#tukuwool

A few weeks ago, I was diagnosed with an eating disorder. The doctor didn’t specify which type, but I knew it was a restrictive one. The exact name doesn’t matter.

Treatment for ED is not very accessible where I live, but I am incredibly grateful for the diagnosis as it feels so validating. Finally, someone else—my family—understood that I was ill. That I might be in need of help. That I am in a battle.

I am not going to write too much about it because I am still in the midst of it, and everything is blurred. An experience this personal may never be translated into words, though it will certainly affect the way I think and the way I create. To tell the story, I will simply have to rely on my subconscious, similar to what I have been trying hard to do—to relearn how to eat, to listen to that one true voice in my head, to trust that my body is smarter than our society’s beauty standards.

I’d been staring at the screen for the longest time, trying to write a story for this shawl, but I could not find it in me. So I decided to name the shawl Subconscious, and let the yarn carry the memory for me.

If you google images for ‘subconscious’, you will understand my choice of colours: they remind me of shores, icebergs, and precipices—the sublime landscapes described by Edmund Burke: ‘vast, empty, often dark and apparently infinite’ (in the words of Alain de Botton in his book The Art of Travel). Though I do not think of eating disorder nobler than me and worthy of respect, there is this similar feeling of awe and weakness.

 Pattern

Ewe York by Susanne Sommer. This is my first paid pattern, and it was very clear. It’s nice to let someone else do the calculations every now and then!

Yarn

White: Tukuwool Fingering, 75% Finnish wool, 25% Texel (EDIT: I checked the yarn composition), 2-ply, #01 Sake. 293m (80g).

Grey: Tukuwool Fingering, 100% Finnish wool, 2-ply, #09 Raku. 312m (78g).

Blue: Malabrigo Sock 100% merino,4-ply, #Cian. 354m (88g).

Tukuwool review:

Pro: non-superwash and rustic. I literally had to keep picking straw out of the yarn. It smells sheep-y too. It feels like a hardy yarn that can last for many years.

Con: very scratchy, especially in the knitting process. I tried wrapping it around my neck for a minute, and my neck felt itchy for an entire afternoon. It fluffed and softened a little after blocking, so I can only hope that it continues to soften.

I’d say that Tukuwool Fingering is an excellent choice for an outer garment, but I wouldn’t use on any next-to-skin garments.

Malabrigo review:

Pro: the yarn is so soft and smooth! It’s drapey but also springy, and it shapes very well. The colour is breathtaking—I can sit there for hours and just stare at it. Malabrigo produces superwash yarns responsibly so that is a plus too.

Con: just like any pure merino, it is likely to pill easily. The colour bled so much—I pre-washed and rinsed it for a few times before using the yarn, but the second I put the shawl into the basin, the blue started bleeding again and the dye kept seeping out throughout the rinses. It gave my white yarn a hint of sky blue. I will have to remember not to pair the shawl with any light-coloured clothes.

Modification

I followed the pattern exactly, though I did briefly consider adding a few rows to Section 1 as I was aiming for a large shawl. The edging is actually quite wide and the finished shawl ends up the perfect size.

Finished Measurements

160cm in width, 80cm in length. Brioche is very stretchy though, and it wraps around my shoulders very comfortably and definitely feels wider than 160cm. Or maybe it’s just that I have a tiny frame…

Wear and Tear

After washing and blocking, the Tukuwool yarn became a bit softer. However, it is still scratchy to some degree!

The Malabrigo sock yarn is holding up fine at the moment, but it continues bleeding as soon as it comes into contact with some water.

Further Considerations

I’m still not sure about pairing a rustic wool with a luxurious one—it looks fine now, but we’ll have to wait and see. I would love to try something in-between for decorative pieces, such as Eden Cottage Yarn Milburn 4-ply.

The i-cord binding is a bit too tight whilst the garter edge is a bit too loose, and you can see that especially from the bottom tip of the shawl. I underestimated my gauge for garter stitch—next time I would definitely knit tighter.

Wild Sage Hat

Wild Sage Hat was designed to complement Wild Sage Mitts and Wild Sage Socks. I used the same yarn and the same super-simple lace pattern but wanted to add a little twist in the form of a contrasting color. The garter-stitch brim mimics the garter-stitch edging in the mitts but the accents of garter stitch are new. And to finish it off, there’s a fluffy pom pom in the contrast color on top.

This hat has been my go-to hat all winter. It’s so cushy and cozy and rustic and warm... And Tukuwool Sock comes in a variety of great colors to choose from! You can find the pattern on Ravelry: Wild Sage Hat.

I’m running a sale on the entire set! For a limited time, put all three patterns in your Ravelry cart and get the least expensive FREE using the coupon code WILDSAGETRIO. Sale ends midnight Feb 5, 2017 (GMT).

Wild Sage Hat is the final installment in a set of three matching accessories. Designed to complement the fingerless mitts and socks in the set, the hat features alternating sections of lace and garter stitch. The pattern also includes instructions for making a full-lace version of the hat. The cushy garter-stitch brim will keep your ears cozy and warm. Worked in a sport-weight yarn in two colors, this hat is a quick and engaging knit.

The hat is available in two sizes: Small (55 cm / 21¾”) and Large (60 cm / 23¾”). A photo tutorial for making a fluffy pom pom that finishes the look is included in the pattern.

On Ravelry: Wild Sage Hat

Pattern: Wild Sage Hat by Susanna Winter

Yarn: Tukuwool Sock in two colors, 96 m/105 yd of H28 Ujo (MC) and 93 m/102 yd of 03 Auri (CC)