I wasn’t feeling inspired by many men’s knits recently. I knit Matt a sweater every year (sometimes two) but this year I wasn’t feeling the sweater mojo when it came to a guy sweater till about a week and a half ago. I love my LYS and the knitters that often frequent it. One of these knitters is a college senior named Levi, whose fingers fly and conquer Kaffe Fassett intarsia blankets and deliciously cabled sweaters like they’re no big deal. We have a similar love of Brooklyn Tweed patterns and recently I saw him knitting a Rift. I feel in love with that pattern instantly and went home excited to tell Matt that I was ready to knit for him again.
I decided it was time to try Shelter. It comes in so many amazing colors. Matt and I settled on this gorgeous Faded Quilt, a grey-blue with little teal flecks. So far I have been pleasantly surprised.
While I had heard that Shelter is more delicate, it’s not like it falls apart while you are knitting it. If you pull on it to break a strand it breaks easily, but I had no issues while knitting my swatches. It felt fluffy and bouncy while knitting the swatches. Before washing my swatches it seemed like I was going to have to go down two needle sizes to a US 5 to make gauge, but somehow after washing and letting them dry unpinned the size US 6 swatch came out perfectly. I will be casting on very soon, but I can’t forget about Z’s “wing sweater” because we talk about it often.
This is a great color, my type of look. I have yet to try BT yarn. I admire the fearless knitter dude who isn’t afraid of seaming nor intarsia.
Do you account for swatch allotments in your yarn purchase? Or do you just buy the recommended amount of yarn for the pattern?
I buy the recommended amount. I can always rip a swatch and use the yarn if needed.
Thank you. 🙂
In my experience (although it’s been a while since I’ve knitted) the recommended amount of yarn usually includes the swatch (or it could just be that I knit so tightly I use less yarn LOL).
Lovely! I have a hat knitted in Shelter, and the yarn has come apart on the tight long tail CO edge. Everywhere else, it is awesome, so next time I will use a cast on with more give!
That’s good to know! This pattern called for a tubular cast on. I hope it will be stretchy enough for regular wear.
Oh good! I’m sure that will do the trick 🙂
Oh, so glad you’re trying out Shelter and liking it! I have some Loft I’ve been meaning to dig into, but have heard differing opinions on both.
Wonderful pattern and yarn. Have fun knitting!
That pattern looks amazing, but a little above my skill level, I’m going to bookmark it for later in my knitting career. My other half is dying for me to knit him a jumper or some socks, this year is the year! I promise!
Have to get myself some as it’s knitted up lovely
This really looks fantastic! The whool AND the models you linked in your article. Will you provide some pictures of your “shelter-sweater”? I’d love to see them!
I will show them as I go and force Matt into some awkward photos when done as well!
Those pics are the best 🙂
Ohhhh, beautiful … I asked Philipp whether I could knit him a sweater, but he told me, maybe, after I “practiced” on one or two of my own! Pfff! 😉
I love the colour you picked for this sweater it’s an absolutely lovely, lovely blue! Plus, it looks soft …
Whaaaaaaaa? Well take that info and knit for yourself until he begs for one of your creations! Crazy dude.
te-he. Ahh, we’ll go slowly. 😉 It took him two years until he started to wear handknit socks, and now he loves them to pieces and has REQUESTED a pair and starts to pick out yarn for them … It’s great. I’ll give him time and finish my second sweater and then we’ll wait and see. 😉
Lucky man!