Thursday, April 23, 2009

Yarn Review Thursday

Well better late than never.

This installment of the Yarn Review will feature one of the indie sock yarn dyers I just put up in the shop. I am proud to introduce to you Yarn Lust. I've admired her hand dyed yarns for some time and some of you might be familiar with her fun stitch markers I've included in the Seasons of Habu kits. She comes from my old stomping grounds in the Bay Area of California and knew her colors would be perfect for the Pacific Coast Inspired collection of sock yarns. She is a joy to work with and look forward to our future collaborations.

Now on with the details ....

Yarn - Yarn Lust - Better Than Basics base yarn
Weight - 3 ply fingering with a tight twist
Content - 100% Superwash Merino Wool
Yardage - approx 440 yards
Unit weight - 150 g / 5.5 oz
Gauge - 6 to 8 stitches per inch
Needle Size - US0 -3 for socks
Care - Machine or Hand Wash Cold / Lay Flat to Dry
Colors available - Tiffany (shown), Green Tea Genmaicha, Tokyo Tea and Flannel PJs. Take a look at these colors.

For the sample project I selected the Tiffany (think Breakfast at Tiffany's) and went in search of a sock pattern. I first thought I'd go with a simple knit and purl pattern in a diamond design. Well that was all Fail. It looked manly and that wasn't what I was going for with this colorway. So ripped that one back to the cuff and searched through More Sensational Knitted Socks and found a really nice but simple lace.

Stems -Perfect! Not too lacy but enough for a lady's sock. Very easily memorized 6 stitch and 4 row pattern. I started by casting on 60 stitches and did a twisted 1x1 rib for the cuff for 14 rows and on with the pattern for the leg. I love how the Tiffany Blue, beige and brown spiral down the cuff and leg.
Then with a traditional heel flap and gusset the layering of colors was tighter giving another interesting effect.

Instep continued the pattern repeat giving a nice flash of colors.







Then the typical odd row decrease for the toe brings back the tight layers of colors.

My gauge with US 1's and knitting on the tight side was 8 stitches per inch.
Love the yarn, color and pattern and can't wait to finish it's mate (along with the other 2 single socks).
So I hope you enjoyed this installment of Yarn Review
and don't forget to ...
Enjoy your knitting!
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1 comment:

Gracie said...

Love the sock! I would never have thought that yarn would look like that knit up. I think you just broadened my knitting repertoire.