I find Kureyon yarn very seductive. This is obvious because I own a boatload of it. I returned to knitting again after many years away when I stumbled on Julie's site at the height of the Booga Bag craze. How could one resist the magic of felting combined with Noro's gorgeous colorations? I made several bags (though I never did carry one) and then, through the wonders of linking, I came across Rachael's raglan cardigan. That did it. I was on the hunt!
Local yarn shops, eBay, internet sites...looking for the elusive colors that I saw turning up on numerous favorite blogs. (We miss you, Loose Ends Melissa!) And so it started. But I'm a rather plain dresser. I'll wear a colorful scarf now and then (Janine) and I am planning on knitting many more wild socks. But day to day, I'm most comfortable in neutrals...black, white, khaki.
My knitting interests now are more in developing pattern. Stitch pattern (as in lace knitting and cables) and design pattern (as in Latvian mittens). As a quilter, I mostly use patterned fabric in my work. The attraction must be hardwired somewhere.
When I dashed off my remarks about Kureyon several posts ago, they were meant as a reflection of what I prefer for me, personally. Not some of the lovely things I've seen other knitters make. And I'm reserving some Kureyon for that wonderful striped scarf that I've seen here and there, most recently in Jane's photo album.
I used up a bit of my Noro stash this week knitting for the Dulaan project. These hats were so much fun that I stayed with the same design, Cabin Fever's Gaugeless Hat pattern. In areas where the yarn was a slightly thin, I went back at the end and did a little strengthening with duplicate stitch. For warmth, I did go down a needle size to make a firmer knit, which caused the slight ridges at the increase rows. Not objectionable to me, but FYI in case you noticed. Don't they look cute in Kureyon?
Gee, both of my kids are currently living in Japan. How could I knock Noro?
I still haven't SEEN any here though! Maybe your son will...
If you're looking to get rid of that Kureyon, I want to make one (or more) of those scarves too and yarn sure would make nice cushioning if you wanted to send me another package. Or maybe it will make nice padding in my suitcase after my visit home? Just an idea--there's still time to brainstorm!
Posted by: molly! | June 03, 2005 at 03:16 AM
When I returned to knitting [ about 15 yrs ago, way before the current knitting craze], I did mostly textured work. Then I discovered Fair Isle. I do my own colorways. This is the closest thing to quilting that one can do except obviously one is working with a different kind of fiber. I've finally decided that my main interest is color and that is what quilts are all about! Last year I did a workshop on Fair Isle and color at my local knitting guild. I had a black and white chart and brought lots of shetland yarn in many colors. Threw all the yarn on a table, selected a background color and then asked people to choose the rest of the colors. The knitters were frozen. The person who stepped forward also was a quilter!
Have a good day!
Posted by: Judy | June 03, 2005 at 08:33 AM
Love those hats! Thanks for the link to the pattern source.
Posted by: Wool Winder | June 03, 2005 at 08:43 AM
I love Kureyon too. The mysterious color changes, the thick and thin. So much adventure in each skein.
Your hats look wonderful. I've been meaning to try out that pattern.
Posted by: Jessica | June 03, 2005 at 09:47 AM
Oh! THanks for the scarf reminder!! I love those hats--the colorists at Noro are geniuses for sure. They put together sequences that seem APPALLING on the surface, but when they're knitted up they are wonderful.
And the Dulaan deadline is approaching--I need to start putting on buttons and zippers...
Posted by: Janine | June 03, 2005 at 10:30 AM
Jan -- Those hats are so cute! I may need to dig through my bin of Kureyon to make one for my daughter. And I'm so flattered that I had something to do with your getting back into knitting!
Posted by: Julie | June 03, 2005 at 10:55 AM
The hats are great! I miss Melissa, too!
Posted by: Margene | June 03, 2005 at 11:18 AM
Oh, my, those are so adorable! It's been a while since I've knit with Noro...now I have the urge again. These hats are perfect with that yarn! How many skeins did you use for each?
Posted by: Leslie | June 03, 2005 at 02:09 PM
I think I started quilting because I love playing with colors that I wouldn't want to wear.
The hats are great. Lots of fun!
(I miss Loose Ends Melissa too.)
Posted by: Melanie | June 03, 2005 at 03:18 PM
I LOVE THE HATS. I have never knit with Noro before, the yarn of my people.
Posted by: Mariko | June 03, 2005 at 03:45 PM
I thought the Fruitstripe gum comment was great. I have no idea what it is, but after reading your post I could imagine it perfectly.
Posted by: Jane | June 03, 2005 at 04:53 PM
Love those hats! Now, you stop it. I said to myself that I had done my bit for Dulaan for a while, and now you're making me want to do more.
Posted by: Norma | June 03, 2005 at 07:23 PM
I know this is inappropriate, but the hats are so cute you could decorate with them (send them to Dulaan anyway).
Posted by: Cassie | June 04, 2005 at 12:22 PM
Oh my god they are so cute! Just unbelievably cute. My LYS actually has some Kureyon at the moment, though only about 5 colours and none of them that I am absolutely desperate to get my hands on, so I keep winning the arguement with myself that my stash is big enough at the moment. But oh how those hats make me want to go shopping...
Posted by: Jo | June 05, 2005 at 08:58 AM
Those hats are wonderful. And they look so cute with the Noro. Thanks for sharing where to purchase the pattern.
Posted by: Kathleen | June 05, 2005 at 09:13 AM