Yarn Along...

Yarn I had been waiting for came in over the weekend and I put aside the blanket I was working on to start a new one.  It's a blanket for a friend and that's all I can post about that for now. But here's a picture that shows some of the detail:

I think it's similar to a block-stitch pattern (made of triple crochets), but it's more delicate than any block pattern blanket I've seen.  What I especially love about this pattern is the beautiful finished edges it creates.  Curves along the top and bottom and those pretty points along the side.

The pattern was found in the book Weekend Afghans by Jean Leinhauser (ISBN:  0806964863).  This book is an oldy, with a collection of knit and crochet patterns, but I've marked at least 6 afghans I hope to make.  This is the second time I've made this one - I like it so much.

I'm using Deborah Norville's Everyday yarn in the color Orchid, and can I just gush for a minute about how wonderfully soft this acrylic yarn is?  Soft, soft, soft, soft soft!  It's also antipill and I can say (from another blanket I've made from this yarn) that it came out of the wash even softer than it went in, and looking amazing.  It may be too early to tell just how anti-pill this yarn is, but it did not fuzz.  At all.  It truly looked just like new after washing.  I hope to make many more things with this yarn.  Certainly anything that needs to be easy care, but also anything I might use acrylic for.

The color range of Deborah Norville's Everyday yarn is decent and the price is great if you get it on sale (I've never paid more than $3.00/skein).  In case anyone is familiar with Willow Wash, this is a very comparable yarn.  In fact, having both in my stash I have plans to combine colors from both Willow Wash and the Everyday yarn in a project and I'm sure I won't be able to tell the difference between the feel of the yarns.  I'll officially report on that once I actually try it.  ;^)  To tell the truth, I've wondered if the same mill creates both of these yarns - they are so similar.  Would appreciate any information about that if anyone knows.

I am still enjoying reading From the Kitchen of Half Truth, but have also been perusing some crochet pattern books this week.  I went on a binge and checked out a bunch from the library recently,  Not that I needed any more ideas, but the eye candy is wonderful.

Check out (and join, if you like) the other yarn along posts at Small Things where Ginny hosts this weekly yarny extravaganza.  The talent of knitters and crocheters who participate is inspiring.