Athena Dreams

Hills of Kerrera

Kerrera

Yarn: Harrisville Orchid with Cashmere

Colour: Aztec Red

Designer: Gudrun Johnston aka The Shetland Trader

Gudrun Johnston on Ravelry

This is my Kerrera, so far...  my camera and I just couldn't seem to represent the colour of Aztec Red quite as it really is (the colour is not as pink as the photo implies). looks like a lot of loose ends and stitch holders and though this shot might imply messy circumstances, this pattern has been a joy, full of ease and good vibes.

When I first read the pattern through I was a little put off by the table format that runs through the whole pattern. So you follow the tables for your size, and plug in the amount of rows to knit, the number of stitches to increase or decrease, etc, etc. I was wanting measurements. I count on measurements. Measurements make me feel safe. How far is it supposed to be from the Double Garter Stitch border to the waist shaping? I like to see an inch or centimeter amount. I've gotten used to the tables now and it has worked really well, actually beautifully well. It makes me realise that if I am getting gauge, everything will be okay whether I'm given measurements or not. I know, like I didn't know that getting gauge is the thing we are striving for, but it never hurts to reiterate that to myself; especially when I get myself into one of those situations where I am trying to make the yarn I have at hand work for a pattern I've been dying to make, even if I am stitch or two off from gauge (NOT the case with Kerrera).

The body is done, I have one sleeve almost finished and then it's "just" the other sleeve and hood and all the edging, but given how fast this one has gone so far, I am hoping for a finish sometime before it gets really warm around here.

Now the other kind of fun part to the story of this cardigan is that i lived in Oban, Scotland, a town at the southern most harbour in the Highlands, that looks out at the island of Kerrera. So I have seen the real thing, in real life, which of course, made me want to knit this cardigan even more.

Isn't Kerrera lovely? I used to wonder who lived in that house, the one on the left, back there. It looks like it was made of stone, maybe the local slate for the lovely roof, with 2 chimneys and what I imagine is a beautiful view to all sides, what a great place.

Here's to Kerrera, and to Gudrun for creating a cardigan as lovely as it's name sake.

 

 

The Sideways Spencer .:. Kind of a Cardigan

Well hello blog... how time does fly when life in undergoing some renovations. Tho I have been knitting all along, as you make have guessed, there hasn't been much showing and telling, and so without further adieu, I give you the Sideways Spencer.

Sideways Spencer

Interweave Knits Fall 2004

Yarn: Elann Peruvian Sierra Aran

Colour: Hyacinth

Designer: Annie Modesitt

Way back in January, I boldly announced that 2008 was to be the year of the Cardigan, and I think this could qualify as a cardigan, though, technically it is not full length, it still fulfills the requirements of: sleeves, button and a collar. An added bonus is that due to its lack of length, it knits up amazingly quickly, given that there is much use of a cable needle throughout the whole pattern.

I don't think I have ever used an Annie Modesitt pattern, and I am truly loving the writing and directions, it's a great all around piece of knitting [Does anyone out there have some favourite Annie Modesitt patterns? I'd like to try more of hers, so if you have recommendations, would love to hear them]. 

And now for some stitch details, isn't it beautiful!

A Swatching Good Time

Many swatches have now been made for the Dale Cardigan, for which there is no name, other than #3 in Dale Book #138. I think I shall refer to it as the Dale Leafy Border Cardigan. There, now that makes me happier, there is something that feels sad to me about un-named objects, they somehow don't feel cared for enough.

So here's a little reminder photo of the cardigan.

Now, before I unveil the swatches, parenthetically I need to say that the light here has been grey, if not down right twilight at 2pm, for more than a week now. I got photos taken this afternoon, by taking them outside - the wind was cooperating today, and the rain was falling straight down, instead of at the 45 degree angle it has been falling at - so out to the porch with the big roof overhang we went.

Elann Peruvian Pure Alpaca Fina in Loganberry below, Deep Purple above with Cafe au Lait in pattern

Elann Peruvian Pure Alpaca Fina in Walnut below, Chestnut above, with Smoky Grape in pattern

Elann Peruvian Pure Alpaca Fina in Loganberry below, Chestnut above, with Smoky Grape in pattern

The Alpaca is truly lovely, but I am not getting gauge. It says it is 24 sts to 4" on #2 or #3 needles, but it's more like 28.5 sts on #3s, and to go up to a #4 will make the fabric too loose, and floppy. I tried knitting more tightly and then more loosely on a couple of different needle sizes, but I don't think I can make it happen. The fabric it creates is really best on a #2, and in that case I will be at about 30+ sts per 4" and given that I don't have the best math skills, and that seems quite a jump in gauge from the original pattern, I don't think I will try to do any conversions. I want a fabric that is going to drape and move, but this may be too light.

I want to save the swatches though and write down in my notebook, because I think the Alpaca would be lovely for something, just not this cardigan

So, I moved on to another yarn that was marked 6 sts per 1". Telemark. And some very different colours for me...

Knit Picks Telemark in Garnet Heather below, Flame Heather above and Brass Heather in pattern.

This swatch did not get blocked for it's photo op, so excuse the bumpiness... The gauge is spot on. The fabric is a bit more stiff than I'd like it - it's very tight - but the Tiur that the pattern calls for knits up much the same way. The Tiur I find a bit too scratchy, and I was surprised to find that the Telemark was much softer and still feels like a good solid wool.

So, there's my swatching story so far. I am not sure that I want to start test swatching a ton more yarns, but I will of course take suggestions if any of you have any... And, would love to hear sounds from you more experienced stranded knitters: should the fabric be on the more "stiff" side with not much drape or can I get a bit drapey?

It's back to the Morning Glory.... about 1 more pattern repeat and I am done with the second half!

2008: The Year of the Cardigan

I thought it would be interesting to make a declaration of some kind, you know, to start the new year. And so, to that end, 2008 will be my year of the Cardigan. Some of the cardis pictured above I have had on my to do list, oh I think for maybe 10 years or more. I have held onto the patterns, I have looked at them all several times a year, and I have made no progress.

Now I want to be clear and state for the record, that I am not attempting to make all 16 (there are actually 20 something cardigans in my ravelry queue now) BUT that I will make some of these. OK, that sounds like I am wimping out from my grand declaration, so I AM declaring that I will make at least 8 of the ones pictured above.

The Poetry Cardigan is first on the list since I have been discussing it for I think well over a year now and haven't yet put words and sketches and swatch tests to work. As to my second, third, fourth and so on, that will need to be decided. Opinions?

I will be making yarn and final decisions before the end of January. Yay for the Year of the Cardigan.