you will have several different shades of the same tone of color. I LOVE dying ! I especially love over-dying sale yarn, it's thrilling. :)
ReplyDeleteI am absolutely in love with Valley Yarns. The quality is amazing, especially considering the price. I believe it'd be a top brand if not for the fact that you can only get it at yarn.com. My faves so far from them are Valley Superwash and Berkshire Bulky.
ReplyDeleteIf you haven't tried Blue Sky Alpaca's yarns, I suggest you do! I love all of their lines, especially worsted cotton and worsted hand dyed. Spud & Chloe Sweater, also a BSK line is dreamy too!
ReplyDeleteIn terms of Indie, Tanis is my fave. As you know, I love being part of her colour club!
Good luck finding your new fave. I bet you'll have fun trying!
Handmaiden Casbah and Barking Dogs Achilles are both lovely. I just got some Plucky Knitter and it is gorgeous, but I have yet to knit with it.
ReplyDeleteAfter years of hoarding and knitting with expensive yarns, this year I have surprised myself by enjoyably knitting and crocheting with craft store yarns. I like the Stitch Nation line, especially Bamboo Ewe and Full O' Sheep. I also made some projects with Quince and Co. Lark and Chickadee. Beautiful colors and wonderful classic wool yarns.
ReplyDeleteNatural Dye Studio. Possibly of limited use when you're on the other side of the pond, but I have loved knitting with both yarns that I've tried.
ReplyDelete