Almost Finished!

Look what I finished seaming over the weekend! I have to say that I really had a fear of seaming before this sweater. I haven't made that many sweaters and the seaming on the ones that I have made have not looked as smooth as I would have liked. Thank goodness for The Purl Stitch by Sally Melville. The pictures in this book are so clear and easy to follow that I had no problem figuring things out. I highly recommend this book. I'll have to show you a close up of my seams after Butterfly is dry. I am really impressed with myself :) This is why I love knitting. I've been knitting since I was about 8 or 9 and here I am learning something new 25 years later!

In other knitting news, I was able to visit a yarn shop that I had never been to before -- Sunflower Samplings in Crystal Lake, IL. I was really impressed with this shop! They had the latest yarns from Rowan, Noro, Debbie Bliss and many more. They even had Jane Ellisons newest book -- The Queensland Collection. Now, I have fallen in love with Jane's designs, so I knew that it had to come home with me. . .

I bought an entire bag of the yarn you see there. It's called Kathmandu and it's 85% Merino, 10% Silk and 5% Cashmere. Yummy! This stuff is so soft and lovely! It's also wonderfully tweedy, which I'm not sure it readily apparent from my picture. But here's the sad part. This is Kathmandu ARAN and I needed Kathmandu DK to make the Agatha Cardigan (Click here for a picture of it). *sob* I was all set to start the cardigan on the car ride home since I had finished the seaming of Butterfly during the car ride. Now, I know that this is very new yarn and the shop owner's didn't realize that they sold me the wrong thing, so I am not upset with them. They were very nice and I'm sure if I called them, they would let me return it. However, I have fallen in love with the yarn and I think that I'll have to keep it. (This is how a yarn stash expands.) There is a gorgeous scarf that is kind of wrap-like called the Annie Scarf that I might make with it, but I need to find some of the Soft Comfort Kid Mohair.

Hopefully Butterfly will be dry by tomorrow so that I can sew on the eyelet and take a picture for the gallery!

Comments

[Lauren]

You got the sleeves to match nicely. It looks great. I think Kathmandu is identical to Jo Sharp Silkroad Aran and DK Tweed so there are tons of nice patterns that should work well with it.

[monica]

Great job on Butterfly! I love that Jane Ellison book as well and am trying to figure out which one I want to make first.

[Cindy]

Butterfly will look great on you.

[claudia]

Good idea to pin out the points. Onwards to the collar for me!

[Kristen]

What a lovely cardigan!

[Kerstin]

Nice work! I LOVE the Agatha cardigan. I think you should buy the yarn for it. :)

[Nanette]

Your sweater is beautiful Julie! I love to seam - I think once you figure it out it is quite fun.

I've been meaning to send you this link to a blog of a guy who plays competitive Scrabble in Canada -
http://www.ualberta.ca/~ntam/

[Trish]

BEEE YOOOO TIFUL!!!!VERY nice job!!!!

[Norma]

I love to seam, too -- and all because of Sally Melville. I lucked out and found her very early on in my still-fledgling knitting career. I love that cardi, and love the Ellison one even more. And boy, do I know what you're talking about with the "this is how stash grows" statement. I've had the exact same thing happen to me -- bought the wrong yarn, should return it, but fall in love with it too much.

[Jacqueline]

Queensland Collection is actually Jo Sharp yarns remarketed for the US market. (Apparently the story is that Jo Sharp had a difference of opinion with her US distributor). Jo Sharp yarns will be reappearing soon under her own name as she has just resigned with a new distributor. I found a short thread on Knitter's Review for you - but if you do a search I think there a quite a few more.

http://www.knittersreview.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=18562&SearchTerms=,sharp,queensland

Hope this helps solve your dilema! There are many Jo Sharp patterns available for all her yarns.

[Rob]

Wow......now that's some lovely knitting.....

(I just might know somewhere you could find the Rare Comfort Kid Mohair, too........)

[Emma]

Gorgeous,gorgeous Butterfly !
It really does look lovely.
Ditto re: The Queensland Collection & Jo Sharp.

[gaile]

wowowow! Butterfly is absolutely gorgeous!! Beautiful work - and I can't wait to see the seam close-up. Do share the secret!

[amy]

Wow! Butterfly turned out so beautiful.

[Gina]

Butterfly is beautiful

[Marta]

Wow, the Butterfly cardi looks so gorgeous! I can't wait seeing it on you.

[Niki]

I agree on the Queensland! I bought the book and yarn already to make Esme. My LYS (Knit Happens) has the mohair if you want to contact them. I think you should make the scarf with the yarn you have. It is really beautiful!

[Eva Shiu]

Beautiful Butterfly ! You should be very proud to wear it and definitely it will attract many people's eyes. Great work !

[Heather]

Butterfly looks gorgeous and thanks so much for the errata info - I've got my yarn (shade 124) and I've just ordered the book today - so it was really good timing !

The Queensland Collection looks fab too but I've spent enough today .... haven't I ??

[Jackie]

Butterfly is so beautiful! You are going to feel great wearing it - knowing how great those seams are! :)

[Marie]

Thanks for stopping by my blog Julie. Congratulations on keeping the weight off - that very encouraging. You know I wasn't serious when I said I should gain weight to "loose" weight.

Butterfly is stunning!