So THAT'S what I write about...

Paper

Paper yarn feels a lot like a use dryer sheet that got stuck in a pair of pants and has been carried around for half a day before falling out.  In fact, my looks a lot like a dryer sheet that had a sewing machine taken to it.  It's soft and super squishy.  It feels great as it's knit up; in fact, I found it very nostalgic and comforting in a way I can't quite put my finger on.

My Paper Yarn:
Universal Yarns Papier (colorway: Iron Teapot) is a blend of 75% Paper and 25% Nylon.  My bet is the nylon is the stitching that holds the whole yarn together.

•  Texture: It's soft and delightful.  The stitching adds a shine and depth not seen in other yarns. 5 Yarngasms.
• Durability:  Yikes, this is a delicate yarn.  Between the delicate dryer sheet body and stitching, I don't know how much this yarn will hold up against normal wear and tear.  1.5 Yarngasms.
• Frogability:   Just don't.  I unfortunately had to frog this yarn several times in the course of trying to find the right project and what started off smooth and beautiful very quickly because ragged and snared.  The yarn is still very tacitly pleasing, but less aesthetically pleasing.  0 Yarngasms.
• Drape:  Paper is a dense fiber, but is incredibly light.  I feel like it's very middle of the road; not too drapey, but not too springy.  3 Yarngasms.

My Project:
This yarn started as the Sidewinder Hat (Ravelry link) which is one of my favorite hats.  Warning: don't try cables with this yarn.  It just doesn't look right.  I was getting a weird stitched to non-stitched yarn side ratio and I wasn't happy with how anything looked.  So I took it apart.  Then, I tried another hat because I couldn't for the life of me find an adult  pattern that called for 136 yards.  Eventually, I settled on a the Rag Bag (another Ravelry link). 

My yarn is a little worse for wear because of all the knitting and frogging, but I am so pleased with how the final project turned out.  It's a simple little bag and paired with a snazzy Fabric Flower it looks really adorable. 

Austin, TX

When I travel, I make it a habit to check out a local yarn store.  In my humble opinion, you can tell a lot about the knitters in a region by looking at the kinds of stores they have at their disposal and what fibers/brands are readily available.  The proprietors of these stores probably think I'm crazy because the first two questions out of my mouth are, "What do you have that's locally raised/spun/dyed?" and "What's the weirdest fiber here?".  Once I explain what I do on ye olde blog the crazy seems to make sense.  The latest in a long line of those subjected to my own personal brand of knitting crazy was Stacy at The Knitting Nest in Austin, TX.

The Knitting Nest is my kind of yarnery; lots of natural light, plenty of space in between shelves for browsing, enough stock that the space looks full, but not so much that you feel like your head might explode with choices, several comfy seating options for those who want to hang out and most importantly, fantastically knowledgeable and ridiculously friendly staff.  I want to clone the Nest and bring it to MN.  If you ever have the opportunity to visit Austin, a trip to The Knitting Nest is a must!

I may have lost all control and self-restraint while I was there (What, me, never...).  I left with the following:

• 2 skeins of Kollage Riveting in dusk denim (a semi-weird fiber)
• 3 skeins of Elsebeth Lavold's Baby Llama in juice, flaming red and pine (a fiber I haven't worked with yet)
• 2 skeins of Instant Gratification Superwash Sock Yarn in a colorway that can only be described as Valentine's Day (Texas made)
• 1 skein of Noro Kureyon Sock Yarn in deep blue (for a commissioned piece)
• 2 skeins of Queensland Collection Rustic Wool in charcoal (because it was on super sale)
• 1 skein of Spinning Colors Worsted in amethyst (also Texas made)
• 1 pack of notecards and 1 pack of tags from Knitterella (because who could resist...)

Seriously.  That's a full load of goodies.

With all that awesomeness abounding, it's no wonder that local knitters love The Knitting Nest.  It's won some awards and generally has some pretty cool people hanging about.

And... there's giant knitting needles.  GIANT.  As in, probably made for.  See:

I can't possible top those bad boys, so I'll leave it at that.  The Knitting Nest . 5 Yarngasms.  Word.

Sugar Cane

OMG.  Sugar cane yarn is the softest, smoothest, shiniest yarn in the whole wide world!  I can't find any manufacturing information on the interwebs, which only strengthens my initial feeling that it must be made with rainbows and fairies and unicorns and happiness.

My Sugar Cane Yarn:
My silver Araucania Ruca looks metallic.  But it's not.  It's 100% sugar cane. 

*This is the Periwinkle, not the Silver, but it's a good illustrator of the Shiny.

•  Texture: It's the softer, splittier cousin of cotton/seaweed/corn yarn baby.  5 Yarngasms.
• Durability: It's holding up after several wears.  I am a little worried about the snagging; catch it on anything and it shreds like cotton candy.  3.5 Yarngasms.
• Frogability: It's so pretty and delicate and lacking a lot of twist - it's not going to hold up to repeated froggings.  1.5 Yarngasms. 
• Drape: It shows off openwork like seaweed, but just a little lighter to wear.  It would be a really nice summer project yarn.  4.5 Yarngasms.

My Project:
The Ruca is a perfect yarn for a dressier project because of the Shiny.  I decided I needed a snazzy little cardi and found The Betty Minisweater.  I had never done a Roman Stripe stitch.  It was fun and the tiniest bit challenging. The stitch looks very similar to a crochet stitch, which means I get a lot of people asking about how I crocheted my sweater.  They are amazed when I explain that I did it with two pointy sticks.

Alpaca

Remember that little post about the difference (or lack thereof) between alpacas & llamas?  It was all in preparation for this moment.  This one, right here.  And another one, later on.  Quick recap: alpacas are roughly the size of an adult human and have soft, floofy, fleecy goodness.

Ask not what you can do for Alpaca, but what Alpaca can do for you:
Alpaca fleece is hypoallergenic, water repellent and difficult to ignite.  Cool, no?

My Alpaca Yarn:
I was at the Shepard's Harvest Sheep & Wool Festival last spring when I eye-spied this lovely yarn from EnchantedMeadows Alpacas and Goats.  They are super nice people who sell an amazing amount of yarn for a v. reasonable price.  I highly recommend picking up a hank or two (or three or ten) if you see them out and about.

 

Texture: It's soft and fuzzy and cozy.  3.5 Yarngasms.

Durability: The fuzzy becomes frizzy when frogged too much, worn a lot or mishandled in the washing process.  Alpaca is a fragile fiber, I tell ya.  2.5 Yarngasms.

Frogability: I wouldn't frog it if you paid me.  See above.  2 Yarngasms.

Drape: Alpaca is in that weird in-between place where it's not like making something with chain mail, but it's also not quite heavy enough to really show off openwork.  3 Yarngasms.

My Alpaca Project:
I made the Double V Cardigan by Melissa Wehrle from Interweave Knits, Spring 2010 (Ravelry link).  I love all of Melissa's designs.  You should too.  She rocks.

So.  Alpaca.  I've knit a few things with the fiber.  And I've loved all of them.  I've loved them so much that they more closely resemble a big piece of lint.  Like the Double V Cardi, I'm constantly picking fuzzballs the size of TX off my clothes after I wear it.  What is a girl to do then?  I want to keep knitting with alpaca because it's soft and warm and pretty inexpensive, but I need something that can withstand my not-so-delicate lifestyle.  I guess the best I can say is knit at your own risk and know yourself or the person for whom you are knitting the piece.

Speaking of TX, I'll be in Austin this weekend.  I think a trip to the Knitting Nest is in order!

Acrylic

Warning: I am a yarn snob.  And also an acrylic hater.  In my humble opinion, there are only 3 good reasons to knit with acrylic:

1. It's for a baby.  I don't want to put a ton of money into a knit piece that will inevitably end up covered in spit and god knows what else.  I also don't want aforementioned baby's parents to hate me because I made something that got covered in unmentionables and can't be machine washed.
2. I'm broke.  The one major awesome factor of acrylic is that it comes in large and inexpensive skeins.  I can knit whole sweaters for $5.  Okay.  Maybe not $5.  But definitely $10.
3. It's for someone who doesn't realize that their washing machine has cold and delicate settings.  We all know those people.  The ones who wash everything on hot.  The ones who felt all the beautiful woolen gifts you give them.  Even though you took the time to print a care tag and remind them that it's wool and will felt if washed with hot water.  Yep.  Them.  I'm looking at YOU, Grandma!

But for the sake of science and this blog, I broke down and knit with acrylic for none of the reasons listed above.

My Acrylic Yarn:
I picked up some Caron Simply Soft from my local craft emporium (read: Joann's).  It didn't make me want to cut my hands off while I knit, so that's something.

• Texture: If I close my eyes real tight and sit on my hands until they fall asleep before I start knitting, I can almost imagine that I'm knitting with wool and not plastic. 1.5 Yarngasms.
• Durability: It can survive babies and the washing machine illiterate.  It's the cockroach of yarn. 4 Yarngasms.
• Frogability: It can be frogged and frogged without breaking, but after a time or two it turns into a scary, frizzy muppet.  2 Yarngasms.
• Drape: It can get a bit heavy, but if you accommodate for that, it's not too bad. 3 Yarngasms.

My Project:
Christmas Tree Skirt by Ann V. Gallentine (Ravelry link).  It's my go-to Christmas pattern.  I've made it for 3 people in varying sizes.  It's easy, but looks like you spent some time on it.

It's acrylic.  What more can I say?

I Fail: A Confession

You know that scene in Pinocchio where the little puppet boy and his father sail the turbulent seas only to be swallowed by a whale?  That was my life.  The whale kept me from blogging.  Well, you know, the metaphorical whale.  Not a real whale.  We don't have whales in Minnesota.  Many lakes.  No whales.

Now, I'm mostly all better.  Which means I can get back to the business at hand.  Mainly yarn made from cool stuff. 

Super awesome things to look forward to in the coming weeks:  SUGAR YARN!  PAPER YARN! 

And decidedly less exciting things to look forward to in the coming weeks: WOOL YARN!  COTTON YARN! ACRYLIC YARN!

Stay tuned.