Yarn Pageant
Ladies and Gentlemen, let's have a big round of applause for the fibery finalists competing for a chance to be involved in a brand new sweater design project. These finalists have come from around the world to show off their stuff and demonstrate why they should go from being beautiful skeins of inspiration to the foundation for a creative sweater experience...
Contestant #1 Hails from Holmfirth England. This Rowan All Seasons Cotton in Deep Marine is no longer commercially available, but this cotton/microfiber blend is known for it's exceptional stitch definition and durability and three season wear. As versatile as this yarn is durable, this yarn can often be found in both chunky cables and simple lace and can be substituted in almost any pattern calling for worsted weight yarn. Please give it up for the All Seasons Cotton!
Contestant #2 Comes to us straight from Mitchell, Nebraska. This Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted weight yarn is a beautiful wool/mohair blend that provides exceptional warmth and has a lovely deep sheen. Known for it's value and it's ability to substitute for several yarns originally used by She Who Cannot Be Named this Lamb's Pride this evenly spun yarn excels in both Aran and Gansey stylings and just loves to be found in cold weather gear. Let's hear it for the Lamb's Pride!
Our Third Finalist just arrived off a slow boat from Italy. This Lava colorway Elsebeth Lavold's Silky Wool is a soft and luxurious DK weight wool/silk blend. This yarn loves to be worked up into finely detailed Viking cable patterns and has a tweedy texture that adds an extra level of sophistication to almost any garment. The almost 35% wool content ensures that this light-weight yarn will have both a wonderful drape and provide extra warmth to the wearer. Let's give a warm welcome to the Silky Wool!
Finalist #4 also made the long journey from Holmfirth, England. This Jaeger Chamonix in Limoges is as soft and gorgeous as it's color is subtle. A divine blend of angora, merino and microfiber, this yarn goes beyond conventional spinning into cabled strand that makes for plenty of cloud-like softness and warmth when knitted up. An ideal candidate for winter garments which call for a bulky-weight yarn and have simple textural details, this yarn is guaranteed to make any garment a luxurious wardrobe addition. Please show your appreciation for the Jaeger Chamonix!
Contestant #5 is a hardy wool from Melville, Montana. This Sweet Grass Wool is unscoured goodness from Targhee sheep and was milled into yarn without the use of harsh chemicals or bleaches. With a touch of lanolin left in its fibery twists, this yarn has a softness that, combined with with a delightful springy-ness makes it hard to put down. This robust and bulky yarn is happy to be the foundation for outerwear and jackets that are meant to keep the wearer warm and protected from the elements but also has suprisingly nice stitch definition that will bring simple design elements to life. Please put you hands together for the Sweet Grass Unscoured Targhee!
Our most exotic entrant has journeyed all the way from Japan to participate in our pageant. This Noro Cash Iroha is a soft and sophsiticated blend of silk, wool, cashmere and nylon and definitely knows how to shine without being flashy. An ideal choice for garments where both light weight and warmth are desired, Cash Iroha's slightly variably spun width means that it can bring texture as well as color and drape to a garment. Almost any worsted weight design that doesn't need a lot of structure would go from delightful to divine in Cash Iroha. It's time to welcome the Noro Cash Iroha!
Our last entrant comes from the Shetland Isles and is know for it's rich depth of color and soft, wooly texture. Jamieson's Chunky Shetland is a 100% wool yarn whose colors simply can't be done justice with digital technology. This yarn was born to be included in ganseys, arans, and simple sweaters that need to have a big personality. Definitely not a warm weather yarn, this yarn is almost guaranteed to make the wearer feel warm and happy apres ski! Let's let this Jamieson's Chunky Shetland know we're glad it's here.
Well there you have it, Ladies and Gentlemen, all the outstanding entrants in our rich yarn pageant. They represent 3 continents, a spectrum of color, and an incredible array of fibers and textures. Which one will be selected for the highest honor a yarn can know -- inclusion in a destined to be loved sweater? Just stay tuned...
interesting and sad to note that with the exception of the Lavold and Sweet Grass, I *know* all these yarns. I vote for ASC versatile enough to wear into spring.
I like the ASC too, but the Chamonix just keeps jumping right back in there for me as well!
oh wow! not familiar with all of these, but the ones that i do know about are fab. makes me want to see out the others and give them a try.
All the contestants are lovely. It'll be interesting to see who scores highest in the talent portion of the competition!
I like the ASC. I snagged some of the Deep Marine last year before it was discontinued, and I *love* the color. It looks gorgeous with blue or green eyes.
The only one I haven't met is the Sweet Grass !
You realy need something soft,snuggly and classy.That's the Chamonix then !
I vote for the Chamonix. It looks luxurious. I've fondled it in a store recently, and almost tipped. AND I want to see what it looks like knitted up when I finally do succumb. Selfish reasons, but a pageant is a form of democracy......
I vote for the Chamonix! It just looks lovely and luxurious...guess we'll have to wait and see who wins out!
I'm going for the Silky Wool. I'm a sucker for that color.
The Cash Iroha is absolutely a dream to knit with, but I have to cast a vote for ASC. I love the Deep Marine color and its softness is unrivaled...
Are there any parting gifts for the ones who don't get selected?
After just finishing a little boy jacket in ASC and being half way through a sweater for myself in Chamonix. I love knitting with both, but the ASC just flies of the needles. I can knit through a ball of ASC in no time at all. It is great to work with, has a slight tendecy to split. But that does not make it less enjoyable.
Choices, difficult choices.
Have you looked at patterns? Maybe that will help.
Happy choosing!
I am all for the Chamonix, I have dreamed of seeing that yarn in person :) and if not then I go for the Noro Cash Iroha, cause it has the word cash in it and we could all use some cash.
The Cash Iroha or Lamb's Pride.
Ooh the Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool is so soft! I vote for that.
I'm a sucker for silk... So, either the Noro or the Lavold! :) The Noro colour seems wonderful!
Wow, my stash is getting an inferiority complex! Is there a "Swan" program for yarn?
I'd vote for the Lavold, though you can't go wrong with any of them. Who will get Miss Congeniality, I wonder?
I vote for ASC, because I Loooove it, and love wearing it too. It's so awesome in cables.
love love love.
Definitely the Chamonix!
And I'm looking at all of them going 'Yes?'
But I really like the idea of the Elsbeth Lavold and the Iroha.
ASC is my all-time favorite yarn, but I'm currently working with Chamonix, and it's decadent. My shade looks like espresso in some lights and chocolate in others, and it's more delectable than either one. I frogged twelve inches in order to make some modifications and actually enjoyed winding the yarn into a ball and re-knitting it.