Black Dog

I often (semi) joke about beng able to start two new projects for every one that I manage to finish. Recently, I’ve wrapped up a Baby Surprise Jacket (shown in my last post), the Eyelet Cardigan (not shown yet–still needs the ends darned in and blocked), and a single sock that will serve as a model when the yarn arrives in just over a week. With that tally, I can justify starting four garments and at least one sock. So here we go!

First off, I’ve wanted to make this cardigan

for a shop model for over a year now, since discovering it in our pattern drawers at the shop. I think it will be flattering for variety of figures because of the low stance, and there’s some simple waist shaping at the sides. Calling for a worsted-weight yarn, my original plans were to use Nashua Creative Focus Worsted (and I may still do so…..), but I fell under the spell of this

That’s Eco Alpaca from Cascade. The eco part is that it’s undyed–all natural “critter colors”. This particular version is one ply of each of four shades–two tans and two greys–to form a beautiful marled yarn that works up into lovely fabric. So lovely that the back of the sweater flowed off my needles in about 36 hours

No, seriously–I cast on sometime on Monday afternoon and put the stitches on hold Tuesday evening. The resulting fabric is soooooooo soft and lush. I’m making 39″ finished bust and it’s only going to take five hanks–they’re $16 each (a GREAT price point for a baby alpaca yarn), so this is an $80 project in a luxury fiber (the largest size, a 48″ finished bust, would be six hanks, or $96 to make….still, quite the value). But I’ve put this on hold overnight in favor of another alpaca-based beauty…..

Girasole is a stunning design by Jared Flood, an east-coast designer, photographer, genius, spinner–I could go on and on about his myriad of talents. It’s written to be flexible as to yarns–there’s a fingering-weight option and chunky-weight option in the pattern, and you could use any yarn of your choosing just by altering the needle size accordingly. We’re running a Knit-Along at the shop that starts this coming Sunday, July 19th, at noon (and every third Sunday of the month) that’s FREE OF CHARGE and more of a “sit and knit with friends and ask questions when they pop up” versus an organized class. Marcia is leading it, and she’s already on the edging on her version,

which is underway using Classic Elite Silky Alpaca Lace, a delicious blend of 70% alpaca and 30% silk at $9.95 for 460 yards of luscious yarn (three makes the shawl….UNDER $30!!!).

My version is going to end up larger, as I’m using Pure Alpaca by Cascade (teaser shown in my previous post, below). Well, we had our first photo shoot this morning, on the back deck

Since Girasole is sunflower in Italian, I thought it was appropriate to take the glam shot in the dappled morning sun, around 8 a.m. today. If you think it looks lovely, you should fondle it (fondles are free–and it will be at the shop whenever I am…….just ask!). The pattern estimates about 1,800 yards for the larger version, but that’s in a thicker yarn so I’m not sure how much it will take (the finer-gauge version takes FEWER yards), so I’m holding an entire bag–2,200 yards– for my version, just in case. Progress checks to follow, as the project grows.

I threatened to swatch with Portland Tweed from Classic Elite a couple posts ago, and I finally did

however, the color has changed (I switched projects!). I’ll still get back to the red tweed pullover, but in the mean time a pre-release copy of a pattern has come available and the knitting has commenced! Swatching is done and casting on has happened, but it’s not impressive. Updates to follow, I promise!

Just one more start to share

I’ve always gotta have a sock in progress, to take with me to the bank and just for generic knitting time when presented with a few moments (or for movie knitting—Matt and I plan to see the new Harry Potter movie sometime soon, and this is perfect….round and round and round. It’s Trekking Maxima, and they’re special socks that will be a gift when they’re finally finished. I love Maxima, as the slow ramble of colors is very inspirational…..ya gotta knit more to see what comes next and how it will look with the previous colors!

OK–enough blathering on about my new projects. I’ve got to get ready and get to work at the shop. It will be a fun day, for sure, as tonight is Friday night, and that means the “Friday Night Rocks” bunch will be in full swing, complete with taco bar and more! Bring your odds and ends in sock yarn (or even worsted–some are using thicker yarns) and appropriate needles and we’re glad to help you learn the basics of making modular squares. If you already know or have a project in progress, it’s a great night to come by, enjoy the social aspect of things, and swap yarns with fellow fiber nuts. SEE YOU THERE!

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