One of the early joys in my knitting timeline was discovering regional fiber fests! The first big one? The Michigan Fiber Fest, held on the Allegan Fair grounds, which is between Kalamazoo & Grand Rapids.
(from the archives)…”Although, the temptation to stray into the obvious was everywhere, I held out until the very last moment (we actually closed the fest down) and got the Cormo yarn shown to the left…imagine my delight to find out that the wonderful sheep shown by Alice Fields, of Foxhill Farm, had won the Grand Champion ribbon of the entire show with her Cormo! There were Blue ribbons galore atop a Large (~5lb) batt of sheared wool with a delightful small crimp and length of 5 inches!!!
The softness and beauty of the yarn made from this wool is almost indescribable. I wish I had Feel-Around so I could share the *Hand* of Goodness…”
Lucky for me, there is no expiration date on yarn! I’ve been carefully storing this forever and this winter, now that the rainy season has landed here in the Pacific NW with a BANG, it is the perfect yarn for a new sample I’m working on.
It is glorious:
…chewy, springy,
makes beautiful stitches and is a Treat to handle on the needles…
And then there’s the color!
The label says “black” but its more like the deepest darkest expresso you’ve ever seen –
I’m making an aran weight v-neck top-down cardigan (similar to the DK-weight Hey Girl cardigan – which I live in) – & am updating the construction, adding some new twists and turns while grading for the larger gauge.
There’s also something going on that I can’t help myself about: stockinette love! I can’t stop! It’s gotten to where I cannot sit without a project percolating in my lap, almost to that blessed point where I don’t even look at needles but just zoom along. Using a fabulous yarn like this makes it possible (and oh so enjoyable!).
…stay tuned for the developments & new design releases – subscribe to the Chic Knits Newsletter here…
Looks gorgeous. Zooming along with stockinette is pretty fabulous. I recently discovered I can knit stockinette laying down in bed while watching a movies. Total game changer.
This yarn is seriously good, good times. I’m always tempted by it at the festivals.
Drool.
I am so envious of the mad prone knitting skillz! Must achieve!
Such beautiful yarn, plus the history behind it.
I remember your posting about The Michigan Fiber Fest – way back then. I also remembering you’re living in Chicago at the time.
Loved your blog then and even more now.
BTW: I was born in Kalamazoo MI (1950)