I like pink yarn and I cannot lie
You other knitters can’t deny
(Sorry. I’ve been watching too many concert videos.)
But it’s true. I love pink yarn and I buy a lot of it. I pulled together some of the pinks from my stash just to show you.
Sadly, that is not all of the pink yarn in my stash; it’s just what was most easily accessible. Although I included in that photograph my Cap Shawl and my “pink pouf,” the truth is that I tend to mostly collect pink yarn but I hardly ever knit it. For some reason I get very particular about patterns for pink yarn. I have no idea why.
Anyway, I received my 25th Anniversary Vogue in the mail the other day and found the perfect pattern to use up my 18 skeins of pale pink Cashmerino Aran. (Quick aside: my mailed copy of the magazine was defective. Halfway through, the ink started to fade away. At first I thought it was purposeful: the issue did have a silver/gray them. When the ink completely disappeared, I realized I had a problem. It’s a great issue, though, so I went out and bought a second one.)
I am knitting Silver Belle designed by Debbie Bliss, one of the “cover” sweaters whose pattern is downloadable as a PDF. Here’s what it looks like:
It’s a bit of slow go at the beginning. The size medium, which I’m knitting, starts out with over 400 stitches in the peplum. There are a few especially slow rows, where I have 40+ cables to cross. At my sister’s suggestion, I am cabling without a cable needle, which does speed things up. (For a great explanation of how to do that, including helpful photographs, visit Wendy Knits. I could explain it in my own words, but why bother when someone else has already done such a great job?)
Here’s where I am on my Silver Belle:
In one of those rare stash miracles, I even have the perfect buttons for it (there is a perfect pink color match in real life in the mother of pearl that isn’t quite captured by the camera):
While all that eye candy is delicious, I’ve gotta say I’m disappointed! Did you bring out Rosarie the other day, just to tease? Hmm, I might just have to start mine!
Comment by Marina — August 4, 2007 @ 4:53 pm
Forgot! Was there an interview with St@rmore in that issue?
Comment by Marina — August 4, 2007 @ 4:54 pm
Marina: Yes, in a in a kind of roundtable discussion with some others. I have only skimmed it thus far. Don’t worry — Rosarie is not forgotten. I’ve also pulled out my partly finished Stillwater. I think that may be next.
Comment by surly — August 4, 2007 @ 5:02 pm
From Susan — I really like Silver Belle, though I have so many things on the burner, I’ll just knit vicariously through you on this one 😉
Comment by lv2knit — August 4, 2007 @ 5:29 pm
Pink! I was knitting pink yarn this week too.
Grumperina has a better tutorial for cabling without a needle. There is one step less in hers and it goes a lot faster. At least for me. It is one of the links on her blog on the right hand side.
Comment by Laritza — August 4, 2007 @ 6:05 pm
Too funny that you collect pink yarn but don’t really knit with it. I like Silver Belle, it’s a pretty design and I think it will look good on you. Yay for using a) stash yarn and b)some of the collection of pink yarn!
Comment by Wanda — August 4, 2007 @ 6:30 pm
I actually use sort of a hybrid of the two cable methods, but find that the one Lartiza is talking about is not as fast for me on right cross cables. It’s great on left cross ones. It might just be me. I think we all have our idiosyncracies. Anyone interested in doing cables without cable needles should practice both and decide which one works best. Thanks for providing another source for info!
Comment by surly — August 4, 2007 @ 6:32 pm
I seem to collect blue yarn, although I DO knit with it. The Silver Belle looks like a perfect marriage of yarn and pattern.
Comment by kmkat — August 4, 2007 @ 6:46 pm
Wow! Don’t you love when everything comes together! Once again, I’m wiping drool off the keyboard. I do like pink…alot.
Comment by Carol — August 4, 2007 @ 7:29 pm
I never used to be a pink person. Purple was, and still is, my number one color. But I’ve slowly come to the realization that pink *yarn*, for whatever reason, breaks all the rules. I’ve begun collecting pink yarn!
Comment by Lisa — August 4, 2007 @ 7:56 pm
Sally- Was that “Baby Got Back”? I have teenagers, I know these things.
Love and adore the pink yarn- nice collection.
I never seem to manage my time well enough to actually knit something from
a current magazine. It’s a really interestting design.
Comment by Lorraine — August 4, 2007 @ 8:40 pm
How luscious is that! And now I’ve got a pink earworm to boot: “I like pink yarn…”
Comment by Karen B. — August 4, 2007 @ 8:51 pm
Yum.
I am fickle when it comes to colors. My stash is full of blues and purples (with a few rosie surprises.)
Congratulations on having buttons in hand, too. (Have you figured that I really enjoy your blog?)
Comment by PainterWoman — August 4, 2007 @ 9:53 pm
From Susan — I learned a new technique today! Thanks. I have been doing cables without a needle for quite a while but had not seen the Grumperina method (I do not keep up with her blog); I was using the WendyKnits.net method. I’ll have to try that next time I’m cabling.
Comment by lv2knit — August 4, 2007 @ 10:09 pm
What lovely pinks! Your cable work looks beautiful.
Comment by Octopus Knits — August 4, 2007 @ 11:20 pm
Pretty! But I thought red was your favorite! :g:
Comment by Romi — August 4, 2007 @ 11:45 pm
What a gorgeous cardigan that is going to be!
Comment by Ruth — August 5, 2007 @ 10:41 am
I see in the upper left hand corner of that photo a tag with the word “Laurel,” which is my name! Can you tell me anything about the yarn? I collect pinks, too, and am right now starting my first pink sweater 😉
Comment by Laurel — August 5, 2007 @ 11:02 am
I love that pattern as well and have the right amount of green (my pink) cashmerino in the stash. It’s a bit down the queue, so maybe I’ll get to it in 2010!
Comment by anmiryam — August 5, 2007 @ 5:35 pm
Very pretty indeed!
Comment by AJ — August 5, 2007 @ 11:12 pm
Amazing sweater! I am about to start a Debbie Bliss pattern with ‘a’, singular, cable and thought that was something else! It’s going to be so beautiful, look forward to watching your progress.
I really like pink, just wish I could wear it. On the rare occation that I do people ask me if I’m feeling OK. Guess that’s my cue to steer clear of pink tops:)
Comment by Knitserland — August 6, 2007 @ 12:13 pm
I am currently looking for yarn to knit this same sweater. I think it’s the best pattern in the entire magazine.
Comment by stephanie — August 7, 2007 @ 12:35 pm
The pink yarns are so pretty! I might not want to knit them either but Silver Belle looks like a good fit.
Comment by Carrie K — August 8, 2007 @ 5:48 pm
This sweater is on my “must do soon” list. Yours looks beautiful so far. I’ll definitely be checking back to see how it goes.
Comment by Sarah-Hope — August 8, 2007 @ 7:23 pm
Please help! I have been working on the Silver Belle for days to no avail. I feel like the pattern is not right. Starting with a WS Row 1 (knitting left to right) means that Row 2 should be knit right to left? Doesn’t make sense if the first twist cable is to be on the inside of the button band. Row 2 from the right STARTS with the twist. I would give anything for some help with this. How are you reading the pattern? SOS!!!
Comment by Tressa — August 17, 2007 @ 10:26 am
Thank you SO MUCH for helping my with this project! I am on row 40 of the peplum and it looks perfect, thanks to you!
Comment by Tressa — August 24, 2007 @ 3:41 pm
Your knitting is absolutely gorgeous. Beyond gorgeous. There is no way such a gorgeous yarn and pattern can look too old.
Comment by Nancy — August 27, 2007 @ 10:37 pm
I’m working on the silver bell sweater and just need to knit the collar. I’m having trouble with the collar instructions. I’m at the point where I have 109 sts. I’m confused about the instructions: rows 1 and 2 (RS) work to last 41 sts and turn…
I keep thinking that I end up with sts on a needle that don’t do anything with. Is something missing from the pattern?
I looked at your sweater. It’s very nice. Too bad you don’t like the fit. I’m using Louet Gems in light/worsted weight.
Comment by helen — October 9, 2007 @ 10:54 am
I agree with Tessa. I am confused about the sleeve pattern. Do the even rows need to be knitted from Left to Right in the instructions?
Did you by chance create a written out chart of each row?
Comment by Sherri — January 24, 2008 @ 12:32 am