To prevent the male readers from running for the hills, here is a monster battle. Pay no attention to ramblings about yarn below.
Fierce monsters!
(bought at Jo Ann’s craft store, of all places)
But what’s this?
It’s the guy from the Fist of the North Star!
Boom, Pow, Crash!
Exploding heads!
All is right with the world.
On to yarn.
At Jo Ann’s, where I went completely by accidents on account of it being next to Vietnamese Fish Market, I bought this yarn. It is a beautiful yarn, so pretty I bought three different colors. All yarn has a number indicating yarn weight. The higher the number, the thicker and heavier is the yarn.
This Rainbow Boucle is graded as 4, meaning it is similar to worsted yarn in weight. Suggested needle size falls around 7-9.
Here is the problem: this yarn may weigh at number 4, but it knits at about number 2. I’ve tried to make a sample hat out of it yesterday.
a) it does NOT show pattern well. Doing a rib on it was torture, because every time I’d get interrupted, I had to try to remember if I ended on purl or knit. The fuzzies make it impossible to figured out which stitch you are on by just eyeballing it.
b) On #9 needles it knits into a mesh. Even on number 7 needles it knits into a mesh, and the hat is paper thin.
This is the sample hat held up by Kid 2.
This is the same hat, when held to the light.
So what to do. Do I treat it as fine and go down to tiny needles? I really like the yarn color. I just have no clue what to make out of it.
Also, question number two. I really want to make the shawl. But I am short and plump. So
a) Are shawls too old lady?
b) Since shawls look best on tall thin people, would it make me look like a barrel wrapped in pretty yarn?
I’d say make a scarf out of it, and let it be mesh-y and gossamer and beautiful!
Shawl–yes! Or a shrug. I have a 3/4 knitted shrug I totally wish I’d finished. Perfect for wearing at the desk during the scant twelve months of the year when I’m freezing.
Ooooh shrug!
You could get a similar colour in dk/sport weight and use boucle and that together. As for shawls, love them. Are you aware of Ravelry it’s the best place for knitting ideas, knitting patterns and there are loads of other knitters to ask for help. http://www.ravelry.com
I am a member!
Oooooooooh . . . what’s your name?
My mom uses this yarn for some of her projects. She always goes down several needle sizes. The fuzzies also do make it hard to see detailed patterns, so she tends to keep it simple with this stuff. The kids love it though, so grandma keeps producing.
Forgot to vote on the shawl – if you think you’ll wear it, make it. Sounds cozy for sitting and working, if nothing else.
I work with mohair and angora. Some yarns look better with a looser look. Your yarn is boucle after all and hell on any intricate stitches. And whatever you knit is warm despite the open weave look.
As for the shawl, if you want one, make it. They cover a multitude of different clothes and always fit. I’ve worn them since the late 70′s no matter what my shape was because I love them. Other people (even guys) always want to try them on and play with them. The appeal is universal.
However the idea of a shrug or open cardigan in this yarn would be gorgeous. I think the new Interweave Knits shows a couple of the cardigans that drape around the shoulders and down the front. Fluid lines would work with the yarn’s characteristics and the drapey look could echo a shawl affect.
I’m currently working on a swing coat (50′s pattern) in wool. And I live in Florida. But the three days of the year that I will need it, this coat will be nirvana.
Go for it.
Last winter was proof positive for maybe more than the 3 days of colder weather!
Ginny,
Would love to see a pix after it is finished. All my family is from Florida, but my grandmother still knits everyone sweaters, hats, mittens, et cetera, because they do travel to locales that can be cool/cold. Love vintage knits.
Alisa
I love “The Fist of The North Star” 60′sish Batman scene. Great!
May have to go to Jo Ann Fabrics for the TOYS….spend money, yes.
And bummer, I left Sephiroth at work!
I first saw these at C.L.Moore (another craft store), but also at Target. My sister and I have been sending each other cool ones for the last couple years, since we’re too mature to buy them for ourselves
Maybe double the yarn up? That would possibly thicken it up. Or maybe crochet the hat, instead? You’ll get a much thicker fabric from that. Downside is crochet is less stretchy.
I’m petite and short, and wear shawls sometimes. The trick is to make it a good size for your frame. I can’t wear large earrings because they make me look like I’m playing dress-up with Mommy’s jewelry. By the same token, an “average”-sized shawl tends to look overkill on me, but if it’s proportionally good for my size, I get compliments.
You can also feel the fabric to tell what the last stitch is. The lumps fall differently on each side of the stitch.
Er, just some thoughts. ^_^
I usually work with this using two strands and reroll the yarn so that I start at approximately the same place in the variegation of color. I generally use it for blankets, the yearn is pretty warm so even though I use larger crochet hooks the holiness doesn’t detract from keeping people warm, in fact it might be too warm if it didn’t have the extra little holes. I think it would make really nice shawls and I hope you put up pictures when you’re done
I vote scarf! We lurves scarves, preciousss. Other than that, I vote for a sassy beret. And then we demand author photos.
It doesn’t really matter whether you’re able to keep track of the ribbing in this yarn or not as it won’t affect the FO appearance
I’d go down a couple needle sizes – not too much though as boucle yarns normally look better knit in looser gauge.
as for the look/fit: I knit a large Swallowtail shawl for my Mum who is neither tall nor slim and she looks good in it, but if you’re doubtful maybe you should knit smth like a kerchief – a Baktus (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/baktus-scarf) would be the easiest and its simplicity should work well with the yarn 
About the shawl: I think they’re not old-lady-ish, at least not all of them are
I’ve made the Baktus and I love it. Knit and Crochet now has a cardigan sweater that looks like a stole with an open pattern that has sleeves. It looks pretty cool. I vote scarfs with an open lace work pattern.
I encourage the making of a scarf… a really, REALLY long scarf so you can drape it over your shoulders yet maintain distance from old lady-ness. Plus, nothing better than using fuzzy yarn for scarves (or socks but I find them a little out of my crafting ability).
I vote for shawl, shrug, or scarf…whatever YOU want to wear. I recently read the following poem and I feel it fits in with your shawl dilema, after all the worry is ‘does this make me look like a little ol’ lady”…vs a cool person.
http://coffeemug2007.onsugar.com/Grandma-Shoes-8090034
So just remember ””You are a cool person, and shawls are no longer little ol’ lady garments…
I do not knit, sew, etc., but scarves, especially long ones, are in “vogue.”
My mil knitted me a comfort shawl out of a very similar yarn this summer. The color is similar too. I love it.
I vote shawl.
Thirding the Baktus pattern.
Sometimes I up the needle size on worsted yarns, to 19′s or bigger. If you knit loosely you get this really cool holey shawl. All you do is garter stitch the whole way. It’s super quick. Just remember to cast on and off loosely as well.
well, I can only cast on and do one row of K stitches… so don’t ask me.. I’m still learning =) But a shawl or shrug or scarf sounds cool!
I am short and … curvy? … and I wore a shawl to a wedding last spring and it was the fashion hit of the party. Seriously, I had strangers coming up asking where I bought it.
So, if it’s not too huge, if it’s a pretty color, you can definitely wear a shawl even if you’re short and unwaifish.
But, that’s very pretty yarn, so whatever you make will work, I think.
I accidentally walk into yarn stores all the time. It’s amazing how many things just happen to be next door to yarn stores.
I vote shawl. If you don’t like how it looks, just wear it around the house. I’m not a knitter so I can’t weigh in on the yarn, sorry.
Actually, I should make a shawl. I keep wrapping afghans around my shoulders, which is awkward and silly-looking.
I bought these cool fingerless gloves on Etsy but they were actually too thick and made my hands hot– *snicker* I’ll bet this yarn would make really nice fingerless gloves. You could even make a scarf to match. I don’t knit or crochet, but for some reason I LOVE yarn. I see it and just want to touch it and oooohhh over it. I’m thinking some day I at least need to learn to crochet.
I have a shawl of boucle yarn I did with 50′s. It looks like lace but it was very easy (unlike a lace shawl) and it was super fast. It is a triangle shape instead of rectangle. If you did not want to do that I would go with what doubling the yarn to make it thicker.
I would make a capelet or a shawl in the celtic style that has a clasp off to the side….if I could crochet anything other than scarves
But those styles work great on petite women (I’m 5’5″).
AH! I just bought the same yarn- different colors- from JoAnn’s and I’ve been crocheting beanies. They’re coming out really pretty! I’m double crocheting with a size K needle and then single crocheting the bottoms for a longer fit. I’m thinking of making a …cowl? One of those scarves that are connected and can be a hoodie type of accessory. Good luck with your knitting!
Hmm. . .that kinda yarn would make a lovely lap throw. Very soft, and warm. (The animals all seem to gravitate towards these types of throws though). I have to vote for scarfs as wearable art. Can’t say about the knitting needles as I have to crochet instead (never could find dropped stitches when knitting).
Ok… I’ve changed my feedreader so I am late to the party on this one but here’s what I think.
1. I hate boucle yarn.
2. Treat it as the larger yarn, but do something simple. You aren’t going to get a stitch pattern or anything cool to show with this yarn. The yarn itself is very attention whorey, so just let it be the star with its texture and color. Which shouldn’t be a problem because you like the colors!
3. Shrugs are bad if you are at all fat. I know this because well, I’mma chunk, and it’s bad. Also, they also highlight your bad posture. If you aren’t a teen ballet dancer, a shrug really probably isn’t for you. It’s just how it is.
4. Wraps/Shawls are OSSIM!!!!1111
5. I don’t prefer triangle shawls to wear because it’s like an arrow pointing right at my ass. No thank you. I do rectangles and I LOVE them.
6. You could easily to a plain stockinette wrap with your boucle yarn with just some garter stitch edgings to keep it from rolling. Hit up me on twitter or email if you can’t see in your head what I mean and I’ll do you a little patterny thing up real fast.
<3,
Laura
Knit it with a plainer wool in contrasting colour?
I think a shawl would be wonderful. You can make a scarf for the public appearances, and enjoy the shawl at home. However, I can’t believe someone of your awesomeness cares that much about the opinions of silly strangers who may not even read your books.
It really is gorgeous yarn.
The boucle is very warm even though it seems open and loose, but it won’t give you good stitch definition. As for shawls – defiinitely not old lady! I pretty much exclusively knit shawls, especially fine lace wt ones. I am only 5’5′ and wear plus size and wear my shawls all the time with everything from jeans and tees to dress wear. I love them. You just need to make sure the proportions fit you. If you are on ravelry and want to see some of them my ID is miracole.
I’m not a guy & I’m not a knitter, but Moose & I just wanted to note how thoughtful you were to stage that great fight scene at the beginning to amuse the non-knitters among us. I vote with the posters who say make what you want and I bet you will wear a shawl beautifully. It’s damp in Portland and a shawl would be just the thing to chase the chills away!
Have a great week. Thanks for the great posts.
I just joined Ravelry …. one can never have too many knitting resources ….. the baktus scarf looks very similar to a pattern my grandmother taught me. They use this pattern to make blankets to be donated to kids in the community. The pattern is actually quite versatile. I used the pattern to make my daughter a head kerchief a couple years ago when they were all the rage. She wanted me to buy her several of these kerchiefs that ran around $20 each — I made her 7 different ones for $10. Go knitting!!!
Anyway, I think this pattern would work nicely for your yarn, Ilona, as I also am using it to make a shawl for my mother out of a very fine mohair/angora/silk blend (3 different yarns held together). The reason I love the pattern is that it is a strictly knit stitch — no having to remember if that last stitch was purl or not (lol). The other reason I love using it this pattern is the versatility. My mother is 5’2″ and VERY pleasingly plump. She has been able to “try” it on as it is being made in order to get the length/width proportionate for her. And NO i don’t believe shawls are for grannies only. My 17-year-old daughter is now clamoring for one too.
The pattern is very simple.
Cast on 2 stitches.
R1: Knit 1. Knit 1 and increase 1 in second stitch.
R2: Knit 1. Knit 1 and increase 1 in second stitch. Knit 3rd stitch.
R3: Knit 1. Knit 1 and increase 1 in second stitch. Knit remaining stitches.
At this point continue pattern until piece is the size you want, and then bind off stitches.
If you want to make it a blanket you would:
Knit 1, knit 2 stitches together, knit remaining stitches. Continue this until all stitches have been knitted. This gives a nice border naturally. When you make it a blanket, you are basically knitting 2 triangles together — the first triangle is the increase and the second is the decrease portion — to make a square. It is a lovely, quick pattern, which can be adapted for all yarns.
Just got back from London — went cuckoo in a fantastic yarn shop near Waterloo Station called “I Knit London” or IKL for short. If you’re ever in London, please visit it.
Happy Knitting to All !!!!
I’m partial to scarves but i think the shrug is a really good idea.
Well, now I want to knit a shawl even though I too have the barrel-look problem. But I don’t knit.
I could crochet one though. I know (from this blog of all places!) that crochet is not as stretchy as knit. Is it bulkier?
I am short and rather plump myself and yearn for a shawl, but have no talent for knitting (or crocheting), but love to pet the yarn I see in stores anyway. *g* . I say go for it. The yarn is lovely to look at.
Speaking as a tall not thin person, I love shawls. I say wear it and be comfortable. Make yourself happy.
You could always keep the hat as is, and just put a cozy liner inside that contrasts or blends with the yarns.
Forget fashion, wear a shawl if you like it.
Eschew the shawl and knit your own Snuggie! Very hip, very now. Especially since they’ve started pushing them in “fashion” patterns.
At the risk of sounding dimwitted(which occassionally I am) and terribly un-crafty(which I always am) can you crochet something with it rather than knit? My dad is very crafty and he used to crochet the most beautiful shawls with something called a Lover’s Knot (I think it’s also sometimes called Solomon’s Knot) Anyway I always thought it to be the very beautiful and not dowdy in any way.
Shawls are never too old lady, in fact they are very in right now. Boucle is prefect for simple patterns (such as LaLa’s Simple Shawl http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/la-las-simple-shawl) I hear the designer of that one can help you out if you run into any problems along the way
A wrap or shrug would also be very cool. Just remember that the busier the yarn is (this goes for texture or color) the less of a pattern stitch you need to do with it. Also, Ravelry is the bomb 
I think you can definitely do shawls! We have similar figures, and they seem to work better than cardigans for our body type.
I have a couple of thoughts:
I hate Boucle for pretty much the reason you identify above. It never shows the pattern well, and its listed weight is not its actual weight. Gah! That being said, I think shawls look good on anyone, and definitely don’t look too old ladyish.
Boucle isn’t great if you want a solid fabric. It relies on the “fluff” to trap air for warmth sort of like Mohair does. You could double the yarn but you won’t get a clear pattern. If you want good stitch definition you have to go with something less fuzzy that has more body. As for shawls, they come in all shapes and sizes. Some are harder to carry off when worn. A small shawlette that stays around the shoulders can be very nice and doesn’t give much bulk. A stole is also nice. I’m not a fan of triangle shawls since the point of the shawl is usually aiming at something I’d rather not draw attention to but it’s a matter of personal preference.
I went “Oooo!” when I saw those photos, I also “accidentally” stopped in at a craft store some time ago and picked up some similar yarn, huge balls!
I mostly crochet hats, sometimes with scarfs, and occasionally 1/2 granny square shawls. I made 2 sets of 2 hats and scarves using one ball of this in brown variegation so it looks rather like a 3Musketeer bar (Yum!) spread out. One set was for a 4 year old to wear and grow into over the next several years, so I put a sort of ‘drawstring’ at the brim of the hat, which is a sort of ‘sack toque’. I tend to start at the brim and then make it as long as I want before closing to the top. With this, because of that lightness you noticed, I made about a 6 inch (15cm) length, then merged the last row I was working on with a row about 2.5 cm or an inch higher, except for the opening left to feed the drawstring, then continued another 6 inches/15cm, merged again, and after about another cm/0.5 inch, started closing to the top.
The little boy loves them, his mom threatens to steal them, and the second set I gave to a Canadian visitor who professes to adore them too.
I’d strongly suggest making a doubled hat of this sort and scarf or shawl. I think triangles are good for a couple of reasons, starting with keeping the gap at the waist warm, and the ability to tie the points if you’re at home, so it doesn’t slip off, and keeps the area around the collarbones warm.
With cats on hand, I do not recommend lap rugs from this, they’d be pulled in no time.
With the green mixture I got, I’ve done a more “Rastafarian” sort of hat, too, for someone with longer hair to wear, protecting it when they’re performing their music.