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Unexpected Ice Yarns, Vintage Finds & Future Crochet Plans

There’s just something extra exciting about unexpected yarn showing up at your house… especially when you technically got paid in yarn. 

Recently, a crochet friend reached out because she wanted help learning how to edit long-form YouTube videos. When she asked how she could pay me, I honestly wasn’t expecting anything, but then she asked the magical question:

“Can I pay you in yarn?”

And obviously the answer was yes. Always yes. 

An Unexpected Ice Yarns Haul

This little yarn trade turned into a surprisingly large Ice Yarns haul filled with colorways that feel exactly like my style. My friend mostly works with amigurumi and thicker yarns, so she passed along some finer yarns that weren’t really her thing... but they are absolutely my thing.

Since I don’t have a lot of experience with Ice Yarns, this was especially fun. The only other Ice Yarns I had previously tried came from a smaller reseller shop, so getting to explore several different colorways at once felt like a real treat.

My Thoughts on Self-Striping & Roving Style Yarn

One of the yarns I shared was a striped acrylic called “Nice Baby,” and it got me talking about something I’ve learned over time:

I love self-striping yarns… in the right project.

Personally, I don’t always enjoy how they work up in projects made in the round or square-based patterns because the color pooling can sometimes feel random or uneven. But diagonal crochet projects? That’s where striped yarns really shine for me.

Corner-to-corner scarves, shawls, wraps, and blankets can create such beautiful flowing color transitions with this type of yarn.

The softness of these yarns also surprised me. Some budget-friendly acrylics can feel stiff, but these were soft, squishy, and honestly very wearable.

Ice Yarns “Rainbow” Colorways = Boho Crochet Heaven

The biggest surprise from the haul was several colorways of Ice Yarns “Rainbow,” a roving-style acrylic yarn with rich blended colors that instantly reminded me of boho shawls, fringe, music festivals, and cozy layering pieces.

The yarn gave me strong vibes of:

  • Red Heart Unforgettable
  • Some of the color-changing yarns from Michaels
  • The colorful yarns from Hobbii

Every single colorway felt inspiring in a different way:

  • Teals, burgundies, and grays
  • Witchy pinks, blacks, and greens
  • Rich blues and earthy oranges
  • Muddy purples and browns
  • Bright turquoise and hot pink combinations

Honestly, I couldn’t even pick a favorite.

These yarns immediately had me thinking about:

  • Bandana scarves with fringe
  • Lightweight boho shawls
  • Market-friendly accessories
  • Relaxed layering pieces with lots of texture and movement

A Fun Vintage Yarn Thrift Find

As if the Ice Yarns weren’t enough excitement, I also stumbled across a vintage yarn while thrifting and antiquing with a friend.

The yarn? Caron Dazzle Air.

The second I saw it, I knew it had that nostalgic late-90s / Y2K energy. The colorways were soft but colorful, with a fuzzy brushed halo that reminded me a little of newer Super Saver Brushed acrylic yarns.

The funniest part? The original price tag was still attached… and the original owner paid $1.49 for it. I paid $1.50 at the thrift store. Inflation is wild. 

Even though it’s discontinued, the yarn still feels surprisingly current. If you happen to have vintage yarn stashed away somewhere, this might be your sign to dig through those bins again because there are some hidden gems out there.

Current Crochet Plans

I’ve already started using the vintage yarn in a new crochet project inspired by a bolero shrug I made previously. I’m keeping this one very simple, just two panels sewn together, but I’m loving the texture so far.

And honestly? Some of those Ice Yarns Rainbow colorways might become future versions of this project too.

Lately I’ve really been drawn to projects that feel:

  • Relaxed
  • Wearable
  • Slightly boho
  • Texture-focused
  • Easy to customize

The kind of crochet that feels creative without becoming stressful.

Final Thoughts

This entire experience reminded me how much I love the community side of fiber arts. Yarn swaps, inspiration, sharing ideas, helping each other learn new skills... it’s all part of what makes this hobby so special.

And of course… surprise yarn doesn’t hurt either. 

Thanks for talking yarn with me!

Check out all my new yarn in this video!


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