Collections

There's a new addition to the cabinet of blue:

Can you see it? 

How about now:

Now?

How about now?

Currently collecting:  Rowan Calmer yarn.  I've been buying it up from destashers in Ravelry.  (This is colorway "Slosh" and I've got "Coral" coming as well.)  If you have a sweater's worth of Tree or Peacock or Drift and want to sell it to me, I'm your woman.  Call me.  We'll talk.  There are an awful lot of Ravelers who have one or two skeins in their stashes.  That's not what I'm looking for, though I bought these two because someone else had a quantity of 5 or 6 in the same dyelot that I also bought.  I need 8 to 10 skeins for a sweater for me, 12 or more if I want to make a sweater for a larger person. 

The pleasure of the knitting of the red is evident by how fast I am progressing on that cardi.  Calmer has some issues -- most importantly gauge.  The newer sites, I notice, recommend knitting it on US 8s.  I don't know.  I'm knitting my sweater on 7s, but making myself intentionally knit very loose.  And because I am such an anally tight knitter, you have no idea how painful this is to me -- not painful exactly as just not in my nature -- but on the other hand, how blissfully sweet is the sensation as it floats over the needles, and still gives me a fabric that is lovely.  I'm afraid as hell to knit wool like that, because I'd end up, I fear, with a garment that is three sizes too big after it's washed.  But knitting this yarn, which is characterized as a DK weight, is a bit weird, and the gauge doesn't really match many patterns.  That is why it's a bit tricky to choose a pattern for it.  The row gauge is the biggest issue.  Row gauge does not match anything (well, very few things, anyway).  It seems to be working with the Golden Vintage Cardi pattern, though, because row gauge isn't all that critical -- one can mostly just go by measurements.  Of course, the proof will be in the pudding (notice the new blue Calmer is in an antique pudding basin, haha) after I try it on and hopefully wear it.  But in any event, I think I'm going to love it.  Let's hope I'm right.  It is wicked pricey yarn, which explains why I'm mostly interested in buying it in destash sales. I hope it makes a garment that is worth the price. 

When I was a fledgling knitter, I made a snug-fitting tank top in Calmer.  I hardly ever wore it, because it was way too hot for a sleeveless garment -- it was like wearing a paradox -- too hot for wearing sleeveless, too cold for going without sleeves.  Does that make any sense whatsoever?  Partly that was because I knit it too tight, I think, but also Calmer makes a rather too-warm-for-summer fabric if it's a snug-fitting garment.  A loose tank or a cardi should be just the ticket.  I think it will be wearable all year long, and I think knitting a looser-styled garment (though I'm not sure my red cardi is going to be very loose) and knitting it at a looser gauge is the key.

Comments

[Nora]

Gorgeous blue. You're tempting me to pick up some Calmer and swatch with it, just for grins.

[margene]

I have some Slosh left over from NBT, but it's quite old so the dyelot wouldn't be right. I love Calmer and actually wear my two NBT frequently...not in July, however.

[Ruth]

That is a beautiful blue. I picked up a sweater's worth of Calmer when WEBS had it on sale ... you're tempting me to make it my next project.

[Vicki]

Oh, my, that is a gorgeous blue! I spot my half-finished Calmer Cromarty regularly (it began as Audrey, as I believe perhaps your tank did, too?) -- I keep it "out" so that one of these days I might be inspired to pick it back up and finish. Hm, about four years and counting... but maybe soon. ; )

[Anne]

I know just what you mean about sleeveless shells. They don't work for me in knits. Too cold and too hot all at the same time.

BTW - the PMate lady asked me (I placed another order this week for race season) about where I heard of their product. I assured her I was a happy repeat customer, but maybe she recognized all the orders from your blog post? Heh. She even made the connection between me and my yearly goal. Um.... thanks? for putting that on the 'nets for me.

[Patty]

Hmm, I'm going to have to meet Calmer. Just started the GVC in some Berroco Touche last night - nice pattern!

[marianne]

Heh. Spotted it right off in the first photo! What a gorgeous blue but yowza, can hardly wait for the Coral to show up! I've knit with Calmer only once, Shedir, found it a bit splitty but that could've been the pattern, needles, or the knitter :^) Good luck finding your sweaters worths!

[Faerielady]

Ooooo I LOVE the blue. Absolutely gorgeous... that's a color I would have bought for myself. However I seem to be drawn to the natural colored yarns lately and of course not many people have a sweater's worth of that to destash (and if they do, it's waaaay pricey, and I have a very small budget).

[Cheryl S.]

Your cabinet of blue is lovely! And what a pretty color of yarn. Maybe you need a couple of extra skeins just to keep in the cabinet.

[Knitnana]

Well...for all that the yarn is pretty, hon, you just blew me away with your blue and white china and cobalt glass collection...gal after my own heart. I'll have to see if I can dig all mine out and get a decent photo!
(((hugs)))

[Seanna Lea]

I got to use some Calmer for a baby hat charity project. It was such a treat to work with, so I keep looking to buy some. I never really considered the destashers on Ravelry. I'll have to look into that (though with fewer skeins of yarn, because I'm not looking for sleeves).

[Cookie]

I see a mad run for Calmer on Ravelry in the very near future. Lovely color.

(Guess what got mailed out this morning. :D)

[Carol]

I've got Coral and the dark Purple in stash (9-10 balls each). I wish I had that blue! I can't wait to see your finished GVC. I may use my stash to make it too. I keep waiting for the 'right' project for it.

[sandy]

All this talk of gauge is making me dizzy.
LOVE that cabinet!

[Carolyn]

Oh that blue calmer is pretty. I actually think I may begin the AIR jacket this year. By the way, those are very clever pictures. I never noticed the yarn.

[elizabeth a airhart]

your collection is just lovely - do you have a little girls set
i dearly wish i had mine tureen and all little dishes and tea pot

go listen to susan boyle tonight you tube is best please

guess i will try calmer the colours are quite nice good night

[Abigail]

Okay, "Norma," if that is your REAL name.

Nice try with that second picture there, but it doesn't take a pre-law student to realize it was a red herring. Additionally also, I can SEE your reflection in that second photo.

[Carla]

Just checking - I sent you an e-mail but now worry it is an old address- I f you did not get it let me know- I have yarn-

[claudia]

Wow. That's alot of china.

[gayle]

Lovely china!
I've never used Calmer, but haven't liked working with cotton. So hard on the hands...
Good luck with your Calmer Quest. May all your dyelots be matching!

[christina]

Hi! Vincentgarner.se still have some calmer in differents shades. They have an English page, too. The problem is that Calmer is very expensive here, $11 or more a ball.

[sil]

Check out the colors here http://shop.royalyarns.com/Rowan-Calmer-Yarn_c_3679.html

I like to enable...what can I say.

[Leanne]

Alas my calmer stash suffered a horrible moment during a pest control incident and burnt to death in the micro (leaving me 3 skeins out of the 15 I started with). All I can do is knit Chemo caps instead of my Marilyn sweater.

[Birdsong]

So many yummy blues! I made a tank in Calmer, which I loved knitting with, and I think it was because both gauge and fit were a bit on the loose side that it was comfortable in summer... as long as I didn't try and hike in the blazing sun. Hope you find enough soon.