Monday 18 July 2011

Wonderful woolly world

So there's a story behind my latest crochet project:

Being new to the wonderful world of wool, I had no idea what I had stumbled upon when I picked up a few balls of Noro Iro at the charity shop.
When I saw it, I thought it looked gorgeous- loved the colour changes and could see from the label that, being wool and silk, it must be good quality.

Random

I wasn't sure how well it would crochet, or what I would do with it, so bought it home and had a play.
Hmmmmm.
Very nice, I thought.
I shall make myself a cowl or something.

Later on that evening I decided to do a bit of Googling to see what I could find out about this Noro stuff .. . and.... Bejaysus!...how much?...!...

I had paid the princely sum of 50p a skein and this Iro wool sells for over 10 quid a go!

Suffice to say, I was back to that shop the very next morning to buy up everything they had:

Random

And wow! It is lovely stuff. I've nabbed some more Iro, loads of Silk Garden and a couple of skeins of Kureyon too. (see, I'm an expert now).
I think the lady in the shop thought I was a bit mad, trying to cram a gazillion balls of yarn on the top of the buggy (cue wails of unhappy child underneath the woolly mountain) and attempting to steer it with one arm (the other trying to keep the gazillion balls of yarn from spilling all over the shop).

I have no idea what to do with all of this just yet, I'm sure the inspiration will come. I feel very grateful to the lady who donated this and will do her proud.

And so, to begin, a one skein cowl, made from the Noro Iro.

Chunky crochet shrug
Chunky crochet shrug

I just love these colours.
I have to admit, it took a fair few goes to get this right; too long, too dense, wrong stitch etc. I finally arrived at a dc-ch1-dc (US) solution, which I think works well.

Chunky crochet shrug

Chunky crochet shrug

Very seasonal, I know.
If the rain keeps coming, I shall wear this tomorrow.

Xx

35 comments:

  1. You are so lucky!!
    I am consumed with jealousy!!!!! :)
    Enjoy making lovely things with that lovely noro
    xx

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  2. Oh what a lovely find! I laughed as I read your description of a wailing child getting buried under your shopping cart as you piled in the wool!

    Bravo on the cowl! Looks so warm and cozy. It's a million degrees here right now although I dream of cooler days when I too could wear something so warming... xo

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  3. Oh wow! What an amazing bargain!!! I just bought one ball of Kureyon online and thought I'd done well getting it half price (but still £6 something!). I'd love to visit your charity shops - the ones round here only ever have the odd half ball of manky coloured acrylic... Enjoy! x

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  4. They're gorgeous!! You're very lucky! I bet you're smiling all the time :)

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  5. Oh!!Wow!!Lucky you!!And that cowl looks stunning!!

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  6. What a fantastic find of such good quality wool and such pretty colours. Lucky you! :)
    Anne xx

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  7. You lucky lady, all that yummy color & sooooo cheap, i'm green :)
    The cowl is beautiful looks good on you!
    Karen x

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  8. what a great find, you lucky thing. The cowl looks gorgeous!!!!!

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  9. Very seasonal from where I'm reading, and oh my, what a score in that charity shop. The junk shopping gods really were smiling on you that day.
    The cowl looks *cool*

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  10. The cowl is a-ma-zing! And the price of that Noro... You were really in luck that day lady! ;)
    xo
    wink

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  11. wooo good find! I find so little yarn in charity shops these days (it must all be stashed somewhere)! They used to be a great source of bargains, but alas, no more... well done you! The cowl looks so pretty too...great colours on you! I'm going to follow your blog..maybe a little of your luck will transfer down the blogysphere to me :)xx

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  12. Oh my (I love the way you say Bejaysus!, my hubby says that a lot) You have done so well, bloomin heck. I love the cowl- just dreamy x

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  13. How much????? You lucky lucky thing!! Drool. xx

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  14. Wow, what a find! Lovely colours, I like what you've done with it :)

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  15. Love those colours - excellent!
    Funny that you pictured me with dark curly hair - it's interesting to hear how people picture you when they've not seen you!
    Maria x

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  16. You are so lucky to have scored all that Noro! I love Noro yarns, and that cowl looks fantastic! Well done!

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  17. I can't believe all that Noro was at a charity shop, who is crazy enough not to know that Noro is like gold? Love the cowl and am so happy you found all this beautiful yarn.
    Meredith

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  18. Wow you were so lucky. Love the colours. I don't want to think about scarfs and cowls yet where is our summer???!! It does look very chunky and warm though. Well done you are the bargain queen.

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  19. Oh my god, I've got major, major cowl envy - it looks gorgeous and WHAT a bargain!!
    Thanks so much for visiting me and for your lovely comment - I'm so pleased I've found your lovely blog - it's right up my street! (Have already stolen your jar/lace idea - genius!)
    Emily x

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  20. Aw, thanks for your sweet comments, gals.
    Glad you like the cowl.
    X

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  21. Why do I never find anything exciting like that in our cherry tree shops? *stamps feet*

    Thanks for the comments over at mine, I had wondered where you were!!

    Very touched that you missed me enough to notice, lol!!

    hugs,

    S x
    S x

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  22. That seriously has to be the bargain of the year! You lucky, lucky girl! Your cowl looks amazing - the colours are just beautiful. That fabulous stash will keep you busy for a while. Yay - I love hearing about wonderful bargains like that! Have a wonderful week.

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  23. wow loving all that wool..wish i could knit!!..
    in your previous post im in love with your little lace covered tea holders.. got tons of empty jars and am going to copy your idea!!

    charl
    x

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  24. WOWm wow, wow!!
    Lucky you.
    I love that image of the shop keeper thinking you were strange with your wooly tower falling all over the place.
    Gorgeous cowel.
    Looking forward to seeing what the rest becomes.

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  25. You lucky lady! I always appreciate a massive bargain from the charity shop. I love the cowl you made with it. So, what will be the next project? xx

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  26. Hi

    What a great find and it looks lovely too... and thanks for the instructions definately one to keep in mind when the weather starts to turn... but may make one and sent to my mum in Australia as she is constantly saying how cold it is over there at the mo (their winter) so it would keep her toastie.

    Best wishes and have a good week, Tabs x

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  27. That cowl is gorgeous and what a fabulous find. Well done you.

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  28. Lucky you with all your noro goodness!! I have just been looking at buying some of this beautiful yarn too, your stash looks so amazing, very jealous over here!
    Have a great day! Julie:)

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  29. I'm in love with your yarn find (and a bit jealous to tell the truth!). So many users on Ravelry.com are in love with this yarn, and I can't find it anywhere- maybe it's a UK thing? I'm sure I'll course it online, but I want it NOW! :) Gorgeous cowl, too. Perfect for rainy, yucky weather.

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  30. I HAVE THIS WOOL!!! but like you i wasn't sure what to make with it. it looks even lovelier when made up though...i must try something with mine :-)
    x

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  31. Oh hello, just a LEETLE bit of a gorgeous treasure found in a "cherry tree" shop then!!!

    I am so new to crochet I can't get beyond the treble stitch, but even I can see you got one hell of a bargain. Well done!!!

    Wow!

    Would have no idea how to crochet a cowl. Why don't you go one step further with the next skein and crochet a Simon Cowell. I'd be forever impressed.

    x x x

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  32. Wow! Noro is the first yarn I bought to make my first every project two years ago. It cost a packet I recall.

    Your cowl is stunning and I am SO happy for you that you got this golden opportunity to buy the world's supply of Noro. You'll have to show us what you make with it, ok?

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  33. Oh how precious!! :o)
    It looks so snuggly warm.
    I hope you are having a nice
    weekend.
    Sincerely, Trish

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  34. I am green with envy. Lovely cowl though. Enjoy your Noro.

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  35. Say what? I had to scroll back to make sure...50p a skein for Silk Garden? I feel faint! Excellent score! :)

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Have a fab day.
Sarah Xx