purlsandmurmers

More Anny Blatt

It appears that "tomorrow" became three days.  Oh well.

Anny Blatt book 203, "Couture" is not as interesting to me as the previous book.  There are a lot of sweaters that remind me of sweaters Anny Blatt did in the 90's and even late 80's, but I think the originals are better.  Most of the patterns are just a little "off" to me, or perhaps it is just too much bling.  

At first I was thrilled by three sweaters with classic shapes and interesting intarsia patterns, but after due consideration I realized that the only one that really calls to me is this cover sweater.  

Even with the pailletes it calls to me.  Or perhaps it is just the summer flowers which indicate a longing to be out in the garden.

I probably will not knit it anyway for the same reasons mentioned in my previous post, namely I am already backed up on colorwork sweaters and this is not calling to me loudly enough to displace those items already in the queue.

The only other sweater in this book that appeals is this rather classic cardigan, called Lorraine.

Again, it is not that unusual or special, pattern wise or even stitch wise, but it is just a lovely classic cardigan of the type that I would wear over and over and over again.

I guess that alone should be enough reason to knit it.  

But attraction is fickle, at least my attraction to knittng projects, and being steadfast and integrating well into the wardrobe aren't always what I am looking for in a knitting relationship.  Where is the excitement, the suspense, the surprise?

In terms of knitting thrills the cover sweater is more enticing.  Will either one get knit?  Well, fall is not here yet.

Warm Woolen Sweaters and Crisp Apple Strudel

This post has been revised with improved photos

Double click on all photos to open a full sized version in another window

It always happens this way: In the midst of summer heat and humidity, when the air is too hot and too heavy and the thought of holding yarn, much less wearing any kind of sweater has slowed my knitting down to a long slow drawl, the winter knitting  books begin to arrive.

You might think that looking at winter knitting patterns in the middle of summer heat would be the last thing I would want to do.  You would be surprised.  The lure of winter yarns is much like the thrill that comes every December when the spring gardening catalogs start to arrive, whetting the appetite for balmy spring days surrounded by beautiful flowers.    With winter knitting magazines come dreams of crisp autumn days and cozy winter evenings in front of the fire.  Winter dreams consist of all the things I love, hearty stews, crispy duck, warm wool and cashmere, full bodied red wine, brandy by the fire, snow, cranberries... Not that I don't love summer berries and produce, crisp linens and beautiful flowers, but the heat and humidity?  Bah.  That I could do without.

And so just when I think that I summer will never end, the fall temptations begin to arrive.

The new Anny Blatt Intemporel, Book #204, is filled with sweaters I would love to knit.  In fact the shorter list here would be the things I don't like.  The problem is that I want to knit everything even though I know it will never happen.  Still, dreams are cheap enough.

First of all I love the cover vest.  Well, that is not exactly true.  I love the cover vest as it is  styled in the cover photograph.  Upon looking at the line drawings I see that it is just a giant rectangle with a ribbed neck.  It will probably not stay in place properly, and most of all it will not give me that wide shouldered - narrow hipped look of the model.   In fact it probably doesn't even look all that great on the model when she is standing straight.  It probably falls off her shoulders and just looks wide and floppy.

I toyed with the idea of fixing it, wondering if I could extend the ribbed front look with some garter stitch or something and make a round drawstring waist, breaking the lace in two.  In the end these idle fantasies are always too much work.  There are too many other things in the world to knit.

When I saw the long cabled sweater on the back cover (leda, far right) I was very excited.  When I saw that there was another one inside I felt like i had hit the jackpot.  I can live in this kind of sweater when the weather turns cold and I much prefer the longer length to the more traditional shorter style of cabled sweater.  I think the pattern on the turtleneck is the more interesting of the two, and when I was younger it would have been my first choice.  But it is a very long expanse of sweater and I am increasingly appreciating the wearing potential of a more open neckline.

For those of us who are tall or who like long sweaters.  This issue is the mother lode.

The long cardigan on the far left reminds me very much of a long black cashmere cardigan my MIL gave me shortly before I married her son.  I still have that cardigan and it is probably one of the most frequently worn cardigans in my closet.  Since it is more than 20 years old at this point, I keep meaning to make another, but I have never gotten around to doing so.  This cardigan is the exact same shape and length as my favorite cardigan.  The Merinos yarn called for in this pattern is a slightly heavier gauge, but the yarn is yummy and the interesting basket weave stitch is attractive and will hopefully not be too tedious to knit.  This project would probably be a very good investment of knitting time.

The red cardigan coat is just so lovely, although I am not completely sure it is my style.  I think it could work wit the right outfit, but at this point I think this is more of a fantasy knit that will marvelously enhance my fantasy wardrobe.

While I am on the subject of long sweaters, here are two more that caught my fancy.  The long dusky plum sweater calls for "fine kid" and is knit on 6 different sizes of needles.  I love  the line of this sweater and it is a very flattering look for me.  I love the lace patterns at the hems also, although I may have to make the sleeves slightly narrower simply because I am the kind of person who has an unfortunate tendency to drag my sleeves through my soup.

Isn't the scarf wonderful too?

I jut adore this color work sweater too.  I love the fit through the waist, the way the sweater flares from waist to hem, the beautiful lusciously feminine colors.  Most of all however I have to admit that I love the idea of this sweater because it is knit entirely in Angora Super and I love angora.  Geesh, I feel soft and pretty and cuddly just thinking about this sweater.  But I have several color work sweaters in the works and they are all currently stalled. So I don't think this is a reasonable investment at this time.  Yes I could buy other yarn, but it is the angoraness (yes I know, not a word) of this sweater that appeals as much as the pretty colors.

Finally there are two shorter cardigans:

One Classic.

One not so classic.

At the moment I am drawn to the less classic one.  I like the modified empire line, it is soft and feminine but still has enough structure that I think it will look stunning with a narrow tailored skirt, or with pants as shown.  

And here I have gone on an on and haven't even looked at the second of the two Anny Blatt books that arrived.  

Tomorrow

Update

Progress has been slow on the Shanghai tee because I just haven't been knitting all that much. 

I didn't go to knitting group Thursday night because I was just a little frazzled and felt like there were too many things at home I would rather be working on.  None of these things involved knitting.

Friday night we went into NYC for a concert at Avery Fisher Hall.  Usually I would get a lot of knitting done on the train but not this time.  G wanted to try listening to a book on tape so I lent him my Ipod on the trip down and while I did knit a little bit, I spent more time reading the papers (NY Times and Wall Street Journal) and Eat, Pray, Love.  I got a Kindle from Amazon for G for his birthday, thinking that the ability to use a larger typeface would make it easier for him to read, since he so often complains about how tired and painful his eyes are after about an hour of reading.  The Opthamologist says there are no changes in his vision and not much they can do so I thought the large type would help, but he has trouble managing the device.  Oh well.  I however found that it was great when we were traveling, or at waiting rooms and the like because it is small enough to easily drop in my purse and I can have several books or newspapers on it.  As G watches me use it, he is thinking that he might give it another chance.

G really liked the book on tape though and ended up using the Ipod on the way home as well.  I read for a while, but at midnight to 1 AM on an uncomfortable train, my concentration was a little lacking for knitting without the aide of a book or music.

Despite the knitting progress, I did want to show you some of the knew books that have been piling up.  Several relatively new books arrived while I was away earlier in the month, and I am just getting around to looking at them now.

  I ordered Tweed by Nancy Thomas because I am increasingly drawn to tweedy yarns.  I have, as I have gotten older developed more of an appreciation for traditional patterns and tweedy yarns and I just love my Rogue that was knit in Tahki Donegal Tweed.  I enjoyed reading the information at the beginning of the book about tweed yarns and there doesn't seem to be a pattern in the book that I can't imagine knitting for either myself or someone in my family.  The sweaters are all comfy country sweaters that I could wear almost anywhere around my home area all fall and winter as well as through the wet muddy cool days of early spring (which lasted a little longer than usual this year).


The sweaters in Lisa Lloyd's A Fine Fleece fit the same need for stylish, comfortable, "country" sweaters which can work for raking leaves, walking in the woods, browsing the shops in Rhinebeck or even going out to dinner in the local restaurants which are becoming increasingly sophisticated culinarily, but still maintain a country "casual" atmosphere.  I had admired a few of Ms. Lloyd's patterns before buying the book, and I love the idea that it has information about handspun yarns, types of wool, and spinning one's own yarn.  I also find it very interesting and instructive that the patterns are shown in a handspun version and in a version using commercially available wool, convenient for those of us who aren't yet spinning, while also reminding me that I do really want to pick up that spindle again and perhaps learn to spin.

Spring Vogue Knitting

Well, the Vogue Knitting did finally arrive over the weekend and I had plenty of time to peruse it over the weekend, and again this afternoon when a minor accident kept me from my assigned task of installing bookcases in the new library.

You probably will not be surprised to learn that there are several things I like; it is actually more surprising when there is little I like in this magazine.  Don't know when any of this will get knitted though, but knitting inspiration pops up when it will and all these lovely sweaters will pool around in my brain, jostling for position, until the right one just happens to jump to the forefront.

I do like the cover sweater very much, and I like this little cropped thing as well:

Although at the moment I love this blue one but can't imagine wearing it.  That might change.  It is not so that I am worried about whether it will look good on me, because if I can figure out an outfit, I know it will look good, because it will look the way I want it to look, I just haven't gotten that far along yet.  Someday it might just pop into my head though. 

I have been really thinking about shrugs and cropped sweaters this spring though.  They are somehow in my head even though that trend is probably over, or perhaps it is because that trend is over -- once again I am not sure I really care.  I'll make what I feel like wearing.

It is probably no surprise that I love the Kaffe Fassett cardigan, or perhaps even this interesting top by Mary Lynn Patrick.  Although I am not always fond of Ms. Patrick's patterns, and I tend to be somewhat wary of combining too much pattern and texture in one top, this one appeals to me somehow, although it could be that it just reminds me of some of the ethnic and heavily patterned influences that are popular in fashion right at the moment.

This tunic with its combination of cables, lace and really classic shape definitely appeals, as does this sweater with its asymmetrical design that looks like it will be easy to wear and entertaining to knit:

New Rowan

New Rowan books!

I love getting the Rowan magazines and this one is no exception.  There are several designs in here I would like to knit, some immediately, and some that can wait.  And there are others that I think are nice. 

I am always amazed when I go back and look at previous issues how many designs stand the test of time and I think this issue will be no exception.

Most of the sweaters that I am attracted to in this issue are more classic sweaters that I can wear for a long time.

One exception is perhaps Granite:

This sweater is just seriously cool, and I am really hoping to be knitting this.  Unfortunately it uses Bamboo Tape, which is not currently represented in my stash and my intention is to knit up a bit more of the stash and reduce new yarn purchases somewhat.  Unfortunately, although I can substitute, I think the shape of this sweater will really shine with the drape of bamboo and I would have to be very careful with substitutions.

Another sweater that uses Bamboo tape is this loose vest-like tank, called Mine.  I love the beads along the edge and I think this would look really cool over a pair of jeans with a close fitted tee or two underneath.  Because it is loose and drapey  I would want it to be short enough that a clingy tee would extend underneath.  This pattern is a bit short for me and I might make it a tad shorter, to maximize its layering potential. 

Mine is simple but really already planted firmly in my brain as a must-have for spring and summer, so I might just have to get the yarn and the beads.

As I said the other designs I really like are more classic in their appeal.  Kaffe Fassett and Brandon Mabley are both represented:

I would make the men's vest in a small, making it for myself and adding a good bit of shaping to it so that it was much more close-fitting .  I would probably also lower the v-neckline just a wee bit to show a little more flesh at the neckline.

I also love this delicate lacy tee by Sarah Hatton.

It seems that I am increasingly attracted to delicate feminine things even though not so long ago I would have said that lace was really not my thing.  Apparently that is no longer the case and one of these days something like this tee is going to appear on my needles. I can't quite bring myself to do the whole wispy romantic look, but I can see this with a pair of sharply tailored pants as well.

There is actually more.  A couple of RYC books arrived in the same package, but I have already gone on long enough, and not completed my chores for today, so I will have to continue later.

And I forgot to mention....

The Vogue Knitting wasn't the only new knitting magazine to arrive last week, but it was the only one that was probably worth mentioning. 

The new Verena also arrived.

When I was first notified that Verena was no longer going to be published I was devastated because they had so many sweaters I loved.  Then, when I was notified that they were resuming publication I was filled with glee and quickly dropped the required cash for a new subscription.

I shouldn't have bothered.  This is the second issue of the "new" Verena I have received and both have been completely boring.  What a disappointment.

Vogue Knitting

Here it is more than half way through the week and I am still catching up with last weekend.  And not all bad things happened, and I did indeed enjoy my short visit to Rhinebeck.  Any problems were purely of my own doing and stemmed from the generally overwhelmed mental state in which I was operating. 

There were some good points though.

For the first time in a few years, the winter issue of Vogue Knitting arrived BEFORE the sheep and wool festival.  I distinctly remember running around Dutchess and Ulster Counties on a Saturday evening two years ago looking to purchase a copy of the magazine because mine had not come and I desperately needed more information on a pattern for which I wanted to purchase yarn.

In fact, even though I missed time at the fairgrounds and a party or two, I was happy to spend stolen moments curled up with this issue of VK.  I like this issue far, far more than the last one, the much touted anniversary issue, which I thought was quite disappointing.

Admittedly I was first attracted to this sweater because of the color.

But when I looked more closely I found that I still loved the pattern.  I actually have some of the recommended Colinette yarn in my stash, although perhaps not enough for this sweater.  I purchased it for something else, for which it may or may not be suited.

In fact this seems to be the color of the season, at least as far as my attraction to the Russian collection in the magazine, because I was also attracted to this sweater, which is fabulous for its color, and the lovely shaping and detail, enough interest to keep it from being a boring knit, and yet no so busy that it doesn't get worn.

I have mentioned several times lately that I seem to be increasingly attracted to color work again, although you haven't yet seen me start any sweaters that require multiple colors in any form.  Still I feel myself getting closer and closer.

This issue has three sweaters that are really tempting me to take the color plunge:

But it is not all about color, or at least bright color.  I also love this classic cardigan shown in the section on Paulina Porizkova:

 
I find all of Tom Scott's designs fascinating and I am particularly attracted to the interesting shaping of the garments, although this simple wrap uses no shaping and I love it.  This is the sweater from this group that I am most likely to get made first, and it is the only one in the set where I actually like the fringes as part of the design.

Still, this short, one-sleeve wrap is also high on my list and looks like it would be fast an entertaining to knit and wear:

Although I love beautiful knitted lace, lace garments are among the least likely in terms of my actually wearing them,  so they aren't usually high on the list.  None the less, there is an absolutely beautiful beaded shawl that I would love to knit:

And Shirley Paden's lace skirt and top also attracted, especially after I noticed that it was indeed two pieces and not a dress.  I don't think I would knit or wear this as it is written, but I am very intrigued by the design and I am already dancing around a few ideas.

Of course the likelihood of my getting to any of these projects in the immediate  future is even further in the world of fantasy.

Book Review: Inspired Fair Isle Knits

Some of my knitting time over the weekend was occupied by poring over a new book:

Since I love Fiona Ellis's Inspired Cable Knits I pre-ordered the new Fair Isle book from Amazon and it arrived sometime near the end of last week. Since that time I have spent some time looking at the book and thought I would attempt a more thorough review.

Fiona Ellis seems to have successfully worked out a style combining traditional elements in sweaters that have strong traditional roots, but are not limited by traditional constraints or styles and which are also quite modern and fit into modern lifestyles   This book appealed because I love Fair Isle knitting and have several books on the subject, but find that it does not, for the most part fit into my lifestyle.    About one traditional stranded fair isle sweater is all I need and it would not see heavy wear.  I think the author has been successful in using fair isle techniques and patterning in sweaters that are not, for the most part fair isle sweaters.

If you are looking for a book on traditional fair isle knitting, this would not be the book for you.  Hopefully one would glean this from the title.  This does not mean the book is devoid of useful information.  There is a good information section in the front of the book which covers techniques, terms, and assembly of the sweaters.  There is certainly enough information here to get most knitters through the construction of any sweater in this book even if they have no experience with fair isle or stranded knitting.  There is a good glossary of terms and even a needle size conversion chart.  In the back of the book is a list of all the yarns used along with a photo of each project which makes it easier to find the desired information.  Almost everything you would need for finding the materials for a project and substituting yarns if desired can be found in the book.  I would prefer it if WPI information had been included with the yarns as well, as I find that this is quite helpful for successful substitution, but actually this information is included in few knitting books.   There is also a good list of yarn sources.

The patterns seem to be well written.  The sizes are given, the diagrams also include measurements, there is a thorough list of yarns and equipment needed for each project.  Ms. Ellis also highlights any specific techniques that might be needed in constructing each garment and refers the reader back to specific information in the introductory section that might be helpful.  The instructions seem to be clear and thorough although I have not yet followed the directions to knit any sweater in this book.

Truthfully, I don't usually look at how well the patterns are written when I buy a book.  I am all for style or good detailed information on technique.  I tend to figure that I can figure out how to do anything else, and I have always knitted with this attitude, even when I was a fledgling knitter.  That does not mean that I haven't thrown sweaters at the wall and walked away for long periods of time.  But although I have not looked the actual writing of the patterns in the past, I recognize that this is something to which I should pay more attention, especially if I am going to make some attempt at recommending books.

While I am still on general opinions of the book, I do have a few quibbles.  First of all the editing is not always great.  Occasionally words are missing from sentences, although not that I have discerned, in any sections explaining a specific technique.  Some of the pictures are styled more like fashion shots, were taken in motion, and either do not show enough detail of the sweater itself or are somewhat blurry.  Fashion photography has its place, and some of the photos are beautiful, but I want to see a good photo that shows the shape and fit of a garment that I am about to knit.  When photographing knitting that has fine detailed pattern work like Fair Isle, I want to see the detail of the pattern and blurred photos do not aid in this process.

Another complaint I have is about sizing, although to be completely fair this is not unique to this book, and this book is better than many.  It lists the finished chest sizes of each garment at the beginning of each pattern, and the diagrams all have measurements as well.  This seems like it would be obvious, but I am surprised at how many knitting patterns do not give this information.    However the sizes seem inconsistent, especially when paired with other visual clues concerning the sweaters.

For example, lets look at the first two sweaters.  This sweater is knit in DK weight cotton.  The XS is given as 35" finished chest and the S as 39".  Obviously from the photo it is not a close fitting sweater, although it is hard to see the exact details of the fit from the model's pose. Still, the sweater looks loose but not tremendously over-sized.

The second sweater is in a worsted weight wool.  It is not written for an extra-small, but the small measures 34 1/2 inches at the chest, about the same size as the XS in the first sweater.   So I would assume that this sweater is meant to be more closely fitted than the first.  But the photo of the sweater seems to indicate otherwise.  In fact it looks too big for the model:

There is no indication of what size sweaters the models are wearing, or indeed of how the sweaters relate to the body size they are written for.   It seems to me that it would be easy enough to publish a fitting chart listing the actual body sizes that a designer is writing for, something like you find any mail order catalog and in sewing patterns.  If a designer gave us actual body measurements, for example a size XS is designed to fit a person with a 32" chest, S is a 34" chest and so forth, and then gave the finished dimensions of each sweater,  it would be much easier to decide which sweater to knit.  I might not knit the sweater that corresponds to my chest measurement if I want more or less ease than the designer, but at least I would have a better indication of what the designer intended.  This book is so thorough in so many ways, it seems a shame to me that such a little detail as this was omitted.

Of course knowing what the designer intended still doesn't tell us what size sweater is shown on what size model.  And I can understand that the models might not want a caption saying "X has a 32 inch chest and is modeling a size L", but I do think that knitwear designers need to think about how they present and label the photographs of their designs to provide as much information as possible to their audience.   I of course tend to assume that most models exist within the range of standard model proportions, namely tall and small, but this is not always the case because all models are not runway fashion models.

But on to the fun stuff.  You know that I buy a book like this for the patterns.  I am a sucker for new patterns, for colors, for designs that make me think differently or inspire me to try new things even if I don't knit the actual patterns in the book.  There are several sweaters here I would knit.

First of all, I love the first sweater, the cotton raglan with the fair isle sleeves shown above.  I would definitely wear that in spring, fall and on cool summer days (it is not appropriate for mid August humidity in the Hudson Valley).

I also love this cardigan, although the main photo does not do it justice:

Granted I am biased because I also love the colorway shown, but I also love the shaping and the detail, I love the way the patterning is used for a simple front band.  I love the pleated sleeves.

I also love this little top:

This top is shaped and apparently meant to be a bit more fitted given the measurements (XS = 32") which is appropriate for a little summer top.  This is the kind of thing I live in during the summer months, again except for those days of 90% humidity when nothing is appropriate.  I love the feminine details which enhance with overwhelming the style. I like the combination of colorwork and lace as well as the touch of Berroco's Mirror FX in the pattern detail. 

I like the touch of pattern work in this sweater:

This is really just a lovely soft sweater without the fair isle detail and I love the nice wide neckline.  I might be tempted to leave the pattern work off, but I think that in the end I would like the sweater better with than without.  First of all the color detail adds a little interest.  Secondly notice how the color work is placed at the shoulder line.  The stranded nature of the fair isle patterning will provide a firmer fabric at the shoulder which will help add structure and support to the garment.  This hides having to have an ugly firm seam and it provides shape to what would otherwise be a rather floppy sweater.  The same thing is true at the sleeves.  The fair isle band will help hold the sleeves in place, allowing the lace to flare out from a fairly firm wrist.  Without the fair isle I would think that this sleeve would just stretch and get in the way of everything.

Then I love this much more traditionally shaped sweater:

Doesn't it just look like a wonderfully comfy weekend sweater? It makes me want to take a walk on an Autumn day, kicking the fallen leaves in my path. I can see it as shown, straight through the body and mid-hip length (on me) or altered to have a little flare toward the hips and cut a little longer as well.

There are a few other things that inspire me as well.  I like the scarf shown on the cover, although at 9 inches in width it would never be my everyday tuck into a coat scarf.  Still there are times when a big warm dramatic scarf is just the perfect thing, and I love the i-cord fringe at the bottom as well.

There are also several men's sweaters that intrigue me and which I might adapt partially to sweaters for myself.  I wouldn't make them as they are written, and the men in my life don't wear sweaters so I am really no judge of men's sweaters, but they do inspire me, and I am a big fan of books that make me thing of sweater design in new ways. 

I am also interested in the IDEA of this sweater:

As you can tell, you can't really tell much about the sweater from the photo.  A better idea is available from the diagrams, it is a pretty traditionally shaped, straight raglan with a hood.  I realize that I am mostly attracted by the artful photography and the colors, and that often, falling in love with a pattern based on such sketchy details is  recipe for disappointment, but it haunts me nonetheless.  It certainly gives me a foundation from which to work so something is bound to come of it eventually.

As a last note, I love this sweater, although I have absolutely no one to knit it for:

How could I not?  My favorite colors.  The perfect amount of detail.  Unfortunately there are no little girls.  Maybe someday.
 

Three Sweaters

 

I am dreaming of sweaters.  I am dreaming of sweaters whose yarns are not represented in the pile of yarn-to-be-knit.  I am dreaming of sweaters for which the raw materials are most likely not anywhere in my stash. I am dreaming of three sweaters.  There appear to be some similarities between the sweaters, but appearances can be deceiving. 

These sweaters invaded my brain in the order shown above.  In terms of discussion however the last shall be first.

 

 

 

I first fell in love with this sweater when I saw an advertisement for it in one of the spring knitting magazines.  The pattern book was not yet available.  Eventually I ordered it and it arrived yesterday.  The bodice and peplum are knitted separately in Stacy Charles' Muse which is a 65% viscose, 25% cotton, 10% polyamide (nylon) blend. I find that I still love this sweater, I could easily order the yarn, and I might have something appropriate in my stash but there is still that pile of yarn in the corner.

Now this sweater is somewhat problematic.  I like the sweater, but I think it looks dumpy in the photograph.  It is swirling around in my head at the moment because of its similarity to the Anny Blatt sweater (first picture above).  But wait, you might say, those sweaters are only marginally alike.  Well, actually.....

The shape of this sweater is very much like the first sweater, both are fitted classic shapes.  I have checked the schematics and both are remarkably alike when knitted to the same size.  Of course the yarns are quite different and the drapes of the sweaters will be quite different. The Rowan Sweater is knit in Cotton Glace which will not hang with nearly the body skimming drape of the Anny Blatt Sweater.  But there are many color choices available and I think this sweater has great potential. And although I normally would wear the colors shown for this sweater, I think the muted color adds to the dumpy image of the sweater.  I would knit this in something much more vibrant.

But obviously the Rowan sweater is an "also ran".  I am thinking about it due to indecision about the sweater I really covet which is the Anny Blatt sweater, named Padies:

So why didn't I order the yarn for this sweater when I placed my Anny Blatt order?  Indecision. Simple indecision. This sweater is knit in alternating stripes of 5 yarns, all in the same color, except for the Victoria ribbon which is used in two colors in the bottom eyelet section.  This sweater is shown in a color called Tango, which is  a light orange (yellow red) with contrasting stripes in Crepuscule, which is deep prune (or a deep red-purple)

So what alternatives are there?  I found two. 
    FAIENCE which is, as you might have guessed, shades of blue.
    GERANIUM which comes in shades of red, perhaps pink-blue red

I like Geranium, but the new yarn used for the bodice, Selene, does not come in Geranium, although every other yarn used in this sweater does come in that shade.  Selene comes in two shades of red and it is possible that one of them would work.  As for the contrast, if Geranium is a medium-to-light red-purple, the contrast, in keeping with the design above, should be a deep Yellow-Red which would make it something that reads as a dark brown.  I would think that I would try for the colors Ecorce or Moon. Of course if geranium is orange-red or true-red, the contrast option would have to be different.

Now, every yarn comes in color Faience.  So that problem is solved.  But I already ordered yarn Selene de Bouton D'or for this sweater (click to enlarge):

There is also a fair amount of blue yarn in that pile of yarn sitting in the corner of my studio, waiting to be knitted.  I seem to be running a blue streak right now, which is fine, I can wear certain shades of blue quite well, but generally I am more of a green and plum kind of person.  So I wonder if I want more blue.

Faience also looks, and it is difficult to tell this on web samples, like it might be a little darker than the other two yarns, although it is possible that other yarns could be blended in to give the sweater a more light-toned look.  Also the yarn appears to me to read as more true-blue, which makes the contrast a little more difficult.  In the model sweater the sweater is all made in shades of one primary color -- in this case red.  A light yellow-red sweater with dark purple-red accents.  In the case of a Faience sweater I would need to use accents in another color, I suppose running to one of the secondary colors on either side -- green or purple, but the contrast is not as appealing to me.

As I write this it sounds more and more like I am leaning toward geraniums doesn't it? Originally I leaned toward blue, but that was before I started considering the contrast.

But I am not supposed to be ordering yarn.  And I do, in truth, feel a little overwhelmed in the yarn department right now.  Cotton Glace will be available, no problem, but the other yarns might not be.......

And this is how I talk myself into accumulating a yarn collection.

Oh Bother

I opened the mail one day this past week and found this magazine:

Now, I don't subscribe to Sabrina and quite frankly, as I looked through it the first time I had a bad feeling.  I wasn't sure exactly why I had received but had a sneaking suspicion that this meant I would not be getting something else.  My fears proved to be true.   Hidden deep inside the magazine, nestled between the pages, was a note from GLP International, the distributor who provided my subscription,  telling me that Hubert Burda Media is no longer publishing Verena and that they have substituted Sabrina for the remainder of my subscription.

They also tell me can subscribe to Filati Handknitting if I wish, so the next thing I do is get on the web to see if I can rustle up a copy of Filati Handknitting so I can compare the two.

There is no question in my mind.  Filati Handknitting is the magazine for me.  I got this issue:

And it is loaded with wonderful patterns, far more exciting than those in the Sabrina.  You can see the designs here .