I keep saying I need a yarn sale.

John Lewis kindly obliged me and are having their big, summer yarn sale. I think the rest of the store is having a sale too but let’s focus on what matters here!

I really, REALLY don’t need to buy any yarn. Take a peek at the scary spreadsheet of my stash on the stashwatch page if you think I’m kidding.

But I have been in a knitting slump. A friend of mine told me she wasn’t going to keep a stash any more because she enjoyed choosing a project, going buying the yarn and casting on the minute she got home.

Doesn’t that sound more fun than guiltily hoarding yarn then knitting it up because you think you really ought to? Even though you’ve gone off the project?

I thought I’d try her approach and see if it cured my SKS (Summer Knitting Slump)…

…God! I’m good at coming up with excuses to buy yarn aren’t I??!! 😛

I gnashed, bit and clawed my way through the frenzied pack of yarn hungry knitters and managed to emerge with not one but two garments’ worth of yarn and a pattern book.

I snapped up a copy of RYC/Rowan’s Summer Delights pattern book – I like lots of the patterns in this book!

And a pack of 10 balls of RYC Silk Cotton. When I was in JL, they only had a pack of 10 of each colour out in the sale. Conveniently, the jacket I wanted to make takes 10 balls in my size 🙂

I’m going to knit Frappe….

This one…

My plan to buy the yarn for a project and cast on straight away without bothering my stash went a little awry. I did indeed cast on Frappe as soon as I got home (almost before I’d sat down!) I did find it impossible to resist stashing more of the lovely Silk Cotton for a second project from the book though. It was a sale…It was a bargain….

Can you guess which pattern the second garment is? Would it be the one on the cover?? I couldn’t possibly say 😉

So how’s Frappe knitting up?

Like a dream! 😀 My mojo seems to have returned and I’m knitting furiously! The yarn is beautiful to knit with and is growing fast on 4.5mm needles.

I’ve done the back and one front already…

The Silk gives the yarn a slight crunchy, crepey feel which I like. They yarn’s stitch definition makes the most of this stitch pattern too.

I do have one reservation about the project. The RYC Silk Cotton is allegedly “Dry Clean only”. I’m not a fan of dry cleaning – expensive, environmentally dubious use of chemicals and a whole lot of hassle running to a fro the dry cleaners.

I have heard a tale that says that the only problem is the yarn will harden up if washed, then soften again with wear. Once I’ve finished Frappe, I’ll knit any leftovers into a swatch and report back to you.

But right now, me and my knitting mojo are best friends again and we’re going to spend an hour on the sofa with Frappe, a big mug of coffee and a lazy ginger cat! 🙂