Sunday, August 13, 2006

It's HOT HOT HOT!!!...

... and I just finished knitting a 100% wool sweater in Rowan Big Wool and Rowan Kid Silk Haze. I know it's crazy but it was such a quick knit that my mind easily got side-tracked.

This sweater was in planning for a long time but is finally done!!

1) The Rowan Big Wool used for this project was originally a cardigan/jacket. Either the collar or the buttons never really seemed right... I think I only wore it ONCE, so I recyled the yarn.

What it once was...

2) I came across a pattern from Vogue Knitting Fall 2005 and fell in love. Not only was the design pretty, it used exactly the amount of Big Wool that I had (I don't like to have extra yarn lying around).

The plan...

3) Now I had to get Kid Silk Haze. With the advice from the LYS, I decided to use Madil Kid Seta to substitute KSH (Same fiber, same yardage but at $5 savings per skein, that translates to $20!!). Unfortunately, the store did not have 4 balls of a color that I liked and although I tried placing an order, that didn't seem to work out. **Months later...** I was in Hong Kong and guess what I found? Madil Kid Seta in varigiated colors! I quickly bought 4! With the hints of fucshia, orange, beige and dark purple, the yarn mixed beautifully with the Big Wool for the body of the pattern.
The pretty speckles.

HOWEVER, when the Kid Seta was used by itself for the ruffles... the colors pooled in blotches and the ruffled looked diseased! Don't you agree?

The disease.

4) So, being picky with colors that I am, I went out and bought 1 skein of Madil Kid Seta in beige for the ruffles. It doesn't match 100% with the body, but I think it turned alright...

The finished product!

And here's a picture of the finished Seaberry Shell. Too bad Toronto is a bit too hot at the moment to wear this...
So, what's next?

Trinity KAL - I admit I've neglected this long enough and I am absolutely determined to churn out something. I revisited my original project and unfortunately, I've lost my steam. I LOVE the Michael Kors pattern (from VK Holiday 2005) but the cables & bobbles are difficult to knit using Trinity. The nubbly & rough yarn is hard on the hands and after such hard work, the stitches are barely visible!! I try looking at Erin's FO for inspiration but my floppy lifeless 1/2 of the back is just too demotivating. It's screaming to be frogged. Maybe I will attempt this pattern with a classic wool yarn later.



The pattern and lifeless frog

BUT... I have not given up!! I have more Trinity stash and more Trinity plans. I've started the Lotus Blossom Tank from IK Summer 2006 with the pink "shell" Trinity. I've already completed the lace section... it will be my first Trinity KAL contribution. :)

I just hope I'm not the last one left on it!!!

As for the son-to-be-frogged remains from yellow "corn" Trinity, I might make this from VK Spring/Summer 2006 instead.

Last week, I joined the Drunken Knitters gathering. Met long yarn, stashaholic, pirk, jacquie, jen and a bunch of others I didn't have a chance to chat with. It was quite interesting... everyone seems to have more than 3 projects on the go!


In the meantime, I've been feeling some soreness on my left wrist. I think it's a sign telling me to differentiate the hobbies for a bit - I wanna try crochet and make a quilt. So far, I haven't jumped into anything but they might alleviate my cramping hand for a bit!

7 comments:

Agnes said...

The solid colour Kid Seta is a lot more suitable for the sweater ... which looks really good. Are you wishing for cold weather now? :)
Your lotus blossome shell is looking good ... wish to see it finished soon.

alltangledup said...

it's good to see you back and so productive. How can you even knit with such heavy yarns. Toronto summers are just awful

Anonymous said...

The Lotus Blossom tank is a good summer knit. I like the Michael Kors sweater a lot too, do try it in another yarn later.

opportunityknits said...

So many pretty knits. Those are pretty speckles on the VK sweater, how pretty it looks after you added the variegated madil. Seaberry shell is so cute. And your lotus blossom is so pretty in that shade of pink! Do you get gauge with the trinity? Never mind about the MK sweater :), it will turn out much better in a more "solid" wool yarn. I put my trinity sweater into the washing machine by mistake and it's now all horrible. Will have to soak it in soap again and see if it goes back into shape :)

Anonymous said...

It was lovely to meet you too! I had a lot of fun and your sweater is just lovely - even prettier in person :-)

Anonymous said...

Wow, so many goodies on the needles! What a great idea to recycle the yarn in a sweater that doesn't get much wear. I'm sure I have a few sweaters lurking in the closet but I've not been able to take the scissors to them...yet. :)

shanwen said...

Wow so many FOs. I love that pink sweater