There’s a new kid on the block – oh boy, does it ever have the right stuff! Did I just hear a collective groan from all you 80′s kids out there?
75% Extra Fine Italian Merino Wool (superwash)
20% Cashmere
5% Nylon
Fingering Weight, Approximately 390 yards per 100g skein
Oh, and the squish factor? Off the charts!
After searching high and low I’ve found a custom Plucky blend! It’s been test knit by a couple of our intrepid knitters - Wannabe and Browncurls and they have come back with rave reviews! I have to say, it was much harder than I thought to settle on a custom blend – to find something that was truly special enough to be considered the plucky yarn.
Feedback from our test knitters, Amanda & Liesl (I’m paraphrasing here):
- “AWESOME twist – not splitty at all….holds together yet has a nice spoingy feel to it. The cuff itself is squishy….not as bulky as MCN fingering but has the same luxurious feel. Because of the twist, shows off stitches well. Has a tight twist like the merino superwash but is bouncy and soft like MCN. I am knitting a pair of socks with it right now and it’s incredible. The squish factor combined with the stitch definition makes me weak in the knees!”
- “Great stitch definition, very luxurious and unique. Unlike any blend/twist I’ve seen. And, I love that way it takes the dye! This is a fabulous base. I knit a sock with it – I’ll get pics posted tonight – and it is so lovely and smooth, with more of a matte finish to it, so it takes the color amazingly well. I got 8 sts to the inch on size 1/2.25mm needles (eta I’m a loose knitter, so that’s the equivalent of at least a 2.5mm for normal folks), so it is very close to Plucky’s standard MCN fingering, but the twist is tighter and it feels slightly (and only slightly) skinnier. It reminds me of the extra fine merino that higher end store-bought sweaters are sometimes made of, and I’m betting it won’t pill easily – should be a great sock yarn, especially for high definition stitches.”
My plan is to have the bulk of it in the studio and ready for its debut by mid-late June. But, first, the new base needs a name. A base yarn this special certainly needs a unique moniker, don’t you think? That’s where all of you come in – it’s contest time! Starting today and going through May 31st at Midnight Eastern, I’ll be having a “let’s name the new base yarn” contest and accepting entries. So, put your thinking caps on and send me your suggestion for the new base name. What’s the prize? Four skeins of the new base yarn, of course! This should be fun……
88 Comments
Deb on May 22, 2010 at 10:57 pm.
Posh- I want some Plucky Posh PLEASE!
Posh: classy; elegant and fashionable
Nicole on May 22, 2010 at 11:30 pm.
How about Bella?
Kai on May 23, 2010 at 7:24 am.
I have 3 for you.
1. Divine – because the content and colours make your yarns divine
2. Delicious – once again the combo just makes the yarns sound delicious
3. Inspired – because every time I see your colours I feel inspired, and with the new yarn base, you can’t help but be inspired.
Sammy on May 23, 2010 at 7:43 am.
Fearless
B/c she is not afraid to become whatever you choose – socks, sweater, shawl, hat, etc…
Kinda goes with the whole Plucky theme
Sher on May 23, 2010 at 8:55 am.
OK, After much thought and consideration, I think I am going to go with…Opulence. Now after I hit submit I am going to want to use one of the other dozen I have come up with..this was harder than I thought, especially with gorgeous skeins of yarn on the line
Definitely “Hangin’ Tough” on this one, LOL!! Have a a good weekend.
Catrina on May 23, 2010 at 9:18 am.
How about Plucky TM, as in “Trademark”? Then when the heavier version comes out, it can be TM worsted . . .
What ever you choose, I can’t wait to knit it up
Marsha on May 23, 2010 at 8:21 pm.
Since it’s nearly impossible to come by your yarns anymore – no matter what you end up naming it – I’m going to call it Unobtainium! If only I could feel it through the screen. It looks really yummy! Who knows – maybe I’ll get lucky some day!!
Rachel on May 24, 2010 at 7:55 am.
Audrey or opulence or lavish
Lauren J on May 24, 2010 at 9:32 am.
Hmmm, this has been a tough one that I’ve pondered all weekend. I’m going to suggest “swank” or “swanky” for the name of the new base.
Victoria on May 24, 2010 at 12:26 pm.
Playing with the idea of the Italian Merino, I’m going to suggest “The Plucky Knitter Emmachi Fingering” for the name. Since it has Merino and Cashmere, emma and chi is how you’d phonetically pronounce M and C in Italian.
Knitterella on May 24, 2010 at 12:27 pm.
Pluckering Weight, of course!
Looks wonderful! Congrats on ‘your own’ blend. So cool!
Melissa on May 25, 2010 at 6:46 am.
OK, here’s my suggestion: magus. It’s Latin for magical.
Elizabeth on May 25, 2010 at 11:12 am.
This sounds like something I need to get my hands on!!
Susan on May 25, 2010 at 12:25 pm.
This new yarn looks gorgeous! The name “Plucky Special Blend” is sticking in my head, but it sort of makes it sound like coffee!
Rhonda on May 25, 2010 at 1:54 pm.
It sounds “Bellissimo”, thought up by my daughter.
Judy on May 26, 2010 at 12:38 am.
I would have to go with “Sublime” – I think that’s what my feet would be moaning in a pair of socks made with this yarn
Nancy Kloppenborg on May 26, 2010 at 2:05 pm.
“Plucky’s Choice”
GinkgoKnits on May 26, 2010 at 7:05 pm.
I think I’d just name it Super Squish. Sounds loverly whatever it ends up being called.
Sarah on May 26, 2010 at 7:21 pm.
My name is “heaven” because that’s it sounds like
, but it looks like there is a Plymouth yarn called Heaven.
My next suggestion is “dreamland”. And one more is “Zest”.
What ever you call it, I can’t wait to get my hands on some. Can’t wait.
best of luck, Sarah
Kate on May 27, 2010 at 7:25 am.
This so not creative … but since it’s your “signature” blend, why not simply call it “Plucky Signature” or “Plucky Signature Blend”? It’s like the blend that differentiates you from other choices out there. Simple but very effective!
susan on May 27, 2010 at 8:07 am.
Ariel
Aurora Borealis
Emily on May 27, 2010 at 9:50 am.
Ciao!
What a lovely yarn! This is my suggestion: Toscana. It is Tuscany in Italian: a region in Italy known for many wondrous things, including textiles.
Sarah R. on May 27, 2010 at 10:52 am.
My suggestion is Lusso. It’s the Italian word for luxury, and both of your test knitters used this word to describe the yarn. Good luck with the new product. It looks wonderful!
Lynn Kuiper on May 27, 2010 at 12:10 pm.
Did my ‘name’ submission make it in? if it didn’t here it is —plum-a-lucious!
thayer on May 27, 2010 at 1:51 pm.
My suggestion for the new base name– Ethereal
Annie on May 27, 2010 at 2:02 pm.
how about PLUSH … I like the sound of Plucky Plush
MARIELENA48 on May 27, 2010 at 7:07 pm.
CLEOPATRA REGAL THAT IS WHAT THE COLOR MEAN TO ME, YOU HAVE TRULLY A GIFT FOR DYING YARN. GOOD LUCK TO ALL
MARIA
Jodi on May 27, 2010 at 11:19 pm.
Since it sounds like a happy, sproingy, yet decadent yarn, my 2 suggestions are:
amuse or zing!
Can’t wait to see (and feel) your new yarn base — how exciting!
Dee on May 28, 2010 at 4:14 am.
Smooshalicious!
DebbieO on May 28, 2010 at 8:16 am.
I can’t wait for this to be rolled out! I have a few name suggestions: Coraggioso (plucky in Italian), Chantilly, Sumptuous, and Vivacious.
kgmama on May 28, 2010 at 4:52 pm.
My suggestion for the new yarn name is:
Amare
(to love, in Latin)
Becky on May 29, 2010 at 6:06 pm.
Molto Bello
Italian for Very Beautiful. And it is! Hope to own a skein of my very own very soon.
HEB on May 30, 2010 at 12:43 pm.
I’ll suggest Austen, because I can’t help but associate Plucky with Jane Austen. (My first Plucky was Bingley Wallpaper, after all.) But I also think that it would leave room for expansion because you could name other bases after other plucky ladies: Hepburn, Kelly, Mitchell, etc.
Lolly on May 30, 2010 at 8:55 pm.
PMS – Plucky’s Main Squeeze!
Christine on May 31, 2010 at 8:55 am.
Gosh this is hard. I was trying to think how you could abbreviate it on your labels as well. So I came up with Luxury, Pure & Siple or LPS
Christine on May 31, 2010 at 8:55 am.
um that would be Pure & Simple
Anonymous on May 31, 2010 at 8:58 am.
Here are a few names for the fabulous new base you have:
- Lavish
- Lusso (Italian: luxury)
- Bella Lana (Italian: beautiful wool)
- Elegance, Elegant, or Elegante
- Grace
- Merino Flair
- Lush
- Flourish
Sorry for so many but just too many words to describe a wonderful yarn like that! Thanks!
Ann R. on May 31, 2010 at 3:36 pm.
Wouldn’t this be the first named Plucky yarn? All others seem to be known only by their fiber content “stats.” If that’s the case, I’m going to offer a second helping of the suggestion I made on the Rav PK Housekeeping thread, namely, that for a yarn this unique, a proper name could honor the regard in which we hold you and your art, Sarah, and the feelings your work evokes in all of us, your fans: Ama, from the Latin for love and faithfulness.
“Si vis amari, ama” (Seneca) “If you wish to be loved, love.”