Soccerchica wants the Fiery Bolero by Debbie Bliss from IK Summer, 2005 issue. But for a teenager that abuses clothing, I could not see spending $40 for yarn. So I have been in search of a dk weight cotton blend, in brown no less, for a few weeks. Still searching, so if you have any thoughts, please let me know.
Because of her request, I decided to drive over to Marshall and visit a LYS there. This shop has beautiful cotton blends that I will need to try in the future. But nothing in my price range for the bolero porject. Because I had money burning a hole in my pocket, I scored some Sublime Yarn in the Merino DK line and The Sublime Merino Hand Knit book. The yarn will become a pair of fun, striped socks with mismatched toes. I plan to knit them on US 3 or 4 size dpns to get a nice tight fabric. The gauge I am shooting for is 6.5 stitches to 1". The yarn is superbly soft to the touch. The true test being how it knits up. Colors are muted, but full (I want to use the word ripe, but don't think that would convey what I am trying to say) in a wonderful color palette.
But I am feeling the call to knit the sweater that is on the cover. It is called the big frill and you can see it
here. I don't normally like stripes on clothing that most people who wander into my life will see (read: shirts, pants, etc). I especially don't like the stripes that wrap around you horizontally and if worn incorrectly, end up making me look like a circus tent. I think that the frilly sweater looks great on "the beautiful people," but will it look good on one of us everyday, "garden variety people?" Also, my usual wardrobe is filled with solids, or pieces with minimal details, very simple clean lines that fit well. So something frilly with stripes is a big leap for me. But I can't stop thinking about it. It sits on my desk, begging me to look at it, dream about it, knit it.
There are several other nice designs in this book. I think that Boo-boo would like
the little retro sweat. Very stylish with the simple design at the neck. Being that he needs a new sweater for church, this one might just fit the bill.
Now, RM would look great in
the little rib number. He does not wear sweaters all that much; he’s more of a vest guy. So I don’t know why I am attracted to this sweater. Though it could be that I quite enjoy looking at the man who is modeling this sweater - Oh, admit it, you think he might be a little cute too. Shhhhh, don't tell RM.
Overall, the designs in this book are simple and classic. I am growing fond of them.
A pair a week sounds easy, until I really looked at the patterns I wanted to knit (read: All Cookie A's designs), what I already have on my needles (technically not a lot) and all the other things I may want to knit (Fiery bolero, the big frill, etc.). It may be that I have "plunged" into too big of a project. When you think about the sheer number of stitches it takes to knit 52 pairs of socks. Yeeeeek.
