Mustard
The Lavold folks named this shade of Silky Wool “sandstone”, but it conjures up mustard for me.
And mustard brings to mind so many things – seeds for tadka, indecision at sandwich counters, Kajol & Shahrukh in the fields of Punjab, steamed hilsa in banana leaves, tangy nostrils.. but above all, it evokes for me a beloved colour, and a most heady experience in a Madras saree shop many years ago. I merely expressed the wish to see some mustard-shaded sarees with contrasting borders, and for the next half an hour the attendant had me awash in shades of yellow with red, brown, green, black and maroon borders. I can still see some of those gorgeous silks; alas, I didn’t buy any. My senses felt like I had squirted a whole bottle of mustard into my mouth and swallowed, and I couldn’t decide.
When someone asks me what colours I like my pat answer is reds, earth tones, purples, but I also tend to gravitate towards mustard shades, especially in Indian clothing. Like the embroidered shawl you see above, or like the kurtas the silky wool is nestled in below. There are many many more kurtis, sarees and dupattas; for years my father despaired of what he colourfully called my “monochrome wardrobe of chicken-shit hues.” This observation was as frank as it was gross; fortunately, it was also apt and somehow funnier in Kannada. This is the first time I reached for a mustard shaded yarn, though, and even though it’s really mustard-lite, I’m really liking the fabric so far.
This Silky Wool is most unusual and like no other yarn I’ve used before. Very close up its silky nubs have the potential to make it look tired, plucked and ragged, but it surprisingly manages, overall, to avoid such a look. The nubby texture gives it a fine, grainy and crinkly look, but it is also quite soft. It’s so airy and light as to be almost weightless, even on size 4s. At $7.50 for 190 yards the price ain’t bad either, and if it wears well with washing, this could fast become one of my favourite yarns. What I cannot figure out is, why, at 6.25 spi, is it working up so fast?
And look! I have a new toy, which I got recently as a hand me down, actually. A Sony digital SLR DSC F828, which has so many buttons and such a large lens I can barely hold it up; so far all I have been able to do is snap some general pictures and figure out its macro function – not bad, eh? It’s so heavy I don’t know if I’ll go slugging it around to shoot pictures when I’m travelling, but I gotta say it takes good pictures of yarn. If it can also photograph food, I think I’m set. So what if it’s like killing a bug with a bazooka, right?
Your father’s comment cracked me up. I love that shade (and Silky Wool generally), but yellow tones tend to make me look like a hepatitis patient.
Nice work with the photography, too.
what a beautiful color. my current sweater is out of SW also – and I’m really loving it! (my first time working with it also)
nice camera – that will be fun to play with!
I’ve got some silky wool in my stash that I actually bought when I visited you in NY what, two years ago?
Also, this phrase–”Kajol & Shahrukh in the fields of Punjab”–makes me think of “Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra.” Which just goes to show what a geek I am.
That’s looking very pretty. Makes me want to break out my Silky Wool and get going.
Reading your experience with mustard made me realize that my mother does own even one mustard color sari. Hmmm. And I am loving the color!
Have fun with the new camera gizmo!
The kurtas, and the golden yarn look so lovely. Very nice photo too. And I went through my own phase of those neutralish clothes until friends from college pushed me to get some bright colors. Anyway, now the embroidered shawl (?) that is peeking out in the 2nd and 4th picture have got me curious – that looks very pretty too.
It’s just beautiful! I have to admit, the airiness of the Silky Wool makes me a little distrustful.
I don’t know why, and I enjoy working with it despite that, but somehow I must have wool == heft in my head!
yipes! I feel like the bug at the last photo.
Definitely not yellow hot dog mustard.
Wow, you are working fast. That Silky Wool is lovely stuff, eh? Can’t wait to see how it all turns out. It is really looking beautiful so far. Looking foward to the pictures with your new camera!
I love this pattern so far, how the cables melt into lace. The yarn looks like shimmery gold to me.
Congrats on the new camera – I can’t wait to see your fancypants photos!
Mmm, you’re making me want to bust out my Silky Wool as well! It looks lovely knit up in that pattern, and I love your discussion of mustardy yellows.
Ha ha! My family used to make similar comments. I had a pair of corduroy pants in that exact color. Years and years and continents later, a friend who called to invite me to a fancy ass dinner couldn’t help herself and asked (only half joking): btw, you’re not going to show up in those pants are you?
I love the way that Silky Wool is knitting up and I love your nifty new toy!
I agree with you about mustard. I also tend to like wierd yellowish green shades, though there is no strong association as with your mustard. And you nailed it in your observations about Silky Wool. I am currently using it for the first time. There is something about that yarn. I feel like I shouldn’t like it but it is sort of wonderful.
Found your website when searching for stores to buy wool in India. I am also a desi knitter, living in the US but currently in India (Mumbai and Pune) and am having a hard time finding a store that sells knitting wool. Would you happen to know any such stores in the two cities; want to get started on a knitting project and am held up by lack of material.
Thanks and happy knitting.
Hi,
I too found your website (which is very nice btw:) while scouring the net for info about yarn shops in Mumbai, and thought I’d try my luck and ask if you have any knowledge about where I can find them? I have just started out with crochet, and picked up my hooks and material while abroad but I’ll soon need more yarn because it’s so much fun!!
Thankful for help!!
[...] fiery reds and pale, grassy sage – I could drown in those colours for hours. But you probably remember that I love mustard-yellow, and just last week, a friend and I had been thinking about this colour as we bitched and moaned [...]