Wednesday 27 January 2016

Yarn Along - And A Question

Joining in today with Small Things for Yarn Along.

As we are going away tomorrow to Apollo Bay (aka one of my favourite places in the world!), I have been sorting out some light holiday reading to take with me.
I have just started Wild Horses by Linda Byler, which is part one of an Amish fiction series. I do love Amish fiction so looking forward to a new series.


I also have The Christmas Cat and The Christmas Pony by Melody Carlson. I put these on hold with my library in November and I guess they were very popular over Christmas as I have only just got them! Not sure if that will be enough though - may have to slip in some more as I would hate to be caught with no book to read!

I also have to organise knitting to take away. I'm sure we have all had that terrible moment when you realise you have not brought a stitch holder or some other essential item, or the second ball of yarn, and cannot keep knitting! Horrors!

This is how the second Ode To Doris is coming along.


I am quite liking the way the colours are appearing, particularly in the stocking stitch section.


And I have just cast on (for in the car knitting) for an Amy Pinafore. I am using my hand dyed pink/purple for the ruffles and bodice and my hand dyed tonal pink for the main body.





I would love your quick opinion too, if would care to comment. I've been planning some dyeing themes (British royal family, The Sound of Music, Audrey Hepburn movies for starters) and now am planning bases for dyeing. If you were buying hand-dyed yarn, what would be the base you would be most likely to purchase?

I have these bases to choose from:

  • Fine merino sock yarn 4 ply - 75% superfine merino, 25% nylon, machine washable
  • Fine merino 8 ply - 100% wool, hand washable
  • Pure wool 4, 8 and 10 ply - 100% fine micron wool, machine washable
  • Pure wool 8 ply - 100% wool, hand washable, feltable
  • Alpaca 8 ply - 100% alpaca, hand washable
I myself prefer to knit in 4 ply (fingering), but a lot of the popular patterns are in 8 ply (DK) or 10 ply (worsted).

Also, open to any ideas for themes.

Next week I hope to begin dyeing in earnest, so fingers crossed, there may be some photos to show next Wednesday!

22 comments:

  1. I love the gorgeous colours in the yarn you're using for your 'Ode to Doris' - so pretty.

    Your dyeing themes are great, especially the the Audrey Hepburn movies idea. As for yarn, I'd choose the fine merino sock yarn 4 ply.

    P.S. Thank you for your lovely comment on my blog

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    1. Thanks for visiting and for your kind words. I do love Audrey, so that will be a favourite of mine.

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  2. Hope you have a wonderful holiday. I love the colors in your 'Ode to Doris'. I'm sorry that I don't know enough about yarn to comment. I would love to know how to knit!

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  3. I love all fibers, but fine merino is a favorite so it gets my vote.
    Your Ode to Doris is so pretty.
    Have fun at one of your favorite places, I love the name!

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    1. Thanks! It is a lovely place - get ready for lots of photos!

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  4. Your books sound wonderful, and I love the colors for the pattern you're about to do- adorable!! I'd lean toward the fine merino in 4 or 8 ply!

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    1. I've nearly finished the book now and it is a good read. The fine merino does feel lovely.

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  5. Sock weight to be sure. These days, I am also in love with DK/sport in a single ply construction. I feel like it is a good weight for adult sweaters that works up faster than sock or fingering without being heavy and bulky like aran or more. Hope that helps!

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    1. The fine merino in DK is not too heavy and very soft. Thanks for visiting.

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  6. Have such a fun time on your vacation!!

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    1. Thanks - we will! It is forecast to rain the whole four days we are away, but who cares?!

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  7. That books sounds exactly my cup of tea or should I say my kind of pie! I'm still exploring different yarns but I think would like the sock yarn and 10 ply. I find that all the overseas patterns are in 10 and 12 ply. I guess because it's colder there but I live a Snow Region in Oz!

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    1. It was a great book - I have just picked up the second one in the series from the library. Yes, I have found lots of patterns are now in 10ply. Lucky you live somewhere cold - I do love your snow photos!

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  8. I think that the pure wool, 4, 8,10 ply would be a god choice. I like to know that the wool is machine washable in case it accidentaly gets put in the machine. I also think that patterns use such varied plys it's god to have a choice. American patterns seem to use 10ply, Australian 8ply and a lot of vintage patterns I was looking at suggested using modern 4 ply to correspond to the old 3ply. I've never knitted with Alpaca wool but it also would be a good choice for a variety.

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    1. I do love all my vintage patterns that knit jumpers in 4ply. I like the lighter feel of wearing them as I always get too hot!

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  9. I was looking at some sock patterns the other day (not that I've ever knitted any) and was wondering what was the difference between sock yarn and normal yarn?

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    1. Sock yarn will generally have some sort of nylon (20-25%) to give it some extra strength to wear better.

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  10. I think the first one because it has nylon content and it's washable so I could make socks or a shawl. and it's fingering. But that's me!! Have fun with your trip!!

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  11. Ooh, what lovely yarn! And I adore both of those patterns! It's a shame I don't have any children to knit for yet or I suspect that would be a regular hobby.

    As for the base, I would likely go with either the 4 ply or 8 ply merino. I do love knitting socks!

    And I must absolutely mention that I LOVE that you dye your own yarn! I don't have the opportunity or time to commit to spinning and dying, but would love to try someday. And I so admire people that do!

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    1. Thanks! It is so much fun dyeing - very addictive! The pinafore is coming along really nicely. I love it so far.

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