Dec 15 2006
Lopi-licious: My Lucky Day
You know it is going to be a good day when you open up your office's email inbox to see this:
Jean is about to give me a huge bag of Lopi yarn. Would you have any interest in some or all of it?
My friend Avice sent this email at 9:00 am yesterday morning, and by 3:00 o'clock pm, I was hauling out a shopping bag FULL of Lopi yarn from her office! I looked like a yarn-y version of St. Nicholas with a big bag slung over my shoulder. Avice insisted that I take all of it, as she claims that she simply has too much yarn, and would not have room for more (ahem… like I don't already have too much?!) Of course, after the exchange, she showed me her lovely new acquisitions from Blue Moon Fiber Arts :) However, I was thrilled to take it, especially since I have so many patterns that call for the Icelandic wool in mind!
You may recall: I got two Lopi books for my birthday last month (and I marked several patterns that I liked) so perhaps this whole interlude was fated from the beginning??
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When I got home, I surveryed and took inventory. The yarn was moth-free, smelled normal (sheepy), and looked great. Just to be safe, I put some of the yarn balls in the freezer for a few hours. That gave me time to look at yarn requirements for patterns, and to ask Kris about some of his preferences…
I had visions of lovely colorwork with this wonderful natural palette. Kris had a more simplistic model in mind… and that is okay. I want him to wear it, so why not knit what he wants? Plus, this is such a versatile pattern - perfect for everyday winter wear.
Yep, I already swatched and started the thing!
It is the Bulky V-Neck Pullover from the Knitting to Go Deck, the collection of pattern cards by Kris Percival. I love this deck, and recommend it for any level of knitter. The patterns are classic and simple; they really provide a great base to play around with stitch patterns, colorwork, and cables. I made my Pomegranate Pullover from one of the patterns from this deck, and I am also planning to get back to the Lace Wrap that I started ages ago… needless to say, it is the perfect "guy sweater". It got the Kris seal of approval, and while watching The Office last night, I made 4 inches of progress! (I should have been working on the last of the Christmas knitting, alas…)
I am thinking about colorwork, and possibly dyeing some of the raw wools for a palette closer to my preferences. I also have just enough to make the cute Vor Vest, from Lopi 25 for me!
So many possibilities with all of these wonderful skeins! Often Lopi gets a "bad rap" for its coarse texture and its raw-ness. The yarns that I received are softer than many of the Lopi yarns I have felt, and I am convinced that a nice bath with some some wool wash will soften it up even more. Kris will undoubtedly wear the pullover with undershirts, so direct contact with the skin is not likely.
Do you have experience softening up coarse wools? Any tips?
Dreaming of all of the possibilities!
Ayyyyy! That’s like my idea of Heaven. Lucky, lucky girl! My favorite trick for softening up coarse wool is a dunk in a warm bath with some of the fancy Make Your Curly Hair Straight conditioner. Since I straighten my wavy/curly hair frequently, I have boat loads of this around. The straightening conditioner works _way_ better than normal, as long as you find something with a silicone additive, since it’s designed to make human hair sleek and shiny. Good luck, Lucky Doll!
Lopi knits beautifully, has great “yarn memory” and is fast! I made my x BF one from a Lopi pattern. it does soften a bit with washing, but stays somewhat scratchy. that’s why I made my son a Lopi sweater in alpaca. but they are SUPER warm (Lopi) and he always wears a turtleneck under (the BF) ya’p he still wears it.
you got wonderful natural colors!
SCORE!!!!!!!!!
I am soooo envious, but glad you got the goods! man, I wish I had a friend like that! Enjoy!
Wow, you are one lucky girl! I have a very, very small stash and when someone mentions anything about giving away yarn, I’m all for taking it!
I second the hair conditioner suggestion. I use Suave lavender & lilac on EVERYTHING. It really softens things up nicely.
Such a wonderful friend! Lucky, lucky girl. =)
WOW! That’s a good friend! Enjoy.
What a great yarn serendipity! Can’t wait to see all the end results.
Lucky Lolly! I’m sure you’ll put every bit of it to use, eventually.
What a great haul! All yarn acquisition is great, but unexpected yarn acquisition is especially sweet.
Try a vinegar bath, it will soften tremendously in that for sure. Lucky girl..guess Santa thought you were good all year!!!
You go girl!
That last picture is so cute!!!
Wow! What a great Yarnyclaus!
You should do at least a hat or something with some colorwork - so many of those go great together!
You lucky duck! That is awesome!!!!
That last photo of you is absolutely adorable! Happy Weekend, Lolly!
Wow you are so lucky!! Great sweater picks. The bulky v-neck looks like an awesome basic pattern.
Yey for good yarn-giving friends!!!
WOW! And I thought I was lucky! That is an amazing haul.
That’s too cool!!!!
I’ve used this method on Peace Fleece and Bartlett yarns. Just skein it up, throw it in a tub of warm water with some Euclan, dish soap or conditioner. Let it soak for a bit, roll in a towel to get most of the water off and then let air dry.
I have a Lopi sweater that I wear quite a lot, and it’s very warm and wonderful. Mine stayed a bit tickly, but a long sleeved shirt underneath would get rid of that. The natural colours will look great if you can find a colourwork yoke you like.
And on a different topic, is the second round of Project Spectrum happening in January?
Excellent haul.
One question…what is your yarn doing in the freezer?
Jenna:
I decided to freeze the yarn for a few hours just to make sure that any moth eggs that lived in the yarn would die off… I am almost 100% sure that there was nothing like that in the yarn, as it was in great shape, but you can never be too careful!
I took it out and started knitting - it didn’t stay cold long!
Great score on the yarn and the patterns look fabulous.
Is it wrong that I’m feeling very envious? Yay for you!
Nice haul!!! and good timing… a few of us just started a KAL for knitting sweaters for the men in our lives… http://www.manlygiftalong.blogspot.com (OK, that was shameless self-promotion… i’m sorry I’m just really, really excited about it)
wait… he gets a Durrow and a Lopi sweater??? That’s one lucky guy!
I’m going to have to try that conditioner thing. I have some sock yarn that needs some softening. Have fun with your new stash!
I was going to suggest hair conditioner as well.
That last photo is so cute. I often snuggle with my yarn too.
what a fantastic stash enhancement! and it didn’t cost you a thing. i love when that happens
I have also used hair conditioner quite successfully.
You lucky girl
“While visions of lopi danced in her head….”
You’re a lucky gal. I love the classic, simple colours. Enjoy! x
I like a coarse sea salt and vinegar bath. Baby Shampoo works pretty well and so do most conditioners for dry or damaged hair.
You have a pretty good friend there. Lopi is good stuff.
OK, I agree with all the previous comments about what a great score this was for you - couldn’t have happened to a nicer gal!
But I do have a question. . . . .please forgive my ignorance. . . . . .why did you put yarn in the freezer?
Nice stash acquisition!
holy cow! that is so exciting! i’d love a huge bag of yarn. sorry can’t help you with coarse yarn. but think of the wonderful example you can set for us as you relate your delightful and challenging adventures with softening up coarse wools or dyeing. i’ve used RIT. not on yarn. it worked well but stained my countertops (scarlet) and dryer.
Wow, I have such astonishing yarn envy right now - what a great gift!
Holy cripes, that’s a lot of lopi! I love the picture of you dreaming of possibilities. Teehee! Great haul. I can’t wait to see what you do with all of it!
You scored! Like an early holiday present!
What a nice way to start the weekend!!
ooooooohhhhh man! Why can’t I run into those people!
I am glad you asked that question because I am working on a nice coarse wool that I need to soften up a .. bit… ok.. alot!
so cool! Now I know what do do!
Christmas came early for Lolly Girl! I am soooo jealous!
The Lopi I’ve knit with never got real soft. If an undershirt is worn, it’ll be fine. Nothing wears like Lopi either. Great stuff.
You are too cute. I’m curious–perhaps it’s addressed elsewhere in the comments, but i’m too tired to read through them all. Why did you just put a few skeins in the freezer? I mean, will freezing a few prove to you that you need to freeze them all, or are you just freezing them as you need them. . . . I guess I should say: I know nothing of this “freezing skeins”; please explain!
lucky girl! see you soon!
You are one lucky woman!!! Nice score!
Love the pic of you trying not to giggle while you “dream” LOL!!
~Suz~
need any more?
Oh, you look like a kid on Christmas! Happy knitted dreams!
Oh good score! One of the ladies in my snb made this beautiful cabled car length sweater/coat recently with a brown tweed Lopi and it is just gorgeous!! I have one Lopi sweater I made a few years ago and wear it all the time in the winter. I love it! Enjoy your new stash!
How fun is that!!! Getting new yarn is always exciting but free yarn is even better!
Wow! What a lucky day!!!
I adore the last picture! SO cute!!!
I wash my wool in shampoo (baby) and rinse it with conditioner. It is sheep hair, after all
i have to ask… freezer?
I think that older Lopi and the real thing from Iceland was/is not so scratchy. I use cream rinse on scratchy wools and it really helps. Not that you will ever mistake it for merino or cashmere. What a great haul!
Wow, awesome score! I’ve been told that a soak in vinegar and water will soften wool, but I’ve never tried it.
wow! sounds like fate to me! awesome!
Yep, I’m a little behind in my blog reading.
I love Eucalan wool wash. It has lanolin in it and everything is so touchable after washing. A lot of us rughookers use it before cutting strips for mat-making. A big plus: no rinsing needed. Any dirt seems to magically fall out while it soaks (works great on my hand-knit socks, and they go in pretty dirty). It comes in lavendar or eucalyptus, both of which yucky to moths.
[...] Pattern: Men's Bulky V-Neck Sweater Pattern Source: Knitting to Go Deck: 25 Chic and Easy Patterns Yarn: Reynolds Lopi Icelandic Wool in Charcoal Yarn Source: Inherited from a coworker Needles: Size US 11 and US 10 Started: December 15th / Finished: January 5th [...]