yarn from firenze!

before i set off for my month abroad, my lovely sister looked up some yarn shops there for me! (warning: photo heavy post! and rather drool-worthy!)

my favorite by far was Campolmi Roberto Filati at #19red Via F. Portinari (protip: when in florence, residences are numbered in blue, and businesses are numbered in red). 

the first time i went, i was so overwhelmed, i just looked at everything and bought a few skeins of sock yarn (plus a skein of worsted wool/acrylic and a set of needles to make my roommate some gloves). 


after that, i looked up projects that had been in my ravelry faves for a long time, and made sure to take down their yarn requirements in meters, as well as the needle size requirement in mm, as this shop didn't use worsted/dk/sport/etc like i'm used to.

it was a gorgeous shop! and the woman who helped me was so nice and understanding, and put up with my incessant questions about what colors were available, meterage, and cost. she also told me that at this shop, they import the wool from scotland and australia, and "places that have sheep." then, they dye it, spin it, and package it there in the shop! buying there reminded me of watching my boss buy from yarn company representatives that come around every few months. instead of wandering the shelves of yarn, i looked at color/sample cards, and then was brought the yarn when i had made decisions. and the price was none too shabby either!

i stuffed my carry-on suitcase full (along with some other souvenirs too)!

in no particular order, here's the breakdown!

this trilli is 100% wool, knit on a US 2 to 5, and it's got 150 meters per 50 grams. for a stateside comparison, i'd look at sublime dk in softness and sheen. and with this green, i'm going to make the Pomme de Pin Cardigan, by Amy Christoffers. this green was really hard to photograph, it kept coming out grey, and this blurry picture best captures the color.

i also got a skein each of purple, sky blue, tan, and brown in order to seriously learn how to crochet. i've had a few stops and starts in teaching myself, but i've long been enamored with the whimsy of these designs by Maffers, and i'd love to try my hand at them!

and i picked up two more skeins in cream and navy to make some totoro mitts from this formula by brella. they're just adorable! i might make them fingerless...


this sock weight yarn, baby irrestringibile, is a 100% merino wool, in gorgeous jewel tones! and at 400 meters to 100 grams, it'll be great for socks and cardigans!

paulie by isabell kraemer will be lovely in this gold and wine red!

i'll get just the simple, cozy, solid-colored cardigan i've been wanting from the Division Cardigan by Amy Christoffers.


i also picked up some svezia merinos irrestringibile, a worsted weight of 50% wool and 50% acrylic with 250 meters in 100 grams.

i'll make myself a nice Hendreary Hat by Ysolda Teague with this mustard and heather blue.

out of the same mustard, i plan to make the Levenwick Cardigan by Gudrun Johnston.

and, in a nice heather grey, i'll make the Creature Comforts Cardi by Madelinetosh. 

and last but not least, i got this huge skein of a cotton and linen blend to remake a sweater that i designed last winter (have i still not posted about that?)! i think it'll be great for summer!

my fingers are itching to start knitting with all this, but i can't decide where to start!!

what's your favorite yarn, brought back from a vacation?