Sunday, December 02, 2007

Yarn Floozy or Serial Monogamist? The Malabrigo-Cash Iroha Celebrity Caged Death Match

I have realized something about myself and my yarn affinities and attachments. What is my favorite yarn? My favorite yarn is the one I am knitting with at that particular moment. Whatever yarn is gracing my needles and captivating my attention at that point in time, that is the yarn that I am most obsessed with and cannot ever imagine knitting without. Last week I was all about Malabrigo, you might recall. I mean HOT and HEAVY. We had plans to run away together and hole up in some remote location and have a real torrid affair. That softness, that generous yardage (I'm a size queen after all), those luscious brown on brown tones, all of it captivated me and made me feel that it was the only yarn for me...

Enter Cash Iroha.
Cash Iroha color # 106
Cash Iroha color # 108
Sure Malabrigo is pretty enough, but is it on final markdown sale at The Skein Attraction, in Teaneck, NJ, ? Does it have the perfect combination of silk, cashmere, wool and nylon? And most importantly, is it Japanese and therefore just cooler by definition? The above mentioned qualities when considered together made me realize that I'd be an utter fool not buy the 24 skeins I bought on Black Friday for a mere $7/skein.
Cash Iroha mittens
I am a yarn floozy. A serial monogamist. Oliver Sacks should study my condition. Luckily my constant dithering doesn't prevent me from actually knitting! Because in the end, that's what it's all about. Here you see yer basic Ann Norling mittens, begun on the fly and completed after only several hours of knitting. I must strongly assert to all of you the power of the mitten. It will do you right every time.

Cash Iroha mittens

The Cash Iroha specs
Yarn: Cash Iroha, colors 106 and 108
Pattern: Basic Mittens on 4 Needles, Ann Norling
Needles: Addi Turbo, size 6
Mods: Knit without a cuff
Cash Iroha mittens
The 14 skeins of Cash Iroha pictured below are destined for a popular project that Babs and I have been wanting to do for almost two years. Cash Iroha is the yarn that the pattern was written for, and it is almost as legendary as the Clapotis. Can you guess what it is?
Cash Iroha for project

41 comments:

Alison said...

24 skeins?! At $7 a kein, I can totally see the reasoning... what a great find!!
And those mittens are great- I love stripes! And with the recent snow, I have even more reason to get mitten-making...
Happy knitting-
ali

weezalana said...

I...I...I'm still trying to wrap my head around 24 skeins in one shopping trip...

Hmmm, Hourglass Sweater?

Kirsten said...

The lovely Hourglass Sweater of course! Maybe you'll inspire me to dust mine off and finish it! Twenty four skeins!?! Wow! But how could you resist at $7 a skein?

Love those mittens - the colors are so fun!

Twisted Knitter said...

Kirsten took my guess, but surely not all 24 skeins are intended for ONE Hourglass?! :-)

The color is beautiful and I love the choco-mint mittens too (all hail Ann Norling)!

Twisted Knitter said...

Okay - I just finished re-reading -- forgive my poor math skillz! :-)

gradschoolknitter said...

I too was ready to say Hourglass Sweater but others beat me to it...

Stella said...

See that kind of serial monogamy is good though -- MY favorite yarn is always the one I'm planning to knit with NEXT.

I love the colors of those mittens. Like Mint Chocolate Chip! (Or Mint Bonbon, if you happen to be in Minnesota. Which you don't, and neither do I. But I used to and I just think it's so damned cute...)

Gingersnaps with Tea... said...

Yep, I'm a yarn floozy too. What ever new discovery I've made, it's the best, the best I've ever had or ever will have. Until the next one. What csn you do ;-)?

Nanda said...

i am so jealous of your noro score!! plus, i've wanted to buy some for the hourglass but have been on a yarn budget. (i want it in that dark jewel-like navy blue.) *sigh*

Anonymous said...

I love the mittens. I can see why the Noro turned your head. Lovely shade of blue. I considered running off with the Malabrigo as well, but the Berroco Ultra Alpaca had me at 'hello.'

Sarah said...

24? I can only imagine the joy you must've gotten from walking out of the yarn store with that many skeins of yarn.

And those mittens -- all I could think of when I looked at them was Mint Chocolate Chip.

Anonymous said...

Yarn floozy has a nice ring to it and it's got to be better than a 'I buy mitts at the discount store' floozy.

I am not familiar with the hourglass sweater. Off to Ravelry to research...

Jennie said...

ooohhh cute mittens. hmmm I wonder what the project will be. :)

nicole said...

Of course its gotta be Hourglass. In that blue? Divine!

7 bucks a skein? You scored BIG time. Resistance is futile.

Love the chocomint mitts.

Janet said...

love the mittens! I right with you on a serious love of brown. Pair it with pink, blue, green... doesn't matter, it's all bea-u-tiful!

I've never knit with Cash Iroha before, and based on your love, I can't decide if I should run out and buy some right away or avoid it at all costs - 24 skeins in one trip is just my style of splurge, but could be very dangerous ;-)

Lolly said...

Any woman that says yarn floozy and Oliver Sacks in a post automatically gets my vote! (I love OS!) Gorgeous mittens, girl!

Olga said...

Noro is and always will be my Main man, sure, I flirt with others, it's harmeless fun. But at the end of the day, it's Noro all the way....I have no idea what your planning to do but I thinks it's gonna be brillent per-usual.

knitseashore said...

I enjoy a good love story! Glad you found the yarn of your (current) dreams.

Karen said...

Nothing bad about loving the one you're with!!!! ;)

Sourire11 said...

Gee could it be the Hourglass? I've so wanted to knit that in the required yarn but could never find it for a reasonable price... $7 a skein? That's unreal. And awesome. Love the mittens, btw!

Yarnhog said...

That yarn store link was a tease, wasn't it? I immediately clicked over to grab some of my own--which I know you will forgive, because, hey, it's a yarn sale!--only to discover that there is no online shop. Foiled.

I love your post title! I'm still chuckling at the mental image. I'm just wondering what the odds would be--and which one would pick up a folding chair first.

Risa said...

Oooh, lovely color for the Hourglass. Cute mittens too!

Amy said...

Ooh, is it hourglass? I *love* those mittens, and the yarn!

Anonymous said...

Love the new yarn - Cash Iroha and the color. Can it be spring already?

Kim said...

Must be Hourglass. I loves me some Cash Iroha. $7- per skein is a great bargain.

Veronique said...

You cheated on Malabrigo?! I'm shocked.
But I have to admit (shamefully) that I purchased 10 balls of GGH Soft Kid at $7.50 a ball. It's not cheating, it's diversifying.

Octopus Knits said...

Oh, my! 24 skeins! What a gorgeous color you've picked for what I can only assume will be an hourglass sweater.

nova said...

I have a bag of Noro Cash Iroha in a very similar (if not the same shade) of blue to make the Hourglass Pullover. It has been in my stas for the last 2 years. I forgot I had it until I read this post. How pathetic is that?!!

Anonymous said...

I've knit a jumper with Cash Iroha and wors it to death! I love your colours and the mittens.

Nora

Anonymous said...

WORE it to death! [Typo!]

Lazuli said...

Beautiful mittens, beautiful yarn... yum yum! That's such a beautiful pile of blue goodness. Have fun!

schrodinger said...

Nice score, that is a lovely yarn isn't it?

WonderMike said...

I've never fondled this.... I need to check it out. But $7 a skein, you totally scored!

carrie said...

that color is deeelightful.

Unknown said...

Love the color combo on your mittens....I don't think of you as a yarn floozy, more of a yarn OCD sufferer. You love each skein with as much enthusiasm as the last. I'm sure malabrigo will find it's way back to you. It's a really well loved yarn by many.

Lone Knitter said...

I love your new mittens. Beautiful. Beautiful. I don't know what pattern you're referring to, but judging by the pile of yarn there, I'm guessing it's a sweater pattern? That baby blue is lovely.

Amanda Cathleen said...

I love those mitts! Great colors.
hmmm... maybe the hourglass sweater? What a great buy at $7ea!

Anonymous said...

Those mittens are so fantastically yummy!! They remind me of chocolate chip mint ice cream, which happens to be my favorite flavor :)

I'm *so* relieved to know that I'm not the only one who buys huge amounts of closeout yarns with knowing what on earth they'll knit out of it! Your stash looks *gorgeous*! It would have been a crime to pass it up ;)

knittymuggins

Jessica said...

Wow! Awesome find! And even better mittens! :) No clue on the secret knit... but can't wait to find out!

Jodi said...

Wow! That must be destined for an Hourglass. I like knitting with Cash Iroha, but I find that the skeins vary a lot, even within the same lot. It's not even the color so much as the texture.

Spinning Ninny said...

your mittens look like delicious bits of mint chocolate chip ice cream!