I think that I am going to have to admit to being rather addicted to Kim Hargreaves. Given the option I would buy one of most of her kits. Actually make that two so I can have the kits in more than one colour.
Here's Blithe. I cast her on a few weeks ago. And I have to admit that I had utterly forgotten how much I love knitting with fine cotton. Seriously. I know that here are lots of poeple who hate knitting with 4ply / fingering cotton. But me, I love it.
I've finished the front and I am close to finishing the back so hopefully I should have a lovely blue Blithe to wear by the time autumn sets in properly. Well more than it already has at least. (And yes, it's the same colour as the one that Kris is knitting - I didn't realise until I started knitting it although I suspect that it was seeing Kris' one that made me buy that colour...) Oh and full points to Kris for spotting, on Ravelry, that the picture was taken with my knitting off the needles. That's what happens when the gremlins hide all of your needles of the one size that you need.
Anyway, I am really please to discover that I am loving knitting with 4ply cotton. I'd forgotten that this used to be all that I knit with but the cotton mojo is back so I think that there will be a fair amount more cotton in my knitting future. I tend to knit my cotton really tight - not on purpose I hasten to add, it's just the way that I knit, so I am having to knit Blithe on 3.25mm needles instead of the recommended 2.75mm to get gauge. Ho hum.
As a result of this rediscovered love of cotton, I am determined to get Kim Hargreaves' Smartie from Rowan 19 back on the needles and knit her up once and for all. I have about 15 balls of Rowan's cotton glace in various states - some has been frogged (so it's crinkley), some has been frogged and washed and some is still in balls. Add to that the fact that I am pretty sure that there are 2 different dyelots and you'll agree that this has potential colour disaster written on it. But I really want to make her and I really want to make her in that colour - this was the first Rowan yarn that I ever bought back when I was at university so it holds a very special place in my heart.
Posted by Amelia at September 29, 2008 08:57 AMYou´ve certainly noticed that I´ve made a mistake, I meant Smartie, of course, and not Blithe, although Blithe is a great design, too. Oh, those names are always confusing me. Or am I getting really old now?
Posted by: Krawuggl at October 10, 2008 10:00 PMBlithe is so very lovely, I really wish I would have this special magazine, too. And what surprises me most is, that this magazine is some years old now but Blithe is looking freshly designed in their last winter magazine. Some kind of Vintage and some kind very feminine and charming. This will be a real pleasure to watch you knitting it!
Posted by: Krawuggl at October 10, 2008 09:57 PMThank you for reminding me of Rowan 19 and Smartie, that is one gorgeous cardi. I will look out the magazine now and see if I have enough Glace in stash, if not then it looks like being a dent in the bank balance to get some.
Posted by: Louise at October 8, 2008 02:22 PMBlithe looks gorgeous & I love the color that you are knitting in. I love knitting with 4ply cotton too & many of my tops are knitted in cotton.
Posted by: Ann at October 7, 2008 03:04 AMKAL - I'm game. Both colours are gorgeous Amelia. That's KH's gift. Her patterns are classic and can be (re)visited time and again. I'm about to embark on Hide in reds and maroons from Rowan magazine 12 - another blast from the past.
Posted by: joanne at October 6, 2008 11:42 PMI think Blithe looks very pretty Amelia. Love the colour. Fortunately you are not alone, there are so many of us who love Kim Hargreaves.
Sarah
Posted by: Sarah at October 2, 2008 06:08 AMOooh, Smartie is very pretty. I'm going on a hunt for a #19 now. I have some very nice grey that would make a glorious cardi.
Posted by: Jane in Camden at September 30, 2008 10:30 AMI'm glad to see that you've made progress on the back and haven't given up! 4ply cotton is much easier to knit with than dk cotton. I'll have to dig out 19 as that looks gorgeous.
Posted by: dawn at September 29, 2008 08:12 PMMy one and only flirt with Glace came to grief. I frogged and hung up the yarn OUTSIDE. It faded really badly... So don't do that! Perhaps you'll need to wash all the yarn to get it to the same colour?
Posted by: Brigid Hamilton-Jones at September 29, 2008 12:36 PMsmartie knit-along? I'd do it in wool, extrafine merino to be exact as I have some in stash. I've always liked this cardigan, it's just a classic
Posted by: polly at September 29, 2008 10:04 AM