I’m feeling blue. It’s not just our long winter in which I am measuring out my life in shovelfuls of snow. I’ve become seriously enamored of some blue yarns.
First is this lovely Lima by Rowan Yarns in the colorway Amazon:
I seriously adore this yarn. The color is hard to capture; it reminds me of Broad Bay’s color Atlantic for those of you familiar with that line of yarns. It’s flecked with little hints of brighter blue and subtle purple. It’s also incredibly soft. When my husband felt it he looked me in the eyes and said, “This feels expensive.” He was right.
I resisted it the first time I saw it, but when I came across it a second time I couldn’t. And didn’t.
So what did I make out of it? A sleeper pattern from the Winter 2006 issue of Interweave: Refined Raglan designed by Mercedes Tarasovich-Clark. I hadn’t really noticed that design when I read that issue back in the day, but I came across it while playing around on Ravelry a few weeks ago.
I made a few modifications. I did more of a funnel neck, added short rows, and opted for rolled hems at the cuffs and bottom instead of the folded hem called for in the pattern. I wanted a casual, comfortable sweater that was really wearable. I’m pretty happy with it, too. The pictures aren’t great but they were the best I could muster after hours of shoveling.
My next two projects, including what I’m going to knit for the Ravelympics, are also blue. More about those later.
From Susan — I love everything about it. I want one of my very own! And I know where to get Lima…
Comment by lv2knit — February 11, 2010 @ 5:31 pm
That is really gorgeous! And there is something about rolled edges that is very comfy.
Comment by Kay - From the Back Yarn — February 11, 2010 @ 5:48 pm
It’s wonderful!!! My goodness you are an incredibly fast knitter. Can I take the liberty pick your brain once again? I think you’ve knit the scarf with the rowan 4ply wool that they send you when you become a club member. I just received my book (it’s beautiful) and the yarn (I like the blue) but I really do not like either pattern. The unisex scarf just isn’t doing it for me and I don’t think I’d get much use out of the lace number either. Do you have any suggestions for what else could be knit up with that yarn in the amount they give?
Comment by Michelle — February 11, 2010 @ 6:09 pm
This is one of my all time favorite patterns. I wear mine, knit from a really squishy creamy Aran yarn, at least once a week. Yours is just lovely and gets me thinking maybe I should knit this again in a brilliant color.
Comment by twinsetellen — February 11, 2010 @ 7:46 pm
Nice! Is the neck comfortable? It doesn’t “bind”?
Comment by Nancy — February 11, 2010 @ 8:29 pm
Lovely! The lace detail is really nice.
Comment by Emilee — February 12, 2010 @ 12:52 am
Fantastic — and with Lima it must be extra stunning in person.
Comment by GinkgoKnits — February 12, 2010 @ 3:29 am
This is lovely. I’m curious about the short-rows. where did you use them? I assume neck – funnel necks always seem to need some help that way. Did you short-tow both front and back?
Comment by Mali — February 12, 2010 @ 8:59 am
I may have to buy back issue of IK just to get the sweater pattern. LOVE IT!
Comment by Timmie B — February 12, 2010 @ 9:49 am
Love your sweater. I knit this one a year ago from alpaca. LOVE it. Wear it all the time. Yours looks really comfy and nice. I like the modifications you made. Were the short rows to give it more of a back/front?
Comment by Ruth — February 12, 2010 @ 1:17 pm
Love the sweater! I saw Lima last summer and got some as soon as I could. Then I was stumped because it doesn’t do lace or texture very well–too fuzzy and heathered. You have found the perfect pattern, as usual.
Comment by Lee W. — February 12, 2010 @ 1:24 pm
Lovely! You’ve got me looking at that pattern with new eyes. I would also like to know which area you added the short rows to.
Comment by Lynn — February 12, 2010 @ 2:51 pm
So pretty! I remember that pattern (it was orange in the magazine, as I recall). I just got a ball of Lima in a lovely blue-green a couple of months ago, to swatch and play around with– hard to resist that unusual texture and the beautiful heathery colors.
Comment by Angela — February 12, 2010 @ 6:14 pm
I know you and Susan are very busy women! You must get by on very little sleep!
Comment by Kathy Filkins — February 13, 2010 @ 12:00 am
THis is beautiful! Can you please tell us where in the pattern you added the short rows? Did you shape the waist of this, too? Did you just bind off the hem and sleeves and then they curled?
Comment by p — February 13, 2010 @ 6:39 pm
I have always liked that pattern! I think of making it . . . every once in a while. . . and you have just encouraged me to move it up in my “queue” (the one I keep in my brain. . . not the one on Ravelry). The yarn looks soft even through the computer!
Comment by Kym — February 15, 2010 @ 4:00 pm
I love your sweater.It looks really comfy and nice!
Comment by mil@Rowan Yarns — February 7, 2011 @ 7:54 am