Labors of Love

Thank you, for the lovely comments! I really enjoyed reading them. Everyone was so sweet. I also enjoy hearing people’s stories. I like to hear how people live their lives, make decisions, and where those decisions take them.   Kit Kat also thanks you for the many compliments. 
 

As requested here are a couple of pictures of my other two boys.  They're littermates and very attached to each other.  Loki is the larger one on top and Eros is the smaller one and top cat in this house.  I'd say here he looks pretty tolerant. 

Last time I promised to share one of my latest FO’s. I absolutely adore this sweater. The pattern is from Rowan’s RY Classic Summer book (book 11) and is named Julia. RYC Cashcotton 4 ply is the yarn called for, but I’m not a big fan of cotton. A lot of cotton yarns hurt my hands and it just doesn’t keep me warm.  I envisioned this as a richly colored fall/ winter sweater rather than as a springy lightweight one, so I kept an eye out for a yarn in an
appropriate fiber content and color. A few months later, a friend of mine, Lisa, who owns alpacas had some of her fiber processed and spun into yarn. It’s very minimally processed and in  an entirely natural deep, dark, chocolaty brown alpaca. I minute I heard about it I knew this yarn was meant for this pattern. The halo created by the alpaca obscures the lace pattern a little but the lace isn’t a very distinctive leaf pattern anyway and I love the textured look of it. 

I love buying yarn and fiber from small producers, the people who take care of and love their animals. It makes a project so much more personal and special when I know the name or have a chance to meet the animal that gave it’s fiber. This yarn came from Smoke at Spirit Within Alpacas. This farm is relatively small but has some of the most beautiful colored alpacas I have ever seen (spiritwithinalpacas at yahoo dot com if anyone is interested, sorry no website). The owner is meticulous concerning the care of her animals and her fiber and yarn is top quality. A complete joy to work with. I knit it on US 1.5 and 2 size needles. I think the only modifications I made were to add a few more rows to the sleeves as I have longish arms.

At the other end of the spectrum is the other project I’d like to share with you, my Map of the World Afghan. A couple of years ago Vogue Knitting featured this afghan but didn’t provide the pattern or any ordering information for it. I fell in love. I’m not attracted to many afghans, but this is stunning! I had a devil of a time finding a place to order the kit though! It’s knit from Tahki Yarns Donegal Tweed wool, the tweed adds a wonderful depth and richness. Did I mention I had never done any color work prior to starting this? I told you I’m a very “jump in” kind of knitter. There was a learning curve and I think I started over once or twice. It’s knit in 4 panels and then sewn together, with a row of single crochet all around the outside edge.  Knitting this pattern was a joy. It was one of those projects you never want to end and would be completely fine if you were knitting it for the rest of your life. I felt this way to the extent that it took me a little over 3 years to finish. It did get put down for months at a time in order towork on other projects. A girl needs new sweaters and socks to wear. None the less, it was a completely wonderful project. Only the tassles are unfinished. The kit suggests using wooden or metal beads with the tassels threaded thru them and attaching the beads to the points on the top and bottom of the afghan. In the picture that looks very nice, however; curled up on couch it might be a different story. I don’t think big beads sound like fun to sit on or lean against. I figure I have plenty of time to determine what would be best. It needs something or the points start to curl a bit. What do you think? If you have an idea please tell me in the comments. I’d love to get another perspective on this. 

Comments

[hillary]

The afghan and the sweater are both beautiful. i can't imagine knitting something as ambitious as the afghan.

[Karen]

Cute kitties! Beautiful sweater! Stunning afghan!

[Helene]

How about some crochet beads or small balls? The afghan is amazing! Is there somwhere online to order a kit or pattern?

[Kathleen]

No beads!! It is lovely though!

[Nancy]

About the afghan curling, maybe some more crochet edging might help. I'm just guessing. What an impressive project! And the sweater is lovely!

[Wendy]

Love the afghan! But I could never...hate intarsia...

[Heather Joins The Round]

Wow, that afghan is amazing. I know the sweater pattern--my knitting aunt made one, and I was privledged to wear it a few times.But the afghan! WOW!

[Dorothy]

I'd have to go with the crochet edging too. or maybe garter stitch edging with mitered corners. in long stripes or something, makes me think of those fancy borders they put around maps in old atlases. a lot of work, but heck, you've already proven you are up to it. It is a great afghan!

you are right about the beads, ick.

[Lucia]

Awww... love those cats. The sweater is gorgeous, makes me want to reach through the monitor and pet it. As for the afghan, holy Toledo! How long did it take you to weave in all those ends?

[Roxie]

I'm a sucker for kittie pictures! As for the afghan, a crocheted lace border might be fun. A net and seashell or three posts and three spaces or something. No beads. Maybe corner tassles if they're soft and squooshy.

[Carol]

Beautiful! Wish I could knit up some big stuff! Even a sweater for me would make my year. I like to be fearless about things too. If don't DO it, we can't gain experience! how about slightly ginormous tassles? They wouldn't hurt as much as a giant bead. That's an awesome accomplishment!

[Sallie]

Please, please don't let my daughter see that afghan! If she sees it, she will want me to make her one, and I just don't think I would have the patience. It is wonderful, though. I have to agree with no beads. A nice garter stitch edge as someone else mentioned would probably work well. Lovely sweater, too. I like the ribbon trim.

[janel]

Interesting, many years ago Vogue published a very similar pattern in the form of a sweater. Obviously someone adapted it to an afghan or took inspiration to make a similar pattern as an afghan. Perhaps that's why they didn't publish the pattern for the afghan.

Love the alpaca sweater! The ribbon detail is cute and isn't alpaca yummy!!!!? I too do not like cotton even though I live in a warm climate where it's most appropriate. Feh! I say, I'd rather wear wool, which is why I'm more fond of cardigans, so I can let all the excess warmth out!

[Lark]

Karen, I don't know which looks more 'pettable' your sweater or your kitties. Isn't it wonderful how much animals can add to our lives. Kudos to your friend who raises alpacas, and to you for championing 'start to finish' production. I think I may be a pioneer at heart, or maybe a homesteader!

[sue]

You did a wonderful job on the afghan. When I saw it in Vogue Mag Fall 2002 I loved it also and sent away for the pattern (not the kit) - but I haven't made it yet.
The patterns for the Map of the World Afghan and Sweater are available as a send away via snail mail for them, not on-line. I think the afghan pattern is US $1.50 and the sweater pattern is US $4.00
The pattern for the afghan includes patterns for the pillows that are pictured in Fall 2002 Vogue magazine (pg 68). I love the compass pillow!
The pattern must be popular because instructions on how to acquire the pattern (and the pattern for the sweater as a P-pattern) are on Vogue's web site on their FAQ page:
http://www.vogueknitting.com/contact-faqs.shtml
(you'll need to scroll about 2/3 down the page to find the question/answer about the Map of the World pattern). Hope this helps some of you that want to tackle those projects.
I agree with the no-beads for the points. Would lining the points with a fabric such as felt help them not to curl without adding too much bulk or weight?

[Vicki]

Holy cow! The afghan is just stunning. And it was your first colorwork project? Sakes. I bet you're darn good at it now :)

[Kimberly]

I love buying yarn from the smaller farms and shops. The dark brown fiber you describe sounds a lot like the alpaca dk that I found while in Stowe, VT. And that afghan? All I can say is "WOW" because it is so incredible!
=:8

[Lauren]

What great projects! That sweater is beautiful and I love the afghan!

[debbie]

i love the julia sweater - it looks and sounds so soft and after reading your story of how it came to be, can see why it is a favorite! the afghan has got to be a pure labor of love! i agree about not using beads - and agree with one of the comments about a simple garter stitch edging, so as not to take away from the beauty of the design....

[Stitch-n-Snitch]

Whoa....

[Anne]

Both projects are beautiful, and your kittens are darling. I love it when my cats beat the crap out of each other one minute, then start giving each other baths the next. My 2 cents would be that tassels would be out with my cats. It would be like putting, well, catnip in front of a cat. They wouldn't be able to resist mounting multiple attacks from all angles day and night. I keep this in mind when I make scarves, and other projects.

[Shanti]

That afghan is stunning and you've got me running for the pattern. Beautiful work!

[The Purloined Letter]

Incredible afghan! This would make a GREAT homeschooling project for us: both art and geography!

How lovely it was to meet you at Rhinebeck!

[Kristi aka Fiber Fool]

Beautiful sweater and afghan, Karen!

[Sheri]

Your sweater is beautiful! I love anything lace. And your afghan, well, what a gorgeous piece that is. And the kitty looks like he likes it just as much.
Sheri in GA

[Cheryl]

My gosh - both the afghan and the sweater are gorgeous. That's some "first" project for color work!

[Tan Summers]

The World Afghan! Oh my! I once knitted ONE afghan square and that was it for me. I am impressed that you stuck with the whole world. Three years? It would have taken me three LIFETIMES. Your cats are great. At our house a cat is top dog, so to speak. I called our dog, a 70-lb bloodhound, and when he didn't come I went to see why. Turbo (who weighs maybe 7.5 lbs tops) had the dog cornered in the bathroom. Every time he made a move, she hissed and punched at him, and he took her very seriously.

[Katherine Allred]

You wanna bring the afghan to SnB some night? It's amazing!

[Birdsong]

The sweater looks adorable on you, and I can see with your cold climate needing the warmth of alpaca yarn. I am with you on the small scale producers; one of the best parts of fiber fairs is getting to meet the people and the animals and then buy their products. The map of the world is just such an awesome undertaking; I think 'jumping in' is the best way, no fear and lots of learning. It has been fun to get to know you better, Karen, and I hope you decided to have your own blog (you don't have to post daily, you know...)

[Kelli]

That is one huge project. :)

[Carolyn]

Your map afghan is beautiful. Where did you end up finding the kit? I made the sweater years ago and I don't have it any more. I want to make another one but can't find a kit. Thanks for any help you can give me.