This is not the sweater I originally planned to make with this yarn. I’ve been eyeing Boardwalk from Tincanknits for just over a year now and had originally intended to pair this gorgeous speckled yarn with some knit of snazzy buttons. It’s unclear to me when exactly I found myself listening to the yarn insisting it become something else, but I found myself casting on for an entirely different sweater and I’m so glad I did.
Pink memories by Isabell Kraemer was designed using yarn purchased with friends as a way to remember their trip together. While I didn’t specifically choose the pattern in order to remember something, I do like that there is a nod to fun times behind the pattern’s creation. Plus, there’s nothing not to love about this design. In fact, the only modification I made was to add a pocket to mirror the existing one. I love that the shaping creates a tunic-like fit and the textured front is fun. It’s warm, cozy and I can see myself curling up in it with a hot cup of tea.
The completion of this sweater also came as a garment that marks the transition from one home to the other, so though I did not choose the pattern to have a memory I suppose I have one. Although honestly, it feels like every knit thing I’ve ever created has memories attached to them.
Want to make one of your own? Use the discount YARNVIP for 15% off your total purchase from Wonderland Yarns (discount not eligible on sale items, with other discounts, or on yarn clubs). For this pattern, I used Mad Hatter in Thorny Thistle.
While this post doesn’t mark the first sweater I ever made my partner (See: writers block cardigan and Flax), it does mark the first time that I’ve ever used Julie Asselin’s yarn and the first time that Alicia Plummer designed a men’s sweater. Test knitting Justin’s Flannel was so much fun, that I can’t help but see it in every color.
For starters, Justin’s (Mars’s) Flannel is the perfect combination of mindless knitting with a little bit of texture thrown in to keep it interesting. When you combine that with the fact that it’s easy to read your stitches to see where you are in the pattern, this sweater makes for excellent TV, knit night, podcast listening, reading etc knitting. In fact, I had so much fun with it I manipulated the pattern to make a baby sweater for a friend out of fingering yarn (more on that later when it’s finished, also I have it on good authority that Alicia is working on a children’s version as well)!
The next thing I love about this sweater is that it’s actually unisex. While I love Plummer’s designs, I often skip knitting the waist shaping. Though large, Mars’s flannel is a sweater that I could grab and curl up in.
Naturally, even with all my warm and fuzzy feelings I couldn’t help but change a few small details of the sweater. If you like the way the sweater hangs on my partner, you would need to knit the body a total of 16 inches before the ribbing (that’s an extra three inches) and the sleeves 19 inches before adding the ribbing (an extra 1.5). There is also a LOT of positive ease in his sweater, thought it’s been a little while since he’s been measured it’s safe to say that it’s about 5 inches.
Julie Asselin’s Nurtured in Miel
Speaking of curling up in something, I cannot stress enough how warm and cozy Nurtured by Julie Asselin is. The photo below of my partner shows him in 30 degree (F) weather without a coat. This is particularly noteworthy because he’s from New Zealand and usually has two – three additional layers on compared to what I have. I, as the photographer, am behind the scenes wearing my winter jacket loosely zipped. What a difference! The bloom of Nurtured is also beautiful, meaning that the yarn has an almost felted look to it until it is wet blocked.
One downside of Nurtured is that with the extra warmth comes extra weight. I tend to be someone who knits more with Fingering – DK weight yarns in the interest of my hands and wrists not being the limiting factor while I knit. It sometimes felt like I was knitting with cotton, the yarn doesn’t seem to have a lot of elasticity and the project was heavy. 100% worth it, but worth mentioning because I couldn’t spend a lot of consistent time working on the sweater because my hands needed breaks. Despite this, I would use it again (although I would probably use Nurtured Fine instead, light weight yarn biases and all). Also, doesn’t bother me, but this yarn isn’t machine washable.
All in all, highly recommend both the yarn and the pattern!
Walking on the local snow mobile trail during melt season is the best time to grab a knit sweater.
Thoughts from iswimlikeafish 