I like to check the “Top 20” pattern line-up in Ravelry each day. I get ideas for techniques or garments that can be used for some of our classes here at WEBS, and I also like to get inspiration for my own knitting. Recently, I saw a few sweaters that incorporated shawl-like elements into their construction and became momentarily fascinated, but then I remembered that I absolutely hate two things: extraneous fabric, and garments that flap around. That’s why I knit cowls and mittens. No shawls, no scarves (unless they are for someone else) and I favor the pullover sweater. I’d rather let the yarn be the star. I have some favorite yarns that I keep in the back of my mind for garments or accessories, yarns that belie the name “workhorse” because that makes me think of something drab or common, and these are nothing of the sort.

Louet Gems Sport is a fantastically elastic and forgiving yarn that I’ve used for baby sweaters for years. I can’t believe it’s a washable wool because it feels way more luxurious than you’d think.

There is nothing that Classic Elite Yarns Color by Kristin can’t do. Obviously with Kristin Nicholas’ color sense you’d expect the warm, vibrant palette but what you get in the bargain is softness, loft, and incredible versatility. Cables, colorwork, and felting would be phenomenal.

My favorite Valley Yarn is Colrain, hands down. It’s got a beautiful luster, and it sets off my obsessive cabling perfectly. Plus, it’s a worsted-weight yarn, so I can get lots of bang for my knitting buck–it works up really quickly.

What are your go-to yarns?

I’ve been knitting so many small projects lately, for the ease of finishing them in a week or less. It also gives me a great excuse to try lots of different yarns and I’ve been branching out in my needle choices as well. But I’ve been seduced by a sweater pattern, and like dating, I want to find just the right yarn to settle down with since I’ll be living with it for a while. I think I’ve happened upon the best thing ever–Shalimar Homage DK.  I had an argument with myself about whether to go with the fabulously-named color “Land! Katie Scarlett” or the less-fabulous “Lagoon”, but the ” Lagoon” won, and I took a skein home to swatch. It’s just lovely. Smooth, with some subtle color shadings of blue and grey, but not muddy or with any pooling of darker colors. It knits right to gauge and when I washed my swatch (of course I washed it. Don’t you?) it bloomed but didn’t get fuzzy or pill-y. I think I’m going to really enjoy the miles of stockinette stitch my sweater pattern demands, and when it’s finished, I’ll have a soft, beautiful garment that will last forever. I think I’ll knit it on my current favorite needles, Karbonz; and I think I might even drop a hint about getting the Karbonz Interchangeable Deluxe Set, with the 4.5″ tips and 4 different cables. They hold the yarn smoothly while the pointy tips let me knit at top speed, which is a bonus with a sweater that includes pleats and a shawl collar. I’ll call it my “Happy New Year” gift, since Hanukkah is just a memory now. I hope your New Year includes all the yarn you need and some you don’t!