I started a sweater awhile back for my sister-in-law Holly.  The pattern is called Hulda, so I call the sweater the Hulda Holly.  I have been working on it again.  It’s good “tv knitting” –  just straight knitting.

Knitting a sweater with lace weight yarn still seems a little crazy, but I love how the colors are blending (5 shades of gray I think!)

 

I’m using this laceweight Icelandic wool called Einband.  It is not soft.  It is the opposite of soft.  So I’ve been worried as to whether a human could comfortably wear this sweater even with a shirt underneath.  However, I was reading about this wool in my new favorite knitting book Knitting with Icelandic Wool by Vedis Jonsdottir (there are accent marks throughout that name.  I am terrible with alternate keyboard strokes and have no clue how to put them in on a Mac).  Anyway, the author talks about this yarn. She says that “it feels abit rough but softens considerably after washing or soaking”.  I like the use of the word considerably.  I need considerably.

So I checked out this new book Knitting with Icelandic Wool from the library.  I am going to have to buy a copy for my very own.  I have had so much fun looking at the different patterns, that I had to share my joy and blog about it as well.

There are several sweater patterns for the traditional lopi type sweater which has the fair isle round yoke – like this:

 

I have to think that this is a sweater made for practicality because the shape seems like it would make just about any person look like a linebacker.  I love the fair isle work though.  So pretty.

There is a hooded sweater for a little girl that I love.  (the sweater – not the girl although she is a cutie.)

 

I love the colorwork on this sweater, but here’s my favorite part:

 

There’s colorwork on the hood!  I love that!

Of course when I saw this sweater I loved it immediately.

 

It’s the green.  That’s about my favorite shade of green.  Love the colorwork here too. So pretty, and this sweater is not quite so bulky and “linebackery” looking.

There are several great patterns that have no colorwork at all.  I think I am going to have to make this eventually.  It’s not a shawl.  It’s not a sweater.  It’s a sweater shawl!

 

Look at this construction!

 

Sleeves in the shawl.  I’ve just got to try this out and see what happens.

Then there is a pattern for socks where the heel and toe are made using the same method.  I’ve not done this before.  I want to!

 

I love these mittens too.

 

I’ve not done any stranded knitting in awhile.  It’s tough to keep the tension loose, but I’d love to make these eventually as well.

I’m wondering if David might like this sweater.

 

I like that there is cabling on the front and on the sleeves as well!  This model makes me laugh too.  So intense.  He doesn’t look too happy.  I’m not that into the next sweater, but it’s the model again.  He scares me a little in this picture.

 

I am definitely going to make this scarf soon.  I have some beautiful lace weight cashmere yarn that I bought back at Knit Unto Others.  I’ve been looking for the right project for it, and I think this might be it.

 

I didn’t think I’d better take pictures of every project but there were several others with additional techniques with which I am unfamiliar and would like to try out.

Ok, I’ve talked myself into it.  Going to go order this book right now!