Yarn

Handspun Mohair: A case of serious yarn lust

Tue. September 7th 2010 2am

I was happily browsing in yarn shop Imagiknit in the Castro District of San Francisco, when suddenly a beautiful skein of hand spun mohair caught my eye. Scrumptious and luscious this skein was, not only hand spun but also hand dyed in a subtle tone on tone lilac. Here and there you can still see the natural white and the soft curls of the angora goat's locks are still visible. Before my hand reached out to this skein, in that second before my fingers would touch it, I knew my heart was sold. This yarn, my knitting friends and fiber addicts, is a very very special find... Fuzzy and soft...

GET PATTERN >>

READ >>

Images, Mood and Inspiration

Tue. August 24th 2010 11pm

Ever since I purchased the natural color Malabrigo Rasta yarn, and ever since I mentioned the ermine, lots of images have been popping up in my mind's eye. These images evoked a certain mood within me, which leads to inspiration and ultimately a better understanding of design #1 which I am having a lot of trouble with. Slowly but surely, design #1 is allowing me to capture her, to define her, to find a name for her. I know she wants to reveal herself, but as soon as I think I have a grip on her, she slips through my hands and leaves me grasping in nothing much but...

GET PATTERN >>

READ >>

Design succes from an unexpected yarn

Mon. August 23rd 2010 2am

Over the past week I have been in serious designing mode with several super bulky yarns and although working with big yarns takes less time, it doesn't mean a design comes easily. Especially one particular piece (let's call it design #1) I have been working on, is viciously kicking my butt. A royal pain in the behiny, I tell you! I have tried to capture this piece in Rowan Big Wool, but alas, without succes. By the time I knitted the 7th (!!!) prototype with Rowan Big Wool, and the 8th (!!!) prototype with Misti Super Chunky, I produced a loud scream of...

GET PATTERN >>

READ >>

Crooked Path

Thu. August 19th 2010 3am

Pattern: Crooked Path by Melissa LaBarreYarn: 1 ball of Madeline Tosh VintageNeedles: Addi Turbo 16", US5 and US7 This jewel of a design had my heart beating faster when I found it on Ravelry. The soft curves in the lace design and especially the way the design comes together at the very top is just so pleasing to the eyes. I was thrilled to see that the designer Melissa LaBarre used Madeline Tosh Vintage! What a wonderful marriage of design and yarn...sigh of delight! Of course I rushed to Imagiknit's, a yarn shop in San Francisco which I frequent often now, and got me some wonderful...

GET PATTERN >>

READ >>

Hit me with that bulk

Tue. August 17th 2010 10pm

Designer: Giles Deacon, RTW Fall 2007 Photo: Style.com Lately, I have been drawn to the bigger gauge yarns. I am talking big big here, super bulky, super chunky and needle size US#15 and up. It stills my impatience and it fuels my hunger for quick projects. Instant gratification is highly appreciated by me these days! For the past few days I have been designing with Misti Alpaca Super Chunky and Rowan Big Wool. And I am about to try out some Burly Spun by the brand Brown Sheep. Oh goodies! Let us take a closer look at the 3 yarns I just mentioned... Super Chunky Solid by Misti Alpaca My...

GET PATTERN >>

READ >>

16 Sixteen Cable Hat

Fri. August 13th 2010 3am

Pattern: 16 sixteen cable hatYarn: 2 balls of Rowan Kid ClassicNeedles: Addi Turbo 16", US7Size: the bigger size, co 88 st While browsing for a hat pattern on Ravelry, I found this fantastic hat pattern called 16 sixteen cable hat by Circe aux Belles Boucles. I was so happy to find this sweet little piece, especially after I became somewhat impatient after having browsed through over 400 (!) hat patterns before I got to this one. But oh boy, it was worth the search. I am loving the wide, all over cables and it works so well with the yarn I used: Rowan Kid Classic. It was a pleasure to...

GET PATTERN >>

READ >>

Cascade Venezia

Fri. January 15th 2010 5am

The brand Cascade has a very good selections of yarns. One of their populair ones is Cascade 220, a very affordable and sturdy yarn for a good price. At the yarnstore, it is one of those yarns that we sell a lot of. One of my favorite yarns from Cascade, however, is the one called "Venezia". Content: Merino and Silk Yardage: 219 Retail Price: $14,00 Yarnweight: Medium Ply: Multiple Durability with dressy appearance Because of its multiple ply, this yarn is a very durable yarn. Meaning that it holds up well, doesn't pill that much, and it pretty sturdy. With these traits, Venezia...

GET PATTERN >>

READ >>

Defying Alpaca's Character

Tue. October 20th 2009 2am

Alpaca is one of my favorite fibers to work with. It's soft long fibers mesmerize me to no end and I have made many a project with Alpaca. From the very first moment I started experimenting with Alpaca, I noticed how it slouches so beautifully and how it has some good weight to it. And its softness, oh my! It was in October 2008 when I decided to knit a cowl made out 100% Alpaca. I wanted to feel its softness close to my neck while biking during a crisp not yet too cold Fall day and feel all warm and cozy and happy. So... I casted on with some 100% Misti Alpaca, knitted it up in 2...

GET PATTERN >>

READ >>

Just 5 strands...

Wed. March 26th 2008 5am

All it takes is just 5 strands... Five strands of mere softness, lusciousness and pure delight make my heart skip a beat and I hold my breath only to exhale in pure excitement. As these 5 strands slide through my fingers, the softness and shine of this incredible yarn just makes me want to scream. However, I have to remind myself that I am not the only one at the Teahouse so I refrain from making loud noises. Instead, I indulge in silent secrecy and the only sound one can detect are the soft click-clicks of my Addi's. I doubt that anyone can hear the sound of 5 strands of pure cashmere...

GET PATTERN >>

READ >>