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October 2, 2010

From Both of Us — Bhan, Eala Bhan

Filed under: Eala Bhan — Both Sisters @ 10:21 am

You know, like “Bond, James Bond.”  Oh, never mind… 🙂

We’ve both been working steadily on our Eala Bhan cardigans — the new sweater in Alice Starmore’s revised Aran Knitting.  Both of us are using the yarn called for: Hebridean 2-Ply (Susan in Lapwing and Surly in Clover).  We’re working steadily, but slowly.  This is a lovely, but slow knit.  It’s on tiny yarn with compressed stitch and row gauge (27 stitches and 40 rows over 4 inches) and much cabling.  Just to make sure we finish it as slowly as possible, we both decided to knit the body in one piece.   (Well, the real reason for that decision is our mutual dislike of reverse stockinette seams; the glacial progress is just an added plus.)

Here are some obligatory progress shots (and we use the term ‘progress’ loosely):


Susan’s Eala Bhan in Lapwing


Sally’s Eala Bhan in Clover (color not very true)

Should we start a pool on when we’ll finish?

PS — what is the meaning of Eala Bhan?  It is usually translated as White Swan, depending on who you ask.  The pronunciation is supposed to be something like: yella waan.  We call it “Eela Bahn” cuz we’re not Gaelic!

14 Comments »

  1. Gorgeous. I have heard that this pattern is a fitted cable sweater, not boxy. Have you had to make adjustments to the pattern so it will fit? Or are enough sizes given in the pattern that you have the options you need?

    Beautiful! I always find the blog inspiring, and I always learn a thing or two. I look forward to it!

    Comment by Claudine — October 2, 2010 @ 10:48 am

  2. Beautiful I have just swatched and made adjustment for larger size. I did not think of the seams so I am doubly glad you mentioned them. I will make adjustments for no side seams. thanks.

    Comment by Aida — October 2, 2010 @ 12:18 pm

  3. Beautiful! I love the color on both of your versions! No guesses on when you’ll finish. . . but I’m pretty sure it will be far sooner than I would imagine! 🙂

    Comment by Kym — October 2, 2010 @ 12:55 pm

  4. 10/3/10 Isn’t the Journey what really counts–not the Destination?????…Many years ago when my husband was dying, I used complicated patterns as my shield from the destruction of our happy lives….the harder the pattern, the harder I had to focus on the next stitch, not the scarey events of his downhill slide…
    Recently on the web there have been discussions about Alice Starmore and how she has not agreed with the method of knitting inside the tube of Fairisle…..I want to defend her and tell you what a very nice (simple word, but it fits) person she is…..I was on a Jean Moss tour of Ediburgh and York when she was one of our teachers….I found her to be very open minded and always ready to listen to others’ ideas….and she was an excellent teacher….one early morning I had breakfast alone with her at a small table in the hotel—what a wonderful person she was and so un-assuming….that shared toast was one of the highlites of my trip and I firmly remain one of her fans…from Janet on the East Coast

    Comment by janet — October 2, 2010 @ 1:22 pm

  5. What fun watching you both knit this. They look lovely and will be beautiful sweaters!

    Comment by Bets — October 2, 2010 @ 2:18 pm

  6. Hi there — I got to touch and fondle Alice’s own sweater at the I Knit weekend early September — she actually was wearing it on the Friday (complete with plaid skirt) but it was too hot so on Saturday when I took her workshop, it was there, just lying on the table for us to touch and feel.

    Lovely sweater – yes, it’s a fine fine gauge, but what a sweater – worth all the work — I have Summertide for my Eala Bhan…..hoping it is my winter project.

    I hadn’t thought about knitting it in one piece — might make my brain explode LOL!!! I’ll be watching your progress for inspiration.

    Comment by Anne — October 2, 2010 @ 5:23 pm

  7. What a lovely story your commenter Janet told. So much better to hear this than all the rancorous conjecture of the past (Not sure “rancorous” is a word, but it suited my purposes for the moment!) I’m looking forward to the progress of your Bahns. Eela Bahns:).

    Comment by Chloe — October 2, 2010 @ 11:00 pm

  8. I see you two are being very polite and neither of you is getting way ahead of the other. That is playing nice!

    And the sweaters are (very) nice knitting. I love the changing cables.

    Comment by twinsetellen — October 2, 2010 @ 11:13 pm

  9. C’est magnifique !

    Comment by Dorothée — October 3, 2010 @ 5:02 am

  10. It certainly looked great on Alice herself at the i-knit Weekender in London. It is very fitted and I’m not as svelte as Alice – nor do I enjoy close-fitting woollies. But the detailing is fantastic. (By the way, she pronounced it “Eela-van” at the event.)

    Comment by Shandy — October 3, 2010 @ 10:08 am

  11. Ha! I was basically going to say the same thing Ellen said about equal progress. 😉 Love them both!

    Comment by twinsetjan — October 3, 2010 @ 5:46 pm

  12. Both of your projects are beautiful. To me, it looks as though you have made great progress! I’m smitten with the pattern myself, but I’ve also promised myself that I should finish some other projects before I start what is sure to be a very long term knit (for me). I can’t decide which of her colors I would like the best, and I really should knit my husband a new sweater. I have the yarn, the pattern, and no excuses for not starting.

    Comment by dana — October 4, 2010 @ 2:25 pm

  13. It’s my very favorite pattern in the book – can’t wait to see yours (both)!
    (((hugs)))

    Comment by Knitnana — October 4, 2010 @ 4:25 pm

  14. I just bought the book on the strength of this post. I really like it. Thanks for the tip!

    Comment by victoria — October 5, 2010 @ 6:26 pm

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