How do you go about getting to know a new yarn? I've been noticing how I do it because I've just added my first original yarn to the DesigningVashti shop! Please see lower right column for more on the yarn, and for a subscriber-only coupon.

Back when I designed for other yarn companies, the specific yarn, color, project, or all three were chosen for me. This determined how the I got to know the yarn. 

Doris and I created a dream yarn together called Lotus. It's unique, so we can't just rely on our experiences designing with other yarns. It's z-twisted and has 12 plies with a sleek way of blending cotton and rayon. Lotus is a newborn and can be anything she wants to be, so how do I find out about her hopes and wishes?

Over the years I've kept a list of crochet stitch types in my head. Do you do this too? I group some stitches together by their effects on yarns. Certain textures and stitch structures bring out something new in a yarn. They can make a yarn confide its innermost dreams! It's an amazing aspect of crochet.

I always do some Tunisian Simple Stitch (Tss) because of its unique woven look. Then I try some lacy types (wicker mesh, filet style, and extended stitches. The lacy 3-color Petals cowl (shown above left) is based on Tss, and tests this color combo of Lotus. See right column about a CAL (Crochet-Along) for this design.

Love Knots/Solomon's Knots bring out a different side of any yarn. For me, they stand in for other pulled loop types like Broomstick & Hairpin laces too. I look at how the knotted parts look and if they stay knotted; and how big the love knot "balloon" can get before it collapses into a languid oblong shape instead.

Slip Stitch Crochet: Besides plain ol' back-loop rib, I'm always curious what happens when I try inverse slip stitch textures! (Striped peach & cream stripes at right)

Long-legged stitches or "stretched" stitches, like spikes, puffs, and star stitches, can really get a yarn chatting! (See issue #50 on crochet 'feet.') Photo at left shows six different star stitch patterns.

A few color combos: My go-to stitch patterns for 2+ colors are "Catherine's Wheel"(shown at left) and "Seed Stitch." I think for some people it's ripples, or granny squares.

The Complete Story

The full story a yarn can tell comes out when I:
...Add water to it (i.e. block a swatch). Lotus is one of those yarns I described in issue #26 that noticeably relaxes, even when just spritzed. (At left a swatch was traced on a swatch page before and after blocking in two inks to show changes.) The sheen of it also glows more, and plumps the stitches a bit into pearls.
...Try several colors of the yarn - because colors bring their own stories to the conversation.
...Photograph it and view it online, for perspective (link goes to Flickr photo set of yarn tests).

Style wise, a complete yarn story answers: Can this yarn go hippie boho? Daytime casual with jeans? Holiday parties? Lingerie chic (see photo, top right corner)? Vintage Riviera? And, reveals hidden talents: for example, it turns out Lotus also wants to be pretty spa cloths, tea towels, and other pampering things, because it's cheerfully absorbent.