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Sunday, February 05, 2006

The Giant Gansey and other Yarns


I was lucky to be able to go a-yarncrawling with Chris on Saturday. We started at Needle Arts by Ursual Fischer. Kai mentions that this shop is a bit hard to find and after pulling into two differnt little driveways, I finally found it. There were several women knitting around the table. I found some sale yarn for mittens and decided to try her FROELICH
SPECIAL BLAUBAND sock yarn since she had the blues I was looking for. Wondering if microfiber blocks, I asked Ursula if it blocks and she proclaimed that blocking has be out for a long time! Wow, live and learn;)

Meanwhile at home, the giant Gansey was "blocking" oops, I mean drying after it's bath. The Beaverslide fuzzed up a bit but did not shrink a bit. It also got lighter (weight-wise), if that is possible. My reluctant photographer would only take this one photo of it. I decided on the rear view. I had to redo the neck as it was big a boat neck and although I made the sleeves shorter they are still way long. I enjoyed making this sweater and I'm sure I'll wear it one of these days. I'm going to try not to grow into it!

After Ursula's we hit the bookshop and Chris's keen eye found this book for me. Thanks Chris!!! I love it. She found a really cute bargain book with children's knits.
After that it was on to Yarn and Friends and then to Isle Knits. I picked up some yarn to knit a bunny and some Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino.
Now the hard part, coming up with the next sock project. I'm filling in the time with Halley's Comet Hat with the Beaverslide if have left and have finally started twosheep's DNA scarf with Rowan's Cashoff (the BabyCashmerino twin)

13 comments:

chris said...

Your Gansey is GORGEOUS!!! Absolutely beautiful!! And I'm so glad to hear that you didn't block it, because, you know, "blocking's been out since the '40's!" ;-) That color is so beautiful and it looks fantastic on you. I can't wait to see that Cashmerino knit up and also your Rowan DNA scarf. I was kind of regretting not picking up some Cashmerino after coming home, but I guess I'm like a horse with permanent blinders on, guided only by my "cheap/sale" internal radar. ;-) Which actually paid off at the bookstore, so I guess I can't complain about that (and much to J's relief!). :-) It was tons of fun- thank you, again! Take care, Barbara! :-)

Laura said...

It sounds like you girls had fun! And I am so glad that you could report that key intelligence about blocking being "out." It is important to keep up on all the knitting trends. ;)

Your Gansey is so beautiful, I just love that color. (Chris and I, we love the greens!) I have been thinking about fair isle mittens too, as a warm up for a sweater vest. Can't wait to see what you start!

Karen said...

Blocking . . . out . . . since the '40s??? Sheesh, I'm always the last to know! :) I agree, Gansey is beautiful!!! I'm glad you ladies had such a fun yarn crawl too - looking forward to seeing all the new knits that result!!

Terby said...

Urm. Didn't know about the blocking. Good to know...?

The sweater's lovely! The yarn in the corner has great colors, and the fair isle book looks interesting. I would never have known there was that much knitting action in Hawaii.

Jillio said...

OMG, sooooooooo jealous! i've been looking for that book EVERYWHERE!!!! CHRIS, FIND ME THAT BOOK! haha :) just joking. guess i'll go crawling around to every single bookstore until i find it. :P i love your gansey! so pretty! great job! i'm so scared to make anything bigger than something that will fit me. haha...starfish will never get his sweater.
and dude, blocking makes sewing seams WAY easier. seriously. i think if you're going to spend so much time making something, what's a few more minutes (okay, more like hours) spent blocking? or maybe it's just me...

yahaira said...

thanks for stopping by my blog!

your gansey looks great, I want to try that yarn soon!

Anonymous said...

Wow, I absolutely adore your Gansey, you did a fantastic job with it!
Now - blocking is out? Woah - interesting things one learns... guess we should better continue blocking if it feels good for us, no? That Ursula Fischer place sounds German by the way, isn't it? I'm looking forward to seeing your next projects - keep up the good work!

vanessa said...

love the gansey :-) and for the oak and squirrel mittens, i'll let you know if i get some yarn, you let me know if you start with the cashmerino!

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous Gansey sweater. I really love the color.

Sounds like you and Chris had a fun time!

Anonymous said...

Oh you lucky! You and Chris together in a yarn store-watch out. The Hawaiian dream team is on the prowl.
Blocking is out-hmmm. That's like proclaiming taking a shower is out-it just has to be done sometimes. ;)
Great sweater!! The back anyway. ;)

somebunnysloveDOTcom said...

Hi Barbara!
Your package is on its way. Sorry if the colors are not what you would expect, but I forgot that you also would not want any wool yarn either!
=:8

knittinmom said...

Great book! I wanna go yarn crawling with you & Chris!

Kathi said...

your gansey is beautiful. i am so so jealous. i've been trying to get to a yarn shop forever...