fiber angst

[verbminx]

I am in knitting agony today because I really want to do a sweater or at least a tank. I have enough balls of yarn, it's true, but 5 different kinds (well, 4 - 2 are the same kind in different colors). Why oh why did I buy only 3 or 4 balls of any particular kind? why didn't I just pick something and buy 10-12 balls of it? the mind boggles.

I'm considering making up a little "learn to knit" kit with some of my extras... it's enough to knit a scarf, which is an ideal beginner's project anyway. Then I can afford to buy 12 balls of decent yarn for a sweater - or, if I do the asymmetrical wrapped kimono cardigan I want to do from the Vogue Very Easy Knits book, *25* balls. (at $7.50 each. that's well over $200 after needles, buttons, and so on are figured in. does ANYone ever make these things? I wouldn't pay that much for a sweater ready-made, certainly not to make it myself.)

meanwhile, since I'm sick of making scarves... I'm finishing my third and I have a scarfy shawl in the works and also a hat-and-scarf set... I'm thinking of using my excess yarns to make a throw pillow cover and also perhaps a bag.

any ideas? anyone? anyone?

Comments

[amatrixangel.livejournal.com]

not so much with what to make, but have you tried knitting with angora goat hair (mohair)? It's absolutely wonderful and so warm. For strength you may want to use 50% mohair and 50% wool but for sheer luxury, warmth (not to mention a bit of decadence :-) knit with 100% mohair. It's great and everyone will want one - whatever you make ;p

[amatrixangel.livejournal.com]

oh ...and there's a few free patterns and links here www.knittingpages.com (http://www.knittingpages.com/free%20knitting%20patterns%20index.htm)

[verbminx.livejournal.com]

mohair is pretty expensive. i do have one mohair yarn... 4 balls of filatura di crosa :ritratto:... i think i am going to use it to make the athena smoke ring shown at knittinggoddess.com. or some kind of cowl/mobius/hood-type-deal. mohair is also a total bitch to pull out if you make any mistakes, because the little fibers bind to each other. there is a fantastic mohair sweater (knitted with six strands including some metallic ribbon) in the vogue very easy knits book; i wanted ot make it but the yarns priced out to about $250.

i did get a nice mohair (not sure what if anythign it's blended with) long sweater jacket at express this past fall, with an attached scarf (that i wear as a hood, usually)... it is very warm and VERY itchy, though. and that is a problem with mohair... you can go for something like "douceur et soie", which is baby mohair and silk, very strong and soft, or you can get some kind of kid mohair, but regular mohair can be kind of itchy, for all that it is still fine and soft.

i don't know... i bought the ritratto because it was so lovely to touch... it's a mohair strand, a metallic strand, and a rayon strand all twisted together. the colorway i got is purple mohair, black/silver twisty metallic, and a sort of berry variegated rayon strand. to make the athena thing i think i will have to run two strands together. and with the leftovers? i don't know, maybe handwarmers or something.

[amatrixangel.livejournal.com]

yarns priced out to about $250.

woo ....omg, that's sooo expensive. I haven't experienced the 'itchy' thing. Perhaps it's just me, my skin can handle it but it might be the type of mohair you've been using too(?)

My ex partner's parents have an Angora goat farm and her mother spins the wool which I've used to knit things. Sweaters and scarves. I still know them as friends and get all the mohair free of charge.

If you like, email me with details and I can send you the mohair, for free. Don't worry about the postage, I can handle it. BTW- it doesn't have to be your personal address, just a post office or whereever you can think of picking it up. It's up to you, I'm happy to send it to you.

eristic@thirdmilleniumgallery.zzn.com

and when you wash mohair use a good quality dishwashing liqued - handwash (not in a machine). Just a thimball-full and warm water. True. I know it sounds strange but even the best laundry powders tend to wreck mohair. When drying, always lay flat because it can stretch like anything (I'm sorry if I'm saying things which you may already know here ..but thought I should mention this anyway).

[oddment.livejournal.com]

Free-form knitting?