Homespun?

Homespun Silk

Great Adirondack Yarn Co.

50 % silk, 50 % wool

220 yards

Gauge: 4 stiches =1" on US size 9 needle

Retail price: $37.00

This yarn is as lovely to work with as it is to look at. The colors are amazing, and it shows no signs of being "homespun." It would make a gorgeous summer top or shawl.

Fabu-lous

Fabu
Muench Yarns
90%Viscose, 10% Polyester.
50 gr, 72 m/79 yds
Gauge: 3 1/2 sts per 1" on US 10 needles
My Color: 4314
Retail price: $14.00

The colors in this one are gorgeous, but it is a bear to knit by itself. It really needs to be held with something else, unless you are a masochistic knitter.

Nature Cotton

Nature Cotton
Araucania Yarn Co.
100% Cotton
+/- 100 gr. = 105 yd.
Gauge: 13 st. / 4" on Needle Size 5 - 6 US. / 9 - 8 UK
My Color: AZ07
My Source: The Knit Stop, Indianapolis, IN
Retail Price: $7.95



Yet another challenge to my "I Hate Cotton Yarns" mantra, the Nature Cotton was actually nice to work with. It was soft, unlike its mercerized cousins, and maybe the mercerization is what ai really hate. I'm certainly being made to question my mantra alot these days! This swatching has been good for my closed-minded stance towards cottons. This one is thick and thin, like a cotton verson of Manos del Uruguay wool, and is, therefore (in my humble opinion) good for more casual wear. If you want your stitches to look perfect, this one would not be a good choice. However, if you want it to feel soft, this is a great choice.

Nah Nuh, Nah Nuh, Boo Boo

Big Baby
Alpaca With A Twist
100% baby alpaca
100 gr = 82 yds
Gauge: 3 stitches per inch on #11 needles
My Color: 5004 Summer Squash
My Source: The Knit Stop, Indianapolis, IN
Retail price: $13.00

Well, I'm not a fan of Squash, summer or otherwise, but I'm a huge fan of alpaca, and this one is no exception. It is SO soft and SO squishy, that I quickly fell even more deeply in love with this fiber. I can see a nice winter cardigan or blanket out of this, as it would be so nice to snuggle up with.

Blue Lagoon

Giotto

Colinette Yarns

50% cotton 40%rayon & 10% nylon
100 g = 144 metres
Gauge: 11sts to 16 rows per 4" on 8mm needles

My Color: Lagoon

My Source: The Knit Stop, Indianapolis, IN

Retail price: $26.50

For some reason, the shine of this ribbon yarn doesn't show up well in these photos, so for another look at it, check the Collinette website. The yarn is really beautiful, and aptly fits its name. I pictured a blue lagoon in the Caribbean while I knit this lovely little tank top. It is "Gloria" from the book Rock Gods and Movie Stars, and it only took two days to make (not full days, mind you. Just two days of my knitting time). In other words, it was FAST! I really enjoyed using it, and look forward to making something else from the Rio colorway that's also in my stash.

Salsa Caliente

Salsa

Garnstudio

50% cotton, 40% tactel polyamid, 10% polyamid

50g = 68m

Gauge: 13 sts x 17 rows = 10x10cm on needle size 8mm.

My Color: 06

Retal price: $12.60

I've used ribbon yarns before that felt like knitting with strips of paper, but this stuff was surprisingly soft. I really liked it. It would be much more comfortable to wear than its stiffer cousins.

Gelato and a Bath

Italian Ice
Knit One Crochet Too
61% cotton/26% linen/13% viscose
Texture: mate ribbon with shiny wrap
50 gr = 76 yards
Gauge: 16 sts per 4" on needles size US 9 (5.5mm)
My Color: 611 robin's egg
Retail Price: $9.00

I'm neutral on this one. Didn't love it, didn't hate it. But the bath mitt is cute. K1C2 has a kit with this yarn and a bar of soap, and a pattern for a mitt and a soap pouch. It would make a cute gift, as a kit or as the completed items.

You Are An Obsession

Obsession
Classic Elite Yarns
100% cashmere
Gauge: 3.24 - 3.5 sts/inch on US #10½ needles
50 grams/1.75 oz = 95 yards/87 m
My Color: H60585 - Camel
My Source: The Knit Stop, Indianapolis, IN
Retail Price: $45.00



I can definitely see how this yarn could become one. An obsession, that is. It has about 100 plies of pure cashmere, and when you put them all together, you get an amazingly soft, luscious yarn. It becomes a big, thick, yummy fabric that would be incredible to come home to on a cold day.

Diva-ine

Diva

Muench Yarns

10% Glass Beads, 23% Cotton, 67% Nylon

50 gr = 33 yds

Gauge: 8 sts & 8 rows to 4" on US Needle #19

My Color: 5301

My Source: The Knit Stop, Indianapolis, IN

Retail price: $42.00

Es ist gut! You might just walk on by this one at your LYS, but if you happen to pick it up, you're in for a nice surprise. It just looks like your average ball of ribbon yarn, so the price might shock you. But on closer examination you will see some hidden jewels, literally. From the Muench Yarns website, I quote: "A wide woven ribbon of beautiful shiny microfiber rayon, combined with a coordinating soutache thread with glass beads sewn down the middle." Now I don't know what a soutache is, but the rest of it describes this yarn perfectly. As with other novelties, I found the beads showed up best on the purl side, so keep that in mind if you're designing your own beautiful number in this yarn.

Gentlemen, Start Your Engines; Ladies, Grab Your Clutch

Corde'
Judi & Co.
100% Rayon with a Cotton Core
Once spool = 144 yds
Gauge: 5.5 sts = 1'' on #5 US needle or size F crochet hook
My source: The Knit Stop, Indianapolis, IN
Retail Price: $27.30

May is race time here in Indianapolis, so I crocheted this quick little clutch bag using Judi & Co's Corde' Ribbon. Then, I knit up the checkered flag flap using both the white and black cords. I can't say I loved using this material, but it does make a nice purse. It is a little elastic, so make your item bigger than you think you'll need it.

Katia Ibiza

Ibiza
Katia Yarns
26% Cotton, 50% Nylon, 24% Bamboo
Gauge: 22 sts x 27 rows per 10x10 cm on needle size 3.5 mm
50 gr = 106 metres
My color: 09
My source: The Knit Stop, Indianapolis, IN
Retail price: $13.85

This was a fun yarn to knit with. It was like a relationship. It starts out as one thing, then changes to another, then another, and another, until finally, you've got something really nice. The changes are enough to keep it exciting, and you want to keep knitting to see what it will look like next. All of it is really soft and I can see if in a beautiful summer top, or even a fun skirt or shawl.

Drops Dead Gorgeous

Left to right: Muskat Color 22 w/ Vivaldi Color 13; Muskat Color 22 w/ Vivaldi Color 8; Safran Color 01 w/ Vivaldi Color 8; Safran Color 01 w/ Vivaldi Color 13



Left to right: Cotton Viscose Color 12 w/ Vivaldi Color 13; Cotton Viscose Color 12 w/ Vivaldi Color 8; Cotton Viscose Color 12 w/ Vivaldi Color 18; Safran Color 50 w/ Vivaldi Color13; Safran Color 50 w/ Vivaldi Color 8



Left to right: Cotton Viscose Color 12 w/ Vivaldi Color 13; Cotton Viscose Color 12 w/ Vivaldi Color 8; Cotton Viscose Color 12 w/ Vivaldi Color 18



Left to right: Safran Color 50 w/ Vivaldi Color13; Safran Color 50 w/ Vivaldi Color 8



Left to right: Safran Color 01 w/ Vivaldi Color 8; Safran Color 01 w/ Vivaldi Color 13


Left to right: Muskat Color 22 w/ Vivaldi Color 13; Muskat Color 22 w/ Vivaldi Color 8

Muskat
Garnstudio
100% Egyptian mercerized cotton
50g = 100m/109 yds
Gauge: 21 sts x 28 rows = 10x10cm on European needle size 4,
Retail price: $6.50

Safran
Garnstudio
100% Egyptian cotton
50g = 160m
Gauge: 23 sts x 30 rows = 10x10cm on needle size 3.5mm
Retail price: $6.95

Cotton Viscose
Garnstudio
54% Egyptian Cotton, 46% viscose
50g = 110m
Gauge: 23 sts x 30 rows = 10x10cm on needle size 2.5-3.5mm
Retail price $8.50

Vivaldi
Garnstudio
Solid colours: 58% mohair, 19% wool, 23% polyamid.
50g = 280m.
Blends (Vivaldi Special): 76% mohair, 4% wool, 20% polyamid.
50g = 200m,
Gauge: 19 sts x 26 rows = 10x10cm on needle size 4
Retail price: $12.50


So many Drops patterns call for these yarns to be combined, that I thought it might be nice to show how they look when you put them together. I really like the way it makes a totally new fabric. I wish I'd thought of that....

Wouldn't It "Be Sweet" If I Could Actually Wear This?

Bamboo

Be Sweet Yarn Co.

100% Bamboo

From their website: "a soft yarn with an elegant sheen that is ecofriendly and perfect for baby wear. Hand dyed and spun in South Africa. Available in over 70 solid colors."

50g ball is 120 yards

Gauge: 5 stitches / inch on US 6 needles

My Color: 659

My Source: The Knit Stop, Indianapolis, IN

Retail price:

I LOVED this yarn. It is so much nicer to use than cotton, and makes a lovely fabric. Everyone who saw it had to touch it and ooed and ahhed over it. It's no cashmere, mind you, but it is a great summer yarn.

No Swine Allowed

Silk Purse

Alchemy Yarns

100% silk

Gauge: 5 1/2 stitches = 1 on US needle size: 6

50 gr = 138 yds

My Color: 03c Lovely Good

My Source: The Knit Stop, Indianapolis, IN

Retail price: $29.40

Another winner from Alchemy. This stuff is so very nice to work with. If I had to wear a full body cast, I'd want it to be in this.

Yarnden of Eden

Eden
The Fibre Co.
20% French Angora 48% Tussah Silk 32% Fine Wool
50 gr = 60 yds
Gauge: 3.5 stitches per inch on US size 10 needles
My color: White
My source: The Knit Stop, Indianapolis, IN
Retail price: $25.20

This is my new favorite yarn. I will definitely be making a sweater with this stuff. It is like being wrapped up in the softest bunny crossed with the most luscious little lamb you've ever felt. I can't say enough good things about this one!