(Apologies to my Ravelry ColorJoy group members, this is a duplicate post for you.)

I cast on for a Shapely Tank by Joan McGowan-Michael of White Lies Designs. The yarn is my own hand-dyed Cushy ColorSport DK Washable Merino, in turquoise/blue/green “Lynnabelle.”

So far, so good. The yarn is very pleasant, and I do not usually get to knit my own yarns. It’s a treat.

DK-weight yarn typically is knit at 5.5 stitches/inch for sweaters. I usually knit socks (which are knit more firmly than sweaters). Therefore, at first impression this fabric felt really loose to me at the specified 5 st/inch (which the designer specifies, using a different DK yarn). However, I’ve knit the same yarn at 4.5 st/inch in a baby blanket and it can handle it nicely. (For socks I’ve knit it at 6.25st/inch, it’s really adaptable because it’s so springy.)

Actually, the yarn fluffs up a bit when washed. I knit a bit further than the picture shows, then I dunked it into some water. It seemed to stretch out like crazy, but it dried overnight and in the morning it was just plain perfect. No stretching, just puffy full stitches ready to stretch if need be. I’m happy to put my name on this product.

The colorway was named after me by a friend. I am soooo into turquoise. This tank is really a sample so I don’t know when/if I’ll wear it, but I’m still thrilled to knit with my own yarn and cast on for a project I’ve long wanted to try.

Turquoise for February.

This entry was posted on Friday, February 13th, 2009 at 12:31 pmand is filed under Knitting. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.