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Teaching Old Dogs New Tricks….

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header_1I learned something new today! Thanks to Alice of TheKnitStitch.com

All yarn is not equal (that part I did know).
 
Besides being many different colors and styles, yarn comes in different weights, and makes a huge difference in what we knit. (Yup, got that one too, but read on!)
 
On the yarn label, look for the little “skein of yarn” which will have a number in it.
 
#1 is fingering or superfine yarn.
#2 is sport or baby yarn.
#3 is light worsted.
#4 is medium, worsted or aran yarn.
#5 is bulky, heavy worsted or chunky.
#6 is super bulky.
 
The thicker the yarn, the more difficult is can be to knit, so if you are new to knitting or have stiffness in your fingers, stick with the lighter yarns for most of your projects.
The morale of the story? I can go back to bed now as I’ve learned something new today!

Nope, got knitting to do….. Thanks Alice!

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Knit the Coziest Sweater Ever

I’ve always wanted to knit a mohair sweater. It just seems to me like the ultimate in comfort and a bit of luxury, and I would probably live in such a sweater all winter long if I had one.

Now might be the time to finally make my mohair sweater dreams a reality, thanks to the Summer Lotus Blouse, a free knitting pattern from Hobbii.

Don’t take the “summer” in the title too literally, because it’s worked with two strands of mohair held together, so while it will be super light weight it will also be plenty cozy to wear throughout the year.

The sweater is worked from the top down in stockinette stitch with I-cord edgings for a super clean look. It uses a larger than expected needle to keep it airy and light, which also speeds up the process.

One thing that’s cool about holding two strands of yarn together is that they don’t have to be the same color. These sweaters end up looking like they use a solid color but they’re actually worked with two different colors, which gives you so many more options. Pick two harmonious colors or shades of the same color, or go wild and pick two colors that are quite different and see what happens. You could also, of course, hold two strands of the same color if you like, but part of the fun of knitting with mohair is seeing how the colors play with each other.

This pattern is available in six sizes, ranging from an actual chest measurement of 30.3 to 44.1 inches, or 77 to 112 cm. It’s meant to be worn with about 2 inches/5 cm of negative ease, but you can choose a different size if you don’t want such a snug fit.

You can grab the pattern for free and check out all the yarn options at Hobbii.

[Photo: Hobbii]