***
In the meantime, life goes on and there seems to be nothing more natural than knitting when you're cold so there's been plenty of that over the last week.
A box of new yarn arrived for the shop this week and at first I was a little bit wary about the colours - they didn't seem to match the shade cards I'd seen when ordering and so I thought I'd better cast on and knit something with it to see whether I actually liked it before recommending people buy it.
Puelo is 100% llama wool, hand dyed yarn in a DK weight. I chose shade 1961 which knit up into the most lovely variegated rainbows. I found that not only was I thrilled with the colours but that it feels so luxuriously soft. I didn't associate softness with llamas but I'm genuinely pleasantly surprised.
I knitted my rainbow cowl all over the place (and was even brave enough to attempt a new knitting group - which turned out to be wonderful!) and everywhere I went people would comment on the lovely colours, reach out to touch it and gush over the texture of it!
Cowls seem to have been all the rage this autumn/winter season and I have to admit that I was sceptical about them. I don't like the idea of the ones that are tight around your neck (hello panic attacks) but I'm also not that keen on the cowls that are worn long and loose however I do like the ones that wrap round and round so that they can be adjusted.
I found A Grey Loop pattern on Ravelry that seemed to be popular but on closer inspection of other people's notes (the original pattern is not very well written) I ended up knitting this adaptation from History Weaver which was simple to knit and follow - completely clear, just how I like it.
The cowl was done in a few days and I love everything about it!
Bad mobile phone photo, sorry...
Due to the fact that I've spent most of this week with a stress headache I haven't done much reading but I did make a start on The Half-life of Hannah which seems to be one of those mindless stories you can dip into when you need to escape. It was on the free digital reads page a couple of weeks ago but it's showing as £0.20 today (that page is so useful if you have a Kindle).
If the Puelo llama wool interests you then checkout the shop for more colours (I have my eye on those blues and greens!) and the JANUARYSALE coupon code still gets you an extra 10% off all items until the end of the month.
As always, I'm joining in with Yarn Along.
What are you knitting and or reading this week?
Thank goodness for heating and hot water!! Your cowl looks lovely!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sarah :o)
DeleteI love your cowl. I am just catching up on your dilemma. It can be so hard to know what to do for the best, but I find writing a list of pro's and con's helps
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jen. A list is a great idea :o)
DeleteYippeee for being warm. Cowl looks lovely. I've a cowl on my needles too just now :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, MumB - what kind of cowl are you knitting?
DeleteMaking it up as I go. More snug than yours so could sit like a baggy roll neck but hopefully big enough to hood like a snood if needed.
Deletehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/beryl-s/8387234034/in/photostream.
Oh lovely! Is it sparkly? I've been told that sparkles are going to be big for the Spring knitting season.
DeleteYes it's sparkly....makes a change for me to be up with a fashion trend ;o)
DeleteThank goodness you have your basic necessities! Love your cowl and that yarn looks so squishy and springy to me!! Great pattern choice!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Karen :o)
Deletewhat does wyif mean in the pattern?
ReplyDeleteMumB has replied to you below but I'm pasting it here in case you're only signed up to replies rather than comments :o)
DeleteAnonymous, it usually means "with yarn in front" and is seen after a slip stitch, so slip stitch with yarn in front (as if you are doing a purl stitch). Hope that helps.
What great yarn, beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThank you :o)
DeleteAnonymous, it usually means "with yarn in front" and is seen after a slip stitch, so slip stitch with yarn in front (as if you are doing a purl stitch). Hope that helps.
ReplyDeleteThanks for replying :o)
DeleteI love your rainbow cowl....so pretty!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Alisa :o)
DeleteIt sounds as though it has been a very stressful time for you & I hope it settles down very soon.
ReplyDeleteI've just been browsing through some of your recipes...so many good ones, I don't need to google anything anymore, just pop here!
Thanks, Helen. Enjoy the recipes :o)
DeleteWow! I've never tried Llama wool before, the colours look beautiful! Looking at the skeins it's hard to imagine how they would knit up, but they work perfectly. What a pretty project!
ReplyDeleteThank you :o)
DeleteHurrah for heating! "I didn't associate softness with llamas" Best blog line ever.
ReplyDeleteLOL! Sarah, you do make me laugh ;o)
DeleteI too am just catching up with your conundrum. I'm so sorry it's been such a stressful time but am happy you are home and with heating and hot water. The new yarn is lovely. I am using the lovely araucania yarn I bought from your shop for my Prayer Shawl for Newtown and it's so pretty! I've put a pic on Ravelry of it in progress if you have time to check it out! Much love to you, Hannah. Decompress for a bit and something will present itself and help you find a way forwards.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jules. Decompressing is a good idea - I might feel differently when I calm down.
DeleteI'll pop over to Rav and have a look at your project now. I love seeing what people make with the wool from my shop!
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteYour cowl is beautiful, I hope it keeps you warm in the cold weather.
ReplyDeleteThank you :o)
DeleteYour cowl is very lovely! I like your description of not too strangle-me and not too loose - sounds just right to me.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Elizabeth :o)
Deletevery very pretty, it does look so soft and looks lovely knit up!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lori ann :o)
Deletei'm with you-I don't like the super tight cowls either...i'd get claustrophobic! But i also don't like massive drapey cowls either. I love fingering/dk weight though for cowls. The hanks that you've posted are delicious!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful cowl I saw it on Flickr and followed the link here. I've never used llama but now I'll have to try it :) I'm currently knitting a hat with my first hand spun yarn and reading a book about 7 year olds.
ReplyDelete