On our family holiday this year, we went not far from my parents' home in Germany to Ameland Island off the norther coast of The Netherlands. With beaches, bicycles, and sheep, I was in heaven. Until I saw the alpacas. I love alpacas, and even more than the animals themselves, I love alpaca yarn.
The natural colors of alpaca are incredibly diverse, as I learned on a trip to Maine last year. What I thought would be a quick visit to see the alpacas and buy some of yarn made from them, turned into a 2 hour talk about raising alpacas and alpaca genetics. If breeding alpacas and genetics related to coloring interests you, check out the this link.
Anyway, back to the Dutch island. Not only are there many sheep on the island, but there is also an alpaca farm. Both the sheep and alpaca's fiber is spun on the island and sold at a local shop. Locally grown, spun, and sold. Not a yarn shop, but a very sweet little place with beautiful things, de Strandjutter. Also, the lady was super kind and she had a giant Great Dane. I bought some beautiful deep red-brown, very light fingering, 2-ply 100% alpaca. There isn't a yardage on the had written tag, only the content and weight, 175 gm. I would guesstimate (very scientific, I know) that I have about 700 yards, erring to the low side.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
WIP Wednesday
Currently on the needles:
Travel in Pink
Pattern: Traveling Woman by Liz Abinante (Ravelry Link)
Yarn: Knit Picks Gloss Fingering in and Bella Dulce in Lauren
Backstory on the Bella Dulce yarn: You might notice that the name of the Bella Dulce yarn in Lauren. Why yes! That is my name. Could it be? Yes. I know the wonderful ladies who dye this yarn and they named this fabulous color after me. It is pink and sparkly, and really, what more could a girl ask for?
This was dyed by two of the most fabulous ladies in the world, who happen to be a part of my knitting group. They have taken me under their wing and each has treated me like a daughter. They are more than words to me. they haven't yet put their beautiful yarns up on Ravelry, but assure me, I have been after them. I will update with a link when possible.
This picture does nothing for the color of the yarn. Ewww. I know reds are difficult to catch, especially in artificial light, but come on. You can see the sparkles really nicely though...
As it is the Traveling Woman pattern, it has travelled with me a fair bit.
Las Cruces
Phoenix (Confrence)
Ameland, The Netherlands (Family vacation)
Dusseldorf, Germany (Home)
Travel in Pink
Pattern: Traveling Woman by Liz Abinante (Ravelry Link)
Yarn: Knit Picks Gloss Fingering in and Bella Dulce in Lauren
Backstory on the Bella Dulce yarn: You might notice that the name of the Bella Dulce yarn in Lauren. Why yes! That is my name. Could it be? Yes. I know the wonderful ladies who dye this yarn and they named this fabulous color after me. It is pink and sparkly, and really, what more could a girl ask for?
This was dyed by two of the most fabulous ladies in the world, who happen to be a part of my knitting group. They have taken me under their wing and each has treated me like a daughter. They are more than words to me. they haven't yet put their beautiful yarns up on Ravelry, but assure me, I have been after them. I will update with a link when possible.
This picture does nothing for the color of the yarn. Ewww. I know reds are difficult to catch, especially in artificial light, but come on. You can see the sparkles really nicely though...
As it is the Traveling Woman pattern, it has travelled with me a fair bit.
Las Cruces
Phoenix (Confrence)
Ameland, The Netherlands (Family vacation)
Dusseldorf, Germany (Home)
Sunday, July 22, 2012
A New Beginning!
Hello all!
This is a new beginning for me. A chance to muse, create, harp, complain, and extol the virtues of yarn. Join me as I navigate through knitting, yarn dying, general craftiness, and the ever essential, yarn buying.
I'm not really sure how many times I have said "Darn this yarn!" (although it may or may not contain choice words thrown in there). But I do know that many a yarn have been in time out at my house, some will stay there for the duration of their time, only to be taken out, pet, and glanced at woefully. Others will remain in this place of purgatory until they unknot themselves, become a different yarn, or get back on my good list. Really the only options here.
Best, Lauren aka The Yarn Darner
This is a new beginning for me. A chance to muse, create, harp, complain, and extol the virtues of yarn. Join me as I navigate through knitting, yarn dying, general craftiness, and the ever essential, yarn buying.
I'm not really sure how many times I have said "Darn this yarn!" (although it may or may not contain choice words thrown in there). But I do know that many a yarn have been in time out at my house, some will stay there for the duration of their time, only to be taken out, pet, and glanced at woefully. Others will remain in this place of purgatory until they unknot themselves, become a different yarn, or get back on my good list. Really the only options here.
Best, Lauren aka The Yarn Darner
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