Sweater weather is definitely here and most of my hand knit sweaters are now too big to wear. That’s a mixed blessing, right there. It means I’m smaller – which is great! and it means I get to knit new sweaters – which is pretty great, too. It also means that some of the sweaters I love are going to new homes. Anyway. Today I want to talk about favorite sweater patterns and favorite sweater yarns. 5 of each. In other words, today’s Ten on Tuesday topic is 5 Favorite Sweater Patterns and 5 Favorite Yarns to Use. Ten is the total. Ready? Let’s go.
First for me, the patterns:
- Everyday Cardigan. This is my favorite plain cardigan. I’m still wearing mine but I probably shouldn’t as it’s very big and sloppy looking. I definitely need to make another one.
- Twist. And my favorite cabled cardigan. Fun to knit and assemble, it’s a classic.
- Miss BB. I queued this a while ago, I think when Margene knit hers. And then Patty referenced it last week and I immediately ordered yarn from Peace Fleece. I can not wait to start!
- Folly Cove. I’m still waiting for a few pounds to go away before I start this one, should be great for spring.
- Brynna. I think this would be great for work – a little less “woolly” and a little more stylish, if you know what I mean.
And the yarns:
- Peace Fleece Worsted. My favorite. I love tweedy yarns and Grass Roots is probably my favorite Peace Fleece color ever.
- Beaverslide. Beautiful and it blooms into a fantastic fabric when knit. It’s not cheap but it’s worth it.
- Frolic from The Woolen Rabbit. All of Kim’s yarns are wonderful – this one is a beautiful worsted weight and will be perfect for Folly Cove.
- Berroco Ultra Alpaca and Ultra Alpaca Light. The colors of these are awesome and the yarn doesn’t pill. It’s very very warm, though.
- Green Mountain Spinnery Weekend Wool. This has that tweedy look that I love and the colors are wonderful.
Today’s topic is a dangerous one and I’m not sure I should even go forth and read all of your posts! But I will so make sure you add your link by clicking the button at the end of this post. And if you want to receive the Ten on Tuesday email, click here to sign up.
This is a very dangerous topic! I have only tried one of your yarns, Beaverslide, and now want to try the others. Peace Fleece has been one my list for eons. I am trying to talk myself out of buying a sq right now.
(la-la-la-la-la . . . I’m covering my ears and not listening this week. . .)
I don’t knit a lot of sweaters because I have so many single skeins of yarn I’m trying to use up. But this past year I knit Meg Swansen’s Spiral Yoke sweater, which uses Elizabeth Zimmermann’s percentage system, and much to my delight it fits really well.
http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/spiral-yoke-adult
Years ago I knit my husband a cabled sweater using Black Water Abbey yarn. It’s actually from a small mill in Ireland and the tweeds are amazing. Here’s a link:
https://www.abbeyyarns.com/html/products_frame_page.html
A fun topic, a dangerous topic, but a necessary one as we love to knit sweaters!
I just used Peace Fleece for the first time on a hat. It’s so rustic feeling in your hand that I can image it makes for a wonderful sweater yarn. It was really affordable too!
Folly Cove looks like a great pattern. Add that to the list….
It’s gonna be growin’ today!
Okay, I have to get busy and look at all your links. I love the Berroco alpacas, and am trying not to succumb to the temptation to try the others you mentioned. I like good ‘ol Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride and Nature Spun (could be because I have toured the mill in western Nebraska several times and love their great story). I have lots of too big things at the moment–some of them look pretty good with a chain belt worn slightly below the waist. Congratulations on being a smaller big person!
OMG I can’t even look at them yet because I’m working. Tonight is going to be so exciting! Thanks for this topic Carole. 😉
Working on Acer in Peace Fleece now and then will probably go on to Strokkur. I might end up using Peace Fleece on that too but I see both you and Margene mentioned Beaverslide. I might have to check that out… Well…I’ve also thought about Berroco Ultra Alpaca too….decisions decisions!
Want me to bring you some of my Debbie Bliss magazines? 😉
Wonderful topic. Love to get ideas from your list. I have had favorite cardigan on my list and no I am adding Miss BB to the list. I am a huge fan of Peace Fleece, Green Spinnery and should look at Beaverslide. It looks like they have more yarns than they had 3 or 4 years ago.