Yarn Indulgence
In my last post, I mentioned some yarny shopping had taken place. Well some of it I did snap up before Christmas and it was precious stuff indeed. These two at the top here are Erika Knit British Blue Wool. A mear snip at over £5 for a 25g ball. Yes, just 25 grams, you did read correctly. Hence my only getting two balls.
You may think that've completely lost my marbles buying wool that pricey and maybe you are right, but you should have been there... The colours were all so, so gorgeous and all worked so wonderfully well together. There was even a little pair of mitts made up to show how fabulous it looked when knit up. You'd have to be made of steel not to have succumbed and quite frankly I'm amazed I managed to stop at two.
Colours: Pink (300), Natural (701)
These next ones are Lanas Stop Angora. Again, ridiculously expensive (£5+) but put one in your hand and you feel like you're holding a cloud! Only 10g per ball these ones, but as it's so fluffy and light the yardage was almost the same as the pure wool above.
The next question of course, is what to make with these darling balls. What would be worthy?
The first decision was quite easy. The British Blue Wool had been shown made up into little fingerless mitts in the shop and I loved them so much I didn't deviate too much from that idea. I just changed them to plain wrist warmers. I used Stripey Arms by Amoena, it's one I've used before and love so I was happy to knit it again.
The only tricky part was knowing when to stop. I wanted to get as much warmer as I could out of those tiny balls, so I knit one mitt from each end of the wool and kept going as long as I could!
The next decision was a little more difficult. I pondered on this one for a bit as I wasn't sure what would be best for the delicate and fluffy angora. In the end, would you believe it, I went for another pair of wrist warmers. Albeit a shorter, more cuff-y style pair. Such imagination I have, such range!
This time I based them on the fingerless glove pattern Prudence by Louisa Harding. I was actually inspired by this project by 'dimoni-' on Ravelry. She'd shortened hers down from fingerless mitts to an adorabel pair of cuffs and I thought that would work perfectly with my fluff.
I even added the little beads in too, although it's hard to see those through the haze. They are a little clearer in real life though.
They are very pretty and very sweet and very feminine and as such, not at all like me. But strangely I still feel that I can manage to pull them off, which naturally, just makes me love them all the more.
S x
♥
Such gorgeous delicate makes, no wonder you were tempted. The wool is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteluv
irene
xxxx
Hi there Miss Yarny indulgence. Yarn shopping is really like putting a kid in a sweet shop for me. I can never resist buying to much or stuff I don't need or... Just one ball of this and one ball of that... I stumbled upon 10 balls of creamy white mohair at my favorite thrift store before Christmas, for only 5 dollars. I mean. Who can resist that? But now I look at this yarn and wonder: What am I gonna make out of this? Any suggestions? I could always make some of those marshmallow fluffy cuffs... one pair for everyone of my best friends. :D
ReplyDeleteLove the stripy wrist warmer. Classy and divine. Right up my alley!
Annette
Oh if I find yarn in a thrift shop - I snap it right up! What a wonderful price you've found your yarn for too! Good on you Annette!
Deletetwo different but lovely projects, ali
ReplyDeletedelicate and I love the colors!
ReplyDeleteMonica
I have a scarf made from American yarn that cost $50 for a 100g skein - it is silk and run through with gold thread. I didn't buy it. It is beautiful but I don't like it any more than the crochet scarf I made with some yarn costing £2 for the whole thing. Both feel soft and are in pretty colours. One gets worn all the time, the other gets put away for special occasions which never happen. In the meantime I worry about moths eating it. A real possibility as they have eaten two of my scarves recently despite my efforts. So, I won't pay 'silly' money for things that in a recession are just unnecessary indulgences as I simply can't afford it. I'm still happy with what I knit and crochet.
ReplyDeleteBoth the things you have made are lovely.
Thanks so much for your comment and I agree, sometimes the cheapest yarns can make the most wonderful projects. But then I've also had lovely projects that get left unworn because the yarn just wasn't right. So now I try to make a judgement call on when to use cheaper yarn and when more expensive yarn is warranted. I also am often tempted into the 'save it for best' idea. I do keep trying to force myself not to do that, that's why I plan to wear these beauties as often as I can and if they wear out, well... at least I will have enjoyed them!
DeleteS x
Anon, I noticed your concern about moths eating your knitted items. Did you know that moths don't like cedar wood, nor do they like lavender. I have lots of lavender sachets in my drawers and wardrobes and no moths so I can recommend it. Cedar wood is a natural moth repellent and possibly a more masculine alternative to the scent of lavender. Best wishes, Pj x
DeleteIsn't it such a great feeling to have some crazy luxurious yarn to work with! I don't buy it too often, but when I do, I get so excited! Makes it that much harder though too decide what to make with it. The project has to be absolutely perfect and something you would wear. Well, you completely managed to do that! Both fingerless gloves are absolutely beautiful, but what's even better is that I can only imagine how nice they must feel to wear! Have never really worked with angora, would love to try it!
ReplyDeleteI'm a big fan of alpaca yarns, especially mixed with some wool, to make it a little bit firmer. I think I'm going to save up to buy some pure cashmere yarn one day! I'd love to have a nice big scarf, completely out of cashmere! Pure indulgence!
But again, great work!
They are lovely, but do they itch? I would be scratching like crazy.. But I love the colours and the style..
ReplyDeleteVery pretty! It looks like you picked just the right projects for those tiny balls of goodness.
ReplyDeleteExpensive but gorgeous. A lovely purchase worth every penny <3
ReplyDeletexx
Oh, such pretty yarn and beautiful hand warmers!! xo Heather
ReplyDeleteReally love the stripy ones!!!!
ReplyDeletexxxx Ale
They are SO beautiful!!! Congratulations on spoiling yourself (it should be done, at least once in a while). I like both, but I am partial to the Stripey one (I just love stripes). Nice treat... to see , and I am sure to wear. Really lovely.
ReplyDelete♥ Ana BC
Oh Sandra! Both of those are just lush! I love them both! There's nothing like a little splurg now & then huh?
ReplyDeleteSuch lovely yarns and both wrist warmers are beautiful. W x
ReplyDeleteThey are gorgeous. And why wouldn’t you be able to pull them off?
ReplyDeleteI am 47 this year (ahem) and getting to the wearing purple at breakfast stage. Stuff it I say. If I like it, it’s going on. It’s actually quite liberating …
Lovely, lovely wrist warmers! Sometimes we just need to spoil ourselves a bit, really :-) xxxx
ReplyDeletegorgeous, I really love the fluffy, girly angora cuffs, they're just beautiful.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous wool - I love the soft pink of the British Blue Wool. It compliments the blue beautifully and the stripy wristwarmers are lovely.
ReplyDeleteFor the first time ever, I'm using expensive (well, what I class as expensive) wool for a cowl I'm knitting. But it will be worth it. I hope ;)
Sandra, I love these, especially the stripey ones - they are so "me" and I have managed to find a stockist of the yarn near me so I'm going to have a go. Thanks so much for all the information.
ReplyDeleteWrist-warmers have captured my imagination and, indeed, warmed my wrists this winter and yours are beautiful - the striped ones so chic and the angora pair so delicately pretty. Wearing mine always gives me such a pleasant sense of being a fragile creature. Thank you for your kind comment; it is a pleasure to find your blog!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful knits, well worth the extra pennies. Best wishes, Pj x
ReplyDeleteYour angora wrist warmers are so, so pretty! I used some Lanas Stop Angora/Merino yarn a while ago for some wristwarmers and they are so warm :)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the girly fluffiness of the pink and white warmers. They look so feminine!
ReplyDeleteOf course you knew I would adore this post, didn't you ;)
ReplyDeleteI have fondled the Erika Knight but have yet to buy any ... trust me, it's only a matter of time!
love love love the stripey ones!!
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