Friday, February 16, 2007

Rare Breed Sweater Progress

We interrupt this spinning discussion to bring you a Rare Breed Sweater Update! I have slowly but steadily been working on completing the right cardigan front and am pleased to announce that I finished it last night.














Pictured below:

The bottom row is my Shetland row, featuring yarn from black, morrit, and grey Shetland fleece.

The top row features two colors of North Ronaldsay on the left and right, and Teeswater in the middle.

The body of the sweater is in Ryeland, and the blue seeding and Fair Isle details are from Hog Island roving.











Here are the three main pieces laid out together:

The sleeves are next, which shouldn't take so long. I've used up all my rare breed samples and so the sleeves will be simpler in design. I'm planning to knit the ribbed cuffs in the green, and the rest of the sleeve in the white and blue seeding pattern.

I am very relieved that it's turning out so well.

14 comments:

Peg in South Carolina said...

Absolutely fabulous!
Since you seem to like to spin a lot of different yarns, have you thought of knitting an afghan in squares, each square being a different fiber?
Or if you wanted to weave squares, you could use one of those "weavettes."

Mary deB said...

I really like all those different sheep! The horns, the no-horns and the little ones... very cool!

Laritza said...

I have wondered since you started this sweater if when it comes time to wash it, will the different yarns behave different?
I have thought about that over and over.

Sue said...

Looking great!!!

Cathy said...

Amazing - you're on the home stretch now!

Leigh said...

Thank you one and all!

Laritza, I think that as long as I simply soak and spin, and don't aggitate, I won't have any problems with the different types of yarns. If I wanted to full the sweater, I would have problems, as different breeds have different felting qualities. But I've made the sweater to fit so that I won't need to do that.

Peg, perhaps squares for an afghan or blanket are just the idea I need. I'll add that to my list of projects. I would love to try weavettes, but always have something else to spend the money on. :)

Sharon said...

Holey moley - that's awesome. All of it - the design of the sheep, the even knitting across the lice pattern, the shaping. I am in complete and total awe.

Tina T-P said...

Oh, so very cool! I'm really looking forward to seeing it with the sleeves and all put together. Catzee does such a nice job of holding the pieces on the floor doesn't she? (I like Peg's idea about the different squares for an afghan too - that might be kind of fun.) Several people on the shetland list said they wanted to see it when you were done, so I'll post a link on my blog in the next day or so :-) T.

Jackie said...

ditto to what Sharon said! I am in complete awe! I bow to your creativity, your persistence, and your knitting skills. Way to go!

Charleen said...

Beautiful, Leigh! How exciting to have a gorgeous sweater that also reminds you of all the different fleece that went into it.

Marie said...

I've really enjoyed watching the project/process. You're on the home stretch now.
Will the cat's tail be part of the finished product ;D

Kathy said...

Is this Cool Beans, or what?!!! Great work, Leigh! I can hardly wait to see it with the sleeves - will you model for us? And when is the pattern coming out? :)

Well done, Leigh!

Amie said...

What a terrific sweater! I love all the sheep in their own wool, and the little jacob there cracks me up.

If you aren't familiar with her already, you should check out www.spirit-trail.net - she's got amazing stuff!

Renee Nefe said...

Catzee seems to really enjoy that sweater a lot. I bet she'll be very snuggly with the wearer of this sweater when it is finished.