Last week, my first ever yarn/sock club purchase came in the mail from Hazel Knits Yarn Club. I have been waiting for this package for almost a month. Actually, if you factor in the fact I bought the early bird, I’ve been waiting for it for two months!
I am not sure why it was delayed. From the USA, things can take as quick as one week, usually less than two weeks. I became increasingly worried about it because it is very nice yarn and was my first club purchase. Even on the day it arrived September 4th, I was preparing to email Wendee the dyer and/or the USPS.
But it came and it is lovely! I am not sure what to do with it at the moment other than to ogle and fondle it. I may use the green for a stranded sweater I had in mind. Not sure. It did come with a stranded sock pattern which is also tempting. Hmm.
In other news, I finished Girasole and it is big, lacey, dry and with rough edges. The FO post up this Friday hopefully.
As usual, I always start a new project right after I finish the previous one. My current project is stashbusting lopi by making Taska, a purse from Istex Lopi book #25. I own this book because I bought two years ago to make my first sweater, Aftur:
Gosh, I adore lopi. You can’t wear it everyday and it’s difficult to wear indoors because it is so hot, but when for outdoors, it is perfect. I’ve worn it on a hike in the woods in the autumn and skating with a merino turtleneck underneath at -15’C. It feels like iron. I was always proud of this sweater even though it is a bit on the boxy side since I didn’t add any waist shaping. As a first sweater, I think it is pretty good.
When I finished it, I ended up with a lot of leftovers including almost two full balls of the MC and lots of bits from the fair isle. Taska is the companion project and just a way for me to stashbust and knit lopi again. It is unlikely that I will use the purse very much, but it will be cute none the less.
Thanks for reading. Let me know what is on your needles today?
while we lived in upstate NY lopi was one of my go-to yarns, and I loved how I could venture outside on the coldest days and be toasty; now we live in KY—oh, lordy!!!! It’s hot down here (to me) all year long. My poor wooly sweaters don’t get much wear—i’m more into sock-weight stuff, and i’ll have to check out Hazel—that yarn looks amazing! can’t wait to see what you decide to do with it.
Hi Steph! I just live hours north of you in Canada, and yes, it is great for outdoor winter wool! Too bad you live in a warmer climate and your sweaters are neglected. I have too many handknit sweaters now! Sock weight stuff is lovely. Hazel is fabulous from what I hear and I’m really excited to try it. Thanks!
Wow – I’m impressed. I knitted a scarf once and enjoyed it, but I got too distracted so never did another one.
Hey Geoff! Reading and Knitty are my main hobbies. I read more than I knit these days which is good for the bank, but I am able to knit while watching movies/tv so it’s good to keep the hands moving. I hope you pick it up again someday; it always makes me feel accomplished to have made something. Thanks!
The yarn and your colourwork are awesome!
Hi Nicky! Thanks for the comment. I always am afraid of my colourwork looking bad or uneven. Happy knitting!
I absolutely LOVE the yoked colorwork sweater! It’s gorgeous. I’m sure you will find something delightful to knit with your new yarn. It looks squishy and wonderful.
Hi Michelle! I love it too! But I only wear it once a year or so for physical activities. It’s really too hot or too cold otherwise to wear by itself, but I love the Icelandic sweaters. I have two lopi pattern books and I’m not one that is big on buying pattern books either. Thanks for the comment! Happy knitting.