Knitting & Weaving — Patchwork Times by Judy Laquidara

A Yarn Snob No More!

February 5, 2011 · by JudyL

Before the real post — for those who asked, I got the blocking wires at Knit Picks.

I’ve started this post and decided not to post it and then started it and decided not to post it several times. I’m not putting down any brand or any yarn store. I’m not telling anyone what to do . . just stating something I’ve learned recently.

In about 2006, when I first began knitting again after having not knitted in 20+ years, I found some very nice yarn shops online and I ordered plenty of yarn. Plenty! I knew that paying $20 – $30 a skein for sock yarn for one pair of socks was a lot of money but I figured it took me long enough to knit a pair of socks that I didn’t worry so much about it. And, sock yarn is kinda like quilting fabric . . I look at it as money in the bank because prices are probably only going to go up.

At some point, I noticed that Mary was getting yarn from Knit Picks and then after finding them on Ravelry, I checked out their sock yarn and realized that for $10 or less, I could make a pair of socks. I ordered some of their yarn but haven’t used it yet.

There are several sweaters that I want to knit and sweaters get real expensive. The yarn I ordered for my first sweater was $18/skein and I needed 7 skeins. That’s $126 and way more money than I am comfortable spending for one garment. I decided I should buy something a little less expensive to use for my very first sweater project so I ordered Merino Style yarn from Knit Picks. It was $2.99 per skein and due to having less yardage, I needed 11 skeins so the total was $32.89. That price is much more to my liking.

I had not started knitting using the Knit Picks yarn until I started on the 2nd Hollygrove scarf last night.

It’s knitting up beautifully and I’m actually enjoying knitting with it more than I did with the more expensive yarn that I used in the first scarf. Just for comparison, the yarn for the first scarf was $18.50 an I needed 3 skeins – $55.50. The yarn from Knit Picks was $1.99 and I needed 6 skeins — less than $12.

If the price isn’t enough, when I ordered some needles from Knit Picks, one set had a rough edge. I called them and . . no questions asked . . they sent me a new pair.

This is Madelinetosh Merino DK and the color is Tart and it’s expensive and it’s from a yarn shop. Isn’t it gorgeous? Yes, I’ll buy some more expensive yarns occasionally because sometimes, they just take my breath away! But, for the most part, I won’t pay that much for most of what I make and I’m so glad I found Knit Picks. If you’ve been wanting to knit but not wanting to pay the price of some of the yarns, check out Knit Picks!

· Filed Under: Knitting & Weaving · 29 Comments

Everyone Needs a Hobby

February 2, 2011 · by JudyL

Do you know people who don’t have hobbies? I can’t imagine not having a hobby . . something you love to do and can do every day or at least several times a week. But, what happens when your hobby seems to be too much fun and your husband decides he wants to try it too? Vince still hasn’t touched his quilting project so he decided maybe he would try knitting.

He stuck with it and I’m afraid he’s liking it.

I’m trying so hard not to laugh at him but he’s concentrating so hard and every time I look at him sitting in the chair knitting, I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing. He’s had a few mistakes and I had to help him out but he’s doing a heck of a lot better than I did when I first started.

Oh, dear . . he just ripped it all out and is starting over. This may have been a very bad idea.

· Filed Under: Home & Garden · 41 Comments

Hooray!

January 27, 2011 · by JudyL

That’s the name of a sweater I want to do. The Hooray Cardigan. Click on the link and look at the gorgeous cables! The cables in my scarf are so much fun that I want to make this sweater.

I spent too much time yesterday trying to decide what yarn to use. The yarn I wanted to use was over $110 for the sweater but the second choice, which is good yarn and even a better color that my first or second choice, came to about $32 so you can guess which one I chose. I’ll take pictures of the yarn when I’m closer to getting ready to knit it . . just in case I change my mind!

Before I can start the Hooray cardigan, I have to finish my Hollygrove scarf and make one more so I doubt I’ll be wearing it this winter. Sure hope I can figure out how to knit a sweater!

· Filed Under: Home & Garden · 14 Comments

Cable Scarf

January 25, 2011 · by JudyL

I’m knitting on the Hollygrove Scarf as I have time. When I sit down and have just a few minutes, I usually knit on socks but when I have a big chunk of time, I grab this scarf.

It’s about 24″ long and I just finished the first ball of yarn last night. I love the pattern and love knitting the cables but am disappointed in the yarn. The dye isn’t saturated into the yarn so if there’s the slightest snag on the yarn, underneath the very top layer, there’s white undyed yarn. From a distance, it looks fine but up close, for what I paid for this yarn, I’m disappointed in it.

It’s probably a rather lofty goal but I’d love to have this scarf finished by the end of this week so I can start on another one that I want to give to a friend.