I once swore that I would never make a sweater. I am generally warm enough without them - and most of them make me look like something that Omar The Tentmaker would be proud of! Of course, never say never. I am working on one now! As I have mentioned before, I am a Noro yarn addict - I use it so much - for so many things! The pattern I am working on is from Knitter's Magazine from the Fall 2004 issue. The sweater is called "Random Acts of Color". I would NEVER have thought twice about the pattern from looking at it in the magazine had I not seen it done by fabulous knitter Carol Harrington. I instantly knew that, in fact, there was a sweater in my future. Carol teaches this sweater in a class at
Anacrosstitch in Anacortes, Washington called 'Scarf Sweater' & she has some wonderful twists to the magazine pattern. I like Carol's rendition better. The class is over four weekends - 2 hours at a time on a Saturday. That's a lot of money and travel time for me - so I thought I would try the pattern from the magazine on my own to see if I could do it myself. Thus far - I can! It's difficult to find this particular issue of the magazine which is out-of-print and very seldom available - so I was thrilled to be able to find one. It's actually a VERY simple pattern. Simple strips knit like small scarves (hence the name Scarf Sweater) are actually rather boring & simple knitting . Carol's three needle bind off method to connect the strips makes the pattern so much more interesting than the instructions from the magazine. Of course, I think anything made with Noro is a winner - and for this sweater I am using my favorite Noro yarn - Silk Garden. I think it's going to be a real treasured sweater !
The other Noro project that I have on needles is a pair of Noro socks - one sock is done ! I have found that I really like Skacel 12 inch Addi Turbo needles for making socks. It took me a bit of time to get used to the bent tip on them - but I think that the shorter length makes for faster, easier knitting. Another great new find for me! I have been thinking that the next pair I make will be done on size 0 needles though - these are being worked on size 1's. The socks feel better on than I had thought they would as the yarn feels rather stiff and waxy in the hand. I have also been reading on
Ravelry that the yarn sofens with washing - which gives me hope of a drawer full of Noro socks ! I would love it if the came out with a sock yarn made from Silk Garden ! Okay - I am off to do some honest-to-gosh SEWING now - on a quilt for our Aunt !
I am making some good progress on the sweater now and got to wondering how it would look on a pseudo body - so I pinned what I have done so far onto my dress form to have a look. It sure looks funny at this point - but I can sort of get an idea of what it will eventually be like. I am still in love with the colors and, once blocked, I think it is going to be a " stylin' "sweater! I have the only a couple more panels for the other side to finish & then I will start on the arms. I will be pleased and happy when this is wearable - next Fall no doubt ! Have I mentioned how much I love Noro Silk Garden?!! I also have found that Dream In Color yarns are lovely to knit as well. The color I am using for the bind off if called "Spring Tickle". Appropriate!
