Thursday, August 08, 2013

Bijou Basin Ranch Yarn

I like to try new stuff.
Especially new yarrny stuff.

So when the opportunity arose for me to get my paws on some fibre I'd never knit with before, I absolutely jumped for joy. There very well may have been heel-clicking involved.

My cup of joy overfloweth-ed upon the arrival of my very own package of Bijou Basin Ranch
yarn. I received a lovely sock pattern and two hanks of Tibetan Dream sock yarn.

Yarn Profile:
85% yak, 25% nylon
4oz (113 grams) = 440 yards
US#2 - #4 needles
7 stitches per inch

Read a few comments and see some projects made from this yarn here on Ravelry.

As to what I think of this yarn: it's lovely! I'm going to run down the list here of some good stuff about this yarn:

-colours: they have a selection of solids and variegated yarns, each very strong, sturdy, classic, and adaptable. These are the sorts of colours you can turn to for a timeless knitwear piece, something that will likely appeal to many (if not all!) people lucky enough to be on your knit-gift-list.

-texture: a natural sort of squishy, and soft enough to wear against your skin, the yak fibres are strong (good for socks!) and warm (especially socks for the upcoming chilly months!) I thought it might be interesting for you to read a very little bit about yak fibre here, on Knitting Daily.

-yardage: 440 yards / hank? Yes please! I love sock weight yarn with its fantastic yardage.

Want some Bijou Basin Tibetan Dream yarn for yourself? That's easy.
Just comment on this post and let me know if you've ever knit with yak fibre before. I'm curious!

I'll be drawing the lucky winner on Thursday August 15. You'll get a hank of Tibetan Dream in Siegfried colourway and a copy of the Woven Sock pattern.

62 comments:

C. said...

First comment: I hope it'll bring me good luck! This yarn is beautiful and I never knitted yak before. I would use it to knit one of Romi Hill delicate shawl, like the Elektra, the Celaeno or the Sakaki.

Anonymous said...

I've never knit with yak before!! Oh...this is too pretty to be jammed into shoes. I'd make some gorgeous house socks or a little shawlette for the office. Rav ID thisgirlsaysno

MegR said...

I've never knit with yak yarn. I'm from the Canadian prairies and alpaca seems to be quite popular, although I've never knit with this fibre either. Yak sounds like it would be lovely on the feets!

Anonymous said...

I have not yet used yak, but I have been tempted to climb over walls at the zoo to score some of their wool that festoons their enclosure. Clearly, scoring some Bijou Basin would be a preferable alternative. I would absolutely use it for socks - my toes deserve some happiness.

Unknown said...

I've yet to knit with yak, but since I'm working on adding to the sock supply for fall, it would be great to add a pair of yak socks.

juniperjune said...

no, i've never knit with yak! but i'm currently working on spinning yak/merino/silk blend...

Sheila said...

I've never knit with yak and I would so love to try it. Thanks for the chance to win!

Twitchy Knitter said...

I'm a yak virgin, too! I've heard some wonderful things about it, though. If I were to knit something for myself it would be a lacy cowl. But, in all honesty, that colourway would look better on my daughter. She's a 13 y/o budding knitter, and would be able to really appreciate that gorgeous yarn.

Unknown said...

Never knit with yak yarn (but I do like how that sounds!) and would LOVE to try!

CardiLover said...

I've got a couple of yak combo yarns in my stash that are gorgeous, but I don't think I've actually knit any of it yet. Better get crackin'!

Unknown said...

Nope, I've never knit with yak before, but I am completely open to trying new things! <3

Isobel DeBrujah said...

I've never knit with YAK and wow I really want to! I just move from Florida to Minnesota so I'm thinking that it would be extremely warm.

ZachandZoesMom said...

Oh that yarn looks so pretty! I have never knit with that kind of fiber before! I want to try it though. :)
~Joanna

April Edwards said...

I haven't knit with yak yet, but I have in my stash a hank of yak lace weight I bought from you a couple of weeks ago. it will be my next project.

Phyllis said...

I have not yet knit yak fiber. I've fondled and fantasized over it. I would definitely jump for joy if I won it.

Shannon Adams said...

I have never knitted with yak yarn, yet I have always wanted to. I looked up some of the other colorways and they are equally as lovely as the ones you chose! Enjoy the fiber!

3girlsmom said...

I've never knit with yak, and have long been intrigued with what it would be like. And I love socks. What a great combination!

Suzanne Harold said...

Yet another "no yak yet" poster! The colors look luscious. I love how they shimmer - immediately caught my eye as I scrolled my Facebook feed. Fingers crossed for the drawing! (Or, at least, figuratively crossed, since literally crossed fingers make it hard to type or knit.)

All For Love Of Yarn! said...

This would be fun to try!

Anonymous said...

I haven't knitted with yak before, but I do have a skein of qiviut that's been marinating in my stash for a couple years. I don't know if they will feel similar or anything, but yaks look kind of like muskox, right?

menolly42 said...

I have never worked with yak yarn before. The colors are beautiful, as is the sock pattern!

Unknown said...

Oh dear- it looks so lovely! I have never tried YAK fibres, but it sounds delightful! I think I would make a shawl - just the right for norwegian cold winter days!

Chelsey said...

Surprisingly, yak is one of the first fibers I've ever knit with! I made a hat out of Shokay Orient, but my combination of yak and bamboo made it stretch out like crazy!

Brandywhine said...

I have not knit with yak before, but I hope I win and get the opportunity--the yarn is lovely--just love the colors!

Lynda said...

I have knit with yak before because I LOVE Bijou Basin Fibers. Their yarns are yummy and Carl and Eileen are the best!

mary said...

I have not knit with Yak before, but I would love the chance to try it!

Lindr said...

I was fortunate enough to meet Carl and Eileen at their farm a few years ago and have been buying their yarn ever since! I've used their yak/bamboo blend and have several others in my stash, waiting for the perfect project. I'd love to try the Tibetan Dream - that's one that I don't have!

Debbie said...

I've never knit with yak before. It sounds like fun! Ravelry ID is DeborahSW

Miss Kitty SD said...

I would love, love, love to use this yak for the first time. I can almost feel the cozy socks now.
Thanks!

mva5493 said...

I have not had the please of stitching with yak fiber yet, but I have had the chance to pet it both in the lys and in someone else's project. maybe it's time for a new experience, lol. Thank you for doing this giveaway.

bastenico said...

I have never used yak but I did see it at a yarn show and it felt very nice, hard to believe it came from a yak.

Terri said...

I have knit with this as a contract knitter for Marly Bird, and I hope I may win, because it is one fantastic yarn and I would love to make something for myself! Thanks for the opportunity!

sandrajn said...

Never YAK-ed, but WANT to YAK!!

Unknown said...

No yakedy yak yak knitting for me. But I would love to try!

Kate Price said...

I have never knit with Yak but would love to try it

T.M. said...

I have never knit a yak or knit with one :) but I'd love to try. (knitting with it, not knitting a yak).Thanks for the chance.

Unknown said...

I have knit with yak before. It was a yak and merino blend and it made a lovely lace scarf!

Josiphine said...

I've never knit with yak before--but boy do I want to!!

njgill said...

I've had the privilege of using Bijou Bliss, and it was so nice to knit with. I only had one skein, so I used it with other yarns to make a cowl and fingerless mitts set for a dear friend who suffers dreadfully from cold. She loves it. I just recently started making socks, and would love to try the Tibetan Dream yarn.

Anonymous said...

I have been ogling Bijou Basin Ranch yarn for some time now (drooling actually, if I can be truthful!!!) I have had the hardest time deciding on which base to try (because I want to try them all, if I can be completely honest! :) Until I win the lotto, can't buy everything at once....

If I were to be the winner, I would be as excited as if I won the Mega Millions!! There would be some shouts of joy and happy dancing going on!

Thank you for the opportunity to win!

Ravelry name is Shano

Candace said...

You are drawing on my birthday! What a great present that would be!!!

Rebecca Garwacke said...

I haven't knit with mine yet, but I bought my first skein in July. One more WIP to finish, then I'm casting on with my yak yarn! I'd love to win another skein!

Jennieblue said...

Yak is new to me, I've tried llama, baby llama, all kinds of alpaca, angora, even camel, but I haven't had a chance to try yak yet!

deb said...

I just ordered and received my first yak fiber and I can't wait to knit a cowl with it. I'm sure it will be a pleasure to knit with and it will divine when finished. I'd love to win more to make more cowls! Rav ID: mtloverdeb

Anonymous said...

Amber n- gibbles_n_bits@hotmail.com
I have and love it! I have more that I just need to find the right pattern and the time to do it!

Anonymous said...

I've never knit with yak fibre, but I am currently spinning up a fiber blend that is 25% yak down, and I love it!!!! It's sooooo soft!

mel said...

Wow, yak fibre? Really? That sounds super interesting. I have not been really innovative with my fibre choices so this would be a super cool addition to the sock yarn stash (and would probably encourage me to pull up my socks on the sock making! LOL)

Kay said...

I haven't tried yak yarn yet. ;)

Julie said...

I have never knit with yak fiber before, how awesome! it sounds like it's very sustainable, too, which is always important. Thanks for hosting a giveaway, that's very impressive to hear about the excellent yardage!

ikkinlala said...

No, I've never knit with yak fibre before. It's intriguing, though!

ikkinlala AT yahoo DOT ca

Laura said...

I love the idea of yak yarn. Can't wait to give it a try!

Sue J said...

I met a yak in Fort Collins Colorado 2 yrs ago! and I've felt how yummy yak yarn is, but I've never knit with it.....I'm sure it's a dream!!

Unknown said...

I've not knit with yak, though I've met some at the drive thru zoo/preserve place by where I grew up... super warm and soft, it would make a glorious shawl!

Sheherazade said...

Wow! At lot of people commenting. I'm going to cross my fingers and hope. I have never knit with yak yarn and actually I've been shopping around for some good quality cashmere. I want to knit something special for my nieces birthday and this yarn would be just the thing. Thanks for the opportunity to knit with a beautiful yarn like this.

Eileen said...

I've never knit with yak yarn before, but generally I don't knit with much beyond acrylic and acrylic blends. (I'm a college student, so I don't have a whole lot of time/money to knit =( ) Would love a chance to try it.

Julie S said...

I've never worked with yak but it sounds wonderful.

Bonnie said...

Oooooh, I haven't knit with yak before, but I'd love to try it!

Susan said...

Those colors are gorgeous! I have never knit with yak yarn before. Crossing my fingers that I get a chance too.

Unknown said...

The yak yarn is wonderful! I would love to make a pair of socks out of it.

Erika said...

I've never knit with yak yarn before. Its always been outside of my yarn budget, but I love to pet it when I'm at Stitches West.

mmherd said...

Never knit with yak fiber before. Thanks for the chance to maybe try it out!

Erin Heather said...

Yak? New to me :)