Friday, May 27, 2016
It All Started with Frank....
It all started with Frank....Frank Ochre that is. .... Malabrigo yarns produced some new colors in their Rasta yarn base; one just happened to be my
all-time favorite color, Frank Ochre. As we unpacked the box I swooned and knew I had to have a sweater out of this soft, awesome color. We were meant to be together, Frank and I.... so I searched Ravelry for projects that
had used Rasta and found Melissa Schaschwary’s pattern, The Road to Gimmerton. This pattern is a fitted and cropped cardigan with capped sleeves worked from the top down, and
most importantly using only 3 to 4 skeins of Rasta.
Reading the pattern I was struck by the simplicity of the project
that incorporated top down knitting, paired increases and decreases for the
shaping and minimal seaming (or none if the sleeves are knit in the
round). Even the trim was incorporated
into the body knitting, so it didn’t have to be picked up later. I realized it was the perfect pattern for a
First Sweater and therefore a class. Before that could happen, though, I knew I
should test out the pattern. Frank Ochre
came home with me that night, and I tried to finish it before I returned to work the next day. Along the way I decided to re knit the capped sleeves to lengthen them. It was this decision that kept me from getting done in 24 hours and winning my bet with Erika that it would be done by the time I returned to the studio!
We had great participation in the class. We realized that it does take longer than 2 hours to get to the armhole shaping(one of the more challenging aspects of the pattern to a new sweater knitter) and had to touch base in my Confidence Building Classes. Since the class, I have knitted Gimmerton twice more (both in Woolfolk Hygge yarn) and have loved having a deliciously cozy sweater that keeps my shoulders and back warm. Because I don't want to overheat, I choose to wear it without a closure. The knitters in the class have proudly worn theirs and all have told me how happy they are with their finished(!) projects. We are offering the class again and I hope, if you’ve been hesitating to take the plunge in to sweater knitting, you will consider taking the road to Gimmerton!
 |
| Beth and Frank |
We had great participation in the class. We realized that it does take longer than 2 hours to get to the armhole shaping(one of the more challenging aspects of the pattern to a new sweater knitter) and had to touch base in my Confidence Building Classes. Since the class, I have knitted Gimmerton twice more (both in Woolfolk Hygge yarn) and have loved having a deliciously cozy sweater that keeps my shoulders and back warm. Because I don't want to overheat, I choose to wear it without a closure. The knitters in the class have proudly worn theirs and all have told me how happy they are with their finished(!) projects. We are offering the class again and I hope, if you’ve been hesitating to take the plunge in to sweater knitting, you will consider taking the road to Gimmerton!
Beth
P.S. I am happy to say many of the students wanted to start a new sweater. We have ventured into Abria by Bonne Maria Burns and are all using the new Rowan yarn Softyak DK.
P.S. I am happy to say many of the students wanted to start a new sweater. We have ventured into Abria by Bonne Maria Burns and are all using the new Rowan yarn Softyak DK.