Pattern of the Week: Accessory

I very rarely get transfixed by a pattern.   I see many, many that I like, some I want to knit, and a few that I actually do knit.   Once every couple of years, I find one that I just can’t get out of my head.   I work hard to complete other projects that are on the needles, but I keep checking out the projects on this much loved pattern.   I try to cast on for things that I actually need to make, but I find myself at The Studio, looking for yarn for this pattern that has me in its grasp.   Eventually, I find myself buying the pattern, but not the yarn.   I diligently knit on the projects on my needles, but soon I uncover the perfect yarn, and bring it home with me.   At this point, I may be able to talk myself out of casting on, if a project is nearing completion, or has a real deadline, but I will knit this pattern.

One pattern that had me in its grasp was the Bird in Hand Mittens by Kate Gilbert.   I originally queued this one back in 2008.   I didn’t have the skills to do stranded knitting then, so I waited, and gained skills.   I bought the pattern September of 2010, the yarn in March 2011, and cast on then.   I am going to finish these today, so that I can start the next pattern that has me besotted.

Stole

I saw this pattern a couple of months ago in an ad at the back of Interweave Knits.   I’m not sure if it was the hand painted yarn, the lace, or the entrelec that got me, but Birch became an obsession at that point.   Despite the number of beautiful examples we have around The Studio, I’ve never done a project with entrelec.   I’ve always thought the projects were gorgeous, but it seemed that they looked best in high contrast colors, and I tend to be more understated in my color choices.   I also love to work in lace, especially when I block it and the pattern becomes so beautiful.

The Birch pattern includes options for three sizes, so you can choose from a scarf, stole, or wrap.   The pattern takes 600, 800, or 1000 yards of fingering weight yarn, depending on the size you knit.   For an especially soft beautiful project, 4-6 skeins of KPPPM would be a great yarn choice.   We have a couple of colorways in stock that should work well for Birch.    Another great option would be Cascade Yarn’s Heritage Paints, which would require 2-3 skeins.

Do you get transfixed by patterns like this?   Which patterns are you aspiring to currently?