Gooseberry

It started as a personal challenge....

But first, the backstory.

 

Years ago my mother and I each bought a Rosemary kit from one of my local yarn shops, which - come to think about it - is kind of weird because we've never done the matchy-matchy thing.  I knit mine up first, and while it was beautiful and I did wear it a few times I ultimately decided that the style aged me too much.  Mom tried it on, and voila...perfect elegance!  So I gave her the finished sweater, and she gave me her unused kit.

 

My new kit then sat around for a really, really long time.

 

 Knitting my Mesmeric sweater this summer was a game changer for me.  For so many years I'd knit sweaters for everyone BUT me, but having completed that beauty I wanted more.

 

However, I also didn't want to spend any money on yarn, as I've been very firmly committed to using my stash this year.

So I turned to my stash....and this yarn was the perfect candidate for my next sweater.

 

I knew from my experiences with Rosemary that this is a yarn that needs a very basic pattern.  It pills dreadfully, and isn't the softest yarn in the world.  There's no sense wasting time on details like cables or lace that could be potentially obscured in fuzz and pills.  It needed something quick and easy to knit up, preferably in a classic pattern that would work for years to come.

 Which is where Ravelry comes into the picture.  Goodness Bless the pattern search page, which allows you to set the parameters of the search as tightly as you possibly can....including limiting it to patterns in your own library.

 After spending several days searching, I found this gem in my Interweave knits library, and after a quick swatch I knew it was the right one.

 

Of course...I ran it by a couple of friends who have better fashion sense than I just to be on the safe side!

 The details:

Gooseberry Cardigan by Hannah Fettig

Interweave Knits Weekend 2009

Anna's Yarn - now by The Unique Sheep - in Natural Saxon Blue Indigo

the kits were sold by weight, and the tag had worn off...so I'm sorry to say I have no idea how much yardage I had.  I got lucky.  I had enough for the sweater with a small ball left over for repairs.

Addi Turbo US 5 - 3.75 mm - 32 inch and US 4 - 3.5mm - also 32 inch

October 19 - November 8, 2015

 

 In case you are wondering -

Yes, that's an incredibly fast knit!

 

As I knew it would, the fabric relaxed in the wash, and blocked beautifully.  It wound up being a smidge smaller than I'd wanted....but as my daughter pointed out I'll, "grow into it, " because my size is still changing. 

 

I'm absolutely delighted with the finished look of this sweater.  It's exactly the classic look I wanted, and the fabric has an interesting weight and a gorgeous drape to it.  The drape is the best part really, and I wish I could somehow convey that through the screen.  As I can't....lots of pictures!  I have no doubt this will be a wardrobe staple for years to come.

 

The one kicker....and I knew this would be the case, so it's not a surprise.

 

It's the darn itchiest sweater I've ever owned.  This is most certainly not a yarn I would ever buy again, and in fact a part of me wishes I'd known better from the get-go.  Having said that, though, it's absolutely fine over a long sleeved, higher collared shirt like the one in the picture, and so all things considered it will be just fine.

 

And now that this challenge has been successfully completed...

 

I'm back to the stash to figure out the next!