Times are strange. And scary. There is an odd kind of stress associated with being hunkered down watching a calamity spread, simultaneously slow-slow-slow and incredibly fast and picking up speed. We have been in isolation for nearly two weeks now. In between learning how to work and teach remotely (not as easy as it sounds), I have been passing the time with knitting. Quelle surprise! As I’ve said on here before (like here and here), it grounds me. (See also this post on mental health and knitting.)
I have started two projects this week. Having finished my last project and not having any WIPs at hand (gasp!), I needed to quickly get some quarantine knitting on my needles. If you remember, a few weeks ago (it seems like it happened in another world), Doug and I went to Unravel ( a knitting and yarn show in Farnham, near London), and I bought six skeins of Beyul DK from Kettle Yarns:
I had in mind a project which I have wanted to knit since I first saw it in 2006, Hatcher by Julie Hoover:
© Julie Hoover
This is proving to be the perfect yarn for this project. It is crisp and shows off the cables perfectly, and it has a fantastic feel to it. The yarn is a mix of Baby Yak, Silk, and Ethical SW Merino, and is such a springy, soft, glossy yarn. I love it. The colour is called “yurt” which really doesn’t do it justice. It is a very urban, sophisticated shade, with bits of pewter and grey and taupe. I am very happy with it and it is knitting up quickly:
The second project should actually be classified as a “glimmer of a project” as it is still in a formative stage. I have frequently gone back to look at the pattern Fragments Cowl by Trin-Annelie:
© Trin-Annelie
I think the stitch pattern is totally cool and in the back of my mind I have been noodling around with the idea of using the stitch pattern from this cowl to knit a vest for Doug. I can’t get to a yarn shop right now (for obvious reasons) and so I enlisted the help of Jen and Jim Arnall-Culliford. I told Jen what I was thinking of doing, and that I wanted to do some swatching with Jamieson & Smith 2ply Jumper Weight yarn, which they carry in their online shop. Despite being in isolation themselves (with kids), they jumped in to help. Jen picked out a palette of shades which she thought might work, and arranged them in many different combinations of five and photographed them for me. She suggested that I might want to just order one each of eight shades and then do some swatching. Jim managed to get the yarn packaged up and in the post for me. Here is the palette:
And I spent part of yesterday doing a preliminary swatch, mixing and matching parts of the stitch pattern with different shades to see how they work together:
Why does the swatch have all of those ends hanging loose on the side? Because I was swatching while knitting flat for a project in the round, using the technique whereby you cut the yarn at the end of each row, slide the knitting back to the other side of the circular needle, and attach new yarn for the next row. When swatching this way, you will be knitting every row, rather than alternating knitting and purling rows, so that you will be able to get an accurate gauge for circular knitting without having to actually knit a huge swatch in the round.
I blocked the swatch last night, and after careful consideration, Doug and I decided….. that I needed to do some more swatching! So stay tuned to this channel to see how the story progresses, as I try every conceivable permutation of colour and pattern.
I am also planning a third project to cast on. I want to knit Koko by Olga Buraya-Kefelian:
© Olga Buraya-Kefelian
When I was at Unravel, I almost bought some yarn to make this. Luckily, I took a photo of the yarn. I am still thinking about it, but am wavering towards yes.
I think that this green has such a cheery “pop” and combined with the navy and cream will look very nautical and spring-like. What do you think? Yes or no?
Please take care everyone.
definitely yes! I bought some Kettle Yarn recently (two different ones, both in “citrine”, the colour comes out differently with different wool) and I am hooked and cannot wait to cast on (but promised myself to finish my other project(s) first). The yarn is gorgeous, your chosen colours are brilliant and upliftig (and so they fit the bill perfectly right now), look sophisticated and can be worn business-style or more casual.
Stay safe and well! (the times are not much better in Austria, the only solace being that you can still order yarn and the post will deliver…) HK
Oh yes, the citrine is lovely. I hope you finish up your other projects and can cast on soon. Take care, Heidi!
Yes!
Thanks for voting!
Def use the green! Love!
Thanks, Kathy!
The Koko looks fabulous. I’m a huge fan of green, and as you say, that emerald shade really pops against the navy and cream. Definitely go for that!
I’m glad you think so. I really thought it worked but have been second guessing myself.
That’s a “yes” on the green. (I see that I am not alone in saying this . . .)
ps: forgot to say how much I like the Beyul yarn in the Hoover design. Well chosen.
Hi Gretchen. The Hoover is such a classy design, isn’t it? And I see that there is a consensus on the green…
Definitely yes!!!. I love that wrap – such cool texture and I’m tempted to give it a go as well. Bottom and third row of your swatch look really cool – maybe it’s just the shades of pink that are a bit off. I’m sure you’ll find a great combo soon.
Thanks for the input on the swatch, Maylin. I have been having fun doing the swatching. Eventually I’ll get it right. Take care of yourself!
Love the Olga pattern, you should go for it! I’m knitting Birlinn Blanket squares, can’t get my head around anything else.
Love your wear ability posts, more would be great!
Hi Kathryn! I’m glad you like the posts. Sometimes you need to do a bit of mindless knitting. Are you knitting the Birlinn in the rainbow shades of the original? It’s so cheerful!
The Hatcher pattern looks great and the yarn seems perfect for it, it isn’t a brand I’ve heard from. I switched your bottom picture to black and white and they are 3 perfectly spread colour tones so I’d say yes for that combo.
Your latest sweater is lovely, Kelly! Good luck in making decisions on the other projects you are planning …. nice to have something to focus on during these times!
A question on your flat swatch for knitting in the round. I have tried this method and the edges are very loose where the yarn is cut at the end and new yarn attached at the beginning of the next row. How did you get your sides to be so much tighter than mine? The other swatching method I tried and didn’t like was knitting every row, leaving the yarn attached with long floats in the back behind the swatch. Looking forward to seeing your next projects! Take care. Karen
Your new sweater is fabulous! You are right – the yarn is definitely showing off the cables beautifully:) And big yes on that yarn for the Koko wrap – that will be perfect!
That jumper is coming on well and will be lovely to wear. All those patterns look lovely. I like the top three in the swatch.
Three gorgeous projects, how lovely. I have my eyes firmly on the Koko wrap too – am trying to resist it just at the moment while I focus on finishing off a few other things….