Knitting Pattern, Knitting Patterns, Shangri-La
April 2020 – Spring, Silk and Covid-19
Apr
Even though spring happens in most places in the world in April, it doesn’t happen in Alta, Wyoming in April. So instead of a real photo of spring, I’m starting off with a lovely painting of spring I saw in the Chinese National Art Museum last Christmas.
How other-worldly it is that I was in Beijing in December with my husband and my son. We loved the city and really enjoyed spending time with the Chinese people. A few weeks after we came home I heard about the virus there and started following the progress every day. And here we are now, self-isolating out of love.
Between the self-isolation and the snow, I’ll be doing a lot of knitting this month. Because I’m dreaming of spring in Wyoming I’ll be knitting with silk blends. I actually love knitting with and wearing garments made with silk year round.
All of the silk yarns we offer at Sweater Sisters are specifically Mulberry Silk. You will sometimes hear Mulberry Silk called Bombyx Silk. Bombyx mori is the type of moth that is fed mulberry leaves and the resulting cocoons are spun into raw silk fibers.
Mulberry Silk is pure white, odorless and hypoallergenic because it contains a natural protein called sericin, a byproduct of the mulberry leaves that reduces the possibility of an allergic reaction.
Interesting, huh?!?
My kit this month is a new design by me, Saratoga Springs. It is a classic crescent shaped lace and garter shawl knit up with two skeins of Shangri-La.
Since we are self-isolating, my sweet baby James graciously agreed to model it for me. I think he did a great job! He is my hero!
Along with the Saratoga Springs kit, I will be offering WayfaringYarns Shangri-La yarn by the skein during the month of April. Shangri-La is our finest yarn made of 75% Ultrafine Superwash Merino (the softest merino in the world) and 25% Mulberry Silk. This fingering weight merino silk blend feels like heaven running through your fingers and is perfect for shawls and any other garment that calls for drape.
In shipping my yarn to you, know that my product has never been exposed to the virus. I ordered the yarn before Christmas in preparation for Interweave Yarn Fest, which has now been moved to August. I wash my hands thoroughly before handling and wrapping each order.
Once it is out of my hands and in the postal system, keep in mind that the package itself is being handled by lots of hands. I recommend taking the package out of your mailbox with tongs and putting it in a bin for a few days before opening, just to be safe.
Do you like knitting with silk and silk blends? Let me know in the comments below.
Have fun, stay safe, and keep knitting, my friend! Selena
