It’s Our First Anniversary!
Plus, the baby blanket yarn reveal
A Good Yarn is one year old! The first edition of this newsletter was published November 16, 2023. I’ve published a new edition 50 out of the past 52 weeks.
When I began, a weekly newsletter felt like a big commitment. I was worried I would run out of things to say. I was worried no one but my mother would be interested in reading my ramblings. I was worried about being boring.
As it turns out, the world of knitting and books provides plenty of opportunities to explore and share. And it seems plenty of you share my curiosity and are willing to come along on this journey. I am grateful for your attention and support.
In celebration of this milestone, I’m offering a special deal to new paid subscribers. From now through December 1st, new annual subscriptions are discounted by 20%.
If you have enjoyed reading A Good Yarn each week, whether for the past year, a few months, or a couple of weeks, you can show your support by becoming a paid subscriber. In return, you’ll get a coupon code for a free download of the pattern of your choice from my Ravelry store, plus a complimentary download of every new pattern I publish independently. Even better, you’ll get the warm and fuzzy feelings that come from knowing you are supporting the creation of a publication you value. Thank you!
The Baby Blanket Yarn
Last week, I wrote about my goals in making a baby blanket for a coworker who is expecting. The yarn I ordered for this blanket has arrived, and I’m excited to tell you about it.
The yarn I selected is Purl Soho’s Daily Wool, a 4-ply worsted-weight 100% superwash wool spun in Peru. The wool for this yarn was processed in Uruguay at a carbon-neutral mill which meets 98% of their energy needs with wind power and has on-site waste water treatment facilities. The yarn is OekoTex certified to be virtually free of harmful substances.
The colors I chose are Inchworm Green, Heirloom White, Golden Pink, Seaglass Blue, and Summer Sun. I bought four skeins of Heirloom White and one skein of each of the other colors. My timing was lucky, and I was able to purchase this yarn at 25% off during a holiday gifting sale.
Daily Wool is a plump, round yarn with a relatively high degree of twist. It knits easily, with no splitting.
I knit my swatch on size US 6/4 mm needles. My gauge is 18 stitches and 36 rows = 4"/10 cm in garter stitch. The fabric is thick, cushy, and remarkably resilient. It will stretch as much as 50% widthwise or 60% lengthwise and happily bounce right back to its original dimensions.
I couldn’t be more pleased with this yarn choice.
The Design Plan
This blanket will be composed of 4 striped squares, joined into a larger square, and surrounded by a narrow border. Remember, this blanket will have no cast-on or bound-off edges to disrupt the lovely stretchiness of the garter stitch.
I wasn’t sure how I wanted to arrange the colors, so I drew the two options that appealed to me. One uses the same sequence of stripes for each block, creating a pinwheel in the center. The other uses a different sequence of stripes for each block.
I decided on the version on the left. This is no surprise. My taste nearly always leans toward planned, symmetrical, and intentional rather than random and scrappy.
I’ve already made good progress on the first square. Next week I’ll pull back the curtain on the construction details. It tickles my geeky knitting heart to employ a variety of techniques to refine something as basic as a baby blanket!
A Quick Book Recommendation
Those of you who crush on Armand Gamache as much as I do will love the latest installment in the Three Pines series by Louise Penny: The Grey Wolf.
Armand, Jean-Guy, and Isabelle are in a race against time as they work to disrupt a terrorist plot which threatens Montreal. A tight and twisty plot combines with beloved characters to make The Grey Wolf a worthy addition to this favorite series.
I’ve read all the Three Pines novels in audio. Fellow audio fans will be interested to know we have a new narrator for The Grey Wolf. The late Raph Cosham read the first ten books in the series, and his is the voice of Gamache that lives in my head. Robert Bathurst read the next eight books. He is a competent narrator, but his British accent never quite felt right for these characters. Our new narrator is Jean Brassard, a native of Quebec. His voice reminds me of one of my favorite readers, Eduardo Ballerini, but with a Quebecois accent. The authenticity he brings to this book is refreshing.
Something That Caught My Eye
I’m late to it, but I recently binged the television adaptation of Lessons in Chemistry on Apple+. I read the novel by Bonnie Garmus when it was published back in 2022, and I love it. Brie Larson is terrific in the TV adaptation.
But the real highlight of the series? The knitwear! Costume designer Mirren Gordon-Crozier brings a sharp eye to the fashions of the 1950s and 1960s. There are gorgeous classic sweaters sprinkled throughout. The Fair Isle-style vests worn as layering pieces by both men and women are perfection.
As always, thank you for inviting me into your world. You are a wonderful reminder that I’m not alone in my obsessions. If you have the means, and would like to support the work I do, don’t forget that new annual subscriptions are 20% off through the end of this month. After all, who doesn’t love a sale?
Continue the conversation: As A Good Yarn enters its second year, what would you like to see continue? Is there anything you’d like me to consider or report on that I haven’t yet? I love reading your comments!
Happy Anniversary Sandi, the year went by quickly. I love, love, love the colors you picked for the baby blanket and the way the stripes are working out. Great job.
Also, I've read all the Inspector Gamache books and am in line for The Grey Wolf. Can hardly wait.
Happy Anniversary! I do so enjoy your newsletter. In fact, one reason why I'm a paid subscriber is because you often provide as much info on yarn and knitting as any magazine I would purchase :-) I love the looks of that Daily Wool and look forward to seeing the finished product.
I listened to The Grey Wolf recently. I like the new narrator better than the previous guy, but I still struggled. I really miss Cosham. He managed to bring every character to life.