I frequent the knitting site Ravelry and have signed up for an international yarn swap. I got my swap partner yesterday and she is from Norway. This is cool because I’ve been there before and this is where some of my family comes from. It’s not so cool because I’m supposed to send her yarn that is representative of my country or area. What do I send to someone where knitting was probably invented and is surrounded by sheep? I would like to send her some super soft buffalo yarn but it is too expensive. I have a 35.00 budget and enough buffalo yarn for a pair of socks would at minimum cost 60.00, and we are supposed to include some treats and trinkets, so that isn’t going to happen (unless someone who spins buffalo yarn is reading this and is willing to cut me a deal).
What would you send? Yarn made from soy? Milk (I know, right? Casein yarn is so soft!)? Maybe just some merino or alpaca? Or just send some locally spun wool yarn?
A norwegian reader reports for duty!
First, don’t be intimidated by the whole Norway as ‘the sacred knitting country’ thing, haha. In the past, it was mostly grandmothers who knitted, but it’s become trendy in the last yeas to knit, so I think it’s kind of a new and exciting journey for many here, I should know as I’m one of them;-)
Personally, I’d love the idea of trying something new like the casein yarn (or even the soy, if it’s any good?) – I had’nt even heard about them until I read your post. Everyone’s going crazy over all sorts of Alpaca here lately, so it’s definitely popular – but therefore not that new or uncommon here.
Locally spun wool or merino sound great too!
Not sure this was really any help though;-)
Good luck!
alpaca is my pick. they make some nice stuff out there. especially if you get the local yocal stuff.
Rhonda (http://www.ravelry.com/people/htnevele) is a Madison knitter who hand-dyes gorgeous skeins of merino. Very reasonably priced & the skeins are big enough that one makes a pair of socks plus.
Her etsy shop is down for the moment because she has been travelling a lot, but I bet you could contact her through Ravelry.
The yarn exchange sounds fun – what a great idea!