So, I have decided to take part in this Knitting and Crochet Blog Week. I’m not so good with imposed themes, so I’ll see if I can keep it up for the week.
I have been thinking about this first day of blogging for some time now, and it took me a while to decide which yarns I would be talking about. Oh, the yarns I love were easy enough. The yarns I don’t… Not so much!
I think I’ve always been very particular about the yarn I love. I remember going to the yarn shop with my Mum when I was a child and I was always looking for the ones with low wool content. I’ve always had sensitive skin and I quickly noticed that everything with more than 20% wool in it was a no-go for me. Even pullovers with shirts underneath.
Now, this was the late 80′s throughout the 90′s in France were the only yarns we could afford and fine where from Phildar and Bergère de France. Though, I do remember my Mum occasionally splashing out on Mohair or Angora (the rabbit kind), but those yarns would have me red with scratches mark within 30 seconds of wearing anything made with them. Even now.
When I went back into knitting, I had kinda resolved myself that I would never be wearing those wonderful wool yarns that other people seem to adore. And yes, it’s still true. ‘Normal’ wool from ‘normal’ sheep are still not something I can wear close to skin or not.
And then, I discovered baby merino. I ordered from the internet a skein of Malabrigo Lace (100% baby merino) and made myself a shawlette. I made it, for the fun of making it. I didn’t think I would actually be able to wear it. When I finished it, I put it around my neck. And nothing. No urge to scratch myself. No itch. I kept it on for a couple of hours and I was still not feeling itchy. It was like a revelation!
So I would say that my favourite yarn ever is Malabrigo Lace. It comes in wonderful colours, and it makes wonderful scarves, shawls and shawlettes. But I love it especially because it opened me to a new world of yarns that are luxurious and that I can wear. Baby merino, baby alpaca and baby camel are yarns that I can wear next to my skin because the number of guard hairs is small. I can also wear their adult version in a garment, with a shirt underneath, especially if it is blended with something else, such as silk. Why yes, I love my expensive yarns.
Now, on this road to discover new yarns, I’ve also discover a few that I really didn’t like working with. They all come in 100% of whatever they are made of (cotton, acrylic, etc). But my biggest disappointment was a 100% silk laceweight that I had bought to make a stole for my sister-in-law. I really dislike working with it. I will eventually finish the stole, but I will never buy another 100% silk yarn. It’s super slippery and it’s got no give. I just don’t like it. It’s a shame, because it is beautiful once it’s knitted up. But the getting there is frustrating.
Your shawlette looks beautiful! I’ve never knitted with Malabrigo but have heard so many good things about it; I should try!
Except for wool, I usually like working in blends too. 100% of most fibers doesn’t have the right balance of qualities. Blends give you a better mix.
I’m glad you found a nice yarn you can wear, the shawlette is gorgeous!
I’m with you onthe blends too, I started out knitting with 100% cotton and found it so hard! I soon learned. Crocheting with it is fine though.
There is a reason people call it mmmmmmmmmalabrigo!!
I love the lace and sock yarns the best.
Blends are awesome because they seem to bring out the best qualities of each fibre. I had trouble with 100% silk myself once, but I don’t think it helped that I knitted it quite tightly on bamboo needles – too sticky.
Love your post for Knit and Crochet Blog Week (which I’m also participating in this year!) I have never tried the Malabrigo brand and after all of today’s posts I have a long list of them that I want to try!