the blue blog archives: yarn alchemy

While I was at Purl in NYC a couple of weekends ago with my mom, she spotted a gorgeous sample scarf they had knit up in Alchemy's Migration yarn. It was a simple brioche stitch pattern (instructions are posted on their Purl Bee website) but what made it so special was how they alternated two colorways of the yarn, just like the Noro striped scarves seen here and here and everywhere on the web. I've always loved these scarves and how the simple act of switching yarns every two rows transforms each colorway by breaking it up and slowing down its color changes, blending its colors with other unexpected colors. But there's no way I could ever wear Kureyon or even Silk Garden on my neck. Uhn-uh. Soooooo, when mom saw this scarf and said she might like one for her birthday (hint, hint), I was skeptical. Then I went over and touched it. Ahhhhhh, it was soft and silky and light and lovely. I immediately agreed to make one for her.

We found the exact shades of Migration they had used (Goldeneye and Cinnamon Teal) and I dug out my ball winder and swift, which I never use anymore because I'm too lazy, to wind up two perfectly lovely balls of Migration ready to do this one right. (Only for you mom!)

I'm barely into the thing and already it's both as fun and as boring as I'd imagined it would be. My eyes will blur over from working the same pattern row over and over and over and over and over and I'll think I can't possibly knit that row another time ever, but then I'll catch a glimpse of how the colors have changed in those last few rows and I'm utterly beguiled into knitting more.

posted by alison at 12:10 am | in LMKG

Comments

Ooo that is so pretty!

Posted by: Amy at July 28, 2009 1:18 AM

That gives me ideas for knitted Christmas gifts....

Posted by: Tournesol at July 28, 2009 3:55 AM

I KNOW! It takes forever. But the result is so pretty.

Posted by: Mary K. in Rockport at July 28, 2009 7:59 AM

very pretty!

Posted by: Leann at July 28, 2009 9:07 AM

It's addictive, for sure! I don't know if I'd have picked those two colors together, but they sure do look good knit up. Shows you how limited my "inner eye" is for colorwork... and why I rarely do any. Maybe you or your mom could help me with that?

Posted by: Toni at July 28, 2009 9:28 AM

I love how it looks, but I can completely understand where you are coming from. There are a few projects which I have languishing, because working on them makes me drowsy... too drowsy to knit!

Posted by: Seanna Lea at July 28, 2009 10:50 AM

Really lovely - & unexpected color combos.

Posted by: Donna at July 28, 2009 1:15 PM

Truly lovely...must go bookmark and fav. Such inpiration.

Posted by: Darci at July 28, 2009 2:31 PM

The striped scarves like those entertain me to no end (I'm a very simple person). Just the changing of colors keeps me going. "What will the blue look like next to the green? Oh that tan will be pretty against the burgundy."

It is a little sad, and a little great since everyone loves these scarves so much I've had to make two for gifts already.

Posted by: Laurie at July 28, 2009 2:46 PM

I loved watching the changes in the Noro I used for my scarf. I'd been thinking about trying the pattern with something different. I love the colours you chose! Must look up that yarn. :)

Posted by: samm at July 28, 2009 3:08 PM

You're not alone! I show my friends (non-knitters, all) the color changes.

"Look Marisa! The green and the blue are next to each other!"

"Okay..."

Muggles. Ha.

Posted by: Andrea at July 28, 2009 7:47 PM

I've downloaded the pattern. I love the look of this. Thanks for sharing!

Posted by: Sandee at July 29, 2009 1:57 PM

Loved this so much, I ordered the yarn! Thanks for the inspiration:)

Posted by: Jeanie at July 29, 2009 1:59 PM

love the colours!

Posted by: laurel at July 29, 2009 8:58 PM

Ooh, pretty. If you don't wind your skeins how do you use them? I would think not winding would take more time in the long run.

Posted by: Jayme at July 30, 2009 7:16 AM

I just may have to copy you- I'm making the noro scarf now and while it's scratchy, I'll deal. But I might need a soft one too!!

Posted by: Allison at July 30, 2009 8:00 AM

I made one of these as well--if it weren't for the color changes we'd all die of boredom. But, of course, it's the color changes that make the scarf so special. I love the yarn you're using!

Posted by: Karen at July 30, 2009 1:09 PM

I did a "faux noro scarf" as well. I'm honestly not a fan of noro - drop dead colors, of course, but the itchy and the price = thumbs down. Plus there's no resonably local source.

So I used Universal Yarns "Shades" - now sadly discontinued..... I may try dying some gradually changing yarn to do another one.

Posted by: threadbndr at July 30, 2009 7:52 PM