When In Romy

I finished my latest cardigan in record time. It took me just under three weeks to knit and I am really, really pleased with it. Its turned cold here so its just right for the nasty rainy weather we are having.

The pattern is Romy by Fallmasche. Its a contiguous design, which means it has absolutely no seams at all. Its knit from the top down and the shoulders are shaped with increases. I can't tell you how much I love both the pattern and the method used. Watching the shaping materialise is quite addictive.

As for the yarn. This is my first Colourmart project. Its Cashmere and merino aran (12/24 weight) in colourway Dust. Colourmart yarn comes on cones and is oiled for machine knitting. Its actually oiled to go through commercial machines I believe. You can skein it and wash it before knitting it, or you can knit straight from the cone, having washed your swatch and taken due account of changes in length and width that will result from that washing. The yarn on the cone looks thin and harsh and in the case of this yarn, due to the colour, like garden string.

I knit straight from the cone and washed the oil out of the finished garment. A scary process because you wash the thing in really, really seriously hot water (without agitating it as that would felt it) and washing up liquid or washing machine detergent. This yarn had a lot of oil and it took three washes to get it to fluff up. Then it took two days to dry in the airing cupboard, with me checking it every hour to see if it was ready yet because I was very impatient to wear it. I washed it before I put the buttons on because the buttons are beech wood and I didn't think they would take kindly to hours of soaking in washing up liquid and detergents. I sewed the buttons on last night and have been wearing it all day. I've made the sleeves a tad short, having mis-calculated the amount of shrinkage that would occur when washed, but I may block them out next time its washed to see if I can get that extra inch of length I need.

I've got another Fallmasche pattern, Revival, high on my very long list of projects waiting to be knitted. I think I am going to make two more of this Romy cardigan as well using yarn I already have in stash. Though I will need to get about 200g of a contrast yarn to eke one of them out. Once I have the hang of the method I shall possibly use it to make a homage to a lovely cardigan I saw in a store this week which didn't fit me well enough to actually buy it. I have a 1kg cone of Colourmart baby alpaca which I think will get used for this if I get up the courage to try it.

There hasn't been any further sewing. I did go in the cupboard yesterday intending to make some PJ's but had no suitably matching fabrics. I suppose that means I will have to buy more fabric. That'll be a shame and a hardship. NOT.

Edited to add, for Peppermint Penguin's benefit; the buttons on the cardigan came from Textile Garden. They had a stall at the recent Wool Weekend in Harrogate which I attended and their buttons really are completely fabulous. They have an on line store too. www.textilegarden.com

I will not be held responsible for any bankruptcy that may result from people clicking on this link. :)