You know I love stranded knitting. I haven’t been great at doing it but I feel like I’m getting better. Practice makes perfect, right? My tension seems better, the back looks better, I’m feeling more confident doing it.
Shown above is the back side of my current project.
I’ve had access to the back issues of “The Knitter” for a couple of weeks now and I still can’t stop reading them. They are so good. I think I’ve saved about 40 patterns already so I definitely am getting my money’s worth out of the back issues. I’m not quite sure what makes the knitting so different in what we see in American magazines from what I’m seeing in a British magazine but I think it’s the style – Norwegian, Falkands, Irish, Icelandic – the styles just seem different and maybe I was looking for something new .. I have no idea why I’m so drawn to these patterns.
The yarns used in almost all the patterns are also yarns made with wool from the areas where the designers are from. I don’t think there’s been a single pattern that I’ve saved that is made with yarn I have in my stash. Of course, I can use any yarn – I don’t have to use what they use but, wanting to try some of their yarns, I’ve ordered a few of the British yarns.
A cowl pattern, Eleri, is in Issue #143. There’s a matching hat pattern too. The designer used Cambrian Mountains 4 ply yarn. The yarn is spun from pure Welsh wool and it feels so different from any yarns I’ve purchased. It’s very soft. It’s loosely plied, which usually I don’t like but that makes it perfect for colorwork.
These are the colors I’ve used, which are exactly the same as the designer used in the piece in the magazine but I used a bit darker gray than they she used.
Having the magazines has definitely changed my knitting queue!
Susan Nixon says
Those ARE pretty colors. Your work always looks so neat, Judy.