Every month, I share a roundup of 10 things to knit, featuring patterns I’d love to cast on (as soon as I find the time!). I’ve been meaning to put together a second monthly series highlighting yarns I’m working and designing with at the moment, so today we’re jumping in the deep end. Hopefully seeing a little bit of how the sausage knitting pattern is made will inspire you to try new yarns or even take a whack at designing for yourself! This month, I’ve got lots of fingering weight yarn on my needles, and the designs I’m working on are all going to be accessories. Let’s take a look at the yarn I’m working with these days.
Louet Gems Fingering in Grey Sky
The first yarn I’ve been spending a lot of time with is Louet Gems Fingering yarn. Obviously this is a fingering weight yarn. It’s made of 100% merino wool, and it comes in 185 yd. (50 g) skeins. I’ve designed with this yarn before (my Turtle Mitts pattern is done in the same exact yarn), but this time, I’m designing a lace wrap with it!
One of the newer yarns from Shibui, Maai is a DK weight chainette yarn that’s a blend of 70% superbaby alpaca and 30% merino wool. For those of you new to chainette yarns, they’re basically a yarn constructed like an i-cord or crochet chain from small fibers that you then knit with. The open structure of the yarn results in a less dense and highly flexible finished piece of knit fabric that is super lightweight. Maai comes in 175 yd skeins, and I’ve just about finished a new cowl pattern using this luxe, fluffy yarn.
Leading Men Fiber Arts’ Soliloquy in Poison Apple
Last but not least, I’m working with Leading Men Fiber Arts for the first time, using their Soliloquy yarn. Soliloquy is a fingering weight yarn made with 100% Superwash British Bluefaced Leicester Wool, and it comes in generous 657 yard skeins. I’m in the early design stages for a special, literary-inspired design project. Since it’s so early in the game I don’t want to give too much away, but the design I have in mind is really fun – I’m looking forward to sharing it when it’s done!
Since this is a new series, I’d love to hear what you think. Would you like to see more of this kind of post on Hands Occupied? Leave a comment & let me know!
Jane rogers
September 14, 2015 at 8:06 amHi yes! Love to see new yarns and can’t wait to see what you are up to with them.
Jane
DebbieW
September 15, 2015 at 9:30 amI’m on the edge of my seat waiting for a “literary inspired project!” Seriously, these yarns look absolutely yummy!
Valerie
September 15, 2015 at 3:36 pmI’ve never seen the term “superbaby alpaca” before, and now I’m picturing teeny-tiny baby alpacas. Adorable! (and probably super-soft, too!)
Joan Trautwein
September 23, 2015 at 2:43 pmYes, I do enjoy this type of informative post. There are so many new and different types of yarns now available but because I don’t really know enough about them to spend $15 to $20 + on them to sample them, I won’t buy them. Your information on the chainette yarns encourages me to give it a try. I like the idea of lightness and warmth. Also seeing what you’re working on with these different yarns gives me ideas how the finished fabric will look. That’s really important to me. Thanks.