Angelarae Knits

Puffy

Got my puff paint today to put on the sole of my mom's shoes... Hope that it works.  I thought I would try a spot out on a swatch to see how it adheres to the yarn and whether or not it is too sticky to work as a skid proof heel.  We shall see.   Also, I wish I could post pics of the slippers as they really look nice and I want to show off. But that will have to wait, I guess.   Tomorrow is my day off so I will try to get some publishing work done.   

Pricey or Picky?

There is an interesting thread of conversation running through the KnitList today involving the use of expensive yarns specified in  magazine patterns like Interweave and Vogue Knitting.   The feeling I get is that knitters sometimes feel that they cannot afford the expensive yarns required for a project, and think they have to use acrylic yarn in order to afford certain projects.  This got me thinking about the way that I select yarn for projects and the reasons I choose the way I do.  Often, cost is a big factor.  But, I always want to use something I think will look nice for the project, whatever it is.  I want to have my cake and eat it, too! 

I have often used less expensive yarns to knit pieces originally knit in a more expensive choice.  For example, I knit Edith's Chunky Baby Sweater with 3 skeins of Lion Brand Wool-Ease, rather than the  5 skeins of Noro Kureyon that the original pattern called for.   The Wool-Ease cost approximately $7.50 for the sweater.  The Noro would have cost $40.00.  Quite a savings.  I chose to go this route because I could not afford to knit a  $74.00 sweater for my friend's baby. (with stitch markers, holders, new needles-Edith's Figure) Did I give up anything?  Yes.  I gave up the extreme satisfaction to be had from knitting anything with Kureyon.  The color changes are fabulous and I enjoy knitting with it.  But,  the baby got a very nice sweater that she could wear for a several months and that the mother loved.  The Beatrix Potter Buttons I used ($5.50 for 3, I think) made the cost come to a total of close to $15.00.  The bottom line is, are you willing to give up, with acrylic, what you will get with a more expensive, 'designer' yarn?  Sometimes yes. Sometimes, no.  Sometimes, you don't have to give up a thing.

Higher quality(and therefore, more expensive) yarn generally features one or a combination of the following:  softer touch(hand), rich color palette, fiber integrity (ie 100% wool, alpaca, cotton, etc..) , drape, wear-ability(I am speaking of how well it holds up under washing, hand or machine, based on what is appropriate).  Often, though, very nice yarns are available at your lys that are comparable in price to what you might find at Michael's or AC Moore.   To illustrate this, let's look at two popular yarns in a wool/acrylic blend, Lion Brand Wool-Ease Chunky and Plymouth Encore Chunky.  I have used both of these yarns in several projects.

With the Wool-Ease, I get 153 yds for $5.99 MSRP.  The color palette includes 18 shades.  I found 8 of the 18 at Michaels and 10 of the 18 at my local AC Moore.  Neither one had a shade of red. (I am not counting deep burgandy as red) Suggested needle size is 10 1/2 for a gauge of 15 sts./4 inches.  I should note here, that you can order any shade Lion Brand produces at Lionbrand.com.  There are 3 Michaels within 20 miles of my house and 2 AC Moore's.  JoAnn's also carries it.  I can get this any day of the week between 9 am and 9pm, est.

With Plymouth Encore, I get 143 yds. for $5.99.  (at  my lys...suggested msrp is $5.29)  The Color palette includes 41 shades, including some heathers.   Suggested needle size is 10 with a gauge of 14 sts. per 4 inches.  Michaels and AC Moore do *not* carry this yarn.  I get mine at my lys.  They currently carry 28 shades of the Chunky.   The colors are rich, in solids and heathers, with earth tones, naturals and white.  Only one of the two lys in my area sell it and they are open 6 days per week.  I don't have to go out of my way to get some, should I want it. 

The Encore color variety, affordability and softness, compared to Wool-Ease, make it a shoe-in for me.  I find myself going back to this yarn again and again.  You can see an example of my Encore knitting here.  This Irish Hiking Scarf is a great pattern, no matter what, but it turned out extra nice in this yarn.  The baby sweater I knit in Wool-Ease is here.  This picture (sans the buttons)is knit with 3 strands held together. 

Other less expensive, more bang for your buck yarns include: Cascade 220, Brown Sheep Lambs Pride (Worsted or Bulky), Berrocco Ultra Alpaca, Misti Alpaca Lace Weight Baby Alpaca, (soft and squishy).  These are just the one's I've used and come to appreciate.  There are other's,  too.  Also, I try to find one skein projects for nicer yarns I want to try.  One Skein, by Leigh Radford and One Skein Wonders by Judith Durant have some good ideas.  This way, I never feel deprived.  (almost never-still haven't been able to afford the Hand Maiden, yet).

My personal experience has taught me to learn as much as I can about the available fibers and feel free to substitute whenever necessary or practical.  I could write another couple of paragraphs about the importance of art in life and how knitting is our art and therefore most important for our feelings of wholeness and wellbeing and how I don't think we should feel guilty about what we spend for yarn....But that is a post for another day;->

Spin Lesson

Off to my local yarn shops today with Shannon.   Hopefully, I can get some help using the drop spindle I got in December.  My yarn is a little on the thick side, thicker than I would like, anyhow.    This is a wool roving I bought to practice with.  My spinner's advice has been pretty good, so far.  I'm looking forward to talking to her.  Maybe she will let me take some pics.  Her yarn shop is divine.   

Hope you guys have a fibery saturday!

Ang

Crocheted Math

I came across this article here, and was immediately fascinated!  A mathematician uses crocheted models to illustrate a mathematical concept, specifically, hyperbolic space.  Funny, I always called them scrunchies....

"In 1997 Cornell University mathematician Daina Taimina finally worked out how to make a physical model of hyperbolic space that allows us to feel,  and to tactilely explore, the properties of this unique geometry.    The method she used was crochet."

Ang