Novus Collection: Choosing Yarn!

Once you've decided to knit a sweater from the Novus Collection it's time to choose what yarn you want to work with! Right? Sometimes this is the most fun and frustrating part of getting a project started....

Hot Flash was knit in a DK yarn, and Las Cruces in sport weight yarn. I would say that this is not exclusive and you can play a bit with the weight yarn you use for either of these sweaters. The most important thing to do is make sure you end up a with a fabric that you like! (And this involves swatching).

HOT FLASH
My first Hot Flash is knit in Siidegarte's Siide-Buschper a stunning hand-dyed silk linen milled in Switzerland, not so easy to get in the US, yarn. I love it, but the silk/linen has no memory and so grows over time. I did discover that if I wet it and put it in the dryer until almost dry (on low) that shrinks it right back up. That was super scary to do the first time, but it worked! The yarn itself feels phenomenal against the skin and is wearing incredibly well!

 

My second Hot Flash (still on the needles) is being worked in Wollmeise DK, a 100% merino with a structured twist, that is dyed in Germany. This Hot Flash will be a big heavier and warmer than my first one and should transition into fall well! I'm loving knitting this so much that I am onto the side panels already.

 

Many of my testers knit their Hot Flash(es) in Juniper Moon Zooey, a textured cotton/linen that is available in many LYS's. Lorrie knit hers in Manos del Uruguay Serena and it came out beautifully, making Serena (which is readily available) another great choice!


LAS CRUCES
I knit two Las Cruces... the first was in Noro Taiyo Sport which was SUPER fun to knit as I am highly amused by color changing yarn. I got this yarn while teaching at the Yarn Club... we were all talking about how fun my Las Cruces Shawl is to knit and I saw the Taiyo on the shelf, before I knew it I was all like... "that construction would make the coolest sweater, I should totally do that! With that yarn!" Famous last words people!

I absolutely love the hand of the Taiyo but I felt like the details were lost in it.... sooooooo... I just had to knit another one. (Do you see a theme here?) This time in Anzula Vera, which I knit Forza Scarf out of and always knew would be the perfect sweater yarn for warmer weather! Vera did not disappoint, she is a silk/linen blend that has a much more textured surface than the Siide-Buschper which gives her more structure. I'm thrilled with how this sweater is wearing.

There are some other great yarns to try with Las Cruces, particularly, Fibre Company Savannah, Quince and Co's new Willet, and BC Garn Allino. Check out all the Las Cruces already on the needles here.

Here's my trick for purchasing sweater yarn that I mentioned in the KAL the other day: 

• When I am shopping I buy just one skein of a yarn I want to audition for future sweaters... then I have it around to play, swatch, with and get to know.
• Then when I am ready to knit a larger project I know if that yarn is a good choice, and order the amount I need. I find it saves me money and space, and I get to know many yarns and their construction and fiber properties.
• Finally, when I feel like knitting a hat/mittens/headband or other small accessory I can just grab these single skeins and knock the project out! Totally win/win, right? Or maybe just a really good justification?

The next post in this series is going to be about gauge... which is the next thing to think about once you have yarn. That won't come out until next weekend, though, cause we are going on a spontaneous camping trip... where I'm going to finish my Hot Flash!

So, have any questions? What yarn I you thinking of auditioning for Hot Flash and/or Las Cruces?