Alpaca and lace vent

<agres · 2007-02-25T08:47:57+00:00

Went to "Stitches" today.I did not know there was that much overpriced, super-soft yarns in the US;much less that they could all be packed into one giant convention hall.Every alpaca in the world must be as bald as a marine recruit this weekend.The sponsor was launching a promoting a new book on "Victorian lace". Sothere was lace everywhere. Much of it knit from exotic, super-soft that is the scene. Cashmere scarves with lots of open stitches and shawlsknit from alpaca hang in front of great bins of the yarns that were used toknit the objects.It was knitting as conspicuous consumption, and very much harkened back tothe Court of Queen Victoria, where ladies knit with jeweled needles made byFaberge. My wife tells me that, I almost caused a riot when I suggested thatthe finish on some $70 wooden needles was not very good. (Well the finishwas not very good and, nobody else seemed to be willing to call a "spade", a"spade".)What really amazed me was that with all that lace and exotic yarn around, Icould hand someone a swatch knit with a simple pattern knit from a cheapyarn. And, it would stop them in their tracks, they would fondle it for 30or 45 seconds, and say, "Wow! you are wonderful knitter!" I'm not! I am agardener and I know a spade when I see one; and, I know the faults in thoseswatches. The primary virtue of those swatches was that they were knitfirmly. I was waiting for my wife and I was knitting on my gardening gansey.People would come us and OOh and AAh over it. No!! It is just a sweater towear in the garden. Its real purpose is to clear out some space in thestash, and the grape vines will not comment on the mistakes in somethingknit hurriedly. It is a terrible thing that today we have "advancedknitters" that mistake firm knitting for competent knitting.The high point of the day was that I met the owners of Brittany Needles.While that Needle Bitch was on her high horse over my comment on the finishof her overpriced needles, and telling everyone how...

Feb 25, 2007 21 Replies

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YarnWright 19 years ago

JJMolvik spun a FINE 'yarn':

Well, heck, it appears lots of commercial pilots have gotten away with it, but I'd rather not deal with the FAA, lol! :D Noreen

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Madelaine 19 years ago

In the course of researching a dog breed, I learned about this farm, which is not too far (3 hours or so) from where I live:

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are very beautiful animals, and I would love to see spun fiberfrom them. Their "farm store" sells yarn, but it doesn't seem to be fromtheir animals.I'm very interested in the Dandie Dinmont terrier, so I've emailed these people and hope to meet them. They might have to make me sign somekind of release not to sheer their alpaca!Madelaine

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