A cool woman brainstormed this thing: A lot of times, buying online is a bit like a shot in the dark, since you can’t actually touch or smell the things, or move the items to see them in a different light… So what do we do? How do independant artists and artisans get the words about their quality directly?
A sample box. PhatFibers is a monthly box full of random goodies and samples from artists and artisans who have donated little bits of things. You buy the box. You find what you like. Next time you want some more yarn/fiber/tea/stitch markers you know that suchnsuch person makes something that you really like.

There’s a blog, too.

Occasionally on this blog there are giveaways, and the requirements for the current giveaway is to write about the actual products from the StashUP yarn shop. Okay, I’m up to the challenge, especially since I’ve spotted two things which I really make me want to pet and feel and wish I weren’t totally broke so I could get them.

The first is Antique Denim Silk Noil Handpainted Fingering Weight Yarn 600 Yards

I’ve been having a lust for silk lately, which is probably why I latched on to this. Silk noil is the shorter fibres with some nubs and slub, and these make a very textured yarn, which is still soft and shiny since it is, after all, silk. Another love of mine is subtle colour changes, and desaturated colours. The skein as pictured really looks the colour a beloved pair of jeans turns after many wearings and washings. These days you can get your jeans pre-faded, but there’s still something special about wearing out a pair of jeans because they’re just too comfortable after the fabric has broken in. I’d make some lacy cleaves with that yarn, I would.

The second thing that caught my eye:
Alyosha Organic Merino Wool Yarn Handpainted Fingering Weight

Merino is sheep wool, soft, and 100% organic means that it hasn’t been treated to be ‘superwash’ (which means hand-wash only!). Fair enough, I still don’t have enough experience knitting and crocheting to prefer either way. What caught me here was the colourway. The contrast between the deep but not too saturated purples softened up with the lovely beiges, and light bluish grey (beige and light blue is another combo I love). 100% merino, I don’t know how it would hold up being socks, but I could certainly knit up a pair of armwarmers, or again, some light cleaves. I don’t know if there’s enough in that for a cardigan, but this could make a lovely crocheted border for one.

I wish I weren’t broke. On the other hand, maybe it’s better that I am and keep it in mind, because the stress of the current events make me want to do some retail therapy on etsy and uhr… I really can’t afford it.