I Really Needed To Do This....
Since I've been in the mood to cast on lately, browsing on the internet can be pretty risky business, it seems. I mean, the last time I visited Brooklyn Tweed's blog I ended up buying his recent book(let) of stunning patterns even though the shipping was exorbitant! I didn't manage to make it through the latest issue of Twist Collective without buying a couple patterns either. Well the trend has continued with my latest visit to The Yarn Harlot's blog. Much to my amazement, she has finally posted her cashmere cowl pattern and called it Pretty Thing. It's available to purchase as a download so I trotted off to Paypal like an obsessed knitting zombie and doled out my shekels...
It really IS a gorgeous cowl. The stitches aren't too complicated and since it's getting pretty nippy, I promised "myself" something nice. First, comes the much anticipated stash hunt - that perennially delightful sport of browsing, reminiscing, fondling and squeezing my way through baskets and cupboards before finally ending up choosing the yarn I figured I would use anyways.... Ha! Ha!
I actually came up with two choices, both of them from Wild Geese. One, a soft brown cashmere/Bison (yes, real buffalo fiber) blend and the second, a red Bison/silk/Merino blend... The first order of business was to wind the skeins into balls.
I selected two yarns because I wasn't sure which one I would use. They are slightly different weights and I figured I would knit a swatch with each to see if I could get gauge and if I liked the fabric. Sounded simple enough. I liked the red best so I started with it. The swatch was perfect, or at least perfect enough for me! The fabric was divine! So the poor brown went back into the basket without even a test swatch (poor dear! but there'll be another project!)
I'm sure you've already noticed there are two balls of the brown and only one of the red. NOT enough for the cowl! This problem was really easy to fix - TOO easy, actually! I just went over to Barb's shop and bought some more! LOL! Fortunately she has some in stock right now, not a common situation, as this is a very popular blend and it tends to sell out fairly quickly! It is both soft and silky - almost cool to the touch. Something else I like is that it isn't fuzzy at all. I mean, I love cashmere as much as the next guy but I'm just not fond of fuzz next to my face.
This is the part where I tell you what I changed, right? Surprise! I only added one lace pattern repeat but that's written into the pattern if you don't like things tight around your neck - which I don't. So - believe it or not, I didn't change anything - really!
I sat down and cast on. Much to my surprise it went pretty smoothly. I didn't even get a twist in my stitches (this is knit in the round). I will make one comment, though. The pattern suggests using a 16" (40 cm) circular needle. I honestly don't know how it could be comfortably knit on a 16" with the original stitch count, even if it was really loosely knit. I added one lace pattern repeat and was finding it a pretty tight stretch for the first few rounds. I even considered switching to a smaller circ but stuck it out. Once the first inch was knit it wasn't so bad and now it's going fairly smoothly but it sure wouldn't be if I'd used the original 118 stitches. I also want to mention I didn't realize the chart would come up so clearly in these photos so I tried to make it fuzzy with my photo editor. I'd sure hate to be accused of not respecting Steph's intellectual property rights!
Hopefully I'll have more progress to show you soon. I really love this yarn and I'm really looking forward to wearing this cowl! Cheers!
It really IS a gorgeous cowl. The stitches aren't too complicated and since it's getting pretty nippy, I promised "myself" something nice. First, comes the much anticipated stash hunt - that perennially delightful sport of browsing, reminiscing, fondling and squeezing my way through baskets and cupboards before finally ending up choosing the yarn I figured I would use anyways.... Ha! Ha!
I actually came up with two choices, both of them from Wild Geese. One, a soft brown cashmere/Bison (yes, real buffalo fiber) blend and the second, a red Bison/silk/Merino blend... The first order of business was to wind the skeins into balls.
I selected two yarns because I wasn't sure which one I would use. They are slightly different weights and I figured I would knit a swatch with each to see if I could get gauge and if I liked the fabric. Sounded simple enough. I liked the red best so I started with it. The swatch was perfect, or at least perfect enough for me! The fabric was divine! So the poor brown went back into the basket without even a test swatch (poor dear! but there'll be another project!)
I'm sure you've already noticed there are two balls of the brown and only one of the red. NOT enough for the cowl! This problem was really easy to fix - TOO easy, actually! I just went over to Barb's shop and bought some more! LOL! Fortunately she has some in stock right now, not a common situation, as this is a very popular blend and it tends to sell out fairly quickly! It is both soft and silky - almost cool to the touch. Something else I like is that it isn't fuzzy at all. I mean, I love cashmere as much as the next guy but I'm just not fond of fuzz next to my face.
I sat down and cast on. Much to my surprise it went pretty smoothly. I didn't even get a twist in my stitches (this is knit in the round). I will make one comment, though. The pattern suggests using a 16" (40 cm) circular needle. I honestly don't know how it could be comfortably knit on a 16" with the original stitch count, even if it was really loosely knit. I added one lace pattern repeat and was finding it a pretty tight stretch for the first few rounds. I even considered switching to a smaller circ but stuck it out. Once the first inch was knit it wasn't so bad and now it's going fairly smoothly but it sure wouldn't be if I'd used the original 118 stitches. I also want to mention I didn't realize the chart would come up so clearly in these photos so I tried to make it fuzzy with my photo editor. I'd sure hate to be accused of not respecting Steph's intellectual property rights!
Hopefully I'll have more progress to show you soon. I really love this yarn and I'm really looking forward to wearing this cowl! Cheers!
Posted by Gloria Patre at 10/13/2009 7:01 PM 
Categories: Other Projects
Tags: buffalo yarn pretty thing bison Pearl-McPhee
Categories: Other Projects
Tags: buffalo yarn pretty thing bison Pearl-McPhee
I cant wait to see your finished cowl! It really is a lovely looking pattern and you most certainly deserve something snuggly for the cold weather!
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