'Korrigan' in Stylecraft Special 4-ply

For a while now I have been amassing a small collection of yarn which might possibly-one-day-be-useful-for-something-but-unsure-what... it has amassed quite well.

I had a big sort out last week and decided that of the potential options in front of me I would match up one ball of Stylecraft Special 4-ply (100g) to knit up 'Korrigan' by Solenn Couix-Loarer.  The pattern is really great!  The cardigan feature a yoke-neck with disappearing cables, three buttons to close at the top, giving a slight flare (over nappy-bums) to an otherwise simple stocking stitch body.  Big thumbs up for yoke-neck and top-down design.  Korrigan may be tricky for new knitters as the instructions assume a certain level of understanding, as well as ability to work cables etc. 

I knitted this with the instructions for size 6mths and it used about 70g of yarn.  As this is a cheap acrylic yarn, it is a very economical, but pretty, option.  The yarn is one of the better acrylic options that I have come across, with a very soft, malleable texture.  Nice to knit a baby item in something that is so definitely machine-washable too.  The main limitation of this yarn are the colours (in my view); despite a range of 16 shades, I would probably only use 'Lipstick'.  The tension more-or-less works to 28 stitches and 36 rows (= 4inches) when worked on 3.25mm needles.  However, I think my final cardigan is still a little small for a 6 month old.  Without doubt it would be a pleasure to knit the same pattern in something more luxurious, like the recommended Rowan pure wool 4-ply, but using stylecraft special 4-ply has still produced an adorable, utilisable cardigan in a very nice modern shade! 

Good stuff!

Alpaca sweater finished!

Yeah, my sweater is finished! It turned out great after I switched to knitting it on straight needles instead of circulars. I will definitely be using Drops Alpaca again, see blog posting below.

This sweater is in size 5-6 years old. If you are interested in purchasing it then you can find further details on my site here.

Book Review: Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs

Do you know what? I really liked this book. It's in the camp of 'chick lit' which as an English Literature graduate I really shouldn't, and usually don't, like - however, it's just really engrossing! It's a great blend of the female perspective on relationships, family and friends, with interesting and knowledgable comments about knitting. It is, I'm sure, a wide fantasy amongst knitters to have a knitting store in New York - and to be that woman who can hold together single parenthood, businesswoman, great friends and mentor - and despite her apparently unruly hair, also attractive... Which is probably the toughest thing about this book because Kate Jacobs does throw a spanner into the works of this fantasy world... now is that a good thing or not? I still have not quite decided whether I respect the attempt at putting in a (bit) of a three-dimensional perspective, or whether I was just upset that the fantasy could not be complete.

Maybe it's not a literary great, but actually it's reasonably well-written, and certainly well enough to not be grating. Ultimately the story holds it together and I cared about these women's lives, I enjoyed the tale... and I would read a Kate Jacobs book again.

Monday 19th July 2010

This is my first ever post :) I hope to use this space to review books, discuss knitting, and chart my journey with my handknitting business 'Haloopa Joop'. I started selling online in January as a bit of an experiment to see if anyone might be interested in my items and to give myself a chance to be creative. Thankfully a few people have been ;) ... I put my first ever knitting pattern up on my site this weekend... and with a few more spare hours I hope to put more items on there soon. Currently working on a ladies jumper, which is the first time I have tried to put something that takes a more substantial number of hours to make... Also working on a baby blanket and some more baby booties...