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New Yarn: The Plucky Knitter’s Cachet

Cachet is The Plucky Knitter's brand new 100% cashmere yarn.  Although it's listed at an aran weight, it knits up in the worsted range for me, with 18 stitches/26 rows to four inches on size 6 needles.

Swatch

It knits up like a dream: a soft cloud of stockinette.  And, the gauge is perfect for some of the patterns in my queue I'm longing to knit the most, including Carol Feller's Portulaca, Thea Coleman's new sweater, Rye, and Mailin and Monte Rosa, both by Isabel Kraemer .  Decisions, decisions.

I'm also going to swatch this yarn a couple of needle sizes down to see what the fabric looks like.  Originally, I planned to knit Alana Dakos Cabled Leaf Pullover in this yarn.  Since its gauge is 20 stitches/26 rows, it seems like that might be doable.

I know it's obvious, after years and years of being a polyamorous knitter who carried a torch for a lot of  different brands of yarn, when I discovered Plucky last year, I fell deeply in love with the wonderful custom spun, hand-dyed yarns they produce.  All of the yarns I've used so far, from Snug Bulky, to Bello Worsted, to Cashmere Sport, to Primo Aran, to Crew, to Scholar, have made me really happy.  Each new project makes me think I've found my favorite yarn of all time.  And truly, they are all my favorites.  I adore this yarn, and the new heavy weight Cachet cashmere is like knitting with a dream.  If you haven't discovered Plucky yet, it's worth the effort.  Although the yarn is sold in an unusual fashion, there is lots of advice for newbies here and a very nice group of helpful knitters on the Ravelry group.  You'll be glad you took the time to figure it out!

 

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A New Start & A Near Finish. And Something in Between.

In this week's knitting:

A new start.  The Forest Park Cowl in The Plucky Knitter's Primo Aran in Heirloom Green.  With all of its bonny cables, this pattern feels like it fell right off the pages of Outlander.  I've started this as an easy project to carry around, but plan on finishing a few in-the-works projects before I get serious about it.

image from images4.ravelrycache.com

An "almost there." Frostline is all done and just awaiting its lace edging.  And I'm in love!

Frostline

Vodka Lemonade.  Will it ever end?

Vodkalem

Just kidding Vodka Lemonade.  I really do love you.  The 7" of seed stitch in the collar on all 300+ stitches was sort of a bummer.  And then keeping the various columns of seed stitch and ribbing straight, along with the right side increases, as I worked from the top of the shoulders shoulders down to the point where the sleeve stitches can go on a holder and the body be worked alone was a bit of a challenge for me.  But I'm almost to that point, and it should be quite simple from here on out.  I'm looking forward to the lace bits at the bottom.

Fit is still a challenge for me with sweaters.  But I'm going to work on that.  In September I'm going to a knitting retreat and taking "Knit to Flatter" with Amy Herzog.  In the meantime, I'll give Vodka Lemonade my best effort, because I love the pattern, the yarn, and the color.