Most knitters who read blogs are familiar with Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, aka The Yarn Harlot – knitter, blogger, author, teacher.  I have read her blog for several years and have read her books as well.  Terrific writer.  I have heard her speak before.  Terrific speaker.  But I had never taken a class from her.  She is a terrific teacher, too!

I was familiar with the concept of knitting with mawata (un-spun silk), but would never have tried it on my own with, say, just a video on the computer.  But I do love silk!  So when the opportunity to learn the technique and take a class from Stephanie Pearl-McPhee came along, I went for it!  So glad I did.

I learned a LOT about silk and the silk industry.  I got to actually make a mawata “hankie” out of a silkworm cocoon.  And I learned how to knit the un-spun silk.  Fabulous!  I feel a little magical when I do it – like spinning straw into gold. 

In the course of the class, Stephanie passed around some pieces knit from mawata – adult-sized mittens and a dainty lacey-edged baby hat.  I coo-ed a bit over the baby hat, thinking that would be an advanced project.  Imagine my surprise (borderline shock, actually) when I found out that the baby hat was to be our hands-on learn-to-knit-with-mawata-in-class project!  We were given copies of Stephanie’s “Siofra” pattern (available from Blue Moon Fiber Arts) and got to pick our color of mawata from the selection (Blue Moon again).  And Stephanie led us through all the steps of drawing out the silk fiber and knitting it (just like yarn, really).  Meanwhile, she answered all our questions and gave us sound advice about projects, patterns, cast-ons, cast-offs – all the practical information we needed to explore mawata knitting on our own.

Needless to say, I made a quick dash to the Market to buy some mawata before heading home!  Not sure what I am going to make with it.  Going to finish the little golden hat first.

Speaking of the Market, I did make a few other conquests there!  It is not a huge market, but that makes it pretty manageable, not overwhelming.  I had a mission form Sarah: to find yarn for the “Seaweed Scarf “(Knit Purl).  There was some serious texting going on as I tromped around the Market.  We finally decided on Blue Moon Marine Silk Sport (silk/merino/sea cell rayon) in purpley “Smoke on the Water.” 

She told me to get her a sock yarn in a colorway  that was not her “usual” colors, but not brown.  Abstract Fiber’s Super Sock in “Laurelhurst.”  Done.

Bought my self some Abstract Fiber Super Sock, too – after purchasing Blue Moon’s “Zig Zag Sock” pattern – the samples on display were so striking!  I realized that high contrast was the way to go, so I chose exotic “Black Opal” (black, charcoal, cobalt, purple, fuchsia, salmon…) and perky “Butternut” (gold, yellow, charcoal, orange, rose…).

I should say that my Market buddy that day was Diane who helped me with the color choices, introduced me to Ilisha Helfman (author of Jazzknitting which I promptly bought – fabulous figural knitting!), and — over lunch — gave me a brilliant suggestion to make my “Koigu Linen Stitch Scarf” knitting more efficient!

Ready?  Since you cut the yarn after each row (to make the fringe), just go back and knit on the Right Side every time!  Knit the slipped stitch from the previous row and slip the knitted stitch (with yarn in front) – no purling or trying to remember if the yarn is in back or front for the slips.  As I said, BRILLIANT.

Going to save the rest of my yarn photos (and the special gift purchased for me by my super-special husband!) for one more Madrona post!