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February 04, 2007
novelty yarn etc
Have you already read the series of knitting novel by Maggie Selfton? Recently I have finished her first novel "Knit one, kill two" and now I am reading "Needled to death". I read it between errands, netsurfing and knitting and I am enjoying quite well. However, I have to admit that the most intriguing part of the book for me is not the description of knitting pleasure, rather I love to read the scene of Kelly, who is heroine of the story and CPA, who drinking "rich and strong " coffee friquently in the story. It is really tempting so each time when I read the part I want to get coffee....
BTW, there is another thing I noticed in the book: as the story is developed in and around a knitter's community at LYS with cafe, always someone in the scene is knitting something, and a knitting expert-teacher is knitting a compricated lace shawl, other is knitting a sweater, but there is always someone who is knitting fanky scarves with novelty, clearly synthetique yarn. In this second book, Kelly herself wants one and knitted a peacock blue eyelash yarn scarf.(she is novice as a knitter)
Indeed in our real world, there are many, many patterns and photos of that kind of yarn and its garments from magazines and shops, many publicities for that kind of novelty yarns and suggestions from the manufacturer.
But....as far as I know, which is so narrow knowledge and I know it, but I have no crue or memories of "novelty eyelash scarf" photo in any blogger's entry in real world. I believe I have never saw one. Then...who is actually knitting that kind of eyelashy-scarf? Do you have one?
As it exists, there is always people who purshase it, I understand. But also we can say it is true that there are much more novelty yarns on special discount sale than normal traditional wool.
Many knitters love and prefer wool, or natural fiber I think. I do. And I HATE eyelash yarn. So when Kelly is jumping in to that kind of novelty yarn, it looks so unrealistic to me. How about you?
BTW, I finished my originally-first-but-became-second-as-result Jaywalker socks:
This time it is mine, Yey! This yarn is thinner than other sock yarns, so even I changed the needle size up, it is quite just-size socks.
And, today I have casted on a sock and casted off. Yes. a new sock, but it is only one.
This is mini-mini sock garment for "holiday ornament, a gift bag for presenting gift cards or money to someone, a holder for your small knitting scissors, or decoration for your bulltin board or fridge". At my recent shopping at Loopy Ewe, I've got this pattern"Loopy's Red sock kit" and since then, I was dying to try it. I think this is quite clever to use the leftover of sock yarn. We can make this mini-sock only one hour or a bit more, and can give away anytime to anyone. It is so pretty! For mine, it would be a holiday ornament and it rests on the fridge for now.
*update: the original pattern has heel flap, and I arranged mine to short row. Also I changed other details. I only depend on the pattern for the number of stttches for cast on. Rather, the idea of mini-sock intrigued much!
And, let me show you another photo:
Friends, this is the sweater of my ambition. This is a design from a book "Norsk Strikkedesign" , simply named "Arangenser". Yes, it is the one with Jo Sharp's Silkroad Aran Tweed. I will cast on soon...
Posted by trico at February 4, 2007 09:12 PM
????
Hmm...I think novice knitters new to yarn often adore novelty yarns. I know everytime I have brought a non-knitter or new knitter to the yarn store, the first thing they admire is the glittery novelty yarn in bright color and interesting textures. I suppose it is because it is so different from the traditional concept of what yarn looks like. If they hang around with me long enough, though, they soon become indoctorinated in the cult of wool and other natural fibers. :)
I love all the socks. The wee one is so adorable! Can't wait to see how your Arangenser take shape. It is a spectacular sweater! (Can you tell me what the smallest size available in the pattern is? I've been debating whether or not to buy the book...the sizing is always an issue for me...)
Posted by: Marie at February 5, 2007 07:50 AM
Hi Marie, thank you so much for comments. Always. You cannot know how much I appreciate it....besides, the smallest size of the sweater is S, 44 inches, 27.25 inches length, and 18.5 inches for sleeve length. This book contains rather dream projects than down-to-earth designs, but they are beautiful for eyes, along with breathtaking nature photos.
Posted by: Trico at February 5, 2007 08:23 AM