trying new yarns

Happy New Year!

This year, I plan on knitting with lots of new (to me) fibers and fiber blends. Experimenting with new yarns can be an adventure; sometimes quite nice, sometimes disappointing.....but always an adventure.

Exploring different yarns it may require (that dirty word) GAUGE SWATCH. That is.... if you don't want any surprises at the end. In lace knitting understanding what the end fabric looks like can vary by:  the stitch definition you will achieve using different needle sizes and how blocking will affect the final product.

To make the most out of blocking your swatch, its helpful to note the before and after measurements, both width and length. Once the swatch is wet blocked, it will establish the stitch definition for that particular needle size, how much additional width and length is gained from blocking.  Once dry, the after-blocked measurement could then be viewed as a percentage, to apply to your overall piece.  

For instance, if the orginal swatch was 4 inches x 4 inches and the blocked swatch was 5 inches x 6 inches.  Its safe to assume that your finished piece can be blocked to 20% wider and 33% longer, based on this example.

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For this upcoming year, I want to try lots of new fiber combinations.  I have a couple of projects, either fresh on the needles or just on paper using yarns I have not used before.  

The first project I am going to try an all wool yarn from Denmark.  Its Isager Spinni Wool 1, 100% pure wool, 330 yards, 50 grams. This yarn has been available for years.  I have alway been intrigued by it but never took the plunge, until now.  

Initially to the touch its a courser feel, reminds me of shetland wool, however that is not specified. It seems like it should block well.  I suspect (or arn rather hope), it will get softer as its worked.

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Another yarn I am looking forward to trying is the Fibre Company Meadow Laceweight Yarn. Meadow is a newer fiber on the market, launched last June. Its 40% Merino Wool, 25% Baby Llama, 20% Silk, 15% Linen, 545 yards, 100 grams.

Meadow is incredibly soft to the touch. I am intrigued with the blend of fibers.   All the fibers are soft and drape-y. I'm not sure how the linen will play out. I love knitting with linen and I'm looking forward to giving Meadow a try.  

Meadow is practically the opposite of Spinni.  It may be a welcomed change going from course-ish to super soft OR it also may be too soft and may have to knit with something else inbeteen.

More later on this one.  

 

Wishing you and yours all the best in 2014.

Happy Knitting!