Anny Blatt Fall 2009

I'm far enough along in my current sweater that it is time to consider what's next, so I knitted a swatch this morning and blocked it.  I wasn't particularly fond of the swatch unblocked, but the wet it shows more promise. The decision will turn on the hand of the dry swatch. More information will be forthcoming.

I had originally thought I would start this Anny Blatt sweater next, but perhaps I was a little over-ambitious in how far I would have progressed in my general fitness and weight-loss goals.  I have decided that I would like to wait until I am a little closer to where I want to be before I actually start this project, even though it will not be the fastest knit.  Because it is on tiny needles it will also be a knit that I will not be happy to have rip out and reknit just because it is too big.

Instead today I will show you a few favorites from the new, Fall 2009 Anny Blatt books, sweaters I would love to knit even though I am well aware that I currently have a backlog of several Anny Blatt sweaters including one that was started and then turned into a tangled mess by the blessed baby cat, Moisés.

From Anny Blatt Book 206 there are three sweaters that caught my eye.  The first is this one, Valliere, done in intarsia in three different yarns, all in the same shade.  I adore this; I love the subtlety of the change in texture and color afforded by the different yarns, I love the simple elegant shape (and yes there is shaping in this sweater) and the modified bell sleeves which are not to big.  This sweater falls into the "must knit" category for me.

My second favorite sweater in this book is another intarsia sweater, Mazarin, which is very reminiscent of the lovely intarsia sweaters that I associate with Anny Blatt in the 90s.  I'm just going with what I love here.  I love the deep v-neckline and the fitted shape.  I love the asymmetrical color work.  What I don't particularly love are the pearls and beads sewn on this sweater, not that I have anything against pearls on sweaters (see Mine) just that I don't like the pearls on this particular sweater.  Luckily, they are not required.  I would leave off the pearls and the little intarsia dots running up the front of the sweater and otherwise leave the rest of the pattern alone.

I am also rather fond of this sweater, named Achery.  I have been wearing more stripes, and horizontal ones at that lately, which is not such a bad look, especially as my torso above the hipline is my slimmest part.  I like the stripes but mostly I like the hem and sleeve finish combined with the stripes, although generally this sweater seems more like "summer" to me but perhaps that is because I see it more in "summer" colors. 

Certainly the colors shown are not for me, which is a shame in one sense as I would love to use the yarn, Lady Blatt, which is a combination of camel, silk, and cashmere.  Alas Lady Blatt does not come in 4 colors flattering enough to my complexion to make this sweater; there are three colors I would use, but I haven't convinced myself that there is a 4th color that fits my vision of the thing.  Not to worry, there are many other yarns in the universe and my lusting after Lady Blatt is probably best confined to a smaller project than an entire sweater.

I'm still fretting over the whole turtleneck issue, and whether I should invest in more turtlenecks from a style-perspective.  From a practical perspective they are fabulous as they keep the neck and chest warm and look a little more sleek than a scarf.  I suppose now that I think about it, I am never giving up turtlenecks, unless perhaps, my neck collapses and my chin rests on my collar bones and I don't see that happening. 

Which brings me to the lovely Myrica from Book 207. I love the cables that increase in width as they move up the torso, bringing the eyes upward, the godets that flare over the hips, the lovely lattice at the neck and cuffs.  When I was first looking at this book I also happened to be trying on sweaters and I was convinced I wanted to unravel a favorite, now too large, cashmere sweater to make this.  But I have come to my senses.  Not about unravelling the cashmere, that will be done as it is a lovely sport to DK weight yarn, but in terms of using it for this sweater.  The cashmere is too soft and fluffy, and this sweater will look better with a yarn that shows the cables more crisply.

Last, there is the lovey Melonie.  I suppose this is a more standard, classic, ladylike sweater in a fairly popular stitch pattern, but that doesn't make it less lovely.  Certainly it is the perfect shape, with a lovely V-neckline that always looks good on me.  It is a sweater that would be perfectly at home over skirts or pants either casual or more tailored and therefore fits my idea of a perfect wardrobe basic.

Comments

[jenni]

My favourite is the Myrica (the one with all the darling cables). I am sucker for turtlenecks and cable anyway but that one is special and I do think it would suit you really well.

[Monique]

I especially love the cabled turtleneck and the lacy v-neck! Beautiful!

[Marji]

oh, don't give up on the one you linked to - my fav! I do love Velliere too, and that bottom with the graduated cables - the graduation is so subtle I would have missed it if you hadn't pointed it out - I think I WANT that pattern! ;)
Anxious to see what you've actually decided to start.

[materfamilias]

I like the bottom one best -- I favour the V-neck as well. The tope is pretty, but the notion of that intarsia makes me cringe -- I'm quite happy knitting fair-isle, but have never enjoyed intarsia! Cables are always satisfying, and those are clever increases, but I have limited use for turtleneck handknits -- cozy, yes, but too many of the buildings I work in are heated too much. If they suit your lifestyle, I'd forget about the style perspective and just enjoy their cuddle factor -- totally worth it!

[K-Line]

My fave is the top one. I think they are very complicated patterns. You are very experienced, obviously!