FO(s): Tauriel and Custom Elvhen Triangle Scarf

Well, it’s certainly not Friday, but I figure it’s time I tell you all about the not one, but TWO objects I finished last week! A cabled cardigan out of wool/alpaca and a triangle scarf that someone commissioned from me on Etsy. I dyed the yarn and then knit the scarf for her costume for an upcoming convention. Pretty proud of myself for completing a “create this yarn and then make a thing with it” cycle AND getting paid for it on top of things!

First, the sweater! A bit before the end of 2014, I used the Random Number Generator system and landed on the 6 skeins of Berocco UltraAlpaca in a forest green colour that I’d purchased on Small Business Saturday in 2013 from the tiny little LYS/Fabric store/Indie artist boutique store inthe adjacent neighbourhood. So I searched Ravelry for patterns for the yarn and ended up on a sweater in my queue, Tauriel by Bonne Marie Burns from ChicKnits. I’d heard many good words for all of Bonne Marie’s patterns and the Chic Knits patterns, so I’d queued a bunch of them a few months ago. Fortuitous, because I think this yarn and this pattern (and this frigid weather we’re having) were made to be together.

The scarf is something I’ve knit before, but this one was a bit more special since I got to also dye the yarn for it. On my Etsy page, I offer a triangle scarf that was inspired by Merrill from the Dragon Age videogame, a character I also dye yarn inspired by. The pattern is from ALT Designs and is called the Elvhen Triangle Scarf. I knit the one I have and the one on Etsy out of the recommended yarn, Lion Brand Homespun, and hated every minute of it. I’m pleased to say this experience was quite different.

Let’s break it all down.

WIP Wednesday: Tauriel by Bonne Marie Burns

So, I'm trying to start a new feature here, we'll say if I can keep up with it.

Every Wednesday, both so I can measure my progress and keep myself accountable (though the latter is less important since I'm mainly a monogamous crafter), I plan to post a photo of my current work in progress. I figure at the very least this will make sure I post once a week and perhaps a nice end result will that I can do a bit of a "year in photos" post once we reach the end of 2015. Plus I thought it would be fun.

Here's my current WIP, Tauriel by Bonne Marie Burns from Chic Knits. I'm at least 95% positive it has nothing to do with the new character in the Hobbit movies, but I won't say I don't think this looks like it could have been inspired by her.

I'm knitting it out of Berocco Ultra Alpaca that I bought back on Small Business Saturday of 2013 because that's the yarn selected by the Random Number Generator. Not that I don't love knitting with that yarn and not that I'm not super happy about all things involving this sweater, just that I asked RNG what yarn I should use and it chose this. I bought another sweater quantity in orange to knit something for Jonas and I most certainly won't regret that decision whenever it comes around to making it. The yarn is soft and fluffy and not at all splitty and very lovely.

I actually had this pattern in my queue (though not for that long) after hearing the Knitmore Girls sing the praises of the Chic Knits patterns and then going through and queuing basically all of them, so once the yarn was selected I used the magic of the Ravelry pattern browser to match it up with a pattern in my queue and it was a match made in heaven.

The pattern is somewhat brilliantly written (especially if you hate seaming) and the cable pattern is incredibly easy to memorise. At most points (until I got to the bottom and actually had to knit ALL THE WAY AROUND the cardigan) this was pretty much flying off the needles. Right now I have about 10 rows of stockinette and then 10 rows of ribbing to knit on the second sleeve and it will be done. I started this on December 27. Now, I've had more knitting time than usual since then, but not bad for a full size sweater.

On that note, I really, really, really hope that my washed swatch didn't lie to me and that the characteristic alpaca drape and stretchiness isn't going to let me down. Otherwise I better add some length to the sleeves at the very least...they're, well, noticeably short. If they were pants people would ask me if I were expecting a flood. We shall see after blocking.

I'm betting you'll meet up with this sweater again in all it's finished and blocked glory on FO Friday. I have a mind to finish these sleeves as soon as I sign off here. Which is now.