Ugh, knitting and summer. I don’t know how people do it. Already, I live in the Vancouver where the climate is beautifully cool most days. If the temperature gets above 26 degrees, I start to want to wear a bikini top to work. Totally inappropriate work wear, I know. But once the weather gets warm, I find it hard to knit wool without wanting to go rinse my hands under cold water every ten minutes. So, I have two solutions. One: new yarn. Two: hide in the shade.
Enter this SeaCell-based laceweight yarn. For some time now, people have been asking me if I have non-wool yarns because they are either allergic or just want to avoid animal fibres. And outside of often pricey 100% silk, I haven’t had much opportunity to dye non-wool blends. But I did get my hands on a batch of this lovely laceweight and it’s available exclusively on the website as a limited run, called SeaSilk Lace.
It’s a 60% SeaCell and 40% tussah silk blend in a 2-ply laceweight. SeaCell® is a cellulose-based fibre (like Tencel®) derived from seaweed. I had dyed and tried some SeaCell/silk yarn a while back and even blogged about the differences between SeaCell skeins and 100% silk skeins. Being a cellulose-based fibre, the SeaCell doesn’t take up the dye the same way as the silk, so this resulting yarn is at the same time glossy and shiny but also heathered looking. It’s an odd combination to describe, but it’s like having shiny and tweedy in the same yarn.
Here’s hiding in the shade. For those of you who have visited the studio, you’ll know that two sides of the studio (north and west) are actually floor-to-ceiling double-high windows… which means, being in the studio is basically like being in the outdoors. When it’s dark outside, it’s dark at the studio. When it’s hot outside, the heat is magnified by the windows and it’s invariably roasting inside the studio. So, on non-dye days, I have been hiding out at my mini home office.
It’s a little corner I carved out to surround myself with yarn and knitting books. In the daytime, there’s plenty of natural light but it’s stays cool and I can see out into the garden and courtyard space. The hydrangeas are in full bloom and are so unabashedly rich in colour. Violet and mauve. I keep my spinning wheel nearby as well as my guitar and music things. Kind of a grown-up craft girl’s romper room, I guess.
This is where I’m working today. Emails. Bookkeeping. Writing. And keeping cool.
Felicia, be wary of keeping the Schacht in direct sun. Some folks have had the drive wheel wood separate from itself, interrupting the circle’s continuity.
@Laurie Yikes! Thanks for the heads up! I guess I always believed the wheel was sturdy, but I guess it’s not invincible :)
@Andi Thanks so much Andi. I hope you enjoy knitting with it too this summer!
@Sarah Faye Ahh, if only I had more time to read knitting books! They are mostly for inspiration and ideas.
Felicia, be wary of keeping the Schacht in direct sun. Some folks have had the drive wheel wood separate from itself, interrupting the circle’s continuity.
@Laurie Yikes! Thanks for the heads up! I guess I always believed the wheel was sturdy, but I guess it’s not invincible :)
@Andi Thanks so much Andi. I hope you enjoy knitting with it too this summer!
@Sarah Faye Ahh, if only I had more time to read knitting books! They are mostly for inspiration and ideas.
I had to order a skein it looks so beautiful!
I had to order a skein it looks so beautiful!
I am glad to see we have some of the same books on our shelves. :)
The yarn looks beautiful!
I am glad to see we have some of the same books on our shelves. :)
The yarn looks beautiful!
Lovely little nook to knit in :)
Lovely little nook to knit in :)
Felicia…where did you get the cubbies?
@Meg It’s actually the Expedit bookcase from Ikea… they look like square cubby holes, yes. :)
Felicia…where did you get the cubbies?
@Meg It’s actually the Expedit bookcase from Ikea… they look like square cubby holes, yes. :)
Your little hideaway is lovely and so is this yarn! How do you make everything so beautiful? A friend sent me to CraftGawker and there you were again, at the very top, welcoming me. I love seeing your beautiful pictures everywhere. They bring me such joy!
Big Hug!!
@cah Aww, thanks Christine! I may be living under a rock or something, but I have never seen CraftGawker… so cool! Thanks for letting me know.
Your little hideaway is lovely and so is this yarn! How do you make everything so beautiful? A friend sent me to CraftGawker and there you were again, at the very top, welcoming me. I love seeing your beautiful pictures everywhere. They bring me such joy!
Big Hug!!
@cah Aww, thanks Christine! I may be living under a rock or something, but I have never seen CraftGawker… so cool! Thanks for letting me know.
What a gorgeous yarn!
@knittingoutloud Thank you! It’s knitting up well… I’m really looking forward to blocking this out!
What a gorgeous yarn!
@knittingoutloud Thank you! It’s knitting up well… I’m really looking forward to blocking this out!