The search for yarn possibilities for the Ausable cardi produced at least two yarns that may work. This sweater will be a big project but I’m so ready to get started knitting on it.
The recommended yarn is Berroco Catena, which has 120 yards/50 g. skein. The gauge needs to be 15 stitches/4″ with size 11 US needles. The gauge and the weight/yards are what I will use to hopefully find a compatible yarn.
Option #1:
Cascade 128 SW
First and foremost, in the back right side of the picture is a shadow . . not a wet spot! The slip cover on the sofa got washed and dried today.
This purple yarn is Cascade 128 Superwash. It is classified as bulky weight too. The gauge is 14 stitches/4″ using 10 US needles. The gauge is good. The weight of the yarn is WAY off. The Cascade is 128 yard/100 grams compared to the Catena, which would be 240 yards/100 grams. That’s a big difference so I’m not sure what to think. I suppose if the gauge is right, the weight shouldn’t be a huge consideration.
I have 6 skeins and would have to order 6 skeins. With Cascade yarns, different dye lots are not much of a concern.
Option #2:
Knit Picks Brava Bulky
The second option is Knit Picks Brava Bulky. The stash contains plenty of this one. The gauge is 15 stitches/4″ on 10 US needles. Perfect! Again, the weight is way off. The Brava is 136 yards/100 grams, again, compared to 240 yards/100 grams of the suggested yarn.
Concerns:
Looking at the reviews for both the Cascade 128 and the Brava Bulky, laundering issues have caused both these yarns to receive lower ratings.
Before making a final decision, I think I will knit a swatch with both yarns, and then will launder them as brutally as possible – throw them in the washer and then the dryer. Maybe I’ll do it more than once. That should give me a good idea of how they’ll look after laundering!
For non-knitters, if any are still reading, handwashing isn’t really an option with superwash wool because it was made to go into the washer and dryer. It will grow to an amazing size and about the only way to get it back to the intended size is to put it in the dryer, at least for a while.
Results will be reported in a later (probably MUCH later) blog post!
Pat Anderson says
That purple would be my choice for sure, but buying more yarn may not be in the budget (wink!)…I’m sure the gray would be lovely, too!
dezertsuz says
I looked at the pattern and it is a wonderful throw-on-anytime kind of sweater, the kind I love! It would be pretty in either of these colors, so I hope one will work for you. I do love gray sweaters because they go with anything and look good with jeans, too. Is this a wool or blend or acrylic?
Laura says
We know you love all greens, but would you enjoy gray?
Judy Laquidara says
I do love gray because it goes with almost everything I wear.