I'm Spoiled

While Mom was here for Thanksgiving, she was determined to set me up with yarn for a project for myself. We made it out to Purl in SoHo, but the only thing that struck me as must have there was the fall issue of Knitscene. So, when Mom left, she gave me some money and a mission to buy something nice for myself. I spent a couple days going though my queue assessing all of my wish list projects and their fiber requirements. I ended up coming right back to that new Knitscene and setting my heart on the Nubby Cardigan.

I thought this would be a great opportunity to try out some Malabrigo yarn. Everywhere on the internet people are raving about this yarn and I haven't had an occasion to use it yet. I headed over to my LYS to pick some up, but the cubby of Malabrigo was close to empty. Patricia reminded me of the mill fire they had, and told me that she has an order placed, but she hasn't gotten a shipment since then. Instead of waiting an indefinite period of time, she helped me pick out an alternative.

I settled on some Cream/Tan colored Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted. It cost a bit more and I went over my 'budget,' but I'm confident that it was a worthwhile investment. It is a wonderfully soft 100% superwash wool with very subtle color variations. The main colors seem to be cream and tan, but there is also a definite hit of peach.

Last night I knit up, soaked, and blocked the swatches. As they were drying I read though the pattern and drew myself a little step by step diagram. I've decided that I am going to make the small size instead of the medium. My measurements fall pretty squarely in the middle of the two. The texture pattern is a 1x1 rib so it will have a lot of give, and so will the cables. I'm also thinking that since it is already a big cozy cardigan, too much positive ease could push it over the edge from cozy to frumpy. Hopefully I am making the right call, but I do have enough yarn to make the next size up. The only adjustment that I've decided to make to the pattern is to take an inch of the bottom ribbing. I don't wan the sweater to hit at the widest part of my hip so I am going to make it just a touch shorter.

I am excited and a little intimidated about this project. This sweater is knit in pieces and then seamed up so this is really the first time my blocking is going to be really important. It's going to be fun.