Malabrigo madness

Long ago, after my corporate years, I took a part time job at a yarn shop near my home in San Diego. There I promptly fell in love with Manos del Uruguay, the absolutely wonderful handspun yarns from the women's cooperative in...well, you guessed it.  My passionate affair with Manos lasted for many years, through thick and thin (pun intended). Then, a few years ago at a trade show, I discovered Malabrigo.  I quickly forsook the Manos in inventory and have never really looked back, because when it comes to a tactile experience, Malabrigo Worsted, at 100% Merino wool, has the feel you'd like next to your skin.

If you've visited the shop, you'll already know how we feel about these yarns...evidenced by one great wall covered with bundles and bundles of just about any color you could think of.  It is, frankly, hard to resist the urge to stock more and more of it.  The addition of their lace yarns has really upped the ante on where they're going with their great business...and I will add here that doing business with them is a pleasure, and they are always the first stop and biggest purchase we make at the trade shows each year.

A few weeks ago, my friend Margaret was lucky enough to visit the Malabrigo factory in Montevideo.  There she was hosted by the owners and treated like a celebrity visitor,
really.  That's just who they are...a class act.  I am wrapped in envy that she was able to do this on my behalf.  Here's a photo Margaret took of Tobias (right) and his brother in law, Antonio.

Having waxed eloquent too much on this, now I'll show you the little Malabrigo shawl
I knitted last spring on our staff retreat.  It was fun to knit, with one caveat:  Monte challenged me to NOT select the color sequences, but rather, pick them blindly from a basket next to my chair.  Interestingly enough, this pushed my boundaries (Martie the control freak) and when certain colors came up, I'd squeal because I was sure it would look horrid in the finished project.  When all was said and done, what I love about it best is the combinations of colors.  Score:  Monte 1/Martie 0.

It has been in the shop all summer and has been the inspiration for many more of these shawls.  This past week, our sweet friend Amanda brought us hers to share.  I love it equally and had a hard time giving it back to her.  Mine is on the left and hers is on the right.  Enjoy!  ---Martie

P.S.  I had enough leftover yarns to make a second shawl...it is waiting for winter...and I'll choose the sequences of colors and see how I like it compared to the original.