I've Been Found!

The perfect yarn has found me! Well, as soon as I decide which of these 3 colors it is - LOL. (Oh, and this is for my very own - not to give away - Secret of the Stole KAL). The yarn itself is a Jamieson's Sprindrift Shetland. It's a 2 ply to hold stitch definition and it's in fingering weight. I seem to remember that it's about 14 wpi whereas the lace-weight I first chose was about 32 wpi. Funny thing - when I was swatching (and bumbling and cursing and frogging) the more delicate stuff, I thought "Gee, this stuff would be perfect if it were about 1/3 more of itself. And it looks like this Spindrift is exactly that! My first choice is this delightful blue. And in keeping with my "self-imposed" mariners theme, it is called Pacific. I would go with either clear or very unobtrusive co-ordinating beads with this one.

This heathery grey is called Osprey - a large bird known to sailors as the Sea Eagle (and to the Coast Guardsmen who maintain buoys and lighted waterway markers it's known as a PITA for it's determined habit of building massive nests on top of these structures). I don't know if I would use beads with this choice as it's got some accent of it's own. But again, it ties into my thinking of Old Man Neptune and such. By the way, these pics are from the Jamieson's own site. I've looked at this yarn on other web sites and it is much deeper and darker on all the others. (Whew - at the Jamieson's site, they're all a bit too "bright-sy" for me!)

This final choice - but maybe not my last or 3rd choice - is called Peat. And with my Scottish heritage (MacGregor clan on both sides, thank you!), all I can think of is tossing another peat patty on the fire! (Yes, it's that cool and damp here in the NW this morning). Besides, the deep maroon-ish color is a really good color on me. And again, since this yarn has some accent of it's own, I don't know if I'd add beads or not...we'll have to wait and see.
Cool things about this KAL...I have learned so much and we haven't even started yet! I've learned that in knitting - for me anyway - it's better to take baby steps and learn than to dive right into the deep water, get frustrated and abandon ship. I've also learned the value of using a lifeline (see previous post and laugh along with me). It's a good use for that teeny tiny thread stuff and boy howdy, are they handy to have. Reinforced to me was the lesson that when my brain tells the rest of me - enough - I'd better put it down or be prepared for a dunking in the frog pond. I'm boldly trying new things - experimenting more with yarns and needle sizes. I'm gaining more confidence with each new skill attempted/learned and feel really good about tucking said new skill into my ditty bag of knowledge. Plus, I'm getting some badly needed entertainment laughing at myself along the way. See? It's all good!
Now...to get on the phone and pester my fav LYS who just happens to be a US Stockist for Jamieson's Yarn!