April 16, 2004
Oops.
Why do I keep succumbing? I went home to visit my mother, and she said, "Oh, there's a yarn store in Ann Arbor. Do you want to go there?"
"Sounds fun."
How fun? Well, who was it who warned me about the Colinette "Absolutely Fabulous" kits? Sorry, but I did not heed your advice.
Which is a detail of this:
This kit will be made into a wedding afghan/throw for my friend Jason and his fiance, Brad. It will be referred to as the Big Gay Wedding Afghan, or BGWA for short. Look for it coming soon, as the wedding is in September.
And you would have thought that would be enough. But you would be wrong. Because before I called Jason to enquire if an off-white throw/afghan would be acceptable, I had already discussed lacemaking with the nice people of Knit-A-Round in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Because I had been, with my mother, discussing the planning of the wedding shawl I intend to make for my sister. (He bought the ring, so the engagement is impending and the lacey thing needs to be contemplated.) And I advised that I had some silk at home waiting for the project but wanted to look at some books and patterns. I ended up with this:
Yes, the box has some strange Japanese looking words on it (and lots of smaller Japanese text. And a picture of some sheepy creatures.
But look what it has on the inside:
It's cashmere. It's laceweight. It's yummy. And I even made up a little swatch so that I could (a) see what it's like to knit with and (b) show Mom what it looks like when it's made into lace and (c) place on top of my black pillow and photograph for you all to make nice comments about. Remember, this is my FIRST lace. Be gentle.
And to ensure that I don't go blind trying to create more of this stuff, I purchased an Ott Light! Yay. I decided you probably don't need to see a photograph of my new light. Hope you don't mind.
So yes, it's all fun. Tons of fun. Especially for the fool who has to pay the credit card bill this will come on. And for the idiot who's going to have to knit it all up. Oh wait... I get the bill and this is my yarn. Ooops!
Jon -- the box of cashemere is so cool. I can't wait to see what you do with it lacewise. It must have cost a lot of yen! I love doing lace but it is so hard sometimes. Good luck. and I love the BGWA I can't wait to see how that goes. Keep us all posted.
Posted by: Scott at April 16, 2004 09:26 AMI am *rolling* over here about the BGWA. Damn. That's the best knitting project name, EVER. And spill. I know it's rude, but how MUCH did that cashmere cost? I'm a cashmere ho, you know.
Posted by: Rachael at April 16, 2004 10:06 AMOk Rachel asked the question I couldn't bring myself to ask. I am dying to know as well. I can't wait to see your final product. I would love to talk to you about lace knitting Jon. I am thinking about doing the Rose of England table cloth but don't have the nerve yet.
Posted by: Scott at April 16, 2004 10:20 AMEach ball was $14 and is rumored to include 1400 yards of pure lacey cashmerey goodness. As of Tuesday, there was another box of the natural at Knit A Round in Ann Arbor. They also had a box of black, and one of pink, and some other colors, as well, but I don't remember what they were...
Posted by: Jon at April 16, 2004 11:05 AMOooh...laceweight cashmere. Does Knit-a-Round take phone orders? Not that I'll knit the lace in the near future...but *drool* cashmere.
Posted by: Antonio at April 16, 2004 11:21 AMoooh i'm drooling. great job on your first attempt at lace! you are braver than me!
and i (and my credit card) hope i never run into the abfab kits in person......
katie
Posted by: k8et at April 16, 2004 12:55 PMWow ! Superb shopping ! That cashmere looks amazing - rather cool packaging as well.
Your first bit of lace is very impressive.When you cast on do it as loosely as possible.I uually cast on for lace and socks over 2 needles held together.
The wedding throw wil be a stunning gift.
Hi... I have some of this same yarn in a dark maroon and it's so soft and luxurious. It's not 100% cashmere, but 10% cashmere and 90% lambswool. The writing is Chinese. I bought mine from the people who bring it in from China while I was at Stiches West. I hope you find this info helpful.
Posted by: Joanne at April 17, 2004 12:06 AMEeep! Thanks for the update, Joanne. I find it very helpful. It definitely explains why the yarn was only $14 per skein...
Posted by: Jon at April 17, 2004 12:22 AMYou're welcome. This blend really works, doesn't it? It's incredibly soft and you can't stop touching it. I haven't used mine yet, and am already planning to buy more. What a find! I'm keeping the box, too.. how unique! Joanne
Posted by: Joanne at April 17, 2004 10:00 AMOh, sugar, 'twas I who warned you about the Ab Fab, and now you're doomed, doomed, I say.
What's going to happen is that, because you're going to NEED to knit the damn things in all the colors they make, you're going to foist them off on everybody you know, at the least provocation.
The Big Gay Wedding is good, but there aren't going to be enough of them, no way. Unless you're REALLY got a whole slew of friends rushing to the altar. Housewarmings, birthdays, major surgeries -- hell, lately I found myself trying to figure out how one could be made appropriate for a baby shower.
Just predicting here. And oh, are they fun to do! And easy-peasy. Good for taking to work and doing during colleagues papers on american modernism and the publishing industry, or the poetry of Emily Dickinson. So, you know, you have to have one around at all times. And not nearly enough people get married to appease my Ab Fab passion.
alas.
Oh! Now, you DO need one for yourself, you know! Maybe two.
Posted by: Anne at April 18, 2004 07:54 AMJon,
That will make a stunning wedding gift and I admire your jump into lace knitting. WOW! As Elizabeth Zimmerman said (and Meg Swansen, her daughter, says today): Onward!
I'm just starting a business called Twilight Wearable Arts, where I will be handcrafting (knitting, crocheting, beading)ladies' evening wraps, many of the based on some real vintage patterns that I've been buying on eBay (check the eBay.uk and eBay.au sites as well for vintage patterns; I've found some really interesting patterns. I want to augment my Social Security disability income, earn and save my own earnings, and feel creative and alive again.
I just received my Fed tax ID number on Friday and am SO excited about this, plus I already have 2 commissions. I won't limit myself to shawls, stoles, and Chanel jackets, but also love making unusual baby layettes (I have a particularly popular pattern for a baby blanket that's made of granny squares that have a bear face in the middle).
Speaking of baby blankets, a lovely lace cashmere piece would certainly become an heirloom. But for the sake of the realities of baby life, perhaps presenting it (the lace blanket) as a "christening shawl" if that's appropriate for the parents-to-be, or perhaps a crib blanket. Otherwise, real "blankies" (we had to buy our son 2 blankies and 2 teddy bears so that we could keep them clean) probably work best if they are made of a high-quality microspun or acrylic yarn (in case a sensitive skin or allergies), something that can tolerate being dragged around the house, spit up on, spill juice on, and thrown into the washer with no ill effects).
Just one more thing about (drool) cashmere yarns that are reasonably priced (although you seemed to have found a gret deal); I stumbled on a deliciously warm and soft laceweight Italian merino yarn...$11 (on sale) per 1200-yard skein, made by Ornaghifilatura. It's called Merino Oro (sic). I know that in proper Italian, the name should be "Merino d'Oro," bu they are leaving out the apostrophe between 2 vowels for some reason. You can find that at Yarns And... and another new yarn store whose name will come up on a search.com search for the yarn name.
Have fun and onward! And maybe as I start building stock for my first sale (since I've missed most of the deadlines for this year's adjudicated art and crafts shows, I plan to open my business instead at a nice restaurant with a private room, and send out invitations with a business card. Then, I'll also have time to make samples and merchandise for sale for arts and crafts shows.
Posted by: Christine at June 15, 2004 11:23 PM