Yarn Selection

Hi everyone! I can't wait for the new Interweave to arrive since I have already decided on my yarn choice. I am making mine in Malabrigo color Marron Oscuro. Here is a link to their color card: http://www.malabrigoyarn.com/catalogo.htm
It is a very pretty mix of brown, red and green but all muted and blended together so as not to be variegated. On the one hand it's good that the pattern isn't out yet since my LYS didn't have enough in that colorway and had to order more. Hopefully they will arrive around the same time so I can start right away!
I look forward to seeing everyone else's color and yarn choices and all the different beautiful variations on this sweater.

Preliminary thoughts on yarn

I'm awfully excited about this cardigan... but not so excited about Cashmerino Aran. It's a beautiful, soft yarn that comes in all manner of rich and subtle colors... but it's expensive, it pills, and in my experience, ripping and re-knitting reduces it to raggedy string. Not exactly what I want for a complicated cabled project, despite the seductive beauty of the untouched yarn. (But don't let me talk you out of it if you are partial to the stuff.)

I'm eyeing Knitpicks Andean Silk as a potential alternative. The yardage is nearly identical, and it's half the price. I've never used this yarn before, though, so I don't know how good the stitch definition is (and for a cabled project like this one, stitch definition is critically important.) Their Main Line might also be a good choice, if you like the colors (I don't, but that's just me) and don't mind a high percentage of cotton; the product description suggests that it is excellent for cables and other texture work. I also notice that Swish Superwash comes in many lovely colors and seems to be compatible gauge-wise.

And I'm personally very fond of Black Water Abbey and Beaverslide yarns. These aren't as drapey and creamy-smooth as Cashmerino Aran, but they would make a warm, heathery, slightly rustic-looking cardigan. (Think of the Elven cloaks given to the Fellowship as they set out from Lothlorien.) Check out the worsted-weight swatches on the Black Water Abbey site and see for yourself. "Pippin" would be oddly appropriate, wouldn't it?...

Welcome!

One fateful day in October 2006, the FemiKnit Mafia and Beth S. fell madly in love with Kate Gilbert's latest design, A Cardigan for Arwen, as seen in the preview for the Interweave Knits Winter 2006 issue. Isn't she beautiful?

FRONT

BACK


After a couple days of dreaming about yarn options, and extracting clues from those tiny photos to figure out the construction sequence, we decided to co-host this Knit-Along. So now everyone can join the conversation.

Unfortunately, IK Winter 06 won't hit the newstands until November 14th. In the meantime we can find, swatch and buy. Toward that end, here's what we know:

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran (55% merino, 33% microfiber, 12% cashmere; 98 yd [90 m]/50 g): #202 light blue, 13 (14, 14, 15, 16, 17) balls.

What yarn will you use?