A Brand New Yarn from Schaefer

Hi Knitters,

I had the very fun privilege of knitting with "Chris" before it was introduced at TNNA last week.  I ocaisionally knit samples for Schaefer Yarn Company.  It's pure joy.  Not only do I get a glimpse of what's new as far as their yarns and color concepts but I also get paid in beautiful yarn.  It's a dream job.  The only difficult part is that sometimes it's hard to part with the finished project.  Oh, and it's also a little mind-boggling to choose my payment.  Just go on their website and you'll see what I mean.  Not only does Schaefer have the full range of weights and textures but each yarn comes dyed in an amazing spectrum of colors.  I've spent hours clicking back and forth on the website almost to the point of craziness when it was time to actually commit to a yarn.  Sometimes I think I should just say "Surprise me!"

Here's the Chris that came in my mailbox earler this year.  Oh, the feeling of seeing the postman head up my driveway with a box that I know is full of yarn!  I didn't know the name of this color while I was knitting but saw on the website today that it's called "Julia Morgan." 

Chris is washable wool, 80% wool and 20% nylon.  It feels all natural and has a smooth almost cottony texture that makes it a good year-round kind of fiber.  It knits like a dream, the yarn never split once and glided quickly on my metal needles.  I think the stitch definition is beautiful. 

Here's the finished sweater.  The pattern is Schaefer's  Linen Stitch Jacket . 

The Linen Stitch Jacket was available before in a different gauge but was rewritten specifically for Chris.  For once, it was easy for me to pick my yarn payment because this little jacket is completely charming.  I tried it on before I mailed it off and it felt perfect in every way.  I love the sleeve length that is a little shorter than expected, just enough above your wrist bones to be out of the way and to let bracelets show but long enough to keep your arms warm in the winter or in over-airconditioned places.  The short sleeves and hem make it a good sweater for the warmer months, but I think the pattern would be easy to convert to a tunic length if you wanted more warmth factor or simply like more coverage.  In that case I would probably lengthen the sleeves as well.

The bottom edge of the body and sleeves is knit in the full linen stitch, then the rest in half-linen stitch.  Isn't it pretty?

Blocking was a breeze because the linen stitch holds its shape almost like the garter stitch.  Just a few pins and a very light steaming.  A single crocheted edge around the neckline is a nice detail.

The pattern calls for a hook and eye closure but I had this mustard-color button from Joann's and thought it looked perfect.  Schaefer's resident designer/consultant, Laura Nelkin (loladesigns on Ravelry) liked the button and gave her okay.  Although the sweater would be beautiful either way I think the button adds a nice little pop.  I'll be making my jacket in the Gertrude Ederle color.  I've looked up hundreds of projects on Ravelry made in all of the different colorways and think the Ederle is beautiful. 

I'll be back soon with a couple of posts about knit shops I visited on my recent trip to Michigan.

For all you cat-loving knitters out there I am posting the picture below.  It's our youngest cat, Rufus.  He actively inspects every new yarn or project that comes into the house.   He tries to get his nose in every picture I take.  He is the reason I cannot leave my projects out when I am not working on them and that I cannot place any bowls or baskets of pretty hand-painted skeins of yarn out for their decorative value.  Natural fibers mean one of two things to Rufus--a chew toy or a scratching post.  I absentmindedly left a crocheted Sak purse on my bed a couple weeks ago and found it the next morning on the floor.  Rufus had enjoyed scratching and gnawing it into a soggy tangled mess.  He's lucky he's so darn cute.   

Happy Knitting, Josey