My second Hemlock is totally done. This picture actually looks far better than it looks in real life!! A couple of you had questions. The Hemlock Throw was knit in Cascade Eco Wool (250 grams, 478 yds). The oatmeal version was knit in Color 8016, the teal is Eco Plus in color 8462. I started each with US Sz 10 dpns and switched to 10-1/2 circulars when I could. Why did I change needle sizes? Because I don’t have Sz 10-1/2 dpns! It takes less than 2 skeins to make a throw — you could make two of the same color with 3 skeins.
I am making my personal throw out of Berroco Peruvian (100% Highland Peruvian Wool, 100 grams, 174 yds), Color 7137 to match my LR sofa:
It takes 2.5 skeins of Peruvian to equal 1 skein of Eco Wool so I bought 7 or 8. It is like butter and a little fuzzier — I hope it works.
I have not used a lifeline in the Hemlocks — it is much bigger knitting and even though I have had to rip a couple of times, it is NOTHING like ripping out a fine lace shawl with hundreds of sts!
Re: The Betsy sweater (see Sally’s post) — I found the book on ebay and bought it on the spot. Woo Hoo! Thanks, Ann. 🙂 Our blog-tectives are the best in the land!
PS — another question: I used the Emily Ocker cast on to start the Hemlock. Also, if I sent you a copy of my pdf file of the pattern, there is a mistake on Rnd 46: k9 not 10.
Another question came up; What does (O, k1) x 8 mean?
Response: at the start, you cast on 8 sts and divide onto 3 (or 4) dpns. After working a couple of plain rnds of 8 sts you do the (O, k1) x 8. The pattern is telling you do do a yarnover before every single st.
To do the YOs before the first st on the dpn: insert new dpn into 1st st as to knit, bring yarn around the needle from the front (not from the back as you normally would).
This creates a new st before each st — so there are now 16 sts. You do the YO before the first stitch a couple of more times in knitting the small medallion in the center of the petals. Once you have enough sts to change to a circular, it does not seem as strange.
Beautiful, just beautiful.
Comment by Bonnie — September 10, 2007 @ 6:09 pm
Unbelievable speed and beauty! You’re a Hemlock machine! Thanks so very much for catching the error, I’ve printed this to make and may never have figured that out!
Comment by Carol — September 10, 2007 @ 10:41 pm
Your work is so nice – did you make a .pdf of the pattern with the added rows or just use the pattern that is online? I would love a copy if you have it available 🙂
Comment by Connie — September 10, 2007 @ 11:01 pm
since you had such luck with your rowan pattern, I’m wondering if any of your sleuths know if a rowan pattern from a (circa) 1987-1990 pamphlet is available anywhere…the pamphlet also had Kaffe’s Foolish Virgins sweater…I’m looking for the elephant sweater by another designer. I had this pamphlet back in the day, and it disappeared ):
Comment by karen — September 11, 2007 @ 1:22 am
Just gorgeous! I’m about to start row 35 of mine. Are you wet blocking these throws or just steaming them? Truly lovely.
Comment by Sue J. — September 11, 2007 @ 8:35 am
Hi Susan, that’s a fantastic Hemlock just like the first one! And I’m so glad you got the Rowan Treasury – I’m sure you’ll love it!! Can’t wait to see you knit Betsy or any of the other great patterns in there.
Comment by ann — September 11, 2007 @ 9:07 am
I’ve got some yellow Suri Merino waiting to be just this throw… really nice work. And fast!
Comment by Ann — September 11, 2007 @ 11:35 am
Wow! You are a speed demon! Looks wonderful. 🙂
And I love the burgundy. Yummy.
Comment by Romi — September 11, 2007 @ 12:24 pm
Susan- Okay, I see why you chose that color, it’s equally as nice as the teal.
I think YO’s on DPN’s are straight from the mind of Beelzebub.
That’s what I think.
Comment by Lorraine — September 11, 2007 @ 1:39 pm
Gorgeous! I love it (and that Peruvia looks lovely). I’m going to have to cast on for one soon!
Comment by Octopus Knits — September 11, 2007 @ 4:43 pm
I love the Teal– this is definetly going on my “to knit” list!
Comment by Curran — September 11, 2007 @ 5:15 pm
oooh pretty!
That burgundy is going to be just glorious.
Comment by Carrie K — September 11, 2007 @ 7:39 pm
Hemlock production in overdrive!!! It is a fun pattern to knit though – so I totally understand the compulsion to do just one more.
Comment by Soo — September 12, 2007 @ 5:26 am
Hey Susan,
All of that knitting is just the bomb. I’d like a .pdf of the pattern if you don’t mind.
Thanks.
Comment by Thomasean — September 13, 2007 @ 5:40 am