I was looking through my stash, taking pictures and trying to visualise what I'll do with it all. I looked hard at the stash and thought "there is something missing." When I got into the office next, I rifled through drawers in my desk and there it was. Posh Yarn. Cashmere and Silk mix in aran weight, in a gorgeous lavender blue colour.
This yarn is super soft, but it does suffer because it is a silk mix. It has that smell, that slight aroma of silk. Most people can't smell it, but I can always smell the silk. It lingers, just that slight hint of silk smell. I love the feel of the yarn, but I know that the finished object will not be for me, it will have to be gifted much to my despair because this yarn is beautiful. It is a joy in the hands, it feels like the softest of down you can imagine. My hands sigh as it runs through them.
It desired a pattern of superior quality. It needed something special to show off the colour, the richness of the yarn and it needed to be turned into something that is to be worn close to the skin, maybe even close to the face. Not my face, because I can not cope with that smell no matter how slight it is. I wish it were 100% cashmere, then selfishly I would keep it, wear it and cherish it because the pattern is sublime.
While hunting Ravelry for something special to knit I found Katinka. She had created the most beautiful Fair Isle hat for the Ravelympics, it was simply stunning. I've never attempted colourwork but asked her if the pattern would be available "soon." While waiting on a response I found her site and her Etsy store and there, was the most beautiful pattern which was crying out for me to knit. The Waterfall Scarf pattern just looked stunning to me - the simplicity of the pattern and the way that it just cascades made me realise THAT was the pattern I'd been looking for - I have some cashmere laceweight crying out for a nice lace pattern.
I bought the pattern and fondled my cashmere laceweight. However, the aran was waiting to be used and it was peeking out at me every time I opened my desk drawer in the office.
So I cast on....
This is just the start, I've done more since this picture but need to upload more pictures. This thing moves along smoothly and quickly, producing beautiful cascading stitch patterns. I showed it to a colleague who gasped and said "I love that colour" then she touched it and said "wow that is soft" and at last she said "that is gorgeous, it really is an art what you are doing." I think I just found the recipient of my first Waterfall Scarf. I'm jealous! I want to keep it, but the silk just won't do!
Meanwhile, Autumn is approaching. Yes I know it's just August - it's still summer! Well it is, but in a week it is September, the kids return to school, the roadworks in London (which should be ending but aren't because they have overrun on their schedules) should be drawing to a close. All these things are triggers which indicate the start of Autumn.
So Autumn is coming, the air will begin to chill. This means one thing and one thing only. I need a sweater. Something soft, warm and most of all something comforting. Something to comfort me. Something to wrap myself in and stretch the sleeves slightly so they cover my palms - palm warming sleeves which serve to protect my hands from the scalding hot of the mugs my soup is in. Soup to warm the soul, and a sweater to curl up in.
This is it. Simple, elegant and warming. The start takes some concentration and a whole heap of stitch markers! It is worth it though, once it starts it flies along too. Knit from the top down raglan style with a simple and easy to follow design.
The only problem I've had so far is that this colour is an absolute pig to photograph. None of the pictures I have taken have really done the yarn or the colour justice. It is Jaegar Extra Fine Merino, soft and smooth delicious yarn to work with. The colour is Coal Dust.
Here the first 90 rows are completed, the biggest cable is done, and the body just need some length adding before waist shaping can take place.
Again, the simplicity is good. It is similar in style to the simplicity of the Bombshell Sweater from BGK - I like knitting in the round. I like that the front and the back are done at the same time and I don't have to worry about seaming. I love the fact I can try it on as I go.
Now I'm on the "boring" bit though, endless rounds of knit knit knit only, but this sweater is lovely. The yarn is lovely. This is going to comfort me!
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