Contrasts

A new and relatively demanding job has kept me away from things, but I’m settling into a comfortable routine and am slowly beginning to get back on top of my commitments. I think it’s good to have one’s life shaken up a bit, but initially it’s a bit of a shock to the system. I’m enjoying the challenge (I don’t mean that in a PR-veneer type way, it’s actually rather fun!) but the weekends really can’t come too soon.

The typically unpredictable weather means that layering is essential, so I’m still plodding along on my Darcy and I’ve started a new cardigan from the same book (Kim Hargreaves’ Heartfelt) called Faith. I don’t think the photos in the book really did it justice - I wonder if it’s a little large for the model, actually - but once I’d seen naganasu’s beautiful version I knew I had to knit it.

I’m not the biggest fan of RYC Bamboo Soft, the recommended yarn. I mentioned my problems with it in an earlier post, and I wasn’t convinced it would hold up very well in a big, fairly heavy cardigan. The colours and price weren’t ideal, too, so I went for a soft cotton yarn in Garnstudio’s Safran. It’s very soft, the colours are to die for, and it’s not too expensive. It’s a dream to knit with: very smooth and not at all splitty. I chose the brightest turquoise they produce, and it’s so vibrant it practically glows. See for yourself:

Faith WIP

Faith WIP

To counter this eye-searing project, my Darcy jacket is quietly growing. The texture is delicious, and the gentle dove grey a pleasure to look at.

Darcy WIP

Darcy WIP

5 Comments:

PrincessPea comments:

I’m really pleased you linked naganasu’s version of Faith, because I really didn’t like this in the book, but you’re right, hers is gorgeous. This is definitely going on my queue now. And the Darcy looks lovely too…

Debbie comments:

Your Darcy jacket is stunning. Love how on your yarn you can see the stitches. The texture is sublime!

Steph comments:

I think the color of your Faith is rich and gorgeous. That last picture of the seed stitch is very cool. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it from that angle before - it looks like rows of tiny hills. Or a birds-eye-view of a crowd of people.

Rhian comments:

@PrincessPea -
The more I look at the book, the more I’m sure it’s just the wrong size - there’s a lot of excess material around the armpits that I don’t see in naganasu’s, and the sleeves are really big. Thank goodness for Ravelry! :) If you need further convincing, I also love mimosa2007’s version.

@Debbie -
Thank you - the yarn is quite stiff and hard on the hands, but the result is definitely worth the effort! It feels wonderful to the touch, too, and makes me think I should knit a seed stitch facecloth at some point.

@Steph -
I couldn’t resist trying out the macro setting on the camera - it’s hard to capture the texture with a photo taken further away. A crowd of people - yes! The tops of heads in a mist of fog, maybe…

amanda comments:

2 of my favourite designs from Hearfelt! And they both look beautiful too.

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