The green cashmere delight is done.
Against the background of the most dull DIY project possible …painting the hall stairs, landing, coat cupboard and airing cupboard plain white instead of a horrid dirty, dark cream which was probably painted on 20 years ago…
…With hands so rough from 2 days sanding down paintwork that I couldn’t run yarn through my hands any more because it had pilled before I had knit it(!)
…fighting exhaustion bought on from running up and down ladders…
…are you feeling sorry for me yet??? Fed up with my verbose description of the DIY hell?
OK – The short version – We’ve been busy with DIY but I managed to finish the green cashmere. S’pose you like to see it??
 |
| From Green Cashmere |
‘fraid I’ve had to edit out my face and horrid “post painting mong-pant-jogger-bottoms” as I didn’t want to scare you with the haggard tired wreck I look like tonight after my all day paint-a-thon!
So, less of the whining about the painting – more about the knitting 🙂
This has been a lovely project – I recommend the pattern to anyone who can wrangle a cable or two. BTW, if you’re searching for the English version of this French pattern, google for “Bergere de France 106.26”
The sleeves fitted in a treat when making up and I love that arm cable…
 |
| From Green Cashmere |
And I think I did better with the joining of those two strips of cable at the back of the neck…
…if you remember (why would you?) when I made this before, way back in 2006,Blogged here in “Back Catalog Delving”, the only thing I was unhappy about was the way I joined at the back of the neck.
Here’s the previous version…
 |
| From French Cable Jumper |
And this version…
 |
| From Green Cashmere |
I just took more care, centralised the cables…and Kitchener stitched it rather than the quick bodge of a three needle bind of I did on my cream one before!
Hmmm – I liked this piccy of the back better but not such a good shot of the join…
 |
| From Green Cashmere |
And what has Mewsley been doing while I slave away, alternating between knitting and painting? Being a good cat and curling up on the most comfortable blankets and chairs and staying out of the way and waiting for the disruption to be over 🙂
Awww!
 |
| From Green Cashmere |
 |
| From Green Cashmere |
| Completed Knit Report | ||
| Name: | Cashmere French cable | |
| Pattern: | Bergere de France 106.26 | |
| Yarn: | Rowan Pure cashmere DK (13.5 balls for smallest size( | |
| Pattern Problems: | Needed to up the needle size from 3.50 to 3.75 because the Rowan cashmere is so fine | |
| Pattern Modifications: | None | |
| Washing and Wearing: | Warm and snuzzley – but I doubt the cashmere will wear as well as the original Beregere de France Berlaine | |
| Knit It Again???: | Yes – very likely – a real fave. | |
| Difficulty: | 4/5 | |
| Rating: | 6/5 | |
| Other Postings Relating To This One: | Back catalog Delving (the first French Cable) | |
Stunning work Susan – those cables look amazing. Glad Mewsley kept herself out of the way. Gorgeous girl!
That sweater is beautiful. I imagine it will feel incredible every time you put it on. Oh and well done with keeping going with the DIY hell.
Gorgeous! Well done you, and Mewsley looks very happy on a comfy chair in the sunshine 🙂
Your sweater looks fabulous! And well done re the DIY, it’s one of those jobs you know will be worth it in the end, it’s just that the end is always further away than you want it to be!
Lovely! I made this jumper years ago, in the same BdF yarn that you used, and it’s worn very well. I did have a bit of a moment when I machine washed it and laid it flat to dry, only to find that it had grown by several inches. I washed it again and tumble dried it, and it came out the same size it started at – phew!
Rather you than me with the DIY – I’d be in the conservatory with Mewsley…
Thanks so much for sharing! I confess that when I first stumbled across your blog, you’d just started the cashmere version of the sweater and I immediately went and ordered the pattern – it’s gorgeous! A question though – How was the original yarn you used? Soft? Or would you recommend trying the cashmere? (I’m nowhere near decent yarn shops so I have to do my wool shopping online – not the best as I can’t snuggle with the wool to see how it will eventually feel in a garment!)
Hi Beth
I love to hear that I’ve inspired a knit 🙂 Thanks!!
The cashmere is definitely softer! Well it would be wouldn’t it!! 🙂 It also has more give and makes a fabric with more drape.
The original yarn – Berlaine- Its a superwash pure wool. If you’re sensitive to yarns feeling a little scratchy or “sheepy” you might not like it so much – it does definitely feel like pure wool but IMHO not excessively. I like something about pure wool feeling a little sheepy and not over processed so that suits be fine. On the plus side – I’ve had my first French cable for years and ruthlessly put it through the washing machine (don’t squeal) and it comes up looking freshly knitted eveyr time. It’s an amazing yarn in that respect. The Berlain is also very reasonably priced, where as the cashmere was a huge indulgence….
Let me know which you choose?….
Happy knitting
Susan
Amazing jumper. I love the picture of Mewsley in the conservatory! On the subject of rough hands do you have any tips? I combine gardening with knitting and spinning and have the same problem. I’m trying to spin fine silk blended with baby alpaca while doing some serious digging – disastrous. Any suggestions would be welcome!
Hi Shearergirl
Usually my answer to rough dry hands is, “you should have worn gloves!” ( Should have worn cooton gloves for the rubbing down 🙁
I wear these religiously for gardening – Gold leaf Dry Touch Gloves. They are expensive but will last years, they are warm, fairly water proof and incredible at protecting your hands from thorns (used to have a huge pyracanththa to prune – the performed admirably!)
When I forget (don’t we all?) And my hands are rough – I’ve found the Nutragena Norwegian concentrated handcream really works. I serious gloop of it before bed works miracles on my hands. (It is a strange consistancy though.
Hope I’ve helped??
Susan
I love the colour too, it really shows off the cable pattern to best advantage.
This is such a lovely sweater. I am very tempted to have go but dont think that lovely cable design will do an awful lot for my very ample busom. It looks lovely on your svelte frame.
x Tricia
Oh, it’s beautiful. I love the colour, I’m very into green at the moment 😉
Ooh. That is a beautiful green sweater. Love the cable-detail!