This is another of my famous “Frankensweaters”, using more different types of yarn than is called for in the pattern. This time, Noro (worried about stripes, but faint heart never won fair lady or got a sweater knit or what have you) with Lush angora in dark orange and Nazca in pale orange (probably for long sleeve cuffs). Wish me luck!

Updated: November 2012, and I am done at last! Due to my unfortunate tendency to pick and choose my Noro strands to ensure a smooth colour run, I had a LOT of ends to sew in upon completion, but even so this was an easy and satisfying knit.

Helpful hints:

1) Pay attention when they tell you to decrease stitches right after the shoulder. I missed that part and didn’t decrease until I stopped the stripes, so my sleeves are baggy and it’s hard to keep the sweater from falling right off my shoulders.

2) Don’t block this as hard as I did (see photos). Should have left the neck as it was, because it curled inwards in a fetching way before blocking, and now it’s rather loose and floppy and doesn’t give that “grand cowl” effect I was enjoying earlier.

3) Consider using a light wool blend yarn to make this, because the blend of angora, alpaca and silk I used is super warm. I like the blanket-style a lot, but I can’t wear it right now since I start sweating as soon as it is loosely pinned onto me. Need to wait until really frosty winter weather hits before wearing this, or else suffer blazingly hot internal temperatures.