Oh my.  Angora Haze.  I don't think I've been more lovesick over a yarn since I fell hard for Kidsilk Haze, and I also don't think I have the vocabulary to quite express my affection for it either.  I always thought of Kidsilk Haze as being the Grace Kelly of yarns; elegant, beautiful and posh.  Now my darling KSH has a rival. 

This is my second sweater (and considering a third) knit with Rowan's newest,  Angora Haze.  The pattern Mila is from Kim Hargreaves new "Smoulder" book.  The project yarn was supposed to be Rowan Baby Alpaca DK which I know would have been absolutely lovely.  However, I was hell-bent on using AH again in this dainty pale beige/pink "Nest".  Plus I'm nutty for slouchy sweatshirty sweaters knit in luxurious yarns. 

If you've knit with angora before and had a bad experience (shedding during knitting and while wearing), well, I've had that bad experience too.  But this stuff is different, I had minimal shedding while knitting and wearing.  Angora does shed, and this does, but not much.  Do take that in mind if that sort of thing drives you crazy.  You can read about my modifications to accommodate for the gauge change on my Ravely page.

So, in conclusion: loved the yarn, loved the pattern, but mostly ~sigh~ I love feeling like I'm wearing a cloud.  As far as the knitting experience goes, it's beaut.  Angora itself does not have much give or bounce.  Rowan's Angora Haze is a blend of 69% angora with 20% polyamide and 11% wool to aid in stability and elasticity.  Angora is also warm.  Making AH a fingering weight yarn allows the fabric to be lightweight and fluid.  It's simply fabulous.  I preferred using my Karbonz needles as I like a good point, but I also tried it with dull bamboo needles and it was smooth knitting either way.

I'd like to add some practical advice:  I prefer to iron block my knits before and after finishing.  With Angora Haze you can use your iron to lightly block on the wrong side only, but do not allow the iron to touch the fabric, it will mat the fuzziness which is part of it's beauty.  My swatch washed well and blocked to size with no change in gauge and it retained it's fluff.  I haven't washed this sweater yet but I will report back and let you know how that goes.  I plan on being extra careful, it's worth the extra trouble.

I know that like me, you probably prefer to shop at your local yarn store.  I'm lucky that mine carries AH in every shade, but in case yours does not, here are some good links:




Until next time...xoxo

Congratulations to comment makers # 41, 9 and 19, donaldsg, Lorraine and Carmen N!  You each win 2 vintage Rowan Magazines.  I'll be contacting you in the next few minutes and will get them in the mail next week. Thank you all for participating.  You are all so sweet, I wish you all could have won!

I thought you'd like to see a pretty bunch of fall roses I picked this morning.  On the left are Red Simplicity, a fabulous ever-blooming floribunda type rose put out by Jackson Perkins.  The pink roses are from my prolific Climbing Eden, a gorgeous and healthy climber that welcomes me into the vegetable garden every morning.

OK, well, this was taken last spring!

I'll have roses to pick until December.

We had the first of our big clean up days then dug up the raised beds, raked in some chicken manure and let it rest for a week.  We lose some sun in winter and decided only 4 of our beds would be warm and sunny enough to have a chance of producing.  These will be in our winter garden this year:

Red Onion and California Garlic, both set out as "sets"
The rest are reliable cool season crops we grow from seeds:
Early Gigantea Mixed Colors and Royal White Sweet Pea
Mikado, a Japanese baby white turnip
Chard, Pot of Gold
Radish, Cherry Belle, Watermelon Heirloom and Sparkler 
Scallions, white and red varieties
Kohlrabi, Crispy Colors Duo from Renee's Garden (new for me)
Bulbing Fennel, Romanesco (new for me)
German Leeks, Striesen
Tricolor Carrots, a mix from Renee's Garden
Lettuce, Parris Island Cos, Paris Market Mesclun Mix from Renee's Garden
Beets, Red Baron, Baby Ball and Jewel Toned Mix from Renee's Garden
Dill, I usually let these volunteer, but I was given a seed pack as a party favor so planted two rows.

Perhaps it's unusual that in October I'll be on the lookout for tiny seedlings.   Dear California, you are so good to the gardener.

Dear Kidsilk Haze,

Ok, so you and I have been bffs for a long time.  I have always liked you best but now I may have to share that love with someone new.  Surely you've met Angora Haze by now.  No, please don't cry and tell me she's younger and prettier, I don't think that at all.  It's just that I now have room in my heart for two. 

xoxo Kristen

Mila by Kim Hargreaves in AH, color Nest.

Rita by Martin Storey, AH in color Caress.