theraineysisters knitting and so much more

January 21, 2012

From Sally — Leaving

Filed under: Leaving — surly @ 5:48 pm

As some of you may know, I have a fairly large stash of yarn. Sometimes I buy yarn because I see it and must have it. Other times, I buy yarn for a particular project, but — in part because I have the attention span of a gnat — I find something else I simply must knit and the once-must-have-it-now yarn sits neglected. Sometimes, for years.

Last month, I ran across a sweater-quantity stash of a rich brown yarn. I vaguely remembered that I bought it for a particular project because I liked the color. Surprisingly, I remembered that I had wanted to knit Leaving, a lovely pattern by designer Anne Hanson. Susan and I are always happy to find patterns that are not only well written, but well thought out. Unfortunately, a pretty design doesn’t always mean a great pattern. Anne Hanson produces great designs and patterns. She is coming to Yarnover this year, and we are both looking forward to meeting her. (On a related note, over the next few weeks Susan and I will highlight a few other designers whose patterns are of similar high quality.) To see more of Anne’s work, visit her at Knitspot.

But back to my own Leaving project. The yarn I had in my stash is Berroco’s Vintage DK. It isn’t a yarn you might think I’d like because — gasp — it’s not a luxury yarn. Not only that, it contains acrylic (50% acrylic, 40% wool, 10% nylon). The horror! I knew this yarn because I knit Ysolda Teague’s design Vivian out of it for my daughter. I chose Vintage because it was soft and it was machine washable; I had specifically wanted a machine washable yarn since I wouldn’t be the one caring for it. Moreover, it had great colors with a little bit of heathering for depth. Nora’s sweater:

I liked the yarn much better than I had expected when I made my daughter’s sweater. It knit up beautifully and it blocked nicely. And it’s definitely soft enough to wear right up against my skin. My color is called Chocolate; I think the color in the first picture is truest. Because this is a well thought out pattern, I have made only the most minor of changes. First, I decided to knit it in the round up to the armholes instead of in separate back/front pieces. I didn’t want to break up the tiny reverse stockinette edging with a seam. Also, given my short attention span, it’s often a good idea for me to knit as much of a sweater as possible at once. The other change I made was to the first pattern repeat. One pattern is ending as the next is beginning, so that there were two little stockinette triangles (the top of the leaves) at the bottom of the first repeat. I replaced the stockinette stitch with reverse stockinette just on that initial repeat. (Susan’s idea.) It is a subtle, and probably invisible change to most people. I also think that this may be one of the few sweaters that looks better on me than on Lucy! I finished the body yesterday (except for the neck band) and I’ve got about 5 inches of the first sleeve knit. So this sweater goes relatively quickly.


12 Comments »

  1. wow! my Leaving is not turning out to be a fast knit…but I started out with the sleeves, thankfully, b/c I will now do the body as one so I don’t have to seam the reverse ss either. Thanks!
    I am using a grass-green Debbie Bliss cashmerino dk. pattern really pops.

    Beautiful chocolate color!

    Comment by pattie — January 21, 2012 @ 7:40 pm

  2. Love this sweater. It has been in my thoughts since last summer at Stitches Midwest when I saw it in the Miss Babs booth.

    It’s amazing how many patterns that you, Susan and I like in common!

    Comment by Penny — January 21, 2012 @ 8:06 pm

  3. Looks beautiful. I was eyeing this sweater too but hadn’t decided whether I wanted the sweater or cardigan.

    Comment by Evie — January 21, 2012 @ 9:32 pm

  4. I love this pattern but haven’t gotten around to making it yet. Your sweater is beautiful.

    Comment by Beverly — January 22, 2012 @ 1:57 am

  5. I love this pattern and yours is beautiful. I bought it last year but I’m still looking for the perfect yarn.

    Comment by Beverly — January 22, 2012 @ 1:58 am

  6. Anne Hanson and Dorothy Siemens write the BEST patterns! Clear and with charts of a size that I can actually see. Nothin’ better than that.

    Comment by Suzan — January 22, 2012 @ 9:30 am

  7. Looks lovely so far and I look forward to seeing you modeling it when it’s done because I think it looks pretty fine on Lucy and if it looks even better on you, it’ll be amazing!

    Comment by Wool free and Lovin' knit — January 22, 2012 @ 9:58 am

  8. There’s no shame in using yarn that’s a blend of natural and man-made fibers. I always use these blends when making a gift (especially for babies and kids), because they are machine washable and often machine dryable as well. I never want a gift to become burden to the giftee, who then has to have the time to carefully wash it by hand, and hopefully, has room to block it properly for drying. If not, it becomes too “precious” to use and just gets put in the corner of a drawer and never sees the light of day.

    Comment by PurrlGurrl — January 22, 2012 @ 2:18 pm

  9. Looks great so far! This pattern is high up in my queue. I’ll have to consider knitting in the round.

    Comment by Beth — January 22, 2012 @ 7:32 pm

  10. Just gorgeous! And I agree about Anne Hanson’s talents!

    Comment by Kathy — January 23, 2012 @ 12:35 am

  11. I agree about the quality of Anne Hanson’s patterns.
    Like another commenter, I can’t decide between cardigan or jumper.
    I like the subtle change to the first repeat – very thoughtful

    Comment by Sally — January 23, 2012 @ 12:54 pm

  12. It’s looking good on Lucy! And I agree with your mod to the first pattern repeat – I’d have done the same.

    Comment by stashdragon — January 23, 2012 @ 1:26 pm

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