the blue blog archives: malabrigo, take me away!

I can't get enough of this yarn. It is sooooo soft. I've had this skein of Malabrigo in my stash since last winter's trip to Webs. It was the first time I had seen, or more importantly, touched, Malabrigo and I simply couldn't resist it in this light blue color. This fall at Rhinebeck I picked up the Morehouse Merino Le Beret pattern and finally I've worked up the math ('cause you know my yarn don't have the same gauge as the pattern!) and cast on. I actually cast on two weeks ago at the beginning of my beginner's hat class. I always try to have a hat going to demonstrate various techniques and issues. Usually I don't get very far in the knitting, but this time I've been picking up the Malabrigo beret to knit a row or two whenever I was feeling stressed.

Okay, apparently I've been feeling a lot of stress (um, let's see, early Christmas shopping for pressies going to Germany, deadline knitting, sockapaltwoza deadbeats, finishing a pattern, working more at the store, and generally being trapped in the house every day with two four-year olds due to bad weather outside). Just squooshing the yarn in my hands has been enough to improve my mood (sort of like the most expensive stress ball ever!) and knitting with it has been a genuine delight. I've worn the half-finished beret around the house several times (with the needle in, the working yarn hanging down, and the skein in my back pocket) just because it made me feel happy. And when I had to rip a couple of inches out because it was too big, I was grinning from ear to ear. This stuff is like knitty prozac!

Yes, I'm high on Malabrigo. Please don't mention the two scarves I have to finish knitting, the two pairs of socks still on the to-do list, the knitting charts I still have to make, or how far behind I am in updating the holiday knit-along. Oh, I'm going to need some more Malabrigo.

posted by alison at 9:35 am | in 2005 accessories

Comments

ahhh. I just received 1 skein of Malabrigo from Webs.

Must. get it out. immediately. and start knitting. something.

Posted by: Stephanie at December 16, 2005 9:44 AM

Ahhhh! I have been telling myself I don't need to buy Malabrigo until January.... now my will power is diminishin.... diminishing...

Posted by: Tania Colon at December 16, 2005 9:54 AM

They sell it at Halcyon Yarns too.

Posted by: cyndy at December 16, 2005 10:02 AM

I love that yarn too...

Merry Christmas!

Posted by: TGZ at December 16, 2005 10:04 AM

I love Malabrigo as well. A little birdy told me that my MIL bought me enough of it to knit a sweater. GAH!!

Posted by: Jennifer at December 16, 2005 10:05 AM

Yes, Cyndy, it was just starting to show up in stores when I saw it at Webs. It seems to be in all the stores now. We carry it at the store where I work too. You can find their other yarns at handpaintedyarn.com.

Posted by: alison at December 16, 2005 10:12 AM

I should not have gone to their website. ;0) More Malabrigo coming my way....

Posted by: alison at December 16, 2005 10:15 AM

I am sooooooooo with you on the Malabrigo. Love. Love. Love. I've done two pair of fuzzy feet and a cardigan with it. It felts beautifully, so so soft. At this point, it's hard to knit with anything else!

Posted by: Kim at December 16, 2005 10:17 AM

I got tons of that stuff when it was still available directly from them - so it was cheap! My favorite thing was the vinegary smell. Between that and the softness I totally had the Malabrigo high.

Posted by: stephanie at December 16, 2005 10:35 AM

Okay, I'm sold. I could definitely use some knitty prozac right now.

Posted by: Karma at December 16, 2005 10:37 AM

I hear that about malabrigo...

I used your keyhole scarf for a teacher present...big props to you...you totally bailed me out!

I posted pic and credit to ya...'preciate it!

Happy Knitting...and Holidays!

Posted by: heather at December 16, 2005 10:54 AM

ohh, I just received a skein of Malabrigo from Webs too! :) in Polar Moon. IT IS SO SOFT! too bad I'm turning it into a present to give away - darn, i'll have to just go buy more! ;)

Posted by: Manda at December 16, 2005 11:02 AM

That's a great color for you. Not to get all stalker like, but won't that go well with you plaid coat?

Posted by: Colleen at December 16, 2005 11:03 AM

Santa should clearly bring you a LOT more Malabrigo this year. You've been good, after all!

Posted by: Beth S. at December 16, 2005 11:04 AM

Yes, I too recently sucummbed to the pleasures of malabrigio (a stocking for my boy). Its quite amazing stuff. You may just have to rip the hat out and start over.

Posted by: PumpkinMama at December 16, 2005 11:58 AM

I've got 4 skeins of purple Malabrigo and 1 skein of green Malabrigo waiting patiently for me in my stash. When I get done with my husband's sweater (which will hopefully be in the next 9 days!), I'm going to get it out and knit a shrug with it. I cannot wait!

Posted by: Stephanie at December 16, 2005 12:51 PM

It even *looks* soft! You deserve a little knitting therapy.

Posted by: Kathy at December 16, 2005 1:03 PM

Go ahead, get your high. Malabrigo wasn't illegal the last time I checked.

Posted by: claudia at December 16, 2005 2:46 PM

MMMM. I hear you on the housebound part - and have also worn half made hats around the house with the same back pocket trick! Didn't know I was in such good company.

Must pet the malabrigo next time I pass it.

Posted by: Thea at December 16, 2005 4:06 PM

Wish I could reach thru the screen and touch it -- it does look incredibly soft. What's the fiber content?

I have no doubt you'll finish all your holiday knitting "to-do's". As fast as you knit, those scarves will be finished in a day. And the socks -- perhaps a day each. No problem!

Posted by: Mary at December 16, 2005 5:48 PM

Ooooh. It even LOOKS yummy!

That reminds me - I've got five skeins of that in my stash that have been aging. I think it's time I hauled them out and did something with them.

Posted by: Thorny at December 16, 2005 7:15 PM

Oh my gosh, I love this yarn! I have two skeins left in a green colorway and I can't decide what to make with it. I was at my LYS one day and as I was walking out one of my friends there had to stop me to ask if I had seen the Malabrigo....talk about a life altering experience! I bought way too much of it, but I was lucky because the store was having one of its 25% off all yarn sales!

Posted by: Rebecca at December 16, 2005 9:49 PM

Is that Jewel blue? My daughter made a hat with the same color. I think it was a few days ago in our blog. Lovely lovely color.

Posted by: kathy b. at December 16, 2005 10:40 PM

just an update for ya. i've got 4 projects going, and i don't have any done yet, although one fast approaches. i noticed you didn't have anything behind my name (boohoo!)

Posted by: minnie at December 17, 2005 12:36 AM

I have a spiel at Webs that ensures that almost every customers leaves with some. "The yardage! It works at almost any guage! (I show them mittens at 5 stitches/inch and a shawl at 3, they marvel) It's a softer Manos! The smell!" and so on and so on. I hope you scored some of the laceweight.

I'd say the only drawback is it's tendency to pill, which is just a tradeoff for that softness, and the inconsistency of the colors. Every batch comes in a little different, it's actually quite cool, but "buying enough" is imparative.

Also, great hat choice! Berets are so fun to wear, I love them. So many people think they can't wear hats, I like to see hat bravery!

Posted by: Cirilia at December 17, 2005 8:32 AM

Really, I just can't imagine how you let it sit untouched in your stash for so long. ;) Malabrigo is my new favorite yarn as well, and I just discovered that you can make a hat AND a pair of mittens out of one skein! Beautiful, soft, and great yardage... what more could you ask for?

Posted by: joanna at December 17, 2005 12:04 PM

Mmmm... sounds heavenly!

Posted by: Andrea at December 17, 2005 12:25 PM

Malabrigo, otherwise known as "yarn crack" by my friends, is my absolute favorite yarn. You don't just touch it--you fondle and caress it. You can't let go of it. I want to make myself a cocoon out of it!

You can never have too much Malabrigo...

Posted by: Elizabeth at December 20, 2005 12:46 PM