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Tags. . . and end with the wool!
Now, it’s been bandied about that I have no stash. This isn’t entirely accurate. I have some stash. But it’s really rather small. I showed it to Lolly and Kris a few weeks ago, and Kris laughed–laughed!–when he mentally compared the basket of sock yarn and 1.5 bins of yarn I own to what he has in his house. Remember at the beginning of the year, when I declared I would reduce my stash by 1/3? Actually not all that hard to accomplish. (And yet, I don’t think I did. I reduced it by, I don’t know, maybe 1/4.)
So I was resolved to buy yarn on Saturday at Maryland Sheep and Wool and feel no guilt. And I did! I spent nearly all the cash I’d given myself to spend, and I couldn’t be happier with my purchases. The “spree” didn’t start out so well–I was so overwhelmed that I passed by a lot of great stuff. My first purchase was, naturally, sock yarn–what I identified as a good deal, from a small company that looked nice.
That’s 440 yds of The Flock Bransonas for $15! This whetted my appetite and got the juices flowing, as it were. Because then I unleashed the hounds. To totally mix my metaphors.
Koigu and Louet Gems in complementary colors; I’m thinking a short pair of entrelac socks or some other colorwork project, maybe.
Black Louet Gems sock yarn–I need some good dark colored socks for everyday wear, rather than the colorful ones I hide under boots or wear on the weekends.
Laceweight wool in bright orange! I left the skeins in MD (the ‘rents will bring the yarn up this weekend, when they come to visit), and I didn’t write down the details. Anyway, I’m eyeing the Swallowtail Shawl (check out two different knitalongs! here’s the IK page) despite those p5tog nupps, and I’m considering taking a look at Victorian Lace Today. For no reason other than that I want to knit some lace.
Brooks Farm Yarn Macero (Mas-Acero) in a steely gray. I’m not sure what I’ll use this for, but there’s something like 800 yards of it, and it’s a worsted weight 60/20/20 wool/silk/viscose blend that feels super yummy.
Brooks Farm Acero, the DK version, in this tweedy green. This is going to be the Cabled Bandeau (Ravelry link, for those who can use it) from Winter 05 Interweave (IK link for others; scroll down). Not many have made this pattern, not many speak very highly of it, but I think I can make it work. This is another thing, like the Shocking! Skirt (also by Veronik Avery!) that I’m skeptical of in theory, but which I think I can make work in reality.
and then, the piece de resistance . . .
Tess Designer Yarns Silk & Ivory in baby pink. This yarn is 50% wool, 50% silk. It’s going to be Sahara. I’m going to buy beads (eventually) to string onto the sparkly section. But for now I’m just going to pet the yarn.
That’s it! It’s actually feeling like a ton of yarn for me. And you know what? I just noticed this: It’s all for ME!! I ‘m so eager to cast on for these projects, I suspect I’ll burn through it in no time flat. I think first up is the Cabled Bandeau. I’m on a Veronik kick, what can I say?
45 Responses to . . . and end with the wool!
Very nice acquisitions! I’m glad you got over your overwhelmed feeling (I felt that too) and made some purchases. I’m excited to see how the Tess yarn works out in Sahara. I think it will be beautiful!
Yay Minty! Congratulations on such a beautiful stash enhancement. The Tess yarn is so pretty, I can’t wait to see you knitting up these projects.
Wow. Some great choices.
I keep saying that i’m so NOT a “pink” girl…but that Tess, YUM!! It’s gorgeous!
Mmmmm. And what a stash it is!
Have you seen this modular sock pattern? [http://wolhalla.nl/a%20modulesok%20eng.pdf]
It would be great in the Koigu/Louet combo.
well done my dear! excellent stash enhancement.!
Ahhh… doesn’t it just feel nice?
And you are still being very good since you know what you would like to knit with each of them.
yay- our first ravelry linking action. :)
Yeah!!!! That is a great haul!! Good for you. :)
Yeah, Kris did laugh, didn’t he? I laughed too, as I recall :)
Seeing all of this together here makes me think you increased your stash by 200%!
I am excited to see all of your knits – specifically the Bandeau. I have always been a fan of that one, but don’t quite have the figure to pull it off [yet]. Great Tess yarn for the Sahara too!
xo,
L
Wow! That is one great haul. Lots of great stuff, and you even know what you bought it for! That’s a lot more than I can say.
You got the perfect yarn Sahara. I can’t wait to see it; it’s going to be gorgeous.
Great stuff! I can’t wait to see your finished projects as I know they will be beautiful!
A stashlet is born! Sniff. I’m so proud.
It took me a long time to embrace my stash, but I still have to keep it at an “inspirational” level instead of “oppressive.” Too much stash feels like a “to do” list to me, but a nice-sized stash feels like an invitation to create.
You definitely did some shopping after I left you — you only had that sock yarn when I saw you last!
Yummmmmmm. I think we are long-lost twins. First you wowed me with the Shocking skirt–which is simply fabulous–and now these yarn purchases. I simply cannot wait to see that beautiful orange Swallowtail, and the pink Sahara!
It looks like you had a fantastic time at MSW. I *love, love, love* the Tess yarn…so pretty! And the lace weight orange is beautiful.
that is some great stash enhancement!!!! I think I saw you walking around on the grass behind the main building on Saturday….
lovely haul!
Good choices!
My friend Iraida started the first Swallowtail KAL, and when we realized someone started another one a few days later, we asked them if they wanted to join forces. They sadly declined :(
That looks like a great haul. And in true form, you have projects associated with it already! As far as I’m concerned, it’s not stash if it has a project associated with it.
I love Veronik Avery’s designs! They classic and unique at the same time. I hear that she’s off to work with a yarn company now (Classic Elite? I can’t remember).
Thanks for telling me that it’s silk and wool. I had a hard time imagining ivory yarn.
*drool*
ugh. this is like… like… I don’t know what it’s like, but some unique kind of torture. I’m two months into a seven month yarn diet (unfortunately, when they figured my grad student stipend they did not take into account the fact that housing, food, and YARN are all nececssities!).
I live vicariously through you, because you bought some truly lovely yarn. Can’t wait to see it knit (btw, I highly recommend the swallowtail. the nupps are no where near as annoying as they seem like they ought to be… crochet hook does the trick right nice).
my non-stash is jealous! :)
That orange laceweight is going to make a gorgeous Swallowtail…such pretty, pretty yarn. Some very good selections to grow the stash!
It all looks so lovely!
I also have a small stash-there is nothing bad with that :)
Pretty pretty pretty.
I’m a low-stash person myself. I haven’t completely bought into the culture of the SABLE.
*drool*
Beautiful additions to the stash. I like the idea that you have a small stash. I was able to do that for a while – then once I went of one buying binge, the second was easier. And so it goes….
Great purchases for some great patterns. I can’t wait to see this yarn turn into beautiful garments. :)
You got some great finds! I am working (well, that’s really stretching it) on the Cabled Bandeau as well- with Aurora 8. I really need to pick it up again. Are you casting on right now?
Can’t wait to see that bandeau, there is no dobut in my mind that you’ll make it work!
ooh, nice stash aquisitions! I’m bummed I didn’t make it to MD, but I’ll live vicariously through you instead:)
mmm. Pretty pretty pink yarn.
But be careful making that sweater. All of the models have extraordinarily creepy eyes.
Love that Frock yarn, I wish I would have seen their booth. You definitely picked up the most awesomest of all the gorgeous Tess yarns, yum!
Excellent choices. So have you now at least quadrupled your stash?
Dude, the stash is quite enviable. I really must get my butt in gear for the next festival… look at all of those fibers! And the silky Tess yarn?? Whoa…
They’re not really p5togs, they’re actually sl3-p2tog-PSSOs. It’s the same thing, yet soo much easier on the nerves.
Nice picks!
It is all very lovely. Enjoy it all, but Oooo!!!! Entrelac socks! Entrelac socks! Please??
Great additions to the stash! I am intrigued by the Brooks Farm – I too am interested in knitting lace – I’ll have to go check them out.
I’ve been wanting to make Sahara for quite some time, but haven’t worked out an affordable way to do that while still using awesome yarn. I can’t wait to see how yours turns out.
Gorgeous yarn!
About the nupps on the swallowtail – here’s a tip for ya.
Slip 2 stitches, P3Tog, then slip the 2 slipped stitches over the p3tog. Much easier and neater and doesn’t change the look.
Sahara is beautiful, but oh my the cleavage! The tess yarn is gorgeous.
Such a great haul & YAY that it is all for you!! I am so looking forward to seeing it knit up!
LOTS LOTS of YARN!!!!
I wish i was with you!!(I need a yarn really bad RIGHT NOW)
She looks sooo into it!!!
You never know, when she grow up be a spinner..hehe Who know!!
By the way…visit my knitting blog something!!
Thanks
Charles
I bought the same baby pink Tess yarn. Isn’t it yummy?
nice stash additions! all look like very pretty yarns that will be fun to play with – enjoy.
It’s funny, when I read “cabled bandeau” my EXACT thought was, “you know, I bet she’s totally going to pull that pattern off, just like she did with the Shocking skirt.” With both of us thinking that, how could it not be true?