May 11, 2011

Sometimes it's hard to knit with pretty yarn

I recently got some skeins of Malabrigo Rios in the amazing Arco Iris color. When I got them, my first thought was to keep them and pet them and admire them but I'm trying to find a pattern for them.

I've noticed that I have some yarn that is lovely and yet, it's been in my stash for a very long time. Whenever I choose a new project, I look at that yarn and think "What if that isn't the best pattern for it?" or "What if a new pattern comes out in a few days that would be just perfect?" The result of this indecision is that those skeins never get chosen and they probably think I don't love them.

I don't want that to happen to this yarn as well, so I've decided it will be my next big project after Que Sera. I want to make a cardigan with them and I think a simple pattern would work best, to show off the colors. So far, I've found two patterns I like:

The first is the Tappan Zee Cardigan (Ravelry) by Amy King from Knitty. It's designed for handspun yarn and I've seen some lovely colorful versions on Ravelry. I would make it with longer sleeves, maybe 3/4 length and buttons all the way down.

The second pattern I'm thinking of is the Garter Yoke Cardigan (Ravelry) by Melissa LaBarre from Knit.1 Fall/Winter 2008 (also available from the Vogue Knitting website). 

I would love to hear your suggestions - any ideas about what to knit with this yarn?

Malabrigo Rios in Arco Iris

Πήρα πρόσφατα αυτό το νήμα Malabrigo Rios στο υπέροχο χρώμα Arco Iris. Η πρώτη μου σκέψη όταν τα είδα ήταν να τα κρατήσω και να τα χαϊδεύω και να τα θαυμάζω αλλά προσπαθώ να βρω ένα σχέδιο για να τα πλέξω.

Έχω προσέξει ότι έχω μερικά νήματα τα οποία είναι πολύ όμορφα και κάθονται πολύ καιρό. Όταν διαλέγω το επόμενο πλεκτό που θα κάνω, ποτέ δεν τα διαλέγω. Σκέφτομαι μήπως δεν ταιριάζουν με το σχέδιο. Ή μπορεί σε μερικές μέρες να βγει ένα καινούριο σχέδιο, που θα ταιριάζει τέλεια με το νήμα. Το αποτέλεσμα είναι ότι κρατάω αυτά τα νήματα και μάλλον θα σκέφτονται ότι δεν τα αγαπάω.

Δεν θέλω να συμβεί το ίδιο και αυτή τη φορά οπότε αποφάσισα ότι θα είναι το επόμενο μεγάλο πλεκτό, μετά το Que Sera που πλέκω τώρα. Θέλω να φτιάξω ζακετάκι και νομίζω ότι ένα απλό σχέδιο θα είναι καλύτερο, για να φαίνονται τα χρώματα. Μέχρι τώρα, έχω βρει δύο σχέδια που μου αρέσουν:

Το πρώτο είναι το Tappan Zee (Ravelry) της Amy King από το Knitty. Είναι σχεδιασμένο για νήμα φτιαγμένο στο χέρι και έχω δει μερικά πολύ ωραία πολύχρωμα ζακετάκια στο Ravelry. Θα το έκανα με πιο μακρυά μανίκια, ίσως 3/4 και θα έβαζα κουμπιά μέχρι κάτω, για να κλείνει.

Το δεύτερο σχέδιο που σκέφτομαι είναι το Garter Yoke Cardigan (Ravelry) της Melissa LaBarre από το περιοδικό Knit.1 Fall/Winter 2008 (είναι επίσης διαθέσιμο στην ιστοσελίδα της Vogue Knitting).

Θα χαρώ πολύ να ακούσω τις προτάσεις σας, έχετε καμιά ιδέα τι να πλέξω με αυτό το νήμα;

Malabrigo Rios in Arco Iris

10 comments:

  1. Mmm, something very simple in design like the Garter Yoke Cardigan would probably work best. I have the same issue with two skeins of Malabrigo Twist (in colourway Indiecita - 416) that I bought around Christmas. Still no idea what to do with them.

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  2. Garter stitch all the way.
    Something like Sonnet maybe?
    Good luck in finding and picking the perfect project, the yarn definitely deserves it!
    Philhellene

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  3. I too have some pretty skeins in my stash, where I think I have not found the perfect pattern for it. Nothing seems right. I hope I'll get over that kind of thinking soon though! :o)
    BTW - your yarn is gorgeous! I hope you'll find the right project for it.

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  4. I know what you mean. I end up hoarding yarn in because I can't seem to find the right project. I have just seen a fairly plan cardigan on Falling Stitches blog. It is http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/vanadium

    I hope the link works

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  5. I vote Garter Yoke. Perfect for this yarn! Lovely!

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  6. I would go for the Garter Yoke cardi....... simple, classic and the yarn that is soooo beautiful will be perfect.
    I agree- I have yarn too, that I don´t really know what to knit with it..... Good luck.

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  7. You just described most knitters' guilty pleasure -- stashing beautiful yarn that somehow feels too beautiful to use! Glad to hear that this stash of yarn is on your que for the next big project. I vote for Garter Yoke cardi, too. Hmmm... now I think I have to go take a look at my stash!

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  8. I think this yarn would make a lovely Contented Cardi or Stellar! The two you've thought of would be perfect as well. Anything without a lot of "pattern" on it would work. Can't wait to see it... I love that color! :)

    Lina
    photoknitdog.com

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  9. Me too!!! So confused, yet I don't want the yarn to just sit, I want to wear it.
    With your lovely yarn, I would choose Garter Stitch Yoke and let the gorgeous yarn show itself. I have been browsing both patterns and also love Vanadium

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