Trenchwork

One of the things which has come of the recent Lace Swap has been the opportunity to see yarns and knitting tools and gadgets from all over the world. As a relatively new knitter who only had access to—or knew about—the local Norwegian yarn stores (specifically Garnhuset, Jens Hoff, and Husfliden [the last of which I rarely use because they're usually more expensive and I'm not fond of their main line of yarns]), my exposure to yarns has been a bit limited. I have all the access you could ever want to Dale yarns (e.g., Heilo, Falk, Dale Baby Ull, and Freestyle), the PT series yarns, Gjestal yarns (Vestlandsgarn and Nagano), Garnstudios yarn (Alpaca and Vivaldi), and Sandnes yarns (Peer Gynt and Smart). In short, all the usual Norwegian (and Swedish) wools.

Just this month, I’ve found that Jens Hoff is carrying a very limited supply and selection of Rowan’s Kid Silk Haze. Sock yarns consist of only a bit of Regia’s 4-ply, and Sandnes’s Sisu Magi. There’s now a decent selection of mohair in both Garnhuset and Jens Hoff. Laceweights are limited, but there are some decent fingering weights (although still limited).

But ladies and gents, there’s more to yarn than Dale, and all the lovely packages of this swap have given me an education. I now know that there are yarns made with merino and tencel, and have actually had the chance to lay hands on the stuff thanks to Rae. Thanks to Rae, I now have my very first ball of cobweb yarn.

I’ve found so many cool yarns that I’m dying to try. Like Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock variegateds, Socks that Rock, Fleece Artist Merino, Cherry Tree Hill Supersock, Interlacements Toasty Toes, Claudia’s Handpainted, Trekking, and Schaefer Yarns.

But as I was browsing those, I found Alchemy’s Haiku and Monarch, Jaggerspun Zephyr and Superfine Merino, Artyarn’s Ultramerino 4, Crystal Palace Painted Kid Merino, ALL the laceweights at Skaska Designs, Cherry Tree Hill’s Suri Alpaca and Silken Mohair and a dozen other fingering and laceweight yarns I simply lust after, especially those with a wee bit of mohair blend for a lovely halo. Seriously, DH has been watching me browse yarns and doesn’t quite know whether to be bemused or confused as I’ve found one yarn of melting softness and impossible color after another.

And Lantern Moon Destiny circulars in nice, long lengths.

So, I’ve come to a decision. Over the rest of the year, I’m going to slowly order a couple skeins of each yarn. If I get one or two of each, then by the time I’ve knitted up a pair of socks or a scarf, I’ll know which yarns I really want to work with.

But since I know that won’t get me quite as far as I’d like, I’ve got a plan (she says with smug confidence). I’m telling the family (the only folks I worry about with Christmas gifts) to NOT buy me any gifts at all, but rather to chip in together and get me a gift certificate to the LYS. Or two: one to the LYS and one to a place like sarahsyarns.com, purlsoho.com, or dropastitch.com. Or one to the LYS and cash so I can go to the online shops myself.

Reckon it’ll work? And by the way, have you noticed that Miriam Felton has finished yet another lace design, and that this one is even more lovely than Icarus (imho)?