Man Acceptable Stripes
A very short while ago, I showed you all this sweater:
I was pleasantly shocked at the time because John actually expressed an interest in it and suggested that he might actually like the whole stripe concept. For anyone just tuning in, I should remind you that John has an issue with stripes. Actually he usually has an issue with more than one color in any garment, and multicolor stripes usually send him off in the other direction shaking his head.
I really want to knit my boy a sweater that he likes, but to maintain my sanity during a man-sized mostly stockinette sweater knitting experience I also need to have a certain amount of entertainment. (John also has no itnerest in Arans or Ganseys).
Initially, I thought he liked the color way in the picture.
Well, Treese, it would be perfect, except for the blue stripes
John, I really just can't get rid of the blue stripes. Besides, the blue stripes are what make the rest of the sweater interesting.
That's fine, but I don't like them.
I thought you told me you liked the stripes.'
I do, just not the blue ones.
Sulk. Pout. Surf.
This launched me off into a weekend of scouring the Internet for any Noro colorway that might meet his needs. A number of Kureyon colorways were considered:
And a few Silk Garden as well:
All were rejected. And I was feeling pretty dejected until I started browsing through Debbie Bliss Noro #2 and came across a sweater in Noro Shinano #9
I feel like I found this yarn just in the nick of time. I don't see it listed on Knitting Fever's site in the Noro section. Has Shinano been discontinued? Apparently it has the right balance of light and dark and lacks any colors that make statements on their own. It had the extra added benefit of being available on Wool NeedleWork. Even if it hadn't I would have tracked some down somewhere else -- I love him enough to seek out yarn for him from the farthest reaches of the planet or stalking Ebay for months. But getting a good deal makes the sweater just that much sweeter for John, my king of bargain shopping.
It's going to be a Noro kind of fall!
Kureyon #51 is too white?! I've made my boyfriend a hat and scarf out of it and there is hardly any white in the colorway. If John decides he really doesn't like a color, I guess you could cut out the parts of the yarn that are that color (yucky proposition I know). I got some Shinano from ramwools over the Summer--for $7.50/skein! (unfortunately just 1 skein or i'd give it to you)
It'll look fantastic and he'll wear it ! Fussy boy ! :0)
Hooray for finding the perfect yarn! Finding colors that one's man will wear? I feel your pain. Ian's favorite color is grey. Sigh.
Yes, I am pretty sure that I read somewhere that Shinano is discontinued (I think it was on jimmybeanswool.com) But I am sure that you can find it on sale somewhere!
My boy would not let me knit anything for him, no matter what colour it was! :)
Hi Theresa! I feel your pain. I am currently spinning enough yarn for a sweater for the hub, because thats the only way I could come up with a color he likes. I did a quick search for you. Several places still have Shinano in the colorway you are looking for, so as long as you don't wait, you should be fine!
I was on some knit/store website scouting out some Silk Garden and I swear that I saw a sale on Shiano and "discontinued" next to it. Not sure if it was the colorway or the yarn though,but I thought it was the yarn.
Are you sure we aren't married to the same guy? I'm almost convinced that we are, only my guy likes arans as long as they aren't overloaded with too many cables and moss stitch.
That shade of Shinano is PERFECT. Really, snatch it up now and get knitting on that Noro for the hub!
I am doing a Fitzgerald along!! I'm knitting the SAME sweater for ME in silk garden :)
Want to join my knit-a-long?
I was going to make it for me husband but he said the SAME STUFF about the colors.. to white.. to girly.. he didn't like any of the color-ways. So I decided to make it for me and I am making him a dale sweater in a more solid color.
I have a cute little fitzgerald along button on my site to :) hehe
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=36599&item=2378426159
I was looking at this for my butterfly. But decided on silk garden. I know she can adjust the number of skeins of #9 if you email her. I asked her and she said yes, she would
Ebay Seller: Yarnela
I have been mulling that sweater over for my Mr. since you first posted that pic!
Maybe we should start a Man-along, where we all knit something for guy in our lives.