My Favorite - Color Review!

Here we are at the high water mark of this year's KniCroBlo week - the color day. There is nothing I adore more than talking about yarn color.

Color, color, color. The best place to start is with my stash. I decided to display my stash (well, most of it anyway) in blocks of color. Not only did that just make sense to me, but I was amazed at some of the things that became apparent once I had the five blocks all set up.

So, from front to back: the red block, the gray/cream block, the green block, the pinky/peachy/rust-ish block, and finally the blue block all the way at the far end. Additionally, I could have had a small purple block, as well as an equally small brown block, but there was no more room on the table.

It is clear to me that I actually enjoy stashing across a fairly wide color spectrum. There can also be little doubt that I love the red, green and pinky/peachy/rust blocks the best. The cream/gray block was sort of a surprise, in that I didn't realize I actually had that much neutral in the stash, although I do love that color combo. The other big suprise was the blue block: I thought I'd have far more than what's there.

Notably absent from the blocks are black and yellow. So much for being a bee. Can I please be a red and peach bee? Or perhaps a green and cream bee? Is there a snowball's chance in hell Mother Nature will help me out here?

It's somewhat difficult to get an accurate read on whether or not my projects reflect my stash since I design; in many instances, the project color is not something I can control. I also haven't included the small remains from previous design projects, because it would throw off my color preferences. 

Ok, isn't the block to the left just luscious? I do about 35% of my projects from this part of the color wheel (and stay tuned for a little later in the week - I've got a new project just completed from this block o' colors); I would do far more if I could - but of course I don't want to alienate the other colors I love. Colors have feelings too. Yes, yes they do.

I'm looking forward to seeing all the color out there in stashdom. C'mon people, show us some color!





A Tale of Two Yarns ... Sort Of

Unless Madame Defarge had as varied a stash as mine (which I highly suspect she did not), I could never write a tale of merely two yarns, and I have very little desire to write about yarns that were so scratchy, they literally made my fingers sore. (Note: the finished projects made of those scratchy, hurtful yarns are relegated either to being used under my feet, or as bedding for my pet. Since George Bailey hasn’t complained, that’s all I’m going to say about that.)

In terms of yarn weights, I’m currently loving both ends of the spectrum. Fingering and lace weight yarns, in all different fiber types, appeal to me, since I am on a shawl jag. Having made ten shawls last year, I am on a path to finish eleven this year. Clearly, I love skinny yarns.

At the other end of the weight spectrum, I am just starting to explore bulky and super bulky fibers. I’ve just completed a project using one: Butternut Woolen's hand-dyed super bulky.

I must say, this was one quick, fun project. Completed in an afternoon, it yielded a big satisfaction bang for very little fiber yardage (and crafty effort) buck. I’ve worn it simply around the neck and shoulders, with my version of a shawl pin (a chop stick) inserted in the front, to nice compliments. It’s also super light weight yet very warm – the perfect accessory for in-between seasons.

However, for anyone who wants some fiber adventure, I really must urge that you check out all of the selections at Habu Textiles.

I bought the above sample recently at a weekend fiber festival and I can tell you that I spent oodles of time at the Habu booth. I definitely experienced textile overload. There is no raw material, it seems, that can’t be turned into yarn – stainless steel, paper, and an extract from the pineapple plant are a few of the more exotic raw materials Habu uses – with great results. An added bonus: the packaging is unique and is an integral part of the fiber designing and buying experience. Given the recent, horrible events in Japan, it somehow makes me feel good to currently refer to anything Japanese with such good karma. 

I must admit to one small, embarrassing thing: I did not get all of my stash into the photos. There will be more on this minor embarrassment later in the week. However, part of today’s tale has to include the fact that there are yarns shown that I haven’t yet worked with, so some of my best fiber experiences are still to be discovered. Oh happy me!

I wish you satisfying reading on this, the first day of the second annual Knitting and Crochet Blogging Week. May some of your best fiber tales be discovered. Definitely feel free to tell me of any you've already had in the comments section below.