Some New & Lovely Things!

Well, hellooooo! So happy you made it to the new and improved site! Thanks for your patience while I get things sorted…I know that some folks got some pretty unusual emails yesterday 😉 Anyway, I hope you like the new look as much as I do. This new space will allow LittleChurch to support video posts (for the podcast) and a bunch of other stuff I’ll need going forward.

I had a nice trip to the Big City on Wednesday! I wasn’t sure I’d still be going after the horrible snow storm we had; I lost my Snow-Driving Mojo during all those years of living in the South. (I can’t complain really, as winter has only just got started.)  Apart from lunch at Mildred’s with these lovely ladies, I dropped in to Romni Wools.

It was interesting. It appears that Romni is experiencing the same difficulties with the high US dollar as many of the smaller yarn stores. I saw a great deal of Diamond Luxury yarns which can easily be purchased by retailers within Canada, thereby avoiding the horrendous exchange rate. I saw a lot of old stock brushed up for new, like Madeline Tosh (no new colors)  and some baskets of rather picked-over Zauberball. I suppose I could have picked up a sweater length down stairs, if I’d had a mind to, but nothing spoke to me.

The highlight of the visit? Titus! I’d been wondering about this British breeds 4-ply after reading about it on several blogs, notably Kate Davies. I was in no way prepared for the softness and gorgeous halo of this yarn. And the dyes are exquisite. I was particularly taken by the Bramley Baths colorway…a Cheryl-y shade of pale aqua gray. To my regret, I didn’t bring any home. It’s a spendy little yarn and I felt I needed to have some pretty clear end-use ideas before I took the plunge.

A delicious blend of Wensleydale and Bluefaced Leicester wool, combined with a touch of magical UK Alpaca in homage to philanthropist and Yorkshire mill owner Sir Titus Salt. This luxurious yet authentic combination is also reflected in the shade range: deep, rich colours that evoke images and memories of a land which has such strong historic connections to wool and wool manufacturing.

I did pick up a couple of new things. If you recall, exploring new yarns and tools was on my list of things to do this year. Though Kenzie is not entirely new to me, having been given two lovely skeins in gray by my friend Elizabeth of ChezLizzie, I do love this odd little blend! 50% NZ Merino, 25% nylon, 10% angora, 10% alpaca, 5% silk noils makes for a quirky yarn which is toothy, yet buttery in the hand and strangely susceptible to dye. Pretty, no? This is color #1022.

I’ve long been a fan of everything by Drops; I love their broad range, low prices and Euro-chic color range. (In fact, Carl better not come home from Scandinavia without a big ol’ batch of it!) I found some Drops Fabel sock yarn not often seen on shop shelves. I do love me a good marl! Won’t this make for sweet socks with contrast heels and toes in bright peachy-pink or something?

I’ve left the best for last! Look what graced my postbox on Tuesday! I was quite chuffed with myself having discovered the talents of Ashley of Red Sock Blue Sock nearby in Ottawa. I treated myself to two skeins, the BFL/Silk Fingering in Navy and the MCN (merino/cashmere/nylon) in DramaMama. They are utterly divine and I can wait to cast on!