This is a pattern I've knit before - it's one of my favorite sweaters. Here are a couple pictures of my old one, from three years ago:
As you can see, it's got my favorite things: deep raglans, 3/4 length sleeves and a slouchy shape.
I decided a couple years ago that I needed a second one, preferably in blue, so when Jannette's Rare Yarns had a deal going on bags of Calmer last fall, I picked up a bag in Calm. It's a pale greyish blue rather than a clear blue, and one of those colors that changes with the light.
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| a rare unblocked photo! |
When I knit anything, I always make myself a shorthand instruction sheet, and I keep these in case I decide to knit the item again, as I often do. This time I decided not to do a gauge swatch but just to follow my old notes. Interestingly, when compared to my original sweater the lace pattern on this one is much more open - and yet the measurements are on track! It's possible that I used a metal needle last time rather than a bamboo, but I doubt it since I very rarely use metal needles. I think it may have more to do with the way different colors of dye affect the loft of the yarn.
Honestly, I'm not as crazy about this fabric as the one on the original, but I'm going ahead with it anyway.
The stitch pattern is mindless and a little tedious - lots of double yarnovers which are later accounted for by P2togs. So, slow going. That's OK though - lately I'm not feeling a drive to finish things quickly. I'm just kind of enjoying the ride.
I love your yellow Shimmer and the pale blue you're using now. I have Misty - I really need to knit this as it looks great on you. I'll just add it to my "to knit" list, which by now is about long enough to last the rest of my life!
ReplyDeleteHehehe - mine too! And my sewing list as well!!
DeleteDyes really do affect the hand of a yarn, don't they? Generally, the darker the color the harder or denser the feel of the yarn - rather too bad for me, because I love black but often find that a given yarn has a much nicer hand in paler colors. I love the blue you have here; let's hope that it will feel better to you after washing and blocking.
ReplyDelete-- stashdragon
It can certainly be frustrating! I often knit the same sweater more than once in different colors of the same yarn, but it never ceases to amaze me what a difference the dye makes!
DeleteYou have the best sweater wardrobe!!
ReplyDeleteWhy thank you! I can't say I disagree ;-)
Deletei don't understand any technical talk about knitting yet (what on earth is a P2tog???!!) but I really like your cardis!
ReplyDeleteOh, sorry Sabs! P2tog is "purl 2 together" - You'll get there!
DeleteHa ha, thanks for that - I thought tog meant T.O.G and stood for something! I just found out today what wyif meant after a bit of head scratching!
DeleteWhat a pretty and terrific cardi. I like the st pattern. It looks like a woven version of decorative fences.
ReplyDeleteIt's a great fabric for a summer sweater - you feel like you have a light layer on, but the mesh also lets in the breeze and makes it very breathable!
DeleteI love mesh like this...but have been avoiding doing anything like it after the troubles I had with my Cap Sleeve Lattice Tee aaaaages ago (last year, hah!). I think the problem was that I didn't know how to YO properly so kept screwing up the lattice, but I am still feeling very wary of it.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that silly? Seeing this pattern makes me want to try again, though. And I do love me a smokey blue!
No, I get it! I have a little bit of trouble with mesh too, because the fabric is always skewed when I knit it. I guess because I knit Continental? But I'm just going to steam the heck out of it and MAKE it submit to my will!
DeleteIf you give me a rainbow of colors to pick from I'm always going to pick a pretty yellow like that, but I still like how this new sweater is looking. It looks like a very straight-forward, entertaining pattern too.
ReplyDeleteThis is showing me how terrible my camera really is! The original was peach, so it's interesting to me that everyone is reading it as yellow! I really ought to learn how to take better pictures!
DeleteWow, I can't believe how different those two fabrics look! That's really amazing!
ReplyDeleteI was pretty shocked when I put the two together to compare!
DeleteAw wow! This is gorgeous in the yellow and the blue! I have Misty but for some reason have never felt the need to knit up Shimmer- until now!
ReplyDeleteYour knitting projects are always so inspiring!
I'm feeling the same way with my knitting at the moment and seem to have lost the need to finish things super fast- makes the process a lot more enjoyable doesn't it! :)
Oh, thank you!
DeleteHehehe - I have a ton of Calmer in pink, and I'm even thinking of using it to make a third one! I love this design!
I think it's kind of funny that all I want to do now is knit - it's summer, for heaven's sake!
Shimmer has always been one of the cardigans that I've coveted out of Misty but I have not yet managed to convince myself that I'll stick it out for the duration! Your 'old' one looks fabulous though - maybe it's convinced me enough to give it a whirl ;-)
ReplyDeleteIn my Ravelry notes for my first one, I wrote that I found it tedious to knit. But that's not my experience this time! I'm really having fun with it! I've already finished the back and half the first front! I'd say if you covet it, go for it! It's a dream to wear.
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