And today, is the perfect day, for a little pay-it-forward…
Something about knitting that is always true: there is always something MORE to learn…
Even though I’ve been knitting for ages now (and designing from Studio Chic Knits for way over 10 years), almost every day, some nugget of info enters the scene, sometimes shaking it up, sometimes helping an idea cross the bridge from a thought to the needle.
I’ve been trying to aid and abet the speed of the shaky times with as much information as I can find – so I have knit encyclopedias, how-to-books, stitch pattern books, etc. in lots of versions, types and publish dates.
But something that I found I needed to truly understand what knitting was all about was not in my sights until this:
First of all: Clara Parkes.
Known far and wide as the ultimate yarn whisperer, she really put the pedal to the metal on this tome and goes far and wide to give us a wonderful look into the way-back story of wool itself. From sheep breeds to the types of wool they produce to an abundance of project patterns to test your new knowledge (more than 20!), it’s all there.
Secondly: this is a great basic go-to book to have in any knitter’s library. Even if you never set foot on a farm or go to a festival, it is an easy way to catch up on the organic nature and mystery of what’s been living on your needles all this time (and, yes, no mud…) There’s been a great renaissance of small producers here in the U.S. (and around the globe) and this book is perfect to help understand the evolution of some of the fabulous yarns appearing on the scene.
{{So: if you’d like a copy of The Book of Wool, just leave a comment below telling us which type of fibery animal is your favorite and why!}} … Comments closed – stand-by for winner announcement …
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…from our last visit to Bountiful Fridays on Chic Knits: the winner of 2-skeins of ToshDK in the TART colorway is Sharon A. who writes, “I love knitting because it’s always in my heart.” yes.
THANKS SO much to everyone for taking the time to comment and share with us your joy in our beloved craft. I invite everyone to get a nice refreshing cuppa and linger over the comments – they are some wonderful, inspiring reading…
happy weekend & happy knitting,
Bonne Marie
Alpaca for the sheer pleasure of feeling it run through my fingers. Wool for it’s good behavior and wonderful blocking.
My favorite fibery animals are sheep! When I was growing up my family had a small farm, and I loved playing with the lambs. Now that I’m a knitter I appreciate them for providing so much wonderful wool as well as being adorable animals.
Wow! What a hard decision! I love wool. Soft merino or a more rough “natural” wool, I live them all. But I also love to knit with alpaca. It makes a really lift but warm garment. And I’m sure this will all change as I have just started spinning!!!!yay!!
I can not pick one! I love all natural fibers and blends of them.*~*
Camel. It’s just so different. I saw an heirloom afghan knitted with it & I’m longing for some camel stash.
wool definitely. Chunky because the project is a fast knit and fingring for colorwork!
Sheep. Definitely sheep. Their wool can be used for anything from the laciest of shawls to the heaviest winter sweaters. And sheep’s wool also combines well with other fibers. We’d be lost without it.
I still love sheep wool because of so many different varieties available. The items you knit get better with age and it felts so well.
My friends keep keep teasing me that they are expecting to see sheep in my backyard when they visit.
Thank you for offering this book.
Sheepy sheep! They’re so calming to watch, wandering about their day, and there’s so many different breeds with their own spin on wool (punny, I know), they’re rather the alpha & omega of it all.
Gotta go with the classic! Sheep! Sturdy yet delicate, warm, soft, springy, you name it and wool is there for you. And it plays well with others wool combined with other fibers, cashmere, silk, alpaca, you name it!
100% Merino wool fingering weight. Oh, the drape! Oh, the hand! Oh, the softness. I just love it!
I’m a lover of the alpaca. A couple summers ago I visited a local alpaca farm and it was so fun to be among those gentle long-necks!
Love Clara Parkes and her “Claramels”!
Alpaca would definitely be my favorite. They’re such adorable animals who give us such wonderfully warm fiber. I just love to hear them “hum” to each other.
I love wool!!! Alpaca is great and I have a good amount of it in my stash, but for durability, availability and versatility nothing beats wool!
Alpaca is my personal choice because these animals don’t have to suffer procedures as mulesing.
Therefore I feel much better knitting with a fiber from a happy animal.
I love the alpaca for its warmth and softness. We call it Al-Crack-A in my house!
Give me a smooth, squishy merino yarn and I’m happy.
Sheep, for the fun of learning about and experimenting with the variety of wools they provide, for the pleasure of a good splice, and for the beautiful range of natural colors.
Love the Book of Yarn…would love the Book of Wool!!
Jacob’s sheep. Their horns, their spots, their heritage all fascinate me!
oo i love sheep, there is a breed for everything from socks to the softest baby yarn, but there is still so many to try will i ever try them all or even know about then all. And the colours oo they are just stunning and then spinning a way of totally relaxing and if thats not enough you get the joy of knitting or crocheting it into something :)
Woolytanis on rav
Oh…for sure, Cashmere! yum!
Yak. It’s super soft and oh so light.
I love wool to work with, but as for fibery animals, gotta go with the rabbit. They just seem more manageable than sheep:)
ALPACA!!!!!!!!!!
wool … warm, springy, soft and wonderful!
I just love, love, love Alpacas and their wool – they’re both soft, warm and always huggable!
My favorite yarn is a 50/50 blend of wool and alpaca so I can get the best of both worlds. My favorite single fiber animal is the Merino sheep.
Qiviut!! It is so forgiving to knit with, easy to get even, stays warm even when it gets wet, doesn’t felt or shrink, the softness feels like heaven in a skein. You get a lot more hugs wearing it. ;-)
The fiber critter I most appreciate would be the cashmere goat – because, well, cashmere! But I am probably most fond of sweet-faced alpacas.
I have to go with sheep’s wool because there are so very many breeds of them and the different textures are just so much fun to work with.
My favorite is sheep though I did enjoy knitting Christmas stockings using the coat of an alpaca from a friend’s farm!
As a fairly new knitter. I haven’t experienced very many different wools yet. So far, I’ve been happy with Merino, but I’ve been learning that there are many other fibers that are even nicer.
Sheep is my favourite!!! I love wool!
Silkworm silk!? But I think alpaca takes the cake. So softy soft. I like to visit the alpaca farm with my husband and children on their open day and “nose” Hello to the brave curious alpacas that come up to the fence. I now get to have the honor of making samples for the owner of the farm since she has opened an alpaca store in the next town over.
I love sheep! I love spinning and knitting merino, but I think babydoll southdowns have to be the cutest!
It’s hard to choose just one! Right now I’m on an exotic kick – loving the llama and yak and buffalo fiber.
That’s easy – sheep! Such sweet faces, and such variety. Wool is the one fiber I would hate to do without.
I love sheep! They are adorable animals. Their wool is warm & knits up beautifully & I love how it combines with other fibers!!
Merino for sure! It is so soft and feels like heaven on my fingers.
I love alpaca for light and soft warmth!
My favorite fibery animal is the Kashmir goat. Their wool can be mixed with just about any other fiber which adds an exquisite element to any garment.
Jacob and polypay sheep are my favorite breeds of sheep to spin and then with which to knit. I have raised sheep twice in my life. They bring such peace and joy to my spirit.
I love wool for it’s bounce, coming from New Zealand it’s always a joy to see the spring lambs…so cute. Them llama’s and alpaca’s have to be some of the most adorable animals ever and I love their fleece and yarn as well. My current fav is Blue-faced Leicester….soft and silky…yum~~
I love to watch goats. They are so cute! With those odd eyes! So I guess I should say mohair but I love wool so lets add some sheep!
Well my favorite fiber to wear is a plant, love wearing cotton. But when it comes to knitting it has to be the bounce of wool that I love most, Merino being my favorite to work with. But I am spinning some Border Leister right now, so Merino may have some competition if this goes as well as I hope.
I love sheep. I am a new spinner and so I’m trying wool from all different breeds.
Sheep! There are so many kinds of sheep-there’s a right wool for every project :)
My favourite fibery animal is a white sheep with a black face … such an unexpected contrast. However, my favourite yarn fiber would have to be cashmere, so I guess it’s a tie with goats!