Pinspired and Produced #3{16}
A few weeks ago I saw a pin over at Pinterest that really caught my eye. The knitted garment in the picture looked fairly simple and so instead of trying to buy it. . . I decided to try and reproduce it. Besides, the price was almost 300 Euros – that’s a lot of dollars. I mean a LOT.
I decided to visit my local (fabulous) yarn store and buy my first fancy yarn. Paula Kucera at White Barn Farm Sheep and Wool helped me to guess figure out what the dimensions should be. I’ve never done this much planning for a knitting project before – and still, it was pretty minimal. I even knit a gauge swatch! A first! This project used 4 skeins of Cascade Yarns Baby Alpaca Chunky – 108 yards each. The color is 626. So descriptive, right? It’s a beautiful marled grey.
I cast on 185 stitches onto size 11 circular needles. The shawl is knit in the round. Couldn’t be simpler. Cast on, knit till finished. This kind of project is right up my alley. I made the shawl for myself but realized this afternoon that I couldn’t take pictures of myself wearing it. . .
So I rounded up the only model I could find. . .
The wrap (it’s really more like a giant cowl – and can be worn as a shrug, shawl, cowl, or hooded cowl) is incredibly soft. After knitting with this baby alpaca it wil be hard to knit with anything less. And I think my model did a fantastic job. There is snow predicted for tonight. I might actually get to wear it a couple of times this year! One more thing. . . I seem to have a habit of starting knitting projects and getting them almost completely finished – except for weaving in the ends. I really don’t like to weave in the ends. But as of now – this is one more Pinspired project completed – even the ends. I’ll even own up to finishing the weaving in after I took the pictures. But I did finish.
What are you working on? Having trouble finishing? Let me tell you – announce to the world that you’ll be completing a project every week. . .
I’ve linked this post to:
Air Your Laundry Friday at Freckled Laundry
Market Yourself Monday at Sumo’s Sweet Stuff
Mar 31, 2012 @ 04:26:40
It’s terrific! Everything about it, including ( especially?) the model… I think you may have several days in the next week to wear it… Especially in the mornings.
Apr 01, 2012 @ 10:00:27
can you stand how pretty she is? i can’t. i wore it all day yesterday – i’m wishing i used a different yarn – the baby alpaca is VERY soft but it could use a bit more body. . . it’s still great though – and that means i get to make another one!
Mar 31, 2012 @ 06:58:27
Oh Breida it’s beautiful! And Cascade Baby Alpaca Chunky is exactly the yarn I just used for that red cowl I did! Isn’t it fabulous? It’s true that once you start knitting with more expensive yarns, you’ll never want to go back to the cheap stuff. Be careful, it’s a slippery slope. Next you’ll be starting a collection of skeins made with stuff like cashmere, silk and camel. You’ll affectionately display them and call it your stash, meaning full well to use it all, but the stash will grow and grow until you have more skeins than you could knit in a lifetime. And yet, you will want more. You will buy a skein whenever you go on vacation as a souvenir. You’ll find yourself asking for gift certificates to local yarn stores for birthdays and Christmas. You’ll enter a store like Michael’s or AC Moore or Joanne’s Fabrics and look at their yarn with disdain, and wonder who could possibly knit with this acrylic crap? And where’s their Alpaca?? Yes, my friend, it’s a slippery slope indeed. Now you’ve done it.
Apr 01, 2012 @ 10:07:51
well – so far i only buy yarn for projects. i pick out the project first and then get the yarn. so far. also – i still think the yarns in the regular craft stores have their places – #1 i like a lot of the cotton yarns (pretty much ALL wool makes me itch if it touches my skin at all – even baby alpaca). #2 i’ve made a bunch of things to give away (like for The Linus Project) and those really don’t need to be fancy yarns.
Mar 31, 2012 @ 07:55:44
Wow! That is beautiful! And so is the girl of course!!
Apr 01, 2012 @ 10:00:59
thanks, Karen! it was a fun project and I’m already planning the next one!
Mar 31, 2012 @ 09:00:22
You are just as busy as a b!
Beautifully done, and terrific color choice. Perhaps you should start making these for friends (hint, hint).
Apr 01, 2012 @ 10:04:10
- i’m going to make another one soon I think – with a different yarn – soon i’ll have so many, i’ll HAVE to start giving them away!
thanks for stopping by and commenting – every comment gives me a little thrill.
(feel free to share me around)
(and pin me!!)
Apr 04, 2012 @ 14:31:31
Breida, it looks fantastic! I want one. May I write up the pattern and use it in the shop? Congratulations on your blog.
Apr 09, 2012 @ 21:31:33
thanks, Paula! I just noticed your share on FB too! So, thanks, again. I’m hoping to come in and see you this week – I’ll bring the cowl in to show you.
breida with a b.
May 03, 2012 @ 21:41:47
This is absolutely beautiful. LOVE that yarn.
May 04, 2012 @ 00:55:31
Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment! It means so much. This project was so very easy and I adore this yarn too. Have you used it before? The feel of it is just incredible and the color. . . well, we do love our greys don’t we?!
Thanks again,
breida
May 04, 2012 @ 00:57:07
OH! Jami! Thank You!! After I responded to your comment here – I thought I’d stop by your site for a minute. . . Grinning from ear to ear!
breida
breida with a b(lown away)!
May 04, 2012 @ 07:52:03
[...] can see a photo of the Baby Alpaca Cowl I made at Freckled Laundry or you can see the full post here. remember my beautiful [...]
Dec 22, 2012 @ 11:20:59
I can’t wait to try this. Yours came out so very beautiful. I’m with you on the weaving in the ends, my least favorite part of knitting for sure!
Dec 22, 2012 @ 23:28:06
it is really, really easy! go for it!
breida