I spoke earlier of Melissa Leapman and her wonderful cables. There is a sweater that I have admired and often wondered what it would look like in person. Well, at the class I attended she was actually wearing the sweater. She said it was in the Cables Untangled book that was already published. She showed me the picture in the book and while it was the sweater, the printer/production staff decided to make it a more brown color, the actual color is that funky green. YUM! It is knitted in a dk weight, in a yarn that is no longer available. Rowan Yorkshire tweed. I believe that substitution is Scottish tweed dk. I am not sure of the color range but believe it is probably close to what was, but I don't know for sure.
I did a little research. At Webs Scottish Tweed runs $10, so 17 balls minus 25% bring the sweater down to roughly $124 for the sweater. That's a lot for a sweater. Yes it could be something that would last a lifetime, but shudder. I just can't do it. Then there is the beautiful yarn that the yarnharlot has found Scottish Tweed had I known how it blooms when you wash it, I would have bought it when I was at Stitches. Alas, I didn't and the colors I want are gone. However, I remembered that I do have some dk weight yarn at home. There is Jo Sharp in a green similar to the originial color of the design, but I don't think I have enough yarn. There are the dark purple cones of dk weight yarn "kid n ewe" but it is far too dark. Lastly Ultra Alpaca has a light version and I had three skeins at my fingertips. What is a person to do but swatch a skein, in that funky green no less!. The cost is $5 per skein, yardage is 143 yarns so the actual sweater $75 minus 20% comes to $65. This is if I buy the yarn for the sweater at Webs. The other alternative is to waiting until my local yarnstore has a sale on the Ultra Alpaca and get it there. I also have stashed some of the heavier weight Ultra Alpaca so it might not be a sweater I even have to get the yarn for, SCORE!
I've put several photos of the green yarn and my swatch so that you can see how the yarn is working. Initially I don't like the feel of the fabric. It is on size 5 needles and I think to get the cables to pop I am going to need to drop down the needle size to a 4. Again this is where the swatching comes in. I am actually thinking because I want a bit of heft of the sweater perhaps knitting it at a worsted weight. Actually I am thinking of pulling out some of the old Classic Elite Tapestry yarn, and perhaps something else (something that I can't rember the name of) I also found a yarn that can be knitted at a tigher gauge and I have a lovely red and green, but in using a heavier yarn I'm not sure how to work out some the of problems. If I want a heavier weight to the sweater I believe that I might need more yarn but if I get gauge at a worsted weight that doesn't kill my hands it **might** just work.
Yes I am still knitting somewhat on other projects, but I need to take a break because we are having the family over on Saturday to enjoy the weather and the changing of the leaves. It is just something that should be fun. The prep itsn't. I also had a rather rough week at work and that isn't going to change anytime soon. Such is life.
Patty
I saw your comment at Aranknit and am rading your blog for teh first time. Have you checked out KnitPicks.com? They have wonderful yarns at can't-be-beat prices. They have a merino DK in 20 colors for $2.49 per 50gm ball (123 yards) or a luxurious alpaca/silk DK for $5.49 per 50gm ball (110 yards). I've used a few different yarns from KnitPicks, and I've always been pleased with them.
Posted by: Tracy | October 20, 2007 at 11:10 AM