It has been a long, long time since I have picked up a knitting magazine and found a garment that I absolutely positvely without any hesitation must start knitting right this moment no matter what the cost or how small the needles. So long, in fact, that I can't even remember the last time it happened. But the minute I saw the cover of the new Rowan (Rowan 45) I knew that I must have that sweater now! And I had the yarn ordered from the UK less than 24 hours later.
Lotus lotus lotus. I am obsessed with this sweater now. So obsessed that when I discovered that it is knit on 2.75 mm (US Size 2) in cotton yarn it didn't cause even one iota of concern. Yes, friends and neighbors, this is an adult woman's sweater knit at 7.5 stitches/inch in yarn with no elasticity. And my only disappointment is that I do not appear to have a suitable circular needle in my collection on which to swatch.
What would make a normally sensible knitter throw caution and her credit card to the wind (although, to be fair, with the current dollar/UK pound exchange rate the credit card was not unfairly exercised)? It simply is meant to be my sweater. The bell sleeves, the feminine shaping, the perfect amount of ease, the incredible crochet edging. In this case, the fine gauge is a benefit, just adding to the delicate nature and sophistication of the garment. This sweater could easily go to a wedding, a fancy restaurant or even just to work. When I showed it to John, Hey, that's a really nice sweater. You should make that. And one final thing: when I look through all the sweaters I have made, my Rowan sweaters have been the ones that I am most proud of and like to wear. They are often more work (and this one is definitely a "3 yarn ball" design) but I don't think I've ever felt like my work has been wasted.
The gauge would have been daunting to me 5 years ago. But the longer I knit, the more I realize that there are really only a finite number of sweaters that I can own, wear and enjoy regularly, if only because at some point I will run out of places to store them. Not only that, but I also am finding that as I get older, I become less and less excited by sweaters and garments knit with yarn heavier than DK weight. I like the finer resolution of details and lower addition of bulk that comes from finer yarns. Finally, I just have less time to knit, so I really want every sweater I make for me "to count". This sweater will likely take me some time, but if I hold myself to exacting standards for construction and finishing, I feel that I really will have a sweater that I will love and wear.
The sweater is knit with Rowan Fine Milk Cotton, which is a new yarn to their line and which is composed of 30% milk protein and 70% cotton. The yarn feels like nice cotton, soft and smooth and just a touch silky. Just as inelastic as you expect cotton to be -- the milk proteins give it better hand, but don't give it any stretch -- at least not that I can tell before knitting it.
I'm hoping to find that pair of 2.75 mm needles today so that I can get swatching and get knitting. No matter how much optimism I have, there is only so much time, and I think it would be ever so nice to be wearing this sweater when I take my husband out for his special birthday dinner in June.
Overall, I think this Rowan is one of the better ones in my collection. There are actually two mens sweaters that John would consider wearing and the colorwork is not all that crazy floral intarsia that they sometimes get crazy with. Several of the sweaters in the collection with Lotus also caught my eye. There's also a huge shawl that is so gorgeous that it is making me want to renege on the promise I made to myself never to knit detailed lace in Kid Silk Haze ever again and is getting me to consider other yarns I have stashed to see if they would fit. I think of all the recent knitting magazines I've gotten this is the one that won't just end up ignored in a magazine box.
Lotus lotus lotus. I am obsessed with this sweater now. So obsessed that when I discovered that it is knit on 2.75 mm (US Size 2) in cotton yarn it didn't cause even one iota of concern. Yes, friends and neighbors, this is an adult woman's sweater knit at 7.5 stitches/inch in yarn with no elasticity. And my only disappointment is that I do not appear to have a suitable circular needle in my collection on which to swatch.
What would make a normally sensible knitter throw caution and her credit card to the wind (although, to be fair, with the current dollar/UK pound exchange rate the credit card was not unfairly exercised)? It simply is meant to be my sweater. The bell sleeves, the feminine shaping, the perfect amount of ease, the incredible crochet edging. In this case, the fine gauge is a benefit, just adding to the delicate nature and sophistication of the garment. This sweater could easily go to a wedding, a fancy restaurant or even just to work. When I showed it to John, Hey, that's a really nice sweater. You should make that. And one final thing: when I look through all the sweaters I have made, my Rowan sweaters have been the ones that I am most proud of and like to wear. They are often more work (and this one is definitely a "3 yarn ball" design) but I don't think I've ever felt like my work has been wasted.
The gauge would have been daunting to me 5 years ago. But the longer I knit, the more I realize that there are really only a finite number of sweaters that I can own, wear and enjoy regularly, if only because at some point I will run out of places to store them. Not only that, but I also am finding that as I get older, I become less and less excited by sweaters and garments knit with yarn heavier than DK weight. I like the finer resolution of details and lower addition of bulk that comes from finer yarns. Finally, I just have less time to knit, so I really want every sweater I make for me "to count". This sweater will likely take me some time, but if I hold myself to exacting standards for construction and finishing, I feel that I really will have a sweater that I will love and wear.
The sweater is knit with Rowan Fine Milk Cotton, which is a new yarn to their line and which is composed of 30% milk protein and 70% cotton. The yarn feels like nice cotton, soft and smooth and just a touch silky. Just as inelastic as you expect cotton to be -- the milk proteins give it better hand, but don't give it any stretch -- at least not that I can tell before knitting it.
I'm hoping to find that pair of 2.75 mm needles today so that I can get swatching and get knitting. No matter how much optimism I have, there is only so much time, and I think it would be ever so nice to be wearing this sweater when I take my husband out for his special birthday dinner in June.
Overall, I think this Rowan is one of the better ones in my collection. There are actually two mens sweaters that John would consider wearing and the colorwork is not all that crazy floral intarsia that they sometimes get crazy with. Several of the sweaters in the collection with Lotus also caught my eye. There's also a huge shawl that is so gorgeous that it is making me want to renege on the promise I made to myself never to knit detailed lace in Kid Silk Haze ever again and is getting me to consider other yarns I have stashed to see if they would fit. I think of all the recent knitting magazines I've gotten this is the one that won't just end up ignored in a magazine box.
Great minds must think alike. The minute I saw the cover of the Rowan Magazine I also HAD to have the sweater. The magazine is back ordered by my LYS and I am just itching to get my hands on it. I hope you keep us posted on your progress via the blog as I will be knitting along!
Oh, I am excited for you!
Wow, you are super ambitious! Way more than I am! I would have turned and run once I saw the gauge! I'll be cheering you from the sidelines! I'm excited to see how it turns out.
I envy you your sweater lust.
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT WEAVING.
WHAT TYPE OF KNOT IS ADJUSTABLE FOR USE WHEN TUYING ON WARP ENDS TO GET EVEN TENSION?
THANK YOU:
Max Morris
I remember looking at that magazine when I was last at my LYS. I loved so many of the sweaters I saw, but they were all much fancier looking than I normally wear. Someday I'll make a Rowan sweater, but I think it will have to wait!
I found you via someone else's blog and I love reading your blog.
Anyway, I agree with what you mean by falling in love with a pattern and needle size does not matter. I was the same way with one of Kim Hargreaves latest book. Maybe you can swatch with the needles you have now and if it does meet the gauge call for, you don't have to spend money on the call for needle.