Although my last project may have been exercise in frustration, I am certainly back on track now. My current sweater is one of the items I really wanted to be starting when I started working with the Shanghai yarn, and now that I am actually knitting, I am loving this project more and more.
It all started with some Arftul Yarns Serenade in color 6003, Sunrise, Sunset. I just fell in love with the color of this yarn and bought up all they had at my LYS. Then I had to find a pattern. I had an idea in my head, and for once I knew exactly where to look:
Obviously I had the right idea, and I have no idea how I did it because I usually am terrible at remembering where I saw a particular pattern.
But I was enamored of this cardigan:
Was it the similarity in the colors? Yes, it does look that way, but as soon as I saw the yarn, I knew I wanted a fitted cardigan with 3/4 sleeves. This just happened to be the right cardigan. And when I knitted the swatch and got perfect gauge, I knew it was meant to be.
I love, love, love knitting with this yarn. And I think I will love the sweater as well. The angora keeps the cotton light and drapey and it just looks beautiful knitted up, light and spongy.
Since I started knitting I have checked Ravelry and have found that quite a few people complain of shedding and piling and I hope that is not the case. I am getting a bit of fuzz while I knit, but no more than any other wool/alpaca/ blend yarn that is not really tightly spun. I have other angora sweaters that shed only lightly although I know it is a common complaint. Well I will see. Perhaps it doesn't wear well, I won't know until I actually wear it, and just looking at my swatch and the sweater I am knitting I have trouble seeing it.
But then again, I like angora.
I am about half way through the back of the sweater:
If this works out well, and I don't see why it shouldn't, I am already thinking ahead to future versions of this sweater in other yarns/fibers/colors. The pattern itself is such a classically lovely, simple, elegant shape. How could I not want a few of them? But then again, I may once again be counting my sweaters before they are knit.
I am not one of these knitters that knits something only once. That would be truly difficult because I am the kind of person who, when I find something I really love, wears it over and over and over and wants it in all available colors.
It was wonderful to see you last night, and the project looks even more amazing in person. Sorry about Shanghai, but those "bad" knits come along from time to time, as you know. Have a great weekend.
Posted by: Gina | Friday, June 27, 2008 at 02:36 PM
I love the color and that looks like a great pattern too. If it's nice to knit, that's even better! Very nice.
Posted by: Liana | Wednesday, June 25, 2008 at 10:33 PM