Early this spring, Elann was selling R2 Rag yarn for 80% off its original price. I’d been wanting to work with this yarn for several years, but it was always stupidly expensive and never seemed like a practical choice.
If you’re not familiar with R2 Rag, it’s a very bulky cotton yarn made from bias-cut strips of jersey-knit fabric. I rarely work with either cotton yarn or bulky yarn, so I could never quite bring myself to pay for it. When it was suddenly affordable, I was excited by the opportunity to work with it. I designed this sweater specifically for this yarn, in this colour. It was a fun knit, it turned out very much as I had planned, and and I love the way it looks. For obvious reasons, it’s called the Swamp Thing.
One fun thing that I did with this yarn was to sew the end of each ball of yarn to the beginning of the next, using red thread. This eliminated most of the yarn ends, which would have been impossible to weave in nicely, and I like the way the red spots look in the olive-coloured fabric. I left any remaining yarn tails hanging, which suits the look of this yarn well.
Unfortunately, I didn’t love the sweater on me. It fit the way I had intended it to, it just didn’t do me any favours. I am usually pretty aware of what my body is like and how it looks in clothes, and I can usually plan garments that suit me fairly well. Sometimes, though, I’m just wrong. I have had this sweater sitting in a basket since then. I couldn’t bring myself to rip it out because I just love it so much, and could not imagine a better design for the yarn.
Later in the spring, I met my dear friend Elizabeth. In the last few months, Elizabeth and I have realized that we are not dissimilar in clothing size, though we are differently shaped. I know that a lot of people have friends with whom they can swap and share clothes, but this isn’t the case for me. When it does happen, it’s quite a treat.
Elizabeth was over at my place recently and somehow the Swamp Thing showed its face. Elizabeth loved it, and tried it on at my insistence. I absolutely love how it looks on her; it might as well have been made for her. It flatters her much better than it did me. She was persuaded to take it home with her. And so, the story has a happy ending.
Shetland Shawl Turned Vest
Just a quick post to show a recent finished project. This is my adaptation of Véronik Avery’s “Shetland Shawl Turned Vest”, from the beautiful book Lace Style.
I knit it at a different gauge using Jo Sharp Classic DK Wool. I changed the lower edge, the bodice pattern, and the shape of the bodice.
Here’s a close-up of the lace pattern in the skirt, which is the same as in the pattern.
Here’s the lace pattern I devised for the bodice.
And here’s how I’ve worn it!
I’m so happy with how this turned out. It’s terribly flattering, comfortable and easy to wear. I think I may need to make more sweaters in this shape.