Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Brown is the new Black

Hazel Knits 'Chocolatier'
I know I have spent a good deal of time here talking about 'Chocqua' and all that it has to offer, but I am starting to wonder if it isn't the 'choc' part of the equation that I am truly gaga over. Recently I have been all about brown. It's the perfect foil and never fails to make the other part of whatever it's combined with 'pop'. The above-pictured Hazel Knits 'Chocolatier' was just about the most exciting yarn I have ever received in the mail. Can you believe how utterly gorgeous it is? Such depth and rich color. If you haven't given Wendee's yarn a try, you should, because she is also one of the nicest Etsy people ever!

Over the break I also indulged in another brown passion: Malabrigo. This matchy-matchy hat and mittens combo were knit in the car between PA. and NJ. while listening to the kids battle over the center seat while they called each other 'fat' and 'retarded'. I have so much to be proud of as a mother, don't you think? Once at our destination, I finished them up while chewing glass listening to a relative talk about how global warming is a 'liberal hoax'. Happy Holidays!
Malabrigo 'Dulles' hat and mittens
Malabrigo hat and mittens
Peeper-lou was an obliging FO model and noted that these were "the softest hat and mittens ever". Malabrigo: you come for the unbelievable array of colors, you stay for the almost criminally indulgent softness.
Malabrigo 'Dulles' hat
The Specs:
Hat: Dulles hat--a fun, trippy pattern that yields a fun, hippie hat
Mittens: Basic Mittens on 4 Needles, Ann Norling
Yarn: Malabrigo Worsted in #181 Marron Oscuro
Needles Addi Turbo, size 8
Malabrigo freestyle mittens

40 comments:

Stella said...

I agree -- brown makes everything better. I'm not a huge fan of pink, for example, but pink and brown? Delish.

This little set looks so cute and comfy! I just started my very first Malabrigo project the other day and MAN, do i see what all the fuss is about. That stuff is sooooooft.

Theresa said...

Delightful. I need to get some Malabrigo. Soon.

Sonya said...

Oh, you are an enabler today. I think Peeper-Lou has a future in modeling. Those eyelashes!

peaknits said...

I need some more yarn (like a hole in the head) but the brown - gorgeous! I really should get some Malabrigo just to snuggle. Your hat and mitts are fabulous - your daughter is a doll - is she "fat" or "retarded"?:) Aint parenting grand?

Jennie said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jennie said...

YUMMMM chocolately goodness. The hat and mittens look super soft. mmmmmmMalabrigo...must get my hands on some. :) I keep hearing such wonderful things about it.

Anonymous said...

I do love the richness of chocolate (yarn, that is), yet I don't wear it often. That yarn looks yummy, like toffey. The Malabrigo--what can I say that hasn't already been said? It is simply the best. And how adorable is your daughter? What a great model. Oh, and the "liberal hoax"? Hilarious!

Anonymous said...

It is a really nice color. I think I best get into some malabrigo.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful model and hat/mittens.
I love brown too [another thing we have in common].

Wendee said...

Of course I love the Chocolatier, however the Malabrigo leaves me breathless! Note to self - make sure LYS gets browns in next time!

You are too sweet :)

ciao!

PS - check out CraftyFrog's Freyas in Chocolatier - yummy! http://thecraftyfrog.blogspot.com/. I SO have my eye on that pattern now!

weezalana said...

If I dropped acid, I would've just flashed back to my childhood car fights. Of course, you'd have to throw in the ubiquitous "Shotgun!" brawls to really round things out.

Lovely hat and mittens - on such a lovely model!

...Sarah said...

I am eyeing Chocolate Fondue for my bedroom paint colour so I am with you on the chocolate love. I am equally smitten with the Malabrigo and the hat and mitts look to die for. It is a really funky pattern too.

Olga said...

Hey! I got that yarn! I do! I do! And in that color! wow! I felt like we shared a moment there....

Anonymous said...

Beautiful hat, lovely mittens. Glad to hear that someone else has those kinds of parenting moments.

Anonymous said...

I love me some brown. But brown Malabrigo? Few things can compare...well, maybe the first yarn featured here... cute mittens and hat!

a friend to knit with said...

brown malabrigo? fabulous!!
really, i was living under a rock...i had no idea how fabulous this was!
your daughter is just too cute for those words to come out of her mouth! i just don't believe you....LIAR!!! :)

Sarah said...

All I could think of while looking at the pictures in this post was "mmmm, chocolate!" Love the brown, love the hat & mitten set. Does Peeper-lou ever give you a problem when you want the FOs back after the photo shoot? I know I'd want to keep anything made of Malabrigo.

Kate said...

Wow, what beautiful colors. I wish I weren't on a yarn diet :-(

Karen said...

Mmmm, I love brown!!! Oh my, the hat and mittens look sssoooo sssoooffftttt.

Veronique said...

Mmmm, chocolate... Malabrigo is your best friend (until it starts to pill). Even then, though, you realize that it's so cheap, you can simply knit another hat/mitten/armwarmer...
(Yes, I've been disillusioned, and yes, I've bounced back).

Jessica said...

With two republican parents, I feel your holiday family pain (although we do get along quite well because we do NOT discuss politics). Love the hat and mitts. Brown is such a lovely color at times.

Anonymous said...

I loves me some Brown. My last 2 hats were knit from Malabrigo. It's magically soft.

Sourire11 said...

mmmmmalabrigo.... mmmmmmm....

Loving all of the brown - and the trippy hat.

Dude I had a similar "discussion" with some of my relatives - only they refused to believe that there were people out there that think global warming isn't happening. I could not get through to them that lots of people think it's a "hoax". Seriously. So thanks for mentioning it b/c you totally just proved me right!

Amy said...

Chocolicious!

Anonymous said...

I'm on a brown kick too--and I just got back from a lunchtime jaunt to Purl Patchwork, which is well stocked with chocolate tones...perfect for a baby quilt. Totally edible hat and mitts.

Sorry about the glass-chewing. Last time I was home, I had the pleasure of hearing my 10-year-old, thoroughly indoctrinated nephew advocating waterboarding. I almost puked.

nicole said...

Chocolate and malabrigo? Scrumtrelescent!

Anonymous said...

What sweet pics and knits! I have been loving brown lately too and I never used to. My wardrobe keeps acquiring new brown items.

Lazuli said...

What a cute set! I love it, especially the hat! The meathead hats (which I've never heard of; I must really be out of it!) also look great! That chocolate sock yarn was giving me serious chocolate cravings for a few seconds, there, too. Mmm.

Amanda Cathleen said...

very lovely chocolate hat and mitts! I do love brown.
aren't relatives fun during holidays? gah!

Anonymous said...

I'm *so* with you on the brown. It's like your favorite jeans - comfy, and goes perfect with everything (if you're lucky it might even make your butt look good! But I'm still working on that theory)!

The hat and mitts are adorable and I am seriously coveting your Chocolatier. Must.Wait.Until.After.Christmas.

knittymuggins

Alison said...

I am a brownaholic myself...
Lovely young FO model, and yummy brownalicious warm stuff!

Octopus Knits said...

Mmmmm... all that brown looks delicious. I now covet your lovely hat and mittens (Peeper-lou models them well)!

WonderMike said...

I'm such a follower. I got two skeins of sock yarn from Hazel Knits (one of them , Chocolatier, natch) and I had to, had to, had to get that Meathead pattern. I couldn't wait until Spring.

Bless your enabling sox....

WonderMike said...

Oh, and Wendee thought you were fabulous and she asked me to tell you , HI!

Gingersnaps with Tea... said...

It all looks good enough to eat. Malabrigo is to die for and Choclatier looks unbelievably yummy!

Yarnhog said...

That Malabrigo is making my mouth water. I love brown. As a redhead, it's one of the few colors I can wear comfortably.

My kids have learned the phrase, "Shut up." As in: "Shut up!" "No, you shut up!" "No YOU shut up!" I wish they'd both shut up.

Anonymous said...

Go browns! Yes indeed it is the new black especially with yarn as beautiful as that Malabrigo - I must have it. I know exactly what I'm going to knit. Thanks for sharing. You have saved me many hhours of searching for the next yarn to buy.

Dipsy Doodle said...

Awww, the yummyness! The brown is ever so luscious and amazingly beautiful in this shade - and the Malabrigo has me drooling all over my keyboard ;) Gorgeous hat- and mitten-set!

schrodinger said...

You are quite the yarn temptress aren't you? That Chocolatier looks phenomenal.

~Kristie said...

mmm... LOVE the Malabrigo. Those look so so so soft. I can't wait to indulge in some Malabrigo purchasing at Stitches West.