Oct 24 2007
Forward Glance
We are in the home stretch of Socktoberfest 2007, and while I am still living in the moment and finishing up my own socks, I am thinking just a little about next month’s activities!
Shannon is hosting the second year of National Knit a Sweater Month (abbreviated to NaKniSweMo)! While I am not quite sure that I can beat last year’s personal best of TWO sweaters in one month, I am thinking about doing something a little out of the ordinary…
Recycling the wool of an Old Navy men’s sweater – bought at the thrift shop for repurposing the yarn. I only unraveled one of the sleeves, which will be more than enough for what I have planned.
Aftur from Lopi 25
I am planning to change the color scheme of the traditional Icelandic yoked pullover – not because I don’t like the original, but because I am making it work with the yarns in my stash!
The indigo blue in the back row will be the main color. The yarn is Botanical Shades, a small natural fibers/natural dye company that sold at Maryland Sheep and Wool festival in 2006. This particular yarn is a alpaca, wool, and mohair blend. The main yoke will use the Lite Lopi colors, paired with the one skein of the recycled wool. The yarns are all similar in gauge, and should yield a very nice sweater – I hope I can do it!
…and just in case I finish this pullover with some time to spare, I will have plenty of time to devote to the long-suffering Cabled Hoodie and the Aran Accent Vest.
What a great pattern! It’s going to look lovely in those yarns. And I’m impressed at your recycling skillz. I’m afraid I’ll cut the sweater wrong and ruin it and it’ll be all unpleasant. Still. Sweaters!
Those are really pretty colors… and I must say that I’mnot sure I’ve ever thought of unravelling a thirftstore sweater to get the yarn out of it. Does all the curliness come out of it after you wind it up?
I am so impressed. To me that sounds like a really ambitious plan. I like the colors and can’t wait to see how it turns out.
Yea NaKniSweMo! Yeah Stash!!!
What a great idea – re-purposing a sweater. And that blue you are using – so pretty!
Yummy colors! You have a great eye…you always have a great eye though. Can’t wait to see the sweater!
Very nice color choices.
Good luck with the sweater knitting. I think it may be too hot to knit an adult sweater in November here. I love all the colors you are going to use too, so beautiful.
Great idea, knitting from repuposed yarn. That sweater will look lovely in those colors.
That sounds like a great idea for a sweater! As the others before me have stated, I think it will look fabulous, I can’t wait to see it!
Cant’ wait to see how it turns out! I predict it’s going to be a beautiful sweater. The colors are gorgeous!
Those Lopi colours sure are beautiful. I find it so amazing that they look both natural and ibrantly coloured at the same time. And the sheepy smell… swoon!
Did you have to “block” the yarn to get the kinks out before winding it into a cake or did you directly wind it from the sleeve?
Pretty Lopi sweater. Can’t wait to see it in your colors!
You have such a good eye for color, and way to burn through that stash!
that will be beautiful!!!! my next sweater is a stranded yoke one as well!!!
Hmmmm….that sounds like QUITE a challenge. I’m heading over to the link this very minute!
Do you have to start the sweater in November? I have a languishing back that needs it’s friends: the front and sleeves.
I’m really digging the colors you’ve chosen for your sweater, and am encouraged that you’re willing to mix brands. I’ve got the fear of the gauge always looming over me.
I’ve never heard of NanKniSweMo! I’d have to set aside my current sweater project to do ot, and I’m not sure if I’m willing to do that, but it sounds so fun! I’m torn!
Great color combo for the Lopi sweater, it’s gonna be gorgeous. I’m definitely feeling the fair isles this winter too. Can’t wait to see all the amazing things you create this season.
ooo pretty – i love that blue for the main color! your palatte looks great for this sweater.
Gorgeous colors, I love that indigo blue – a lot.
I may have to join you this year on the sweater in novermber! I have the Wild Apple Bohus in mind…. this may be the jump start I need!
I love the idea of repurposing the sweater! Do you know what the fiber content of the yarn is?
Thanks for the inspiration…I think somebody is going to be combing the thrift stores this weekend!
I like the colour scheme you’ve chosen. Very clever idea to add in a recycled sweater.
I can’t remember if I left a comment on your flickr stream too, but I was doing research on Aftur and came across your color selection — looks gorgeous!
I think I am going to knit Aftur next as well — my MiL came back from Iceland with a ton of lett lopi for me and I love the sweater (plus, as you know, it’s finally sweater weather for the moment here in DC).
But if you made a sweater using Noro, you’d kill two birds/knitalongs with one stone! hee
I love Aftur. I have been wanting to knit a Lopi sweater for a while. I do have to get to Cobblestone eventually though…it’s supposed to be a Christmas present…right.
I need to finish two sweaters already underway this November – don’t tempt me with that beautiful Icelandic stuff! I just inherited a big stash of venerable Norwegian wool in all the colors of the traditional Fair Isle sweaters from the ’20s, so it’s good to have more colorwork patterns to scrutinize and dream on. Looking forward to seeing yours take shape!
i know i’ve said this before, but i really do love your color combo. good luck in meeting your goal! that blue is so nice for you.
i’m still trying to decide if i’ll get on the bandwagon with this one. after finishing my latest big project, i’m not sure i want to jump right in with another sweater.
Ooh – exciting project choice
I’m looking forward to NaKniSweMo too! I love the colors you’ve picked out for your sweater.
Yay NaKniSweMo! I’d love to match your amazing progress from last year, but I’ll be happy if I finish one, honestly.
Amazing coincidence, I’m planning to cast on with my Botanical Shades yarn as well! It will be interesting to compare the yarns since they have interesting differences and similarities. I love your use of stash! It should be a lovely sweater!
oh I am so tempted by the NaKniSweMo! I have a few sweaters in my stash tha that need knitting! Hmmm. I love the fair isle one you are planning on!
I love your new project and I have to say I’m inspired by your ‘re-purposing’! I think I just might have to do the same…I have a sweater or two I’m holding on to that I will never wear again! I stumbled on your blog a month or two ago and really enjoy it – I live in Alberta Canada and can’t always relate to your yarn adventures (we only have 4 yarn stores in my area – good, 2 not so good) but I am always happy to hear your tales and motivated by your creativity! Stay golden
)
Nono, over here, “socktoberfest” is going until the end of the year. LOL!!
[...] read about it on Lolly’s blog this morning and am thinking about making November a sweater month. I hardly think I could finish [...]
That will be gorgeous! Love the repurposing!
I have to say that I’ve been on a bit of a sock knitting slump. It’s just been too hot. I am, however, close to finishing my first cardigan/sweater and I’m really excited. I might have to join this knit-along. I’m on a roll! I’m sure your new sweater will look amazing. Can’t wait to see the progress.
I think the colors you chose for the pullover are going to look great. Maybe I’ll be brave and try colorwork one day
I think we’ve both been eyeing this pattern for a while—can’t wait to see it start coming together! Bonus points for using stash yarn!!
Nice! I have some dark green wool I reclaimed from an old sweater of mine a few years ago, but I have yet to do anything with it as it was a very small size to begin with… But I like your idea! I have big plans for NaKniSweMo as well! But I haven’t told anyone yet, just in case, you know, they don’t pan out…
Lolly uses something from her STASH!? I don’t believe it. Hmm, knit a sweater in a month? I don’t really have any sweaters queued, but I have a lot of plane travel in November, so perhaps I’ll set some personal knitting goals for myself . . .
Good luck! November is a bad month for me to be knitting sweaters. I have too many Christmas gifts to work on!
Team Yoked Sweaters for NaKniSweMo! I am making the Sugarplum Pullover as my November sweater…now I just have to finish my October sweater!
That is going to be beautiful!
oh, that blue is lovely! especially next to that mustardy brown. Perfect!
I’m sorry to hear that. I was looking forward to seeing it all knit up.
It’s going to look beyond fantastic in those colours!!! I’m so cheering on you all of november – can you here it: “Go Lolly Go Go Go” accompanied by a little cheering dance
I’m not going to participate not because I’m not american and therefore actualy don’t qualify for nakniswemo – but because I’m frantically knitting on a “print o’the wave” for my sister…
Hi Lolly. If you get off your color track again, let me know. I’ve got a lot of Lopi that is available for the cost of shipping it to whomever. It can be seen here:
Lopi.
[...] Yarn: Botanical Shades, Lite Lopi, and recycled wool Source: MDSW 2006, Weaver’s Webb (NC), thrift shop Needles: Size US 7 and 8 circular and [...]