The Fibre Co Tundra

To sum up my last post:  I was selected as a designer for The Fibre Co’s Fall 2017 Yarn Support Programme. My new hat pattern will be released on Ravelry on November 28. It was July when I took this photo of the Tundra yarn that TFC sent for my hat.   

The Taiga colorway is a sort of rustic teal with subtle, tonal gray-brown fiber worked in. Its tones echo the color in my barn wood. Very lovely.

I want to tell you more about this fabulous yarn that is Tundra. The fiber content is 60% baby alpaca, 30% merino and 10% silk. A 100g skein measures 120 yards (110 meters).

In the words of The Fibre CO, "Tundra, began life as the search for the answer to a simple question, 'If The Fibre Co. were to create a bulky yarn, what would it be?' Our answer came from our passion for all natural fibre content that add depth and softness to hand mades. We took a much loved formula of baby alpaca, merino and silk and worked it into a 2 ply that gives a pleasing, well-rounded appearance."

As I told my first group of test knitters, "It is honestly the lightest and softest bulky weight yarn I have ever used." Its warmth and softness are irresistible. The silk adds drape and shine and a touch of luxury.

One skein of tundra will be enough to create a hat in either of the sizes to fit most children and women (15½ and 18¼" circumference). A second skein is needed for the larger (20¾") size to fit most men.

The round smoothness of the yarn adds great stitch definition, which you can see here in the swatch photos that were a part of my design proposal. The stitch pattern is named "Sunburst Check" in Barbara G Walker's Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns. The swatch was knit in the Boreal colorway.

A single swatch for a hat that has no wrong side. The top photo shows the right side when knitting... the lower photo shows the reverse side. Turn the hat inside-out... to find a new hat.

My No-Wrong-Side hat pattern is coming to Ravelry, with an introductory discount, in just two weeks.

Chill Happenin'

I love my friend Ann's photo of the Just Chillin' Hat that she made for her granddaughter. After Ann posted this photo, I commented that it was "the most beautiful Chillin' ever".

I made my son a Just Chill-in-Black, during the Gosh Yarn It "Summer Camp" KAL. I showed it to him, in July (when it was very hot), and I told him that I wanted a photo before I gave it to him to keep. He got his hat for Christmas, but still, no photo...

My latest (belated) gift knitting was a black cherry Just Chillin' for his girlfriend. Here is a photo that she messaged me (after I sent her belated gift).

(Aren't they a cute couple?) I finally got the photo I wanted of him wearing his hat, but hers is not totally in the frame. Would you believe that I (boldly) asked her for another? She did not seem too bothered by my request... There was mention that my daughter, who I have recruited often enough to give the title of "experienced knitwear photographer", will take one. I will share any new photos that come my way.

Speaking of my lovely daughter, she is also an "experienced knitwear model". She posed for the photos of my design sample hat that she now owns.

JUST CHILLIN’ is a worsted weight cable hat pattern with an optional pompom. You can make a pompom with your knitting yarn, or you might try a purchased (faux or real) fur pompom.The hat pattern has three sizes to fit heads of 19 (22, 24)” circumference, or to fit an average sized child (woman, man).

Look for an upcoming post all about "Removable Pompoms" -- like the fur ones on three of the Just Chillin's above.