Wool People 8 | Knitigating Circumstances

Now that I am no longer distracted by the lovely golden Gossamer pullover, I have gone back to knitting Escher.

I had stopped midway across the back centerpiece of this cardigan jacket, which is essentially a long rectangle with curved edges, and a triangle in the center shaped from short rows. (Yes, it’s kind of hard to describe.) This is close to where I stopped before:

And this is what it looks like today:

I have to say – I have no idea what this will end up looking like on and whether or not it will fit, but I am completely blown away by its construction! It is a piece of knitting genius! (Hopefully, I will still think this when I have finished it and tried it on.) This is one of those designs where you can read the pattern many times, yet it doesn’t make a lick of sense until you are doing it, and then it suddenly emerges from confusion.

The cardigan was designed by the ultra-talented Alexis Winslow for Brooklyn Tweed and published in Wool People 8. I try to envision how she designed it; I imagine her cutting up pattern paper and folding and twisting it like origami. For those who’ve forgotten, or are new to these pages, this is what the finished piece is supposed to look like:

I would not recommend this for a beginning knitter due to the complicated (but did I say genius?) construction. It will also put off anyone who doesn’t want to knit miles and miles of ribbing in fingering weight wool. Believe me – this cardi is 70% ribbing.

Regardless of how it eventually turns out, it is a learning experience, and miles of ribbing notwithstanding, a joy to knit.

There are few things as cheering as yarn in the post. Today, I received a package of Brooklyn Tweed Loft yarn in three rustic shades of grey.

I am hours away from finishing my Lightweight Pullover. Once it’s done, I will have only one – yes, just ONE – project in progress. That one is the beautiful Exeter jacket which seems to be hibernating at the moment. I love it, but I don’t feel like knitting it this winter, so I have put it away till next year. As every knitter knows, it is an imperative to have a new project lined up before you finish with the old. I simply cannot face the prospect of having no project on the needles. Therefore, I have been wracking my brain for weeks trying to come up with a new project or two. I finally chose something. Hence, the Loft:

This beautiful pile of soft, wooly yarn is destined to become this:

This pattern is called Escher, and is designed by Alexis Winslow for Brooklyn Tweed; it appeared in their Wool People volume 8. I love its unusual, funky construction. Here is a shot of the back:

It was a rather compulsive purchase. I have been considering many other patterns over the past few months. I have looked at this one a number of times without it ever standing up and shouting “Knit me!” But a few days ago, I came upon it again and it hit all of the right buttons. I was looking for a lightweight cardigan that would fit well with my wardrobe. I didn’t want something too warm as it is unlikely I will finish it before spring. I wanted something interesting and fun to knit but not overly complicated. I love the way this is styled in the photographs. It looks new, stylish, slightly architectural, modern, but still cozy. I love the soothing greys and the soft wool.

I am so excited to have a new project ready to start! Let’s just hope I have the fortitude to finish the turtleneck before I cast this on.

I will let you in on a secret: because one project is not enough, I have picked out another one too, which is as different from this one as day from night. The yarn is being hand-dyed to order and won’t get to me for a while so you will have to be patient.

Knitigating Circumstances

Because knitting is excuse enough

Tag Archives: Wool People 8

Escher in progress

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Loft in the post

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