Turkish Tiftik

Last month we packed our bags and headed to Istanbul for a few days. It was my first time there and minus the non-stop rain, we had an amazing time.

However, much to Laurent's partial disgust, without I even trying I was able to use my yarn-dar and find the portion of market district (just down the hill from the Old Bazaar) devoted to fiber and yarn: Mahmutpasa, Kürkçü Han - Sultanhamam, Istanbul.

While there seemed to be an over-profusion of acrylic, I knew that that back in the Ottoman days, Turkey  had the monopoly on all those fuzzy mohair-producing goats (rethink the connection between Angora - Anakara). As such, I was on the search for "tiftik," which I readily found (in varying mixes of acrylic and other fibers).

Trying to keep my "haul" limited to a small plastic bag was tough, but I left Kürkçü Han with a number of treasures (7 skeins to be exact). If you go, I would recommend the Diyana Brand shop - a relatively nice mix of mohair and nylon at very reasonable prices.

I am currently trying to come up with a few project ideas, especially for the bulk 2 ply cobweb/lace mohair I purchased for about 1 euro/skein (guessing that there is almost 600 to 800 meters per skein - no joke). As I have two skeins of a natural dark beige, I am thinking of doubling it for some type of shawl project, but even then I am afraid it will be like knitting with heavy thread.

Some finished projects coming soon...