Llama and Silk

So, let’s talk fiber…

An unlikely couple, huh?  Well let me just show you what stunning results you get when these two get together…

GORGEOUS!  This lovely fiber is Plymouth Yarn’s Royal Llama Silk (color 1241), which recently came in stock at the Neighborhood Knit Shop.  While I realize it’s not a new yarn (it came out autumn 2007), I still thought it warranted mention here — not only because I’m really loving it, but also because llama fiber just doesn’t get much attention.  This isn’t a yarn that I would have ever picked out on my own, had I not seen it at the shop and (more importantly) touched it.

At first glance when you see this yarn on the shelf, it looks woolen and tweedy and quite honestly like it would be extremely scratchy and unpleasant.  Looks are extremely deceptive in this case, though, and I think part of the reason I had to purchase this yarn was due entirely to the “Wow!” moment I experienced when I picked up a hank.  It feels nothing like it appears.  It’s shockingly soft and and slightly-slick (from the substantial silk content).  Even in an unrolled hank, it drapes beautifully.  (There’s a great full review of this yarn on Knitter’s Review.)

Last night, I cast on this cute v-neck top that was specifically designed for this yarn.  The pattern begins with the back-piece, starting with 2 inches of 1×1 ribbing, then stockinette.

I’ve been enjoying every inch of knitting with this yarn so far!  After having worked with sport weight yarn on US size 2 needles for the baby set I just finished, switching over to this aran weight (and US 6 and 8 needles) feels fabulous on my hands.

The fabric that’s being created doesn’t have the best stitch definition, so I wouldn’t use it for a project with cables or a lot of detail.  However, in solid stockinette, it’s perfect because the slubs in the silk create a tweedy texture and really add a lot of interest to what otherwise would be a very plain garment.

I have this idea in my head that I’d like to finish this top in time for my trip home to Pennsylvania next month.  Not sure if I can do it — and not sure if there’s even a point, being that it will probably be too hot to wear it — but it’s worth a shot!