Oh Habu...

I am completely smitten. And I haven't even started knitting yet!

Here is the Kushu Kushu kit I bought (kit-78). This scarf is also referred to as Kusha Kusha in a number of places (including the Habu website) but the pattern itself says Kushu Kushu so I am going with that.

Selecting the silk stainless steel (A-20) was a no-brainer - I picked lavendar (A-20-16). The super fine merino (A-177) was a little harder to pick (and is strangely not on the website except on the kit-78 page). I was tempted with the dark gray as it would look stunning with the lavendar and most of the projects I've seen have used gray. However, I wanted to try something different, as well as create a more summery piece (I am making this for my sister) so selected off white (A-177-00).

I can't wait to see how this knits up.

And then, well, while I was waiting for them to put the kit together for me, I started browsing through the bits and pieces of yarn they had on sale and...

Oh my oh my oh my.

Within about three seconds flat I had found seven assortment bags that I wanted to take home with me, not even to knit with necessarily, but because they are just so pretty!!! I love texture. Texture and color. I really enjoy these aspects of materials, but really, it's the texture first and then the color. I love Rothko paintings, for example, because they are all about texture and color (and proportion). To me, these little bags of yarn are art. I don't even want to open them, at least not yet...

A-183 - not on website
A-27 - poly moire "eye lash" in black (7)
A-23 - picot in white (00)
A-34 - cashmere in grey (could be 8201 or 8202)
A-62 - paper moire in mocha (5)

A-29 - tobi moire in white (1)
A-165 - tokken viscose silk in off white (21)
A-27 - poly moire "eye lash" in black white (22)
A-137 - "hashigo" ladder yarn in green (40)
A-99 spec-dyed cotton in orange (I think 3173)

A-26 - cotton curl in off white (00)
A-183 - not on website
A-34 - cashmere in blue (5103)
A-11 - kakishibu cotton viscose in persimmon (21)

It was with great restraint that I confined myself to picking my three favorite packs, and the attendant in the showroom was kind enough to label them all for me. I think this will be a great way to experiment with some different materials and techniques in a less expensive and less overwhelming manner.

Did I mention love love love?! I love these packs!

Comments

[Rachel]

Hi--I found your blog quite awhile ago and really enjoy seeing your projects and your yarn purchases...I too am a 'beginning' knitter (8-10 months) and am addicted to not only making things, but to fiber and the beauty of it. Which is in fact why I enjoy many of your posts...you talk about this as a form of art...the colors, the textures...very interesting to me. BTW--I don't know how the traditional lavender and gray would have looked, but your color choices with the off-white are simply beautiful...I've seen this scarf through blogland and fell in love--I'll keep track of your project and may find myself with my own little Habu kit!

[mariannealice]

Lucky you working so close to Habu!I love the colours that you decided on - so much in fact that I just might have to pop back over to the website as soon as I've finished scarf no 1 and order some of that gorgeous lavender...can't wait to see it knitted up!

[Ruth]

Those packs look like lots of fun! I would have been tempted by them, too, but probably almost as much for the problem-solving aspect of figuring out what to knit with them as for the color and texture.

I've been making a Habu top myself, and it's been quite an interesting experience. I have basically taken a leap of faith that it will come out the right size, as the gauge seems to be quite unpredictable no matter how many swatches I make!

[Nora]

I found your blog via the Habu Flickr group. I've added you to my bloglines and will be watching your scarf progress with interest.