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Hands Occupied

Colorful knitting, crochet, latch hook and macrame from craft book author & designer Heidi Gustad.

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Yak Yarn!

May 6, 2015 2 Comments

Yak Yarn! Bijou Basin Ranch Yarn Review

I don’t know if you’ve ever tried yarn made with yak fibers before, but I highly recommend it. I mean, we all know that getting our hands on some new-to-us yarn is fun, but yak yarn isn’t something you see every day. I wasn’t sure what to expect when these pretty colored yarns showed up in my mailbox. The yak fiber turned out to be smooth and warm, and it provides a great alternative to wool if you’re looking for something new and different to work with.

Yak Yarn! Bijou Basin Ranch Yarn Review

Himalayan Trail is Bijou Basin Ranch’s yak/wool yarn. It’s got a little bit of nice roughness from the 25% merino wool content, but the 75% yak adds some smoothness as a counterpoint. Despite the smoothness, the yak fiber is a lot warmer than fibers like cashmere that are often used to make a smooth yarn. That plus the wool make this toasty, wearable yarn ideal for winter accessories.

Yak Yarn! Bijou Basin Ranch Yarn Review

This is what Bijou Basin Ranch’s Himalayan Trail (left) and Lhasa Wilderness (right) look like swatched & blocked. The stitch definition and subtle color variety is really nice in both yarns, don’t you think? :)

Yak Yarn! Bijou Basin Ranch Yarn Review

As I said above, yak yarn is a good alternative to wool, and this yarn is completely wool free if you or someone you’re knitting for has a wool allergy. Bijou Basin’s Lhasa Wilderness yarn is a sport weight yarn that combines yak and bamboo fibers to form a light, cotton-like yarn. I designed the Outlander Chevron Shawl earlier this year using Lhasa Wilderness, and it was lovely to work with. Soft and not too springy, this yarn could easily take the place of cotton yarns for a silkier version of a simple cotton project. I think in particular, baby blankets would be well suited to this yarn.

Bonus: Bijou Basin Ranch has relationships with yak ranchers in Nepal, and currently has Lhasa Wilderness on special. All profits of Lhasa Wilderness are currently going to AmeriCares to help earthquake victims in Nepal. Learn more and order yarn to help the cause here. 

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The yarn pictured was provided by Bijou Basin Ranch. Opinions are my own. 

Filed Under: Giveaways, Reviews & Sponsored, Knitting & Crochet Tagged With: bijou basin, bijou basin ranch, himalayan trail, Knitting, lhasa wilderness, nepal support, yak yarn, yarn, yarn review

About Heidi

Heidi Gustad is a craft book author, designer & creator specializing in yarn crafts like knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé. Her first book, Latch Hook: 12 Projects for the Modern Maker, is out now.

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Comments

  1. Julie

    May 6, 2015 at 12:40 pm

    I just got a skein of the Himalayan Trail, and am excited to knit with it! It feels so soft.

    Reply
  2. Sky Turtle

    May 11, 2015 at 4:35 pm

    It looks great! Never tried yak fibers and pretty much not anything else than wool, cotton and acrylic, which makes me want to up my game this fall and try some new things!

    Reply

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Heidi Gustad from Hands Occupied / Craft Book Author and Knitting, Crochet, Latch Hook and Macrame Designer

Hi! I’m Heidi (she/her/hers), a craft book author & pattern designer specializing in knitting, crochet, latch hook & macrame. Really anything with yarn! ❤️  My work combines vintage and modern design elements, featuring bold colors and graphic motifs.

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handsoccupied

Craft book author, designer & creator specializing in yarn crafts like knitting, crochet, latch hook & macramé
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Nobody panic. This is just the back of an (admitte Nobody panic. This is just the back of an (admittedly insane) intarsia project. One day, this will be a seamed sweater, but today is not that day. 🧶 
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Have a good weekend, everyone! 
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Yarn: @universal_yarn’s Fibra Natura Cobblestone in Antarctica & Dragon’s Breath 
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Here’s how to work a Norwegian purl stitch for e Here’s how to work a Norwegian purl stitch for easier continental style knitting. With this purling method, the working yarn says tensioned (held) at the back of your knitting at all times. For many knitters, always holding the yarn at the back helps with tension issues, as well as feeling a little more comfortable. 
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Have you ever encountered this style of purling before? If you’ve tried it, have you found it helps with your purl tension and knitting speed? I’m curious.
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For a written tutorial, visit handsoccupied-dot-com. For video, you guessed it, You2be. Both of these platforms allow for longer, more in-depth versions of this tutorial, including full transcripts, alt text & the ability to pause, slow down or speed up at will. (Like if you really want to learn this, I recommend using a platform that doesn’t keep your hands occupied. Thinking of putting this in all my captions these days tbh - shout out to you if you made it this far. 🙌🏻😂)
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Have you ever tried this style of purl? . All thi Have you ever tried this style of purl? 
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All this recent talk about throwing vs. continental style knitting made it clear many people struggle with purling in continental knitting. Turns out that Norway may have the answer! In Norwegian purling, the working yarn stays tensioned at the back at all times, helping with speed and tension. 🤯
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Head to the bl0g (🔗 in bi0) for a more in-depth look at how to work a Norwegian purl stitch, including a photo tutorial with animated GIF & a video tutorial. Wrapping your mind around how to work a stitch you’re familiar with in a totally new way can be confusing, so I tried to give a few options for clarity. 🤙🏻 Video is also on You2be. 
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#handsoccupied #norwegianpurl #norwegianknitting #norwegianpurling #continentalknitting #howtoknit #learntoknit #knitterofinstagram #knitters
It’s been a hot second since I showed my face or It’s been a hot second since I showed my face or reintroduced myself, so here goes! I’m Heidi Gustad, a craft book author, pattern designer, and tutorial creator who specializes in yarn crafts. Lately, I’ve been focused on releasing quality knitting videos and related blog posts to help teach things like the difference between provisional cast ons and how to fix common knitting mistakes. Next week I’m shooting requested crochet and latch hook videos, so h👀kers, your time is coming! And if you ever have tutorial requests, please let me know. ☺️
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TLDR: I’m Heidi. I design & teach yarn crafts. You can find tutorials on my blog (est. 2010) & You2be. I also have several knitting & crochet patterns + a book about latch hook available. / All of these can be found on my website, the 🔗 is where you’d think. 
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Are you a picker or a thrower? Do you knit Contine Are you a picker or a thrower? Do you knit Continental or English Style? Here’s a quick overview of the differences between the two most common knitting styles, including a side by side comparison. (A good one to save for future reference. 👍🏻) 
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There’s more on the differences between picking and throwing in my latest blog post & You 2ube video - the l1nk is where you’d think!
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