I had a bit of a hat obsession over the holidays and I discovered a new yarn that I love. The yarn is Zaol Toki80 - it's 80% angora (bunny) and 20% nylon (different from Toki 40 which is 40% angora, 40% wool). When you first start knitting with it, it doesn't seem very special, in fact it sort of feels like boring string. But as you work with it, a wonderful bloom starts to happen, and it becomes sooooo soft! It's pretty affordable too, less than $10 for a 50 gm ball that has 160m on it. That's enough to knit a beret!
So the first beret I made from it was the "Because of Love" beret. The berry colored one is my "raspberry beret" from handspun, the black is the new Zaol angora. It's quite yummy and very chic!
Then I thought I'd make another beret, but I didn't want to do another "because of love" because, well, I'm a designer, and it wouldn't do to have 50 of the same design, because, clearly I needed to knit more of this yarn!
So I designed this swirly beret. I'm not quite sure what to call it, it's a swirly lace pattern that swirls around the crown to the "beanie stem".
It's really yummy in this eggplant/plum angora. I loved the textural/sculptural look of the lace unblocked, so I left it unblocked and it fits like a dream, an adorable, fuzzy, warm, dream.
You can see in the first picture that I've got another one started, in a love it or hate it pea green (I happen to love this prickly color). That one will have yet another design, something that goes with pea green.
Are you ready for work tomorrow?
IMPORTANT NOTE!
If you won a book during the comment contest, and I haven't sent you a book, please email me at JANELLAIDMAN at GMAIL dot com with your mailing address. In all the frenzy of shipping out the first orders, I overlooked some of the prize winners. Sorry about that!
I love the hats! I also wanted to let you know that I got my book yesterday and Thank you.
Posted by: Debbie B | January 03, 2010 at 02:38 PM
Isn't angora wonderful? Beeutiuful hats!!
Posted by: Kim | January 03, 2010 at 03:18 PM
Beautiful hats!! I'm trying really hard to stay on a yarn diet this year as my stash has reached the stages of insane, but that one does look pretty yummy!!!! I did get my copy of the book that I won in the contest and LOVE it!!!!
Posted by: peachesforever | January 03, 2010 at 04:12 PM
I love the new swirly beret design! Will you be sharing it with us? I would love to knit it for my step-mom.
Posted by: Susan aka paintermom | January 03, 2010 at 07:22 PM
Your Berets are gorgeous:)Happy New Year Darcy
Posted by: Darcy | January 04, 2010 at 08:47 AM
nice halo on that yarn! and the purple beret is sweet- I've made a number of the "because of love" number, adore it.
Pea Soup is a good thing.
martha (knittingknudnik)
Posted by: Martha | January 04, 2010 at 03:36 PM
Your new yarn looks yummy to knit with - even if not at first.
Love the hats!
Posted by: merrykarma.blogspot.com | January 06, 2010 at 03:12 PM