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Vector Shawl.




This was the first time ever that I ordered yarn online before first seeing (and feeling) it in reality. Some might call me a kind of a yarn snob - not because I would only use expensive brands but because I only knit with a few tried and tested sorts that I know I like (and refuse to buy synthetic fibers) - but I just find it really hard to venture out of my comfort zone and try new things: what if I don't like how the yarn feels? If it irritates my skin? If it pills immediately? Or the color is nothing like it looked on the computer screen? I don't want to risk ruining a knitting project just because the yarn choice was off.

I had read so many good reviews about Holst Garn yarns and obviously they are very popular among Ravelers (thousands of knitters can't be wrong, right?) so I felt brave enough to try them for myself. I love how many colorways there are to choose from and the vast array of colors was exactly what allured me in the first place. However the sample photos for the different yarn colors could be a bit bigger to get a better picture of the shades. I had to go back and forth between the Holst Garn website and Ravelry's project pages to see how the colors actually look like and to find the loveliest hues.


The yarn was a bit rough and stiff and it was especially evident when compared to Garnstudio Drops Baby Merino I was simultaneously knitting other projects with. I found this a bit amusing since the yarn is called Supersoft - I'm scared to think how the other varieties feel like to knit with ;) The yarn did soften and relax after I washed the finished scarf and now it feels lovely against my skin and drapes beautifully.

The shawl itself was cosy TV knitting, a lot garter stitch back and forth with a simple slipped stitch selvages. I didn't want to make the small version because I wanted more like a shawl than a flimsy scarf but I thought the larger version would be too big for daily use so I knitted something between the two alternatives. I casted on 106 stitches - 3 selvage stitches per side + 100 stitches for the main scarf. Otherwise I followed the pattern as it is with the same row count and everything. 

I really like the colors and I do like the yarn as well. Now I have a new yarn to add to my list of tested and approved yarns!I'm already thinking about the next colors to use.



Pattern: Vector by Tanis Lavallee 
Yarn: Holst Garn supersoft 100 % uld, colorways Cinnamon, Goldcrest,
Cashew, Camel and Almond
Needles: 4.0 mm


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Comments

  1. AlinaApril 18, 2015 at 3:42 PM

    Beautiful color palette! I am working on a shawl with similar construction and it is also my relaxing in-between project. I guess we all need one :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. JulieApril 21, 2015 at 1:03 AM

    I love your in-between hybrid size, it does look really nice, and the colours you chose are great! Glad that yarn softened up post-blocking.

    ReplyDelete

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