women of a certain age are like sunflowers; they know how to turn their faces to the sun.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

AspenGlo


VITAL STATISTICS

SIZE: 16 in wide by 60 in long

MATERIALS:

2 skeins (500 m/546 yd) Handmaiden Maidenhair

(Other yarns may be easily substituted provided needle size is adjusted to achieve gauge)

Prototype knit with Safari

Size 10 ½ (US) needles, size 5 (US) doublepoint needles, tapestry needle

GAUGE: 4 ½ stitches = 1 inch

(main body stitch)


EXPERIENCE LEVEL: ADVANCED BEGINNER

No Charts



"O hushed October morning mild,
Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;
Tomorrow's wind, if it be wild,
Should waste them all."
- Robert Frost

Now, I don't want to brag people, but this one is so easy...

Even a beginner can do it. Really!

And that is just what makes it so fabulous, in my opinion. This pattern knits up quick and easy, with a little 4 row repeat. but just look at the results!

This piece is all about the yarn. Find one you're crazy for.

What are you waitng for? Go! I'll still be here when you get back...

I used Handmaiden's new Maiden Hair, which has a fingering weight single ply of luminous silk wrapped around a core of mohair laceweight. The whole thing comes out to be sport/light DK weight.

The label recommends knitting on size 5s, but I think you lose the beauty of the fiber if you go that small. Maiden Hair has a real crimp to it, (hence the name) and knitting at a looser gauge allows the texture to really come out.

I knit mine in a lovely autumnal yellow, but this wrap would be equally lovely in a more spring or summery green. Or imagine it in sugar maple red, bittersweet orange, grapevine burgundy, or rich russet.


The dangling leaves are knit with doublepoints and added at the end. I completed mine within a few days. I have never knit something so easy with such stunning results.

This one is a great Christmas gift idea.

All the info is on the sidebar. Hope you enjoy this new pattern for those of us with less time/less energy/less experience/dare I say, "less money?" Only $4 folks!!!

Gotta love that...

But no less desire for beauty.

Tomorrow: progress pictures of Sunflower...

5 comments:

old lady said...

It's lovely! So simple yet....

Anonymous said...

Beautifull!!
I will buy this pattern.

Thank you!

Donna Lee said...

Sometimes the yarn is just screaming "notice me not the pattern!". This is one of those times. It is stunningly beautiful.

Anonymous said...

Breathtaking! A perfect marriage of yarn and pattern!

Vicky aka Stichr said...

I love the leaves! I need to find a crocheted version. The color is yummy too, but you knew that.