Posted on by Bonne Marie

Bountiful Fridays v.2 February 21, 2014

And today, is the perfect day, for a little pay-it-forward…

Chic Knits Knit Blog, bountiful fridays, chic knits, chicknits.com, free book

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:

Chic Knits Knit Blog Bountiful Fridays

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

227 Replies to “Bountiful Fridays v.2 February 21, 2014”

  4. My favourite fibery animal is angora bunnies. Just looking at the cloud of fluffiness makes me smile

  5. My favourite animal, my Spirit Animal, is the Giraffe.
    Tall, long neck and legs, impossibly graceful, beautifully spotted.
    Lovely eyes with enviable lashes.
    Always head and shoulders above the other earth-bound animals.

  9. I’m partial to angora bunnies because they look so fluffy, but sheep give some great knitting materials. And goats, and yak, and mink, because I live in China and those are the local fiber-producing animals.

  12. Alpaca
    I’m a spinner, weaver and knitter, alpaca is the best fiber for me. Spinning it is wonderful the roving wants to be spun!

  13. Wow, wish I knew more about the different breeds of sheep and the wool they produce. So far I have knit with merino, rangely, and BFL and I have loved them all. So its sheep’s wool that I like and therefore the sheep that produce it!

  14. I went to Rhinebeck in 2012 with my daughter. It was our first sheep and wool festival. We enjoyed seeing the sheep as much as the gorgeous yarns. As we were walking through the sheep exhibit, one sheep in particular caught my attention. This one definitely had personality. I took his picture and it is now my avatar on Ravelry. Now when I’m knitting, I smile knowing the yarn came from sheep and they definitely have personalities.

  15. The answer has to be sheep. Alpaca is a bit warm for my climate. Once I would have answered merino, but have tried BFL wool recently and it is currently my favorite. Of course, I am open to trying mink and pure cashmere when I get rich!

  16. Sheep! Since learning to spin, it is great fun to learn about the different breeds and how their wool works for spinning.

  23. Sheep! Alpaca! Llama! I like them all! Sheep are cute. Alpaca are interesting. Llama are just themselves. Love knitting with any/all of the fiber they give.

  25. Favorite fiber animal? The lovely little sheep. Following a couple of fiber farm blogs, I’ve become enamored of the myriad varieties, personalities, and colors of the sheep? Favorite animal ever? The elephant. I can’t explain why, I just love them.

  27. Love the llamas. Where I live they are used as guard llamas for sheep and goats. They’ll kick the suit out of a marauding coyote AND face down a cougar. I can usually beg a fleece when they’re sheared. The owners usually throw it away!

  30. So hard to choose because each finer is different and lovely. I recently bought some camel that was amazingly soft and luxurious. In the end though, alpaca is my go to fiber, I have loved it for years!

  32. If you had asked which fiber I like best, the answer would be (sheep’s) wool, always and forever… But as for which is my favorite fibery animal… I do like llamas best! The ones that I have met have had great personalities.

  33. My favourite fibre is the alpaca. I have fallen in love with them since one of our sons purchased some animals. I am knitting with their wool and enjoying very minute of it. They have rejuvenated my love of knitting.

  34. There is an alpaca farm just across the river from where I live. I love to look at them, they’re all different sizes and colors. Just beautiful animals !

  35. It would have to be sheep. When you get the right blend of spring, softness, and warmth — it’s magical.

  38. Sheep! But also for the way that they now process most wools. In the ‘old’ days when I was growing up I could never wear wool due to allergies. Now I can wear a good amount of it since a lot of it is either super wash or treated so that it is now softer. I do have to be careful with alpaca, the hairs get into my throat when I try and knit with it sometimes and also avoid mohair. So, sheep it is, along with updated technology!

  39. I love the camelids, particularly the alpaca. And for sheep my current favourite is blue faced leicester.

  40. Alpacas! I live in Wisconsin, and we have several alpaca farms around here. You can always talk to them, pat them, and just generally tell them their coat is beautiful! They make me smile!

  42. I love corriedale fiber. It was the first fiber I learned to spin with my drop spindle. I love its length and softness.

  44. Do I really have to pick? Then I’ll have to go with angora- so warm, soft and luxurious. I feel bad for those with allergies. But the truth is that I like them all, and why discriminate against plants- flax and linen too! Lately I’ve been appreciating the sterling qualities of plain, sturdy wool.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

  48. Baby Alpaca is my favorite because of its softness and fine texture. But mostly because I can try to imagine how old that alpaca is now!

  49. Love wool. So happy that outdoor “technical” wear has rediscovered this amazing natural resource to keep peeps warm and dry.

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