Winter White Too!
As I mentioned in the last post, Winter White is rarely a true white. The white I’m talking about today is really more like a buttercream (are you hungry yet?) or pale straw. Still, I’m willing to call it winter white too – it’s winter yet and just looking at this cosy color makes me feel warmer. This is “Laga” a beautiful wool from from the sheep that pasture in Abruzzo’s Gran Sasso national park in the Laga mountains. Soft and still smelling like the Apennine pastures it is an excellent example of a fine wool produced entirely in Italy. If I had to make a comparison, I’d call it Italian Aran.
Here is my unblocked “Avery” Cowl in Laga – looking a little loose…just wait!
Abruzzo Wool Washed and Blocked: the big change
As I’ve written before, this is one of my favorite wools. It smells good, it feels nice and the stitch definition is phenomenal. So, when a friend asked if I could make Quince’s “Avery” cowl for her, I suggested Laga as a good 100% Italian choice. I ordered the pattern and printed it out. Then I swatched – and (sigh) I washed and blocked the swatch before I started! You know, I’ve never been much for swatching, I’m always too excited to get started, but when using wools that are not ‘superwash’ treated and that still smell a little lanolin-ish, you might be surprised to find out how much they ‘plump’ when you wash them. Take a look at the difference from the unblocked cowl in progress above and the washed and blocked finished work below!
Voila! Here’s the same cowl, finished, blocked and washed. What a difference a little soap and water make!
Had I swatched without washing and blocking, I would have made the gauge much too tight and and knitted my friend a cumbersome collar rather than an elegant cowl with structured drape. I also have to say that “Avery” was a great pattern as were “Madigan” and the “Castle Pullover”, the other two Quince patterns that I’ve used. Easy to follow and easy to adapt for other yarns. I’m a big fan!
Here you can see the elegant, structured drape of this Abruzzo Wool: ‘Laga’
No mater if it’s ‘winter white’ or dyed with indigo or madder – this Abruzzo wool is worth queuing up on your needles – swatching, washing and blocking make sure that the final garment is exactly the beautiful piece you wanted to make for yourself or for a friend.
Coming soon, one last post on ‘winter whites’ before we move on to a burst of Spring color….meanwhile, Happy Woolworking!
wool in italy 
ciao!! Can you help me find Italian yarn manufacturers I can visit their showrooms? Going in September and would love to visit shop and buy while there. Frazier for any help you can offer.
Can you help me? I’m visiting Italy in September, and would like to visit Italian yarn factories. Hope you can help. Thank you
Dear Donna@passionforitaly.
I’ll be happy to direct you to some references in northern Italy but I need to know if you can speak any Italian so that I can try and connect you with the right people. If you can help me with that tidbit of info, then I can get you the right contact information. I can imagine that you’re pretty excited about your trip!
Truly informative. Yes, buttercream made me hungry.