Finished Folded

My Ravelry favourites list is pretty full - I use it as a kind of shortlist for things I've seen and liked and may one day want to knit. Usually, a new project starts from there. When I began knitting, I made a conscious decision not to aquire a yarn stash. I learned from my sewing experiences, that you never have exactly what you need and if you do, it is unlikely to be in the correct amounts. So with knitting, I tend to select a pattern and then research my yarn options until I hit on a pattern/yarn combo pleasing enough to head to the shops.

But sometimes, I am in a yarn shop and see something that I lust after. If it is sock yarn, I go ahead and buy enough for a pair. I know what yardage I need, so there is no risk. Which is kind of how I justified a puchase of the first skein of Araucania Botany Lace. There it was, in my local knitting shop, in all its modestly priced, beautifully hued glory. So impulse purchased enough for a shawl. But when I came home and hit Ravelry, I discovered a prime vehicle for it, nestled in my favourites. And because I had bought it locally, I could nip back the next day for the extra yardage required. Folded by Veera Välimäki.

This photo makes it look as if one sleeve is two inches longer than the other. You'll have to trust me that it isn't. Must have put it on the dressform wonky.

There are acres of stockinette on 4mm needles in this pattern - a good thing I enjoy plain knitting as much as I do. 

Not that this project didn't provide many learning points:

• Raglan shaping in the round
• Short rows for the neckline
• Knitted pleats

All new to me. Some head scratching moments and intense watching of You Tube tutorials - how did anyone learn to knit before the internet?

I am insanely pleased by the glorious drape of this yarn and also with the subtle interest provided by the pleats (even if they do look a bit holey at the top when examined closely. But I trust that nobody is going to be that eagle eyed around my bustline.

When it first came off the needles, the hem was rolling a bit, so I took my steam iron to it which sorted the curling in seconds. In fact, it was so successful, I went for it with the neck too. Big mistake, quite literally huge. The neck grew so much, I could have put the whole thing on by stepping into it. Disaster. So I hurriedly popped it into the washing machine on a wool cycle and mercifully it emerged back to normal. I dried it super carefully, flat on a towel to avoid any stretching while wet.

Given how much I could have made it grow by blocking, I wished I had gone down a size in the pattern. I am always so scared of turning out a too small garment, that I tend to err on the generous side. Not always the most flattering look. But it is wearable and the perfect weight for this inbetween season we seem rooted in - too cold for a tshirt, but too warm for a full sweater.

The cat seems very interested in it. He is partial to a spot of wool chewing at the best of times. But this particular knit seems to draw him like a magnet. Perhaps it's the power of orange attraction.

Comments

[Toffeeapple]

I just saw this on your Flickr account and commented there too. Odd that the cat likes it so much, perhaps you are right in thinking it is the colour that attracts.

[Fiona]

Love it Ali!!! It looked lovely while you were knitting it and it looks even better finished :)

[erin]

it's really gorgeous...kind of has me wanting to knit, but fingering weight scares me!

[Cathryn Clarke]

I love this! It's gorgeous. I've just started a jumper too - hoping it'll be nice and straightforward! Fingers crossed!

[AngelJem]

mmm gorgeous shade of orange. I love the idea but not the effort of knitting. I would rather sew...

[walter and me]

You clever thing...it's fabulous! Love the pics too. I have to admit to a rather large stash....

[beki]

so nice!

[Sandra (Cherry Heart)]

It's lovely, well done!

S x

[Sue]

The internet is indeed a marvellous knitting teacher. I might have to investigate this pattern, it looks utterly lovely.

[monica]

you finished! it's gorgeous... and is it still as soft as I remember?

Orange is a good colour for you.

[Debi]

Very nice... love the color.

[Gina]

It's very elegant Ali and such a gorgeous colour. I wish I could wear orange

[Tracy]

It is a gorgeous looking top. I am intrigued by your knitted pleats. And, yes, how did anyone knit before the internet?

[Karoline]

It's gorgeous. I love the colour

[Anne @GtSlamseysFarm]

Totally agree with you about a yarn stash. Love the drape of this top.

[Dragonfly]

Loving all that orange. I'm nervous about knitting from the bottom up as my last effort was still too short for me in spite of adding extra inches. I need to investigate top-down knitting!

[Thomasina Tittlemouse]

Ali, it's absolutely beautiful! Colour, yarn, shape everything! Hope your cat knows what's good for him and keeps his paws off your handiwork! E x

[Annie @ knitsofacto]

Ooh, I like! Love the colour Ali, that will brighten up any grey days :)

[driftwood]

gorgeous, and very useful to have a colour that won't show cat hair!

[rusty duck]

Oh yes, gorgeous colour. Well done on the pleats, I'd be on You Tube too.

[harmony and rosie]

Love this, and congratulations on your colour choice, I am way too much of a scaredy cat to go that bright. I bet you look brilliant in your Veera!

[Paola]

Great job but your cat stole my heart. Totally.

[Emma]

Ooh I do love the pleats and the drape. You still have your thing for orange? I'd love to see a scan of someone's brain whilst looking at different colours. It would be fascinating. I've been staring at your jumper and I'd say it makes me feel rather zingy and energetic.

[The Coffee Lady]

Oh, aren't you clever! I love the way you've arranged the photo so it looks like the door handle is a snazzy bracelet.

That was deliberate, right?

[Megan]

It's absolutely beautiful, Ali. So beautiful, I am going to put it in my Ravelry queue right now. Imitation being the sincerest rom of flattery and all.

[Jill]

Oh, that's just lovely. I can't wear orange, but that's not to say that I don't like the colour.
I love Veera's patterns, I've just finished knitting Bolt, and Turmeric is one of my current WIP's.

[CarolineBuckland]

Had a look at your favorites list - and have just downloaded Chaleur. It's perfect! Have a load of yarn that I was going to knit into the Bergere poncho, but Chaleur will be much easier to wear. Thank you!!

[A Cat From London]

I liked this "When can I sleep on it" look!

[logan]

Nice job, it’s a fantastic post. The info is good to find out!