Saturday, September 05, 2009

AUTUMN GRASSES: the Story Continues

Autumn Grasses in garden

A forager's list:

This design accomodates a multitude of fibers - any will do. Most yarns listed are inexpensive and readily available while others, like the silk, fall into the investment category. Either way, gather approximately 900 yards of mixed yarns for the short version, including ‘flat' yarns like silk, cotton, linen, bamboo, or wool, then stir in lash, boucles, mohairs, tuffed or flagged yarns. The long story will take approximately 1100 yards, depending on your choice of length.

I recommend worsted yarns targeting a size US 7/4.5mm - US 8/5mm needle  but a needle size slightly above or below are the perfect, too. 

A sample list of workable elements:

• 1 200 yd hank Prism Light Stuff in Sagebrush (a mixed, multi-yarn hank in exactly the right colors for this model look) or any handspun, indie-dyer's creation. Use this as your ‘lead' yarn to ties all the other tones together.
• 1 hank Prisms Kid Slique in Sagebrush (a soft, luminous mohair blend)
• 1 hank Prism Bon Bon in color 307 (a lovely skinny tape)
• 1 hank each Berroco Bonsai in 4107 Satsuma and 4106 Matcha (beautiful, light ‘plain' yarns in the perfect shade)
• 1 hank Berroco Suede yarn in Hoppalong Cassidy (immitation suede is always a great addition)
• 1 hank Berroco Softwist Palmetto (great value for plain yarn in good colors)
• 1 ball Crystal Palace Fizz in Desert (the perfect soft grassland yarn)
• 1 ball Crystal Palace Tingle yarn in Bark Tweed (another textured grass yarn)
• 1 ball Crystal Palace Panda Silk DK Print in 7188 Sahara (great variegated colors which almost look hand-painted)
• 1 ball Filatura Di Crosa Yarn Semana in Taupe Mix (this is a perfect stony, dried grass yarn)
• 1 ball Habu Textiles Pom Pom Moire in Brown Kasuri (these little tuffs provide just the right textured addition)
• 1 hank Colinette Giotto in Lichen (Giotto is my favorite thicker tape. Use in small doses to keep the weight down)

*If using the Prism Stuff, try breaking down the yarns elements by untying them to form small amounts of lash, nubbly cottons or boucles as needed. This gives you more painterly countrol

Short version back

Long version back

Pieces long

Pieces short

Shawl (both)