Which Came First...

No, not the chicken or the egg. We all know the answer to that one!

I'm talking about the yarn and the pattern/project. Which comes first for you? Or, does it vary?

My madness goes something like this:

I almost always pick the yarn. Or, should I say, the yarn picks me.

Typically, I walk around in the LYS just browsing all the yarn candy. It should come as no surprise that when I was very young, my mother would have to constantly remind me not to touch things when we were in a store as I LOVE to reach out and "pet" the yarn (if I may coin a phrase from Claire). Once a color or fiber jumps out at me, I take it home (usually one skein initially) and look at, touch it some more, maybe swatch it, until I come across a pattern that just screams for this particular yarn and THEN I have to go back to the LYS and HOPE there is more!

Sometimes, I find a yarn that I like so much, I'll actually buy three skeins and then go home, drag out all my magazines, books and search online patterns until I find something in which to use the yarn!! Then I have to go back to the LYS and buy two more skiens. Or five.

Only occasionally will I find a pattern first. I don't like this sequence, because then it becomes somewhat of a chore to find a yarn (you just simply can't use the yarn specified in the pattern, you know) and I'm afraid of making the wrong yarn choice; as if I can't frog it!!!!

So, in my world (and it's ok because they know me here), the yarn comes first.

Ode to the Yarn Whisperer

It was a dark and stormy night... (Not really, but it was by the time I finished with this hank of yarn...)

So, the REAL deal is this. I purchased some really gorgeous Alp Light from Aylin and couldn't wait to get it into a project. I got home, all excited and set up the ball winder, ready to go. (insert sound of screeching tires...)

If you're not familiar with Alp Light it has every conceivable type of fiber in the hank and hangs badly. Add to this, I was not using a swift; I don't have one. Eventually, after much cursing and a few more gray hairs, I enlisted the aid of my DH and almost two hours later we had a center-pull ball of yarn! We promptly opened a bottle of wine and discussed who was getting the silver and who was getting the TV(many threats of divorce over winding this hank of yarn).

I promptly banished all the Alp Light, the ball I had just wound and the three leftover hanks, to the darkness of the closet and left them there for more than two months as punishment.

Finally, after most of the memories faded I decided to take the hanks back to Aylin's and ask for some secrects or tips on winding this stuff.

Well, not only did I get an education in the finer points of swifting difficult yarn, but Aylin sat there with me for the better part of an hour and helped me wind a hank that had come undone in the bag. She was **sooooooooo** patient and knew exactly what to do with that yarn to bring it into submission. What a amazing experience.

Here's to you, Yarn Whisperer. (Bows deeply). I am happy to also report that harmony has been restored in the Barton household (I'm taking it all!).

Zach will be SO proud!!!

My first blog post! Woohoo!!

I've been noodling on starting a blog for some time and have finally jumped in. It will be a simple blog with thoughts, musings, and boring stuff from my everyday life filled with family, work, knitting, crochet, the cat, restaurant reviews and other random things that your life just wouldn't be complete without!

Now, sit back and wait for the Pulitzer Prize-winning posts!!!