Happy Wednesday! I’m joining in with Kat and friends today to talk about knitting – specifically, an update on last week’s next-up post.
I’ll start with the Yes!
This is Edie, almost halfway through the body. The colors are most definitely outside my comfort zone, but it is fun to see how they play together in the knitting. Apparently, I’m also getting lazy a lot more relaxed about swatching. When I blocked the swatch (knit on 4’s), it shrunk. So I cast on with 6’s…fingers crossed!
The No! is True Colors.
I love the pattern. I love the yarn. I do not like them together. The reality of the design in anything more than two colors is ends. and it’s not just weaving them in. It’s also making sure the tension at the beginning and end of each color is right. I’ve decided the pattern needs a sticky yarn and I’m playing around with my little stash of Kidsilk Haze to find a color combo I like. I’ve decided the yarn needs a multi-colored pattern that lets you carry the colors. Maybe Color Affection? stay tuned!
The Maybe! is Calyx.
With Lydia’s help, I did find a “goes with dark blue and white jeans” color of Berroco Remix in Beaufort (the actual color is little lighter than the almost-dry swatch on the right). This morning I swatched. First with 7’s (right) and then with 6’s (left). One questionable gauge project is apparently as much excitement as I can handle! The pattern suggests 6-10″ of positive ease, so I’m not too worried about stitch gauge. But Elizabeth has a whole paragraph about Row Gauge Considerations in the notes. I don’t want to calculate a bunch of adjustments, so I’m hoping one of those swatches nails it. We’ll see!
Balise is still in its project bag. Yes I’m going to knit it. No I haven’t started yet. and Maybe it will be ready for Memorial Day 😉.
What’s a Yes! in your world right now?
mere-et-filles 
I do like your colors and careful considerations! Edie looks great, even if (or maybe because?) it's such a departure from your usual colors. I also love the linen for True Colors, but see that the ends might be a big issue. Here's hoping for lots of yesses; I'm betting you'll make them happen.
Ends . . . always a pain in the patootie, but especially so in linen. Gah! I think you made a wise choice on the "no." (Although those colors are really lovely together.) I like the colors in your Edie – sometimes it's good to shake up your wardrobe a little bit! (As for the row gauge? Oh, my. I have such a time with row gauge! So much so that I avoid patterns where row gauge matters.) As always, I appreciate your careful attention to the details when you knit, Mary. 🙂
I'm pretty sure I'd pass on weaving in all those ends, too, especially with linen. I love that Edie and I think Calyx should be a definite yet.
I like the colors in Edie and think it will look great. I think linen it tough to work with, but do like the colors you chose, I look forward to see how you will use that yarn. Good luck with all of your projects!
This is good for me to read as I consider casting another sweater 😉
Every time I see Caylx I want to knit her! Now I know there would be a lot of swatching to do. I've seen some beautiful Color Affections in linen, but you'll have to be careful not to pull the edges too tightly. Edie's colors are like a mix of summer color captured in a neutral gray, which will be a perfect wardrobe staple. Fingers crossed the gauge works for you! xo
Oooh, I love that palette for True Colors, though! I'm just happy to be doing a little bit of knitting again… and not thinking too hard about it. 🙂
hm, that first photo IS my colors 🙂 Isn't it funny how we think we like yarns together until we start knitting them up and then we change our minds. Sometimes, I think something will look awful and then I'm delighted that it looks fabulous – that is the best knitting scenario.
I look forward to hearing how the Berroco Remix works up-after this weekend's retreat I need to keep a list of good warm weather yarn.