shallweknit.com

Today our guest blogger is Sue Frost. Sue is one of our unofficial staff members, she is always ready to help and is a talented knitter and spinner. I always feel a little like Tom Sawyer whitewashing the fence when I ask others if they would like to do a blog entry. But Sue beat me to the punch and offered – Thank you Sue.

Sue here:

Everyone was rather excited when the Koigu rovings arrived. I was lucky enough to be allowed to play with a braid. Someone has to evaluate the product, right ?

Koigu rovings are Targhee wool. The Targhee sheep were developed in Idaho in the 1920s. This breed was created by crossing Rambouillet and Columbia sheep. Targhees can take the mid-west weather while still producing quality meat and, more importantly, fleece. Here’s a link to more information: http://www.ustargheesheep.org/

Koigu braids are combed top, leaving the fibres beautifully aligned and prepped. They are scoured, to be as white as possible before being painted. The fibres are approximately 60 ct, even finer than the Koigu Merino top, and 2” to 3” long. As you might expect, the colours from Koigu are lovely. The Targhee fibre has a very matte finish – don’t expect the sheen of the Koigu yarns.

As we petted the rovings in the shop, we all noticed that there were matted, gritty bits throughout the rovings. Fortunately, these turned out to be dried bits of a powder and by the time I had pre-drafted the braids, they were all gone.

I took my braid home and contemplated the rainbow. Deciding on a three-ply yarn to give me different colours in each ply, I broke the full braid into three pieces and then started splitting each into pencil roving. Then I pre-drafted and rolled what would be each ply into a ball. (Here’s where I give you the reminder about weighing out your fibre – a scale is your friend!). I did notice a fair bit of dust flying so if that’s an issue for you, you may want to use a mask. I tried to arrange my three ply-balls so that each would start in a different colour.

The rovings were lovely to spin – hardly any nepps or bits. And that pesky matting? I just spun my no-brainer yarn and didn’t aim for too fine a ply. As soon as I started plying I realized that my attempt at having three colours (a different colour in each ply) wasn’t working. (Prep? Fail.) I kept going. Towards the end I noticed that I had a lot of yarn left over on one bobbin (Pre-weighing? Fail.) Not wanting to waste a bit of the fibre, I simply did a three-ply for as long as possible then switched to a Navajo-ply to use up all the ‘leftovers’. Navajo-ply gave me colour blocking (since you’re folding the yarn back on itself) so there’s a bit of contrast yarn that might make a nice edging or highlight in whatever project this skein becomes.

To finish, I soaked the skein and whacked it on the counter. I believe this sets the twist but it also serves to loosen the strands in the skein. After drying it (no Sir Cat, you may NOT sit on it), I weighed and measured – 3.7 oz and 227 yards of deliciousness.

My skein is on ‘display’ at the store if you need to pet a finished product. It’s also going to be auctioned off at Knit In Public day.
The Koigu roving was a pleasure to work with. It certainly appears to be felt-able, so hand-washing will be needed. Run, don’t walk to get some of your own. You’ll have to run faster than I do.

Usually on the first of the week we do a blog entry to tell you about different yarns – their qualities and why we like them. This week we are doing something different. We’re going to talk about a product to treat all your lovely yarns and fine delicates.
Soak is based out of Toronto and was started in 2005 by Jacqueline Sava. Now it can be found in yarn shops, quilt shops, lingerie stores & boutiques around the world.

Soak is environmentally friendly. It is biodegradable and packaged in recyclable bottles which are printed with water-based inks. Soak is not organic or all natural. Natural products tend to need to be refrigerated and have short shelf lives. Soak is a stable product that will not fog or separate over time.

Soak is modern care for fine fibers. This rinse-free formulation is perfect for washing your laciest lingerie, your softest sweaters, swimwear, workout gear, hand-made quilts and even baby clothes. Soak is gentle and deliciously scented with fabric-friendly ingredients that revitalize fibers so they look great and last longer.

Soak comes in 14 and 6 ounce sizes as well as specialty scents that come in an 8 oz. bottle. Amy Butler has a special scent and Ravelry has just worked with Soak to create a special scent. We have both in the shop.

What with all the getting ready for, and busy-ness of, the winter sale, our School of Yarn homework for this week didn’t get done and no one got assigned to write an entry. So we’re going to do what all *good* kids do when the teacher hasn’t shown up to class … we’re going to move our chairs around and talk to our friends.

I want to ask: what would be your “desert island” yarn? The kind of thing you’d wish to have with you if you were stranded for a time (with needles and notions, of course – we’re not savages!) and needed something to knit to pass the time until a rescue plane flew overhead.

If it’s something we carry at the store, then everyone can have a chance to check out your pick. And if it’s something we don’t carry, it might poke us into making an inquiry with a supplier.

I’ll go first (class loudmouth!). I’d pick JaggerSpun Zephyr. It’s a 50/50 wool & silk blend laceweight. It’s lovely, and incredibly durable for a laceweight. It would stand up to repeated knittings and reknittings, in case I was there for a while. It’s light and small, and 50 g worth can make a decent-sized shawl.

I have a “Kiri” shawl made from this yarn, and I used the leftovers to make a lace scarf for a beloved aunt. I have some in my stash. I guess I need to make this part of my carry-on for future trips.

So, now it’s your turn to lead the lesson …

Just in case you’re checking in, our annual winter clearance sale is indeed on at present. Because we’ve had some dicey weather with lots of blowing snow for all three days of the sale, we’re extending our sale into next week. Stay warm and watch the rest of the Olympics, and come visit our “island of savings” on Tuesday or Wednesday, March 2nd and 3rd. We’re open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. both days.

The School of Yarn is in session every Tuesday, no matter what the weather map says. Today I’m going to talk about Avarice. (Not the deadly sin kind, though you would be forgiven for having lustful and greedy thoughts about this yarn.) Avarice is a very lovely, hand-dyed 100% alpaca yarn from Twisted Sisters. This company, run by two women who aren’t actually sisters but do profess to be twisted, specializes in monochromatic dyeing and short-run handpaints. They also design garments that make best advantage of their true, vivid colourways while looking very flattering on various body types.

Now, I know I’m just a girl who can’t say no, especially to a gorgeous yarn that batts its pretty lashes in my direction, but at $17.95 a skein, my budget can’t support a whole sweater’s worth of Avarice. But a few skeins?? Well, that’s exactly the reason someone invented the word “treat”, isn’t it.

I snagged these three luscious colours a few months back, and then began a search for just the right project to feature this soft, warm yarn. I’ve ended up choosing this yarn as my Knitting Olympics project, and am undertaking a pair of stranded mitts. Based on a pattern called “Swedish Fish”, from SpillyJane Knits (Ravelry link here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/swedish-fish ), I’ve had to change the gauge and the pattern repeat, and have worked a completely different-shaped mitten with a gusset thumb and a longer, striped, ribbed cuff.

You may all point and laugh when I report next week that I tripped over my own skates and utterly failed to complete my project before the end of the Olympics on Sunday night.

We have a shop pattern for some dainty fingerless gloves that uses only one precious skein of Avarice, or a pattern for some cosy mittens that uses two. It’s cold and snowy outside … don’t you deserve a treat??

Sue’s comments on her update –
Well, I just finished row/lap 76 of Chart D whilst watching the men’s speed skating.
These laps/rows are getting longer by the minute! The lactic acid build-up in my fingers by the time I get finished a lap…brutal….what do these guys know about pain, I ask you? Sheesh!

Janet’s comments –
Out of the gate, lot of knitting happening. But has she peaked too soon? Will she finish . . .
<

and as far as Tom's sweater - I'm just about to start the neck on the front - it may be touch & go to get down but we're trying.

There will be none of that talk about numbers here today – you hear! But we do want to spread the word that one of our favourite people is having a special day today. It is Cari’s birthday!!!
We love our Cari, she has the most wicked sense of humour – and fast – boy she just comes out with those one liners so fast there may be some p-ing of pants.
And memory – do not go up against her in a song memory game – she can sing you lines from some of the most obscure songs. And we have checked and she is right too!
We are so lucky to have her on our SWK team but we are blessed to be able to call her friend.

We Love you lots

A few weeks ago we introduced you to a good yarn that has wonderful yardage and knits up like a dream. Cascade Ecological wool is a wonderfull investment at an amazing price. Where the Ecological wool is a basic meatloaf type of yarn, this weeks yarn is Filet Mignon (if you’re not a meat eater – I’m sorry).
Superior by Filatura Di Crosa is a totally decadent, luscious yarn. Superior is 70% Cashmere, 30% Silk and is perfect for lace knitting like Starry Nights by Katherine Matthews.

At 330yds per skein you can get a nice size scarf out of one ball and the colour range has over 25 colours. This yarn is slippery so you might want to use your Addi Turbo Lace needles but the end product is well worth the effort. Next time you’re in the shop you HAVE to feel the couple of samples we have done in it.

I did some calculations yesterday and I had about 4 1/2 balls of the Ecological wool knit so far out of 13. So if I can knit a ball a day – I should be on track to get Toms sweater done for the Knitting Olympics. I have 2 sleeves done and are part way up the front now.
Sue & Janet came out to the shop yesterday and had both started Laura Chau’s Milkweed. Janet’s is teal and Sue’s is a lovely cream. We will post pictures as they grow. And don’t forget to send us comments or pics of what you might be working on as well.

I’ve been humming and hawing and procrastinating (which I seriously could take a gold in) about whether or not I was going to do an Olympic knitting thing. The Yarn Harlot is doing hers over here http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/ and Ravelry is doing theirs over here http://www.ravelry.com/groups/ravelympics-2010. I know the Waterloo-Wellington forum has a group and I’ve decided to jump in.
Now you have to keep in mind that I did the market today so I was up before morning and still going so reading the rules is like reading those cool knitting patterns in Japanese – should be do-able but…
So, the general idea as I understand it from either site is to give yourself a project that is pushing you a little, cast on with the opening ceremonies TOMORROW! And hope to cast off with closing ceremonies.

So I’ve been pondering, and thinking and pondering some more. I REALLY want to start something new but one of the categories is a WIP (Work In Progress) that has been on hiatus for a while. And thats the piece that is nagging me. I started a lovely sweater for Tom last year – both sleeves are done and it’s been on hold for a while. I think this is the one that I need to do. Charlotte is calling me but I will not listen to her siren call…maybe…just a little Koigu…that wouldn’t be bad would it?

So here’s what we’re going to do. I’m going to post pics over the next little while of Toms sweater and I would love it if anyone who is participating would send comments or email us pictures and I will post them on the blog. Whatcha think?