Category: Classic Elite Yarn

FO: Sunshine Spindrift

Let’s start Monday off with a finished object, shall we? I finished the Spindrift cardigan for my sister over the weekend.
Sundrift
This was the cardigan I was excited to make because I got a chance to use the now discontinued Classic Elite Chateau yarn in such a sunny hue.
Sundrift
This is very simple and quick top down knit. I worked this up with bulky weight yarn on size 11 needles. I really like the diamond pattern that runs down the center panel and the side shaping is done with simple increases and decreases. And the best part?
Sundrift
It has patch pockets! Perfect size for my sister to carry around her work badge and cell phone. My sister has talked a lot about how cold her office is and sent me pictures while she’s bundled up in blankets so I thought this would be perfect with the snuggly garter stitch collar to keep her warm and cozy. This yarn is super light but after wearing it for a few minutes you realize how warm this alpaca blend really is, she’ll be very happy. I knit this in a size smaller than I would normally wear so I feel like it’s just a tiny bit snug for me. That means it’ll fit my sister. And this sunny yellow will totally brighten her day.

And in other news, I’ve got the entire week off before I start working! So that means lots of getting my house together, reading my new textbooks and lots of knitting!!

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by Categories: Classic Elite Yarn, Color, FO: Finished Object, Knitting, Sweaters, Yarn, yellowTags: , , , , , 23 Comments

So Many Works in Progress

I’m going into my last week at my job and they want me to wrap up all the things. Honestly, I don’t think they will realize how much I did until I’ve left because every few hours I remember another thing I need to switch over to someone else or give instructions on how to do or give some type of closure on. I’ll be happy when my inbox is zero’d out. On top of that I’ve got to submit things to the university at the end of the week in preparation for school! And I’m teaching two new to me classes and I’m a little nervous because they’re core courses so I have to match what others are teaching. So of course, what do I do over the weekend? Start a new knitting project in the midst of all my chaos.
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I cast on another cotton Guthrie sweater yesterday afternoon. This one will be long sleeve and it is black for the main color (I never knit with black) with hot pink for the pattern. I really do love this pattern and the colorwork is kind of rhythmic and soothing to me. It’s a great break in my mind from everything else. But I wasn’t just randomly starting new things and ignoring others…
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One of the few pics I’ve taken of the Spindrift cardigan I’m working on for my sister. I’ve completed the entire body and blocked it before I pick up stitches for the neckband (picking up stitches is my favorite part). Then I’ve got almost 6 inches of garter stitch for the neckband to work on before I’ll block it again and sew on pockets. It’s so close to being finished. YAY! And not pictured…I swatched the yarn for my newest test knit I plan to start this week. It’s all garter stitch and gauge is pretty critical so I wanted to make sure I was on point and focused on getting my gauge right. I like to wait 24 hours for it to dry and then do my measurements and I’m spot on! Woohoo!
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And of course in between the laundry, grocery store runs and cooking (I got an Instant Pot and am pretty obsessed with how fast everything cooks) I got distractions from my knitting. Jellybean decided for a bit that she needed to be directly in my face and staring into my eyes for a solid 20 minutes Saturday. She just kept wiggling that little butt and pulling up on me, so I obliged and gave her all my attention and love.
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And when Cher is over me knitting she just becomes the obstacle I can’t move. She loves to just physically plop herself directly on top of whatever I’m working on and demand that I rub her head. This was Sunday afternoon when she decided I did not need to focus on my Guthrie, she was totally more important. And she is, so I stopped for her.

If I can make it through this week I’ve got a week break to myself before orientation and classes start. I know I’ll be using it to prep for class and get myself ready but I’m still looking forward to that week at home to try and get my life together. I’m so close I can taste it.

by Categories: Berroco, Cher, Classic Elite Yarn, Color, Jellybean, Knitting, My Dogs, pink, Stranded/Colorwork, Sweaters, Techniques/Stitches, Yarn, yellowTags: , , , , , , , 11 Comments

A Favorite Yarn’s Farewell

In 2014 I made a scarf out of Classic Elite Yarn’s Chateau yarn. I had a gift certificate to Fibre Space for my birthday and the Color Block Bias Wrap was on display in the store and the yarn felt like a dream. At $12 a skein it was expensive and I needed 6 skeins for this project, but I splurged because I had my gift card and I couldn’t not have that yummy yarn. The yarn was a dream to knit with and truly made me understand how people can fall in love with specific fibers but I never bought it again because to make a sweater would be too expensive. But I always looked online and thought about ordering it again or saving up…and then I heard that Classic Elite Yarns was closing (a super interesting article about how the industry survives) and I knew…
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This yarn needed to come back to me before it was gone forever. Yarn.com added it to their closeout section (and a lot of other Classic Elite Yarns) for 50% off. Out of that series of yarn there was Chateau (the colors), Chalet (the neutrals) and Palace (the tweeds). All a mix of alpaca, all soft, light, warm and dreamy. They all paired well together so I knew whatever I chose would be fine.
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First I ordered a bunch of the sunny yellow of Chateau to make my sister the Spindrift cardigan because she keeps telling me how she’s freezing in her office. The day it arrived I immediately swatched for her sweater and cast on. I separated for sleeves within the first day but had to put it down in order to finish up a test knit. I love this yarn for it’s softness and warmth but it’s also super light since it’s a mix of alpaca and bamboo. And as I cast on for her sweater I kept longing for a sweater of my own. This yarn is just too good. It feels too amazing in my hands.
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So I went back and ordered a sweater’s quantity of Palace in the color Mermaid. I believe this lovely tweedy light teal will become the Selvedge Edge Cardigan, a simple shawl collar cardigan that I can throw on with any and everything. Whatever it becomes, I know I’m going to cherish it forever since this yarn will be gone for good. Does anyone else have a yarn they just absolutely loved that went away?

by Categories: blue, Classic Elite Yarn, Color, Knitting, Yarn, yellowTags: , , , 7 Comments