MY LITTLE STORY

So the story goes a little something like this::
Spurred on by the beautiful dark grey wrap top for Petite 6.5st, I immediately wanted to continue this crazy knitting wave, and cast on for something else. A weekend at my parents gave ample opportunity to indulge in some quality knitting time, and so began the frantic decision making of pattern, and yarn. To be honest, nothing jumped out at me, but I deluded myself into thinking the Ballerina Top in the Debbie Bliss Quick Baby Knits book would satisfy my needs. And that I should attempt to use the Opal Gems wool I was originally going to use for Max's Charlie Jumper. 3 rows into that piece, and the magic wasn't happening - I know, I'm fickle. So perusing the book, and feeling sorry for my little knitting needles now lying abandoned beside me, I flicked the page to a very simple garter stitch cardigan and booties set. Forget the booties. For now. Just concentrate on the cardigan. So simple, I would normally have overlooked it, but, but...then again...

The wool. The colour. Particularly the colour. The blissful way they photographed it all. The colour. The wool. That would be my child. Of course it would! And she has to have that colour, in that wool. Now.

Trouble is, Jaeger Cashmina is a) expensive, and b) very much discontinued. So discontinued that I can only buy a light grey. In the whole world, I can only buy light grey from one supplier online. Not the lusciously lovely slate lavender colour pictured. Cashmere, cashmere, cashmere. Hmmm. Debbie Bliss does a Baby Cashmerino wool - but colour representation online for Debbie Bliss is notoriously unreliable from past experience (remember I don't do shade cards for some reason). I have trawled through site after site listing colour references and cross checking to the point of screaming. I really should buy a shade card. Stockists in Sydney? Forget it.

But in another book, there's a pattern with a lovely looking cashmere in it. Scramble in the bookshelf - Oh look. Joseph Galler Pashmina yarn. $55US for 50gms. I love my unborn child, but not that much thankyou. Frustration was rapidly approaching. Can it really be that hard to find a wool which is right for this project? Does it matter? Will the baby care? Will anyone care? Will anyone notice? I will. And that's the point.

You know I'm getting desperate when I start trawling through boxes. And trawling again. And pulling stuff out. And forgetting I owned stuff till I see it again. And thus we come to Classic Elite Yarn Miracle from my Better The Pal swap last year. It's Alpaca Tencel. Soft. Slate. I think I described it at the time as Grey. But it has a definite purple tinge. A deep slate lavender tinge. It was in the box of wool that has all the wool I really want to knit with no matter what the project. Perfect. Although, perhaps I should reserve judgement till I'm past the 4th row/5cm mark. And you'll never believe it, but I think I've got plenty of wool this time!

Trouble is, while using wool from stash is noble, I kind of really wanted to buy the wool especially for this one - a special gesture to this little one inside me. But in the absence of a beautiful slate lavender cashmere bounding into my life in the next few days, we're pushing ahead with the Classic Elite.

I'm going to keep thinking about cashmere aren't I?

Comments

[Alice Machin]

Have you tried looking for your color on this site?
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/ColourMartUK

They have lots of colors and gauges of cashmere. They'll even ply you a custom mix. It's not nearly as expensive as designer yarns.

Alice

[Belinda Andresson]

Tapestry craft stocks nearly every colour in the DB baby cashmerino. If you wanted to check it out in person. I think their may sale is still on too. http://www.tapestrycraft.com.au/catalog/multi_info.php?cPath=1_356_463&osCsid=2b96a7f169cfb79d3882aba1b0575ab7&multiID=463

[M-H]

Belinda beat me to it! Check out Tapestry Craft before you order online.

[Jo]

I know you're pregnant, but I think you need a drink, or two.

[Meg]

I'm not sure if they will have anything at all similar to what you are after, but these people spin their own merino wool and it is beautifully soft. Scroll down to the bottom to see their a possum/merino mix (I know, but this is NZ) that is supposed to be very soft and warm (and comes in amethyst!).

http://www.thewoolcompany.com/products/?c=5&pc=1&catname=Knitting%20Yarn

[candice]

Ahh.. tencel.. I always use Patons Zhivago [50% acrylic, 50% tencel] when crocheting scarves for myself.. I can't wear anything else around my neck, so soft! I wish there were more wools with tencel though.. not a lot of colour options for me.

I totally agree with you too: if you notice, then it matters! It's all the little things that make you want to do it in the first place ;)

[carolyn]

i say forge ahead with the classic elite. you've been saving it in that box for a reason, maybe petite 6.5 is the reason. :)

[sandra]

Hello there!

Reading your blog for a long time now, I leave you my first comment and I hope it will help you (being mother of 4 children between 7 years and 9 months always makes me feel compassionate for other mothers-to-be ;)).

I've found some Parma Jaeger Cashmina here on ebay : http://cgi.ebay.com/JAEGER-CASHMINA-YARN-Parma-044_W0QQitemZ8194253354QQihZ020QQcategoryZ75569QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem. Don't know if it's the right color, or if it's enough, but I give a try :)

Wish you all the best!

sandra in Belgium (and please forgive my English, not my mother tongue at all :))

[joyce]

decisions...decisions...

[Heather]

when you know exactly what you want...and can't find it, that is hard.

Just read a very good review of this company http://www.poshyarn.co.uk/index.html on http://knitandtonic.typepad.com

Good luck!

[larissa]

Well, I'm all for buying new yarn - and cashmere! But I also have to say that Miracle is one of my favorite yarns to knit with ever. It's wonderful.

Looks like this!
http://larissmix.typepad.com/photos/finished_things/creamofspinach2.html

I can't wait to see your garter sweater. I've wanted to make just such a thing myself for a while now. And everything you make is lovely and beautiful.

[Pip]

Once you get on the cashmere kick you can't get off of it! I know.

The cashmerino is really nice, btw.

[eireann]

ahhh, cashmere.

cashmere.

cashmerrrrrrrrrre.

cashhhhhhhmere.

.

.

.

caaaaaaaaaaaaashmere.

I'm there with you. Clearly.

[eireann]

um, and here:

http://tinyurl.com/kbrw4

plum-colored cashmere, $8 US.