Iknitt's Weblog

I’m meeeelting

iknitt — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 04:08:16 +0000

but just for the record I’m still knitting (all be it in spurts) in this 44 deg heat
Can’t write more must conserve energy.

Sublime Cotton/Soy

iknitt — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 22:56:39 +0000

Moving on from cotton, I thought I’d try Cotton Soy, and at $12 a ball (needing 9 to make the jumper I’m making for a child size it better impress eh?
Well it’s like cotton but frothed up, it’s a lot warmer then cotton and feels well sublime (ironically enough the name of the yarn). It does have a different drape to cotton it’s not as heavy (hence the whipped cotton analogy.
I suppose the real test is the wear and tear of the garment, and how it sits when it’s finished. I like it, but not enough to be three times the price of good cotton.

Cotton fields forever

iknitt — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 09:31:15 +0000

Knitting with cotton feels like I’m knitting with string.. which it should.. since a lot of string is made from cotton. But it just doesn’t feel right.. it feels weird cause it’s not warm.
It’s my first time I think knitting a whole project from cotton. I’m using Sirdar luxury soft cotton DK to knit up a cable jumper for a chlid. The results so far are wonderful (and I’m not finished yet!) It’s so soft and it breaths like.. well cotton.
I suppose in this summer heat it’s a better yarn to knit with, but now I’ve seen what’s going on I’m kinda hooked. I’m liking this cotton stuff.

Bamboo Yarn

iknitt — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 10:19:01 +0000

Down to Earth Bamboo

Bamboo Yarn? What the? That’s what I thought when I saw it first too.. how on earth does that work? Well it looks like ribbon, and has a smooth texture. I bought mine from Spotlight and notice that it’s made in china and figured.. that makes sense.. loads of bamboo there.
Now Bamboo is easy to grow, almost like a weed I’m told, and much easier on the environment then cotton is to bring to knitting stage. So what’s it like? Well remarkably easy to knit with once you get started. The drape that bamboo gives is very silky and heavy. It just kinda flows, with no fiber memory.. hangs.. but the texture is very soft. I also bought a combined bamboo / cotton yarn as well, which looks more like tradition yarn and yet had the same softness of the bamboo yarn. It had 30% Cotton in it. It’s makes for a very cool garment probably best suited for a summer top, can be used for baby wear too I’d say.. although I’d like to see how machine wash friendly it is.

Woolganic Yarn

iknitt — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 14:02:28 +0000

Woolganic Tomato Hat

I have just finished making my first project using this new organic yarn called “Woolganic“. It’s soft to squish and comes wrapt in what looks like recycled paper for a label. I must admit i bought it out of curiosity, how organic can wool be and what exactly are we talking about?

The farming methods for organic wool means that no harsh chemicals are used from the raising of sheep all the way through to the preparation of the wool after it’s shawn. I like the sounds of that, as it also means sustainable farm methods which is good for earth as well.

It was with tongue in cheek that I decided to make an organic tomato hat as my project using the wool.

The yarn is soft to work with and produces a very slick result. I will definantly work with this one again.

Something other then wool

iknitt — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 08:44:48 +0000

So this coming Winter I’ve decided that Berry’s are the style. Red, blue, yellow (those I call buttercups)… but still it’s all berry similar *ahem*. Now however I’ve decided to branch out and go organic.. fancy wearing an organic tomato on your head… the thought tickles my fancy. My Organic wool arrived today “Woolganic” and it’s so soft.. so very soft. I’d easily make baby wear out of it.
Along with other materials I bought from Spotlight today.. including bamboo now really how could I possibly walk past that and not pick it up. So bamboo berry’s are added to the list.
I just finished a mamallama “Squish” berry hat.. my god the photos do not do it justice, it’s the softest thing ever. That one is not being given away.. that one I intend to squish once in a while.

Early Resolution

iknitt — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 04:28:16 +0000

No more cheap crappy yarn that I pick up for a dollar or two. Barring the ones already in my stash, I vow to only buy good quality yarn. Because life is too short to knit with the cheap stuff, and because after having tried knitting with Biggan yarn and Shephards Colour 4 me. The difference is amazing. I’ve always wondered why women said “so and so yarn is such a pleasure to knit with, so soft on the hands”.. well now I agree.. only the best.

Aiming to build a reputation of quality garments .. but more then that.. mmmmm soft on the hands…