Thursday, March 18, 2010

Blue Spruce Aran


The Grape Trellis cardigan isn’t quite done, but it was getting to the point where I needed a rest from it, so I started another Top-Down Saddle Shoulder Aran – yes, I know I’m crazy. What can I say, sometimes I just need to start something new while I’m inspired. The new one will be a pullover out of Cottage Craft 2-ply in Blue Spruce.

The saddle cable is a 3-rib lattice, which I think you can see has been mirror-imaged for symmetry. The two major cable patterns in the body are out of Annie Maloney’s book, The Cable Knitter’s Guide. The center cable is #66, and the cables going down from the shoulder are #22. These are a bit more complicated, so I do have to pay attention to what I’m doing, but I love how they look.

The cable layout from left to right is:
Wave of Honey (or Little Chain)
Eccentric cable
#22
Eccentric
Wave of Honey
Little Twist Cable (Barbara Walker’s first treasury)
#66
Little Twist
Wave of Honey
Eccentric
#22
Eccentric
Wave of Honey

When designing with cables, I like to make them so that the ones on the right, lean to the right, and the ones on the left, lean to the left when seen on the body. This creates a V-effect which I think is flattering to the figure by emphasizing the shoulders and de-emphasizing the waist. This photo shows them as they were knit. The sweater is knit from the top down so the photo is upside down from the way the finished garment will be worn.

I've also started swatching for a cabled vest, which I hope to start shortly. Obviously I don't worry about having more than one project going, because sometimes I feel like working on one thing, and other times like working on something else. I don't want to confine myself to just one project, losing whatever inspiration or idea I might have for another when it strikes! ;)


2 comments:

Cary ~ My Wool Mitten at Serenity Farms said...

I wandered over to your blog via Ravelry and am so glad that I did! Your work is beautiful and your comments about your process so informative. Wish I were close enough to take one of your classes, I'll bet they are great.

Jeanne said...

Thank you so much, Cary! Always nice to hear compliments. ;)