Funny that Teeni should tell me to knit a blankie for Pudding… I started one the day I got her, but she has shown such a disdain for all bedding that I gave up. She far prefers to cuddle up on the carpet under the sofa. Anyway, I have finally managed to buck my months-long streak of socks-only knitting by starting a very simple sweater.
It will be a Zimmerman sweater, probably the yoke sweater from Knitting Without Tears, though I may in the end feel inspired to make it a raglan instead. Maybe I will do a little cable going up each sleeve. Maybe. For now, I’m maybe halfway to the armpits and it is just mindless, glorious, soothing knitting.
I saw this yarn a few weeks ago on Crafty Eliza’s blog and fell in love. I just can’t resist those blue-on-brown heathered tones. Yum. It is Reynolds Whiskey, color 059. This yarn is frequently cited as a substitute for Rowan Felted Tweed, and I think that gaugewise, that is about correct. It is recommended to knit it on size US5 needles. I swatched it on US5s and then, feeling suspicious, on US4s. After washing, drying, and steaming the swatches, the two swatches were hard to tell apart with regard to fabric quality. Before washing, they seemed to be too open and loose, but the yarn–yes, the yarn bloomed, mostly when it was being steamed. So everything will be hunky dory.
I am amazed by how fast knitting goes when it is straight stockinette and one never has to turn the work or re-arrange two sets of circular needles. I think that this whole sweater will involve approximately as much knitting effort as two pairs of socks, for me. Let’s hope it will be worth it!
Oh, what pretty yarn for a sweater. I’m sure it will be a nice little break for you from your those socks. It’s good to change things up a bit. And you certainly have the talent to end up with a beautiful sweater.