I HIDE YARN

Hello Kauni!

Like so many knitters out there, I took one look at Kauni yarn and fell head over heels in love.  Apparently I was late to the love pool, because by the time I had fell in said pool, there was no Kauni to be found on this continent.  Shops that were willing to get it in had no idea when to expect a shipment to arrive.

Never one to let a small detail like that stop me, I googled frantically and followed up every rumor of a lead.  I hit pay dirt in Denmark. Lisette was quick to email updates, and the entire transaction was easy.  Her site can be changed to English wish is a huge help.  She has Kauni yarn in many colors from solids, to various multi-shaded beauties.  I was head over heels for Kauni EQ, and barely glanced at any of the others.  I see she is well-stocked on Kauni EQ having 142 of the 150 gram skeins.  I'm just saying.  No affiliation here, just a very satisfied customer.

I knew I didn't want to make the cardigan, as beautiful as it was.  I decided on a shawl.  Yes, I know I have two unfinished shawls on the needles, what's your point?  At first I was going to knit a shawl designed by Jeanie Townsend, for Astrid's Dutch Obsessions.  I had seen the shawl on Jeanie's blog.  Jeanie sent me four different shawl patterns.  Many of you will know her from the Townsend Sock Group.  Jean has more talent in her little finger than many have in a lifetime of study.  She is a prolific pattern writer of beautiful knits.  Here is the one with Kauni EQ.

Before I had a chance to cast on, I saw this one (scroll down to Aug. 12th entry) using Susan Pierce Lawrence's Forest Canopy Shawl. 

LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDORED THING!

Yest, I was in love.  This was IT.  I have the perfect person to make it for and everything.  It will look magnificent over her navy winter coat.  It is smaller, therefore more likely to get finished, right?  Just nod your head, and play along...okay?

The Kauni came in two huge skeins of 150 grams each.  I have already wound one, but the other is in it's original commercial skein.  The small light blue skein is 8/1 (lace weight) included as a gift from Lisette because the order was slightly delayed.  That was very sweet of her as it really was a slight delay.

Next up is the wound skein(s).  I was winding along without a hitch, when I came to a splice.  Unfortunately the splice added a color out of order, which began a sequence in reverse.  Drat.  Thankfully it was really a small part of the skein involved.  I did notice a fair amount of "flotsam and jetsam" in the yarn.  Little bits of twigs or whatever also found in Noro yarn.  What is it about self striping wool?  Can they not get the sufficient graduation of color without bits and bobs of unknittable fiber?

Lest you wonder about the color placement in the two skeins...I know it looks like I have wound them in opposite directions.  I work from the outside thread of yarn wound into balls.  It keeps the ball from collapsing onto itself making a big mess, and also leaves a neatly wound smaller ball if you use less that the full skein.  For instance, I had a very nice, neat little ball of lilac yarn to include with my sockapalooza pal's package, in case she needed to mend the socks or wanted to reknit the toes, etc.

If I do indeed use all of the larger skein, it ends right (inside) the larger skein right at the place I would start knitting from the outside of the smaller skein.  Of course if I need even more yarn - I will wind the other big skein.

Next I knitted a swatch.  Uhoh, I think some of my readers just fainted.  I hope they're alright.  To the left of the garter middle row is the yarn knitted on size 6 Holz & Stein ebony need.es  To the right is the yarn knitted on size 5 Addi Turbo Lace needles. I prefer the former  I will check again once the swatch is completely dry.  I could probably get away with knitting with size 7 needles, but I think I will start with the 6 and see how it handles the lace.

I was a little dismayed to discover this yarn knitted like burlap.  Ouch!  It is rough like some Shetland, but it softened nicely after a soak in Eucalan.  Although I am knitting the shawl, it is good to know that this yarn is very sticky and would lend itself to fair isle, steeking and split-splicing quite easily.

So I'm off to knit on the monkey socks I started when searching for the right pattern and yarn for my sockapalooza pal.  It should be a good combo of knitting.  When my hands are sore from knitting the rough Kauni, I will soothe them with the super soft yarn Violets sock yarn from Dani at Sunshine Yarns.

And The Winner IS...

Hayley of knittyauntie!  Congratulations Haley. 

After a quick email exchange, I found out Haley is a girl after my own heart.  She loves to knit socks, she loves superwash yarn, and she loves bright colors.  When you look in my sock yarn stash, that is admittedly gnormous, you will find lots of superwash yarn and eye-searing colors.

So here you go, Haley, pick your favorite...

From left to right:

Sunshine Yarns - 100% superwash, in Lemon Lime, approx. 450 yards of fingering weight yarn.  Machine wash - dry flat.  (I think my particular skein is all lemon and no lime, but I love the bright yellow.)

Twisted Fiber Art - 100% superwash in Pinks/Purples Organic Stripe, approx 480 yards of fingering weight yarn.  Machine wash - hang or dry flat.

Duet Sock Yarn from A Swell Yarn Shop  100% superwash in Leprechaun (with solid yarn for matching heels and toes) - approx. 360 yards total in a Dk weight yarn.  Machine wash, gentle cycle - tumble dry, low heat.

This is my personal opinion on 100% merino superwash yarn that has no nylon added; it is best hand washed in a wool wash like Eucalan and dried flat. The socks usually stay nice looking longer.   I don't mind hand washing socks.  Why should I?  I have caregivers to do it for me - heh!  I never minded when I did everything myself either.  I love individual artist's handpainted yarn, and it worth the little bit of extra effort to me.

However sometimes I am totally in the mood for easy care socks.  These are a must when given to other members of my family, friends, etc. who are not knitters.  Regardless of instructions - they are going to throw them in the washer and dryer.  Sometimes their adult-sized socks will come out child sized - heh.

Haley if you are interested in truly superwash yarn (as in machine wash and dry), here are some more choices from commercial yarns with nylon added for durability:

From left to right:

Lang Jaywoll Color, (self striping) 75% superwash wool/25% nylon, aprox 459 yards.  Machine wash and dry.  (Sorry, there is a bit of the glare from the plastic wrapped skein.)

Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in color River, 80% superwash wool/20% nylon, approx 215 yards per skein - 2 skeins.  Machine wash and dry.  This one is beautiful, but not quite as bright in case you want to save our corneas from severe scorching - heh.

Regia Goal Color (self-striping), 75% superwash wool/25% nylon, aprox 459 yards.  Machine wash and dry.

There you have it Haley.  The colors appear fairly accurate on my monitor for once.  I hope you find something you like among the choices.  Please email me your choice, and I will get it out to you next week.

Thanks to everyone who left comments!

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THIS ENDS THE KNITTING/YARN PORTION OF THE POST - FEEL FREE TO CLICK AWAY KNITTING FANS ONLY
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In other news...

I have not gotten any knitting done since getting fast internet!  I thought I would get more knitting done, because I would be able to get most of my blogs, mail, etc. read and move on to other pursuits.  Hopefully that will become a reality once the "new" has worn off being able to download anything fast.

My DH is back in the hospital AGAIN.  Sigh.  He went in last Thursday, because the IV antibiotics were not doing the job this time.  After 10 years, I suppose it should not come as any surprise that he has grown immune to some of them.  They hit him with three different IV antibiotics, and it seems to be working.  He is getting lots of time in the whirlpool - at least his foot is.  The rest of him gets a lot of time in bed, which he hates.  Hopefully he will be home by the first of the week.

Later gators...
 

Dog Tricks & Yarn Tricks

Perhaps the birds are having more effect on our pets than I realized - heh.  Sachi has taken to perching on daddy's shoulder.  I wish I could get pictures of the huge parrots still residing in our garage (my sister's birds.)

Here are a few interesting things they have done lately...

Maggie when she sees DH coming into the garage:  Hi Margaret! 

(For some reason she has taken to calling him Margaret.  My sister is perplexed as she has no friends named Margaret.  She DID once have a tractor she called Margaret.  Heh!)

Yesterday it was almost 70 degrees here, so the garage doors were open and the birds were excited about seeing the outdoors.  On seeing our next door neighbor walk by the house for the 3rd or 4th time on the way to his son's house across the street next to the church Maggie says, "Okay.  That will be enough of that now!"   The neighbor looked around, sees my DH and thinks HE said it.  Heh!

When DH watches American Idol in the garage, both birds sing along.  Keep in mind one bird sings with a country twang, and the other with an operatic vibrato.

When seeing any of our dogs standing in the inside door to the house, Maggie will say either "No! No!" (meaning don't come in the garage) or "Wanna go outside?"  Heh.

Sachi showing off her western, ruffled doggie diaper.

As I have mentioned, Remy & Winston are taking doggie obedience classes. They had a couple weeks off because of scheduling conflicts with the trainer.  I have been working with them a lot so they would not forget what they have learned.  Winston has been getting A+ in each class (to my huge surprise) and Remy has split his time between playing class clown and trying to dominate a Great Dane in the class.  Leave it to my 6 lb. dog to take on a 150+ lb. dog.  Thank goodness Great Danes are gentle giants.

Remy needed some extra attention, as he had taken to going right to the down position, instead of sitting first.  He is extremely smart and had figured out we were going to command that next - so he would just cut to the chase and down.

I had been working with him consistently until he could sit on command several times.  Only then did I attempt the down command again.  He will do it successfully now.  Then I had fun teaching him to take a bow, which he will do now with only the sweeping hand command...

Remy showing "Taking a Bow"

I don't believe my bedroom carpet, outdated as it is, is quite that day-glow blue.  Remy does every command with his own little flair.  When he "downs" he doesn't ease into it, but flops down with a sort of "TA DA!"

However a couple of days ago he did an Oscar award deserving performance.  He and Winston were on the bed, and I was commanding Winston to down.  Out of the corner of my eye, I see Remy flop down with all four feet straight out.  I ignored him because first, I had not been commanding him, and second that was not the proper down position.

Winston was distracted by Remy, so I had to repeat the command to Winston.  This prompted Remy to raise one front paw as though he were calling attention to the fact he had "downed."  My husband was in the room, and we are both trying to keep from laughing as Remy waves his paw in the air, plainly showing he believed he deserved the treat.  Once again I ignored him.

Winston being totally distracted by Remy's performance was given a third command to down.  Remy begins to crawl toward me, still waving his paw in the air as though I was obviously too dense to see that HE had done the command.  Both DH and I burst out laughing because Remy's exaggerated movements made it look like he was drowning.  We are going to have to stay on our toes to keep ahead of this one.

*~*~*~*~*WARNING - YARN PRON AHEAD*~*~*~*~*

Did anyone hear a very loud noise last week that sounded sorta like "WHUMP!"  That was me falling off the no yarn buying wagon.  Now admittedly, I had not declared here or anywhere that I was ON the no yarn buying wagon, or yarn diet.  I learned long ago that the moment I put the word diet in my vocabulary, food begins to call my name from the kitchen  cabinets.  They will begin to advertise nothing but food on television.  Even food I don't like begins to look like the best food on the planet.  So that is why I didn't declare I was on any kind of yarn diet.  I had just decided consciously that I would refrain from buying any, or at least slack way off.

I diligently deleted yarn sale emails, and yarn shop promos.  I tried to keep from clicking on links in knitting blogs leading to yarn, patterns, books, etc.  The few times I did click forward, I clicked away without purchasing anything.  Then I received an email from The KnittingZone...with pictures.  Gulp.  I made the mistake of clicking on this and somehow the following fell into my shopping cart...

 

Donegal tweed sock yarn!  On the top is "La Trivata" and "Magic Flute" on the bottom.  This stuff is sooooo soft, I can't wait to see what it looks like knitted up.  I will say that the little flecks of "tweed" don't seem to be firmly attached in the yarn twist.  I'm not sure how permanent they are going to be in the finished, repeatedly washed socks - but I don't care.  I LOVE these colors.

The only way I can successfully battle my...er...addiction fondness for yarn is to sell some to make room for more.  Look for some stash for sale soon.  I would also be willing to sell some inches off my hips - heh.  Any takers?

Knitter's Game Show

Alex:  The category is, "Things that wait."  Things that wait for $200.

A.  They wait for you, but also start without you.

Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

Alex: Bliss?

Q.  What are nap buddies?

Alex:  That is correct!  Please choose again.

Bliss:  I'll take "Things that wait for $800, Alex."

A.  Things found in a knitting bag.

Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

Alex:  Bliss?

A.  What is Duet sock yarn from A Swell Yarn Shop in Candy Hearts for Valentine socks...

A.  What is Opal 6ply sock yarn in Owl for man-sized socks...

(some objects may appear larger than they are)

A.  What is hat yarn for second hat?

Alex:  Judges, we seem to have multiple answers...

DING!

Alex:  Those are all correct!  Please choose again.

Bliss:  Alex, I'll take "Things that wait for $1000."

A.  They check their computers for this information.

Q.  What are blog readers waiting to find out about my mystery house guest?

Alex:  That is correct!

I promise to try to blog about that last one soon.  I have to go now, my dogs are waiting to nap until I join them

obviously have no idea I am on the planet, but I am going to join them anyway.

Breaking News

In knitting news, we turn our attention to the Knitter in the Know, Mr. Gray Romney. 

"Thanks Katie.  We have heard some exciting news coming out about the down and out knitter known as Bliss of I Hide Yarn.  For the latest  up-to-date report, we go to our roving reporter Miss Corrie Dale.  Corrie?"

"Thanks Gray.  We have staked out the house for the past couple of days and there has been some mysterious packages arriving.  According to one source (pictured here) there was a package that arrived from Kim...code name: The Woolen Rabbit.  Reportedly inside the package was a skein of yarn called Red Maple and another called Elderberry Gold.  Our source says the subject was seen sniffing the yarn and holding it against her face.  He's pretty sure this is "Yummy!" in knitter-speak."

"Another source has reported there has been a steady stream of packages: 1-2 a month from Dani: code name Sunshine Yarns.  He says the total amount of skeins is plentiful, and he will try to sneak a group picture. 

Once I had him talking by plying him with dog biscuits, he let it slip that said knitter has been heard to bemoan her slow dialup and losing yarn to knitters with faster internet connections,  This was followed by begging to the yarn source where there may or may not have been a bit a favoritism shown with sold out colors and centre pull balls." 

"Gray we approached one more source whose reliability may be in question due to her young age.  When asked if she had witnessed any knitting she gave us a quizzical look and asked - 'What's knitting?' 

We carefuly explained the mechanics of working with yarn and needles.  The youngster pondered the explanation, then she seemed to comprehend."

"Ohhhh, you mean the balls Mommy calls No-No and the sticks she calls Drop It Now.  I like those wooden sticks the best, they're really fun to carry around.  I don't like the metal ones as much because they are kinda cold and hurt when you bite them.  Mommy doesn't like bite marks on her sticks"

"Yes honey that's nice to know, but have you seen Mommy using the sticks?" asks Corrie Dale.

"Nope.  She pets the balls, and looks at them a lot, but I haven't seen her pick up any of the sticks for a long time."

"There you have it Gray.  Our knitter seems to be reviving enough to at least buy yarn.  We expect to hear reports of knitting any day.  This is roving reporter, Corrie Dale with on-the-spot news.  Back to you Gray."

"Thanks Corrie Dale for that up-to-date report.  We are indeed encouraged by this bit of good news.  I'm Gray Romney and that is the latest in knitting news."