[Nfb-krafters-korner] How are the new knitters doing?

[Deidre Muccio]

Joyce
Yes, Web's is here in my very own town. An old friend used to drive in from
Boston once a year to stock up. It's a very casual low key environment, not
overwhelming at all. Try Osgood's in Springfield if you want to see a big
fabric outfit and feel like you could never possibly see the end of their
offerings! We're not talking yarn though. 
I spent an hour or more there yesterday and wound up buying 4 oz of a part
wool part acrylic yarn that is not bulky but is easy to knit. $2.50 for the
ball of it. I probably should have bought more but I wasn't sure it wasn't
too fine for my skill level. I put it on 10 needles and it's fuzzy enough
that it holds together nicely and you can't feel the size of the loops
unless you feel for them. It's just soft and slightly fuzzy. I am surprising
myself by suddenly being able to knit with finer yarns.
	I felt many knitted scarves that are supposedly in fashion right
now, and I thought them atrocious to the touch and in style. They felt like
hair netting and the sort of thing that one might consider disposable since
they would catch on any old thing. Also some of the knitted fabric was not
knit with beautiful wools or even combinations of wool and acrylic, but
someone must like that kind of thing. There are some truly bizarre yarns out
there. 
	I was looking for a bulky cotton to try but was told Joann's sells
that, that Web's doesn't. It was nice of them to say so.  
	I felt cones of mohair which my neighbor loves knitting with but it
felt really scratchy to me. She says it's softer than Marineaux. Is that so?
I like the softness and silkiness of angora myself, kind of like those
finest soft hairs at the base of the underside of our dog's ears, like
cashmere! I didn't feel any cashmere blends.
	Anyway, after rug hooking occasionally with yarn, I am aware of how
some yarns have a better twist than others, so I'm being coached to look for
that sort of thing.
	Has anyone knit with rayon seed yarn. I bought a scarf made of it
and love it. I love the feel of it in my hand but haven't dared do anything
with it yet. What needles I use will make or break whatever project I
attempt with it. Plus I have my scarf on the circular needles to finish and
a few rugs too!
	I have to say knitting is a very nice way to stay awake, focused and
relaxed at the same time creating something hopefully in the end that will
be wonderful to behold. I'm trying not to get ahead of myself, one thing at
a time. 

	Deidre