Airy Wrap Cardigan
First up, a big thanks for all the compliments on Sarcelle! Sarcelle is hoping that it will get lots of wear, but with the weather in the high 70’s (and humid!) right now, it may be quite a while.
Last week, I ran out of yarn for the cat bed. I need one single ball of Wool of the Andes, but Knitpicks shipping typically takes two full weeks to get here (from Ohio! what gives?). After that grinding halt, I started a new project, the Airy Wrap Cardigan from Fitted Knits.
Ick, the cardigan is definitely in its ugly phase. I’m using a completely different yarn from the pattern - the pattern calls for a mohair blend yarn, and I have a straight-up wool (in the same weight), Lang Thema:
Lang Thema is a DK weight superwash wool. It’s super soft and I’m really enjoying working with it, and I would definitely buy more if I came across it. I’m pretty sure it’s discontinued, although Yarndex shows that Lang Thema Nuova is still in production.
This stuff is by far the best deal I’ve ever found in yarn. Back when I lived in MA, I stumbled across a garage sale (possibly an estate sale?) where there were three huge trash bags of yarn for sale. There were smaller (old skool) Webs bags in the trash bags, and all the yarn was quite old looking. I had just started knitting seriously, and had a bad experience knitting a waist-shaping-less Bad Penny out of heavy cotton, so I was only searching for wool yarns. My haul:
1 bag of the Lang Thema
1 bag of red Lane Bougosesia dal 1850 - a fingering-weight wool
4 skeins of Shetland for Men (hee!) in navy, green, light gray, and dark pink
6 skeins of black Reynolds wool/silk yarn
The guy running the joint requested that I make him an offer, and my offer was a whopping $5. Sold! In the end, I wound up throwing out the Reynolds yarn because it both smelled and felt icky. The remainder of the yarn was purchased for about 25 cents a ball. So cheap!
So yeah, keep your eyes peeled for tag sale yarn! Especially if you live near Webs.
My modeled shot from the book. My gauge is off from the pattern, so my cabled portions are shorter than what’s shown in the book. I may go back and add another pattern repeat once the sweater is done.
They say that knitting an even fabric in unyielding cotton is not as easy as it looks. I’d say the same thing about knitting an even fabric on big-ass needles - I’m knitting a DK weight yarn with size US 10.5 needles, and my tension is all over the place. Let’s hope that an aggressive blocking takes care of things.
RSS
Which color are you in need of?
Looks promising! It’s odd that KP shipping takes so long for you, generally my stuff arrives a week after I purchase it.
I’ve found the same thing: using big needles just makes having an even fabric impossible. Luckily I’ve also found that if not blocking then a few washes and wearing the knit for awhile takes care of the uneveness. :)
I really love the color you have chosen. So warm but not in your face purple.
Lang seems to discontinue a lot of their yarns - I got some Lang Polar a while back and love it - discontinued….I’ll have to check yard sales. Never thought about yarn!
lordy. you’ve whipped that out fast. big needles explain it all. :)
hopefully your kp doesn’t take a weeks vacation in dallas. thats where mine like to go to relax. :)
hi there! thanks for the comment on my blog post re: kool-aid dyed yarn! :o)
dood–you knit really fast! the shrug looks like it will stop all it’s wonkiness once you block it–no worries!
and way to go on the yard sale yarn score! you can’t beat a good yard sale purchase! :o) have an iced tea on the porch for me…it’s blustery and cold over here in Berkeley, CA.
I’m sure the unevenness will work itself out after blocking/wearing. My KP orders take 2 weeks to get here too!! (I’m in Georgia). They go USPS — I have NO idea why it takes so long. Good luck with the cardigan and the cat bed!
I think the uneven stitches will work themselves out when you wash/block. :)
I am really interested to see you knitting this in a completely different type of yarn than the pattern specifies. I really like the pattern, but I looked at my stash and didn’t really see anything that I felt would work well for it… you’re making me reconsider that!
[also, I have some wool of the andes in stash … if I happen to have the right color, i can ship it out to ya. :) ]
I’m loving that color! And what a deal! Yay!
I can send you some Wool of the Andes, if you’d like. I have plenty of leftovers (full skeins, even) from the Dr. Who scarf I knit two years ago. Just say the word and they’re yours.
Heck I live in Ohio and sometimes it seems to take over a week to get here. I mean I could drive to Columbus in 2 1/2 hours to pick it up!!!!!!
I look forward to see how you get on with this, and its good to see it knitted in a different yarn as I am not really into too fluffy stuff but love the pattern! Great colour too.
Kell - you look hot!
Wow, you’re really knitting that up quickly. Looking forward to seeing it done. I’m still frickin’ waiting for my copy of the book at Y2E!!
I am sure that somewhere in the archives there is mention of the pattern, but I am at a loss as to where to find it.
Oh, what pattern you ask?
The Airy Wrap-Around Lace Sweater pattern of course.
Would you be so kind as to let me know what (and who) the pattern is so that I may add to my already eternal list of WIPs.
Thank you SO much!
B