knot another hat

it's a velvet kind of morning

I have been wanting to knit with Classic Elite's Portland Tweed since bringing it in to the shop almost three years ago. I can't believe it took this long, but I knew it needed to be just the right project. When I saw this in the Winter Knitty, I knew I had "the one".

• Pattern: Velvet Morning by Julie Crawford, from Winter Knitty bis 2011
• Yarn: Classic Elite Portland Tweed, 13 balls Tidal Foam, 1 each Best Teal, Amarinth, & Gull Gray
• Needles: US 7 (4.5mm)
• Mods: top-down sleeves knitted in the round

I really, really loved knitting this. So much so that I am making another one. {gasp!} I never, ever, hardly ever make anything twice. In fact, I've already casted on (see below). The only mod I made was to three needle bind off the shoulders, then pick up the sleeve stitches around the armhole and knit the sleeve from the top-down in the round, using the short-row set-in sleeve method. Why sew if you don't have to, right?

BUT! There's always a but. I do have a problem with the architecture of this piece: the lack of neck opening. When I first realized that the shoulders and back were going to have no neck shaping, I thought it was a mistake. But then I took a closer look at the pictures on the Knitty pattern page and realized this was indeed the intent of the design. So I went with it. See?

I find the result to be quite awkward to wear. I know the design is meant to be a "slouchy" sweater, but without a neck opening you can see how the shoulder seams are forced to hang way back on the shoulders. It's just not for me.

So on Round 2 I am going to add a wee bit 'o neck shaping to the fronts and the back so that the whole piece will sit more squarely at the top of my shoulders. I think the rest of the design still gives off enough of that "so comfy and slouchy you'll wear it every day" vibe. :)

Here's a sneak peek of Round 2:

save the date!

We want to make sure that you have your calendars marked for two important events on the horizon!

First: March Madness! Don't forget that the entire month of March is when we mark down our closeouts and discontinued yarns and shove them on out the door! The March Newsletter will highlight the sale yarns and give you more info, so stay tuned.

 
Second: The 2nd Annual Columbia Gorge Fiber Festival! This successfuly festival is returning to Hood River the weekend of April 20-22. You will find amazing fiber artisans throughout the show (including us!), as well as a plethora of classes to get your technique up to speed. Find out more info and register for classes at LavenderSheep's CGFF page.

 

imperial yarn trunk show happening now!

We are very honored to be hosting the latest and greatest from our farm neighbors to the southeast, Imperial Stock Ranch.    The trunk show features the runway designs from Portland designer Anna Cohen, as well as classic Imperial Yarn house designs. You will find socks, tunics, snuggly bolero jackets, scarves, hats, and more!   For those of you unfamiliar with Imperial Stock Ranch, it is a family owned and operated ranch located on more than 30,000 acres of Oregon’s beautiful high desert. Originally a homestead for pioneers of the western frontier, the ranch has been steadily producing Northwestern products since 1871. Current owners Dan and Jeanne Carver say, "It is on this vast landscape that our stewardship practices — of the land, of the animals and of our family — are cultivated and the strong foundation of our business has been forged. It is also here that we produce grains, hay, grasses, cattle and sheep, allowing us to create the variety of consumer products you are familiar with."    The Imperial Yarns are made from locally native Columbia sheep, which produce Columbia wool. The wool is custom milled without harsh chemicals, leaving it comfortable, soft, and pure. From their Sport weight yarn, Tracie, to the bulky 2-Strand Pencil Roving, there is a yarn for every kind of project. We even carry their Sliver Roving, which is perfect for making the thrums that go in their Retro Thrummed Slippers.    Now through the end of February, when you make in Imperial product purchase we will enter you in our drawing to win the Petal Necklace Kit from Imperial Yarn, recently featured in Vogue Knitting Magazine (pictured at left). Don't miss this extraordinary chance to knit with a piece of the Western Frontier!