First love or first kid, the belief is that one never forgets. The initial experience drives your thoughts and/or feelings on all that follows. Do you remember the yarn you used when you started knitting/crocheting? Do you still use it? Well for me the first answer is yes! I most definitely remember. Lion Brand Thick n Quick owned my heart at the start of my knitting journey. As for do I still use it, in general the answer is not until now.
Last week on Sept 10th Alexandra from Two of Wands and Lion Brand introduced Hue + Me yarn. Hue + Me is a bulky 80/20 blend of wool and acrylic yarn (my initial crush) that comes in 18 beautiful colors (I know, there is no orange). I was blessed with a sample box that included 6 of those 18 colors and my hands instantly itched for some nostalgic making. Each skein has 137 yards of goodness and I am in the process of using them all.
When I began this making journey if it wasn’t bulky/super bulky or even bigger, it wasn’t right. I had convinced myself that because I was new, the only yarn I could use was the big stuff. That is what new knitters did. That small yarn like fingering (yikes) is what real knitters used. LOL! Boy oh boy the things I talked myself out of because I didn’t believe in me. UGH..ok back to the yarn.
Alexandra also gave you patterns to go with this yarn. She has 12 new FREE patterns. You read that right…free.99 and you can check them out here. Not only are they free, she gives you knitting as well as crochet. Did I say I adore her yet?
As mentioned earlier I have 6 skeins, so I grabbed a US17 (no reason other than they were within reach) and I cast on 70 stitches. I decided to use all the colors and make a throw to put at the foot of my bed. I am not following any particular pattern, I am just going for it. If it turns out good I will share the outcome with you all here.
So far I am loving how quickly this yarn is working up. It’s the squish factor for me and I should have a cozy throw right in time for the season change. Speaking for firsts, I am also currently working with linen and a Jojilocat pattern. Stay tuned for my thoughts coming soon.
What about you? Do you still use the yarn you first started with? See you in the comments
Have a fabulous day…On Purpose
GG
Looks like that cowl would look great using Hue and Me!
Funny that you say you never forget, but I have. I must have learned to knit 50 years ago or so, so maybe that’s why? My most recent projects are merino sweaters for my daughter’s baby sphynx kitten. Apparently they like to be cozy because they are hairless. Leftover yarn will make a fancy kitten blanket.
thank you for reading and responding
Wow never considered making sweater for a kitten
That cowl is blowing my mind! So gorgeous! Go for the squish I say, especially for throws.
squish all day!
GG, you are rocking that purple!
thank you!
Thank you 🤗
I love Lion Brand yarns. My first project was made with Vanna’s Choice and my current favorite is Heartland. I’m making a sweater for my dad with it. As someone who has a lot of loved ones sensitive to wool, their products can’t be beat for feel and color variety, plus many of the lines, including Hue & Me, color coordinate, so any combination works, which is nice. I’m eager to get to the craft store to get some. 🙂
Let me know what you think when you give it
I don’t remember the wool, as it was about 50 years ago, but the first sweater I knit made a fabric that could have stopped anything! Dense, unyielding, and uncomfortable to wear. He wore it anyway, but I soon made a second sweater out of a deep rust-coloured wool. He wore it for over 20 years, until it wore out.
aww I love that he wore it anyway
How awesome is that story
I first used Red Heart but then I found Lion Brand Homespun and Caron which I still like and use for baby hats or for most gifts to people I know will just throw in the washing machine. I’ve been splurging on indie dyed yarn recently because I didn’t get to go on a vacation this year.
I have used all of those at one point or another.
Good for you
That orange and purple – beautiful, I love that photo it is sublime. First yarn – absolutely remember it – I dont know what it was called but it was pale pink with a glittery silvery thread through it and it was probably 1970 or thereabouts – my auntie had come down to Christchurch from her farm near Blenheim and she had some knitting… now I KNEW you never touch other peoples stuff but I was like a moth to a flame and completely mesmerised by her pile of knitting and just went for it (I probably undid hours of her work but she never said), instead she gave me my very own ball and some sticks (needles ahem) and showed me how to knit with such patience – really basic stuff, my mother on the other hand was like a poltergeist trying to show me a leftie how to knit – her knitting and then mine would be sent flying by her as she lost patience and threw tantrums. But my wonky first knitting with a big hole in the middle made a poncho for my favourite doll, that memory still gives me a huge kick as it didnt just give me a life skill that has really helped me through some rough times but it also showed me the real kindness and gentleness in my aunt which is something I very much still associate with many knitters today – sorry looooong story/memory
no apology required. Thank you for reading and replying.
Thank you for sharing
I believe the first thing I made was a baby blanket. I used sport weight wool, can’t remember the brand. I think it was two shades of pink, plus some white. Kind of an ambitious first project — not only did it have 3 colors, it also included both garter and stockinette. It came out terrible. Dropped stitches picked up wrong, mistakes in the pattern, changes in tension… oh, it was a mess. My teacher advised me to embroider hearts over the worst areas to hide them. Guess what, I was not very good at embroidery either. No, I will never forget that yarn, or that project. Wish I could!
Aww thanks for sharing! Just think of all you learned from that experience
Strange but true… I am reorganizing my stash (again) and I think I found a label from that yarn. It was Cashmino Heirloom 8-ply. Actually a pretty nice yarn and deserved a better fate than to end up in my misbegotten blanket, LOL.
Hi GG,
First time commenting…but have been following you for a minute. Thank you for all your joy.
Red Heart Super Saver 100000% acrylic yarn was my first love ! I found it in thrift stores in upstate New York.
I really liked what you said about beginners using bigger, bulkier yarn. So true.
Clicked on the link for free patterns. Totally inspired to make the crochet scalloped scarf. Thanks !
Thank you 🤗