Knitting with Interesting Fiber

Now that I have washed my Gypsy Shawl I want to show more pictures of it --- it is just gorgeous. Since the washing it is amazingly soft and "drapey". I washed it in the sink in cold water and a mild soap and then gave it a rinse with some Downy and it came out much, much softer than it had been while I was working on it. It just snuggles around me when I put it on. I think I like it better than my Mermaid Shawl!

Part of my love for it is just the beauty of the fibers. You can see in the close-up below the jewel like quality of the silk --- a result of all the saris that were shredded to spin the fiber. I re-watched one of my favorite movies, Mira Nair's Monsoon Wedding, and during the scene where the women are dancing and painting the bride's hands, I felt like my shawl was a collage of that entire scene. I know I am going to want to try another project in this Himalayan Silk eventually. It is just too beautiful.

Also, the I-cord edging is very nice. It is neat and, now that it is softer, shows off the scalloping created by the Old Shale pattern.

I've gotten fascinated by interesting fibers. Another project I recently completed is the scarf in the photo at left. It is knit of 100% raw silk roving. It is hard to see the pattern which is also Old Shale. Maybe I should hang it in the window to photograph. But the pattern isn't what is interesting, it is the fiber which is lusciously soft and fluid. The scarf is 12'' x 84" and is absolutely elegant. It will look good with a winter jacket or even draped around the shoulders for casual, mild-weather evenings.

I've been scouring eBay and Webs looking for yarns made of fiber that sounds intriguing. I recently purchased a fairly large batch of yarns from eBay and am eagerly awaiting their arrival. Three of the lots are a rayon/silk blend that looks fascinating from the photos. They are described as "Haitian look" --- the colors are soft to medium pastels and are shreds of silk dyed in different colors and then spun together with a solid-color rayon thread. I love working with both silk and rayon so am eager to see these yarns.

The other yarn I bought is a thick-thin rayon yarn in fuschia. I got a very large cone of it for a good price. A couple years ago I bought 2 lots of a wonderful thick-thin rayon --- one in a color that reminds me of baroque pearls, and the other in a wisteria blue. I got a lot of the fiber and have played with bits of it but still haven't settled on a project to really show it off.

My only other works- in-progress right now are the Lady Eleanor Stole which just passed the halfway mark. I'll blog more about that soon. And an evening scarf I am knitting in some of that luscious English cashmere I bought from ColourMart in Shropshire. It is just beautiful yarn. The scarf I am knitting is a long rectangle in the Frost Flowers pattern and is coming along nicely. I have two big cones of this cashmere in a delicious color called "Cupcake" --- a soft, dreamy pink --- that is calling to me, too.

So that's what's on the needles these days. Having the opportunity to play with these lovely fibers is such a treat. It brings out creativity I never knew I had! What more can you ask?

Thanks for reading.