I really love this yarn. And I’ve been doing quite a bit of knitting with it. It’s Shibui Cima Yarn and it is lovely. It’s a beautiful lace weight made from 70% superbaby alpaca and 30% fine merino wool with a generous 328 yards per skein. I’m currently knitting a golf vest for my dad for Christmas and I’m using two strands held together. I should be able to finish it before Christmas. Although I have been known to wrap an almost finished project still on the needles. Not this year though.
One of the really cool things about this yarn is how it comes alive when washed in a nice fiber wash and blocked. It really blooms and softens and the stitches relax and cozy up next to each other. It also pairs very well with some of the other Shibui yarns. Cima and Silk Cloud are one of my favorites and I may just be working on a few projects in that combination. Here are a couple before and after photos. Not the best photos, but hopefully you’ll get the idea.
Before:
And after:
Up until a couple years ago, I didn’t wash and block my knitting very much. But now I wash and block everything. It can really make a difference and can take your knitting from looking like a nice homemade piece to a beautiful handmade one.
On another Cima note, I’ve had the extreme good fortune to design a piece for Shibui Knits. It will be part of the collection they will be offering next spring/summer and will be released in March. Words can’t describe how happy this makes me. It was such a great experience working with the Shibui design team. Shibui is a very special company and I’m also very fortunate to be able to help them out with their bookkeeping. Can you imagine working while being surrounded by stacks of beautiful yarn? A dream come true for sure.
At this time of year I am truly counting my blessings. I hope this finds you happy and healthy and having a lot to be thankful for.
Until next time, happy knitting.
Shellie
s h e l Designs 