June 28, 2005
A Series of Small Sweaters
As you know, I find the One Skein Wonder irresistable. It defies the logic of traditional sweater proportions. It uses up stash yarn. Quite difficult to mess up while knitting. Its like a sock, except for your shoulders. (just go with me on this one..)
When I decided to make a dark brown one, it seemed like a golden opportunity to use up this worsted stash yarn:
Here we have nearly two skeins of Harrisville Highland in Cocoa.
They are left over from an Entrelac pillow I knit last May, using a pattern in Debbie Bliss' How to Knit book.
Since I have nearly 2 skeins of yarn to use up, a slightly larger small sweater is in order. Enter Glampyre's Minisweater. Could it be as cute + stashbusting as the OSW? Only time will tell.
But first, a little yarn tweaking.
Harrisville Highland is one of my favorite yarns, but its not the softest yarn ever. This 100% wool is not ideal for next-to-skin wearing. Perhaps carrying along a strand of mohair will help..
I swatched the Harrisville + mohair, and it *is* softer, but fuzzy. Too fuzzy for a summer Minisweater?
Instead of the mohair, I am considering carrying along a strand of Habu Textiles Tsumugi Silk, if they have a nice dark brown. Ideally, it would clarify stitch definition and add shine. Two good qualities for summer knits. I think I'll check Habu's selection at lunch.
Hmmmmm. This stash yarn miniature sweater is so far requiring multiple yarn purchases...
Comments (20)
Another cute little sweater. I love the chocolate and think silk would be yummy. I'm thinking the wool/mohair would be warm for summer, but would be great for fall. Isn't that just the way it is with yarn, you never have exactly what you need/want for a project (and it's a good excuse to buy yarn)!
Posted by Stephanie | June 28, 2005 11:23 AM
Posted on June 28, 2005 11:23
Very cute sweater...yes mohair may be a little hairy and warm.
Love that pillow!
Posted by carolyn | June 28, 2005 1:06 PM
Posted on June 28, 2005 13:06
OH I love that pillow! I'm slowly but surely wrapping my mind around knitting things other then just wearables. And I've always said I hated entrelac, the way it looks, but that I love, hmmm, broadening my horizions it seems is just around the corner.
Posted by Rebekah | June 28, 2005 2:27 PM
Posted on June 28, 2005 14:27
Very fun - I wore out my first one skein wonder this weekend. I also noticed your
Kool-Aid striping yarn post- I am inspired to try it at home.
Posted by Diana | June 28, 2005 4:09 PM
Posted on June 28, 2005 16:09
First, I love the cute cushion cover! Second, to each her own, hehe... the idea of using mohair to "soften" something so you can wear it "next to your skin" as far as I'm concerned is like saying, let's use this ice cream to wash the kitchen floor. Okay, bad analogy, but you get the idea. I think the silk will be lovely! Another cute, little sweater, good luck!
Posted by grumperina | June 28, 2005 5:20 PM
Posted on June 28, 2005 17:20
Love the pillow. You've inspired a friend of mine who knits but does not blog to possibly knit that pillow.
Mmm, silk. If that doesn't work, how about some lace weight alpaca? Although, maybe too warm and fuzzy for a summer knit.
Posted by Purly Whites | June 28, 2005 6:03 PM
Posted on June 28, 2005 18:03
All that chocolate brown! One of my favorite colors (I love Earth tones and it was one of my college colors). Anyhow, I think the silk is a great idea... The Mohair might be a bit hot for the summer. However, I think this would be super cute in the fall!
Oh, and don't mind more yarn buying... Its necesarry to break the stash :) Just keep telling yourself this and the worry goes away ;)
Posted by Dani | June 28, 2005 6:22 PM
Posted on June 28, 2005 18:22
I'm loving the look of the two knitted together!
Posted by Christie | June 28, 2005 6:42 PM
Posted on June 28, 2005 18:42
Your pillow is cute! I think it's a great idea to pair up the two yarns. I love it!
Posted by marichan | June 28, 2005 7:03 PM
Posted on June 28, 2005 19:03
I like the idea of pairing the two yarns, I just don't know if I'd use mohair. Let us see the silk stuff.
Posted by Colleen | June 28, 2005 7:12 PM
Posted on June 28, 2005 19:12
that brown looks delicious, weird I was thinking of doing the mini sweater next for some stashbusting. But of course I only have wool, no worsted cotton...:)
I think the silk will be a great idea. I am biased though since some mohairs make me rip my skin off.
Posted by yahaira | June 28, 2005 10:29 PM
Posted on June 28, 2005 22:29
Minisweater will be adorable on you! :)
Posted by Karma | June 28, 2005 11:17 PM
Posted on June 28, 2005 23:17
ah, the minisweater! another glampyre pattern i lust for! i am very much looking forward to seeing your progress, whether you choose the mohair or the silk (both are yummy). love the colour as well. your pillow is damn impressive!
Posted by kris | June 29, 2005 6:41 AM
Posted on June 29, 2005 06:41
Oooh chocolate brown. One of my favourites.
I love, love, love the pillow.
I think the mini sweater will be great. Can't wait to see the progress.
Posted by Adele | June 29, 2005 6:45 AM
Posted on June 29, 2005 06:45
chocolate brown! a girl after my own heart. i am not sure if mohair would make the sweater more skin friendly - but it sure would give it an interesting finish and texture. i love love love the cushion cover you made! divine!
Posted by jacqueline | June 29, 2005 8:25 AM
Posted on June 29, 2005 08:25
I would imagine unless you are summering in Alaska, mohair would be too warm. It does look awfully pretty with the Cocoa yarn though...maybe for another project? So much for stash busting.
Posted by Sarah | June 29, 2005 10:41 AM
Posted on June 29, 2005 10:41
That pillow is awesome and I love the dark brown yarn! I'm not a fan of mohair, though, so I'd have to enable you to buy the silk...
Posted by Tara | June 29, 2005 11:36 AM
Posted on June 29, 2005 11:36
Ah, minisweaters you can't have just one. Just like some project require more than on yarn store trip! Looks great though.
Posted by Joelene | June 29, 2005 1:16 PM
Posted on June 29, 2005 13:16
wow the entrelac pillow is sooo pretty. looks like something from pottery barn. brown is such a beautiful color for home. and for sweaters, too.
i got my OSW and orangina patterns!! just had to get them.
Posted by blossom | June 29, 2005 3:55 PM
Posted on June 29, 2005 15:55
ooh, I've been resisting the OSW because I've so much else on queue, but you're right, a good stash buster and my stash needs major busting! the choco is lovely and the silk's a wonderful idea.
also -- howdy!
Posted by jacey | June 30, 2005 9:23 AM
Posted on June 30, 2005 09:23