After the big holiday knitting push of 2008, followed by the Jan 2009 WIPs Wrestling Challenge in my Ravelry group, Village Hopelessly Overcommitted, I’m now indulging myself. A Warm Shawl by Veronik Avery is just the ticket to banish the winter blues away under a springy, soft purpley mound of garter stitch bliss.
This mass of lavender loveliness is soon to be flanked by a two-toned lacey border. Soon because it’s knitting up so rapidly. Good thing because it calls for over 425+ rows of garter stitch (!) before I can get to the fun lace bit. Oddly enough I’m zipping along, happily gartering away. After about two hours of knitting I’ve got about eight inches (and only forty more to go). Usually endless garter stitch puts me to sleep after a few rows… but I think it’s this yarn. I just adore it.
And what pray-tell is this gorgeous yarn? One of my absolute favorites: Berroco Ultra Alpaca in Lavender Mix , Cobalt Violet and Pastel Lilac.
A perfect go-to yarn in a blend of peruvian wool and super fine alpaca. And the smell (yes… I confess to the occasional moment of yarn sniffing) is wonderful. Reminds me of my childhood stuffie, good ole Tote Dog. Well… don’t think Tote smells so nice today but he did, oh those many years ago before I plucked all his fur off…poor naked Tote Dog.
This project is with the Ultra Alpaca Worsted…but it’s such a popular yarn for Berroco it’s also in a Light (DK) and Fine (Lace) weight. I admit to hoarding a fair bit of this yarn in a variety of color (but it was a stupendous sale and I just couldn’t let this yarn languish on the sale shelf, unloved and homeless). It’s a staple yarn…like rice and beans, or milk and bread. You just have to have Ultra Alpaca in your stash in a multitude of colors and weights so you’re always prepared to answer the siren call of a new cast on. And after diligently putting my nose to the grindstone to tackle my burgeoning WIPs pile for the first weeks of 2009 . . . I deserved a little unadulterated knitting pleasure. And this fits the bill nicely.
Up next: My first attempt at proper laceweight yarn knitting. This time it’s with the other love of my stash: Malabrigo Lace. Cast on scheduled for Feb 1. Pattern currently under negotiation. Details soon!
1 response so far ↓
Mary Ann (knittymac) // January 27, 2009 at 8:04 pm |
Ooooh! That yarn is absolutely lovely…I can hardly wait to see how this project turns out.
mac+