Sunday, June 29, 2008

Fifty years later...

So, yeah. Been a while, what say? Crap, I almost don't remember how to do this! And what, pray tell, is the massive, earth-shaking event to bring me out of blogoverse hibernation? That's right, a stupid yarn meme!! Heh. Yup, I digs me some stupid memes. Maybe it's a nice starting place to reclaim my home in the innerwebs...

Knittergeek Meme Rules

Out of the top 50 yarns on Ravelry (by number of projects):
Bold the ones you’ve used and would use again
Cross out the ones you’ve used and would not use again
Italicize the ones you’ve never tried, but would like to.
Add comments as desired, and then pass the meme along to 5 knitters/crocheters.Link back to this post and to the person who tagged you.
(By the way, I copied this verbatim from
chemgrrl's blog. The number of projects have surely changed since then, but I’m too lazy to update.)

1. Cascade 220 Wool Used this for several scarves & felting projects. Love it, fabulous all-purpose worsted wool. I've enough 220 for several sweaters, and can't wait to get started on them.
2. Patons Classic Wool Merino Used for a hat & a couple other odds & ends...another nice basic wool, readily available at Michaels & such, but not quite as nice as Cascade 220, imo.
3. Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted Omg, what kind of a crazy question is this?? How could you NOT fall completely in love with Malabrigo, and vow to use it regularly till the day you die?! Mmmmm, mmmalabrigo...
4. Noro Kureyon Really dig the Noro. BEAUTIFUL colours, so unique & interesting to work up. Working on a Lizard Ridge blankie with it right now, and have done several Booga Bags & hats & such. Scratchy, yes, but that's part of the charm.
5. Caron Simply Soft Yeah, not so much. I've used it before, and might use it again for baby blankies or something, but really, life is too short to use yarn that I'm not in love with.
6. Lily Sugar’n Cream Solid Eh...it's cotton. I'm not a very big fan of cotton. I'll use it again, no doubt, on washcloths & such, but again...eh.
7. Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Worsted Holy felty fuzz, Batman! Yup, made several felted things out of it (Kitty Pi, anyone?), but holy cow, does the mohair shed like a sonofabitch! After felting, you have to pull these huge wads of fuzz out. Kinda weird, really. Otherwise, it's a decent yarn. Personally, I prefer a clean, classic, smooth line to my yarns, but there's definitely a place for Brown Sheep.
8. Red Heart Ltd. Super Saver Solids Um, Red Heart. Ick. Squeaky, plasticky yarn. Life's just too damn short, man.
9. Lion Brand Wool-Ease Solid Never tried this one, but I've got a weird thing against Lion Brand, so I probably never will.
10. Noro Silk Garden LOVE!! Lovelovelove!! This stuff is GORGEOUS, and stripey, and colourful, and unpredictable. It made a beautiful sweater for me, a gorgeous scarf, and gourds only know what else it will be in the future. Love!
11. Koigu Painter’s Palette Premium Merino (KPPPM) Dude, it's sock yarn. What do you think? :-D
12. Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Darn handy yarn to have. Slightly thin worsted, not as substantial as Cascade 220, and less yardage, but holy crap is it cheep!! I lurves me some cheap, you know. And, they've just recently come out with some gorgeous Kettle Dyed colours, too...so pretty!
13. Lion Brand Homespun I've used this for a baby blanket (that my son just adores, and the cat's pretty darn fond of it too) and a few superfast crocheted scarves, but again, life's too short. In the interest of honesty, though, I do have a few skeins set aside to make another cat bed for my girl, since she's absolutely in love with the kid's blankie.
14. Lion Brand Cotton-Ease Again, Lion Brand. Bleah.
15. Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock Multi Love! Again, it's sock yarn, so duh. Still, though, it's absolutely lovely to work with...gorgeous colours, soft, drapey hand, and fine, small stitches. Totally love this stuff.
16. Manos del Uruguay 100% Wool Y'know, I've only swatched this stuff, but I love it anyway. I've got two scarves worth in the stash, and they're just beautiful. And, I've heard extremely good things about their new silk & wool blend, so of *course* I must get my paws on some of that as well. Yum.
17. Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Bulky Same difference as the worsted, I think, just fatter.
18. Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran I keep seeing such pretty sweaters in this stuff, but I've been unable to bring myself to cough up the dough for it yet. Someday, though, I hope to find a good sale.
19. Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks That Rock Lightweight Omg, of COURSE!! Luuurve this stuff! Freaky colours, and I even dig the pooling. The fabric it makes is sooo smooth & comfy under the feets. I can't get enough.
20. Plymouth Encore Worsted I've used it before, in Boy the Younger's sweater, and really, I don't care for it much at all. I originally liked it for the acrylic content, considering it was to be a sweater for a rugrat, but after working it up & seeing how it wore on him, bleah. It pilled too easily, which is something I can totally overlook in a fine merino, but it annoyed me in this. And, my boy said it was scratchy. Phooey.
21. Cascade 220 Heathers Again, same difference as the original Cascade 220. Just heathered. Which makes it darn purty.
22. Lily Sugar’n Cream Ombres & Prints See #6.
23. Zitron Trekking XXL It's okay, and I'll definitely use the skein or two that's in my stash, but I doubt I'll be going nuts over it. I'm a handpainted kinda girl.
24. Patons SWS (Soy Wool Stripes) Never tried this, but am unimpressed with it in the skein. The colours don't thrill me, and again, Life Is Too Short.
25. Rowan Kidsilk Haze I've used this for less than a foot of a lace scarf. Beautiful, with an ethereal appearance once knit, but omg, so aggravating to tink! However, because I cannot be bested by a string, and the end result truly is spectacular, I shall have at it again. Someday.
26. Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino Someday. Never had the opportunity to try this.
27. Pisgah Yarn & Dyeing Co., Inc Peaches & Creme Ombres Isn't this basically the exact same thing as #6 & #22?
28. Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece Never had a need for this, but I'm not opposed to using it in the future. As long as it's not too cotton-y...stiff cotton makes my hands cranky.
29. Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Mediumweight Hells yes. All the gorgeousness & fab feel of STR Lightweight, but faster to knit up. Rock on.
30. Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick Again, Lion Brand. Bleah.
31. Pisgah Yarn & Dyeing Co., Inc Peaches & Creme Solids Again, see #27
32. Cascade 220 Superwash Never used this, though I'd be curious to play with it. In all likelihood, though, I'd probably find something similar, but cheaper.
33. Berroco Ultra Alpaca I'm not generally a big fan of Berroco, but I've heard a lot of good things about this stuff. I'd like to try it out sometime.
34. Knit Picks Swish Superwash Love this!! Fab colours (dying for lemongrass heather, and squirrel heather), super cheap, and really nice fabric. Made a cabled hoodie with it, and while it does grow considerably, it still wound up perfect. TOTALLY use this again.
35. Knit Picks Essential I've never personally used it, but I had some brand-new knitter students not care for it much. However, since I'm a touch more experienced with splitty yarns, and they do have those gorgeous new kettle dyed colours, I do believe I'll be trying this out sometime in the near future.
36. Lion Brand Vanna’s Choice Solid Ew!
37. Colinette Jitterbug I know lots of folks are pissed about the short yardage here, but frankly, I have smallish feets, so I'm pretty sure I'll be okay. I have some in the stash, though I've not worked it up yet, and it's gorgeous.
38. Lion Brand Lion Wool Solid Sigh. Too much Lion.
39. Knit Picks Shine Sport Love this yarn! Even though it's a cotton, it's not hard on the hands at ALL. It makes a fabulous summer shirt, and I've plans to make at least two more picovolis with it, if not more. And again, so cheap!
40. Dale of Norway/Dalegarn Baby Ull Never tried it.
41. Lion Brand Microspun Used this for a scarf for my beloved, and frankly, he thinks it's great. Me, not so much. Pretty splitty, and while I do dig the microfiber thing, I can find it in better yarns. So there, Lion Brand!
42. Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Merino I've got several skeins in the stash, but now that I think about it, I don't think I've ever worked it up yet! Must remedy that soon...
43. Knit Picks Palette I'd heard this was sort of unimpressive, but on the other hand, there are legions of people who adore this like none other. The price is certainly right, and there are a million colours to choose from, so maybe next time I need a fair isle project...
44. South West Trading Company TOFUtsies I'm curious, what with the whole crab parts thing, but the colours aren't enough to make me do more than one pair in this.
45. Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool Soooo pretty! I can't wait to make sweaters with this. They have so many stunning colours, too!
46. Mission Falls 1824 Wool Never had opportunity to try this, it's not sold close to me. I seem to remember the price is good, though, so I may have to snag a skein & see what the fuss is about.
47. Rowan RYC Cashsoft DK I've got a sweater's worth in the stash, just haven't gotten to it yet. Very nice, soft wool.
48. Red Heart Ltd. Super Saver Multis/Ombres Bleagh!!!
49. Rowan Felted Tweed I've never seen this in person, but I'm totally keeping my eyes peeled for a good sale. I want ten skeins in Dragon for the Tangled Yoke Cardigan, and I think it'd be wonderful knit up.
50. Rowan Calmer I've not been willing to cough up for this yarn yet, either, but ohhh, I'd love to knit Morrigan in it!

Wow, thassalotta yarns! Good times...