RIGHT. It’s August now. I’ve taken out this thing a few times to carry on with it, and I realised I couldn’t be bothered. The body looks too small now, I’d have to frog it and start again. And do I want that? Mmmmnnno, not really. Life is so short.

I’m sure it would have been gorgeous, but… OH dear, all that Kidsilk Haze, all that gorgeous alpaca… Je suis désolé, as they say, but to the pond with it.

++++++

14 April 2010 -- entering hibernation (or rather, summeration)

I finished the body. It’s tedius work! At least the fabric looks so good it does make you want to carry on, only to see it finished. I hung up a photo, but the light is all wrong. It looks bright and red and purpley, sure, but the picture does not do it justice. Maybe another day, with another light.

Mods so far: Work in the round, decrease every 8th row (not 4th, it creates like a bag) I think 6 times. More like an A shape. Then increase 2 times at bust, at the sides AND in boob area (once per boob). It’s an experiment, let’s see if this freeform darting works.

I’m putting this on hold now for a while. I can’t see myself getting on with the sleeves yet. Maybe in a couple of months, when autumn is in the air, I’ll feel more up to it.

After months in hibernation (I bought the yarn and crocheted the swatch in early January), this project has come back to life with the first blooms of spring and it’s progressing. Yes yes, I realise it’s a crocheted jumper made out of alpaca and that I won’t be able to wear this before six or who knows how many months, but that little “zzz” at the bottom of my projects gallery is driving me bananas…

I’m doing this in the round. No seaming for me, thank you.

What I can tell already is: this combination of sportweight alpaca and laceweight silk/kidmohair blend with a 5mm hook is GODLY. This is done in single crochet and it DRAPES like the nicest stockinette! It makes the stitch look a million dollars. The blend of colours is bewildering. This jumper is going to be amazing (I hope).

The kidsilk blend keeps the alpaca from elongating to infinity (in the swatch at least), which makes me think the sweater will end up pretty much as it is crocheted. Good job I’m bang on on the gauge.

ABOUT THE PATTERN BOOK: It’s full of nice pullovers and jumpers constructed in pieces, with simple stitching and simple shaping. The wearable pieces override the couple of rather vulgar “I’ve seen this one a hundred times and I’d still never make it or wear it” pattern. Most sweaters are non-see-through, for a change.

It does not specify the brand of yarn used in the projects, only the fibres, blend, weight and yardage, in a rather bizarre decision to make it more “USA friendly” in a book designed using European yarns. A bit silly if you ask me. Don’t we all in Europe have to substitute Classic Elites and Berroco’s day in day out (and it’s never easy!.)

Never mind. I think it’s a good book for beginners who want to branch out to sweaters and tops, as long as they have good advice on choosing the yarns (as a beginner, dk, worsted and sportweight meant nothing to me, and the difference in the qualities and servitudes between cotton and wool wasn’t any clearer! All I wanted was a kit with everything in it, hook and all!).

More experienced crocheters who are looking for a nice, flattering sweater to wear any day of the week, rather than a challenge or a “drop dead gorgeous” design, will also find something in this book I believe. I do love this jumper, even if it’s sc all the way through. Don’t I like jumpers that are stockinette stitch through and through after all?

So, a-crocheting again I go.