Portage !

Portage is one of those patterns that commands you to drop everything else on your needles and frantically go stash diving or web browsing for the right yarn. I had the perfect yarn for it but just under right amount. It didn't deter me from casting on. Do I ever learn?
I used 5 skeins of Hedgehog fibres , Blue faced DK in Ferrum- a lovely color which can described as olive green mingled with brown. Those 5 gorgeous skeins were the cyclist knitter's discards which I happily scooped away..

There are some very attractive details here. The back is textured with hundreds of tiny cables that you are strongly advised to knit without a cable needle. The pockets are created by extending and shaping  the bottom bit of the shawl collar, folded backwards on itself and carefully sewn on to the cast off edge and sides. I love the extra long sleeves with the ribbed cuffs folded backwards for extra warmth and stability. I also applied tubular cast off to the ribbed hem - that edging always make me happy and worth all the extra work.

All was well up to the garter shawl collar which consumed scary amounts of yarn. I knew I wont have enough for it and the pockets. Hedgehog notified me that the blue faced dk base won't be in stock until March but 2 skeins of ferrum were up for sale in the states. I bought them but for my dismay they were totally flat and dark sludgy brown. I persevered with 3 balls knitting in stripes to try to blend the colors together and it worked ! I love it and well please with it.

 

Only couple of modifications here first a shorter hem to try to save yarn and it still look generously long overall. Secondly I had to enforce and tidy up the pockets top edges with single slip crochet because of the 3 balls knitting.

 

 

Totally recommend the pattern- go and make yourselves a portage !

Endearment - Progress shots !

Am totally engrossed in knitting this beautiful pattern.

A design by Hanna Maciejewska , collaborated with my favourite Uncommon thread dyer, Ce as an exclusive kit for a limit period.

One of the knitting projects I loved

 

The lace pattern on the fronts is striking and well worth the extra attention in knitting it. It is actually easier than it looks. The yarn is uncommon thread tough sock . I've got an extensive collection of this base just love knitting with it. It has a certain crispiness to it , it keeps in shape, not too floppy and the stitch definition is exceptional. I'm addicted to greys and this is a fine example of a very light grey that is coming alive with darker shadows. Less is more here.

An interesting knitting detail is the hem which is double knitted so you are getting a think band with some short row shaping that makes the back hem wider than the front hem and with a saucy split at the back :)

 Soon to start on button bands . Have you notice those cute button pairing on the design?
Am now on the look out for buttons..

Will keep you posted ! :)

 

Thyone !

 

I had an excellent week with three FO's. Already blogged about Reverb and now posting  my version of Thyone. Visually it is very appealing and I think it works well with a bright dominant colour on the shoulders and cuffs , less so on the bottom hem as it shortens the upper body.

So instead of ribbing in fuchsia I've continued downwards with the grey and just added two cute little pockets and the pink just peeping through. I love finding new constructions and it was a joy starting the collar and shoulders on this one. If you purchased the pattern you know what I mean.. Just be warned that with this type of construction you are well off with a slight negative east on the shoulders width to avoid  puckered  shoulders points. I used merino silk singles from Hedgehog fibres in Petrol (the grey ) and Poison (fuchsia). The dye is amazing but no more single ply purchases for me- the yarn is going fuzzy as you knit which is disappointing to say the least. The buttons are great find from an Israeli Etsy seller- mother of pearl in smoky grey - perfecto !

Those photos were taken my birthday ... :-))