KnitCrit

Bathed in Silk(y Wool)

Silky Wool, that luscious 50/50 Silk and Wool blend from Elsebeth Lavold, is my gold, my chocolate, my obsession. Ever since I knit BFF’s 50th birthday shawl with it six years ago, I’ve been hooked. When I have purchased some, it has been for the best of my best knitting projects.
Recently, I was at knit group at my LYS, The Bay Window. There Polli was, pulling all of the remaining Silky Wool in their inventory and putting it in the CLEARANCE basket. That little demon in my head kept chanting, “stay away from the Silky Wool,” and surprisingly, I did.
At least in a physical sense I did.
Once home, I went onto Ravelry to search afghan patterns with Silky Wool. I had no idea that the Moderne Log Cabin blanket, that garter stitch pattern made famous by Kay Gardiner and Ann Shayne in Mason-Dixon Knitting, was knit in Silky Wool. All that garter stitch – can I do it?
Yes, I can because, after all, I am able to read on my Kindle while knitting a repetitive knit stitch pattern. And, I have wanted to find more time to read all the books I’ve loaded on my Kindle.
Justification complete and decision made!
The next morning, my first stop was The Bay Window.  For the blanket, I need 5 skeins of 3 colors and 4 of one color. The clearance bin was one skein short for one of the colors. I knew I had some left over from the BFF shawl, but would it work?
Yes, it not only works, but it blends beautifully, with just the right 
amount of brightness to pull out the deepness in the colors of the others.
Aren’t they lovely?
                

Knitting Obsession, Part I

From time to time, and recently quite often, I discover a new pattern or yarn and feel that I must have it. The same intense desire may also occur around a particular type of project or construction technique.
What primarily separates these obsessions with clinical OCD is that mine are rational. They may take over my life for awhile, but they are logical yearnings.
My latest knitting obsession has been Berocco Pure Merino yarn. The owners of Webs recently announced on their Ready, Set, Knit podcast episode that this yarn is being discontinued. They purchased an enormous lot, in a variety of colors, and are now selling it for $4.29 a ball – almost ½ off!
Ever since I listened to the episode last week, each day I have spent time going through the patterns that I have "favorited" on Ravelry, that use worsted weight yarn. I have kept the page on the Webs site open as a reminder that I want to order some.

So many lovely colors.

So many possible projects.
 
For now, though, I have decided to forego purchasing any of the Pure Merino yarn. In the next couple of weeks, I have trips planned that all include possibilities for new yarn purchases. Also, I really want some Quince & Co. and Fiber Company yarns (mini knitting obsessions). Multiple hours have been spent on this latest knitting obsession, but this one is ending without spending any money.  Phew!