teal ptarmigan
Can you think of anything less appropriate for summer than an angora cowl? Me neither, which is probably why I finished knitting this in just a few days, then set it aside for several weeks before finally hiding the ends and blocking it today.
Isn't it lovely? Especially among my not-yet-hit-with-the-tragic-blight basil plants?
I loved knitting this pattern, as I have loved knitting the other Jared Flood designs I've made (Koolhaas and Habitat, though I have many more in my mental queue). They are somewhat challenging, extremely well-written, well-charted, and he never, ever does anything too many times in a row, so I don't get bored. Ptarmigan was no exception.
I never thought I was a person to make or wear cowls, but I think I've changed my mind. They are quicker and more interesting in construction than scarves. Also, scarves tend to come unwound and trail behind me, which a cowl obviously can not do, since it's just a tube you pull on over your head. I'm sold.
Also, I love this yarn, Louisa Harding Kimono Angora Pure in bright (and I mean bright) teal. It is so very soft and warm and absolutely light as air. I bought it on sale at Lakeside Fibers long ago. In fact, I remember the day quite clearly. I had just found out I was pregnant with Anya, to my very great surprise (and to the great surprise of my doctors as well - failed IUD, if you must know) and I spent the whole day in a fog, wondering how the hell I was going to take care of Daniel and prepare for Songfest '07 and finish my doctorate that year. I remember that I was feeling overwhelmed and panicky and needed to get out of the house, so I took Daniel to Lakeside (he was just a toddler, so hard to imagine now) with the intention only of looking at yarn and maybe treating us to something in the café, and I came home with a small bag of this angora yarn and no idea what to do with it.
Well, three years later I can happily say that my experience at Songfest was a great success (in fact, scroll down to the very bottom of that link and you can hear a piece I premiered there!), I finished my degree in the nick of time (literally hours before Anya was born), my kids are lovely little creatures (most of the time, you know), and I finally figured out what to do with the angora yarn.
Pattern: Ptarmigan, by Jared Flood of Brooklyn Tweed
Yarn: Louisa Harding Kimono Angora Pure, just over 1 skein, in the color teal. I thought the high angora content would make for lots of shedding, but I didn't have a big problem with that. I was also afraid the fuzz factor would interfere with the definition of the stitch pattern, but I'm pleased with how well it shows up.
Needles: size 7 16" circular, and I assume I knit approximately to gauge. I like how the cowl fits, so I'm not even bothering to check!
New skills acquired: sewn bind-off. I'd never tried it before, but the pattern suggests it for finishing, and I found it to be easy and look very nice.
Isn't it lovely? Especially among my not-yet-hit-with-the-tragic-blight basil plants?
I loved knitting this pattern, as I have loved knitting the other Jared Flood designs I've made (Koolhaas and Habitat, though I have many more in my mental queue). They are somewhat challenging, extremely well-written, well-charted, and he never, ever does anything too many times in a row, so I don't get bored. Ptarmigan was no exception.
I never thought I was a person to make or wear cowls, but I think I've changed my mind. They are quicker and more interesting in construction than scarves. Also, scarves tend to come unwound and trail behind me, which a cowl obviously can not do, since it's just a tube you pull on over your head. I'm sold.
Also, I love this yarn, Louisa Harding Kimono Angora Pure in bright (and I mean bright) teal. It is so very soft and warm and absolutely light as air. I bought it on sale at Lakeside Fibers long ago. In fact, I remember the day quite clearly. I had just found out I was pregnant with Anya, to my very great surprise (and to the great surprise of my doctors as well - failed IUD, if you must know) and I spent the whole day in a fog, wondering how the hell I was going to take care of Daniel and prepare for Songfest '07 and finish my doctorate that year. I remember that I was feeling overwhelmed and panicky and needed to get out of the house, so I took Daniel to Lakeside (he was just a toddler, so hard to imagine now) with the intention only of looking at yarn and maybe treating us to something in the café, and I came home with a small bag of this angora yarn and no idea what to do with it.
Well, three years later I can happily say that my experience at Songfest was a great success (in fact, scroll down to the very bottom of that link and you can hear a piece I premiered there!), I finished my degree in the nick of time (literally hours before Anya was born), my kids are lovely little creatures (most of the time, you know), and I finally figured out what to do with the angora yarn.
Pattern: Ptarmigan, by Jared Flood of Brooklyn Tweed
Yarn: Louisa Harding Kimono Angora Pure, just over 1 skein, in the color teal. I thought the high angora content would make for lots of shedding, but I didn't have a big problem with that. I was also afraid the fuzz factor would interfere with the definition of the stitch pattern, but I'm pleased with how well it shows up.
Needles: size 7 16" circular, and I assume I knit approximately to gauge. I like how the cowl fits, so I'm not even bothering to check!
New skills acquired: sewn bind-off. I'd never tried it before, but the pattern suggests it for finishing, and I found it to be easy and look very nice.
Comments
I think I might have seen you at Half Price a couple weeks ago. It was in the front of the store by the vintage childrens books. I would have been sweaty and disheveled from biking there. Sound familiar?