HRYC

Quince & Co Kestrel is relatively new to our shelves, and being an interesting wee yarn that is unusual in this neck of the woods, it made sense to do a yarn review for it. 

The yarn: 

Quince & Co Kestrel

Composition: 100% organic linen

Structure: chain plied to a tape-like finish

Weight: 10ply / aran

Presented in: 50g / 70m skeins

Recommended needle: 5.5mm - 6mm

I'm up first, and a post from Shelley will follow.

Obsessed with every yarn that has even a whisper of linen, Kestrel was always going to be an interesting knit. We don't often get our hands on linen yarns in New Zealand, so there was no way I could resist the call of Kestrel. 

I opted for a larger needle size than Shelley, so my swatch is on 6mm tips which gives a gloriously holey fabric. The aim with this swatch was to embrace the drape, and investigate how the fabric moved with a bit more space within the stitches. As suspected, it was a very interesting yarn to knit with. While Sparrow, Kestrel's 4ply cousin feels quite hard in the hand, Kestrel's tape construction made for a much more pleasant knitting experience. The flatness of the yarn took a bit of getting used to - not in a bad way. It felt different to any other yarn which tends to have a roundness to it; despite being a heavy 10ply it slipped through my fingers like something much lighter.

Then, after knitting with it, I had a whole lot of fun. I boiled it*, washed it, rubbed it, threw it around, put it in the washing machine with a pair of shoes (which needed washing, it isn't that weird). Generally speaking, I gave it a pounding. 

It isn't particularly forgiving to discrepancies in gauge or stitch oddities, however after all the hardship I put it through these started to even out.  

Wibbly bits before.

And the drape, after. 

With linen, the more it is handled and washed, the softer it gets. This swatch certainly is a whole lot softer thanks to the multitude of washes it went through, and look how gloriously it drapes! 

Heading into summer, Kestrel would be great for light garments and accessories that also keep you covered when it cools off at the end of the day. Tomorrow i'll post some pattern ideas, for now, i'm going to throw the swatch around some more.

*Why boil it? Well I'd heard tell that it would help break down the linen fibres. Another way of doing this is to throw linen in the drier for a while, or wash it multiple times. I was curious about the boiling idea, and figured there wouldn't be much harm in trying.

After a long hiatus, yesterday the Happy Sock came out of the WIP bag and back into action. I spent the day at Semi Permanent Wellington, hearing a whole lot of thought-provoking talks from some incredible designers. 

One of the reasons I was really excited about it was the chance to hear Jessica Hische speak again. A few years ago she spoke at Webstock (which I help out at) and her thoughts on 'procrastiworking' really struck a chord. 

This time was no exception, and at the end of the day my mind was buzzing with all sorts of thoughts about being creative and why we do what we do as makers. 

 As I listened, I knit the happy sock. And thought about how ridiculous it is. 

Whenever it takes my fancy, I break the yarn and start a new colour. Or start the new colour for a couple of random stripes before breaking off the old one. 

It makes for a some fairly interesting sock innards.

Surrounded by people having babies? Same!

Fancy knitting something resembling instant gratification? Same!

Never quite get things done in time to gift when the baby is still small? Same!

Need some inspiration? Here's some bigger-than-baby-size patterns:

Children's Cardigan Eivor is cuteness in a cardigan. Using 4ply yarn and a sweet mix of cables, lace and plain panels. 

Chickadee by Ysolda is an adorable mini version of her adult's Chickadee cardi pattern. 

Plain Cardigan by Anna and Heidi Pickles will knit up in snap thanks to using 8ply yarn.

Although I think this cardigan needs to be cast on immediately:

Where the Wild Sheep Roam by Pinneguri. 

As per usual, so many things to knit, not enough time. At least knits for kids are small are therefore faster. Or that's the idea. The trouble is not being distracted by other projects...

It may seem as if Christmas is ages away, but we're getting into the spirit early this year. Prompted by the lights going up in Jackson Street already, and entering the street Christmas window display, we've got the fever. 

So why not also join in with the Sewing Depot's brilliant plan and have a Christmas party in Petone?

Come by the Petone store from 10am - 4pm on Saturday 15 November for a whole lot of good times. Treats with every purchase, one-off specials, and lots of kits which will be perfect to either gift as is or make up yourself to give. There will be baking and assorted deliciousness. 

And if you're multi-craftual, you can head around the corner and enjoy all the Sewing Depot has to offer for their Christmas celebration, too! 

As we hurtle towards the end of the year and feel the weight of a busy 10 months behind us. This article about knitting and anxiety couldn't be better timed. Lots of us knit for the same reasons as the author - to calm worried minds, retreat from the world and make something from nothing. 

Have a lovely, relaxing, knitting-filled weekend everyone.