All right, I admit I was pretty excited and even charmed when the first snow day of the season came along. I love the way snow looks, I even enjoy shoveling snow, I love the quiet streets, and the way Jack and Purl get all spangly and snowy when we walk.
But enough is enough and now it’s spring and I, like you all, want it to end. I’m sick of snow, and being cold, and wrapping up to leave the house and clunky boots and…
Okay, rant over. What shall we do on this snowy day? I think we should be looking at some wonderful spring and summer ideas for knitting because we need the encouragement right this minute.
The first project we’re going to look at today, children, is Birkin,
the wonderful pullover that Karen is going to be teaching starting in a couple of weeks. It’s such a great summer look, with superb style and an overall eyelet pattern that is (relatively) simple. You can adjust the ease to either cling to or lightly drape your shape. The changes Karen made (more ease, split hem, solid sleeves)
just make it better! (I’m sure she’s getting tired of seeing this picture everywhere but she looks so darn cute!)
Most people who have signed up for the class so far are using Noro’s beautiful new yarn Sonata, a blend of cotton, silk, viscose and nylon that washes beautifully. The pictures below show my swatch as knit, and then after machine washing and drying in a regular load of clothes!! No shrinking, no fading. It fuzzed up a bit but I’m sure you would never treat your your sweaters this way, right?
And it is lovely to work with. Seven beautiful colors currently in stock!
Other charming spring-ish sweaters that would also work with Sonata are:
Juno from Yellow Cosmo, with a pretty lace yoke and seamless construction
Estelle from Jennifer Wood, also seamless topdown with a pretty yoke detail
Moonshine by Thea Colman, textured pattern, seamless topdown v-neck
Sunshine Coast by Heidi Kirrmaier, still my favorite pattern for summer, looks fabulous on everyone
Juniper Berries by Suvi Simola, love the pattern on the yoke but we would probably have to tighten up the neck so the yoke didn’t droop.
Bennett Creek by Kate Gagnon Osborn, on my list for last summer but didn’t get ‘er done!
Well, I don’t know about you, but I feel a lot better. Spring will come and life will get a lot more pleasant. In the meantime, we’ll keep dreaming of warm weather and the lovely things we’re going to make!
