Things That Are Sexy

When it comes to sexy yarns, Malabrigo may well be the rockstar to end all rockstars. Purely on touch alone, it would be among the top three, and I include cashmere in that running (if you ask me, sometimes a really velvety merino can feel better than cashmere). But if you add in the amazing colors (and their beautiful, often lyrical, names), well, there's almost no contest.

I have been hunting far and wide (well, as far and wide as the Internet will take me) for the right yarn for the fair Snow White. It is a challenge. It must be affordable, because I am not replete with cash, and because I shall need 740 yards of it. It must not be fussy to work with, because the pattern is going to intimidate me enough as it is. But above all, I think, it must be dreamy; it must have enough allure on its own to keep me encouraged and jazzed, because I have a feeling there will be fits and starts and bouts of discouragement involved, and I really, really, really want to finish this pattern.

Malabrigo is, of course, far too pilly and too dear to use for this. But an alternate merino might be the way to go. Alpaca is out, I think, because I may be slightly allergic to it. Last year, I made a scarf from a blend with just 20% alpaca, and I find that I don't wear it that often, because though it feels soft in my fingers, it also tends to prickle my neck. So merino or merino with a bit of silk in it (if I can find something affordable like that) would be ideal.

I considered Queensland Kathmandu Aran Tweed, but was dissuaded from it by Shan, who was skeptical of the suitability of a tweed for the sleek Snow White (and I think she's right). Also, I read a blogger's review of it, who noted that it has a tendency to stick to itself and be fussy. Not the right sort of behavior for a long-project yarn.

I also considered Knitpicks Swish Superwash Worsted, which is nicely springy to knit with, but I just can't get excited about any of the colors, and I think I need to be excited.

So tomorrow - or more likely Sunday, since my dad is visiting tomorrow - I am gonna do the rounds of the downtown yarn shops. Probably just here, here, and here, since these are the ones in my usual trajectory. Even though the prices are better online, I think I need to see the yarn to feel the love.

Wow, what a completely prosaic and knitting-centered post. Instant passport to Dullsville. And really, I meant to list some other sexy things, but I got all hung up on Malabrigo (and that is what a truly sexy yarn will do to you). But let's continue with the original program for a moment, just to diversify a bit.

Things That Are Sexy, According to Lizbon*

1. Malabrigo
2. Vin Diesel, particularly in Pitch Black
3. dark chocolate, especially in a liquid state
4. Beaujolais in a short round juice glass
5. The color orange, in the right light and circumstances
6. Hot boys on track bikes. Long-legged blonde boys on track bikes get rated extra super sexy and then I have to leave the room for several minutes.
7. Dusk
8. The smell of lavender
9. Cool rain on a warm day
10. Bare feet
11. The smell of sawdust
12. Deep voices, particularly those of men of African descent
13. trombones
14. The freedom to stay up late for no reason other than that I am not ready to be done with my day yet
15. The occasional scary, but not too scary, movie
16. oils
17. The color silver, again in the right lights and under the right circumstances
18. old, soft cotton sheets
19. old, worn leather coats
20. big black boots
21. campfires
22. a good pair of hands

*This is by no means an exhaustive list and is reflective only of what I am thinking at this very moment. Tune in for further installments at irregular intervals.

What makes your list of sexy things? Yarns (in both senses of the word) welcome, of course.