I have some pretty new yarn to show you today – hooray for new yarn! – and a couple of finished projects. Okay, hooray for finished projects, too!
First, one of my favorite summer yarns is Maya from Berroco, a cotton chainette with a smooch of alpaca to make you forget you’re knitting with cotton. It’s a soft, pretty worsted weight with good stitch definition that’s appropriate for almost any season. The new colors are wonderful and subtle, exempt for that gorgeous burnt orange that I’ve got my eye on.
We made our Leaf Cocoon from it last year
and this year I’d like a tidy little cardigan, with no particular pattern in mind yet.
Another favorite is Sol Degradé, a smooth and soft cotton tape from Lang that has a subtle stripe.
I didn’t get any last year and every time I wore my Katy-Did-It pullover (which is in the gray/purple combo at the top) I wanted another one. So this year I’m going to make one, and you can too. It’s a great style to wear all summer long, with absolutely no insulation but plenty of coverage. Now, which color???
Just for fun, I ordered two colors of Tahiti Spray:
Another cotton tape, more structured than Sol, that knits at a light bulky gauge. I have no idea just yet what I’m going to make with it, but these colors coordinate nicely with some solids we have so I’m looking for something that will combine those nicely. Any ideas?
In comparison, new cotton-linen Zooey from Juniper Moon Farm looks a bit blah
but it was absolutely perfect for my new design which I’m calling Richmond Pullover. (Its working title was EFRO, which stood for Eileen Fisher Rip-Off because it was certainly inspired by one of her spring sweaters. All of which I love. None of which I can afford.)
Thanks to Karen’s tech editing, the pattern is ready to go and for the time being is free at the shop with purchase of the yarn to make it. The version shown here has narrow 3/4 sleeves, but there is an option for classic-fit full-length sleeves too, which means you can make the sweater for any season in any DK yarn. It has a modified boatneck with self-finishing edges
and a twisted-rib hem that gives it a slightly lacy look in a summer yarn.
Now – a big cheer, please! – I finished Bevel, in Shibui’s new yarn Twig.
This was a bit of a slog for me, because the two colors are joined at center back using intarsia – I am never happy to have more than one ball attached to my work unless I’m doing Fair Isle, which, strangely enough, I love. Anyway, I did it the way the pattern was written and everything turned out fine. Oversized, seamless, no finishing except weaving in ends, cool, drapey fabric, rich colors. I’m going to love it in a week or two. Truly, if I had to do it again, I would just work 2 pieces and join the back with mattress stitch, but I know some of you would rather have your toenails pulled out than sew a seam.
Speaking of toenails, it’s pedicure time for sure, and about time, right? Another big hooray for sandals!
