Skip to main content

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


Labels:

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

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Salut Chéri! Beret Pattern.

Here is the pattern for the berets I've knitted. The name for the beret is from the t-shirt I was wearing when I took the project photos of the first beret for Ravelry. I thought the name suited the beret, since it's quite classical take on the hat that has become the icon of everything French. Happy knitting! Salut Chéri! You need:  yarn: 105-125 m (114 - 137 yards) worsted weight yarn. The sample was knitted with Novita Joki ( 104 m or 114 yard per 50g) needles : 3.5 mm and 4.0 mm (US size 4 and 6) circular needles (40 cm or 16 inches) size 4.0 mm (US size 6) DPNs 6 stitch markers , one of a different color to indicate the beginning of the round Gauge : 10 sts and 16 rounds = 5 cm (2 inches) in straight Stockinette stitch with 4.0 mm needles Cast on 88 sts on 3.5mm circular needle. Join in round, careful not to twist the stitches. Place a marker to indicate the beginning of the round. Knit in straight Stockinette stitch (knit all...
15 comments
Read more

Cloud Mittens - the Pattern part 1.

This is so long overdue, but I have now finally managed to write down the pattern for the Cloud mittens. Here it is, my Christmas present to all you guys! Enjoy! CLOUD MITTENS ( Here is the link to the pattern on Ravelry ) You need: 125 m or 135 yards of DK weight yarn (blue sample knit with Novita Wool, 100% wool, 135 m/ 50g) 125 m or 135 yards of sport weight yarn for the lining (blue sample: Garnstudio Drops Baby Alpaca Silk, 70% alpaca, 30% silk, 167 m/ 50 g)  Needles : a set of 2.5 mm (US 1 1/2) DPNs or circular needles if you prefer Magic Loop method like me Gauge: 16 stitches and 22 rows = 5 cm (2 inches) To fit an average woman hand Intermediate knitting skills required LEFT MITTEN Cast on 54 stitches loosely on size 2.5 mm double pointed needles or a circular needle if you like knitting with magic loop method like me. I used the long-tail method to cast on. You can place a marker (beginning of the round) if you want, ...
8 comments
Read more

(By Far) The Easiest Way to K4Tog.

I have published earlier a post on an easy way to k4tog - knit 4 stitches together - which is an essential stitch in my Cloud mitten pattern. As you might already know it is a bit challenging especially with 2.5 mm bamboo needles that not only have sharp tips but are bendy and especially prone to snapping. Stubborn as I am, I wasn't going to give up and change the design just to make it easier to knit. So I came up with the idea of using a tiny crochet hook to pull the working stitch through other three.  I was planning to use this same method when knitting the second pair of Cloud mittens, but alas, I couldn't find the hook anywhere. I seem to have misplaced it and I just can't remember where I put it... And as you know I don't crochet often so the second smallest hook I had was size 3.5 mm which didn't work for this purpose for obvious reasons.  So I was back to square one trying to figure out how to do the k4tog in an easy way when I got the idea of rev...
3 comments
Read more