F.O. Aibrean

Pattern: Aibrean by Isabell Kraemer

Colour:  Tannenbaum

Yarn: 80/10/10 Madelinetosh Sport, a merino, cashmere, nylon blend
          4.5 skeins alternating 3 skeins throughout body and two skeins on                     sleeves

This was my first time knitting with a sport weight and I have to say that I am really happy with how light it feels on.  It's warm, but not too warm, if you know what I mean.  I sometimes shy away from knitting sweaters in heavier yarn, feeling like I won't get enough use out of it because it can only be worn on the colder days.  But this, to me, is exactly the perfect level of warmth for a sweater and will get a lot of use.

Needles: 4mm Signature Convertible Circular Needles

Added Notes:  
1)The stitch pattern is both on the front and back with the exception of the sleeves.  I was a bit leery of having to work this pattern for so much of the sweater but I was pleasantly surprised with how quick and easy it was.  Another bonus is that the majority of the sweater is worked in the round and alternate rows are just knitted.  Also, it is easy to see where you have made and error and so simple to fix if you do.

2)  Blocking is essential to this pattern.  Before blocking I was nervous as the sweater was quite tight fitting through the body.  But it blocked out beautifully and the width of the body grew by four inches which was perfect for me.

This is my third sweater by Isabell Kraemer (see my Mailin and my Seashore) and I really admire how well written her patterns are.  As I have mentioned before, they are the sweaters that get the most use in my cupboard.

Next up:  I have joined the Very Shannon Tops, Tanks and Tees KAL, I will be knitting CineCittà by La Maison Rililie. 

CineCittà

If anyone else has joined, let me know, and if you have never tried a Knit A Long this is a great one.  It just started so it's not too late to join.  Even if you don't want to join you can follow along on Instagram at #TTTKAL.

Happy knitting everyone : )

WIP: Aibrean

Patterns designed by Isabell Kraemer are wonderful to knit. You are guaranteed directions that are easy to follow and an FO that will be comfortable to wear and that will look great.  I was so happy to finally get one of her patterns called Aibrean on my needles as it had been in my queue for some time. I knew that my Madelinetosh 80/10/10 Sport in the colourway Tannenbaum would be a great match for it.

Madelinetosh 80/10/10 Sport

Colourway:  Tannenbaum

What I didn't expect was that after working on the pattern for one week, I would be ripping it out and starting over.  Not because I made any knitting errors.  No, I had no issues following this well written pattern.  As I knit this sweater, mostly in the evenings, I did not notice how different the skeins were from each other.  What I stupidly did was decide not to alternate skeins until I got to the part in the pattern where I put the sleeve stitches on hold.  MISTAKE.  I had reasoned in my head that since I bought all the skeins at the same time that they would be from the same dye lot and would look very similar.  Nope.  Wrong.  What I should have done before I grabbed the first skein was to lay out all the skeins in the daylight, side by side, and look to see if they were the same. When I finally had a closer look I noticed that each skein was slightly different. I don't know if you can see where I started alternating in the picture below but the section in the lower part of the sweater is definitely darker.  If I hadn't started over, the sleeves especially would look weird once I start knitting them because no other skein is as light as the first skein I used.

First attempt.  Notice the darker section when I finally started alternating skeins

So I ripped it out and started over.  Seriously I would think by now I would know better and alternate from the beginning.  Another lesson learned.  They say you will keep repeating lessons until you learn them.  I don't know who 'they' are but 'they' are right!

Well here is my progress a couple weeks after I started over.  I am almost at the ribbing section.

Second attempt alternating three skeins

It is very hard for me to capture the exact colours in this yarn.  It is a beautiful combination of a rich forest green, a lighter green and brown.  I will be very interested to see how this sweater blocks out and how much it grows as I have never knit this patterned stitch before.

While I was on my holiday a few weeks ago I managed to finish the beautiful Pebble Beach Shawl by Helen Stewart.  This is the second one I have knitted. The first Pebble Beach Shawl I knit was gifted so I had wanted to make another one for some time.  It is the perfect size and shape to wear around your neck.  This is a very popular pattern with good reason.  There are no charts.  Instead it is written line by line giving you an indication of how far along you are in the pattern.  So, for example, it will tell you when you are 50% along.  This is extremely helpful if you want to use a whole skein of yarn, or if you want to make sure you do not run out.  

Pebble Beach Shawl

Colourway:  Blue Bell

I knit this shawl in Madelinetosh 80/10/10 fingering in the colourway Blue Bell, a lovely soft combination of merino, cashmere and nylon.  This is a great pattern to showcase a special skein of yarn.  The revised pattern also comes in two other larger sizes.

Now off I go to work on Aibrean.  Enjoy what's left of your weekend and don't make the mistake I made..ripping out is not fun.

Fibre Space: Alexandria, Virginia

Fibre Space.  I have been a fan of this store's blog for some time, admiring all the yarn lines they carry and knitting ideas shared each week.  Imagine how happy I was when I figured out that Fibre Space, in Alexandria, Virginia was actually a few subway stops away from where I was staying in Washington, D.C. (Get off at the King Street/Old Town station).   Of course my trip would not have been complete without a visit to this store.

Fibre Space was incredible.  I liked everything about it.  In addition to all the varied yarn lines it is roomy enough to hold classes/knit nights.  It is so well stocked with knitting needles, yarns, fiber, patterns, and yarn bags.  Just about everything you can imagine.   The staff were sweet and so helpful.  But seriously, the yarn...

Highland Handmade Sugar Maple Sock

Jill Draper Makes Stuff

Everywhere I looked were more special skeins.

Shepherd's Wool

The Fibre Company Terra

Woolfolk

Hazel Kits, Crave Yarn & Hedgehog Fibres

Neighborhood Fiber Co. Studio DK

Crave Yarn

Sweet Georgia

And then there was the most beautiful table of Hedgehog Fibres Merino DK

There were so many gorgeous knitted samples too.  Seriously, it was knitting heaven.

Knock Out Round Shawl (free pattern on their website):  Neighbourhood Fiber Co. Studio

Bonnie Banks Shawl in Dovestone DK

Braidsmaid (by Martina Behm) in Sweet Fiber Yarns DK

I was completely mesmerized by this store.  I just kept walking around the store looking at all the incredible yarn.  How I wish this yarn store was near my house. If it was I would just hang out there all the time.  I would volunteer to work there for free!  The really great thing was that Looped Yarn Works which I visited in Washington D.C. earlier in the week had a different variety of beautiful yarn....so between the two stores the choices are unbelieveable.

And right around the corner from this store was an antique store with the most incredible selection of vintage buttons (so many tubs of them). The owner told me that he gets so many knitters coming in.  It is definitely worth a visit too.

It was so hard to choose what to buy.  Here a few skeins I picked:

Crave Yarn Summit Fingering, Hazel Kits Entice Fingering & Hedgehog Fibres Sock Yarn

I loved every moment of my time in this store.  If you ever have the chance to Fibre Space I strongly urge you to go!  Can I come with you? ;o)