Have you seen the latest issue of Interweave Knits Weekend? I picked up a copy a couple of weeks ago strictly based on my love of the 8,000 Feet Hoodie by Amanda Scheuzger.
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| Photo Interweave |
I adore this sweater and it is supposed to be a good first colorwork project. Not that this is my first time doing colorwork, but typically in the past I have stuck to one color. The gauge isn’t outrageous at 5.75 stitches per inch which means I hopefully won’t get too bored by the stockinette body. Also it is knit top down which means I can easily adjust it for my height.
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| Yarn photos from Webs |
Today I bit the bullet and ordered my yarn for it. The pattern used Alpaca Blue Sky Suri Merino which would have cost about $250 to make this sweater. A little too rich for me, especially for a first colorwork project. I ended up going with Cascade 220 Sport. It is the right weight and at only $3.75 a ball on Webs it only cost me $55 with shipping. I also changed the color palette a bit. I went with a charcoal grey for the body instead of the dusky color and chose brighter colors for the colorwork. I left out the gold color all together and went with a natural. Maybe I can get my Signe Mittens done before the yarn arrives so I don’t feel too guilty about buying it.
© 2005 – 2011 Kathy Lewinski & Susan Cornish
Can't wait to see it when it's finished! Gorgeous.
So pretty! I've never done colorwork before (or top-down!), but this pattern is really tempting. I've got two of the four Christmas sweaters started… as soon as the crazy summer's over (or maybe sooner!) we should start knitting group again.
very cute! Colorwork is fun, but I’m wondering if the hood on this is knit back and forth or circularly (and then steeked). Colorwork knit flat is a HUGE pain in the butt and while steeking (aka CUTTING your knitting) is intimidating it is MUCH easier.
Also, the Cascade 220 sport is lovely. I haven’t worn the item I knit with it yet (hello, MN summer) but for a little over $3/skein the price is fantastic! They have a great selection of colors at Borealis, FYI.
Jess – It is knit flat. They expressly say so steeking in the pattern. I can see where this is a pain because you could end up with a ton of weaving in at the end. Oh well, fingers-crossed.
I love Cascade 220 Sport. It is a great workhorse yarn, and it is terrific to be able to make awesome sweaters at 1/5 the cost of the often called for luxury yarns.