I have always had an instinctive dislike for the “acquirers” out there. You know, the people who go to an event like Rhinebeck with a wheeled suitcase, sharp elbows flying, complete disregard for the people around them in their mad dash to get their hands on X.
That’s not to say that there aren’t yarns out there that I have, and continue to covet. But the F5-F5-F5 insanity involved in obtaining a special yarn is just not for me, and I get claustrophobic and really, really nasty in a real-life crowd of that ilk.
SHELTER - Button Jar
Thus, my complete surprise and wonder to have ferreted out SHELTER, the new yarn from Jared Flood/Brooklyn Tweed on the day of its release. It was pure accident.
Pure, wonderful, serendipitous accident.
If you’ve been reading along with me, you know I’m part of a posse who have spent the year exploring the wonders of wool described in the Knitter’s Book of Wool. Not just “wool,” but breed-specific wool. If you’re not playing along at home, compare it to chocolate. All chocolate is not alike. If you prefer Vosges Red Fire to a Hershey’s Kiss, you get my drift. Sometimes a Kiss will do. But once you’ve had Red Fire …
Whoops. Digression over.
SHELTER is a blend of Columbia and Targhee, grown in America and spun in America. Clara’s piece in Knitter’s Review today gives you the 4-1-1.
SHELTER - Thistle
My SHELTER arrived yesterday. It is both spongy and doughy in the nicest sort of way. It has substance and loft. Looking at it up close, the blend of colors is genius. Even its name says something to me ~ not surprising in the BrooklynTweed ethic.
As an unabashed wool-sniffer, I am with my cult leader in finding the scent of it a little out-of-kilter. It’s certainly pleasant, but not the whiff of sheep that I expect and enjoy from my wool. But that nitpicking aside, SHELTER is something really special.
The Button Jar will become a pair of Woodruff Mittens and probably a cowl, too. Thistle, which is deeper and richer IRL, is a merry color. It will become the Terra shawl. It’s going to be a few days before I can cake it and cast on.
But I’m sooooooooooooooo glad I got there in time to put some in my own hands. Just this once. And I neither threw an elbow nor hit that refresh key, either.
Tags: brooklyntweed, claraparkes, columbia, jaredflood, KBOW, knittersbookofwool, shelter, targhee, terra, woodruff, wool
October 7, 2010 at 4:30 pm |
I’ve heard nothing but good things about this yarn – looking forward to putting my hands in it when I stop in Harrisville on Saturday.
October 7, 2010 at 7:29 pm |
Sigh…so jealous. You know how I adore the man. Haven’t had the opportunity to order yet. Was kind of waiting to see what people had to say. Glad your happy! Terra does look like a must knit too.
January 6, 2011 at 3:45 pm |
[...] Woodruff mittens – my personal test-drive of BrooklynTweed SHELTER [...]
May 20, 2011 at 7:04 am |
[...] common Internet search term hit: Shelter Button Jar – folks clearly looking for alternate photos of this green-blue/blue-green colorway in one of [...]
December 31, 2011 at 2:23 pm |
[...] mittens – More Jared Flood mittens coming soon in Shelter when I can decide on a colorway. Yeah, I’m ummm, deciding on a colorway. Because somehow [...]