I made my Tilted Duster out of this yarn and it was such a pleasure to work with, light and quick knitting. It’s also a joy to wear, a very wooly wool that is amazingly soft, especially after a nice soak.
Sadly, there have been many Peruvia projects that have been languishing in my mental queue. I’m especially intrigued by all of the skirtless shrug style Tilted Dusters out there on Ravelry. By eliminating the most time consuming part of the sweater these shrugs are practically insta-sweaters!
I’m also craving a Poska from Booklet #264. There is something so adorable and modern about the funnel neck, the cropped length and the graphic mosaic colorwork (note the differently colored sleeves).
Design team member Donna has a Peruvia specific tip: because it is a single-ply roving style yarn it has the tendency to come apart while seaming. This is perfectly normal and not a yarn defect! Your yarn, once knitted will stay put, we promise! But, while you’re seaming it’s best to add a bit of twist as you go. This will stop the natural ‘drafting’ process which sometimes results in a break. She’ll probably use this tip when she knits HER favorite Peruvia pattern, Pakuna from Booklet #277.
My favorite Peruvia tip is the spit splice! Simply rough up your yarn ends, wet them with water (or yes, spit) overlap the ends in your palm and vigorously rub your hands together. This will felt the ends together leaving you with an invisible join and no ends to weave in! Wooly, feltable single-ply yarns were simply MADE for this joining method.
Do you have any Peruvia tips or dream knits?
CR
8 comments
Comments feed for this article
April 1, 2009 at 3:10 pm
babycocktails
I’ve had dreams of Paley for ages. Not only do I think it’s a lovely design which has gotta be hugely flattering, but what a fab way to use up leftovers!
April 1, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Gudrun
Maybe you’re saving some pennies not being there for the sale?
I haven’t used many Berroco yarns but do plan on getting my hands on some for experimentation!
…..I will always associate the spit splice with you….I remember your demo of it in the top down sweater class I took at WEBS…..such a great trick!
April 1, 2009 at 6:39 pm
Rachel
When knitting with a singles type yarn watch how you wrap it around your fingers. Sometimes if you switch from clockwise to counterclockwise and vice-versa you can add twist instead of untwisting while knitting.
April 2, 2009 at 11:30 am
Carol
Definitely Paley and Pamelia. Those designs spurred me to buy the Booklet last year.
April 2, 2009 at 9:27 pm
fuchsia
spit splicing is my favorite thing ever!
i will preempt this advice with the fact that i haven’t been able to knit with peruvia yet (from one work stasher to another, maybe i will pick some up soon!), but another seaming tip: ultra alpaca and ultra alpaca light come in a lot of the same colors as peruvia but, since they’re plied, they’re a little sturdier and will work in a similar way (only when seaming) to peruvia with added twist. the weight you use depends on your personal seaming preferences!
April 3, 2009 at 1:55 am
Batty
I have to say that spit splicing is one of my favorite things ever… you do it in front of non-knitters, and the expressions you get are hilarious!
I’m usually bothered by asymmetry, but Pakuna is on my must knit list. Such an interesting design.
April 3, 2009 at 2:00 am
roentgen
Ugh – spit splicing! Don’t remind me. Alas, I know you’re correct.
Prue was my Peruvia dream – and I managed to knit one this winter.
April 21, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Mme. Defarge
I’m terribly fond of Pakuna but have fallen into my trap of wanting to be more hip and stylish than my body and age seem to allow. I’m gradually moving toward “The heck with it” though. Even old fat people need clothes.