Wallowing in wool

I made one of my correspondents somewhat envious when I described to her how I was wallowing knee-deep in yarns at present. I’ve recently had a huge shipment in from Colinette – boxes & boxes – which has taken me days to get sorted out.

The JitterBugsock wool we’ve now got in 35 different colourways, and I’ve been photographing the hanks to get our website updated. But I’ve also been playing! (I do a lot of that every time I get something new in.) I take over just about every available spot of floorspace, spread out the booty, and have a good look at how which yarn works with which, and how different colourways can be combined. My ‘thing’ of the moment is combining different textures, but of the same colourway, and I’ve got a few garment sketches down that have the JitterBug combined with Parisienne - just as you might combine two different fabric weights when sewing. Think something like a fine wool crepe top with silk georgette trims. Get the idea? 

The JitterBug, being a 4 ply, is a really lovely weight for garments, particularly over here in Australia, and the extended colour range means that there’s a few more subtler shades for those that want something other than a pretty memorable pair of socks (though my partner surprised me the other day & said he’d happily wear a pair of outrageous socks if I knit him some for the shows he helps at!).  This next picture is when I gathered together one hank in each colour during my play session – though you can’t really see all 35 very easily.

Next there followed a lot of shuffling and discarding, as I got an idea of which colours might work well together. I’ve always fancied a pair of modular knit socks – there’s quite a nice pair in the Ginger Luters’ book of modular knitting - but it does concern me that my (extremely delicate) feet would find the little bumps and ridges, where the modules are picked up and built upon, just too uncomfortable for practical use.

Ah well, dream on……I must get back to the sorting, now that I’m down to the last 30kg or so left to unbox.