Thank you, Shruggers!

First of all, thank you for all comments and pictures! They helped me to successfully complete my shrug! I had been wanting to make it since it appeared in the Fall 2005 issue of Vogue Knitting . I discovered I could get Lorna’s Laces yarn online from Angelika’ s and finally decided to take the plunge. I haven’t regretted it! I wore my shrug for the first time this week and , wow, I’ve never had so many compliments on a garment. Here are pictures of the finished product.

Like many of you I started and ripped out a couple of times before I got onto the circular needles. Your close-up photos of the beginning were especially helpful !

The only regret that I might have is the yarn color I chose. I wanted something subtle . However, by choosing a contrast color (Chocolate #36ns) which was so close to one of the colors in the main variegated yarn (Pilsen #408), the braided effect wasn’t as noticeable as I had expected. On the other hand, by making this choice, I may have avoided the color change lines that some of you didn’t like. (Maybe the best solution is just to continue in pattern without doing those solid-color lapel rounds.)

I enjoyed making this so much that I may attempt another. If I do, I will choose a lighter main yarn (maybe dusky blues?) and stick with a dark contrast color.

Right now, I think that I’ll use my leftover yarn to make a cowl neck (about a 12-inch long tube using the same technique as the sleeves but with the 24” circular needle).

Comment moderation

Hi, all!

Due to the appearance of some inappropriate anonymous comments on the site today, I've decided to start moderating the comments. I'll do my best to stay on top of any comments left here and review them as quickly as possible. Thanks for your understanding!

Also, any ideas about yardage? I'm thinking 6 skeins of Lorna's Laces would do it. Or seven??? BTW, sisterknitter, FABULOUS SHRUG!

newcomer hello

Hello, all.
I'm new to this blog. I've been mooning over this pattern for several months, ever since my favorite yarn store displayed the finished product. Just gorgeous!
What surprised me was how differently the pattern knitted up on bloggers: some were soooo long (actually looked like a great jacket to me), others had huge collars, or were super roomy. I love seeing all the pics and the variations people made, by accident or on purpose.
My big concern: I need this shrug to be bigger than 40 inches. Annie's website describes it as being able to fit everyone, but I'm not sure how. I could do with a few more inches in the bust measurement (with no ease) and would like it not to gap hugely in front. I don't need it to button, just look like it's made for me, if you know what I mean! I can see that knitting more rounds to make the circle bigger and placing the armholes differently will take care of some of the issues. Has anyone else dealt with this?

All finished!

I finally finished my Twisted Float yesterday.

I started it in November 2006 and was so determined to wear it before I give birth at the end of March that I worked on it practically al through Christmas Day. I used Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted in Gold Hill. The solid shades of chocolate and mulberry were Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran.

The collar and cuffs were made from Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Astrakhan. I tried a variegated mohair yarn that had been custom-dyed to match the body but it didn't look right.

Although I'm delighted with the shrug I have no intention of knitting another one. Twisting and untwisting the yarns for the body was a PITA and they would felt together sometimes, too.

I finished my Cocoon

After taking a knitting hiatus of almost 18 months...I finished Cocoon!!! I love the warmth of it and the colorway as I used Evergreen instead of Charcoal as the second color. Please click on the pictures to see the cocoon's detail.

However, I don't know if I like the front yet. I usually like the front of my sweaters to be able to button close and this garment doesn't allow for that.

I probably need to block it so it fits better.

I'm still knitting...

I've made it to the edging on my Twisted Float Shrug:

I'm going to start on that tonight. I was going to use some custom-dyed Silkwood mohair, but a plain edging would look much better. So I bought some chocolate Debbie Bliss Astrakhan this afternoon. And if that doesn't look right, then I think I'll stick to the Lorna's Laces that I'm using for the body - I just hope I have enough left!

30 June 2007- Garngamen finished

Swedish KAL-friends - I- Garngamen is finished. I started it fall-05, and then had to reknit one sleeve that I felt was a bit too loose. It has been an UFO for awhile, butI got my act togheter and Now Im officielly done! Im so happy. It was actually quite fun except those last rows in the big circle that just swallowed the balls like nothing. And reknitting is never fun. It looks much better from the back! When I now turn you see why it has not been a priority: Im not shaped well for this knit. You could also tell Im buttoning it a bit. Great with a stretchy fabric. Im thinking of adding shortrows and close that belly showing gap. It is not as nice when it sticks out. But it is looks great from the back! No comments on very temporary buttons, please. Anyhow, I was not fully true to pattern, since I thnk I accidently added some extra increases on last rounds. Also, being a bit too many X in the size, I automatically add a bit. That was the cause of sleeve re-knit, since I made them too big. They look better a bit tight, but not as comfortable as big. Im just going to walk you through the yarn used. Maya from Debbie Bliss (same as Manus del Uraguy wool yarn), and then Estonian two-threaded Kauni wool (in the double) turqoise, and purple (and also some hank of this in plain colour). White is Mojärv (Swedish). Edge is Mohair (Ombre?). Colour inspiration was a Greek sea holiday - with the salty water, sea and seaweed. Visit my blog at garngamen (which means yarnvulture). It is in English - even if Im Swedish. Im trying to have a lot of pictures! Thank yo all KAL-friends for great inspiration. I think this pattern is great to finish off yarn scraps, blends and such.