My LYS, BeWoolen, holds frequent events called Lock Ins. They are very popular, and I go to many (most?) of them. There is knitting, show and tell, sometimes games, and prizes. At one Lock In, I won a ball of Noro Ito. It’s not yarn I would typically buy: bulky, thick/thin in garish colors. But a ball is over $50! The skein does have 437 yards, but it is still expensive. There is nothing to make with one skein, so I bought another. That wasn’t enough for the top I wanted to make, so I bought ANOTHER!! Ack! My free ball of yarn cost me $100!!
The top I wanted to knit is called Inovec. It is a plain, kind of bubble shaped, sleeveless top. I started it and had to reknit the neck; kept going, tried it on, and hated it. I didn’t like the look of it. I didn’t like the feel of it. I didn’t like the way it fit. It went into what my friend Dee Anne calls Area 51: the place where UFOs go to die. However, I kept seeing people knitting their own Inovecs, wearing their Inovecs, etc. They looked okay! So I gave it another shot and I like it!
I split the hem instead of doing short rows, but other than that and some size adjusting, it is like the original. What’s weird is that I didn’t realize until after it was completely done that there is a repeating color sequence! Even weirder is the fact that the sequence was unbroken even though I added new yarn here and there and another ball along the way. If I had tried to plan it, it wouldn’t have worked.
It’s not gorgeous. But that is why I will live in this sweater!!
PS to Millie: The strands you see after the neckband are a special stitch used in all of the bands and in certain rows of the yoke. You slip 1 as to purl WYIB, k1, YO, pass slipped stitch over the knit st and the YO. Passing the stitch over creates the strands you see throughout.
To me, it IS gorgeous. Not garish at all in those particular colors. (Although some can be.). I love the drape.
Comment by Chloe — August 18, 2023 @ 4:03 am
Just bought the pattern! Thanks so much for pointing me towards it. I think I have some Ito in my stash.
Comment by Chloe — August 18, 2023 @ 7:03 am
I like it! It’s colorful, but not garish. Your “free” yarn reminds of my “free” yarn: I’d received some free mohair & figured I’d get some complementary fingering weight yarn to pair it with for a Love Note sweater. Well, the mohair was variegated & didn’t work well with the lace pattern in Love Note’s yoke, so I ended up going down a rabbit hole to find a solid mohair that worked with the other yarn & spent far more than I’d planned to!
The sweater’s done, though. I need to wash & block it, & get it on Ravelry.
Comment by Samina — August 18, 2023 @ 11:17 am
That is so cute!! I had not heard of that pattern before. You are so lucky to have yarn stores close to you that have these kind of functions. I am so jealous.
Comment by Penny — August 18, 2023 @ 8:46 pm
Susan, I like your top as finished but have to wonder what makes those long stitches in the couple of rounds below the neckline?
Comment by Millie — August 20, 2023 @ 12:39 pm
The Penelopes loved your sweater! It is not garish at all but really cute on you! So glad you made it! It fits you so well also! Thanks for posting all your wins from the Fair! Very rewarding indeed after the disappointing previous year. Onward and upward!
Comment by Kathy W. — August 28, 2023 @ 11:19 am