One of the things I love about the fiber arts community, and the Ravelry community in particular, is that we know how to keep ourselves busy with fiber stuff. Things are really hopping this first quarter 2014. I've mentioned the Spin A LOT (aka "Spin something big") challenge (I'm down to 3 lbs. of Shetland left!), which is hosted by the Spin Your Stash Ravelry group, as well as the "New-to-You" knit-along ("KAL") for the ESK Yarnathon. This weekend marks the beginning of a KAL I've been really looking forward to, hosted by the Cold Sheep and Friends Ravelry group. It's called "Shrine of the Precious," and the challenge is to pick that precious item from your stash that you have avoided using because it is so special that it must only be used for that phenomenal, perfect, transcendent project that you haven't quite thought of yet, but are sure you will think of someday (but once you think of it you probably still won't make it because you're sure you'll mess it up). Yep, that's the one. And it provides a perfect segue into the still unnamed segment* in which I feature an item from my stash...
Meet the Precious
There are definitely a few candidates in the stash pile, but hands down the one that rises to the top is my handspun yak/merino/silk yarn.
Yak has become extremely popular in the fiber arts community because it is almost as fine as cashmere, but usually a lot less expensive. This particular yak blend, which came from Ashland Bay, is a dream to spin. Sometimes when you are dealing with blends of different fibers it can be challenging to spin smoothly, but this stuff is like butter. Early last year, when I was in the beginnings of my Swirl obsession, I decided I would use this yarn to make a Swirl. Well...I thought spinning it was wonderful, but knitting with it? Best Yarn Ever. The Swirl ultimately did not work out. I had spun a bunch of the yarn, but Swirls are yarn eaters and I ran out of already spun yarn. I still had some fiber, so I tried spinning up more yarn, but it came out at a different gauge and when I added it to the Swirl in progress, it was way too bulky. The Swirl was turning into a complete mess. Also, in the interim, I had the opportunity to try on a few different styles of Swirls (they are various shapes) and discovered that the pattern I had picked was not particularly flattering on me. So I decided to frog the Swirl (and went on to make other Swirls in other shapes with other fibers). Anyway, of course, I decided to get more of the yak fiber blend because I was clearly enjoying it so much. And I discovered a horrible thing: Ashland Bay discontinued the fiber blend! Yes, they still do a yak/silk blend and a yak/merino blend, but no more perfectly blended, life changing, yak/merino/silk blend. Waaaaaaaaaaaa! I bought up as much as I could still find lingering in various vendors' stocks, but it was not enough. It could never be enough....
Obviously, I would never be able to use this yarn without the help of a support group. Yarn is not meant to remain balled up in the stash, metaphorically guarded by barbed wire fencing and vicious dogs. Yarn is meant to be converted into finished objects that are used and treasured. So, with the virtual hand holding of my cold sheeping friends, I have bravely decided this yarn will be transformed into a hoodie so I can wear it all the time and it will feel like my favorite yarn is giving me a hug.
The Shrine of the Precious challenge runs through March 31st, so expect progress reports as things, well, progress.
Checking In
If you were paying close attention, you realized that participating in the Shrine of the Precious challenge means I need to cast on yet another new project, so, speaking of progress--perhaps we do indeed need to speak a bit about progress!
Since I last typed at you, the modified Grand Plage Cardigan has been moving right along:
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It will have two buttons in the front. I've placed locking stitch markers to show where they will be. And it will have long sleeves. As you know my history with sleeves, now is the time to place your bets as to when this will actually be finished. (But don't tell me your guesses, you might hurt my feelings, lol. If you say "by St. Patrick's Day," I will know you are picking on me.)
I have also made progress on the Mink Cardigan.
It is not yet sewn together, but is temporarily held together by locking stitch markers for trying on/photographing purposes. It will also have long sleeves, and it has told me that it now wants side pockets. Sometimes you just have to give the garment what it wants.
So, we are pretty much in a situation where most of my cardigan WIPs need sleeves to move forward. It's going to be a fun month. I am not discouraged!
WIPs cont.: Roll in the Tanks
Lest you become too impressed by my cardigan progress, I give you the next installment of the WIP Parade--tanks/sleeveless tops in progress. I do not yet have Ravelry pages up for these as they are way way down on the priority list as compared to the cardigans, but I expect they will get more of my attention as we get closer to spring.
This one is furthest along:
This is the completed back. The front will have a V-neck. The yarn is a merino/silk/cashmere blend.** The yarn is so fine that I am holding it double to make this top and it is still pretty lightweight.
This is the beginning of the back of a tank:
I primarily started this one because I wanted to try out the stitch pattern (found in Barbara G. Walker's A Treasury of Knitting Patterns) but wanted to do something more than a swatch. Here is a close up of the stitch pattern, which is a mock cable combined with a twisted rib:
The yarn is made from 85% recycled cotton and 15% recycled cashmere. Once the tank is finished, it will be wonderful to wear in summer.
Here is another beginning of a back:
I started this to try out the yarn. It is a merino wool blend that includes milk protein, among other things. I have milk protein fiber, but haven't actually tried spinning it yet. Because the yarn is from a blend, I cannot really tell what properties the milk protein adds to the mix, but the yarn is nice and soft. It is also thick, so this will definitely be a top for cooler weather.
I think that's it for now---I've got a hoodie to cast on. Until next time...***
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*"Stash Dive"? "The Treasure Chest"? "Yarn and/or Fiber of the Week"? "Stash Flash"? Maybe I need to have a naming contest.
**Most of the yarns I am using in my WIPs (including this one) are commercial yarns, i.e., not spun by me. You may correctly assume that if a yarn in question is my handspun, I will most certainly tell you.
*** ...when hopefully there will be some sleeve progress to show off??
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